Draymond Green Show - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

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What's up, everybody?

Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show.

We are here at Resort World in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League. I'm honored Taba another champion here on the Draymondgreen Show. Two time world champion, my brother KCP. What's upingg what's Welcome to the show man. I appreciate you coming on. I always talk about like the resume you gotta have to be a guest on the show. Like, we don't just want anybody, like we want all stars, we want champions, we want Hall of Famers, because.

That's what the people want. Yeah, so I appreciate you coming on.

I appreciate you having me and my brother man. I appreciate it absolutely. But I mean, let's get into it. Take me back growing up in Georgia Country. What was it like for you growing up and to make it out of there?

Like, was it a you that got you out? Was it? Like? What was it that got you out?

I would say AAU basketball for sure, that was the most exposure I had as far as on the basketball circuit. I probably maybe had one color coach to ever come see me at my high school, you know, to see me play. But yeah, A you open the doors up for me for sure.

Who is that coach?

I forget his name, old coach from Alabama, but like we were the first coach I ever come see me play. But after that, that's when I ended up seeing uh, three coaches from Georgia. And that's when I like I committed to Georgia like verbally, uh, because I wanted to stay home, close to home and to have my family be able to travel come see me not too far.

I love that same for me.

You know, we're going to Michigan State, Like I wanted to be close to the crib and so that that was a big thing for me. So you get one high school coach to come to your one college coach to ever come there high school, but you becoming McDonald's all American. Explain that to me because I had way more high school coaches college coach and I wasn't no.

McDonald's high school probably be triple the size of minds.

Like, but like I said, you open them doors up for me.

You know, Uh we're being on that basketball circuit, you know, doing what I do best, shooting the ball, you know, playing playing basketball, having fun. Uh that's when I started getting like a lot of eyes on me, you know, uh, being able to like sending out my highlights you know in high school for like you know, coaches like college coaches to see. I feel I had most of the college coaches come see me play when I was playing AAU basketball. Uh So, like I said, that opened up the doors for me.

So I have a question, a very interesting one for me. We're like the same height. I'm a center, you too.

For me, growing up in a small city, being the tallest guy, they just put you at center. Now it's a little different for me, which is why I got my guard skill from because I played center defensively, but offensively I played point guard.

But my uncle was the coach, so he taught me the game.

He taught me, so I had all the guard skills, which is why I'm able to play the position the.

Way I do now.

But there's always this thing of when you're when you're the tallest kid in the small city, everybody want to make you a center.

That clearly wasn't the case for you. Why was that.

I had a couple of guys that was tall to me in high school so that I didn't have to play that position, even though I did play all pop position in high school.

But yeah, I had.

Some guys that were, you know, six eight, six nine playing in the high school with me at that small ass school, the small school. Yeah, so like I got chance to be able to just play my position, and like it elevated my games just you know, just learning every position, I would say.

And also just every day.

After school, you know, going to my hometown basketball court, you know, playing with the older kids, no guy to pushed me around. You know, stuff like that made me a little bit tougher, tougher and it just no basketball just stuck with me, man. I just it was something about the game that I love and.

It just shows absolutely. And eighth pick to the Detroit Pistons. Uh, drafted by Joe Dumars, which is like a father figure to me.

Still talk to Joe. We go way back there. I remember like as soon as you got drafted.

Uh, but just just walk me through that experience going to the Pistons, which wasn't the organization then yeah that it is now yea true. Uh, talk me through that experience. And like going to Detroit, coming from the South, going to the cold.

Snow that I feel like that was the biggest judgment for me. The snow, Like my my first year there as a rookie. Man, it snowed all the way into May. So like that was like my the hardest adjustment, you know, being able to learn how to drive in that you know, get the work, be safe. But I feel like, uh, it was tough for me the first two years. No, I couldn't get my family out there, Like my family

Uh.

But my experience there man was great. Uh all right, I got a chance to like show like more than I can do. Uh, because I feel like they drafted me because of my defense potential. I would say, I don't think they knew what I could do offensively then, so I had an opportunity to like to showcase that and and that what took my career off.

He says, you had good vets. I always talk about the importance of vets in the locker room. I am a product of great vests. I had Jared Jack, Jermaine O'Neil, David Lee Carlin, Andrew David West, like I had Andrew Bogan. I had great vets, and like, now, that's one of the things that I think is missing from the league. You look at some of these teams and like some of these teams vets are like you're four five.

It's like, yo, you're not a vet.

You need like scratch the surface of what a vet is for sure. It's crazy.

Like in year five of my career, I had won two championships in your seven in my career, by year seven, I had won three championships and played in four NBA finals.

