The Draymond Green Show - Kyle Kuzma

fan duel sports book makes it easy. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show. This next guest, um, I feel like this is supposed to happen a long time ago, but it's finally happening. I'm excited about it. You know, I'm from Saginaw, Michigan, as most of you may know, and Sagonall happens to neighbor a city that goes by the name of Flint. Now we're not directly next to each other, but we're close enough. And this

next guest, hells from Flint, Michigan. Got that Flint Saginaw connection is different than you only understand that if you're from there. Nonetheless, as you know, we got high standards on this show, and this man is definitely a champion. Welcome Kyle Kuzman to the show. What's up, my brother?

Appreciate the generous introduction. Appreciate that no doubt. Man, I must say, um, if you see my outfit, I had on some nice pants, having a nice D R T shirt, some nice kicks, and I looked out the window and the only reason I was dressing like that because I'm like, Cool's gonna come in here, you know how he comings rast so but I'm gonna throwing something to look halfway decent. And then I looked out the window as I was getting dressed, and I said, oh, man, Cool's dressed down.

I could get comfortable. So you know, I got you saying I'll come to your house keeping this real simple and chill. I appreciate that, you know, but you you got a certain standard and a certain expectation when they come. It's not bad. But I thought she was about to come in this motherfucker with a big sweater, you know what. I'm some kids with the glasses, you know, So I appreciate that trying to step it up I wasn't gonna compete. No, it wasn't a competition. It was just so I could

sit next to you and not look like that's not compete. Now, I don't want that competition. I know the battles I can win. I know the battles. So I appreciate that problem. How your summer going, Oh man, I'm going great, man. A lot of travel, um, a lot of focused on my craft and my body getting better, a lot of

business things. Life's good right now. I can't complain. You've done something that I've noticed, not that I want to do it, but I have a huge appreciation for And I'll tell you what it is as someone and you just mentioned travel, as someone who loved to travel, being on the West Coast, you know, and during the season, I'm in San Francisco, obviously, off season, I'm in l A. You missed the Caribbean because it's so far to get there. So what do you do if you're on the West coast?

You pop down the Cabo if you're going on the trip. For me, I'm gonna probably go to Europe if I'm gonna go all the way over there, and so that that's but still far, so I've been watching you. You've been popping down to that Caribbean now that you on the East coast. Talk to me about that, because that's a that is a totally different thing that most people around that watched the NBA don't quite understand the Caribbean

or the travel aspects. Just like how how different your life is now that you're playing on the East Coast as it is when you're playing on the West coast. Oh, I mean everything across the board, like you know, like me being in l A for four years, those are the West coast trips are long, Like you gotta go play in Dallas, that's three hours, You got to play

in New Orleans that's four like some pushes. But when you're on the East coast, you know, we may play Philly, that's a twenty minute flight New York, forty minute flight, go down to Charlotte. Our flight Chicago hour and a half.

So travel is just so much more easier to get to And then you talk about offseason traveling like I'm never ever in the Caribbean, like when I when I was on the West Coast, and Grant, like my girlfriend, she is no cribbying herself, So it makes it look easier to get there, but even to get to Europe, like this is my first summer going to Europe, the first summer. You would never know that. But it's like, I don't want to travel twelve hours and miss out

on training. But now this flights six hours. I could still finago the time zones, maybe catch your FaceTime, live with my trainer or something. It's just so much more easier. So, you know, travel, it's so much better. Honestly, it's it's

a beautiful thing. I always I like to focus on those things sometimes, um and humanizing the athlete, you know, I think sometimes we live in this world as athletes where people put you on a pedestal and treat you like, oh man, you're like this superhero figure, only to do one of two things. The moment you then start to act like you're that superhero figure that they treat you like they crush you, and to complain as if nothing in your life has issues, like oh man, you play basketball,

you make a lot of money. There's not a lot of issues. And I mean this this may sound a little privilege, and it is. People are giving you that privilege of you know that that that entitlement to that privilege because out like you said, you get held to a pedestal, right, but if you do one thing wrong, Oh, we need to cancel this dude because he doesn't eat post serial. Like what what are we talking about right now?

You know? And and that's the thing that it's a new aide and you do you talk about it the best out of anybody. You know, you have the whole new media, who boo whatever, but like like just normalizing that we're humans, like we're not like the old nineteen eighty the nineteen nineties athlete that was nothing about but it was only basketball. You could not do anything. Them dudes was getting getting it in doing whatever they wanted to do. You just didn't see it, and and and

people weren't sold. Maybe and I can't speak because I wasn't in those times, but maybe not as obsessed with the athlete unless it was like a m J. You know, a Jeeter, somebody of that magnitude that was so overbearing, over powerful, beyond just like how we of social media, like anybody can be famous now. Back then it was totally different. So you know, that's something that it's not

talked about enough. You know, just like for humans, we do things, we make mistakes that you're criticizing me for this, but you're getting yelled at for taking the trash out or something. Absolutely, know what I'm saying, That's an issue in your life too. We have issues, bro, Absolutely taking trash is issue. But you know what I'm saying. No, for sure, I like the act as if there's never anything that can be off or wrong with us. You

know for sure? I think, Um, when you look at like the guys that came before us, the everything around us is just bigger now, Like we're more noticeable because of the TV, Like you're on every TV. Every game that an NBA player plays, it's on television at the time that it's happening. Like you even think the NBA Finals used to be tape delayed and so all of those things. It definitely asked to it, which this takes me to Who's hit me? Last week? And he said,

