The Draymond Green Show - Tristan Thompson

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dot MD gambling help dot org. Maryland one eight seven seven eight Hope, New York or text Hope New York four six seven three six nine New York one eight hundred and five two two forty seven hundred Wyoming, or visit www dot one eight hundred gambler dot net West Virginia. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Straymond Green Show. This next guest, I am excited to have number one. UM, he's a guy who has some voice, was not afraid to use their voice. But as you know, come on

the Draymond Green Show. You gotta have a resume. That's just how it goes. That's just what it is. You gotta have a resume. It's exclusive. You gotta have been to accomplish something. And this guy right here not only did he accomplish something, actually, UM beat me in the NBA Finals. Uh provided the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, coming back from down three one. As you know the

Cleveland Cavaliers that came back. Uh. This guy was to start the center, leading rebounder, setting the best screens, defensive anchor voice. If you if you're actually out there on the floor, like you hear how much communicating he does so important to the championship team. I'm honored to have this next guest, my brother Double T Tri san Thompson went up. My brother, what I'm bro. Appreciate Let's a little rundown right there. A lot there I like appreciate, No,

no doubt, I appreciate you coming on. I've been I've been looking forward to this. Um. You know, like I said, you're You're You're someone who I have a tremendous amount of respect for the way that you came into the NBA Number one, coming from Canada. Basketball started to become

big in Canada just as you were growing up. And to take hold of that, come to America on your path, go to Texas, get to the NBA fourth fit absolutely amazing And I just really want to start off by talking to you about that, Like growing up in Canada. I saw I saw them The Carter Effect, the documentary The Carter Effecting, how much impact Vince Carter had on basketball.

But growing up young in Canada, before all of that started happening, did you even have the thought of, like, I want to play basketball, I want to play at a high level, when I want to go to the NBA. No, to be honest, you know, being the Jamaican background, my first level soccer. So grow up as a kid, you know, six seven, eight, eight year old, you know, it was all ball, soccer, soccer, soccer, soccer, and and to be honest, I didn't even think about basketball or even the NBA.

And to be honest, it wasn't really until Vince Carter when I was like, you know, I started hitting a grosper and I said, you know what, you know, keeping these handballs on the on the soccer field, I said, you know, let's let's try basketball. It looks fun. Guys are jumping high and Duncan's I said, why not? Why not try this sport out? And then you know how popular his Carter was, and the Nike commercial with the Nike shocks, and see how electrifying, you know, always win

Milling or dunking out Tim Duncan. I was like, I don't want to play basketball, and I want to make it. I want to make the NBA. So that's how it was for me. And at what age did you actually start playing them? Sixth grade? So that was that. That's like twelve years old, right, yeah, yeah, yeah, so kind of compared to all the kids in America. You know, you know right now you have au at eight and

under nine and unders. So for me, it was kind of a later start, but I fell in love with the game and then every since the sixth grade, I've been been in love with the game and been playing. You know what's crazy is I see guys who start later, Like I started playing basketball when I was four years old. I played on my first structured team at six and like, and I was playing with like third and fourth graders. So first grader playing with third and fourth graders. It's

a totally different field. And I didn't play much, but to get that experience for me was huge. And you know too, So you start playing at twelve and one thing and you tell me if you agree with this one thing. I feel like I've noticed this guys who start playing at a later age like yourself, don't really build bad happens. You know, you start young, you start at six years old, you can't really shoot the ball. You fling it like this, you know, like you're pushing

the ball. But guys who started at like later ages yourself, Joellen b don't really have bad happens. Do you agree with that? Can you speak to that a little bit? No? I agree. I think it's because, as you know, when we start playing basketball, like you said myself, to all the other guys, you feel like you're you're behind a ball. You feel like you have to catch up to the other kids that've been playing, you know, since like there's like a guy like yourself, like you know, since you're

six years old. So for us, it's almost like we treat every practice or every drill like we have to get better every day and we have to build the right fundamentals because you know, we feel like we're we're ten steps behind. And then like you said, you know, you watch kids now, the first thing to do is

go to three point. They're just fitish chucking the ball, and they're not they're developing so many bad habits and just even my son Prince you know well, like you know, i'd be teaching him, like you know, left hand dribble, don't use two hands, no double dribble aggs because like you said, like the kids that start super early, you developed bad habits. But you know, for a guy like myself or people from international, we know that we're not Americans,

so we're already behind a ball. We're already looked at us not as good. Um, why why kid from Canada? I can go grab the kid from somewhere in the States, So so us we knew that every every day to Jim had to count. Man, speaking of Prince, Um, like you just mentioned your son, who I have the honor of knowing and having a relationship with. Such an incredible kid, bro Like and I know I've said this to you before, Like such an incredible kid speaks so highly of his father.

He sit there like my daddy playing on my daddy playing the NBA too, my daddy on TV too. He tells me all that he'd be so happy. Man, I think it's so dope. And you know, for you to mention mention him here, this wasn't where the interview was going, but I actually was telling fair fair was like providing me with some questions, and I sent there some of the questions that I have, but I said, fair, I just want to let you know this isn't going to

be the typical interview. I like to go where the interview he takes me and you speaking of your son, like, like, speak to me about fatherhood. We've had discussions, and speak to me about fatherhood, bro, and like what that's done for you as a man in your life and how it sports you to grow. Yeah. Well, I think it's important for everyone who knows that you know, Prince and DJ they love each other, they're best friends, and they you know, gone on vacation, and you're an amazing father

and an amazing role model to your kids. And what you've done for when I'm not around, for the Prince being there for him, especially you know, being on the West Coast and being able to come back and forth to La. So I appreciate that. I think it's important as as meant to to show their appreciation for other fathers because you know, it's it's tough, it's not easy, especially with our schedules. It's not really in favor for families.

So the fact that you know you know, you're able to be there for DJ and and even there for Prince. You know, it means a lot. So um, now, I appreciate you for that, and I think Father, I think it's it's it's it's it's part of the journey. I think, Um, you know, me growing up not having a father figure, having my dad around, you know, uh, you know, being

him being in and out of jail, incarcerated. So for me having kids, it's always important for me to especially with boys, you know, we gotta we gotta make sure we you know, teaching the right things and kind of better be a leader. And I think that's how you shape, you know, try to create these young men and kind of break the cycle, you know what I'm saying. And I think that's no, absolutely and one hundred percent. Bro.

I appreciate you and also the openness to that, you know what I'm saying, Like Princess my nephew, as you know, and and like you know, do beach days. We do. We've done all type of stuff. And I ain't have an appreciation for that too, because I understand the grind. Like you're in Cleveland, you're in Boston, whereas on the West coach. You can't get back and forth. And I think that's important, you know, for us, Um, like you said, your father was in and out, in and out of prison.

My mom and my dad divorced at twelve, you know. And and I always talk about, um, the things that I did not learn, like, so I would never say I didn't like grow up with a man in my life, like I grew up with some great men in my life. But I had this conversation with my mom before UM. I said, Mom, you were incredible, Like the things that you taught me were great, but there are just some things that I didn't learn just because I did not grow up in the house with another with a man

in the household. You know. It's like certain traits that you pick up that are those that a woman would teach that a man wouldn't necessarily teach, or some things that you would pick up from a man in the house that you didn't necessarily pick up. And I've now growing up in my life, I've realized, like, man, there are some things that I just didn't get due to that.

And so in a situation like yours, where you're halfway across, you're all away on the other side of the country, like not that, for instance, growing up with a man in the household, but just to have a man around sometimes when your father can't be there. I think that's important, you know what I'm saying. And I try to do that when I can, because it's a tribe man, Like we all were raised by tribes. We weren't. We weren't just raised by mom, raised by tribes what I'm saying,

So I can appreciate that. And then speaking of mother, you recently lost your mom. Number one, I want to say, I'm sorry about your loss. Um, I couldn't imagine, Like you know, my mom is everything you know, and so I couldn't imagine. So I want to say, number one, UM, sorry about your loss. But just like how how are you coping with that? Like like what do you lean into because you have to lean into something to kill

the time? Like what do you find comforting and lean into? Yeah, I mean yeah, it's definitely tough, like like you said, like you know, our mom's especially, but I know it's like a lot of us hoopers, like our moms are rocked, you know, because they're the ones that they come to THEIRU games, they come to the high school games, come to the college games, they're they're rooting for us. They understands they might cuss a fan out, they might, they'll

they'll go they'll go to war for us. So you know, my mom was like that for me, and you know, losing her is it's been tough. You know, I think it's it's you know, there's always just good days and this bad days. You know, some days or either than others. What I try to do is keep myself busy, but try to give a lot of my my love and my time to my kids, just because you know, they give me peace of mind and they give me a purpose. You know, of course we all have a purpose in life.

