Warriors/Nets, the Staples Center Name Change, and An Interview With Mel Tucker

people are following my college football bets. I'm sort of red hot. I've won eleven of twelve. Hey, if you're new, just download the FanDuel Sports Book App. I did it in fifteen seconds. Get started now sign up. Please use the promo code Colin so they know we sent you. Please use the promo code Collins CEO l I N FanDuel sports Book App. Sign up. What's up, everybody? Welcome

to the first episode of The Draymond Green Show. I am super excited to bring this to you guys, to bring my raw, unfiltered self and let you guys see a different side of me that you may not always see. Get get to know more of me, more about me. Then you may know, I know most people think when you think of Draymond Green, you you know you think it is hard nose, tough playing guy that plays basketball that may talk a lot of ship, get a few technicals here and there, but news slash, I'm a little

more interesting and a little deeper than that. So this will be fun. There will be a lot of fun segments. You will have some very interesting people coming on to the show, whether it's basketball players, football players, maybe some football coaches, some basketball coaches, possibly some gms, but there will be some some venture capitalists, some CEOs. We'll go all over the map. So this this podcast will be for you, and no not just you the basketball fan.

It will be for you who likes interesting, people who like sentistering conversations, and most importantly just want to learn new things and have fun. This week my guests will be coach of Michigan State Spartans football team, Coach Mail Tucker. I am extremely excited about having Coach Tucker on the show. Obviously, my Spartans are rolling. Coach Tucker has come in. He's taking our program back to where it needs to be

and also the new heights. So I'm excited about that, And of course I'd be remiss if I didn't talk last night's game, the Golden State Warriors versus the Brooklyn Nests. Hell of a game, Hell of an atmosphere. Um, super fun. Man. Uh. You know, somebody the other day was trying to build this game up. It's like, man, this is your first game playing k D under normal circumstances. Get the hell out of here, man, Like, is this the new storyline now?

As normal circumstances? Last year Katie starts time back to the Bay, but there were no fans, you know. So it's always something build up. But nonetheless, when you're playing against a brother, um, a guy who has shared in the successes that we've had as an organization, a guy who was as important as anybody in our quest to two championships. Um should have been three. But things happening,

and that is what it is. But to take the court and play against Kevin who was one of the greatest players ever pick up a basketball, uh, to to take the court alongside Steph Curry was one of the greatest players to pick up a basketball, James Harden, one of the greatest players to dribble the basketball, and then myself, as you know, the greatest defender to grace the basketball court. It was fun. It was a lot of fun, and obviously we got to win. Interesting enough, I thought we

could have done a lot of things better. I thought we had twenty two turn overs. We could have done that a lot better. We put those guys on the file line a lot, especially in the first half. First quarter. I think they shotted Levin free throws. And our goal is to keep teams at twenty or below, so we're already over halfway there. Through the first quarter, you got James getting into the tea for our defense getting filed. Kevin is always tough to guard, and then Bruce Brown

was getting off. And one thing we said at halftime is James Harden is going to get off, Kevin Durant's going to do what he does. That's just just the nature of the game we play. When you have a great score, it's hard to just completely shut those guys down. Now you can, you have your nights, and you can also make them take tough shots, but just to lock

those guys down, it's tough to do. They had James with sixteen points a half, No Kevin was sixteen and a half James with fourteen, and then we have Bruce Brown with fourteen, and those are the ones you can't survive. So out of there, what fifty eight points they at a halftime. That's three guys with forty four of them. Like, so we needed to take Bruce Brown out of the game, and coming out in that second half, we did that.

We took Bruce Brown at the game, and then we also were able to make a tough one on James and Kevin, which isn't always possible. But our defense has been incredible. I think our defense has been great all year. That's the reason we had the number one defense in the NBA. It's the reason we are twelve and two because our team is built on our defense. And that really showed up there in that third quarter last night. And you know, we went on the run and start

the quarter, we went up thirteen points. Then we end up with Wiggins and Steff with four files and the game could have shifted there. I think that was kind of the moment where everybody's like, oh man, you got Wiggins off the court, you got stuff off the court. They're a thirteen points here, Collins Brooklyn run and it went the opposite away. I think we took that thirteen point lead and made it a twenty two point league and it was great. UM. I thought Luney's defense was

incredible during that stretch. Gary Payton's defense was incredible during that stretch. My goal was to anchor our defense and try to be incredible during that stretch. I was able to make Kevin take some tough shots. De Lee was all over the court during that stretch, and Jordan's Poole was active on the defensive end. But even more importantly, we ran our offense through him and with with Stephan

