Jayson Tatum

fan duel sports book makes it easy. Man. I'm honored to welcome this next guest to the show, a guy who number one, I've had the chance to win a gold medal with, but also someone who I've had the opportunity to build a relationship with, to call a little brother, to try to share knowledge that I've learned over my teen years and and give it back to the younger guys that's taking this league by the storm and taking

over the league. And so I'm honored to welcome this next guest, all star, another all star on The Draymond Green Show, none other than Jayson Tatum. J T. What's up, my brother, My dog. Appreciate you, Adam. Absolutely, I appreciate you coming on. Man. I've been you know, we we we're trying to keep this thing going man, and having all stars on here like you can't. You can't show up unless your resume right, man. So you know, I appreciate you coming on live with us to keep that

street going. No, no probb, no problem. Absolutely. But you know, first off, I wanna obviously this will be a lot about you, about your career, and I want to know, uh number one and starting off, man, one of the things that I admire most about you, and this is even before I really got to know you. It's just how how you are as a father. And you know, we all see the pictures of you induce Um. You know,

we see him with you all the time. But as you and I both know, in this life, a lot of a lot of things can be staged, you know, but getting an opportunity to know you and seeing how handsome you are with him, um, it's one of the things that I admire about you. So first off, I just want to know, like, how is it for you being a father to your son? Man? Uh? I mean, as you know, it's it's about far uh the best thing in life. Um, you know, bigger than any accomplished,

any award, any amount of money. Um, that genuine you know relationship, especially like I gotta I got a son, so as he's gotten older and I've gotten older, just our relationship and it's almost like that's my mini meet, right so like and I've had the privilege in the honor of like, you know, I had him when I was nineteen. I didn't I ain't playing it. It was an accident, so be it. But us you know, him growing up, you know, as as a as a kid and and me growing in my career and basically you know,

we're sharing this journey together. Um, and that was that was a big thing for me that you know, first year in the league and you know he was born, um Decemberien. You know, I wasn't going to sacrifice either. I wasn't going to let one take me from the other. I was gonna, you know, in a way to take on both challenges, Like I'm gonna be the best father I can be and I gonna be the best basketball player I can be. And we know we're gonna make it both work at the same time. And it's not

really like work. You know, it's it's now has become second nature, Like you know, that's just part of my my routine as part of my day. It's just like what I'm saying me and Duce, you know, we're rocking out. That's incredible, man. I think I love it, man, because I know for me personally, um, you know, I have two daughters as well, and and you know that relationship. I look forward to you one day having a daughter because that relationship with them girls, it's just a little different.

Like obviously, but like you said, with your little man, it's like you're mini me, you know, And that's that's kind of how I you know, that's how I am with DJ. It's like, you know, people see him on the sideline at the games, but like he had all the practice like this dude feel like he's a part of the team. Like he'd be saying stuff to me like hey, you you went to the gym without me, Like everybody wanted to see me and they don't want

to see you. And you know, but that's it's so important to be able to share the journey with them, you know, because the reality is our kids are growing up totally different than we grew up, you know what I'm saying, Like they're growing up with a silver spoon, you know, they're growing up with access to all of these different things, to a totally different life than we

ever grew up with. And and my my everyday thing or my everyday thought, it's like, how do I give to my kids, and especially my son, how do I give to them what Saginaw gave to me that I know Saginaw isn't given to them. How can I still instill some of that in them? You know? And and so I think for me that's the big thing. And that's why I love how hands on you are with him, how much you have them around, because man, that's like

you can't you can't pay for that experience. And so it's such a beautiful thing, manure and you that's the million dollar questions. Like you said, we worked so hard to give our kids, you know, a life, a better life than than we had growing up. And like that's

what you're supposed to do as a parent. But you spot on, like you know, especially like raising young men, you know, how do I instill that that toughness so that would work ethic that you know, just living in St. Louis every day that you know, it's just a part of my everyday life. Whereas you know, Deuce he come to NBA games, he's sitting courtside in the locker room. He on private jets. We're going to the the islands. Like all he knows is paradise and and and and new

sneakers and all that. So it is like, uh, especially as you get older, it's something that I definitely got worked on of, like that that balance of right of life, you know, enjoying this life but understanding that like you know, you gotta at some point you gotta work for life of your own. But now that's definitely the million all question.

I think. You know, you know, one of the interesting things that I did when when you when you think about um, really setting your kids up for the future, which I think is is a very important thing, and you start talking about a will and a it's like for me, my girls get money at eighteen. My son

don't get money until one. Because the reality is it's like for my girls, I don't want them to ever feel like or a guy to ever feel like he can control them because of something that he have, or for them to feel like man, I need to turn to this guy to rely on them. But for my son at eighteen, are bro like you? What you're doing like, you're going to school, You're going to work? Like, what's up? What you're doing like? And the maturity level of guys

and girls are a little different as well. Guy's matrot slower. So that's kind of something that I'm That's something that I am doing with my kids. And I thought I thought that was the right way to go up. At least I think it is. We'll see. I think parenting is all trial and error, and that is all it is, trial and error. I tell people talk it ain't no perfect way to be a parent. You know what I'm saying. You gotta figure it out. Did you go? Absolutely? Man?