you know, I got a question for you. He said, why is nicknames not as big today as they were back in the day? Like you and and you think of uh the big Aero style with shock or diesel Um the truth? Uh the answer like your areness Eric Jordan's like and and the names go on the Black Cat, like the nicknames go on and on and on back then, but not so much today, Like you don't necessarily get nicknames today. And we were saying, why is that? And you have some interesting thoughts on it. I would love

to hear, and it's it's actually even more interesting. I saw Austin reeves Um who's on the Lakers, come out the other day. It's like he's to share two nicknames, and it's like, brother, you have not done enough in your career to be trying to share nicknames that people gave you. I was. I was really blown away when he said that, like, brother, you should take those nicknames

and try to run with her. And I definitely understand the thinking behind the A R fifteen one, But I don't think anyone's like hearing the words A R fifteen on the basketball court and thinking weapons. I personally don't think that personally, Hell Billy Kobe is lit. You better embrace that one care of me. Any any Kobe Kobe, you should be running with that. Like, by the way, if I'm him and they're calling me hell Billy Kobe, I'm trying to be in the next white man can't jump.

I'm trying to really run with that. I'm making that my mantra. I'm coming arena, I'm doing everything. Hell, Billy standpoint straight up absolutely like that's that's where the game is today. And I feel like you you can you can talk to me more about that than I can talk to you, because I feel like you and what are you? I think you're five years younger than me, and that's kind of where the errors are starting to flip. And I feel like y'all understand. And initially when things

first happened, everybody always say it's a negative. So initially you always get crushed for like having a photographer. Um, you know, all of the things that go around Brandon. Young guys are getting crushed for it. Now it's the way And I feel like you can talk to me more about that than I can talk to you, because I feel like you young guys have taken the Brandon thing and taken into new heights and Harris Austin Reeves trying to throw his away get it. Yeah, I don't

get it. You know, I think you know from I can only speak from my my example. First, you know, I'm coming into the NBA from Michigan than from Utah than to l A. Right, I have a different type of route than you ever had. I grant you won championships earlier, so many championships, everything right, But from a brand perspective, I feel like I was thrust it into this spotlight out here, and as you know, this is you know, this can make you break you, make you

a star, and throw you to the curve whatever. So for me, I had to get on it right away because I've seen it. And then I'm a very inquisitive person. I asked questions I go out. I mean, I don't know how many times I've called you in the past just for whatever, you know what I mean, having relationships colde, having relates when bron comes, and understanding and seeing what a brand really is. So for me, I took it right away, like coming in it was kus Mania, it

was like this man, who the hell is this dude? Whatever? I ran with it. My first year we made Merch T shirts for Cuzmania T shirts. I was a twenty seven pick. I made one point three or one point four million dollars on my rookie salary. Right through Merch, I made like seven offer me wow this first year, but like that's I see ship, you know what I mean, Like I'm about my business. You know, I want to make money, you know, because from Flint, you know, from

sagging all. So if I see something, I'm an opportunists. So I feel like every year you've taken the fashion side of things to a new level as well. And I must, I must admit I feel like since you're, since you're a woman has come into your life, it's

went even further. And I appreciate it because with her being a model, I feel like she's turned you one were not only to a model, but like how to work to me, And this is just the outside looking and I could be totally wrong, but it looks like you're working with these brands more and that is of

what models do. And so I that's again. I just sit back and I watched, and to me, it went from like oh man, he's dressing, Wow, he's dressing more, to like, now he's working with these brands, he's partnering with these brands, he's doing looks for these And I feel like there was kind of a more of a push once your lady came on that front. Just what it was like, and it's a different vibe, right, Like,

let's talk about industries. For example, our industry is different than their industry, completely different, and for them it's a certain way of how to operate and also to get things done and build those type of relationships. So if I'm wearing a certain type of brand, right like A nine times, I would tend like those are my people and those are people I rock with, right, But that's

how you get through and connecting that world, right. But also with her, It's just it's made me more because I've already been in tune with fashion, but maybe more into the what I need to do. And when I see her and what she does with her brand being successful, it just makes it easy for me to you know, copycat in the sense you to you know, maybe ask your questions, what do you what do you? What do you do about this? Or for me, I can just watch you and then see what you do and just

try to replicate it into my own. And you know, it's made me ten times more into it, you know what I mean, just locked in a like the little things I need to do to keep elevating in that space. Uh, what what's your end goal? Um as far as fashion goes. I know, for me, I had a like like I I always say I don't like fashion, but I like his style, Like I like to look nice, I like to dress nice, I throw a fit together, I'm cool. I don't need to look like I'm trying to dress

for g g Q or nothing like that. I just want to feel good about myself. And so for a while I had a stylus and m HM and I and I got to the point where I was like, what am I doing this for? Right? Okay, so I'm spending this amount of money, but what do I want this to equal out too? In the end, it was nothing like it was literally just like, I just want to feel good when I get dressed. So I got to the point where I'm like, I don't need that anymore.