Wiggins out. UH. That was important and and it's very important for a young guy who's just kind of coming into his own who that's really his like one of few big games that he's playing in the NBA. Due to the lack of success we've seen over the past two years. He stepped up in that moment. He took great shots. Didn't make all of them, which is basketball

and it happens, but he took great shots. We were able to get good things on the offensive end, and we were able to take our lead to twenty two points. And that was kind of Uh. I was kind of it. Um, I don't think they're guys came back in after that point,

or that maybe they were. They had a few guys in the start the fourth quarter, and then they kind of pulled the plug at the nine minute mark, and um, I was shocked because you know when when you have a score and like Kevin Durant, a score like James Harden, I personally feel like you always have a chance. And so I was a little shot, but you had an

understanding the landscape of the NBA. They have a role in Cleveland team coming in today and you're down twenty two points, you expend a ton of energy in that fourth quarter trying to make a comeback. What if you fall short. If you do fall short and you have a tough, young, confidence Cleveland team coming in the next day and you're running on fumes, now you're risking losing

two games. And so I definitely do understand um the logic behind uh Steve Nash to consultant who's now the head coach, pulling the plug and just moving on to the next day, because you know that's the NBA. You got eighty two games. Every game won't be your day. I mean, obviously being on the team that was seventy

three and nine. It may feel like every day was our day, and yet there were still nine times that it wasn't, and maybe another ten times that we just were able to squeak games out now more and so every day won't be your day. So I do understand, uh, Steve Nash pulling the plug and just moving on to the next day, which is today, and those guys take on a young, hungry Cleveland team that we actually take on tomorrow and the back to back in Cleveland. So

I was an incredible game. I was really proud of the way our guys stepped up in that moment. You know a lot of people I've been talking a ton of ship, like, oh, their schedules week and they haven't played anybody, and that's why their record is this and that, And you know, I thought that was much of a statement game as a regular season game can be. Um. You know, no statements are truly made in the regular season because none of the ship matters once you get

to the playoffs. But if there was a statement game, where if there is a such thing as a statement game in the regular season, I thought that was one, just because of the noise surrounding coming here to Brooklyn, playing against Kevin and James, which is always tough. Young team, coming off a loss, coming from Charlotte and having to bounce back from that, starting the road trip with a loss. I thought it was really, really, really a huge step in the right direction for our young team. I wouldn't

say we're that young. It's kind of a mixture of old and young. But I also thought we could have played a lot better, which is encouraging because in order you know, to to beat one of the best teams in the NBA with two of the best players in the NBA and such, you know, such a young point of the season for us coming on the road. I thought it was. I thought it was a big deal. But they encouraging part is we can play so much better and we and we beat that team the way

we did, so some beautiful things. I had. Man, we gotta continue to build, continue to grow. Starting to hear all the noise about, oh man, the Warriors will winning championship and blah blah blah, that ship is not real. We have a long, long, long way to go. But I am enjoying and embracing the process of getting there and trying to help bring our young guys up to

speeds as fast as possibly can. And I think we're starting to see that with young guys like Jordan Pool turned the corner, Johnathan Commen, guys in the last week starting to get minutes and really giving great minutes. And I can go down the list, but the reality is those young guys are coming along and we're twelve and

two because of it. You know, when you when you think about the of the landscape of the Golden State Warriors and you look at the past, say seven years, those first five of those even years were brilliant, like r It was the championship, followed by Games seven lost, an NBA Finals, followed by two championships followed by a Game six loss after we lost two of the top players ten players in the world to injury UM in

a matter of forty eight hours. But then you go past that, and you have two years in between that up until today. In those two years, we're not so pleasant. They were. It was a ship season where obviously Clay was out UM due to an a c L injury, Kevin had left, Andre had been traded away, and Steph broke his hand from not mistaken two or three games into the season. It's funny because I was looking at Steph showed me a clip. Uh. The other day, I have a lineup that I was on the court with

that year in film. It was myself at the point, Glenn Robinson the third at two, Eric Pascal at the three, a Marii spellman at the four, and Willie cary Sign at the five. I think Glenn Robinson the third is is a very good player. I think Eric Pascal is a very good young player. A mari Uh in his time in the league, I thought he had really promising talent. And Willie Carliston is a very good young player. And

then obviously I think I'm pretty decent myself. None of those pieces fit, though, and yet you will see lineups like that all the time. That's just what we had to row with. And during those times, a lot of people wrote us off. The Dynasty's over Draymonds. Why he can't do this, he can't do that. Steph Curry has no help. He can't carry a team. Uh, you know, he always needs help from He needed help from Kevin Duran. Blah blah blah. He can't carry a team. Plays while

She's this, that another. They'll never be the same. Steve Kirk can't coach Bob Myer. This is a terrible GM. You go down the list, and the disrespects unbelievable. I mean, you have to know the disrespect is unbelievable by the way Clay keeps speaking out on it. Clay doesn't talk about any fucking thing. Clay doesn't even talk and yet this guy keeps fucking going insane about the lack of respect that that we we are getting as an organization, that we are getting as a dynasty. He just keeps

going ape shit about it. But I get it because everyone wrote us off and yeah, here we are, um two years later, sitting in first place, uh in the in the NBA, and hey man, it's a lot of basketball left to be played. Like I'm not gonna sit here and act like, man, we're sitting in first place at game sixty, like it's game fifteen. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. But as a champion, I know what it takes to be a champion. So I'm not worried about getting ahead of myself because I know how hard