But take take me on your journey. Man. You went to Shamana prep um home of David Lee, home of Brad Bill and then you come through there. Uh at you know, a school that's all had already put out to all stars and you're coming through that. What was it like? Um, just going to Shamana, Like, I know, you could have went to a a public school uh in St. Louis, but you decided to go to Shamana, which seems to be working for the for the guys from St. Louis. What what was behind that decision? For you,

I ain't had no choice. That was my mom from the from the middle, from elementary school. My mom was like, you're going to a hall boy Catholic school, Like you don't need no distractions from eight to five every day, Like it's all about books and bagsketball. So yeah, I wanted to go to a public school with all you know, people in the neighborhood and all my friends from here. You but I, like, I just knew that wasn't the thing.

I knew I was going to one of these. We got like like five private schools in St. Louis that are all boy. We are in the same conference. But it was just perfect time because you know, um, Brad's mom was my mom's volleyball coach in high school, and Brad grew up. We grew up in the same neighborhood. It was like four minutes from my crib. So I went to Shamanad in middle school and my my first year was his last year. So when I was in seventh grade, Brad was in in talk grade. So that

was really the you know the stamp. Just um, I had a perfect role model, a perfect like visualization every day of who I wanted, like where I wanted to go, where I wanted to be, and like he was he

was living proof um. You know. So getting to see him every day in the classroom, working out after practice, him dropping me off from school every day and going to the games, and you know, seeing him put on the show, it was like it was it was a perfect scenario for me because this was like I want to get to where he's getting to and I get to see you know, his everyday routine, um up close. So you know, home forever. Thankful for that, for being

in that position. That's incredible. And and as you went through high school, so well you're going from seven grade to eighth grade, Brad goes on the Florida spent one year at Florida, then he goes to the league. Once he left Shalmana, did y'all relationship continue to grow or was there like a gap where y'all kind of fell out of contact or has that always been a constant to someone that's always been directing you? Oh no, that's

he like that's like Brad is the big brother. You know that I didn't have right, Yeah, even when he got to the league. I remember on it was either my freshman or sophomore year, Like one of my spring breaks, Brad was like he just texted and he's like, yo, like ask your man, can you come up here and just like come check with me and come to a couple of games. I'm like, all right, but I'm out. Like like I went up to d C. I spent like a week with him, him and his brothers Um

went to a couple of games. But like even in the summertime, Brad would come home and it would be times where he would pull up in front of my crib nine o'clock in the morning he called me, I'm sleep. He called me like, yo, come on brother, outside, I'm damn all right. Let me get in the shower. And I would just like I would get in a call with him, We go get some we go work out, and then we go his crib, played the game Chill, and then we go work out again and he takes

me home. Like It's plenty of tim summers where I like would spend the whole day with him and like just we just be out. But it was always just like he always was telling me that, you know, he wanted to do for me with you know, nobody did for him. And you know, from that point on, I've always had, you know, none but love and the most respect because you know, he didn't have he didn't have to do that, right he from day one, he always told me he wanted me to be better than him.

You know, he wanted me. He wanted to show me, you know, the ads and out of the things that he wished he knew. Um, and you know, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Brad. So yeah, we as as I got older, we got much closer. Um. Brad was the first person to take me to the club and I was like when I was like sixteen, and uh yeah, he took me to the club a couple of times. My mama found out, she custom out, but it was all of after that, Like that's the

kind of relationship that that we had. Like my mom cuts Brad out in front of my house one day, like you got my son at the club. He still got stuff to lose, blah blah blah. But it was just the principle. She wasn't really mad, but she had she couldn't act like she was cool with it. But yeah, Brad's first person to take me to the club, like, yeah, we did it. That's an incredible man to have someone like that that you've known from that age to continue

to show you the way. You make sure you get that back to somebody, bro, because that's that's that's that's important. That's how we continue to grow our game. That's how we continue to to grow as as young men most importantly, you know what I'm saying, as professionals. So you make sure you get that game to the next guy, because that's that's how this that's how this cycle go, man.