Nobody in the.

Golden State Warriors organization was looking at me like I'm a vet, right, And yeah, you got guys now who ain't got no rings, nothing, no All Star appearances, no nothing. But they kind of walk around this league like their vets.

That's like it's just the era. Now. I came in and live in twenty thirteen.

My vet was I had Chauncey Phillips, I played with Chance, played with Tayson Prince. I had an opportunity to be coach BARACEI while so I also had a chance to be around that bad boy area, you know, even though they was on their way out, you know, but still

So did Ben come back? Were you still there when Being came out? No, I wasn't there when Being came back.

When Being came back, it was his he he was retiring, They was retiring his jersey. So I got the opportunity to see that as well. So like and retiring Chauncey jersey there. So I got the opportunity to see a lot of things, and like being around a lot of great people, you know, Like you said, Joe dumars Man, he the one that drafted me, you know, put me in a position to be able to meet these guys, you know, and be a part of that family.

There was a story, famous story. You've been with Clutch Sports your entire career. Yes, there's a famous story about the contract that you turned down in Detroit number one. I don't know whether you turned the contract down or not. I would love to hear that from you. But what I do know is if you did turn the contract down, you've made all the money.

Plus more, plus more. But talk to me about that, you know, me and Riz talk about it a lot. And now like that we here in my career, now we can laugh about it a little bit. But I didn't turn down that much money. You know, that money wasn't offered to me. But like what they were saying. But like even if I did turn it down, like you said, you know, I rich believed in me. I believed in myself, you know, and what I can do, and I felt like at the time, I deserve more

He's gonna get he gonna handle the rest. So that's all that was said. Like I put it into work, you know, and made all that money back and plus more. So like my work paid off, you know, as far as like me, everybody might say I turned it down, Okay, cool, I turned it down, got it back, you know, So it didn't take long. But like we slow grounded one year, two years, one year, you know, but we never getting it all back.

I think one of the most interesting things the part that people don't talk about. People always want to talk about your failures. They always want to talk about where someone falls short. They always want to talk about this guy didn't get that money, he turned this down, he turned that down. But the side they don't talk about is if you stay there, are you a two time champion because you still got the money plus more.

Double at this point.

But if you never go to the Lakers, if that never happens, you don't end up at the Lakers.

Do you end up a champion?

So when you look back at that, now, was the stress of waiting ultimately worth what came in in?

Yeah?

Because I've had some going through that process after Detroit, I have some stressful moments, you know where it it took me here and then it brought me down, you know, so alright, believing in myself, believing in God, you know, having my my wife, my support, you know, everybody around me, you know, like encourage me, you know, like you got this, your game shows you know everything. You know, just go out there and play your game and worry about anything else.

Was there ever a point in that where you started to doubt yourself or where you started to doubt Rich. Uh.

I wouldn't say I never had a doubt, but like I say it, I was. I was impatient. I would say I wanted to come like as soon as possible.

You know what I'm saying.

That's all I he would tell you that, like that's always he always you tell me, just be patient, it's gonna come, and be patient.

This is this is just the job the business, you know. Uh.

So like that was just me being impatient, you know, and just belt myself, you know, and like have a little bit doubt then, but just let's just do that being impatient, you know, wanting it now, you know, instead of waiting on it.

Uh. But as I got older and I started.

To learn that, you know, patience, know it's it helps me stay calm, stay peaceful, you know.

And I know I got Rich, you know, I know he got my back. You know, I've been knowing him for since I've been in this league.

So yeah, not rich Rich the best man, like from a contract negotiation standpoint, obviously, but they goes so much further than that.

I don't think people understand that.

That's all just about to say I was like when we talk about we rarely talk about basketball, so it's.

Like, like, why ain't you calling you?

Like, but like that's him though, like he he knows like what he can do, Like so it's not just like I said, it's just not about basketball, you know.

And he made sure that, like all right, don't worry about this. Then I got that, you.

Know what I'm saying, We can talk about anything else, you know, like he don't help me with a lot of stuff, you know.

So yeah, no, I think I always tell people like man, I think what I appreciate more most about Rich is.

He teach you a how you supposed to live your life? Like true, so many guys get taken advantage of.

So many guys don't see stuff coming. And I think.

He he a teaches us how to how you how you're supposed to live. Be one of the most impressive things I think Rich has ever done with me. And like yourself, that's my brother, Like is it my wedding, Like goes so much further than being an agent.

But I think when I you know, I also know how to separate.

Too, you know, I know ninety nine point nine.