it is to win the champion ship. But what I do know is we have a damn good team and we will continue to grow. We will get Clay back, we will get Wiseman back, and those are two more important pieces to what we're trying to rebuild here. And I think it can and it can and will be really special. But all the fucking doubt over the last couple of years. It's funny. I called my fiance late last night and I was talking to her about all the doubt and just like all the ship, and she

said some good things to me. It was it was actually beautiful to hear. But the doubt has been insane over the last two years. And two come back and be right back there at the top of the league with with the good teams in the league today, with hopes are competing for a championship. It's a beautiful filling And I still think, you know, we get ourselves there. Um, we know what it takes to win, We know how to get it, John, But we're a long ways away, and we got a lot of improvements to make as

the course of the season goes on. But if we stay dedicated to the process of reaching of getting the championship, dedicated to to the what it takes daily to win a championship. You can, we can put ourselves in contention, and that's all you can ask for is to give yourself a chance to be in contention. And I think if we continue to work, continue to stay committed obviously, uh, stay healthy and get healthier, um, we can give ourselves

a real chance. And I like that. And boy, don't let us win a fucking championship because you gotta hear from me. So those are my thoughts about the Warriors possibly compete and winning the championship. As I know, as I said before, the noises out there, man, we all hear it now that the Warriors are gonna win and

blah blah blah. But tossing into another guy who I think is going to win the championship, the first guy who would be an assistant coach with coach Nick Saban and take Coach Saban down, Coach Meil Tucker extremely excited to have him on the show, obviously, it's this is a near and dear one to my heart. I think it's very well documented my love and affinity for my alma mater, Michigan State University. I couldn't be more proud and thrilled to have Coach Tucker on this show for

the first episode, and such a huge week. We got Ohio State this week, which I'll be at the game and I am fucking pumped about go support my Spartans. The Heisman of two thousand twenty one, they say, candidate, I say the Heisman. Kenneth Walker, the butliting a cough winner too thousand one. Jaden Reid Peyton Thorne continues to grow as a quarterback. I am looking forward to him

being the next great quarterback out of Michigan State. We all, sir saw Kirk Cousins doing and what he's doing, and here we are Coach Tucker and built this thing up. So tossing it over to Coach Tucker. Welcome to the first episode of the Draymond Green Show. Coach Tucker. What's uping? How you doing, Draymond? I'm doing great, man, Thanks for having me. Man, I can't complain. How are you doing? Brother? I am fantastic, I am incredible. I appreciate you coming

on here. Obviously. You know my my smarting blood run deep as yours do as well. Um, and I you know when you you've brought that energy back to the program, which we are all excited to see and and extremely appreciative. How how are you feeling so far about this season? I know we all see it from one perspective and we're excited, but you know, coaches sometimes can have a different respect. So how are you feeling about it? You know what, I feel like we're moving in the right direction.

I really like this team. They're fine group to coach. Uh. They play extremely hard. Uh, they played for each other. You know, they played with toughness, mental and physical toughness. Got a great staff here to work with. You know, it's not a one man show over here. And you know we're building something special and you know it's it's a process. Um. We shifted the culture. We're cementing the culture right now, you know, every day, and I really I really enjoy the process. And I'm proud of what

our guys have accomplished so far. But we're not done yet. That's that's beautiful to hear. Um. Obviously as a fan. A couple of weeks ago, Uh, we we had a huge weekend in beating Michigan, and as as it should be. I know, you're tooling all against against the guys up

the Highway, which is beautiful. But then we had to slip up, slip up against Purdue, and I personally love the way the team bounced back, But how do you as a coach go in and getting the guys refocused and understanding that, all right, we had our slip up. Now it's back to ask you, Well, the first thing is is to own it. You know, we have to. We can't allow to ourselves. You know, we have to take a hard look at ourselves as a staff and as players and go to the truth and go to

the facts and say, hey, what happened. What happened? And you know it was death by inches. You know, mistake here, Mrs Simon here, miss block here, and miss taco, mental era, lack of communication, all those things add up and you can't. You can't beat good teams. You can't win road games. You can't. You can't do that when you when you when you beat yourself, you know is the margins are

too slamming. So we went to the truth. We were honest with ourselves and uh, we learned our lessons and then we went back to world Uh, and it was a beautiful thing. And uh, you as a big team guy, man, you've been all over the big team coach. Obviously a Wisconsin graduate going on in Michigan State. You eventually ended up at Ohio State and then on through the NFL as you major round student NFL and to Colorado and now we're lucky to have you back at Michigan State.