But I think you know, when when times are tough and then and things are dark, when you look at your kids and see them, that's that's where you can say, get that light, like all right, I could do this, you know what I'm saying. I got to do it for them, and I got to be strong for them, you know, like my mom was. It was a type of woman says you know, you know, there's no time for sitting around. You gotta get up and be active. You know, men have to have ambition. Then have to

get up every day and keep it pushing. You know, you can't be lazy, you know what I'm saying. So that's what I That's what I That's what I took from her, her work ethic, and I just try to do that with being in this distake. It's not easy. It's tough, you know. You know, I get so used to wake up in the morning with her, They're being in Toronto, the three hour difference, you know, wake up to text message from her, and you know, not getting

that no more. There's times where I have pictures like even when Prince had school recital, like school recital, you know, I text my mom and I'm like, you know, like so it's still still tough, you know what I'm saying. So um, you know, obviously she's very big in the church and very big in faith, and she was she she she preached, So you know, I just pray a lot, and you know, just get just the closer. I feel like I get in with the spiritual cider and with God.

And everyone has their own beliefs and whatnot, but you know, I just try to get tapped into that. So I can, you know, help me do these times? Absolutely, bro man, I couldn't imagine. Um, and your mom took care of your brother. I grew up having seizures epilepsis. Yeah, I had seizures. I was actually born having the seizures. So I was told this story. I was born and my grandfather said, why is that baby shaken like that? Like

baby shouldn't be shaking like that. They never figured it out. Um. I think when I was like six or seven years old, I had like a real seizure and I and I went on medicine, and I was on medicine. I was twenty eight years old. I had my last season when I was fourteen fifteen, and I was on medicine for

it until I was twenty eight years old. I started talking with neurologists and he was speaking about like he was talking about, hey, ma, I think you can stop taking the medicine now, like we should start weaning you off. I'm like, actually, I already weaned myself off, and like I happened to like, I'm blessed, And I don't take that for granted at all. You have a younger brother who has a much more serious case epilepsy, and now

you're taking on that responsibility. I want to shed light on that, not not to share your business, but more so to show what type of person you are, because I think a lot of times in the media, people people get so caught up in someone's personal life that they and what they do with their life that they forget to see the good and people. And just speaking of the type of guy, you're like, you've you've taken that on, Like, speak to me about that, because that's elegy. Yeah, No,

it's it's um. You know, I'm the oldest of four, oldest of four. Uh, you know my brother that's twenty seven, so he's on his own in Toronto. And then I have a the middle child, he's eighteen, so he's, uh, who's my brother right now? And then I have a mart who's uh, who's sixteen, who was epilepsy and and and he's with me full time and under my care full time. The epilepsy has is called LSG. It's basically, if you want to put a nutshell, basically what one

and one hundred people have epilepsy. But he's one out of two million that have this type of epilepsy. And I guess they give to rank it. It's it's it's it's it's one of the worst case epilepsies out there. So uh for him, you know, he's um, you know, he's he's disabled. We have to have twenty four hour

care for him. So I have to have caregivers, you know, and nurses that have actually dealt with cases like this, just because you know, his seizures are very severe and if they're not treated right, it could be it could it could be very bad. So um for me, you know, I take that responsibility at the end of the day, like you know, that's family. And my mom always told me when you're blessed, she blessed others, and you always

take care of your family, regardless of the situation, you know. Um. And and and then to me, you know the reason why you know I'm so close to market. To me, it's like that one piece of my mom that I had left, you know. And because she she basically once I got to the NBA, she retired. I told her, you know, no more working. She was a school bus driver. I said, just take care of a Mara, focus on a Mari, and I'll take care of everything else. So um, you know,

I've taken on that with myself right now. And and he's he's he's done much better being out here, and it's always better when you have sun. But it was the snow, the snow and great, it's too depressing. So Mari's out here. He loves California. He's he's starting to gain weight and he's smiling more and more happy, and it's just you could just see his energy and spear, you know. Of course it's uh. Even though he doesn't talk.

You know, of course people always kill. He might not be able to talk or be able to picular how he's feeling, but you could tell when when when his first half with my mom, and you could tell you it was one more depressed, didn't really want to eat, was was more bundled up in a ball in the bed.

But now that he's you know, as time as passed, he's you know, and that's a big shout out to the caregivers that I have, the nurses that are taking care of him, that are giving the love in addition to the to the love I'm giving him to my family is giving them because you know, they're even though they're getting paid to do a job, they're they're they're going above and beyond, and we have him going to you know, birthday parties with the nurses to like it's

so it's great. So it's it's challenging, but it's you know, it's it's it's part of my journey. And you know it's show make my mom pressed. That's special, man, that's special. That's that's special with you know, like you, I think your mom said the best. We get put in these positions and the reality is you're placing these positions to bless and help others. And for you to do that, like you don't have to do that. You could easily have someone else do that. You know, you can have

someone else take care of it. You can pay for someone like you. That's honorable, man. And I feel like those are the stories Like that was when I started this podcast. It was for stuff like that. It was for to like, let's talk about Trisian Thompson playing basketball and not like, oh, well he had thirteen rebounds today, but he only had seven, Like, yeah, my son can see he had thirteen rebounds on the stat sheet today.

That's another reason I started. But also like the good in us, you know, no one ever really want to talk about the good because they say it doesn't sell No, that's controversy sales. They say, yeah, no, that's lazy that they don't do the homework. They don't want to do the work, exactly. No, No, talking about Triscian Thompson and the mart sales as well, you know, and and it's refreshing and people need to hear it. And so I thank you for sharing that story with us because you

didn't have to. But I can take something away from that, and I think everyone else can take something away from that. So I think that's absolutely incredible. I agree. I think that's that's the one thing that I think what your platform and what you're doing is like changing the narrative. And you know, you're One thing I love about you is that you'll get on that mic and you'll and the good thing is that there's between you and other

people that we won't mention their name. Is that listen, you can you can stir it apart and you can light a fire under someone's ass, which you actually have the knowledge you have both, which makes it which makes you a fucking problem, you know what I'm saying. And that's what and that's why the media is afraid of you, because it's like, you know, even with myself doing is feel like like they just think we're just like you know, black basketball players that just just go play basketball don't

know nothing about the game. But they don't real that like we study the game. We have knowledge, and we study what goes on the world and we see the trends, like we see that, Um, if if a GM from let's just make name, if a GM from from Cleveland, if if a rumor comes out and people are like, oh well if a certain certain reporters are cool certain GM.

So you know, if if a report comes from this guy you know who's talking and I think you called that up, you called that out, and it's it's just like, you know, the fact that we know that stuff and we're changing the narrative all people perceive us. They can't stand up because the guys that have these positions that we're in are usually the guy that never played basketball.