And I think that's such a beautiful thing. And him him saying like I want you to be better than me as good as Brad is, You're you're you are him at six ten, which which already kind of push you in in a different like not not not a different category because y'all both all stars, you're both elite, like y'all both scored with the best of them, but six being six ten and being able to do that, that automatically just puts you in a different place because there's only Katie Um at six ten who can do

that maybe Katie and I actually got. I actually got and I had a great opportunity to see that this summer, and and what I told everybody, Um, and I'm jumping all over the place a little bit, but this is just still so natural, so will will rewind a little bit. But what I told everybody was on our team, it was Katie team, like USA team, it was Katie team, as it should have been. He was he was one

of the most experiences Katie. But it felt like to me, and I want to I want to hear your thoughts, it felt like to me, you were being primed for it to be your team. That's next go around and maybe Katie come back, Maybe Katie don't. But I felt like he was priming you like a j T. Go give me a bucket, man, he's your turn, Come on now, go give me some buckets. And hearing the conversation, but also seeing how everyone else on our team when it wasn't Katie, everybody was turning to you, and you had

games where you took go over. So I like, how how are you did you feel that? Are you seeing? That? Is that the goal? Like? What is your goals moving forward with USA? Yeah? Now, I think I think you spot on. I think that played a huge part in

my decision. I think I remember you calling me in a summertime and like telling me, like, Bro, I remember, I'll never forget you said, Bro, forget all this stuff about rest, like we can rest when we retire, and I don't, like, like yeah if I'm only like I got the rest of my life after basketball to rest and do what if I won't, And like this is you know, nothing is promised, like this is a special opportunity. So after talking to you, and then the next thing

was like, well s k K on the team. And I think for me, like I remember being fifteen years old and going to k Kemp and d C and like how excited I was to be there and fast forward, you know, play in against some of the playoffs flash year and then now being on the same team as him, and like getting to see how somebody that like I looked up to at one point, like how he'd go about his routine and how he worked, how he you know, just think and see the game, you know, on a

personal level, like we're gonna be on the same team. That was for me. I was like all right, yeah, I'm going and I remember being in and out there in Vegas, and like, I remember the first day we scrimmaged, and I remember we played the Select team and they kicked the ask. The first day. We was out of shape. We was out of shape. We wasn't used to playing

with each other. But I remember specifically coming down on the wing, somebody kicked me the ball and on the Celtics, I would have shot it and it was like a halfway like I could have shot it, and I just remember k was to the next it was to the right of me, and I passed it to him and I remember he got mad at me. He was like he was like, yo, don't look for me, Like he

was like, be yourself. I need you to kill And I was like damn, Like that was the first time I was like like no, like he wants me to who too, Like don't look at it, like that's Katie, Like no, we're on the same team, Like he needs me to do me on this team and not like

I mean you you you're right? Like is It definitely started to feel like that, like obviously we all knew his team, but just somebody like that in the middle of a game, you know, he comes down the court, he telling me to post up to give me the

ball to go score. I was like all right, like yeah, I'm I'm getting I'm I'm I'm I'm working towards getting to that level, like I'm earning the respect of somebody like that, and ultimately, like that was obviously us winning it, but like that was one of my favorite parts of

you know, being on the team. Um just kind of like at that moment, if I you know that makes sense, No, absolutely, And I actually remember the exact moment that you're talking about when he when when you swang the ball to me, Like, hey man, come now, I remember that exact moment. But I thought it was great because, like I said, the reality is right, you should you you should. It's on you to carry USA for the at least the next two cycles, you know, like like that's your thing moving forward.

And like I said, even if Katie come back on the next cycle for Paris, that's almost him just like coming to past the Patton, Like yeah, I still have got it and I'm still cold and I love it. Who but I'm really coming to past the Patton. And so I think, uh, like that should be your mindset and what also should be your mindset is regardless of whatever happens this summer, I mean or this season, this playoffs, you should be dedicated to having the absolute best summer

of your life. And you already work, but but there's more to be done because your only goal next year, going into next year should be like, no, I'm one going to be the MVP of the NBA next year. You should be the m v P of the NBA next year with your skill level with like you've been doing this now. Say, a lot of people don't don't

realize how young you are. I didn't either until we got to the Olympics and I'm just sitting there and we all kicking it, and then some of the questions you was asked, I'm like, man, I oh here baby, But you like you've been doing it at this level since you came into the league your rookie year, which is now with five years, and so people tend to think like, oh, no, like you just one of us. You know what I'm saying, like, oh yeah, like no, he just wanted us because at the because of the

level you've been doing that. But the reality is you still can't place replace that experience. You still can't replace those years of gaining wisdom, and so it was super refreshing to me when you start asking some of the questions you was asking. I'm like, oh, Ship, like this is fun for me, like being able to share something. Like it's one thing to share a game, get game to a young dude, Like, that's all great, it's fun.