Percent of our costs I'm talking to my brother zero point one percent. I'm talking to my agent, and I know how to separate the two. But I think one of the things that stood out to me most, and I still say it to this day, like when I bought my first home and I was searching for homes in La, this dude walk ten houses with me, and I remember when I first found a home. I found a house in bel Air that I thought was the

Perfect. He land, We get to the house, walk in. I'm excited, Like I got the crib he walked in. He like, nope, nope, nope, this thing, nope, that thing. Way too much of this here, Nope, look at this marble right here. We go in the backyard.

It's like beautiful backyard, so it appears, but like if you actually go through it, some of the stone is mismatches, like they went to this stone yard and got with the stone that was left there cheapest, went over to this stone yard, got the stone that was left there at the cheapest, put it all together and when he showed me, he's We walked through this house and he started pointing out all these things. We didn't even make it through the whole house. We got up to the

Yeah, because y'all will be looking for the next sucker to come by this house from y'all, because he.

About to suck y'all for this money right now. Y'all gonna be looking for the next sucker to get out to come by this house, y'all. And for me, that was that was And by the way, this is well into him being my agent. Listen to him being my agent. But that to me was like a level of detail, a level of care.

They're like, you don't get that from agents, Like get that. These agents not coming to walk a house. They don't care what house you buy.

Really don't even just get what that's what they're saying, Like that's what I said. I respect rich so much, man like because like he helped me out with so much. Like I said, like a few things with like like being married young, you know what I'm saying. Even you know he's been through it, but like just helping me

It was crazy. I was like, I feel you.

And when I read it, I was like, man, I did not know half of that about you. You know, like he don't showcase it, you know what I'm saying, But I didn't know half of that about you.

I learned so much from reading that book.

Yeah, that's why me too, Like me too.

It's crazy, Nah, story stories insane. So then you go from Detroit kid from Georgia Country moved to Detroit. That adjustment and then la, what was the adjustment? Like now going from Detroit to Los Angeles for the Lakers. By the way, nobody's showing up to these games in Detroit.

I know, I wouldn't say that. Like when I was in Detroit now playing in the Palace, No, we had a nice little crowd sometimes sometimes I was like the Palace is like historical, you know what I'm saying, A board day's area, so like we have some fans and then it was a few fans.

There's a lot different from that, Like because.

I said it out, I want, you know, the championship.

You know, they hardcore, you know what I'm saying. They on you what and how are they on you? Like?

Is that coming through social media? Is that like you walking down the streets of La they coming up. I would say a little bit of both. I wouldn't say they like they're not so negative like when they see you in person. You know what I'm saying, like more you know, supportive. You know what I'm saying stuff like that.

You know what I'm saying in the heat at the moment in the arena, I can see a little bit different than they're like what they're telling you, like you pick it up.

You know, I've had you know what I'm saying.

A little bit of both, you know through social media, uh, like in the arenas, you know, like to a point where they was they was like coming on wife with my wife pictures or like the pictures she posted saying shit about me.

So it was a lot of.

Stuff that was going on at one point when I was there.

You get to the Lakers. Lakers not very good.

I think.

What A year later, two years later, bron comes. A year later, a year later later, y'all.

Get changes the outlook of the franchise.

At that point, Lakers had been struggling for a while, kind of Tour on the end of Kobe's tenure into cod retiring a couple of years.

You get there, then bron come, what was.

That like, like that big of a force coming to the team, the media attention, which the media attention for the Lakers is already christ but then you get Broun there, Like, what was that transition then?

Like from going from playing with like.

All these young dudes and you kind of be in the VET and the sense of what we were talking about.

Being a young vet. They soke all you today? Yeah, I was, I think I was.

I was.

I think the older two guys when I got there twenty seventeen was Isaiah Thomas and Book Lopez and court Brew. I was only three older guys and I was. I was twenty four at the time when I got there. Everybody else was like nineteen. It's crazy.

Then bron come in. How did it?

How did it change everything? Did it change from day one? In practice? Did it change just the games? It was also a growing process. I don't think y'all made the playoffs that first year.

Definitely was a growing process because you know, everybody him, him adjusting, you know, to everybody, and then everybody trying to adjudge, you know, to like him being there as well.

So uh like it was a big adjudgment.

You know, everything did shift, you know what I'm saying as far as like you know, how we practice, how we watched them, you know, like doing like stuff as a team. You know, a lot of the stuff changed there. And I was unfortunately fortunately to have you know, run though too at the time. You know, Win Brown was there, so like like they them two can both navigate, you

How was the conversation.

I'm a basketball I love I love the excellent os, I love the game within the game, And so I'm asking this question personally for me because I.