Yeah maybe maybe the g the ball boy. But the fact that we actually hoop and we have the knowledge and we have to feel like it just it just it scares them. That's why they That's what they're curious. So also, keep keep keep doing your thing, bro, Like we got we got to change that narrative. You know what I'm saying, we have to and we are the new media. Baby. You know, I'm gonna tell you one. I'm gonna tell you one that I hate basketball players

that start acting like they didn't play basketball. Let's start acting like like they're not one of us. Like like, bro, like I get it, like being a part of the media. I am a part of the media now. You're a part of the media now. But one thing I'll never forget is I played basketball and how that feels, you know what I'm saying, Like what that's like, and like it irks me when I see guys get up there and forget like yo, you said in that same locker room,

like you're dealt with these same issues. You're dealt with these same thing that that irks me more than the guys that didn't play and talk stupid. Yeah, I know, because it's like that brand new you're like, Bro, I literally played against you two three years ago and you were never like this, And like, don't act like you've never been in this positions before, or don't act like you've never had a bad month, a bad shooting month, you know, or not being able to show up because

who knows what was going on. But I agree with you. When guys, it's funny because it's like, you know, doing media and everyone thinks that you have to figure out like which villain or character you're gonna be, and it's like, no, just be yourself. And if you just have knowledge and you just know what, if you stand on what you believe in and you just know what you're talking about, people are gonna fall in love with you because people

want organic people. People don't want to deal with the faith. Listen, you want to if a certain guy on TV, they want to just third apart and that might last for a couple of years. But to have longevity, you're gonna have to have more than just you know absolutely you're actually going You're actually gonna have to analyze something like not telling us what the statue? Oh man, this guy shot awful? He was five for twenty one? Well, oh I can see that all right. What else you got

for me? Why was he five for twenty one? What did that defense do to make him five for twenty one? Did he just missed shots that he normally makes and he was five? What actually happened to get him to five for twenty one. Yeah, break the film down, break the film down. Show what's what's going on? You know what I'm saying. A lot of guys come to statue just top no shows what's going on? Maybe some matchup that this guy has struggled the last five games against.

When he plays against this guy, he struggles, Like give us more, man, give us more. You know what I'm saying, absolutely absolutely. And in speaking of these things and family, and I want to move into your career because I think, like I started this thing off with your career was amazing. But before we actually get into the meet of the career, I want to ask you something that I will watch. And I know all of the pressure that we're under, m like we are under the mids amount of pressure

all the time. Schedule is absolutely insane. Two things that you did that I thought was absolutely amazing. One you dating your child's your second child's mother. Second, through Chloe and her fame and attention that she draws. I don't think people understand the draw that that didn't has on you right like for you could because you have to take on that schedule, you have to take on like that fame you have to take on if it's this event.

I may be in the middle of I may be in the midst of a stretch of five games and seven nights, and on one of those two nights we have all there's an event that she has to go to an I have to attend that event, right, So now I'm six and seven nights, like taking on that? How did you adjust to that? Like, you know, everyone wants to talk about your relationship, Like I don't give a fuck about that, like that, ain't got nothing to do.

But how would you adjust to like having to take on another person's schedule that's so busy and so much and so out there, because that's a huge thing, and to stay locked in and focused like you did, Like how did you take on it and like channel that? Yeah? I think, um, it's definitely yeah. You know, like you said, you know, dating someone that's a high profile and dating someone that's in the public eye and whose career is her republic, you know, you take on that. It's no

different than you know with your wife. You know, like now she had to take on to your NBA schedule and you know, like in the Choe should take out to my MBA schedule. I think the the great thing about you know, about your wife, and then about you know, when I was with Chloe, is that day they understood how much we love the game of basketball and how much we are invested in it, and they you know, during the season, she put a lot of her stuff on hold because she wanted to be there for me

and support me. And that's and that shows a lot about her character and it shows how much she's invested in the relationship. So during the season it wasn't it wasn't tough at all because it was more so like the way we viewed it was during NBA season, it's about the NBA and then the summertime it's more focused on her because you know, for us, our summer it's it's more kind of freeland. You know, we freelance, We

work out. You know, I can get up at sticks and be done with all my stuff, you know, get two workouts there and treatment. I could be done by noons. So during the season, it wasn't so tough, just because she sacrificed a lot to be in Cleveland with me. She was in Cleveland with me majority of the season, and she would go back and forth, and that was a sacrifice that she made that I give a lot

of respect to. But during the summertime, like you said, you know, there's definitely a vent you you want to go do because you want to be supportive. You know, at the end of the day, when you're dating some one, you want to the way they support you, you want to support them. And that's what and that's what a relationship is supposed to be. It's supposed to be, a union is supposed to be. It's a team, you know what I'm saying. It's no different than having your having

your brother's back. So um, during the season with a tough journey off season, it was it was much easier just because we didn't have a crazy schedule. Um, yeah, would it be times if we were playing the Lakers and we were on a four day trip like we played the Lakers and Clippers when I was with Cleveland the West coast trip. There be times we have an event. But yeah, it's it's tough, but you make those sacrifices because you know you love someone and they do we

do the same thing for you. But in terms of just being a public eye, it's just you know, it's it's a it's a bigger, uh microscope but you've got to be prepared for that, and you gotta you know, listen, I've made my I've made more mistakes than for enough men's lifetime, and so I've I've learned. I've learned the power. But I think Calbildy, it was on my It was

on me. You know, at the end of the day, as a man, you gotta look in the mirror and say, I made these I made these wrong decisions, and I I heard someone I love and I heard loved ones around, you know, because you know, if if you make a mistake and you and you hurt the initial first ye, you're not just hurting them, You're hurting yourself. You're hurting

my mom, my brother, is her family. You're hurting everyone that has any bit of love for you, because at the end of the day, everyone just wants to see you happy. And when something you know negative happens and you put yourself in everyone feels bad when they wish it never happened because they know you have a good heart.

As part of the growing page, you know, I think growing up as a kid, you know you always have your ogs and you're older, guys will tell you, hey, like I remember originally telling me like, hey, like you know, you gotta you gotta grow up. If you're gonna date someone, you gotta be fully locked in and two feet in.

And I'd be like, okay, yeah, yeah, you listen. But as as kids, you know, you put yourself positions and you make mistakes, and sometimes we got to find out the hard way and it's just part of the journey. And you know, I of course I wish that it never happened, of course not, but you gotta be accountable

at the end of the day. And you know, it was a lot of times where you know, a lot of the mistakes I was making, it was because you know, I never had I never I was searching for something that it was just always in here, you know what I'm saying, Like I realized that I realized And that's almost the part of our game. That's the part of

sports with athletes is the software. Even though like I'm going off topic of talking one more like just yeah, I think the side part about being an athlete, or the tough part is that we're always talked to like you know, killer be killed mode, my ware of the highway, you know, my ship don't stink. I could do whatever I want. I don't care who were because we're taught that, because we're always in competition to get to that next

you know, it's like the pre drive. You want to move up the spot, so you gotta take this guy down. He might be the nicest guy. It might be for Debt who's who's a heavy Christian, but you gotta you gotta go and destroy this guy because you want his spot, you know, and absolutely and developing that mindset as an athlete, it sometimes hurts your relationships because you don't you don't understand how to view someone else's side or or or or feel what someone's feeling. You almost say, hey, I'm

just gonna do this and I'll live the results. But then shit happens where you know, you fuck up and and my bad for cursy moment you fuck up and yeah, so you start, you know, you fuck up, and you're like, fuck, like, why do I keep making these mistakes? And I know right from wrong. I'm not a dumbass. I know right

from wrong. But then you gotta like, you know, for me, I did a lot of therapy and like self health and self growth, and I realized that a lot of shit that I was doing was from what I've seen but my dad was doing, or you know, like I said, breaking up, breaking the cycle because I don't want the mistakes I made, The mistakes my dad made to my mom, is the mistakes that I made, the women that I've been within my past. I don't want Prince. I don't want Prince to do that. I don't want I want

to break the will. And the only way to break that cycle was I had to stop that. I had to fix that being in controlled because I don't want him to do what I done. And when I'm sixty, I see him twenty five or being with someone or married, seeing him make same mistakes I make, that means I

didn't do my job as a father. So until I understood that and and put myself in a vulnerable position to to to to to kind of let myself open up and and figure out what what was triggering me to make these kind of stupid actions, you know, doing stupid immature shit. Once I figured that out, then I was able to grow and kind of like blossom and and and and and mature and and and that's what's

helped me so much. And I think with this time, not playing on the NBA schedule, I've done more time to help myself be and just a better human being because the majority of my life is going to be non NBA than NBA, you know what I'm saying, being a professional athlete. So I got to start at some point starting to grow, you know, and up having more time in my hand. I had to. I wanted to

do that, and that's that's special. I think that's great. Um. You know, it takes so many people, most people so long to find that, you know, like to find that from within, to find like I want to go get some help. If I want to go talk to somebody, I'm cool. I'm gonna go talk to somebody. I'm gonna go get some help, you know what I'm saying. So