I love to do it. It's a totally different thing to get some game to a star, like to a young star. That's a totally different thing. And so for me, I'm like, oh, man, like this is this is gonna be fun, Like I I enjoy that. And so I think that should be your number one goal going into next year. Bro, Like you should be thinking nothing else. No, I mean you, You're definitely right. Uh. And I think this is gonna be my first kind of full summer,

uh since I've been in the league. I played on the Fever team in twenty nineteen, I got injured, come around and Covid hit and that was the shortest offseason you know, NBA history, And then last year, uh, you know, we was in training camp with USA while the season

was still going on. So it was just it's always been something so I'm definitely, you know, after this season, you know, handled this season first, but uh, this off season coming up is something I'm really really looking forward to, uh, because you're right, like, and I think the Olympics had

a lot to do with that. Um, you know, coming off the Olympics and winning a gold medal and being with you guys, like the best players in the world, like as competitive as the game's where, but just going through practice when we're spilling the teams up, scranging each other problem five, Like, there's nothing better than that in

the summertime at that point. So just coming into the NBA, like I've been competing against and with the best players in the league all summer and then carrying that into the into the season is like that Honestly, it's the best way to prepare, uh, you know for a season.

You know. What's crazy is one to one of the main reasons I wanted to do Olympics last year was so I could stay in great shape leaving out of last season to come into this season because in my mind, I'm like, yo, I want to get back to an all star level, and I know the key to me playing at an all Star level is simply being in shape. And so I'm like, the Olympics will help me roll right into September and shape and I can hit the ground running into the season. And so I definitely feel

where you're coming from. And like, even for me going back to the Select team days when I played on the Select team, like I'm like, yo, I got better this week, Like I'm playing these guys, I got better, you know what I'm saying. And so I think that's a I think that's a really big deal. And speaking of of our USA team, you're now head coach um email Udoka who he was, he was one of our

one of our assistant coaches with the USA team. Got to spend a lot of time around him, see what type of duty is kind of see his coaching style, and I thought it was great. And one one observation that I've had in watching your game is is Um and y'all play but in your game and I feel like you've taken the next step in that it's like it's less side step three, you know what I'm saying, It's less like you're a tough shot taker and a

tough shot maker, you know. But I think I think there's a time and a place to take tough shots. Like there's a time when you gotta take tough shots, and then there's a time when you're that good that you go get the shot that you want. You know what I'm saying. And I feel like you're you You're finding that balance. And I was wondering, like if is that something that that e May and eight Miles. I know you you you talk a lot to eight Miles to somebody who helped me a lot over the last

couple of years just understanding the game. What what impact has those guys had in coming in and on on your game individually? Yeah, I think I think it's a combination a couple of things. Obviously, Uh, you know the new staff um and you know he may being a new coach and just like a different sort of philosophy, right. You know, people always ask me, you know, what's the difference between Brad and eMate? I mean, they just different

front people. Like they both great basketball minds, but you know, they just kind of approach things differently, and that doesn't make one better than the other. But you know, I appreciate them both. I had Brad my first four years, and you know, I'm thankful for him a lot. And now you know, being with email. UM. And also I think I'm just I'm still I'm still young, but I'm getting older at the same time. So game, the game is sawing down, and I'm learning to like read the

game a lot differently than I did two years ago. Right, it's sawing down for me. UM, knowing when the like you know, exert more energy and when to save energy and things like that. Thing I just didn't think about, you know, my second and third or even my fourth year. Right. Uh. So I think having a new staff sometimes just having a new voice can be helpful. Um. But you know, I love having email. Um. Obviously we start it off, it was rocky, you know, up and down. UM. And

I mean I think that's just part of it. Obviously, what expectations. People just want you to adjust like that, and the reality is this is you know, if things take time, right. Uh. But one thing I've appreciated is that he's he's definitely coached me, um, you know, coach me hard and held me accountable and and held everyone accountable. UM. And I think that's something that that we definitely needed. UM. And when we got like an open, open door policy,

everybody can boys stay opinion. Um, you know, regardless you know, the top man or the fifteenth man. You come in and work every day. You got something to say, you can say it. And I think that's definitely made us better. Um, you know his last two and a half months. No, it's incredible. I mean to see where your team has gone from even like when we played y'all in uh in Boston, I think it was in December, and then when we just played y'all we can week and a

half ago, totally different team. And I think it all starts on the defensive end, which like you know, you know when you when when the coach is good, when the coach you can judge a coach of their team defense, like if a team can't defend, look no for her to the coaching staff, like like coaches chief defense. And and it's a sign of accountability and all its just everything that is about it, a sign of your team's toughness to your mental focus, Like that's a coaching thing.

And I think where y'all defense is and and but but more importantly, not even so much of how good it's been, but the philosophy of it, like that took some figuring out, like to figure out, we're gonna start robbing out next each other. This is how we're gonna guard. We're gonna switch one through five or switch one through four.

Y'all switching one through five most of the time. Um, and then we're forcing everything to ride at the rim and like guys are over extending, guys are pressing up and literally forcing you right into him, and he cleaning up all mistakes at the rim. Like to get to that philosophy, it takes some some twisting and turning, like y'all switched lineups a couple of times, Like you know,

it takes some stuff to get there. And and I think that's like I said, I think that's a big coaching thing and a move that they made that has changed your season. No, you you're absolutely right, and it did. Like we was not We wasn't used to that at first, Like you know, i'd be the first one to say I was a little hesitant because I had only known one way for four years and uh, I would you know, not my not last year, but my first three years.