Was okay, what was the what was the dynamic the conversations like amongst Bron and Rondo, because for.

Me, those are two of the greatest basketball mons ever play in the NBA.

I would say.

The conversation of dialogue like as far as like in film Man, they broke down everything like that's who, like run those the one that taught me how to watch film, you know, how to watch Like I didn't start watching a full game of film until like two years like two years ago. I guess who taught me how to watch a full game of film? Like, but you can just watch it, you know what I'm saying. But he taught me what am I looking for? You know what I'm saying when I'm watching this film.

You know. And then just having them two together in film together, man, it made.

I would say, it made everything so easy, you know on the court, you know what I'm saying, because now you know where to be. You know when this motion is happening. I know I got to shift this way. I gotta do that, you know what I'm saying. So they put it, they break it all the way down to a point where like if you're fucking up, you're not giving out effort.

You know what I'm saying.

So like if they give me to you this way, you know what I'm saying, Like, that's knowledge, man, Just take that, you know what I'm saying that That was one of the things I took away from both of them. I just learn how to break down that film, you know, and actually know what I'm looking at when I'm breaking it down.

You know.

So I was, and it has helped my career, you know what I'm saying, being able to be a leader on other teams.

You know.

So, was there ever a point or whatever times were those two bump heads on their because there's some high level thoughts both of them, dudes, happen whatever times that that they bump heads on their ideas? And if so, what's there ever time where RONI back down and say.

Okay, we go on with run those saying, yeah, I feel like they both had you know, there they disagreements and as far as like what we're doing, uh, but I feel like that that that would be you know what I'm saying, more when they discussing together, because I I've never seen it, you know what I'm saying happen

And speaking of your time with the Lakers, y'all didn't going to win a championship in the bubble. There's a lot of perspectives on the bubble, quite frankly by most people who weren't there, right, But there's a lot of perspectives on the bubble. What was your perspective on as someone who was there won a championship there, so essentially was there the longest time?

What was your perspective on the bubble and being in it?

It was hard, I'll say that for me, I'm restrained. It wasn't hard, you know what I'm saying. I enjoyed, you know what I'm saying. The time, you know, of just reflected on myself by myself. You know, you can't really see nobody can't really have the family there, but That's the biggest sec fight I had was just not helping my family there, you know, uh, trying to manage to deal with that, you.

Know, the kids. I just had a my third child at the time, and he was just a baby, you know. Uh, So.

That was the biggest sacrifice you know for me, just leaving the family for three months.

Or at that time. Man, was it was a lot. Yeah, I felt like it was. For me, it was great. You know, the stuff we did in the Bubble or like being locked in that room. I did that at home.

If I'm in my game room, No, I'm done that six hours straight playing the game. So it's like it really did phaze me as much, you know what I'm saying. So like me missing the family and the kids, you know, stuff like that. But other than that, man, I had a great time.

That's funny.

And for those that say the Bubble Championship has an asterisk next it, I'll say it before you go, I am not of that. Yeah, because it's hard as hell to win a championship.

I don't care where the fuck you win to that.

But for those that say there's an asterisk next to the championship, that y'all wanted the bubble.

What do you say to them?

They just hated Man, it's like they that's like, like you said, it's one of the hardest teams to like

You know, so.

But then the season stops, you know, boom, seasons start backup, but we gotta go to the bubble. So like before they even man, you know, uh, like before it even happened to go into the bubble, like as a team, you know, we still like you know what I'm saying, I was able to like no, who I would say, you know what I'm saying, We didn't really like we did it within the rims of like the testing of the NBA, you know, stuff like that, but like we were still able.

To be around each other, be able to hoop you know.

What I'm saying, and have fun like regardless of like if the season is stopped. So once the we knew the season was like starting back up in the bubble, Like we was hyped. We was ready to go get our championship like that we was at like we wanted you know what I'm saying.

Then you know, season stopped getting into the bubble.

You know, guys that a lot of people don't like these things, like have people's mind messed up?

Like all right, now it's time. I'm ready to go home.

You know what I'm saying, I forget basketball, So like I'm so grateful and I'm like, like I appreciate all. Like my teammates at the time, like, man, they they mindset was like on that championship, they weren't ready to go, like they came here for a reason, right and we wanted it.

So you said it was harder. It was one of the hardest championships to win. As someone who's won multiple championships, what made it so much harder to win there?

As opposed to if you're going to Miami for an away game, you know, or you're going to another place.