I gotta tell you, as a as a black man, as a black um African American donor UH to a predominantly Um Caucasian university, it was very refreshing for me to see an African American head coach come on and and take over for our program. You know, we have all these all of you know, so many students student athletes that are African American, and yet you know, it sometimes come off as if our African American men aren't

worthy of coaching are our athletes? And I think it was very refreshing for me and a huge of the university and bringing you in as the head coaching and our football program. That's something that I think is great and now obviously followed up by an African American athletic director, which is also beautiful. So UM, you know, how do you feel about UH, the inclusion that it's taken place at our university and adding more people of color into

positions and decision making positions and positions of leadership. Well, I think it's important. It's it's a great those great points that you that you that you highlight. You know, Michigan State has always been a place of diversity, equity and inclusion. You know, I'm not the first black head football coach here. You know, Bobby Williams obviously was that. Um going back to the sixties, you know, Duffy Doherty

in the football program, you know, integrated college football. There was twenty plus players black players on the national championship team in nineteen sixty six. And so it's always had a history of diversity, equity and inclusion. But you know, it's all there's always a work in progress, and UM, you know it's it's it's you've never arrived, You're never there. And so I know that, uh, my hiring here it's not just about me, you know, it's about it's about

all of us, you know. And you know with a hundred and thirty Division one football programs and maybe twelve or thirteen like head coaches, I know that that you know, I'm carrying the mantle and leading away. Um, for a lot of coaches, uh in the country, you know, young coaches, experienced coaches, you know. Uh, you know, I curate out responsibility and I know that you know, every one was watching. Everyone wants to see, uh you know how we do. You know how much success you know we have here

as a program. And UM, you know, I don't take that responsibility lightly. And so it's something that I think about constantly. UM, that's just part of my experience and and part of my existence. But you know, I'm grateful for the opportunity, and UM, you know my you know, my my desire would be that more African American coaches, UM, you know, men and women, we'll get opportunities to be head coaches, UM, in the the major college level at

all levels, and and also in the professional ranks. Speaking speaking of men and women getting an opportunity, we just saw done Stately getting incredible contract extension, which is well deserved. Extremely happy for her. I had the time the opportunity to spend some time with her this summer at Olympics because we were trapped into this hotel, couldn't go anywhere, and she's incredible. So I wurs extremely happy to hear

that Um. I am also extremely happy to hear rumblings uh that that Tuck no longer come and Tuck staying. And you know, I heard some rumblings last week and that kind of put me on a learning Now there are some reports coming out, uh that that you hear to stay and you will be with us for a long time. Well that's that's my goal. And I came here um And I made it clear um in my initial press conferences that I thought the Michigan State was

a destination job and not not a not a stepping stone. Um. And obviously I had big tim roots and played at Wisconsin. I'm from going on how my parents have three hours and fifteen minutes away. My wife was from Chicago. UM and uh, you know, I know the big Tim last cake. This is where I started my career in as a graduate assistant for Nick Saber. So this Michigan stay, it's a special place for me. And so there was never my intention to come here, uh and just passed through. UM.

I believe that we're building something special here. Um and and uh I've had two minutes support here uh to do that and we're on the right track. And it's it's beautiful to see. Um. I also noticed when you took over the job that you brought some former players back. Um. And I personally think that that's beautiful. Is I think it's it's important and keeping that culture. You know, it's important that guys embody Michigan State. And so I thought

that was a beautiful thing. Can you share with the world how many form of players that you brought back onto the staff and how important that it is to you to have those guys? We'll shoot, I got, Uh, it's very important because uh, you know spartan dogs are those are the guys who built this program and if weren't for them, it'd be no me, you know. And so you know Courtney Hawkins uh is here as ours

coaching our wide receivers. Um. He was at Flint beat Of High School and was head coach and athletic director. There was a great player here at Michigan say and all American played in the NFL. Great leader of of of men, Harlan Barnett was here previously. Whereab to get him back after a simile for the state is coaching our defensive backs again. You know a great player here, great leader, great family, family man. Uh just a great

role model. Wessell. Have Kevin Bickerson here on our support staff. We're going on the defensive up side of the ball. Got Lorenzo Guests who played was on football scholarship but also played basketball. Uh here when I was here and in ninety ninety eight, he's in our he's in our he's in our weight room. Just finish his PhD. Darren Harris started, Yeah, it's amaz I mean these great spartans. Um. Darren Harris, uh wash is our director of player engagement.

You know, he was a captain on the Rose Bowl team not too not too long ago. And so uh and I'm they're gonna be it. They're gonna be many more as many former players that we can get back here. Uh you know that, you know, we're gonna do that in whatever role. Uh, that that that we can that we can find. Um, I think it's important. Uh and uh, those guys they believe Green and White. I mean they it was blood, sweat and tears. I mean they were here,

they lived at on the campus going to class. You know, they were they've done what our current players are doing right now, so they who better to show them the way? You know, the big examples to be role models, to to help leave these guys and help help show them the path to success. And I have a lot of respect for all of our former players, all of our spartan dogs. And that's as beautiful as as a former player. I say thank you to just have to see guys I was in school with Darren. We spent a ton

of time together. Obviously know Bennie Fowler, Drell Worthy, those guys, Denzel Drone like that with those guys. So I spent a bunch of time around football players and and it's it's special to see guys coming back and Austin Thornton going back to the basketball team. I'd be remissed. Uh if if coaches O didn't come up and you and I talking, I see you guys are building up a real strong relationship. Someone who is a friend to me, a brother to me, a father figure to me, a