You know, we was always a top five defense. We wasn't this good, but I just was so accustomed to doing things a certain way, and I think part of growing is being open to change and that's something I've definitely learned this season. Um and you know it was not perfect first, but I think once we really bought in and once we got healthy and obviously has been working. And I think a part of it is, like it

definitely is coaching. But I think you know, when you look at the teams that got the best defenses, like they got guys in their team that like they give them were customer absolutely, like like guys that like give a fuck on defense, and like now you know, and like the teams that got the best even like that's something that we you know, hold everybody accountable from the

first man to the last man. Was like, all right, we might not be like the best offensive team, but like we're gonna hang out head on this defensive band. And everybody got pulled their weight. And because if al in your fifteen is gonna be switching on the guards and pressuring and things like that, and there's no excuse for you know, somebody they second the third year, and

you know that's something that we just relate everybody. It's it's incredible and I think, uh, including me, I think when when y'all brought out back, everybody's like, what the hell right, but like that it made no sense. And and then until you realize like j T still super young, j B still super young, Marcus Smart he got a little a little more experience, but he's still young. Rob's

still young. And when you put it in those terms, especially for me who's now in a year ten and understand, like Smart right now is in a position I was in a like a couple of years ago where we sucked, but he's kind of right in that space, so like not quite like that VET, but almost there, you know. And and so bringing out back right now, when I think about it, I'm like, yeah, it makes total sense because y'all need did that VET to look to, you know what I'm saying, And so I see that now.

But and then also the fact that he's he and things that he teached Robert Williams as well, and so I think that's huge. But in speaking to Robert Williams, um having an incredible year, having a defensive Player of the Year caliber type of season. Um no one talks about his offense. He's one of the best passing big man in the League right now. And I take that with a grain of salt, because jokers passed better than

all the point guards. So we're not putting nobody in Joker category here a little different than everybody, but so we're gonna just count Joker as a point guard. We're not talking about Joker. But just like big man, big men who are like legit big man don't have the ball all the time, Robert Williams is one of the best passing big man that I've seen, and no one talks about it, and I think, I think that's a

huge loss for y'all. Um, what what like what can y'all do to feel that role because there's not one guy that can do what he does to bring to that team. Man man, Listen, First of all, feel terrible for Ra just seeing him the first day. He came in and out hard. He's worked in the strategy, he's made to be where he's at, and it's like he's just barely like scratching the surface of like where he can get to, Like this is like his first full year like playing starting like being a core part of

our team, and he's seeing where he's taking us. So I feel terrible for him. Because I just know that his confidence was at an all time high. He was like really feeling good about himself. And I mean guys like him, it's not like you said, it's not many

guys like him that passed as well as you do. Uh, extreme live threat on offense, don't need don't like he don't need the ball, and you know, the best defender on our team, so like you don't you can't replace the guy like that when you know, when you go down with injury. Um, but I think you know it's it's cliche that sound. It's just like next man up and time we gotta figure it out. Five games left, we're going into the playoffs, you know, Uh, you know,

speedy recovery for him. You know, I told him to take his time, don't you know when you feel a d percent you know didn't come back, but you know, we just gotta try to hold it down until he does, because you know, it's not we don't have a guy on our team like so everybody else's gotta gotta do more and step up. But you know, he was having an unbelievable season. Absolutely speaking to him as a live So check this out. When we played you'all in Boston.

We played you in Boston. We're going to shoot around. I have been watching a couple of y'all games before, and I see this dude catch some crazy ass lives. Speaking of which this dre won Green show. Bro, you say whatever the hell you want to say on here, that's how we al. But I see this dude catching these crazy ass lives, I'm like, Yo, this is wow. So I'm I'm like rewinding back through it, like trying to figure out, like where did where was the coverage

messed up at? And for for those that don't understand, if if Robert Williams is in the drop or I mean if a big is in the drop on the pick and roll and Robert Williams is rolling, that big is taught. So the big when I said a drop, that mean he's his guy is setting the screen and he's a little beneath him, so the guard can't turn

the corner. That's a drop. And the most big five men playing the drop on on in the pick and roll, and you're taught as the big man to never let the roller, which would be Robert Williams get behind you. Once you let the roller get behind you, your dead. So I. So we're in shoot around earlier before the game.

Earlier that day. It was an eight o'clock game in Boston, so we had to shoot around and I stopped to walk through, and I'm like, fellas, listen, y'all have to understand, if you are even with Robert Williams, he's going to dunk on you. He will catch the lib on your head. I just watched him catch three of them on a D in one game. If you're even with and that's a D. If you're even even with him, he's going to catch it on your head, So you gotta stay below.