I would just say the mindset we like we had, uh and how everything had like everything happened. I was saying, like COVID shutting down. You know what I'm saying, Like we wanted that one so bad. You know what I'm saying, we would We would have jumped through flaming hoops for it, you know.

Uh.

So, like like I said.

That, for me, it was the hardest one because of like all the shutdown, like restarting shut down. No, that can change a lot of people mindset, you know what I'm saying, And like like you said, man, fuck this, like it's I'm not dealing with this anymore, you know. So I was appreciated that thankful to everybody on the team at the time.

At the same mindset, they weren't ready to go.

So there was word that came out of those meetings.

And again for those of y'all watching, I was not there because we absolutely sucked that year. I think we won fifteen games and so we didn't actually make the bubble.

Ye. I had a lot going on that year, man, a lot going on, to.

Be quite honest. I was in La having a great time. So I'm actually a little happy we didn't make the bubble. Also, before we move forward, Adam Silver, the mayor of Los Angeles, who wasn't the mayor at the time, so talk to the previous mayor. Uh, this man just admitted that they ignore all y'all COVID godlines, all y'all testing. They kept playing basketball. They cheated on their way to a championship.

Everybody got every player got tested. You know what I'm saying. If you had COVID, gotta go home. You can't be around it, man.

Did I bet Bron probably had Michelle sitting there testing everybody.

We didn't want to stop playing like man like. And it was like if it's just the Lakers team at the time, like no outsiders, no nobody, Like everybody's within the perimenal like the COVID testing that the NBA wanted, right, I felt like we were good.

You know, they couldn't say nothing.

Well, guess what, they definitely can't say nothing now.

So it's a great time to talk about three years later, great time to talk about it. But there was reports that came out during that time where y'all was like having the meetings in the bubble and.

The season stopped.

There was reports that came out that most of that, like the season stopping and people not wanting to play, was from the Clippers team at that time. Is there any truth to that, like, because by the way, by the way that they went out, it kind of looked like it.

Was shrew by the way.

That was one of my favorite series of the Bubble, that that Nuggets Clippers series. All right, it was just like, man, how in the hell right you up three one? Even if you you you talked about leaving, like you up three to one? Finish the job, man, who's the next round? Fact, like you knew everybody wanted to see Lakers Clippers that year.

So, so who was in the meet and quittin? Who was in the from the Clippers c Who was in there quit?

What?

I heard that there were some guys from the Clippers team in there, like, man, I don't want to play, I want to go home.

Is that true? Who was in there quitting?

I just want to know because by the way, if you ask me, they left a championship sitting on the table.

Now, whether they would have beat y'all or not.

Well never, it would been one of the best series. You know what I'm saying that year. You know what I'm saying. You know what I'm saying. Like so like everybody wanted it, you know what I'm saying, and we wanted it as well, and we wanted that opportunity. All right, we're gonna put this ship to bed like Lakers purchase Clippers like here it is, you know, and they just they just ship the bed man Like like you said that that conversation, like I've heard it. Yeah, it did

What's his name?

Donna's he stood up and he was like, man, he just talked about more for like it being for the younger guys and the guys ain't gonna be able to have no money. You know what I'm saying, if we do stop this right now, Like what about these guys, man, they just getting drafted, you know what I'm saying, Year two three guys, Uh, Like what are they supposed to do about money? You know, like are you are you

But like that was they were the first team ready to go for show.

That's great them boys left for They left for golden opportunity sitting right there on the table, and they never got it again.

That's why I told you, like, when a lot of stuff to stopping starting stopping, Like I had a lot of people's mindset changed, Like now, all right, I've been here long enough, man, you're gonna stop.

I'm done, you know, So.

Appreciate the twenty twenty Lakers team, you know, having that mindset.

You know what I'm saying, winning that championship.

Absolutely, I think, uh, it's crazy, what you know?

Hearing Ud stood up and said that, because the reality is, I remember sitting with rich when y'all were in the bubble, Yeah, and like when and all those conversations going on, Richards literally getting costs as it's going on, as it's ending,

Buy? Oh wow.

That's why I stopped listening to people when they say that. Man, I just like, man, all right, it's a championship. They we won, and I got my right. We were still able to celebrate, you know what I'm saying, like on the property, you know, in the in the Orlando but I mean, we had a great time and we're not uh like in the finals, I think like a sec h end of the conference finals and then finals, was able to have the family there, you know, which was great.

Pulling that bubble off is still one of the greatest things I've ever seen in sports. Come on, man, how you do that?

And with that minded like that amount of time you have, you know what I'm saying, you get this done. I was able to come here here no play and I have to worry about you know what I'm saying, and with like like going back to like the bubble, but like it was so much like just so much basketball.