What's the goal for you? Because I feel like you give a lot of effort to it and it shows because I think you're great at it. But what's the end goal on the fashion front for you? Man? It's so hard to always think of things like that because I'm still trying to figure out my end go basketball, Like, like I want to keep building, you know, whatever that

legacy may be whether that's all stars, more championships. Like Cold always told me, you know, you gotta keep the main thing the main thing, right, So for me to all my other interests, it's tough to always say, Okay, this is what I envisioned. Because one, I'm so damned spontaneous. I can say this one day and then I could be like, Okay, I think I like this direction a little bit more, right. But for me, I'm just I

love art. That's my biggest thing in fashion, Like we're talking about it's just a style and clothes and whatnot, but like fashion is art. You know, Like I wore a big gass pink sweater this year, right, that's an art piece. That's not that's not clothing, not wearing that to the story, not wearing that to a plane, but you know, it's a piece of art. And I just put the art on to show people like, yo, this is That's what it is. It's not just me, no,

just wearing clothes, and yeah, I feel good. I do the same thing like I wear you know to what you or someone else may think it's crazy, that's your reference point. My reference point is Joe, this is dope and it makes me feel amazing. So it's it's all the same. But you know, I'm just so creative as a person, um, you know, definitely designing or definitely that like you know, collaborating with the top brands. That's that's a big thing, you know. I just love to create

and show and express myself through other things. So that's that's And part of the reason when you signed with Puma was so you can do more in that lane as oh all day like you know, and being being with Nike, which is a unbelievable brand, you know, but like from a creative standpoint, they're not letting their athletes do things anymore like that. And unless you're like a top guy, a top done, then you get the shoes, you get the merchencings, you want to do this that

fourth Puma, I'm just in my own lane. And I've always been in my own lane. Like I'm not a follower. I don't follow people, and I do things that want to I don't want to make me happy. But also maybe money too, And no, Puma is just so great because they're just they're so flexible and they understand, they listen, and they want to you know, make not only make me feel good, but make me want to feel like

the partner I want to be. And anytime you have that type of love between two mutual things, great things are always gonna happen. So no doubt your top five. Give me, give me your top five, not including yourself. I know you will put yourself in the top that you're not in. Um, what do you mean by it? Like the guys in the leash who you like that's doing it's not like, uh, just because they're not in your top five, they're not dressing, but that your top five. Yeah,

I wouldn't even say top. I would say who I like like? Who I like I like? Obviously George Clarkson like his sway because it's him, it's himself. And when when I first came into the NBA, he was on my team, so I got in first hand, like, oh, this is a dude that's in fashion that I think it's flying. Like I'm looking up to him in certain situations because coming in I'm a rookie heat heat, a four fifth year player, and say him, uh, Frank Jackson, Frank Jackson, you know I'm not just a top guy.

You know, I see him and it's just him it's organic, it's himself. You know. I love books and book swag because it's him, you know. You know, it's certain guys in the league. You see they just put onto the the designer and they stick it all over themselves, you know. Or is it it's it's everybody wants to dress like Travis Scott. Now, everybody wants to do to the street stuff. But like, like, what's your swag? I want to see your swag? So I got those three. Chris Paul is

very clean. He keeps a real casual, very very very very mature. Like I like that fib is tough. There's a lot of guys, a lot of guys. There's a lot of guys. I feel like there was a rookie. I like, yeah, Jathen Green. I like what he's doing in the past world. He was out in Paris, he was out in Parish for his first time and uh, you know, I just watching him Brandon what shows he went to. He's doing the right thing too. So I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say those five. I respect that.

That's a good why you know, you know, who get left out of people five? Though, I have a huge appreciation for it's p J Tucker. P J. Oh yeah, p J. Yeah. PJ is there to PJ just a fly like PJ just get it money, Hey, just get it? He just get it. Man, I don't like PJ is there for me? No, p J two and But it's like it's so subjective it is, you know, like I could say my five, but I'm like, oh, well, shoot, I love p J two, but I just didn't put

them there for sure. So I can dig that. UM and and continuing in business software core because we'll get to the owner court. But uh, I see you post a lot drink bar Code. Talk to us more about the drink while you got into it, how it came about. Just tell me more about about that. Yeah. So bar Code is a drink that I co founded UM with

another partner of mine. And you know, for me growing up, not not necessarily growing up, but within my NBA world, you know, you're doing beverage deals with UM, the Gatorades or these other companies, right, but it's not necessary you you know, it's not really authentic to yourself. You know, it's like a here's the money, and take the money and then do it for six months and then your term's done. You know how it goes. But you know,

I'm not really into short time things. You know, Like if I if I want to put my my all into something like I have to be like into it has to be authentic, genuine to me. And that's what Barcode is. Like Barcode were extremely healthy. We have like two grams of sugar. Name of a sports drink, lifestyle drink that has that not really gonna find it. Um, we have adaptations in it for recovery, mushrooms in it. We have magnesium, vitamin D. How many drinks by vitamin D?