I applaud you on that. But you know, and and switching gears and moving forward to your career because that's the whole book in itself and everything that's going on. I want to start pre draft. There's this common misconception that Lebron James is one of the first clum as, the first clutch client. Um It's actually not true. You are actually a Clutch client before Lebron James. When when you decided to go with Clutch. Um, I mean pretty much at the inception of Clutch. Uh yeah, at the

inception of Clutch. What what made you trusting and rich and trust and fair? You know they're at the beginning of their journey and you are top you were project the top five pick right away. What made you trust in them so early on before anybody could see before, at the time when it was just that's Lebron's boy, and he started an agency because of Lebron? What made you have the comfort to trust and rich and fair

plush spooks. When I met Rich, he was under CIA with Leon Rose, and that was Lebron's agent during the time. And I never for me, I committed that Texas early. I committed a tenth grade because I don't care to talk to these older men and just have them lie to you, like I commited earlier. I don't want to first I don't want you call a coaches calling me okay, I'm in high school. I want to be on AIM. I want to take it with my friends so I can. I know right at the sidekick the collar day plan

the same thing. Yeah, it was the same thing for like picking an agent, like it was for me. It was like, you know, I trust Rich, I'm comfortable with him. He wants the best for me. I don't have time. I don't care to talk to the I don't want to sit down to eat with you. Got no disrespect, but I'd rather just like hang on my friends. And like, because I had that relationship in connection with with Rich,

I said, it's a no brainer. I remember telling my mom, you know, I want to sign Rich and and this is this is how much my mom trusting me, where she let me decide what's going I want to go to She was not involved at all. And it was the same thing with picking my agent. We sat down and and and Leon was there, and you know, Leon was talking. We were already like we weren't paying we like Rich, what were we doing? Like that's just fine, like like we already know, we know we're doing We're

family already, were already passed. We're at second base already, so let's just get it going. And and and and everyone has the like when clutch first or everyone's like, oh, it's just Lebron's boy, and and Da da da da, and then all these other agents who are who are not African American would use would would tell other African American potential clients, Hey, you don't want to do you don't want to sign a Clutch because it's all about Lebron or or or he's not gonna be invested in you.

He's he's he's up, Lebron's Lebron's ass, he's not gonna care about you. And that's and that's totally false. That's that's that's fake news. That's one hundred percent a lie. People just say that because they were afraid of Rich, the same way the meeting is afraid of you. And and it's just because they Nobody likes to change or a new wave, the new No one likes a new media,

nobody likes anything like that. It's it's like everything in life, like they get Matt at Lebron for leaving Cleveland, Michael George Davis Chicago all these years. Everyone there's not a blueprint, and no one not nothing in life, money, these categories, there's a blueprint. Everyone writes, writes their own script. And for Rich what he was able to do, I believe them from day one. And as Clutch continue to grow, and then you know you came and joined the family.

Other guys came and join because it's only so long that these older six year old ages can just hate. And there's only so many times you can use that he cares about lebrod or do it. There's only so much you can use that. And you're like, you know what, Bro, you don't even come to my games. You just wait for me to come to LA and you come to my game against the Lakers and Clippers. You know you're not even coming to the games in Okase. Like all these ages, they just they do. They just want their

four percent, They just want their cut. And Richel's different, like he was invested. Text me after games, let's watch the film. You gotta get the floaters up earlier. You gotta do this like and that's the And when you're picking people to have in your team and building all your professional tribe, you want people that are going to always be real with you, hold you accountable, and love you for who you are, and I love you for

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one gambler dot net, West Virginia facts Facts. That's a fact. Man. I've got an opportunity. I've known Rich for much longer than I've been signed with Clush, but I've got an opportunity to see that as well. Like you know, it wasn't crazy, and you just mentioned it. One of the things that actually like was the stamp on me switching to Clush, Like I knew it was something I want to do. I'm like, yo, I think this is something

I want to do. And then I just started like floating the idea around a little bit, like floating to a few different people, a few different agents. And when I saw how agents was speaking about him to me, I'm talking about I had agents, Like some agents cursed me out, like like, that's fucking ridiculous. How dare you signed with him? How could you even mention me and him in the same sentence, Like now, mind you, this is two thousand and sixteen seventeen, Like the saint you

take too long ago. It's like right there, it's like, you know, it's like a six years ago. This ain't a long time. I'm mentioning my name in the same sentence. But and when I start hearing things like that, I said, Oh, that's the guy I'm supposed to be with for sure. Like if you if you feel that you need to speak about this man like that, and y'all doing the same job and you need to speak about him like that, that's the guy I need to be with because you're

afraid of him. And if you're afraid, you you you actually know more about this agency business than me. You're not afraid of him. That's the guy I need to be with. And I figured I figured that out, like and and it's continued to grow and now the world knows, right like now it's on front Street. You can't deny it. But for so long that was denied, Like I mean, it was constantly thrown. And that brings me to a question that I actually wanted to ask you. In twenty fifteen,

you held out, you didn't go to training camp. Um, you were up for a contract extension and you held out. You eventually end up getting getting your contract you wanted. We actually signed the same exact deal. Good, good thing you sign. I was like, yo, I want done too, signed the same exact contract. But um, and doing that, I know, I know that you had to trust Rich like and going through that process, you had to trust him.

But what I wanted to ask you was in two thousand and fifteen, when you're going through them contract extension, do you think being a part of Clutch and the stigma that it had that did it hurt you or did it help you? And the reason I'll explain to why I'm asking this questions because everyone would try to say, man, you were Cleveland. Um, Lebron's in Cleveland, so Rich can get any deal he wants in Cleveland, right. I happen to believe that's false. I actually think it works against you.

But that's just my opinion. But I want to know from your from your advantage point you're going through it. Do you think being with Clutch at that point helped you in your negotiations or were they actually trying to use it against you? They were using it against me, And I think, listen, if I didn't, if I wasn't with Clutch, I would have probably end up signing maybe

a deal similar like Mark Keith signed. I think it was like a It was like a four year, but it was like eighty year, maybe the middle level, because even I remember at the deadline, because you know what, I think, it's like October thirty. I's the deadline. You want to get the extension right. And I remember they came back to us at four years fifty two, the

ruby O deal, what ruby O got. And I remember we just played the Bulls and I had sixty I had sixteen rebounds and fourteen of them were offensive rebounds. That's crazy, Yeah, that's what That's what the Bulls had. Pagasol Joe Kimmingham. So the game's over. We played. It's an ESPN game, which calls me and he says, it's it's four years fifty two. And really, to be honest, most ages would have said Son take the deal. And you know how they talked to us like we're kids, son,

take the deal. It's a big deal. I represented, I represented All Harrington and he only had a four years thirty two. Or I represented a Jermaine O'Neil his second deal and there was only a fifty two. Like they don't they try to sun us because they think we don't know better than they think we're just idiots. So I'm on the phone with rich and he says, man, four fifty two, what do you want to do? And I said, what do you think? He said, well, do

you think you're gonna get better this season? I said yeah. He said, but then why will we take the deal? I said, all right, but then we're not taking the deal them so, but most people the fact, when I was holding out, people were using that against almost saying like Riches on the educat or Riches over his head, or Riches don't know what he's talking about. But those people that were that were talking talking ships because they had their insecurities, because they know they couldn't do better.

You know what I'm saying, So absolutely yeah, and and listen, they got to the point where they called when called uh, when Rich calls you with the with the five year eighty two um. At first I said no, because prior to that, when we have our meeting at the end of the last the year when you guys won the first championship, when Kyrie broke his kneecap um at the end of that really like I almost like an exit meeting, and Rich said, you know, we want the max. If

anybody asks you, say you want the max. So the Max back then was five years ninety but what Kawhi got with the Spurs. So in my head I was so And if you talk to Rich, I was so into that mode where whenever I saw somebody, they'd be like, what were you holding out for? Chris Milton just got five years sending I said, now I'm going for the max.

