S1E4: Evan Turner

He is a Celtics legend, and he's come back to Boston full circle. Evan Turner, what's going on, man, let's up. How are you doing. Good to see you man. I appreciate the introduction, and doubt I think Mike's are gonna get pissed if if you heard you call me a legend. But I'll take you. Come on, Why why do you say that I'm just seling, I'm just selking. No, that's my guy for real. But I appreciate the introduction. I'm

glad to be on. So I appreciate you guys. I mean, the last time I got to talk to you, Evan, I was I was trying to crash your Instagram Live party. When was that? That was, Like, know, a couple of months ago, you were like sitting in your car. I do remember that. Actually I was on. I was right near the State House. Actually, I forget Instagram A live is uh Instagram Live is this because I really go on, but it's it's super fun when you do. It's a

lot of a lot of supporting on there. So while we while we were live, some dude found you like you were you were on Instagram Live and the guy, some guy was watching you and he was like, oh, that's him down there and he walked up your car and that's for a picture. Yeah. I was like, you can see in here and he said, no, I just know your car now, I mean I have a green I mean I have an obvious car that I live in, Uh the area I live in, you know you know

what I mean. Like I think he recognizes what looks like him, like you know. It was one of those things, but it was all love. And I always appreciate Boston for that because they always showed me genuine love and energy, which is why I was so happy to be back. Besides like the driving and all that, the Rose and Boston or terror. Yeah, we don't, we don't need to talk about that. But no, that's one good thing about

the pandemic. The traffic has not been that bad. But if you're living downtown, it's still i mean tough to get around, man, but it could be worse. Like so that's all good. But you said you're back in Boston. We all know, Um, you came back. It was like mid December. I think you came back. You introduced your role as a super duper internship with the Southern how's that going to associate associate head coach, So you got associated to the head coach as to the associate head coach. Yeah,

but it's been cool. I think everything's been cool. Um, Like I said, I'm very grateful for Brad to uh allow me as opportunity to really you know, learning ins and outs you know, of basketball and coaching. I've always respected Brad's uh mine, enjoyed playing for him, and you know just this day in and day out, you know, approach the things. So I think it's been going well. It's been some roadbumps just personally just was trying to grow and learn and you know, kind of out my

brakes a bit. But it's been cool and I really enjoyed it, and I really enjoy you know, being around positive energy and and uh you know this assalted staff and you know learning, uh, learning a lot more you know, tricks to the trade. What are you doing day to day, Evan, So day to day? Basically, Um, you know I usually breakdown from usually help you know with the young guys in regards of some of their pet work, you know,

personal performance. Tell us what is not everyone knows. So PEP is just basically just like you know, it's like a little to warm up to their own individual work. So basically, some of the young guys will show up early and keep learning defensive schemes some of the offensive plays, and you know it's just more intricate and more personal you know, uh, opportunities for them to get reps because the season has been so hacktic with the practices and on the road trip, we've had less time to teach

you know what I mean. Player enhancement program. Yeah, enhancing program. Well, oh you want the acronymic because no one knows, an't let the people know? Well, I mean it's all the same stuff, right, No, we don't know. I mean it's not saying it's not the same stuff that I'm saying, Like it's just different names like are you walking or

are you strolling? You know what I mean. It's like one of those things like just meaning like PEP and he's like, no, I got no idea, which just individual work is individual breakdown, so like how you personally, how each individual can get better and what they need to do. Yeah, just group work. So PEP is just I guess it's personal. Okay,

So there's personal and then there's group work. Yeah. Yeah, but it's just smaller practices in a sense, you know what I mean, it's only like fifteen or twenty minutes. Is it's all really time allows you know, which guys have you been working with? So I've been able to help out obviously help out Jay Lernego with Taco and Jayson Tatum uh Now, I played ones on off days

sometimes with Grant Yourmon and Carson Um. So I just literally just been chipping kind of not being a big brother, but you know, just you know, getting in where I fit in and you know, helping out with my experiences and my advice and you know, helping out a romie

a little bit. But you know, definitely just learning from some of the coaches we already have here on you know, the the dudes and don't So I've been lucky, lucky enough to be welcome in in that way, you know, but you were like on the border of playing this season, right, So, like, I'm really curious to ask you this because when I talked to Scale about when he went into coaching, he was like, the first couple of days, like Monday and Tuesday, if there was practice, he's He's like, I could keep

up with the guys. But by the time it got to like Friday and Saturday, I could not keep up with the guys. And I knew that was when I had to retire. And I was like, I made the right decision. How does it feel for you? Like, can you still run with these dudes like seven days a week? Yeah? I think I could. Yeah I don't. I mean mean, Scal's body was a little bit different, and I think, guys to go don't ever get it wrong, You don't