coach and a mentor. I a extremely appreciative of that relationship. How how is that relationship growing growing with y'all, but also has grown since the time you come to the Michigan back to Michigan State. I'll tell you what man coaches, he's the best he's the best. And you know, I can see why all of this uh former players as current players while they love him to die. And I will run through a wall for him, because he'll run through a wall for you. You know, that's the type

of guys. He's he's real. You know, everything is black and white, there's no gray. And if he tells you something, you can take it to the bank, you know. And he was he was here um when I was when I was a graduate assistant. You know, he had just been uh recently named the head coach, um and he

was in the sensed to building build the program. And so I remember it was you know, Cleves and Mopete and and fail and and uh Antonio Smith and all those guys were you know and uh and there was always it was always here, always a very close relationship with the football program and the basketball program, which and it was coach Saban was really close with coaches. Oh, they han't known each other for a long time, um,

And it was just it was for something. It was just it's very special that the football team and the basketball and men's basketball team here. It's it's like a family. I mean, it's it's something that you don't normally see. And there's no animosity between the programs and between the coaches, you know, which is a beautiful thing. And so when I when I was presented with this, this opportunity here in Michigan, say, one of the things that I wanted to know. The first thing is I want to know

was where how they coach? It's a film about me, you know, I said, I wanted to know, like, where's where where's whereas that is on this you know. And and and I got a call from you know, I got a call from him and he said that he would you know, he was looking forward to working with me, and and uh and uh and he you know, he was he wanted me to be a spartan and things like that, and and that went a long way with me because he's been here at thirty plush years, you know,

and he bleeds green and white, um and uh. The greatness of Michigan State Athletics, a lot of it is is due to him and and what he and what he's done and what he continues to do on a day to day, on a day to day basis. And it's he's he's not just the head basketball coach and me. He's an ambassador for the university. He cares about all the sports, all the other coaches, all the other coaches in the athletic department, I mean, all the owners. I mean he is he is, he is everything to all people.

And so as a as it's coming in the door. Uh, you know, he would. He has been a tremendous asset to me. He has been a friend. Uh, he's he's counseled me. Um, you know, he's supported me, he's helped me. He's helped introduced me to to donors. Uh and uh and we and we talked about we talked about football, we talked about basketball, we talked about toughness, we talked about practice, we talked about all those all those things,

former players, family. I mean, it's not a day that goes by that I don't talk to him, or we don't text back and forth. And um, and I just it's just it's been a blessing to me to have a Hall of Fame coach, you know, right here with me, side by side, and I tease and all the time, I say, because we live in the same neighborhood, I said, I'm always pinching myself even Steven out to this day that I drive home and I get I get a chance to drive past Tomazo's house, because what mortgage jail

for life is good? Right? Absolutely? Life is great. Man. I I definitely under if there's anyone that understands him and that relationship, I do because it's been you know, he always say to me, Draymond, You've done so much

for me. But the reality is is he's done so much for me and and and teaching me what what it was to work hard, Like I didn't I got to Michigan State, I didn't have a clue what working hard was, you know, like teaching me how to carry myself, holding me accountable, teaching me further understanding my my understanding of the game of basketball, um, how to watch film, like all these things that matters. And yet will still call me to this day and say, what the funk

are you doing? Why are you out there atvention? Blah blah blah blah blah. If I get in trouble with our general manager, our head coach, Steve Kerr, I'm getting a car from coaches though, And that's what I truly appreciate about him, you know, it's it's it's much further than just that those four years, and it's way further than just deeper than just the game of basketball. So

I'm truly appreciative of that, and I understand, like y'all relationship. Obviously, I don't understand from a coach's perspective, but I do have an appreciation for it. Uh, speaking of of mentors, um as you say, you you worked for coach Saban at Michigan State, but you also worked for him at Alabama, and I think an incredible status. And I know you noticed that, and we all know it, and having I have a fund appreciation for and I'm sure you do

as well. None of his assistant coaches has been him. And and it's it's funny because Smithy, Steve Smith as you know, he said, Draymond, I have a I have a lakehouse on the same lake is Nick, and Nick say Draymond, and Nick say, Steve ain't. None of the motherfucker's gonna beat me. I always speaking my sister coaches, so here we are obviously not to get to a too far ahead of things, but that could possibly be a matchup in the playoffs. And I'm sorry, Coach Saban,

but you gotta go down this time. Ball. Tell you what coaches? Uh. I know Coach Savan since I was since I was senior in high school. He recruited me when he became the head coach of Toledo. Remember getting a phone call after school wanted Dad picked up the phone and it was Coach savan And saying, Hey, this is Nick saving from the use of oilers. I'm like used to oilers. I'm in high school. What's the deal

he said? He said, he just got the job, the head job of Toledo where my dad played football and baseball. And UH. And that's when I got to know Coach Saban and and he gave me my starting coach and I usually coach. I was just his defense best coach at l s U his first year there, and then I went back there with him in h two thousand and fifteen. We won a national championship UM there and so he's he's he's taught me. He's taught me everything.

