Dray's TNT Deal, All-Star Starters + a Charles Oakley Interview

fan duel sports book makes it easy. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to The Draymond Green Show this episode and we have another ad time joining this show this weekend was Okley. He's Uncle oak to me, um, but Charles Oakley to you with y'all, norm the Enforcer. He also has a book UM released that released today actually uh titled The Last Enforcer, which is embodying who he is uh and not only who he was as a basketball player.

Uncle Oka still in Enforcer, like that's never changing. But obviously you're talking raw, uncut stories about his time in the NBA, about things that happened on the court, off the court, and these are untold truth that you don't really get the opportunity to hear more often because most guys just aren't comfortable doing that. Most guys just aren't comfortable rough roughly any feathers, you know. But Uncle Oaks a little different, and you know he has a book out,

The Last Enforcer. Make sure everybody check that out. We will be getting into the book and some of the things that that he's speaking of in the book on the interview. So I'm looking forward to that. But as you know, um, we like to go around the association a little bit, and then you know, we also like to go around other leagues as well, but just for starters. UM, I know news broke that I had signed a deal with T N T and I am a part of the TN team team And what does that mean and

what does that look like for me? I know everybody's been wondering, um, just due to I'm still playing, I'm still playing at a high level, so what does that actually mean? I know some Warrior fans freaked out a little bit. Let me get this out there now. I am not about to retire. I still think I have

a lot left to give in this body. I think I still have uh some more things that I want to accomplish, one of those being a championship, uh you know, obviously, one of those being another Defensive Player of the Year All Star. I still got a bunch of things I want to accomplish as a basketball player. So I am not tiring from basketball. Let's get that out there right away, just to clear that up. But what the TNT deal is Number Number One, just being a part of your

family most importantly. You know, you've seen me on there over the last over the course of the the last couple of years, starting with the Bubble, due to my team not being in the Bubble, had an opportunity to go on and sit up there with the guys and well number one, and it all started for me and going on the arena with the great host, Carrie Champion, who was incredible, who a lot like Ernie Johnson, just kind of walked me to things that I wanted and needed

to say. She was incredible, And so that's kind of where it started for me. With T and T and then obviously with Charles Barkley and Dwayne Way to Hall of Famers legends. D Way, it's not a Hall of Famer yet, but it's only a matter of time. We just need kind of like the Warriors Championships used to be, you just kind of need that date on the calendar to get there and then boom, it happened. So that's

kind of the way. That's a Hall of Famers. So to Hall of Famers carry champion who will be a Hall of Fame journalists, um or analysts or you know, whatever way you want to go with it. She's incredible.

So having the opportunity to share the stage with those three and do the and we were doing the arena and obviously at that time, we were highlighting things that were going on in America, not only in America, around the world, and that was just kind of my first crack at it, and it's like, oh, man, like this is pretty fun. I enjoyed this. I like this, and then I you know, we did that throughout the weekend. Then I had an opportunity also to go on inside

the NBA, and for me, that was incredible. No. Number One, Um, you we always hear about Studio J, you know, in Studio J all of these things, and it's kind of taken on the life of its own, which I think is incredible. So when I first arrived that at Turner Studios, and that may not be the correct name, but cut

me a little slack there, um. But when I first arrived at the studio, the first thing I asked is we're Studio J. Like I want to see Studio J. Like this place is his story, like these it's emmies coming out of there, like it's greatness spewing out of there. I want to see Studio J. So they it's right in front soon as I walked in, so I'm like, oh man, this is incredible. And then obviously we didn't get Studio J stage. We we we went to another stage and I kind of had to work my way

to Studio J, which was great. I'm all for putting the work in, but just having those opportunities to showcase who I am, what I stand for, how I speak, how I fit in. But most importantly for me was having that opportunity to learn. And you know the thing that there's just things that you don't realize as a player. You know, I've always heard like, you're a great interview.

You're a great interview. You're gonna be good at TV because you're a great interview, and the reality is it does not necessarily mean that, because there's so many other things that goes into doing that job that you don't

even realize. Um, you know, I want to speak and I think I spoke about this before, but the mistake I made when doing the arena, we were we were interviewing Massiah Jury from Toronto Raptors, and I completely butchered my question, and in part due to the the producer in my ear telling me, you got ten seconds left to get your question out. You know, you got ten seconds to get your question out because you have to give him enough time to talk. We have to get

to the commercial break. And so he's telling me in my era, I got ten seconds. And now I'm trying to frame that question the right way with ten seconds, you know. And so I asked Massiah. I said, Um, they have put Black Lives Matter on their bus. And when they put Black Lives Matter on their bus, they're driving through the streets of Orlando with a Black Lives

Matter bus, the team from Toronto. And now when all of this had happened, all of these things started to happen and wander reasons we actually did the arena that was prime George George Floyd just being murdered, God arrested soul. Uh still sending my thoughts and prayers to the family as just because it's been a year, year and a half whatever it's been, that pain don't go away, you know,

So I still send my love to them. But I asked them because a real push for change came when we saw that, and that was like, you know, some people have been pushing for change for years, obviously us as an African American culture, but not just of the African American culture, but I've been pushing for change for years. And then once we saw that, that's when you just felt like so many people came on board and was like, oh, yeah, I see what they're talking about. There definitely needs to

be changed, and so on and so forth. So I was what I was intending to ask him, was there's twenty nine other teams in the NBA, you being the one that's out of the country from an event that just really sparked, UH, this push for change that happened in America. None of these other twenty nine teams decided to put Black Lives Matter on their bus, but you did. The one team that is out of the country and was not in the country that really sparked that movement.