I can hear everything, you know, play calls, you know what.

I'm saying, team they call and everything out like that was like much important to me and I can focus just on basketball. You couldn't even like they might pump the crowd, you know what it's saying, but it's just like them cheering. So now you can't you don't hear nobody talking to you throwing off your game.

So like that, I enjoyed that. Man, I could play basketball. That's why I hurted up, you know what I'm saying.

So no, it was it was definitely. I had fun watching it in l A outside it was great, the weather was amazing. I had a beautiful time watching it. But then moving on, uh, you know, you winning championship with the Lakers, you eventually end up moving on to the Denver Nuggets.

What was that experience like?

Going from playing with Bron, who I always tell people people don't understand how hard it is to get a good shot every time down the floor. And when Bron there are a few players, only a few though there's not many, Bron obviously being one of them, Joker obviously being one of them.

Where you come.

Down the court and every time they have they are capable of getting the team a good shot.

What was it like going from them playing with Bron who's.

Able to do that, but then going to play with Joker, who kind of does it in a different way.

It was just Brun.

You see Bron on the ball mostly you know what I'm saying, bring the ball up, even though Yo can do the same thing.

No point five.

But like once you get there, like like them two guys, man, they they do man attention, you know what I'm saying. As soon as they checked the ball there, you know what I'm saying, so like and I just I just fed off that, you know what I'm saying. Like I knew them guy was gonna have so much attention on them, you know, and I was gonna either get a wide up a shot or we created a wide up a shot. You know what I'm saying. Now the defense got to

What I'm saying.

But I would say it's just for them, Like for me, what made my career great playing to get with them like they were willing to pass the ball when you open, Like I don't care what type of passion or if you open, They're gonna try to get it to you, you know what I'm saying. And all I had to do was be ready to shoot, you know what I'm saying. So and that like kudos to both of them guys, man, you know, like they have made my career better, you know, like later in my later later in my years.

So like man, my brothers, man.

No doubt, My brothers, no doubt. And then being in Denver twenty twenty two season, don't end the way you wanted to end. Jamal Murray's out, then you come back twenty twenty three with Jamal Murray. Was were y'all in the space going into twenty twenty three or at what point and in that season was it like was it like going in where we got Jamal back, we think we're a championship team, or was it at some point during that season like, ah, we like we can do this.

Yeh.

I mean I felt like they they already knew they was a championship team, you know, like the previous years before it happened me, they.

Made the playoffs, you know every year almost.

I feel like like like they always tell me, they say, was missing just the one piece.

Uh.

And like when I got traded there, uh, and I felt the same thing.

I was like, Man, I felt this in training camp like, well, I'm.

Walking around guys, man like, man, look, we can just stay focused, man, Like we got a chance, you know what I'm saying. And it's just me before I even got that, me watching from it from the outside, you know what I'm saying. How their team chemistry was like.

Like me plugging into that spot, man, was it was like the best fit, you know. Like, so I told him, like start.

A training camp, man, Like, man, we're gonna win the champions Like we're gonna win the championship. Like if we can just you know, stay together, you know, you know, and continue to like sacrifice and play for each other man, Like it's gonna be like it's gonna be a kkewalk, you know what I'm saying, Like like in them by me, like being that vocal leader talking about that, like being the only one at the time, you having that championship. Ah,

Up like like it changed a lot.

Man, I'm just being like I said, going back earlier, know what I'm saying, like learning from them guys, man, being the leader, h I think it was it was important for them, like like at the time for the Nuggets. You know what I'm saying to hear that, you know what I'm saying, to be able to have a guy that's won a championship, you know what I'm saying, it's

Absolutely. Also I intentionally skipped over Washington by the way, just so it's all good.

That much to say that, man, you know, because at one point we started off ten and four, you know, we was number one at one point.

You know, at the time, it's always interesting starting the season and seeing the bum teams at number one, number two in the conference, and you know they're gonna finish at fourteen.

We definitely dropped down sure quick. It's always interesting. But nonetheless, like I said, you know what, we're.

Gonna act like that never happened because Detroyers where it started.

Ain't gotta have a little couple of speed bumps in there.

The Lakers Championship, it's like a blob of time and then nuggets.

Some high road trip.

Yet you want you see a nice little area, you want to take a detour, you know what I'm saying.

Absolutely say, it was just like a little a little stock by the way. I love d C.

Me too, d It's amazing. I absolutely love d C. But yeah, we're not gonna even talk about your time.

Yeah, DC was like it was great city for me, my kids, family loved it. You know, even though it was a year, we enjoyed it. We met like some great people there, you know, even know we're still friends with them now. Like so like it's a great city.