need to go that part. Yeah, but now, like I just I mean, I can still get it, like for sure, Um, how tough was that decision? And what made you decide to choose coaching I don't think it was like a crazy I mean, it was a tougher decision, but when it comes down to I was able to play ten years in the league, like you know what I mean, that was a blessing, especially in any sense. And on top of it, like I'm playing for you know, to win, playing for a good you know, situation, and it's not

like I have any personal goal. So when it came down to that and some opportunities that had wasn't to be on a winning team or whatever, and I was I hate losing, and the stuff I did at Landing last year was like pure hell. So I was like, honestly, like to mix this in and wait on something that's not really for me, or to get a quick start on, you know, learning in my next career that I want

to go into. I thought was the best opportunity. I mean, it's a it's a tough decision to make, yeah, but I literally honestly looked at it as all like I was just trying to give advice to a friend, Like you know what I mean, because sometimes when you give your friends advice is the obvious thing, you know what

I'm saying, but they don't see it. And I was just kind of like, now, if I already talked to my friend about this, what would be so obvious, you know, and I would think I went with the obvious choice. I love basketball, and I appreciate everything basketball has done for me, and uh, the most important thing about basketball,

appreciate the life lessons it teaches. There's been parts of my game where in my life where basketball is played in my favor or the eyes have played in my favor what I'm saying, And I've seen it at the same time not playing somebody else's favor and how they've handled it, you know what I'm saying. Sometimes I've seen people handle it well and sometimes I've seen people handle

it badly. I just remember being a kid and just being like, bro, when I get older, if it comes to that time, I'm appreciate the moment I have now, but I'm gonna step up and take whatever. You know, the game sends me or life sends me. I'm gonna trying to take it as a man. And I understand that, like I'm not the only person that happened to It's just like that's the part, like you know what I'm saying,

So I kind of it's always envisioned that way. You know what I'm and accepted what I was blessed to have. And I was a ten your career, and I was able to make a lot of money and come back to places where people show me love and to land on my feet in Boston and it's a top five

sports organization in the world. So and I'm just not saying I'm just saying that's to say how great fun I am for you know, the next step, so I'm able to take those are wise words, Evan, And I really am curious if if you always looked at it that way. But I also want to know how did the transition come. Did you call up your friend Brad Stevens and say, hey, what do you what do you

think about being coaching? I mean I brought up because you know, I spoke to my I spoke to my agents about it, so I heard there are like certain options and do so Okay, there's Jason Tatum sneaking in over over Evans shoulders. You want to come on the pod I'm giving I'm giving an exclusive. Evan's taking credit for all of your success this year. That's what I'm saying. Bro. Basically, I scored a fifty three for you about forty point. I basically did the trip double. I basically just walk

you through that whole now. Just joking, honestly, I don't think a lot of people give credit to him, but like, uh, Jason is one of those people like when you grow up or whatever and you get in competition or whatever, sometimes a competition competition and turn and envy. But like he's one of those people. He's such a nice kid that like it's easy to be a fan and a friend of him, so like and nobody knows that about him, like behind the scenes, Like he's really like a legit individual.

So and you're not saying this just because he's hanging over your shoulder. And I know what I'm saying. It's because when I look back on it and I see like in that comparing, I'm damn Miller or anything. Like kids, when you're out there, like be a good person, because it don't pay to be an asshole like all that stuff. Do some I'm saying that to say, like, if you're looking up to him, he's generally a good individual. So don't get big headed, don't be an idiot or whatever,

like JT. Do right, and all your other favorites do right, So let's just do right. I mean, I think we mean I can both confirm that JT is definitely a good dude client, see you anytime I got a question. This is the man to go to. Got all the gym. No, I don't, I don't. I barely do anything. I don't think Brad would have brought you back if you if you barely were going to do anything. But back to that question, did you reach out to Brad with this operate for this opportunity or did he bring it up

to you? I know you you spoke about your agent. It's pretty much your monster like our group. So I talked to my agents, so I knew it's kind of an opportunity. Uh that was on the table, you know, if I wanted to keep playing or not. So I spoke to Brad about it. He's asking me, it's like, are you sure you're done playing? And I was like, I think I'm pretty sure. It's like, well, are you positive because I still think you have a couple more years And this is like a dark side, like coaches

are completely different, you know, realm. So he's just making sure like I was making a decision that I wanted to do much more than anything else. Like I didn't expect anything I was from Brad because uh, I always appreciate having a conversation where he's always put my best, you know what's best for me. For so I it was lucky, you know, lucky enough from the opening door and give me a position to be able to you know,