And of course, people like you idiot, their black lives matter everywhere. That's that another I'm not saying black lives doesn't matter everywhere. I am specifically asking about this because there was one particular incident that happened in America that really sparked and push. It was sparked this push for change, and I caught a lot of flag for that, but it was the best thing to happen to me because it was an incredible learning experience and so that was

kind of the beginning for me. And then you know, I've gone on to do other things with with with the T n T team, and it just felt like home for me. You know, it felt like the place that I wanted to be. It felt like a family, you know. One of the main reasons I went to Michigan State when it came down to my final three schools.

It came out of Michigan State, Michigan in Indiana, and I was actually going to go to Michigan and they invited me up and all of that stuff, but it just didn't feel like a family to me, and Michigan State felt like a family, and that's why I chose to go to Michigan State Turner and the T n T team. It just feels like a family to me, Like everyone's family. I mean even you know you're talking other analysts, um, you know, everyone who's a part of our family reaching out to me. When I sounded like

you're a part of the family, welcome. This is exciting and super dope. Like you just don't get that energy from everywhere. And I know how important that is to success everywhere I've gone to Golden State Warriors, like we all operate as family, Like we're all one, you know, we're all pushing for the same Oh, we take care of each other. That's important to success at least It's always been important to success for me in my life,

and so I have a huge appreciation for that. And I'm extremely thankful for the Turner team, obviously starting at top with Jeff Zucker, h Lenny Craig, terror, They've been incredible to me and so it was a no brainer for me once they made the offer, Like absolutely, I'd love to be a part officially a part of the family. And so that's kind of that how will it work out?

I'll do things when I can. Um, we're gonna win the championship this year, but say, for instance, in a year that we don't, we we don't win the finals, and you know there's an early exit because those do happen. You know, I'll go to work and how possibly be on your TV screen and sharing some of my thoughts on the games. Uh, you know, some things that I think a team could do better, you know, all of

those things. So that's kind of how it works. It's not like I'm going to be flying from San Francisco to Atlanta with one day off in between games to go to studio, like no, but there would definitely be a bunch of time that I'll have and I can go on and you know, pretty much fulfilled my duties, and that's what I'm looking forward to. I absolutely love doing it, so it's a no brainer for me. I am extremely excited about Andrew Wiggins being being named an

All Star starter. Like you're talking a guy who was written off traded. He actually got traded as the number one pick before he ever played a game. He got traded in Summer League, which is very unusual. So his career started off rocky like his career started off like going through something that I've never been traded, Like, I've never been through that. So I am ten years in and he starts his career off ten days and with that, so that's all already an adjustment. He goes to Minnesota,

which at that time wasn't a very good organization. UM had been losing, and you know, it's it's obviously they've improved now and new ownership group and all those things, but at that time wasn't a good organization. And then he's left to figure things out on his own. And you know, he played well, you know, but not to the level of the number one picking what most people

want to see. And so then he obviously gets traded to the Warriors, and it was kind of just like they didn't want them, like they just gave him away. The moment he got here, I'm like, oh man, this guy. He competes, he defends like, he does things that I did not expect from him. And it was at that time, well, I'm like, oh no, like we really have something serious here. And now now it's about teaching him how to play winning backsketball because he hadn't done that for six years

or whatever. Whatever that time was. It's about instilling that confidence back in him, because somewhere along the way that's been snatched away. But if you can do those two things, this guy is number one, super talented, Number two, he can really help us win. And so that was the task. Now you don't complete that task without him wanting to do those things. And him wanted to be that and so he put the work in with his trainer, Chris Johnson, with the coaching staff here, he's put that work in.

And you just as a as a teammate, you try to assist and help where you can, most importantly being with your play on the court. And so we're having a good year. Um, he's having an incredible year. But I want to point out one thing. What what it What it shows? I'm I'm not sure Wiggins is averaging more points this year than he's averaging the other year, especially since maybe his second or third year in the league. But what it shows you and for young kids out there,

how important winning is. Like, winning is extremely important, and when you win, you get your your view differently, you get different recognition, you know, And so now here we have it. Andrew Wiggins is an All Star starter well deserved. I couldn't be happier for him. It's funny because the day All Star starters were announced, I had gave him like this little speech earlier that day, like, hey man, the starters come out today, I think you will be announced as a starter, but if not, you will be

an All Star. So don't and that wait until that following Thursday is long and it's tedious and you wanted to happen. But no matter what, if you're not named the All Star Starter tonight, you're gonna be an All Star. Rest Asshore. I appreciate your work that you've done, but continue to get it, you know, continue to grind, continue to do what you're doing for the team, But just know that wait that week long wait, it's long and it's it goes by every slow and we were just

joking and laughing about it. But it's incredible to see him then and also our starting I'll tell you a funny story, steph. Also it's named and Allstar Starter hits the fact I just didn't say congratulations and stuff of being All Star starter too, and I did that purposely, But I didn't do that purposely in our team group chat the moment they announced Wiggins and and allsto our starter. I hit the group chat like, Wiggs, congratulations, man, that's incredible,

blah blah blah. Other guys came in, Wiggs, that's dope. Congratulations. Stuff's in this group chat, it's our team group chat. And Andre comes in, you know, the elder statesman. Andre comes in, and he says a Steff, congratulations. Don't let these ms act like this. Uh that that what you're doing not elite, That ship is elite, congratulations stuff. And I go back to the chat. I'm like, wow, my far thirty, I truly apologize out to congratulations. It's it's