And then everybody in the world, probably of the world, is vitamin D deficient, you know I'm saying. So it just ties into who I am as a person. And I take care of my body just as much as anybody, Like like I care about myself and what I in take because that's that's my career, Like that's how I make money. I don't take care of my body. I'm not making money. So um, you know, Barko has been just a great journey for us building it out, and you know the best is to come. So and what

what have you learned? I know I've I've done. I've been involved in some business ventures where I'm like, oh man, I learned to turn from that and made a lot of money. I didn't learn much, but I made money. I learned a bunch but lost money. You know, like, what's that learning process been for you? With this deal? Some some things that when you look at this deal, you're like, I did this, like I think I did

this well. And then something that you look at you know where you are and there drinking, like I could have did this a little bit better, and now I'm tweaking that for this for a ticket, but also as I continue to move forward in business, this is a mistake I made that I know I won't make this

one again. Well, I think it's all about patients, Like we don't have patients as athletes, because I feel like, you know, I'm speaking for myself at least, because you know, I want things now I wanted right away, like like I want to be great tomorrow, boo and forth. So I have that mentality with everything, but not everything is

on that type of type of time. And one of the things I've learned with Barcode is just like you have to have patience with things, like you think like just because it's yours and it's your name, that it's gonna be easy to getting the whole foods easy to get on Amazon, on god Puffs, so it's on delivery and stuff. And you know, it's all about, you know, just having the right management and team in place for whatever business endeavor you have, you know, because it all

starts with that. Because it could be the best idea in the world, but you don't have the right management correlating everything, it doesn't matter. That's that's super dope. I think that's actually what I was getting at is the distribution, and you hit on it, So I appreciate that. That's good. That means you know what you're talking about and you're you're really into the business, which I think is is

a great thing. But switching gears many seven pick like I said earlier, from Flint, Michigan, but coming from Utah. But take me back to before you even get to Utah. Growing up in Flint. You don't go to Michigan or Michigan State. You end up at Utah. I talked to me about your recruiting journey and how it ended up being Utah for a kid that's it's going on to be who you are. Yet you didn't end up at a state a state school. Yeah, and you know that's a big deal of Michigan for you guys that don't

know anything about Michigan. Like you grow up, if you're a basketball player, your dream is to play at Michigan State or Michigan And I know, for damn sure that was mine. But you know, my journey didn't work out that way. You know, I was, and I still am, a late bloomer to a cent, to an extent, you know, growing up my freshman year in high school, I was five eight, you know, all my friends in Monte's, the Miles,

a couple of other guys. You know, by the time you're a freshman sophomore and you know, like you already had offers, you already had uh college letters all that. I didn't get my first college letter until my junior year. I didn't get my first offer until the summer of my junior going into my senior year. So I've always been behind the eight ball. But you know, growing up, I had a passion for basketball. It's all I ever

cared about. My mom um if she was working, couldn't drop me off at our y m c A. You know, I would take the bus there, I would walk them out just to get there. I'd be there all day until eight nine o'clock when she got off of work, because I really had nowhere else to go if I wasn't playing basketball. I was always a good kid, and I never want to disappoint my mom or any any family member. I didn't want to be that person got in trouble. So you know the y m c A.

That was my safe haven. That was basketball in my safe haven. And um, I'd a hell of a journey. And you know, when I look back, is just funny because it's like that's the reward in life, Like that's why I got from winning championship. Like the championship, it's

not really the reward. It's like us talking right now and I'm reminiscing on these million thoughts of uh not having money one time to eat subway, you know, while I'm at the YM, say for ten hours, Like that's that's a that's a laughing moment I can have for myself and I can keep myself forever because of that, you know what I mean. So, um, yeah, my journey

is it's wow. Wow, for sure, no, it's I think it's I agree with you when when we want our recent championship, I don't even think I touched the trophy on the stage. I don't think I touched the trophy to its time for picture because afterwards, like it's not

about the trophy, it's it's the journey. Like I'm sitting there and I'm looking at like I intentionally stood to the side, and I'm just watching guys like interact and like it's always a big deal for me to see the first time guys and like how they because you went that first one and it's like amazing, and then everyone after that is like they're incredible, but you never get that feeling again that you've got the very first

time I did it. And so for me, the thing that I get the most enjoyment from is watching the first time guys and how they react and like just the excitement they have. And for me this time, it wasn't even about that, Like I'm just standing to the side and I'm like just thinking about the journey, about Clay coming back, and like the day he'd come back, I go down with a back injury, not knowing if I'll be able to play, again that year. I worked my way back from that and the day I got back,

Steph got hurt. So then we're going into the playoffs and like our starting five hasn't played any minutes together, Like no chance we went. It's like we haven't played together. But what I and as I stood there on the side and I'm looking, it's like, oh, it's the journey. Like the journey is what you feel you feel good about. The journey is what keeps you going. It's not oh, man, I need to get another championship, it's I need another championship. Journey,

that's what keeps you going. And so to hear you speak on your journey, like I admire your journey. You like when you went to Utah, Like that's not people aren't just going from Michigan and Utah had no offer. I had no offers. That's it. That was had Utah. I had Penn State. And the reason why I picked Utah was because Larry Kristoviak he was the coach share at the time, and you know, he just had an NBA pedigree and I'm like, yo, if I that's where I want to go, I gotta go to him because

this other coach. I don't know, you know what I mean. So I'm just blind faith, Like, Okay, this dude has been where I want to go. I'm gonna see if I can learn whatever the funk I can learn from him, and let's see where it goes. It worked out, Wow, I mean I was crazy. I think he didn't go to Penn State because he didn't want to play against Michigan State. But that's a story for another day. Um just that's the green and white of me. But so

you're drafted seven pick. It was a sleeper, by the way, Like, I don't think anyone was expecting you to not only be a first round pick, but then to come in and produce the way you produced from the beginning. I felt like that, like that caught everybody off guard. What was that process like? And you hit on it a little bit. Not only are you coming in the seven pick, but you're coming in with the most story franchise and probably in sports history, but definitely in It's like a movie. Honestly,

it's a movie. Like I tell us people all the time, it's a movie. Like I wasn't supposed to be drafted, like I got drafted twenty seven because I was killing in workouts. I was killing the combine. Like you know, the under advisory committee, right, you called them right before you decide, okay, don't want to test the waters, don't want to declare you want to come back. They called me. I called. Well, however, when I called, they called, and they go, okay, So we got your feedback from your

past season. Nineteen NBA teams believed that you should be picked around fifty to sixty, and then the other eleven said that you would go undrafted. So take this information with what you want. Because I know year of eligibility, but I was graduating, so I was like, why the hell am I in school right now? I just got a degree that makes no damn since back school, and I know I'm way better than fifty sixty people in this draft. I don't wagh better than fifty sixty people.