He laid the foundation for me in coaching. Three of my first four years in coaching, I was with Coach saban And whether it was goach from recruiting UH to the player development to defensive scheme, uh you name it, you know, just running the entire organization, strength and conditioning, you know, operations. I mean he from A to Z, he knew what he knows at all. He's a great explainer. That's the one thing I love, one of the things I love about coach Saban. You know, he's very demanding, uh,

in which he should be. And he's very detailed organ and he has since urgency. But he will always tell you why he wants things done a certain way. Give you He'll he'll give you great detail, explain to you. You know, he'll give you an example, he'll tell your story, and he'll tell you why so so. Uh. You know it's on you if you don't get it done, because he's gonna tell you exactly what he wants, how he

wants and why he wants it that way. UM and and there and there's a reason why you know he's uh he's undoutedly the greatest uh coaching it in the game right now. And uh he's extremely tough to beat. Um whether you were a former, whether you're assistant or not. Because he's a relentless recruiter. You know, he's he's a great coach. UH And he never slows down. Um, and

he's the first competitor. And it doesn't surprise me when I hear when I uh, when I hear that you he said that not his his assistance won't ever beat him because you know he's uh. He's an extreme, he's extremely kemp petitive, extremely and uh, losing is not part of his deal. I respect that. I had a couple more questions, and I'm gonna let you go as I know how huge this week is. And um, as I want to let you go for your own personal sake, I want to let you go for my personal sake too,

because Michigan State win, I win. But I'm speaking of an important week. Um we we we got Ohio State this week. There's it's no secret of how big this game is, what this game means our season. And you know, as as an athlete, I always say, people say what's the best feeling as an athlete, and I always say, for me, it's going on the road winning a big game. And you can hear a fucking pencil drop in the stadium. So I'm looking forward to this game. I'll I'll be

there uh supporting and and the Green and White. So I'm definitely excited about that opportunity to be there. But up, what what do you feel we need to do as a team in order to go in there and and put Ohio State down and make our way onto this playoffs. I'll tell you what. We have to play compmentary football. You know. We have to have our offense and our defense and our special teams clicking on all cylinders for sixty minutes, four records in the game in order to

get it done. We can't leave it up to one player one side of the ball. Um. We have to play conferentary football. We can't give them anything, you know, so we gotta play smart, uh, mistake free. You know, execution is going to be paramount. You know, do your job, trust your training, do your job and come on the man next next to you to do his um. And it's got It's going to be a physical game, you know.

We have to bring the physicality. You know. We have to win a line of scrimmage on the offensive side and the defensive signing on special teams. We have to have some momentum players and we gotta win the failed position. But it's gonna you know, it's gonna take all of us we're gonna have a great plan. We're gonna have a great week of preparation. Uh and you know we're gonna go in there and we're gonna play Michigan State football and uh. And that's you know, that's rugged. It's physical.

You know, it's uh, it's not necessarily uh fresh pastry is more meeting potatoes. Um. But you know that's how we that's how we play the game. UM. And that's where it's gonna take it. That's that's how that's how we love it. I I lied, I got, I got two more questions for your coach, Um. And as as a former football player myself who played in the spring game, it was terrible coaching. It's seth me off of failure. Is there any guys on our team currently that you think?

I mean? And obviously and going out there for two days and playing two players in the spring game, I learned so much much and just more so, Um, how steep to learning curve is and why so many freshman's rant shirt because it's the learning curve at that level is insane. The physicality at that I was insane. So take this question with a grain of salt. I don't really think anyone could go out there and do it.

But do you see some guys on our team or anybody for that sake, on our basketball team that could have made a great football player today. Man, you know what? Uh that's that's a that's a that's a very interesting question because it is. When I talked to high school UH football coaches. One thing that always comes up as they say, they say, I got I got all these guys on the basketball team, the thing they're gonna be NBA players. They would just come out here and play football.

I mean if you around, you know that around and uh so like when I when I when I've gone over and I've and i've uh I watched uh the basket of the basketball practices and I see these big guys I mean six or six five six six six a six nine getting up and down the court. I mean like just flying up and down the court. Man, change the direction, ball skills, leaping ability, explosive initial quickness, all that. I can't help but to look out. They're saying, Man,