funny because Steph had already started Ways congrats. That didn't think anything of it, Like he made nothing of it. Is we're all excited for Ways. It's not that we're not excited for Steff. We are just more accustomed to Steph making being an all star starter, and we knew it was happening, and so I felt extremely bad about it. I spent like the the rest of that day apologizing through text, and then I went to the gym the

next day I saw him. I apologized again because I ran into Tyres and and Sholo Shyla Buff at a party for Grammys Grammy Vanity Fair party and my wife and I we were sitting there, we were talking to Tyrese Um. She's in the acting business, and so it's

always good to make those different connections. And Shola Buff came up and he's like, what's up, man, And he congratulated Tyrese on maybe his recent movie or the movie had gotten yeah, like maybe it's and Tires was like, thank you, Why you didn't call me and tell me that? And he's like, I don't know, Like I don't know why I didn't call you and tell you that. And and Tyrese's point that he made was, you know, we we all get so caught up in what we're doing.

We get so caught up in the successes that people has had, and and getting caught up in those successes and seeing people have constant success, we forget to congratulate them on the successes that they are currently having. And the reality is it's wrong because that congratulations maybe what pushes that guy that wants to have success or lady or woman or female to want to chase that success again and and also to feel appreciated because sometimes we

all need to feel appreciate it. And when he made that point, it really stuck with me. I was like wow, and so like even today today, like I'll still text Drink like when all ten of his songs hit the billboard or nine out of ten, like, YO, congratulations, that's amazing, Like because I'm sure most people or I still text Brian when Brian dues like YO, congrats, because most people you you just you, you almost become numb to the winds.

And it's so unfair because winning, it's hard to continue winning, it's even tougher, and so it's so unfair to them. And so I wanted to share that story about stuff. But also and and everybody who's listening, when you have people doing great things, congratulate them. It means a lot. Regardless of how much success they've had, it means a lot. It goes a long way. I too, am a corporate of of that and not doing it as much as it should be done. But I try to make sure

I do that. So make sure you're doing it. And speaking of All Star Weekend, we got my boy, wyant Wan Test, Kotell Anderson and the Dunk Contest and it's funny because a couple of days ago he was like, yo, shout do the dunk contest. I said, you you they'll they'll let you do it. He's like, yeah, I think, I think I'm gonna do it. I said, you'd be a fool not to do it, because the stage doesn't

get bigger than that. You know, the only way the stage gets bigger than that is the NBA Finals, And there's no guarantee you'll ever play in the NBA Finals. Why not, everybody's watching All Star Weekend. Everybody's watching you. Even if you go bombing, like I remember seeing some guys bomb the dunk contest, no one speaks on it. No one cares, you know why, because no one ever talks about the person who loses. They're only gonna talk

about the person who win, and they're dunks. Maybe you win, you know, you you need to come up with three or four great dunks. Maybe a guy misses a dunk, and it don't even take an hard dunk to winning, you know, like you just don't know, So why not put yourself on that stage. On the flip side, we have Andrew Wiggins who jumps out of the gym that won't do it. And I talked to him about it and kind of throw shade at him. And you know, Wiggs is a young old man, like, oh, no, I

trade my body ain't right for this. Like, no, I can't. I should have been did it. Though you're right, I should have been did it, But my body not right for that. Man. I'm like, Wiggs, come on, man, like I just watched you put your head above the top of the square. Brother, like a few weeks ago, Come on, man getting the dunk contest, but no chance weeks is doing it. Gary Payton a second, I talked to GP, like, GP,

why wouldn't you do the dunk contest? Oh? Man, you know I just got the bounce in my regular dunks. G P. If you if you dunk, or if you do something with Senior, that's a forty or fifty or fifty whatever it is. So there's one fifty right there. If you just if Senior tossed you alive off the glass of something, that's a fifty right there. Maybe you'll do something with Steph Curry, who's going to be there,

that's a fifty right there. Now you need to come up with two more dunks that gets you good scores do a g P. Of course GP want to do it. And then I text Commingo, like, Yo, you're a rookie, why wouldn't you do the dunk contest? Again? Talking to him about the stage, He's like, man, I don't do fancy dunks. I just I can jump high, but I don't really got all the fancy dunks. And I'm like,

do the dunk contest. You can get a dunk coach to walk you through some dunks you can do, and you don't even know you can do them, Like, do the dunk contest. He didn't want to do it. So I hope these did those three guys listen to this this this episode, because I am piste off that they didn't put themselves in that dunk contest. We could have had four dubs in there. But nonetheless, man, good luck to want. I hope he he can bring it home. I am extremely proud of him of even putting himself

in that position. You know, that's that's just you, Like, there's no one else going out there to do that with you. You're on the stage all by yourself. But he's earned that. He got it out the months straight from street in Oakland, like, um, you know, he just put the work into be in this position. I'm happy

he's doing it. And I would be remissed if we didn't talk about Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford in the Rams, or Joe Burrow in the Bengals and Matthew Stafford in the Rams in the Super Bowl in l A number one. I think it's insane that it never happened, and then two years in a row we got the home team in the Super Bowl. Absolutely mind blowing. But it's incredible. See, it's great for the city of Los Angeles, it's great for the Cranky family, is great for the Rams organization

as a whole. So I'm looking forward to seeing it, also looking forward to being there. And but how about how about Joe Burrow And like, like, Joey Burrow is just unfazed by everything, Like he's going out there, he's playing as if he's a tenure vet and just like going out there in the face and leading his guys, Like,