I gotta be right, So I go out. I tested. I tell my coach, I'm like, coach, I'm leaving. And after knowing all this, everybody's like, yo, you're making a terrible mistake, Like why are you doing this? Nobody thinks you would get drafted. Why don't you come back? Potentially be a first round pick coach, I'm out of here, bro. Like for me, I just had this blind infidence to

myself and everybody sees it. I work wild clothes whatever. No, that's really me, Like I really got the most utmost confidence. There's a saying for that. It's called irrational irrational. I wish I had irrational confidence, by the way, But you have a certain type of confidence in yourself though to be who you are to go on this you're saying some crazy things sometimes but but definitely, But it's irrational

confidences is a different thing like irrational confidence. Like what what I have very strongly is I have a very strong will and so like I can will myself through some stuff, just like willing myself through it. Like, but irrational confidence is something that I wish I had because irrational confidence, like will, it takes you to a different place because you never waiver on confidence, Like I waiver on confidence that time my shooting the promise that like

I've waivered on confidence in my shootings. No I know exactly what now, but guess what money on the line I can wield myself to knock. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, And so it's it's two different things. But I have like like Steph has irrational confidence, you know, and I have when steps like that, it's it's it's it's honestly funny for him, Like I know, I feel

this way. It has to be for him. If he's in a slump or he's in the game and let's say he's shooting one for seven, one for eight from three, he's probably laughing at this point, like he's like, oh, this is I don't know why the fox is not going in, you know what I mean. But for you, you're like, funk. I'm like, I don't know if I'm about to take this next one, you know what I'm saying.

But no, that's that's something something I definitely have. So I go into the Combine old to Combine only played a half and I had like seventeen and a half. My agents like, oh, you gotta get the hell out here. You shut it down. So I shut it down at this point. And at the time I didn't even have no draft workouts. Only draft workout I had was Utah Jazz because I was the local kid, right, So most of the time in the draft process, I would say,

guys probably work out for what eight teams? Maybe, yes, but you and me are on the same page. I worked out for uh twenty teams and there was only twenty five teams that had draft picks. So I had to just come in and the same thing. You had to come in and slay every every workout. Everybody that was ahead of you. It was like, yo, this guy is. I made it a point where it was like I was the best person every single workout. There's no chance there's nobody more in shape than me. There's nobody that's

playing is harder, more locked in whatever. That's like. That's what my minds it was. But that also helped me in my career beyond too, because it's easy just to come to l A and be like, oh, I'm a Laker, I'm chilling whatever, right, but I'm coming in summerly, like yo, y'all about to know who I am, Like like I'm a kid from Flint, Like I have nothing to lose. I'm playing with house money. At this point, I'm still playing with house money. You know what I'm saying, Because

you know where I'm from. You playing with house money. Absolutely, absolutely no, it's I mean, that's that's that's how I approach it. I was never supposed to be here. And that's why I told everybody when I told him after we wanted it, like, this was never supposed to happen for me. And in their eyes, though in my eyes it's always no, this is this is exactly what I said happen. But in their eyes, this was never supposed to happen for me. So I like, that's what I'm doing.

You get to the Lakers and and you're able, You're awarded the opportunity by coming to the Lakers to build a relationship with Covid. How do talking irrational confidence, that's the irrational confidence King, by the way he worked, and that irrational confidence just became a part like you just became a part of who he is. But that's the irrational confidence King. How did that relationship help you, especially early on in dealing with like y'all was getting y'all

ask it your stance do not handle that? Well? How did that relationship help you continue to do what you were doing and deal with the ship that people are starting to say, you know, the biggest thing he always ever said was keep the main thing, the main thing right. That was one thing and too just like that was

like my north star. You know what I'm saying. You may never get there whatever, but it's it's what you get out of, it is what you're trying to reach, right, So the awesome professional take care of your body, playing every single game, having this type of mentality like you know, like I'm here for a reason, this is my purpose. Like my purpose tonight is to killed. My purpose tonight is to go out and help my team win. Like having somebody like that early on my career, I mean,

change everything for me. You know, I could say the same thing about you know, Bron coming a year two and seeing it from a player perspective, because you know, Cob was here, he was going retired at this point, so it was just like you know, word of mouth, but like Bron, I'm really seeing it too, So you know, just having that relationship with Cobe, it was man, it

was everything. Like I still have the text messages like we just had never delete them, you know, just like just things to go back on, things to think of, like like he was just so he was just so smart man about just everything putting you on game, just of of things you don't even think of, like the attention to detail, that he had a basketball, he had a life, he had in business, he had in relationships,