And I'm like animated. I'm telling them and everybody like, all right, I got it, and I get in to pick a roll and now I'm dropped and I thought I was beneath him, and he still caught the lib on my head. I'm like to have that threat where you literally just put it up anywhere and he gonna get it through it. People don't understand, And I love to hear your thoughts on it to me, having a live threat Robert Williams. Javel McGee for what they do

for DeAndre Aiden's a good one as well. What they do for your for your floor space, and it's equal to what a shooter does for your floor space because you can't leave the body. What are your thoughts on and you get you you had the opportunity to play like play with someone like that on the daily. I've had that before in the past. What are your thoughts on having that live throughout the dunker, Because I think it's just as important as having a shooter, the space,

the floor. It just it makes it your offense so much more dynamic. Right, you got somebody like me coming off the pick and roll. Nobody ever is going under, right. I wish I would, I wouldn't mind it, But they're not going under. So you gotta chase me over the top. Because if you go under, the stopped behind them shooting a three. So if you got somebody chasing me over the top. And like you said, most traditional bigs are in drop, you know a lot more recently they corralling

or up to touch. I gotta get out of my hands. But you got somebody chasing me over the top. So now I got the defender in jail. He behind me, So now you gotta make a decisions. And you know, somebody's athletic is robbed. Even when I get in trouble and I don't got nobody, you just throw it in the area. So now you you're wondering if you want you want to try to stop me from scoring or you won't. You don't want to get because most big don't want to get up a live. They hate going

in the film and giving up a lot. No big once stay man to score. That is uh, that is a fact, and we all knew it absolutely so it just like you said, just like having to shoot, it just makes it so much more dynamic, especially as athletic as a rob or like Jabelle may get somebody that long. Uh, you just stow it up and they go get it. Absolutely man, I think I think it's incredible. I wish him was speedy recovery as well, so I you know,

have an appreciation for the growth of y'all. A's a team and you know we've been dealing with a lot of injuries. You hate to see teams loose anything because of injury. So definitely wishing the speedy recovery. But and still speaking of your team, for years, there's been this whole notion of you and jay Len Brown can't play together. Again, y'all are so young in your career. The fact that people want to write it off already is kind of tough.

But in the same token, um it is. In the same token, it's also respect to y'all and what y'all have done, because, like I said, since y'all came into it, y'all been doing it at this level. And so for for everybody in their mind, it's been more than four years, you know, because your rookie year, y'all went to the Eastern Conference Finals. You're dunk on Lebron James. You know, like this this is your rookie year. So for everybody, they've now been seeing it for so long in their

mind it's like that can't work. They need to move on. The reality is that hasn't had any time, any time to manifest itself into what it could possibly be. I am. I am extremely happy to see it working because I have a huge amount of respect for Jaylen Brown the player he is. I mean, the way he handled and shoot the ball now, like he worked on his game

like there's no other way to slice it. That he that guy who he was five years ago at Cal He that gout work on his game like there's no other way to slice, and so I'm happy to see it working. But what what was the key for you and and and him blocking out all the noise and and understanding that ultimately, bro, we got each other and people are gonna talk and they're saying this, but at such a young age y'all having to go through that

and work you'all way through that. What was the key for y'all to stick together and say, like, we're gonna figure it out together. Yeah. I think it's a lot to digest there, I think. Uh So my first year was his second year, JB went. JB been in the conference finals three times. He went the year before when I got there, and then the bubble year and I've been twice. Um, so we've had way more success then

we haven't. You know. Last year, you know, it was the weirdest season in NBA history with protocols, no fans, Guy's dealing with COVID, no vaccine, like, it was the weirdest season. He get hurt. We was a seventh seed, we made the playoffs. You know, it wasn't great. Started off rocky this year, so it was like it was like a rough year and a half and you know, we didn't play great that time, but it is what it is. But we've had way more success together then

we haven't. We you know, we've made the playoffs every year. And I think in this league what I've realized this everybody you can't Everybody would say you can't win until you do. Nobody can win the championship. Nobody could be the best pay on the championship team until they do it, until until you do it, like and and the narrative just like that's just what it is, like book like, he wasn't a winner until his you know, he had some pieces around him and he went to the championship.

Now he is like, no, we all knew how good he was and what he could do. He just no, no, not to the guys on this team. They just weren't that good. So like, I think, we can't figure it out until we win the championship and then it's like, all right, they can win. And I think that's just like the world that we live in. And once you understand, like that's just the business of what we do. And you know, yeah, it seems like we've been together forever.