I wonder what that guy was like. I I on the uh I on the out on the football field. I actually when I was at Ohio State and I was at Ohio State. UM. I remember sitting in a we were in the staff in the staff meeting. We're on a recruiting meeting and they put the film on of Akron st v uh when we're watching the player and we were like, man, who's that we need to offer that guy? It was Lebron James, you know, and us said, don't worry, but he won't be he won't

be playing any football. This guy, he's got the first round picked. Uh NBA guy was at while you know, so I have I have seen that, you know, that type of greatness you know, on the on the field in terms of at the at the at the high

school though. But yeah, there's no gut in my mind that the way the way the way coaches running this program and the toughness that that uh that those guys play with and what's requiring those prices, there's no doubt in my mind that those guys can come out here on the football field and uh it makes some places. It's beautiful. I think. I think when I look at our squad, the person who jumps out at me is Malik Hall. Kids six seven, got all the physical tools,

jump out to general run like a Deer. I think it's definitely Malik Hall. But before I before I let you go coaching, and again, I want to say thank you for being the first guess that the Draymond Green show. Uh. This this is extremely special to me, Man, and I can't thank you enough. But um, in that same spirit, UM, I'd also be remissed if I didn't mention the two thousand and twenty one Heisman candidate who I think is the two thousand twenty one Heisman, Kenneth Walker, who is

coming transfer from from Wake Forest. Uh, and he's come to Michigan State. Man, and I don't know how long he'll be there with the way he's playing, but I'm gonna enjoy him this year and what he's been able to do and what he's done for our football team is incredible. I just really wanted to hear from your perspective what's making him special and also his work ethic, Like what's his work ethic? Like? Oh, Man, So there's no doubt, there's I mean, it's obvious. Way is physical talent,

talents are what I mean. He's an easy elite athlete. Um. First and foremost, he is an outstanding human being. I mean He is a great person hig I mean high character, tremendous. He's a humble guy, you know, not a real talkative guy. Is a great teammate. Um, I mean just a I mean just a prince of a of a man. When the day that I mean from the day, guy here and he goes in that weight room, he went that way room. I mean the strangth coaches were going nuts

and man, this guy was walking in the door. Is one of our most explosive athletes. And he is a tireless worker. I mean he is a grinder. He works. He works like a guy who was a walk on who was trying out. He's just trying to get on the team. That's how he works every single day. And I mean we were really big until the sports science and the GPS units and and all that stuff. And we have to we have to closely monitor his loads and his reps because he does not loath, and we

have to we have to back him down. We have to monitor his reps. Make sure we may say, hey, he's got twelve reps to the eight team reps are or whatever it is, and and or the rest of his walk or whatever, because when he goes he is going. And the reason why he's able to, you know, hit up a fifty yard run and sit and not because when he gets the ball in practice, he takes into the house. I mean that's what he does. I mean he he finishes everything and and he works on his

past protection. Uh. In terms of his work ethic, he is um. He is a guy that you you point to and say, this is how you do it. That's how you this is approach that you're taking away room. This is how you that's how you need to do. That's how you need to run. This is how you how you need to uh, how you need to take care of your body, That's how you need to practice.

I mean he he's that guy. So if you take a guy with a tremendous amount of talents like that, and and you take a guy with very very high character and you put an elite level work ethic with that, then what you have is you gotta you gotta hydsman candidate.

Absolutely absolutely that is and it's beautiful to see. UM. I definitely hope he get his due and obviously, you know, as as great as that will be for him, great for you, great for the program, great for all of US coach Tucker Man again, thank you so much for coming on being the first first guest at the Draymond Green Show. I truly appreciate it. Looking forward to seeing

you Saturday. Let's get it done, coach. Yeah, well, I'm looking forward to say you man, it's an honor and a pleasure to be on this this first podcast with you. I'm gonna add this to my resume, man, I added to my bio and bowl letters man. And but I appreciate you, man. I appreciate, uh, everything you've done from Michigan State. I know you've you've given, You've given back

in major ways. I know you you you spoke to our team a couple of summers ago when we were attempting to register all our guys a vote and talk talk about cilic engagement. Um, you know, you're just such a great role model for for you know, all of our student athletes here. I know coaches Oh talks about you, you know all the time, and um, you're just You're just one of the greatest spartans we've had. We've had a lot of great ones and you're certainly, uh one

of those. And I just appreciate you and what you mean to Michigan State, What you mean to all of our all of our all of our players. Who I mean when you when when when your name is mentioned, guys odds light up, man. I mean, they just they just because they know they know what you stand for, You know how hard you play. They know the toughness and know that you care about people and it's more than just basketball with you. So it was certainly an

honor and the pleasure to come on with you. Thank you so much, absolutely, thank you coach for the first installment of Commissioner Dre. I am extremely excited and bringing uh this this kind of my vantished point of how I see things, uh decisions that I would make if

I wash the commissioner um. Today or yesterday. We found out some huge news and it's huge because it is when when when you touch historical monuments, it's a real thing, like it's you know, people associate such great times or bad times or just times with historical things, and when you touch those things, you kind of shake ship up

a bit. And so coming out of l A today, UM, we had such huge news that Staples Center will no longer be the Staples Center and it will be the Crypto dot Com arena interesting, very interesting because sometimes in life and especially in sports, certain things outgrow the actual thing that sits above it. And so, for instance, the

Staples Center. The Staples Center severely outgrew the store Staples. Like, if you're anywhere in the world and you say I'm going to Staples, and especially in l A. But if you're anywhere in the world and you say I'm going to Staples, people are going to think you are headed to l A to go to a Lakers game at the Staples Center, to go to a concert at the