Last year, y'all end up losing to the Minnesota Timberwolds.

Not able to defend the title and go back to back throughout that season, did you know y'all didn't quite have the championship team like y'all had the year before.

Losing Bruce Brown, losing Jeff Green. I think those were some huge losses. So in going through that season, did you feel like y'all didn't quite have the championship team?

You know, I thought we still had it, you know what I'm saying, because you know what I'm saying that the people we had behind Bruce and Jeff, you know, Peyton Watshon, you know, Christian Brown, right them guys into championship run.

You know what I'm saying, The guys showed promise.

You know what I'm saying that they'll be able to to pick that slack up, you know.

Uh like, and.

We we also have faith in them guys as well. You know that was going to do the same, you know, but you know it's all about opportunity. You know, if they get the opportunity, you know, do do what you do best.

You know what I'm saying.

I feel like during that season, you know, to running back to back, you know, we all had the same mindset, like that's what we wanted to do, you know it.

You know. We felt like the Lakers should have beat us, like we was down every day every game.

Definitely at least like at least tend to like higher mayven but with twenty something right right then, just taking that energy and know using the deer. So it was a lot that went into that season, know that.

We wish we could have did better.

That's interesting because when I think back to like our runs that first year, we wanted first.

Like nobody fromorrow, and we got it. We won championship. The second year, which was twenty sixteen, we won seventy three and so although we weren't chasing the first seed, we were chasing the seventy three wins.

And when I look back on it, I don't regret it because quite frankly, I don't think we ran out of gas in the playoffs, like we.

Run three to one still, you know what I'm saying.

So I don't think it was necessarily something that boil down to like, ah, we ran out of gas. However, what I will say is this though, after that trying to win them seventy three was so exhausted that then twenty seventeen kdkme. And it was never about like can we get the number one? CE Like, we beat a bunch of teams, so we're going to be in the

I feel like that's what we that's whether I wouldn't say the mistake, but like trying to get that, you know.

How Champiature route, but we was number one seed when we had that route.

No, it's not gonna be that this year, you know what I'm saying, because during the season we did have mall got hurt a little bit and sat down.

You know what I'm saying.

I set out a few games, you know, a g getting hurt, you know, by the thing happened within.

That, you know, trying to race up for first.

So like like you said earlier, you know, we should have just been like trying to get their healthy, you know, regardless of what seed we was, and then just go from there.

Before we get out of here, we must talk about number one. Congratulations uh new three year, big money deal another one, so congrats on that, appreciate it. But first off, just what excites you. Well, before I go into that, I'd be remiss if I didn't say the Magic are

Who was the Kings Orlando Magic?

And it's funny because when we played the Magic the next year, the young fellas out there like, yeah, motherfucker, Like you think he's gonna be I was like, Oh, it's the young Cord that y'all got now, but just talk to me and well, I actually spoke about this during that draft.

They end up drafting Polo. Everybody was saying they was gonna draft Jabari Smith.

I personally thought Paulo was that it should have been the number one pick.

They ended up taking them. In large part they was watching the Draymond Green Show taking my intel. They was high on his bar. They took the intail.

Hey, they did right, and I think Paolo is one of those generational players that that organization hasn't been one that's been willing to spend money. They would give a Jeff Green a one year fifteen million, get somebody else one year fifteen million, which pretty much says, we got a we got a cap threshold that we have to reach, so we're going to give you this one year deal, but we're not really trying to win and we're not

But bringing in someone like you says.

To me that, oh, now, oh they're serious now, Like they bringing in the guy who's proven to help lead teams championship teams, proven leader, uh, two way guy, knock the shots down, defend the other guys, uh, the other team's best wing player.

They ready to win.

Now, what are you in looking at that situation that you're going into. What are you most excited about about joining in the Orlando Magic?

Ah? Man, just.

I'm just I'm excited like all around, you know, just to be able to play with the with a young group of guys that's as that's hungry. You know what I'm saying that that's had a taste of the playoffs. You know what I'm saying. Cleveland to Game seven, yea, you know they know what it takes. H and just talking to a few guys. You know, a mindset, you know, is it's about winning. You know, it's not oh I'm

Uh.

But I'm just most excited just just to play with them guys on on on this defensive end. Man, just they finished top with you know, three or five you know, defensively, Uh and Sugs man made defensive team.

Know, just them guys, you know, just that length.

I'm excited to just man to see how team is gonna, you know, try to try to play against this you know, Uh, it's gonna be tough.