It's been five years, but I just turned twenty four and and and JB is only twenty five. Well they say you don't reach your prompt till nine, So now it's yeah, thirty, so we can just say thirty. So if you look at that point, like DN, we still like not as good as we gonna beat. And for us,

we are two of like the most competitive guys. I think the best one of the best things for my career and his is that we've been on the same team and that we worked with each other, worked out play one on one a million times, Like I push him and he pushes me, and it's been and it's a healthy competitiveness and environment between us. And like you said, the strikes that he's made from this first year and and to who he is now, he's he's made the

All Star Game last year. I was extremely happy for him, just knowing how far he's come and like who the player is now, Like like you said, saying what he does now, that only means that he worked on his game,

Like that's all that that means. So and I know that about at him, and I know like how bad JB wants to win aside from everything else, and like we trust each other enough and like I've been in enough close games, I've been in enough playoff series where I know, like if I have I got number seven on my team, I know, I like I believe he gonna do whatever it takes for us to help to

win this game. Like we didn't want enough close games together, enough playoffs series, We're like, I know, push come to shove.

He got my back and I got his. And as fine if the whole world doesn't see that or know that, or like we're not posting on Instagram with each other hanging out every day or this and that, and like that's fine, but we like as long as we know and the people in that locker room know that, like, you know, we and this together, and I think it just makes for it's gonna make for a better story, you know, whenever we do hang that banners like no, we can you know, we can't do this together. Absolutely.

I think for a while, I always hoped that y'all can figure out who's the one and who's the two. And in my mind, no disrespect to JB, he's in incredible talent, a great player. I think you're you are a generational talent. And so when you have a generational talent that automatically makes you the number one. The Wayne way, it was a number two in Miami when Lebron went there and told Lebron gonna be number two, you go be number one. Probably one of the greatest twos Kobe

was a number two. Is shot right being the number two. It's not a bad thing. You know, we we live in this world. They try to make it like it's a bad thing. Being number two is not a bad thing. And one thing you should understand as a number one, don't take your number two for granted, because there's not There's not many twols that can go for forty and just go get you forty in a night like Ain't many twols that do that. Only the great teams got that.

And so I think it's very important for you to understand show him his love, give him his flowers, give that appreciation so he know he got that from you. Because when you feel that, my fuckers will go to war for you, you know what I'm saying, that's ultimately when he know you will go to war for him, he'll go to war for you. And that's ultimately how you win championships. Like you know, Marcus Smarter, go to

war for you. That's how you win championships. And I think it's very important for you as the number one to to get them guys love and support, even though they're older than you and you're younger. You just get you just kind of get thrust it into that, you know what I'm saying. And I think that's important for you to fill out as your climb. I think I'm probably more excited about your clown to this m v P than you are. But that ship give me chills, man.

I get excited about it just to see young guys doing well. Man, especially like I said, young guys that I have a relationship. But but I don't want to I don't want to hold you too long. But I got a couple more questions and as you know, I could sit here and talk to you all day, but you know we've been speaking about your career and I'd be remissed. Also, a guy who I had an opportunity to play with us well, I want to go medal with legendary coach K who you had the opportunity to

play with. For a dude, obviously we know this is his last year. Um, what what was it that Coach K? Gave you. I think I saw something where he called you a punk as St. Louis kid or something like that. Like what what was it that Coach K gave to you and your year there and beyond? Because I know, the relationship don't just stop once you leave that campus. Man, that's that is my guy. Um And like you said, I've still talk to coach at least once, if not

twice a month ever since I left school. Uh So that's something I really you know, I'm proud about my decision of going to Duke that like that's something that I cherish his relationship and that like that it didn't just stop once I walked out that door and left. Um, you know Durham. But man, now he was coaches that was he was great for me because I think initially when I first got to do you know, I knew I was only going for one year, right, but we had we had like a mix of like the six

income and freshmen. We had some older guys on our team. And part of me was like people people tell me all the time. They were like, I don't know if you know how good you are? Like people tell me that all the time. So my mentality walking in, was like, man, I'm happy to be here, Like I'm from St. Louis. I never I never thought I would go to do the university like that. It never crossed my mind like that Coach k was gonna come St. Louis and sit in my even wrong and like we want you to come.

So I was. I was so happy to be there, and initially, like there were times where I was just trying to like I was just trying to be a part of the team. I was just trying to fit in. And there were a handful of times and that was the last time. Um, we was playing a Virginia and uh a c C game. You know, the Virginia is always probably one of the better defensive teams in the country. But um, I think I think I'm making the right play, like I'm catching it, I'm making an extra pass. I'm

not really being aggressive. I've made have had like four points, but I was like two for three. I wasn't really shooting. I think we might have been up to ur it's tired of half time. I come in and I'm like, I'm feeling good about it. And I remember coach Ka came in. He took out of told his story mentime, he took his jacket off and he threw that. He threw it right at me, like it hit like hit my leg, at my feet, and he was like he just started snapping, like you saft fast. St Louis kid.