I mean, you watched that first half. He had no time to make decisions, but he made enough decisions and created enough plays with his legs and extended enough places with his legs to where they were only down twenty one and ten a halftime, and if you follow football, they were also down eleven points in week seventeen when they played against the Chiefs, and it was kind of like deja vu all over again. But kudos to him and how he stayed the course and how he continued

to lead these guys. And Jamaar Chases a generational talent like Joey Burrow is great and he's incredible, but I do understand you are only as great as the guys next to you allow you to be um and Jamaar Chase. What he's doing to opposing defenses, that's opening up everything else and then sure enough he comes open after a while. It's incredible. Like that guy there, he's already in the conversation for the best ride receiver in the NFL and he's in year one. So what they got going there

in Cincinnati, I think is incredible. Uh. He was shout out to Matthew Stafford. Obviously, I'm from the state of Michigan. I am a Pittsburgh Steller fan, but I do like to see the Detroit Lions win, and that rarely happens. And so Matthew Stafford has caught a lot of heat over the years of just being a stat guy. Well, the first year he leaves the line, he don't go to the Rams. All of a sudden he's in the Super Bowl and he's shown what he's capable of and and how good of a player he is. So I'm

very happy for Stafford. I'm looking forward to this game. I think it's gonna be a great game. I do have the Rams winning. I think the Rams will take it at home for the second year in a row, the home team taking the Super Bowl. I personally, uh, the Rams defense is incredible. Like you you're talking Jalen Ramsey at the corner. You got Aaron Donald and Von miller on on the defensive line, control and everything, like

it's going to be hard against that defense. But not only is their defensive credible, but they actually had the offense to match. Shout out to oh b J. The game he had. I think he had nine receptions for a hundred and thirteen yards or something. Everybody wrote him off and I was happy he went to l A. And the reason I was happy he went to l A. I personally just think a guy like that needs to be in a big city like he thrived in New York.

He thrives in those settings, you know, he like maybe that's what motivates him, Like, maybe that's what pushes him. And to see him go from New York and thrive to Cleveland. We all know my relationship with Cleveland, so I don't even I don't even need to go further into that, especially with Uncle O being for Cleveland. I'm gonna lead that alone today, um and struggle and then to l A does not miss a beat, right back looking like the Odell we saw in New York. Some

guys need those bright lights. Maybe the lights weren't bright enough for him in Cleveland, and that is okay, that's okay. Everybody wanna down that man and talk about it. He thrives when the lights are on. And I'd much rather have a guy who thrives when the lights are on than a guy who thrives when they're off. He thrives when the lights are on, So pick up so Odell man. I'm happy to see him back playing at the level

that he's playing that it's incredible. See and like I said, as you know, I was gonna leave the city of Cleveland on because we're bringing them the last enforcer. Uncle oh, Charles Oakley. Man, I am excited to welcome this next guest. Uh, not because of what he was as a basketball player, but more so what he means to me personally. Uncle oh, Charles Oakley, the enforcer of the NBA. We all throw this enforced around. We try to throw that tag on me,

we throw that tag on other guys. The reality is this is the ultimate enforce and this who started that? This who made that what it is? Uncle Oh, welcome to the show, my brother, Thank you, thanks for having me. I'm sorry about the other day. We couldn't do it, but hey, it's a better day. The book come out. The book came out the day, So about to talk about absolutely number one, congratulations on the book. That's such

an incredible thing. It's one thing that I've always I've always said I want to do at some point, but it takes a lot. And so can you talk to me about that process and how how you got into one to actually do the book, and then what was your process going through and actually complete it? Um, you know this, you know since I got the lead. You know you can go through ups and down to find what you want to do. I did a lot of different things, and I always said I want to do

a book, and that was about ten years ago. And then, uh, you know, the pandemic and this and that. We we got it in right in the middle of in some kind of way. But I just want to show people something about me, uh, my ears and out eight ten years in the court um stuff I've done to help people, Um, just family, growing up. I wanna get people real inside

about me. It's been a lot of people talking about stirs and then the book is full of stirs and you're gonna go crazy when you start reading the book if you haven't read the book yet, just a lot about me. It's like me and you talked before. You can see this in the book. Uh. Frank Gazzolo, you know he wrote the book, did a great job. And you know he was a beat writer when I played,

so he really had inside scoop. So it was great, come o' like two guys, two males singers come together and making a song beside this book is absolutely and um and getting and getting deeper off into the book because I have checked out some some of the things coming out. And for those of you that don't know Uncle oak to me, Charles Oakley to you, it's recently just dropped. The book The Last Enforcer, all right, actually

came out today, So make sure y'all get that. However you get your books, whether that's on Amazon, whether that's uh you're listening to the audio books. However it is that you get your books, make sure you go out and buy that. We need that on the New York Times bestseller list, so let's make sure we get that there. But um, and going deeper into the book, I think what I love most and why I'm excited to really get all the way through it is, Uh, you talked

about what I love most. You talked about slapping the hell out of some guys, So you know, talk to me about that. And in this in this book, like you said, you know you have read you have running in on the Court off the Court, I kept consistent, So, yeah, I did slap some guys, and uh, this book you know the details. Uh. You know back in the early eighties when you came in the league, you know, people they were trying to test you. So I had the man up let them know, you can't pass my test

because I'm gonna let you know. But uh, yeah, I hadn't run is and uh, some people then they got they got snacked around a little bit. And in this book you talk about Tyron hill On and your twenty thousand dollars and what did you do and when he a drew twenty tho dollars on quote, so um, basically, you know, we was in Atlanta one week one summer, and you know he, I know he played for Cleveland. You know he went to school and on how and you know, just I know this guy he playing the

league and he wasn't going so far. He was doing something and I was in the same place. He was, like, he said, lifting the money. I lend the money. And one thing ain't led to another one. He said when the Seaton started, when he see me here, give it to me. He didn't. He was training camp season and when it went always a whole year into the next playoffs.