Like I remember even I remember even coaches would call me, like coaches that that that we know and he'd be like, man, he really called you trying to get a field for I remember coach called me and he's like, you're not gonna chake this deal that cleveand off for you at seventy or seventy five. I said, no, I want the max, max only or leave it alone or don't call me. And I was so locked into that. Max mo Or Rich called me. He's like five years said nah, Max,

He's like no, nod. That was just kind of get the number of to get the number up. We out, we had the penalce, now, we had the Pearly games. Now just got to the field. So so to have the guy like Rich, you know, the meeting, would almost say he's over his head, but really it's because he knew, he knew the market, he knew the game. And at the end of the day, it's good Cleveland find a replacement for Tristan Thompson. And the answer was no. So what Rich always said to Dan gilb But it's what's

the cost of winning a championship. It's winning a championship worth eighty two million. And Dan Dan sat there and he said, yeah, we gotta pay. We gotta pay if we gotta raise tickets. Rich said, figure it out, race ticket prices raised, parking, figure it out. But you'll make it up somehow. It's no different than which you will Golden State. And I always I always tell people this and people will say, well, Draymond, listen, there is no

Draymond Green walking through that Golden State door. That's why they had to pay a two and guess what they paid eighty two. And then when they gave you the extension to four years, one hundred, they had to do that because guess what, there, you guys are in the You guys are in a position at that moment. You guys are in a position where you guys are just in the finals. Everyone is still in their prime, step is still playing at a high level. You have to

keep competing. You can't go from being in the finals to now just being in a lottery and you just built a new arena and you spend billions of dollars. You have to stay competitive, so you have to bring your glue guy back. It's no different Marcuts. Smart people say, why did marcut smarket extage? You have to when the guys are at their peak and playing at a high level and competing for a championship, and when the city has that expectation and the meetors created at you have

to keep paying the players. You gotta pay the play baby, You gotta pay to play. And that's why you got your deals. And listen, if you're not on the Golden State Warriors, there's no there's no none of those four chips, there's none of those rings. Those four rings don't exist if you're not on that team. And I tell everyone that every single day because that's the guy on his truth. And listen, even game seven, you have thirty two points, you know the game is I think, I think you

let the team of scoring that game. I did said, yeah, you let the game of scoring. So I'm saying, like, people gotta understand that it's building a team and these contracts, it's all about fit. Just because we got Just because I got two doesn't mean I'm gonna be doesn't mean that if I was on the Raptors, I would have got that or a different team because at that right moment, I fit that puzzle piece. And that's what it costs. Absolutely.

And I think another thing, and another thing that people don't understand is this, the Cleveland Cavaliers, because they had your bird rights, could actually pay you that eighty two, whereas opposed to if you wanted to go to another team, they would have to use salary cap space to pay you that eighty two. Cleveland can pay you whatever they want to pay you. Because they have your bird rights.

They can go into the luxury tax and pay you. However, what people don't understand about this situation is because they are in a luxury tax, if they let you walk, they just go sign someone else with that money because they then don't have that person burd rise. So what they could then sign because they're in the tax is a taxpayer mid level, which is like six and a half seven million a year. Well, who are you getting for six and a half million dollars a year that's

giving you the production? Tristan Thompson's giving you the answer. There's no work, and NASA negotiate and NASA and hey, man, you did exactly what you're supposed to do. You got what you were supposed to get. And quite frankly, let's face it, y'all won the championship the next year, and it's worth it. It's worth it. But then it's worth it when you look at it and you realize that

we broke the fifty two year curse. You look at all these deals, all the contracts, you're like, man, it's worth it because business business, and we got to take care of our business the same way they take care of their business. They don't mind it. Seven game series because they gonna make more money and we don't. We're gonna fight for all our cheese and all our coins because guess but when it's all said and done, when it's it's over, when basketball's over, you I wish you

had had the extra coins. Absolutely a one hundred percent. And that takes us from two thousan fifteen to the worst year of my life other than DJ being born at the very end, as you know, Prince was born a week and a half before, at the very end of two thousand and sixteen. And I also kind of that's a story for another day. At the very end, at the very end of two we can't give them everything all at once. Sixteen, I have a son. But two thousand and sixteen was treacherous for me. And so

let's talk about it. Two thousand and sixteen, we're in the NBA Finals. We're three to one. I gets suspended from Game five. But like, talk to me about your mindset. Like you go down three to one, you're coming back to Golden State. What's the conversation like to even get y'all back to a mental space. So, like, we're down three one, we're going here for Game five. We need to win. Talk to me about the conversations in that

locker room. I think what was key was like leading up to that that that that that game four loss because Game three was in Cleveland. We won that game, and Game four we lost to you guys in Cleveland,

making us down three one. But the way we lost that game was something very simple where you guys are running a one two pick and roll with Clay and Step and Clay would keep slipping and it was Kyrie and Jr. Kyrie and Jarrd was the matchup on on Clay and Step and they kept slipping and Kyrie and Jared, I guess something the miscommunication was off, so it wasn't where so like we felt like we beat ourselves that game just because we weren't the lack of communication with

those slipouts, and you guys basically started a whole trend with these slipout screens, right, so so we so I remember after that game, Brons to the textilling like you know, like we're right there, like listen, don't come on the plane if you don't think we can come back and win this win this uh win this series. Because we felt like even though we lost Game four, we felt like we could have. It was a winnable game. There's something that we self inflicted wounds where we felt like, okay,

we can we could do this. So going into game five, now, our mentality was like, listen, we know how long that flight is. We know these boys do not want to come back to Cleveland. They do not want to come back to Cleveland. Nobody wants to take it a six hour flight from from sam France all back to Cleveland, Ohio to play a basketball game. So we said, listen, if we win game five, this is going seven games. And the reason why we believed in that was because

during that time, I believe Eggy's back was hurt. His back was hurt. I remember we actually had practice because we did a little snoopy too. We had we had practice at your guys court. We walked in and whoever your trainer was at the time had all your guys names down with all your guys injuries, and I remember you you were on like you were on a bunch of medicine, like like every profeed, you're on a bunch of shit. I was like, God, I'm like, man, you're

like a form medication. Then you see Iggy's back you see Clay's Remember Clay had to sleep on his calf, so his cat was acting up. So we said, oh, if you guys are breaking down, these guys are breaking down. So if we could, if we can get game five. We don't we know mentally, because you know basketball, it comes in the playoffs. It's all a mental thing. We're like, mentally, these boys do not want to come back to Cleveland for a game six, absolutely not. So we can get

game five. We could push this to seven because we know we can win at home. Well we know we went in at home. So that was our mindset. And Brown, who's the leader he is, he said, don't come on this plane unless you could believe we could come back and showing up. Everyone showed up. We believed that. And you know, obviously team we talks about start about putting a hundred dollars bill up in the in the in

the events, and we'll come back and get it. And so once we win game five, you know, Kyrie Brown both have forty, right, So that's crazy. And the finishes that Kyrie had and I think he had the a one with the lefty layup and one of like I think it's there was like a the rule vert of Kali or something. Yeah, I was like, but still that Kyrie could do with this, with this risk game, it was like crazy. So um so now we're at game seven and and we just believed in each other. We

just believed in each other. And obviously we knew that you guys had injuries and you know, obviously without you in the game, which helped us a lot. You know, you're getting suspended, that was huge. And obviously we started noticing Steph getting frustrated, you know, with the throwing of the mouthpiece. So we noticed those little mental because you know, like those are those are mental errors, like you know

that you can't do that stuff. But we saw, okay need a little these a little chess pieces, like mentally, they're they're getting frustrated, you know what I'm saying. And I would be frustrated if I'm up three one and and it's like the game lawyer Brin's right there. So those little chest pieces of your guy's frustration let us know we had a chance still, which helped us believe

them more. So that's kind of like it was like a mental game at that point for us, because the basketball we we could figure out, you know what I'm saying. But we knew mentally you guys are getting frustrated and you guys are actually banged up or hurt, so we say, okay, like, let's let's just keep applying the pressure and and and and extend the series. You know, absolutely, it's crazy too. Remember Bogan was out with the rib, broke out, broken rib,