I should have left me where I found you, he said, I didn't. He used to tell me all the time. I didn't bring you here to be good, he said, I need you to be special. And like any time in the game, like the next day in film, if there was a shot, why I could have shot it. He would always pause in the film being soft, Wow, you're being soft. We don't need you to be soft.

We need you to be you. And somebody that I respected so much and that had accomplished so much thought this highly of me, and like never gave me the day off, never like let like took it easy on me. Every single moment where I wasn't being aggressive, while I wasn't doing what was best for the team, it would let me know, and I really, like, I really appreciated that, and I carried that with me. Um, you know, coming into the league, I said, but did you did you

have the opportunity to make it back for that last game. No, I did not. I did not. I wish I did. But I remember I remember watching that. I watched at the house, and part of me felt like like I've seen every like you know, Grant Hill and Christian later JJ red J Williams. Uh, you know all these guys that like I went there for four or five years,

call those boozing, and I'm watching it. I'm like, alright, like I went to Duke, but they like really they like really went to do like they spent four or five years that I spent one. So like I don't like that that might have been more for them, Like I might have felt a little bit out of the place. I like, and I'm thinking that, like I might have felt a little out of place, like damn, like they really like they had four or five years and I only had one. But it was it was special seeing

all those guys come for his last game. Obviously, you know we lost, but we're gonna redeem ourselves. You know this Saturday Final four. If you ain't you got time, you should watch it. Uh, you know we're gonna be on TV. Yeah, I'm gonna watching. Man send me your cash if too, Man, I owe you some terrible that terrible guys beating my spartans man. But I'm still pissed about that because we should have won that game. Still

pissed about that. But uh number one, as a four year guy, me being there four years and Miles being there too, or Gary Harris being there too, that don't make me more of a Spartan than them. Like I'm a Spartan there, Spartan. We all went through the grind. At the end of the day, you step that you had to go through there to get to where you was going. Whether they took you one year or whether it took you four, it don't matter. That's a part of your ground. That's a part of your journey. You

are just as entitled to that. That's them now. I what I will tell you is for me personally, Guys that want a national championship, even if it's not my team Kleaves, you know what I'm saying. If it's not Magic Johnson, guys who won a national championship I, regardless of my jersey retired, regardless of any of that, you want a national championship. I didn't. You're ahead of me, bro,

Like that's just what it is. You know what I'm saying, and so I can't understand, like the guys that want a national championship, but that don't just mean because they were there for four years. Now, that's bullshit. You learned to keep just like they earned their key. So understand that, man. Hey, But before we get out of here, man and wrapping up, like what's what what? What's what's next? What what's it for the Celtics where you see y'all going this year?

What's like? What is it success this year for the Boston Celtics. Oh? Man, I think I've seen it on Twitter yesterday. We we both lost last night, right, And I think I remember they may have asked some of the similar questions, but I remember it. You know, they're saying like what can you take, like how do you feel? What can you gain from this loss? And I remember I said, I was like, ain't no moral victories, like you either win or you lose. And I've seen something

you said like the same thing last night. So obviously you've been to the mountain top of a couple of times, like you like you know what it takes to get there, and me playing for the Celtics, I ain't If you you win a championship or you don't. That's like, that's that's it, that's that's that's it for us. You know, hopefully, uh you know, we get ribbed back, you know, when we can and stay healthy. Um, you know, I'm excited, man,

it is It's that time of the year. The playoffs is like, you know, there's nothing like the playoffs and now it's you know, everything back normal game. Um, you know, so I'm looking forward to it. Obviously these last it's last week and I had these next you know, five games,

just trying to figure out, you know, who we're gonna play. Uh. But yeah, you know, we've been playing as well as anybody, and you know, um, you know, we love our chances and as as well as you know everybody probably, so you know, I goes just the same as y'all go. I don't think everybody in the playoffs love their chances. Shot most people, say most people, somebody. Some of these dudes just happy to get to the playoffs, don't get it twisted. I'm so happy not to be in that

the playing game. That's what I'm grateful for. Hey, it's been two years since I played in the playoffs. Man, we played in the playing the game last year was fun, it was cool, but I need it, Like that's when I played my best basketball, So I need that. Bro. I appreciate you coming on, Man. It's been an honor and a pleasure just coming on the show of your journey.

I enjoy these conversations and just listening and getting to you know, here others journeys and you know, how it may be similar to mine, how it may be different, you know, and everybody's journey. Everybody got their own story, you know. So I appreciate you coming on and sharing sharing yours with us. Year five, already on your way to a Hall of Fame career. And I remember I said that to you this summer when we were talking about USA, Like, Bro, this is all about trying to

build Hall of Fame resumes, Bro, and you're doing that. Man, stay locked in, Bro, you should. If you don't get m VP next year, you're weak. Is fucked. I appreciate you coming on the Draymond Greeny Show. Got dog My Man appreciates you, Yeah, sir,