And then people start wondering. In the middle of that story was we went to Philly and you know, shoot around and then you come back for the game on five thirty, quarter to five. So I got to my locker in Philly and somebody had seen some flowers and I looked at the flowers and they said the child's uncles up. So I told my name off it and put from child's oak to ty around hill. So the ball I get. The ball boy hunted out to put

in his locker. So he put in his locker. I said, give me here re Actually, once he come in the locker room. So the ball boy was standing that when he came in locking room, he said. He walked in and locker room to the corner. He started smiling because he sees the flower in his blocker, right, he said. When he started, we even know it. He charles. He started coughing and told him he had you know, he wasn n the weather. He went back home. What yes, they said, you go to Philly, asked the head of

the trainer light skinning out the curl. Heil forgot his name, but he's still there, that's what's so he didn't play that night. No, he didn't. He plays. There was the last for us running guys off the court. Literally, I ain't no, but obviously, um, you know, I wanted to start off with that just because I think it's interesting and quite frankly, you can't slap the hell out of a guy nowadays, and NBA you can yeah give you

two or three games back then. I mean they did a lot of stuff, but like to the rules and change and you try to play clean. I mean it ain't. I don't think too many guys really gonna go there. So, like I said, like a fight, you know who you fighting, know who you're fighting again. So when I get to that now, it won't be in the court to be somewhere another place. So yeah, it's it's a different space now. Like you said, guys though they list, it's no you know,

nobody gonna get into on the cool. You know they might come in their face and walk away. That's about it. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. What what what do you think about the league today? Because I know a lot of guys get mad when guys like yourself, the guys who came before, I say the league is saw and the reality is well. I would love to hear you up because I know I have my opinion on the soft and I don't quite get mad when that's said, but a lot of guys do.

What do you think? What do you make of that the league? I said a different times, they don't play the same. It's not a lot of body own body. Um, I think that you gotta play. What's going on? You know the music, change, NFL and change. Oh, everything changes. It's twenty years later and everything's gonna keep on changing. You know, it might come back to two big guys in the post. You go to the post in and out. But right now it's a three point shooting game. It's

a transition game. So I think the guys should be to play long because it's not that much contact. But I think that you gotta take care of your body. No matter when you play, what are you still have to take care of your body. I think it's Hey, it's a young guys time. You know that I'm playing. I mean people still coming to watch, people still you know, the namas going up, so somebody watching absolutely, you know.

I think one interesting thing um for me And when I look at you know, like we talked about the last enforcer but enforcers, and I think my two top enforcers ever happened to come from the same school, and that's you and Ben Wallace, who's also you know, like big brother to me, kind of took me under his wing and coming up coming up in Michigan. Uh, what

was you and being relationship like? Because I know he came after you, But did y'all have a relationship coming out with him coming through Virginia Union and you're going through Virginia Union as well. Um number one, Uh, I'm the one had a camp in Alabama and my sister asked me to have a camp, and and Being came to my camp. You know, he was like thirty miles away and the camp was on the twenty five and you know down south it's a lot of people, low

income families. And I was then the first year I was talking most it was like a hundred kids, maybe only about forty kids could pay. So after that I cut out. I just made it free for the rest of the time. So Being and came and Um, he said he was going you know, he was senior. You know, he's gonna go to Arbor and uh L s U some some type of way he end up going to. We took him to try See in Cleveland Community College

h for a year. My friend Jeff one, he was my assistant with my camp because he came down with Cleveland with me because he had family Alabama too. But he came to try Sea for a year and after that he went to Virginia Union. Um, Um, Jeff, you know, Jeff of the culture, try to see. And I told Jeff I would take care of if you let get him up there. So he took Ben try to see and he went for a whole year. He just to go to my mother's house. I just getting closed that

he went to Virginia in the same thing. But when he got the Union, he found itself and you know he was undersized. He didn't get drafted with a free agent. Um, he just kept working. That's one thing about you know people in the South, they worked hard and they don't let nothing to get in their way. They see you know, I guess he's seen that he I can get a chance to go over seas. And then when it was easy,

came back to Boston. Didn't even Washington the next thing, going Lando, end up in Detroit and uh, you know, he put a lot of work in and just got put in the Hall of Fame. Uh did great for himself. Absolutely, absolutely, And we're kind of we're kind of working backwards here.

Obviously in your life and obviously starting with the book and you know, talking through college, but I also want to get into some of your playing career, um and obviously that was being drafted the ninth overall pick about the Chicago Bulls, which means you then crossover with a very young Michael Jordan. What was your first impressions of Michael Jordan's at that time when you first saw him.