and he missed the game. We were we were beat up, and yeah, and then obviously the suspension was what it was. But you know, you guys come back and you and you come back, you win the two thousand and sixteen championship UM which was huge and for y'all, for yourself but also in NBA history, like was huge. I'm actually not mad about that at all because then we come back in two thousand and seventeen and we got Kevin Durant. What's the thinking then, Like, what's the thinking we come

back next year with Kevin Durant. Man for when you guys came back and Kevin I said it, I was just I said, these guys out of control. I said, I was joking. I like, man, these guys sold uself to the devil. How do you guys pulled us off. How do these guys pulled us off? You are just seventy three and nine, You lose in the finals and you get Kevin Durant. That's to get if you get, that's not a bad trade to champion. You give up one championship to get too, that's kind of we call

that a deal. We call that a steal, we call it. So that was actually a good trade off that you guys did. So I appreciate that kind of one of my one ring. At least I got one. Right. So no, absolutely, And by the way, most people don't have that. Yeah, and no one and no one was talking about Oh man, you're one time champion before a time when you get in the meet up and you talk about that you're a champion. We talked, we talk about resumes coming on

the Draymond you're a champion. Yeah exactly. We ain't buying none of that. But and speaking up, you just spoke about Lebron and his leadership. Um Mario Chalmers recently said nobody feared Lebron. That ship pisses me off, bro, that ship pissing. That ship pissing me off. Man, Like you know what, I don't like. It's like people will will will will, like if I if I played like the

fact that Mariol trumps like Mario charmers. At one point, you're probably texting Lebronford to get on the team, to get a job, so so because he couldn't get you a job or get you on a team. And I'm listen, I'm just assuming. I'm I'm not saying that's what it is. I'm just saying, listen, when you play with certain players and you get a prayer in your career where things are tough, you're gonna make a call look out from me or see what you could do just because you

might have not got your way. Like, how can you say that about a guy that you went to war with, who believed in you. There was times where d Wade was on your ass, chewing you up, Chris Bob's between your ass, but Braun would always push, push Mario to be better, pushing, you know, talk great about them to the media, said all these great things about you. And then you're gonna come and say, no one fears Lebron like this, this is the best player you've ever been

on the court with. How are you gonna say that? No one? First of all, Miaa Lebron is the most scarious brown we've ever seen in our life. You know what I'm saying, Like that that Broun was that was that was he was like two ninety running the four four and jumping John Lucas and stuff like that was that was athleticism at a whole other level. And how you how can you say that? And that just shows you that, like man like guys be on some sucker

shit and I don't. I don't like that kind of stuff because it's just like, bro, like, why do you start switching up Like you said about earlier guys getting media and they act like they never sat in the locker room. Okay, now guys are retired and not playing basketball. Now you want to talk shit about a guy that you you want a championship. But I would never talk about about any of my teammates that I won a

championship with. I would never even fix my mouth because me and you went to war and we accomplished something that's after family and and and kids and God, winning a championship probably the next best thing in life. You

know what I'm saying, Like winning NBA championship. So the fact that you do that and you come out and talk about that man after he just you know, got the scoring record and he's in your you know twenty and like like come on, bro, like really and it's just like if your own people talk shit about you, then now you know why people talk bad about you know what I'm saying, Like we we are to people like myself, any of Bron's teammates, we can't be the

ones to talk bad about Bron because then then then it further feels the fire for all these other people that don't have hate for our brother and have hate for our family member that that will talk shit about him. So we can't from what they can't talk shit because we talk shit, then all them gonna you know, they're gonna know theres a weakness in the tribe. So like the fact that he did that, Like it's like, bro, like that's not cool. Like I don't, I don't, I don't.

I don't respect guys that do that kind of stuff. That's not the way I operate. I've never talked about about none of my teammates, especially when I win a championship with you know what I'm saying. And it's not like you guys had it's not you guys had to

be for issue. So no, I respect it. And one thing I respect is how you ride for Braun because I catch a lot of flat but the way I ride for Braun and you know, people or say like, oh man, you said this about Lebron, um um, that's disrespectful the Steff and it's like, actually, I love that I got for Steph and how I ride for step Steph knows how I ride for Steff and Steph. No, I got to look like me me giving credit to Lebron or supporting Lebron or fucking being happy for Lebron.

That doesn't dim Steph. Like like you know, I always tell like think about it and tell people like, that's your losing ass mentality that you think if I go say something about this, if I go say something about Lebron James, that's positive that it's dim and steps like I know dem steps like at all. Just like if if I go say something about Steph, that's not dem a Lebron's life. No, but but that's it. But and I agree with you and what you're saying is but

that's the mindset they want us to have. I always like, compared to slavery where they try to turn us against each other, you know, where it's like, no, it has to be one or the other. It can't be step Step can't be great and Lebron can't be great or stuff like that. Like I hate that, and so I agree with you one hundred percent, Like we have to ride for each other because at the end of the day,

it's all we got. Like you know, everybody always talk about like, oh, it's this, it's this basketball fraternity, the NBA fraternity. Like, man, that ship is fake. Like guys do not support how they say they're gonna support. They do not look out how they say they're going to look out. None of that. But the ones that you do have in your corner. And that's one thing that I can really appreciate about Clutch as a whole, the guys that you do have in your corner. Man, you

gotta ride for, you gotta ride with. And I disagree with Mario statement from the standpoint of obviously like you just said shit, teammate. You know what I'm saying that this guy you went to World with, that's a guy you want championships with um And like, don't get me wrong, you had to carry your own Like, Mario is a damn good players, so I ain't taking nothing from him. But on the flip side, like bro, I personally know

people that were scared of Lebron James. So I just I all out just disagree with I know a bunch of people that were still are in fact terrified or Lebron James. Like I've seen it at times. I've had teammates that was terrified Lebron James like and so I just didn't really understand. I just really didn't understand the statement. I got a lot of love for Mario. Um, you know he's super tight with b Rush. B Rush was one of my odgs. Yeah. Yeah, I just didn't I

didn't understand. I was I was very shocked. I was taken back and listen, you know, people might be having bad days, so you never know what someone's going through. But I was very I was disappointed because you know, like like you said, it's a former teammate of yours. There's no personal issues between you guys, there's no hate. It's not like you guys had a back and forth on Twitter. It's just like it came out of left field, and it's disappointed disappointed. No, for sure, I agree. Yeah.

And also in speaking of that, you recently were on ESPN, which I want to get into, but you were recently ESPN and you spoke about Lebron and Kyrie getting back together. Um, do you see that happening? Do you think, like, do you think that that there's a chance or not a chance? We know there's a chance, but do you think that happens that they get back together? Man? But I'm on top of that, what do you think ultimately made it go south? Yeah? But I've been I've been I've been

pushing that reuniting, you know, coming together for so long. Um, because I saw, well, Kyrie and Lebron's it was almost like a matchman heaving, like they brought the best out of each other. It was like it was like the things that Kyrie does great, it's different what Lebron degree.