Staples Center, to do something at the Staple Center. If you say I'm going to Staples, I think another example of that it's Oracle Arena, where I had the luxury of winning three championships or playing in that building and winning three championships. Most people doesn't even know what the company Oracle does. But yet if you say, oh, yeah, I'm going to Oracle, They're never gonna think you're going

to the company headquarters or something for the company. They're gonna think you're going to Oakland, California and go into the stadium that the Warriors play that And so sometimes you have those situations happen. And if fucking sucks, it sucks. It absolutely sucks when all of a sudden it comes up and there's a name change, because those names grow with those places. But the reality is, for instance, the

Lakers signed a twenty year deal. In twenty years, who knows if Crypto dot Com will be the place and there will be some other big company that can afford the name and rights. And that's where Commissioner Dre comes in that, because what's the solution? Like, again, people tie like all these memories to these places. I mean one we are, we can all tie to two Staples. Is Kobe played there? You know, like Kobe played at Staples. Kobe didn't play at Crypto dot com arena, And so

like just that whole thing. It's it's just like a

it really does suck. So what is the solution. It's interesting because you ask yourself, well, should these arenas be named after companies because they're forever changing the landscape of America and our finances and Wall Street and companies and new companies and startups and the next Facebook and all of these companies, I guess, forever constantly changing and so we'll see more of this is just the late latest, greatest, huge announcement that we've seen, but we'll see mortists and

more people will lose that sacred name that has grown with this place and with the successes of these teams and events that take place in these certain stadiums and arenas. And so the solution, I don't know, is it the name? Is it to name arenas after players? Well, Commissioner dre you can't do that because the player is in playing twenty seven seven million dollars for twenty years. As a commissioner, your number one job is to grow this lead, to grow the pot, to grow the revenue, to take this

this league to new places. And so you're kind of faced with the task of do we change something that's so sacred and that's become so big and like a a staple, or do we stay with the name and not capitalized on seven hundred million dollars of revenue. As a commissioner, you must capitalize on the seven hundred million dollars revenue, as it is nearly impossible to make up seven dred million dollars revenue. But it's tough and it

never since well with anyone. No one wants to say they're going to Crypto dot com arena because Crypto dot Com is bad, but because Staples and Staples it's it's it's historic. I grew up watching Code Me and Shock. When Championships at Staples, it sucks. And but as commissioner, you must take to seven hundred million dollars. So kudos to the Lakers and Genie Buss and Linda Rambis and getting a seven hundred million dollar name and rights for

a stadium, because it is extremely impressive. So shout out to those two women continuing to do great things with that organization. It's a beautiful thing. But as a fan, the fan in me, I step outside, take my commissioner had the fan of me. You hate to see Staples go. You hate to see the name Oracle go because they just become so important to the makeup of these teams, to the history of these teams. You just hate to

see it go. So you've heard of mean tweets. We've all seen them, We've all laughed about him in the same vein the guy who you know as the man who gets the technical files, who gets into the ship on the court, who tossed the ship on and off the court. I am going to give blind compliments. And what blind compliments will be That will be me hearing a random name from from my incredible producer Jackson. He will pull the name out the hat and it'll just

be a random name for me. And I have to give a nice I have to give a nice compliment to that guy. I have to just say something nice right off the top of the head blind compliments, bringing this to you first episode of the Draymond Green Show, Jackson, who's our first person in the spirit of having Melt Tucker as the first guest on the show, the first blind compliments name Jim Harbaugh, Michigan head coach. Oh my god, um, oh man. He Jim Harball. He with us. He's our

biggest He's Michigan State as biggest. Ally. We love you, Jim, I love you. Keep bringing those wins the East Lands and Jim, that was pretty good. I was close to not being compliment but I was a slide. The next one Rodney McGruder. Rodney McGruder. Rodney McGruder was a hell of a basketball player at Kansas State UM and he carved out a decent NBA career for himself. I definitely didn't like what happened when our team was the last year.

But Rodney and Gruder I've always respected as a basketball player, hard nosed, he got it out the mud. So I'll always have a respect for that any any guy who gets it out the mud. So that's my compliment for Rodny McGruder. Ya one more, absolutely Okay, So this one very infamous singer of the national anthem. Some of you may have heard this rendition. We're going FURGI I feel terrible laughing out a legend like Fergie. Legend, legends, a legend.

Fergie is a fucking legend. That's it. She's a legend. We all miss we all missed, but Fergie is a fucking legend. All right, I accept it. That's good. That's good. I want to thank everyone for tuning into the first episode of The Draymond Green Show. That was a lot of fun. We'll be here every week. Make sure you click the subscribe button the volume sports. Don't miss a

week you made Mr Jim or two or three. So I'd love to see y'all back here next week, So stay tuned in, stay locked in the same time next week. I love you, guys. Thanks for tuning into the first episode of the Draymond Green show Peace