Obviously we know what he became with. What was those your thoughts then, you know, you know, coming from a history of black college and getting drafted in top ten, like you said, um my eye was just hey, come in, work, work, work, Uh, you know, and then I got a chance to me him. We just playing pick up and it was the August,

right before training camp. You know, guys come in early whatever, and uh, you know, he was always about business, and you know I was like, said, they are doing my craft and working on my game and showing them I wanted to be there. And some type of training camp start. We're just gonna get closing closer, and they saying, you know, you know, we started just hanging, hanging. He took me the All Star in a Dallas and took me on

his wings and we've been tight ever since. And you look at the book, you know he did it forward, you know, so hey, it's still we're still jiggling absolutely, which is incredible, and not many people can say they could get a forward from Michael Jordan. Man, that's insane. Yeah, that's that's That's like when a Grammy and me win an award, Emmy or something. So it's good to have a friend like that. And I know you got a

lot of them. I know when you do write your book you can have a great person do the forward. I already know you're in good space with a lot of the playoffs. Thank you. I appreciate that. And I said, we're working backwards, and I skipped over something I actually wanted to ask about. And the reason I want to ask this, I was actually very outspoken about one person in particular, um, and that was James Dolan. When the situation with you happen in New York at the next game,

I didn't appreciate you. Number one. I think there there's a way legends should be treated, and not only legends people should be treated. People should be treated, but when you are a legend, um, let's let's not fake it here. You know, there are different levels two things in this world, and there are totem poles and hierarchies, and that's just the way life is. Certain things should not happen. And obviously we all know what happened. But has that been righted?

And obviously it can like you can never take the situation back, like you can never change it. But do you feel like that situation has been righted by you? I I want to thank you for it up. And I know you know you do a lot for a lot of people. But when you did that lebron wave, a lot of the guys, you know, guys who know one another, who know what what should be right, y'all, y'all, y'all stood up for me. I really appreciate that. But and um, in the light to that, it's still uh

sacod situation because we haven't came to a conclusion. Um, it's still in the corner. Law. Um, this man, you know, it's bad what he did in front of that many people and didn't care it was a hit in front of you know, money, money was involved. He feels like he got bigger and the dollar can do what he wants. But it's just sad to see someone doing something like that in this day and time and we're going through so much and it's just ain't right. And uh, We're

gonna see it. He's gonna play out. It's gonna come out right because, like I said, I didn't do nothing wrong, you know, because if I did, I would have been man enough to have a press conference and speak and say, hey all y'all who had my back, I'm sorry I was wrong, but trust me, he was wrong absolutely, and I don't doubt that. Um. I look forward to that day coming because I think everybody should get what they're doing.

So I look forward to that day happening, uh, for for you, for African Americans as a whole, for legends like yourself who are mistreated in some of these organizations. You go around some of these organizations, guys put their bodies on the line. You know, you give up time with your children, You give up time with your family, and like, yeah, the money is great, but money isn't everything. You know, how you're treated as a human being goes

way further the money. So I content I want to continue to watch this play out, but hopefully see you get what you do so that it can set a precedent for guys who's done all of these things for these organizations. But in speaking of James Dolan and the New York Knicks. You then you get traded from the Chicago Bulls to the New York Knicks. Now we're as you've built this relationship with Michael Jordan, y'all like this as an enforcer in the type and the way you play.

How was that? Then playing against Mike you gotta lay Mike out when he comes to the hole and he's not stopping. No, well, you know, I tell everybody, you know, once I got traded to New York, mad too with the change, no matter who I was playing against, I had to do the same thing, play defense, clauk the miller and let him know that it's still you can't come down the land. I'm still here. So we didn't have no problem. He took it as a business. He took us every day. You know, I'm going to war.

And when we played against the Bulls, I didn't see him that much. He shot a lot of jump shots. So my game was the same. You come into paint Mike, No, you know, he's practiced sometime. I don't matter Georgy, Georgy's after color come. I gotta step up and that's my job, take charge of it. And you know, defense and my defense I was the anchor in New York, and uh we had a really good defense. So I was in

the top five and everything. Uh So Michael Buckler's jump shot once I got traded, because he knew that he had to pull up, he had to put up. So this book, Yeah, he talked a lot of trash about Yeah I was boring the wrong time, but yeah, you know, hey, he knew if he came down that lane, he's gonna have to pay a toble. I like, I like to think a guy who I have a similar relationship with, who's a big brother of mine, who taken me under this wing, and not only on the court, but in

business and life off the court. Also a nephew of yours, Lebron James. I think he had to work on his goddamn jump shot when I came in this league to now No, but I think, um, you know, there's always been I I totally understand that, because there's always been this thing made of me and Lebron. And I mean even before I signed with Clutch, you know, like and then I signed with Clutch, Like how can Draymond signed with Clutch? They hate each other and it's that another

and the reality is we've never hated each other. Maybe when I first came into the league, like my first year, because you're fighting for respect, but it was never a lack of respecting. It was just more of a I don't know you, you don't really know me. But we quickly got to know each other and we've been building a relationship since. And people they can't wrap their head

around there, like how does these guys play? Or Lebron drives Draymond files them hard, um me getting suspended from a game, with a situation with Lebron, all of these things, and people can't really wrap their head around it, and always sometimes ain't for people. You know, you know the deal, Lebron on the deal, like they said with me and Mike, I mean, it's a business. You know, you're trying to win, just like Lebron trying to win. Mike want to win. I want to win. So at the end of the day,

shake your hand goes sever ways. Absolutely absolutely, And and speaking of yourself, those next teams, you obviously had a great big man with you and Patrick Ewing and and just looking at the shift in the big man today like our I would say are two most dominant centers in the league. I don't think anyone would argue then if they should. If they would, they're crazy. Um are two most dominant centers in the league are Joel and b and Nikola Yoki, and they play a totally different