Like it was just such a beautiful, like it was beautiful to watch the two man game side picking roll because they're so dynamic and great at so many different things, but together it's like they're like it's almost like almost unstoppable, Like it was like an amazing two on two you know what I'm saying. So I think I think in

terms of you know, could have happened. Yes, well, I continue pushing it when I'm when I'm on TV most definitely because I think, you know, Kyrie brings the best out of Lebron, and Lebron does the same thing, but bring the best out of Kyrie. And I feel like it's almost like, um, a story that's it's it almost feel like it wasn't finished, you know, like it wasn't finished the way it was supposed to, you know what

I'm saying. And and you know, a lot of a lot of duels have had that maybe you know Shack and Penny or or Kobe and Shack. Like you know, there's so many like stories that I just feel like it's it's not over yet, you know, like there's still there's still a couple more chapters between them two that they can make some magic happen. So you know, I hope it can happen. Um. To answer your second question, Uh,

you know what went out? I think like in sports, you know, everyone goes two different things, and I think, um, during that time and period, I think, um, you know, maybe something with the Frount office in Kyrie maybe didn't see I I you know, maybe we could have did a better job of of of of of addressing whatever he may have wanted, because at the end of the day, he deserves a right to have of saying the organization like like you know, like you there's nothing wrong asking

for something, you know, he deserved. He earned the respect in the right, and he put that banner up there. He can come into the office and ask for something. Whether it happens or not, that's that's to be determined. Because I don't own the team. I don't make those calls. But I think we could have as a franchise, might have figured out a way to make it work or dedicated more time to try to make it work. I

feel like we might have. We might have rushed the trade a little bit, especially with the fact with with with itilists. I love it. He's a great human being. I love it. That's my dog, you know, with him coming going being injured, I was I was told that, you know, if a player is injured, you can kind

of avoid the trade. Yeah. Yeah, So so for me, it was more so of a sense where like if he's technically not cleared or that hip is not all the way right, why are you in such a rust to make this trade because we still have Kyrie under contract and Kyrie loves the game of basketball. I mean, look at what the NETS. There's times where he probably hated being there, but he still went on the court

and he proved himself. And to be honest, he probably he's probably been flustrated with that NETS organization for the last two years. But guess what those last twenty games with NETS, he looked like an MVP caliber player. They were going I think they were like twelve and four or something, and they had great road wins against top teams. Like, so one thing, mut Kyrie, he's a hooper. He's in a buy in and play. If he's happy or not, we don't know the answer. But he's like hooper, he's

gonna go and play. And and with the business basketball, if you're a signature line player, you get royalties. You're not gonna get the royalty check if you sit on the sideline. So he's gonna play. He has to be an auster like like, I just feel like the franchise mother not handled it, maybe rushed it a little bit. Yeah, we could have took a better time. Um, but you know that that that happens, you know, I hope you know. I love Kyrie, I love Lebron. I would love to

see them together in purple and gold. Um, I'm sure you wouldn't mind seeing that. Would be some good games, ESPA games you guys have, Oh, State versus Versus versus lad be a good one. No, I'm definitely not against that. We had as you know, you being a part of it.

We had some of the best battles in NBA history, not just in our of our time, we have some of the best battles in NBA history, obviously, that Game seven being probably one of the most classic games the NBA has ever seen, right, Yeah, And so to have those battles, as you know, to play in those games like that's that those are the games that bring the best out of you. It's to the Tuesdays against the terrible teams that I'm like, man, that y'all can have this.

Oh man, I tell people, a soft Tuesday is where you catch up slipping a soft Tuesday and Detroit them like man, h I know from Michigan. I know it's from Michigan. When you come home like to have a big game. I know every time, every time you play gets the Pistons, they always talk a bunch of other pistess airway and they try to get you in the train. They try to train for you to bring you home.

ID to get it. But like Cleveland Council Lars versus Detroit Pistons on a soft Tuesday, Man, Detroit, y'all can have that shit like pretty get home. So I get it. But yes, those games sentents that we get up like. And then you would agree there's certain players in our league that are regular season players and there certain players that are playoff players. And I believe myself and you

were playoff players. We we we are. We hur in the game when it counts and when it matters, because you've seen a lot of guys that have great regular seasons and then when it gets to the playoffs, man, they tuck their tail and they go from they go from sugar to shit. Yo. So speaking of the purple and goal, I gotta come more questions. I'm gonna get you out of here. Um, you recently just had to

work out with the Lakers. Everything that I've heard from reports to talking to people, have a bunch of relationships around this league, Like everyone came back, like talking about the shape that you're Like, how great of shape at your age, at having not playing basketball, having not played all this year, but how great a shape you is? Like speak to us about the workout and like, um, just what you went in there and show that and

are you expecting that to come to fruition? Yeah, you know, I'm praying every day that you know that it comes to fruition. You know, I've been doing two days all season. You know, It's it's very easy for guys that are that are not playing to sit back and relax, But for me, it's I'm so used to I'm a routine

type of person. I'm a routine guy. So for me, it was like, you know, I'm always in a state ready and state right because when that phone call ran, I need to be ready because I want to prove to the world and prove to these teams that listen I can still play at a high level. Like I'm watching these biggs and these backup bigs and I'm like, I will kick his ass. I will I'll play this this this guy. But you know, for whatever reasons that

you know, my phone never rang. It is what it is, and I can't control that right, I'm not in a position of that. All I could do is stay ready, be a pro. And when I came to the Lakers workout, you know, I wanted to make sure I was in better shape than I've ever been, and I made sure I had my shirt off on purpose. I had my shirt up the whole work album. I got there an hour early, like I was going to practice, because in

practice with Jerseys, I get there an hour early. I did my warm up so I got a little little activation in. I was on the court, got my touch beforehand because I wanted to make sure with this work up, I left it all on the floor because listen, there's only opportunity so much in life. I'm not going to let an opportunity like that slip because of something because of lack of preparation for me, you know what I'm saying.

And that's part of being a pro. I'm going to prepare myself like this is this is all or enough, you know what I'm saying. So so when it came to that Lakers workout, I made shar I was in great shape, dunking the ball, windmilling, but I was doing stuff where I was like Brown to sell I was like, Man, don't I see this is Cleveland. I'm like, yeah, because I'm because I'm ready, like fucking ready, bro, Like I'm ready, Like I'm ready to make this happen. I'm ready to

help you guys make this push. And I feel like I'm what I can bring to the table to help that team is as an area that I think they don't have right now. And I think with a team that, like like the Lakers, that are trying to make it right, I think he always, especially at the center position, you need a guy that's gonna be great at what he does, be a star in his role. And for me, one thing you know you're gonna get is some good ass screens.

A motherfucker's an offensive rebound, play hard switched one through five and compete and then in the playoffs, those little things like a good screen can get a guy open, get a guy Atdangelo open, get him go and get him hot. Offensive rebound haven't scored in four minutes. You can offense, rebound, keep the possession alive, deflating to the defense. Word on the defense, you know what I'm saying, or loose ball offense, loose ball foul. But a guy in

foul trouble. A big, they can switch one to five where and the team's going small like you guys, I can switch on the step, I can switch on to Wiggins, I can switch on to to to to to Clay. You need a big that could do those him because all those little things matter in a playoff setting because every possession counts. And I know what I could. I know what I'm what. I'm great. I'm not saying I'm coming to Lakers to come shoot corner three. You No, I'm gonna you guys know what you're gonna get and

into the locker room. I'm gonna be a guy that's gonna hold everyone accountable. And because you have new guys that are that are younger and you kind of have the vetters with A D and Brown, I could be like that middle guy that could kind of unite everyone together because I know D Low, I know those young guys on A I know Vaguerable, I know I'm a personalel spend time in them. But I also you know A D and Bron my brother. So I could be

that guy to continue to gel and bring unity. And that's why I can bring to the table to that team. I know what you bring to a team. I personally think this Lakers team is very good. I've actually for two years everybody would talk about the Lakers, and I say, well, they got Lebron James and Anthony Davis. They already's got a chance, and now they've traded for these other guys,

like they're a real team now. So no disrespect, my brother, but I personally hope they leave you at home because I know, I know, I know what you bring to the table. I know how you help a team, like all of those teams you just mentioned, is what win you championships and so the impact that that will have on that team, Like people can say what they want talking heads and talk, they are serious threatened to West right now. Talk about the record all you want. They

just got to get in. They get in. They are serious threatened to West. And so I'm gonna just tell you straight right here on Draymond Green show you there's a hope that you do not sign with the Lakers, my friend. But I would tell you this though, the other day we played we played Houston, and you're talking about a team that doesn't have a single vet on

the team. And so like I look at a guy like yourself, where you like, my phone didn't ring, and then I asked the question Houston didn't even like, Houston didn't called, because what you can bring to even that locker room. See, we always look at it and we like And that's the competitiveness in us. But that's also this business, which is like if I'm gonna bring a vet and it has to be a championship team. Now at this point her career, probably only want to go

to a championship team. But in saying that, like a team like Houston, they got young talent man Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, Julir like the list goes on Tar Easton. I'm a big fan of Tari Easton. Yeah, I like him a lot. kJ They don't have any vets And you look at a guy like yourself who's been through the ranger, true professional and true professional champion, understands it all, and it's like, what are they doing? You know what I'm saying, Like you ask yourself to question and not

what are they doing? Drafting means I think they're drafting well, but who's teaching these guys? Happens, yes, and that brings back to what you said the beginning. If you started playing basketball at a young age, you draft these young kids and listen, I think they're drafting well when they're drafting good players, but it's like anything, how are these kids in an learn how to be pros and how to win meaningful basketball games if you just throw them

out there. They need bets where they can best at first of they respect, they actually have a resume, and that can actually go out there and lead by example. We're not saying, We're not saying bringing vets in and start them, but you gotta put some bets in where they could play ten to fifteen minutes where the youngers can see. Like if the youngers are bullshitting, you pull them out, put some bets in. They see it, and they're like, oh wow, this is how you do it.