and like, that's what I want for my life. So, speaking of bron coming here, when Brian came, the Lakers traded a lot of pieces, and I remember during that time. You know, a lot of people don't, but I remember during that time, it came down to like what pieces were they going to trade? Because it was you, it was it was be I was Jordan Clarkson, Um, it was the list, josh Hard Alonzo, the list goes on and on, and it comes down to what pieces are

we going to trade? And they ultimately decided to stick with you and trade Brandon Ingram And that time, I'm not even sure you realized that was going on at that time in the business because you were so young. I realized it was going on. But if you did realize that that was going on, what did that do for your confidence? That they essentially chose you. I mean that they believe that I'm a winning player and I'm somebody that can bring a championship to this organization. I mean,

what more? And and none of this was never said, right, It's just I'm reading your actions, your actions to tell me. You believe in me because you didn't trade me, right, and you think whatever role I may put in, whatever you think that's going to help y'all win the championship. Absolutely, So that just gave me even more confidence, you know what I mean? And ship it worked out, and it definitely did. I think the thing that people don't realize

is when you make decisions like that. And so some people who don't understand winning and basketball to a certain thing, but definitely don't understand winning, will say, oh, man, but Brandon Ingram has been an All Star, so that was the wrong move. But if you understand winning, what I say is, but they won a championship, and so regardless of what your thoughts could be on that topic, they won a championship and that automatically umps everything. And it's

funny because I was telling Travel earlier. You know, Trav Travis is my trainer. I was telling Travel earlier. I said, Cool's coming to there. He's like, oh, Cool's this coming to day? I forgot him, Like yeah, He's like, damn,

that's dope. And then he goes into this whole he goes into this whole spill about your your time with the Lakers, and and he starts discussing that move and and the reality is the one thing that we discussed and you said it, I'm not sure that team still wins if they keep be all over you because of the skill sets, like all of these pieces have to fit in, and what you brought to that team. You were like you and Casey people the shooters like y'all

had Danny Green. Danny was kind of up and down that year, but you and k C P were the conscience and shooting. And I'm not sure, especially at that point in the career, like by now he had knocked it down right, but at that time he was getting it and driving right. And I don't think people realize how impactful that move was. Because if that never happens and this team doesn't win that that y'all team don't win a championship? What does that look like for Bron?

Are the Lakers as an organization still honorable to Bron? You know what does that look like for a d It's like are they crushing him because they haven't won a championship yet? And I don't think people realize how moves certain moves play into that, like they will never give you credit for that championship, but I recognize it. I recognized how you went from oh man, I need to score, score, score score, to passing up shots. I recognize how you went from doing so much off the drill.

It's like, Nope, my role is to shoot this bottom. I recognized the winning plays and I hit you and I said, yo, I'm watching you play. You've changed like it was a total three sixty. And I would imagine, and you can tell me. I'd imagine Brian and his tut religion learned from him has something to do with that. Well, I think for me, like you can kind of hit on the head. Right, you can put we're talking about winning championship right now. You know the average fan, you

know they look at the ship on paper. Right, paper don't tell the whole story. Chemistry is chemistry and fit are the most important things to win championship? Right? Wrong? What did you say? Right? It's more important than talent. You have to have talent you can put you don't fit, don't matter. You could you could put four all stars on team and on paper it looks like, oh, ship, they're gonna win a championship. But how do you know is that that third or fourth all start that you

bring in. Is he willing to now act like a fourth option? You know what I'm saying? Like me, I was willing my first two years. In my second year league, I was nineteen and five. Like that's loud numbers for a second year players, right, But I don't. I don't

play basketball for that ship. Like I play ball to win and win games and whatever role I got thrust with one, I'm gonna do it because when I'm on the Lebron James team, let's keep it a hunt it right now, Like you're on that team, you see that man in him being a professional, Like you're gonna fall in line because it's a certain excellent standards and you don't want to let somebody down that cares so much about winning and this, Like you want to be part

of that too, right or wrong? You know what I'm saying. So you know for me, I don't you know, I always feel a certain type of way. I did feel a certain type of way. I'm at peace now. I don't care. You know, you don't. You didn't win, you didn't do this. I was the third leading square on the NBA championship team. Some people saying that not many but granted me being selfless and having no ego in

that situation, because it could have been easy. I could have just just ran with the excuse, oh, you know, they don't give me a fair shot, and I didn't do this and I do that. But if you know me and you know me personally, I'd tell you that was the best thing to ever happened to me in my career. I was a player that all I looked like you said. At first, I was looking to score. I was to get a bucket, do this that, But

I didn't do it else didn't want to defend. You know, I didn't really put too much effort rebound, even though I was a really good rebounder in college, didn't mill was made the right past tunnel vision. But going through that situation that made me a better basketball player, and everybody in the world saw that last year I was doing everything, you know what I mean. So I always look at things from a positive stand point, because there's

no point to dwell on ship. There's no point. And that was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me in my career, Like just being in that situation. Lakers keeping me me realizing oh, there's more the basketball and than just this, and then ultimately win the championship with the Lakers. That's history. You're then traded to the Washington Wizards, which you just finished your first

year there. Um, how how was how was your first year with the Wizards and moving to the Eastern Conferences overall? How was that for you? You know, it was it was a lot different, you know, going from you know, organization as the Lakers magnitude to another organization. That was my first time ever get traded, being in that type of situation, so not really knowing what to expect, and uh, there's always the bumps in the road and things you

have to adjust to, you know. But um, you know, I think it was a great learning here from me, Like like people look to me as like, you know, I wanted me and k CP. We came there, we won a championship. We're only winners on that team, and you know, to go there and and and people like respect what you say. You're not saying people in l

A didn't on the team. But you know, I'm the young, young dude, you know what I'm saying, Like I got too much respect from like just an o G standpoint, and it was hard for me a little bit too, Like you know, maybe get on bron, get on Rondo, you know, say something to a d These are fucking people I grew up watching, you know what I mean. But to come to this situation, it's like who is what you think? You know what you think about this?