way than Patrick Ewing, than a Shaquille O'Neill. Then even I mean he came a little bit, Joel got some came in him. But even Joel is shooting the three and doing a lot more off the dribble. What do you make of the ship for the ship for the big man? And you hit on it a little bit earlier, but what do you make of the ship and how the big man operates? I mean, you gotta play with your team schemes and your team skills allowed you to float around the three point line, like you know, Joco,

he's the offense go through him. U uh, the offense go through him, but he do go to the post. Both of the end up in the post sometime probably, But the offense go through both of the big guys. And like I said, it's a spread offense game now, and your big guys can dribble like you know a small forward. It's better for your team. So if if I was playing the game today, I don't play a

zone because they're gonna come to you anyway. So but I mean, like you said, these guys gasing skills for big guys, probably more than the guys when we played SEP for kingslja On, I can do a lot, you know free Throlina stended. Uh so you gotta give him the credit. I mean they can still play with the small forwards, being a seller anchor anchor center playing small forwards. Let me look at it. And the way you play, it's just like you know, you like a Scottie. Uh,

you know, you do everything for your team. Um, you said the picks, you do, the road, you get the triple doubles. I mean you bring the energy and you know, same thing you did from Michigan State, you know. And you know I mean I went to see y'all play several times when you when he was in school. They do your game or travel to the NBA, because what you can do a point forward like and and that's

what the game is right now. Um. Absolutely. And And for you who who was the toughest person when you were playing that you had the guard, well, I mean I didn't look at none of them tough. I just feel like when the guy getting TWI times in the post like a shock, a calm along, you know. Barkley Michale was more of an in between posts and mid ray jump shooter. But I mean, my job, when did you get a guy who haven't starting point hold him

to halfway points that night? And uh, you know, just played play with force m absolutely and and and I'm sure you're watching at least a little bit out of the game today, if not a lot. But but when you're watching the game today, who's that guy that you're seeing, You're like, I would fucking love your guard him. Um, I mean a d even the healthy because he's so crafty. He can do so much. That's a challenge. He can, you know, put the ball on the floor. He can

shoot the three. Um. I would like to check be because he's big mobile. I mean I like checking big guys, you know, just to see where I'm at, you know, so probably the two guys a little to you know, check them in this day and age. I would like to play Lebron cause with the same side, you know, just to see the strip against him. I mean, like you said, you like Lebron like Lebron, you know, I just like when he do on the court and off

the court. You know, he carried yourself dollar. Actually, in your book, you said you you knew Lebron was going to leave Cleveland the first time? Why is that? Why was that? Um? That's some you know I was around them. But when the season starts, you know, they played back to back, so they played that Fried and said that. But they played in the Lando first and I came down there just hang out with him that I went, you know, like the stakes and hang out and drink

a little where wine. And then after the game he said, you know, I knew it was going to Miami, and I told him I was coming down there. But at night he was just I said, you know, I said, y'all played at the game of or y'all in the Miami. He said, yeah, I said, you know, I'm coming down there. So I like, Miami, I'm gonna go there. Yeah, I said, really said, yeah, I'm gonna go to Miami. And it was just like the first game into the season. Yeah, And in this book we talked about other things too.

But when I got to Miami that night at halftime because Pard had on sleep. I said, somebody said this coming out here, So okay, I said, you might be playing against him. He just you know, so I told me it's Lebron. He said, okay. And and do you think Pat believes you when you said that? Mother guy? You might have said, you know, but hebody not never said, but I think it did? You know they had to do with almost this and that. But I might made it. Really go put the numbers in the computers? How did

they come out? He probably went and did that. So wow, that makes sense. So that's interesting. That's interesting. You Lebron tells somebody that the day and sources will be all over the place. You know, somebody, you're a good friend, You don't you know what people probably like. It didn't

get out a whole year. I mean, I mean, you know how good the guys are, and you know, you know they tell you something ain't ain't for everybody else to know, you know, so we you know, I've been cool with all of them from day one, you know. So when he invite me to his wad, you know, and sure he trusted me absolutely. That's one of the ultimate things you can do for someone, invite them to your wed and invite them to your home. I'll be a home to someone that has to ultimate respect. You

know how to do it. They do it big. Absolutely. I'm not even gonna say what man I've always said, because I know people are taken in the runway. I don't care mat I've always tell me Dre. Many have done it, but not many has done it better. And I agree one with what they've done as young African American man, paving the way for the next generation, and not only the next generation for the guy. It is like myself who's coming up. I'm not very far behind

Lebron and age. You know, it's not like I'm some totally different generation. For what he's done, and Math and Rich and Randy pr the whole, the whole crew, and just what they've done for us as African Americans, which goes way further than just us and as athletes. I'm stre I'm extremely appreciative. And one thing I hate most is when people say, uh, I'm I'm gonna be just like them, or you know, with my guy, I'm gonna beat and it's so it goes so much far further

than that. You know, you're talking some of the smartest guys around, you know, some of the hardest working guys around. So I have a huge appreciation for those guys. Uh. I think in the book when I talk about him and Michael and towards the end of my book, it's it's so much like love. It's love. It's a love love, fast feeling, you know, because I know I'm both of them so well. And Lebron is probably own an athlete and playing a sport and being a big and white

steel playing. I mean, that's going to show you what are he doing. It's incredible and like I said, the whole crew and he held him accountable. Put all of them in the space. You do this, you do this, and they're working like you know, like I said, man was running empire. You know, he was rich in the position with the agent it ran in and then they all holding and holding themself up and un get a