You just mentioned Sugs, so you know, joining the Orlando Magic, Suggs is there who's really good defender.

Obviously we know what you came up.

By the way, I must say I saw you guard when you were in Detroit in particular, and I don't know if you remember this game. It was at the Palace and then you did it again at the Oracle. But I saw you probably guard Steph is good. I've ever seen that one guard stuff. I remember the game and I remember one for two.

Yeah, and I was just like, man, I can't screen this dude, Like.

I couldn't believe you guarded him that well. And that's when I knew, like, yo, this dude is different defensively.

But like that didn't even even I didn't even know when I had that, you know what I'm saying, Like.

It clicked my sophomore year in college, like.

Where my freshman year, I didn't even I was playing outside of my position. I was playing three guard and you know two thousand college in first half you come on on the bench, right, So that was me like my whole freshman year. So I'm like, man, I want to play, you know what I'm saying. I'm tired of

Defense works first then the offense. You know what I'm saying. And I just just carried that on.

You know when I got to Detroit, No, I uh, it didn't happened to my second year where like Staying came over.

That's when I was going the best player every night. You know what I'm saying. It just got.

I just got stronger, I got better at it, you know what I'm saying. I started learning watching the film. You know what I'm saying, and all that you know, gu ties into it. But like that didn't happen like just like it just happened, Like I don't know what they just clicked.

So what you're not being with the magic? Does that give you all the best defensive backcard in the league.

Yeah, I said that in my press conference. Don't be surprised. You see me in sub zones some all defensive team next year. So I posted made it this year too, you know.

What I'm saying. But like I don't know how that works.

Man, somebody got to move over because I wasn't qualified to make it this year. I'm not getting suspended next year, of course not make it.

So somebody got to move over, That's all I'm saying. I'm just gonna I mean a.

Lot of guys on there that I felt like I was no better than no defensively wise. You know that was on there. You know, first team, You know that, I feel like that was solid. You know who they had up there? Uh, like second team you got at least considering you know what I'm saying, k CP for sure.

You know, k CP do his thing.

I respect that fran just got his extension.

Obviously, Paulo's next up to break the bank.

What do you see.

That needs to happen with this team in order for it to take that next step? Like got the game seven, lost to Cleveland. That's that's great for a young team. But a lot of teams get stuck right there. Yeah, what needs to happen with this young team to ultimately take that next step?

I feel like they got the formula already, you know what I'm saying. I feel like they Uh. One of the reasons they bringing me over.

I feel like they didn't have a lot of shooting you know what I'm saying where you know, you put you put a lot on you know, Paulo and Vonn you know, to make plays.

No, but you also got to have God, they're gonna be ready to knock down their shot too.

Uh And it was like a lot of uh inexperience as well.

You know they're young.

You know, it's the first time they're making it, you know, as a young crew of your core. You know, Like I was like surprised they went to Game seven, you know, but seeing how they was, the toughness, know, the effort they.

Gave, man like they made it. It made my decision easy, you know what I'm saying to come to Orlando, you know.

Uh uh and they wanted me is just as bad as you know saying I wanted to know to be able to join their team, you know, and what I can add so like that that made it easier for like you need to make my decision, Like I'm excited about these guys, Like it's.

Just they got the formula, just just needed you.

Know what I'm saying, Like, like I said, just shooting, I would say, just watching from them, watching them through the playoffs.

Man, my brother, I appreciate you.

My dog coming on the show has been an honest in here having this conversation talking to you about your journey. Man, it's like, obviously I've been on one team and never had to make those adjustments. And it's always interesting to me to hear that journey because like I am, I keep everything the same, Like I don't. I don't adjust

New stream coach. Like I struggled with those things, and so.

I said, it's a hard adjustment, you know, no matter you don't know what you're walking into. You know how the team, how the organization is, Like how like the trainers are you know.

Everybody around you?

Uh, But like I would say, every team I've been on, either it's somebody that came with me previous team, or I'm going to a team where I know someone you understand, which made it easier, you know what I'm saying, to be able to just come over there and like just fit right in.

You know, I know one person all I know everybody else. Uh and every team I've been on. I like it's been that way. So Alex Crew.

So one of my my good friends. Man, today I got traded. I signed with LA I didn't know he was playing with the G League team and I played against him in college.

Wow.

So like's just having them type of like friendship, you know, and like people that you know. Man helps out a lot when when when you're adjusting to new teams and new cities.

Getting traded, you know, having like with Cools, having brid there is about the only thing that saved washing it.

I appreciate you man.

Brother from the resort world, we appreciate y'all to it And now Vegas baby Peace.

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