The physical? What are we doing? You know, what's what's missing? Like those type of things like that's invaluable to have. That's that's more important than anything to me, because like I would love to feel a part of things, and you know, just learning and taking everything I've implemented in my career from you know, those learning situations, but also now being to show myself and show my ass off.

It was a success, but there's more. That was a small win, but there's more big wins to accomplish, you know, because losing touchs you know, be honest with you, Like we had a Yeah, you know, losing is not fun, you know, so I'm optimisticly taking that for a win for myself, but it still didn't sit right because you don't win. If you don't win, you don't get the playoffs. Yo, it's a shitty season. Nobody wants to be done in April, you know, but we'll figure it out. You know, doub what, um,

But I absolutely know what losing feels like. We won fifteen games two years ago. Everybody destroying. I definitely get it. But what what needs to happen, um for y'all to change that? Like you know, brought in the point guard in monte who very good point guard, and this leave Brad coming back healthy signing this new deal. Congrats to Brad. I always talk about my brother Brad Bill real one to see guys get their money, like you go through a lot in this business, a ton of money being made.

Love to see guys get their dude. So congrats to Brad. You got obviously you coming back in with another year under your BELTU Persingers who y'all bought in last year, who I thought I thought rediscovered himself quite a bit. Um. I think he'll You know that that will be a huge health y'all. But what needs to happen to kind of bring that all together and and start competing in the East for y'all. You know, it's all about chemistry.

You know, we're starting that early. We're having a mini camp, you know, we're getting together like that ship is important and that's all I know, because like, once you win, that's all you really know. And I know from you know, when we want to championship with the Lakers, everybody was cool, everybody was close. You know, we had amazing chemistry and that's one of the most important thing. And too, we

just gotta stay healthy. Like you know, at the point in time for most of the season we were like, you know, top eight in the East. But then we had a lot of injurgies, a lot of situation, a lot of trades happen, you know. But if we can get Porsenius to be healthy, Brad to be healthy, Brad played about fifty games. Um, you know, we miss Rudy for thirty five games. So we have the opportunity to do something and it should be a lot of motivation.

We got a lot of hungry dudes, like Brad just got paid and he wants to show the world that he's a winner. You don't think he's sick and tired of being Everybody's saying like, oh, he's just in d C for the money. Oh he wants to win, you know what I mean, Monte coming over, he wants to show that, oh I can, I can take another step, Like I'm not just a backup. You know what I'm saying, I got steps, prosingis KP, he got yo, I can

stay healthy. So like I feel like when you have a situation like that where it's guys that have something to prove, the care factors higher, no doubt, and going into your six year six crazy and fly by fly I'm going to year eleven. I got drafted yesterday, crazy like it, fly By, But going into your six year, what's some of them goals? Personal goals that you want to reach the biggest things. I just want to lead and I want to make others better, make others happier.

You know, I feel like this summer has been great for my mental You know, it's not about putting expectations on yourself. It's about controlling what you can control. And I know that I can make others better. I know I can make people, make people feel good, and also I can lead. So if I can do that, everything that I want, it's naturally going to happen, you know, just organically. So you know that's that's just my focus. All right, this media talking to not none of these

old media people that will be talking. I don't give me the bullshit political asset. Not give me some of the personal goals. That's a person. That's what I need, some personal goals. What's this mark I'm trying to get. I'm trying to be an All Star. I want to be all definite need that. I don't want to be defensive player to y'all that the war. I got my name written all over because I should have got it this year, but I got sucked up, so you know, but like I need some of them going. I definitely

need that All Star for sure. I need that. I mean, I gotta ring. So if I'm an All Star and a champion, where are you gonna tell me you think that we're crazy? Now, boy, that sounds familiar. Don't let me win be a fucking All Star. I'm telling you right now. As you should, by the way, appreciate that, as you should approach everything like that. I think you do.

But I have an appreciation for guys in this league, like I feel like you come in this league and you're kind of taught to back down, like you're taught like, oh man, there's this hierarchy and you need to respect that hierarchy, like I remember me coming like fun that like last year, don't let me win a championship, and

I'm telling y'all, we're gonna win a champion ship. I have a huge appreciation for guys like standing in and standing on who they are, you know, and like I told you from the very beginning, you in fashion like it speaks, but like like you said, it's art um, it talks for you, but I don't. I don't know if I feel like you know that. I'm sure you know that, but it does. And as someone like like I told you, I admire it because not many people have that confidence that like, oh no, this is what

I'm doing and and it's cool. I mean for me, it's just like I just I'm a man, you know what I'm saying, Like I was always taught like yo, you gotta stand on what you believe in and what you do. You know, if if you don't, what else you're gonna stand on? So you know, that's just what I come from. So like the things that I do, the things that I want to do, like it's what I want to do. It's not what you want to do. It's not what you want me to do you know,

Because that's not gonna make me happy. You're not going to the grave of me. So why do I care what you think? Or why am I backing down or or closing my light off? Because you're not comfortable with for sure. And before I get you out of here, I feel like this thing is all over the place today. So I mean, I recently put out a tweet and it was number one. How do you feel about comparing errors? This error is oblivious. It makes no sense. I think

it's ridiculous. It makes no sense because like you cannot compare the sixties. And granted I did see what Jerry West said, and I love Jerry West. He's an o G and he's a savage for what he said, because that's that's some real ship. You know what I mean? You got it, you got it, And nobody's saying back to logo you definitely no, no, sir, But there's certain things you can't prepare. Like I'm not trying to disrespect nobody, but like the point guards of today are unbelievably talented.