lot of credit. In your book, you also spoke about Uh about kicking Dennis Robbing out of a steakhouse in South Beach. I walked me through that because I got I got a lot of respect for Dennis Robbing, and he may went at me a couple of times. I didn't quite understand it, but I still have respect and love. But I definitely got to hear about this. So basically, you know in the book, I'm gonna tell you this one was many more in the book about him, but this one was like Wow. So we in South Beach

at the Gainsboro from Collins. We need appearance together from like two to four and we finished up. You know, has time to kill. He was like, what you're doing? And or so I'm going to my steakhouse, Mad Steakhouse in South Beach on Washington. It's okay. He saw were meeting around seven thirty core. You know, time go past seven o'clock. I'm getting ready to go to the steakhouse. So I stopped a prying on toil because it's right with two blocks apart. Somebody that are talking to mouse

about seven fifteen that I just let seven twenty. The manager of the Red Steakhouse called me. Oh, get him. I said, what's going on? You wouldn't believe what that is doing? I said, what are you doing? He said eating people plays? I said what? So I tell him miss I'll be back. So I walk around there. So

I get around and I look through the shade. I looked through the window and he was just like next table, like, oh ship, really I'm walking and I need to be I went straight to him like, Dennis, what's you doing some just to relaxing and try to you know, entime up and jorg And walked him outside and Tool said, did you never come around me again in life? Wow? And where did your relationship go from there? Like, don't come up again in life? Came around the book? Another

thing come up? But you know you got the book. So the next thing, I'm crazy too. So it's it's crazy though, but the managers like, oh, I'm so glad you came over here, man, because he was just you know, I guess he was just trying to be funny. But no, it's a hot staff was you know, buses and you don't do that. Dennis, absolutely no, my name on it. Absolutely not. I respect that he changed the game in a way, but off the court he's a different guy. I get him on the court off the court now

not no more. I gave it respect called we played the same position. We know how hardly to play that position. And when you're not, you know, demanding the all every game, you just got to stop the other team to get the ball, absolutely one of the best to do that. But all the courts is different story. I think we all know, uh right, I mean we've just seen the stories. Obviously we don't know like you know, but we've seen the stories, um all over the place. But then obviously

uh in the last dance as well. But uncle Oak, I know you gotta get out of here. I don't want to take much more of your time, as much as I'm enjoying this, but I do have to ask you one last thing because I think the world needs to know this, um, and you know, maybe some people do, but I don't know if everyone knows, But I need you to talk to them about you cooking on and I still have not had that cooking. Yeah, I told you several times, even in the factals when y'all beat

my capitaliers that year. Were in there at the bar, at the at uh at the steakhouse, let's take um. We were at More at More kind of a hotel, and I told you at Red's house we got it. I keep telling you whenever you want me to come up and cook whatever you want, you know I did that. I'm chopping up with the guy Green them for Flint. But whenever you want this, oh real real dessert, main, you know, find doing whatever you want. Hey, I'll be in l A super Bowl, so let me know. Oh,

I come down, I come down there. I know you're gonna be down at home home. I come by that. I'll be in l A at that time. We play the Clippers a day after the super Bowl. We got time. We can do this. App state this. Thanks for bringing me on the show. Thank you, Uncle, I appreciate you

coming on. And and for for those of y'all that that don't know, um, Uncle Oaks said he cooked better than your grandma, So I definitely, I definitely need to experience that because I personally know my grandmother's cooking is incredible and I'm not sure I take anyone meals over my grandmother. So but Uncle Oaks said I cook better than your grandma or ynty, and we all know I'm not you know, I can only speak for myself, and I know and a black grandmother and a black auntie

they throw down in that kitchen. So I'm looking forward to that. But it's it's definitely great having Uncle Charles Oakley on the show, and I enjoyed that. I hope everyone else enjoyed it, but most importantly, make sure you go get the Last Enforcer. I need to hear some more of these stories. I mean, I've only come across a couple of them, and I'm really looking into deeper diving into that book because it's you know, it's stories that you don't get from the NBA, Like it's stories that,

uh that that never truly comes out. And you know, the thing is the thing about Charles Oakley and when it says the last Enforcer, like, I'm rolling with that, you know, as someone like I said, as someone who gets the Enforcer tag and and all of those things, like, that's a different that's a different thing. Charles Oakley was a different different beasts and I have the utmost respect

for him. So I'm looking forward to hear some of them stories because the reason you won't get a lot of stories like that is because number one, most people aren't comfortable enough bringing those things back up because of what could happen after the fact. You know what Tyrone Hill may think. Uh there's another one in there about Jeff McGinnis, um what he may think, you know, with what ch'alls Oakley putting these putting these stories into a book.

You know, quite frankly, Uncle Oak, don't give a damn. And that's why you're getting The Last Enforcer. That's why you're getting these raw and told stories. So for all NBA fans out there, um, make sure you check out The Last Enforcer. However it is that you get your books, like I said, whether you're ordering them, whether it's an audio book, make sure you check that out because this, this is These are raw, uncut story and you're getting

them right from the horse's mouth. So definitely check that out. Enjoy it because it does not get like this and I'm not sure you'll see it again because people, just like I said, they're just not comfortable doing it. So appreciate it, love and enjoy it, but most importantly, go copy it. And I'm looking forward to, like I said, taking that deeper dive, and I hope you are too. But that's a ripe from the Draymond Green Show this week.

See y'all back here next week. We'll have another great guess but most importantly we'll be here to bring some joy to your living room, to your car, to your headphones. Whatever that is. The Draymond Green Show them up