And that's the problem with our league. And I started to notice that about like maybe about four years ago, is when they stopped they stopped bringing vets, Like these teams that are like at the bottom, they stopped bringing bets in and they just rather. I think a lot of teams are hoping to find that hidden gem, which I get because there's a lot of guys that like the Mono Jenobis of the world or Isaiah Thoma was

the last pick of the draft. A lot of teams want to take chances with these young guys to hopefully find the next gym. But in order for these young hits to blossom to be the pro that you envision them to be when you draft them, they got to have some guidance. That's why a team like Sacramento for a long time struggle because they didn't have the right bets. But it was you know what they brought Mike Brown,

who who's who? You know how my drift? I played with him for one year and cleaning was my coach. He was with you for for some time. And go and stay where. You know, he's a film guy. He's gonna drill it. He's gonna drill it. He's gonna drill it until you understand. You know what I'm saying. And that's what that franchise needed. And now you see them playing at a higher level. They didn't do nothing like they brought to balls and like, okay, but look at

the record. They made a trade for some bonus last year. The record wasn't good. They were probably the worse, you know, But what they brought a leader in and Mike Brown who instilled his his his his his fundamentals and his philosophy. And even though his film session might be two hours, you're gonna understand this. You know you're gonna understand this. You are gonna do all these pick and rolls and

you're gonna head, You're gonna be a deep drop. You're gonna do these drills for so long and be pissed off. I guess what it can lead to wins? And that's why our team is playing at a high level. So these young these young teams, you think they gotta you gotta bring bets. You gotta have a little mixture of boats. It's the only way that you're gonna accelerate the process of hopefully having that team go from a lottery to being competitive. Absolutely, and man, last question, I appreciate you.

This has been incredible. Uh, you're insightful, you're smartest shit, and you're not afraid to hear your own voice. They're not afraid to say anything. I love it. I know everybody's gonna love this interview. Us say you you've been on ESPN lately, Um, is that what you're planning to do? Like when you're done, is it coaching? Is it or is this something you're just testing out? Or is it coaching is a gym because I know you're gonna want

to stay around the game. You love basketball too much? Yeah? No, I love basketball. Uh you know talking to rich Um, it's a good problem to having in terms of you can almost because of you know, you know, the resume and me being articulated and knowing to give basketball relationships. I can almost pick out of the three where I could be like going to coaching or you wanna do front office or you wanna do TV, and for me, you know, doing espn uh stuff. I love it. I

love I love media. I love talking about sports because it makes me feel so attached to the game where it's authentic, you know, like when it comes when it comes to front office stuff, it's a tough it's a slippery slope because you gotta I mean, we mean, you're like we're in terms of like if I'm in the front office, I'm assistant GM or I'm a scout and the guy that's ahead of me is a dumbass, and I have to sit there and just look look at him and just like I can't fake it. I'm not

gonna fake this. Front office is a tough thing where it's like for me, if I was gonna go in front office, I have to get a situation where I even know the GM or the president and we like c I I you know what I'm saying, like we understand, like like I respect you and I and you know what's going on. But I can't fake the funk to be under a guy that was was was was was

a media guy or doesn't have no basketball experience. So so for me, like that's one of the reasons why I was like, I don't know, not too sure about front office coaching. You know, coaching is great, but it takes a lot of time away from family. You know, it takes a lot. And it's thinking about this. When we have shoot on a ten, we'll show up at nine, but the coaches be there eight for coaches meeting. This is a little tough. This is a little tough Mondy.

It's tough. Don't get me wrong. It's not about the money. But I said, you know, like just because I've had too much time with my kids right now, and my kids are of age where they're growing up, Like I kind of want to be around that. So like media is almost like that perfect balanced because it's the hours are not as hectic as the NBA, and I can still staying evolved with the game, and and media is growing, the new media is growing. It's growing at a high level.

And it's like, you know, they're gonna need more guys like us. You know, obviously you're still playing at a high level. You're still playing, so and you're doing your podcast, which is basically you keep you, you keep being a toe in your toe in there. I love so. I love that you're doing that. But for me right now, it's like, yeah, I love the ESPN. I love I love doing it. It's fun, it's good to get after it, and it's something that I really want to continue to

explore if I'm not playing the more. You know, of course, playing is number one. That's why I stay in shape. But I don't care about playing. How about a look like some other retired guys that are looking like big like this, I'm like, ho, shit, you haven't played for two years. It's a bigger guys like geez. So of course, you know, if I'm not on the court, I would love to continue doing media, whether you know ESPN. I have to give a shout out to them for thanking

them for giving them me the opportunity. I loved it at a great time and m you know, hopefully I can continue continue doing the media stuff while i'm you know, while I'm not playing. No, it's great, bro've I've watched you, um, like I said, you're very insightful, You're very smart, like and and your candidate. And I love it. Not that I'm some guru. I just see what I see on TV.

And you like what you like, you like what you don't, you know what you don't like, and I think you have a very bright future in it because, like I said, and most important, you care, like you can tell when you're speaking, you care about what's going on. So I thank you Brouh coming on the podcast, this has been one of the best shows we've had. And lies but not least. Before we get out of here, let's talk

to these people about you punching me. I thought we was gonna go listen, but listen all that to the though, listen that was in the past. Listen you know what you know, it's just so funny because like you know, like we're in the finals. Bro it gotta after because listen, I'm me and you are both. We're both the glue guys, we're the muscle par our team. So you know, obviously you know it should happened in the past, but it's stupid, Like you know, I'm like, man, we're so passed that.

It was just it was, it was. It was a crazy night, Delila de Lila, Tequila, Delilah, and Tequila. I go up to doble T. I tell rich this is how this happened. I tell rich I'm like, rich I should just go over there and fucking punch them right now. Richard mav like, no chance you're doing that. We've worked way too hard to get here. That story is gonna tear us all down. No chance you're doing that. What

you're gonna do is you're gonna go over there. You're gonna talk to him, y'all gonna talk it out, and we're gonna move forward. I'm like, that's bullshit. I'm gonna go over here and I'm going to plush them. They're like, Okay, you do that shit if you want to, we're gonna have a problem. So after about thirty minutes, I'm like all right, Rich, And he just keeps telling me like you're ready yet, You're gonna go talk yet? Like I'm like no. So finally I'm like, all right, Rich, I'll

go talk. I go up to Double T, like, hey, bro, what I'm just coming to hot dog charge me stars, light at me, don't mind you. It's Delilah tequila drinks floor, slipperyese hell charge I'm slide. But yeah, the tables are getting people and people are grabbing me. I'm like, man, with that we just sold. I was like, man, but guess the good things that we made. We made up that night and we had some more shots. We had a great night. And even though I lost my mind,

my two care diamondarings good thing had him. I had him insured. Insurance dropped me after. But it's all good. So there y'all have it. There you going pin for my brother, DOUBLET. I appreciate you, brother, my brother, thank you for having me. I'm super proud of you. That's the luck. The rest of the scenes it keep doing your thing, nobody ever changing. You know that. I know that's not gonna happen because you are stubborn as a fucking as a fucking nail, so I know that's not

gonna change, so can do your thing. Thank you for having on your show. Hopefully everyone's gonna enjoy it, love it, and keep the good times going. I appreciate you, my brother. Thank you for coming on the show.