They're way more elite than any point guard in the history of any Like you know what I'm saying from an athletic standpoint man. Granted, you know Matgic Johnson. Yes, he's coming in this area and he's whooping ass. Any area he's whooping as Isaiah Thomas, he's whooping ass. You know what I mean, he's whooping. It's all relative. So you're just you're just thiving the joy out a lot of things when you just compare and you want to

like do that, like it doesn't make no sense. Like like I saw your tweet you talked about the game was from the free throw lining in right. Absolutely, y'all just gonna pack the paint right, and you're just gonna be on the string defensively, right, But what are they gonna grant? They're gonna have a game, game plan and scheme too. But y'all have seen that, y'all understand and know how to play that day in the nineties that would never see playing four point line defense. I've never

seen that before. You guys seen it. So that's already the advantage in my in my eyes at least, I agree one like you know people who have been it's a it's a three part statement actually, and the first

part being I don't understand why people compares. But when they do, I had a question do they take into account the difference in styles, because there's no way they can be taken into account the difference of styles because I am sitting here watching and I was literally sitting I watched the entire game five of the Finals, Chicago Bulls versus Utah Jazz, and I'm sitting here watching the game, and I'm like, man, Robman is incredible. M J is amazing,

Pip incredible, Calm Alone insane. John Stockton, John Stockton, they had his bottled up something crazy. Him and Hornesseid had no chance. They had no chance. But and I'm appreciating all of their greatness, right, but I'm watching it and I couldn't help but say, I just don't understand how you can compare us to this team. Not that Michael Jordan isn't great or the greatest place however you wanna slice it. It's not taking anything away from that, not

one bit, but just the style of basketball alone. I mean, there's a guy catching it at the free throw line and got cut into the corner and the guy flashed into the post. There's no spacing, and so I'm watching that and I'm like, the point that I was making was you see what I'm saying, will beat this team by twenty and will beat them by forty. The actual point that I was making is and that's why it's dumb to compare. It's dumb. And then it's also play

styles and it's officiating. What are we gonna play with handshacks? Are we're gonna play freedom of movement? Right? There's certain teams that can't get away with certain things, like I believe if the the Showtime Lakers, they would dominate this era because they were man, I was watching Magic in the eighties, just highlights like earlier in the summer. People

don't realize, you know, he was fast as ship. You know, he was fast as hell, like he was getting the rebounds up the court in and three dribbles And that's the NBA now right, right or wrong kill. But certain teams might have been a little different. Great, you have great players. Whatever, Jordan being this area, he's averaging crazy numbers to regardless, even crazier numbers right now. It might be a different type of of if Jordan playing this area,

it might be like yo and nobody touching them. You know, from from uh point standpoint, A championship standpoint, But you can't compare it. It's just it's just too tough. That's my whole sentiment. I hope people one day I understand that. Do you remember AO L? Are you? Yeah? Yeah? Of course? Dial up? Can you compare a O L too to high speed internet today? That chance was a O L great when we used it, the internet great, amazing, But just because the Internet great doesn't mean a O L

wasn't great when it when it was being used. Right, you can't compare a messenger to D M S. Why in the fun can we do that with basketball? Right? It does? You do not have to MINIMIZEE. Michael Jordan's greatness for Lebron James to be great. You don't have to minimize Lebron james greatness for Steph Curry greatness. And it pisses me off that people do that with basketball. They don't do that when it comes to a founder of this company and the founder at that company. They

don't do that. They only do it when it comes to sports, and you know who do it when it comes to sports. These lousy asks, click baiters, that sort of stuff for click bait that's making terrible comparisons, so they got something to talk about tomorrow. I'm sick of it. And it's crazy because the only thing they talked about today was the comparison I made, and you actually miss

the entire point. They start comparing immediately when I said it, and I knew they would, which is why I framed the statement the way I did a question, a crazy ass statement like y'all do, and then the message, and they missed the question and the message and just saw the crazy ass statement. So, my brother, I want to thank you for coming on to the show. That that right there is the new media. Y'all hate it, but

you better love it. Don't get stuck on the wrong side, because I'm telling you a lot of these guys are getting caught on the wrong side of it. And you can come over now before we close it down. My dog, I appreciate you coming. Appreciate you. By the way, Whu's CU's is launching the podcast. He got too much ship to say, y'all, CU's the young old g and y'all don't get to hear him off then because he just give you a little bit. Then he just slide to

the back and keep watching. But Coul's got a podcast coming for y'all because he got a lot to say, Young old g cous book, y'all gotta watch you off for them guys. They know a lot and they just be trying to play you all like y'all look out for couls podcast. It's gonna talk about fashion, it's gonna talk about basketball, it's gonna intertwine all of those things. Couse Podcast coming coming on the show brother Man and