learn and you know, be around the right people. And you talk about him kind of having allowing you to put your best foot forward. Let's rewind back to when you signed with this team. Um, you signed on a smaller contract two years. I think it was about seven million. There weren't a whole lot of expectations, right, Yeah, that was I guess it wasn't a whole bunch of expectation. You know, that's a game. You know, you're hiding cold

in the NBA, you know what I'm saying. So when it came down to I knew there wasn't much expectations, But I mean I also knew I could play basketball. It was like a prove it deal. That's how I saw it back then. Yeah, I mean the definitely, I mean I was making more off my shoot deal than I was here. Yeah, it wasn't improved. Deal like, it wasn't proved. Deal actually wasn't prove it. Deal absolutely, And I was fortunate enough to land in the right situation.

You know what I mean. I think basketball's time, and I think to have a mind like Brad and like to speak and be like, hey, you might not be the best three point shooter, but you can do every thing else at a pretty high level. That's a good basketball player, you understand I'm saying. That's what he said to you when you arrived, when I arrived, He's just like, I'm not worried about the three point shooting. I'm You're

able to do a lot of other stuff. You can develop it, of course, but you're you just told me you can really do a lot of other things in a high level, and that was just the truth. For whatever reason, we all just fall in love at four percent three point shoots. But it's fun, like you know what I'm saying, And oh it's fun. I don't doubt when I play video games that shooting out to the

three shoot. If you're not gonna do it in real life, you gotta do it in the video games, right, you gotta do it somewhere but um and that was pretty much it. And when I was able to come in,

I just think time it was everything I was. I was able to be around a couple other people are trying to rebuild their careers and you know, rebuild themselves and being Brad what's on the up and up where we are all able to lean on each other and join together to really, you know, even though it wasn't as crazy as the team Eastern Conference finals, but to go from a tank situation of making it the two playoffs and one year having thirtysothing players, I thought it

was pretty impressive. And it just showed a testament to the Gullans in the locker room. And that's I mean, without that phase, like the Celtics don't get to where they are right now, right They're not bringing in Al Horford and free agency if the team doesn't show that it's turned in a corner. And I just want to clarify when I say prove it deal, I just mean, like, hey, Evan,

we've got this opportunity for you to come here. You're going to have an opportunity to like play with the ball in your hands show the rest of the league what you can really do, because you didn't really have that opportunity really in the previous seasons of someone like using you the right way. I felt like that's what Brad did with you. He used you the right way. Yeah, I don't. I never want to send any shot like

shots to anybody else because that's not the case. It's just like we speaking English, somebody trying to get you to speak in Spanish and may be tough of and you know what I mean, or speak you know what I mean, Mandarin or what or else. So I was fortunate enough to, you know, have a coach. I understood what I wanted to do or I could do, and you put me in position to be successful. And you know, for two years throughout teen years, I played the best

basketball in my career, you know what I mean. And I don't take that for granted, because he's able to open up doors to uh, you know, more opportunities to provide for my family, to be able to go to the West Coast and learn a lot, make it to the Western Conference finals, win fifty games in the West and you know, do some cool stuff, and uh, I definitely just appreciate the opportunity. So Evan before we get

to ahead. I feel like you're one of the few people who's actually seen mad Brad and can talk about it. And there was an incident inside the locker room. I don't know whether it was your first or your second year, but you told us post game in the media scrum that Brad was so upset with the way that you guys played that he threatened to take the food off the plane because it was a back to back. So then I get on the plane and Brad said his wife texted him. Tracy was like, what did you say?

What did you do? Are you really taking the food away? And Brad was like, what I did nothing? And I get on the plane and Bread said, what did Evans say? He is he's still pissed about that. He brought that like a month and a half ago happened. He's like, you know, you can't believe he's like the media, he told a story. He's like, you know, evn't toss the media. You know, I'll tell jokes and tell what everything. You don't know what he's gonna say. And he told that

joke and he told that story. I might my dude, like you brought that up, like twenty times, like are you really that mad? Like apparently, I mean, I guess a baby girl wants to call them laid into him, you know me, you know when wife he called, you know, she gets your emotions up. You know how I go way bigger than anything. So it's probably I don't blame him, but that he definitely he definitely like that one. But he's right and he's right to be mad for sure.

And Brad, if he were to take food away, I think it would be I think he would be well within his rights because he uh, he used a trip on much some food away. By the way, because when the back in the day when Doc Rivers was here and even the early days with Brad, there were like derito's on the planet. There was like all of the junk food that you possibly want Chicago and then out in California's like that's not happening, Like we got to get the soundtrack. Now I did what you're saying, bro.

But at the same time, no, it's a good thing. It's good for like the players, but I need the deritos. I needed to like what type of deritos? Are you going, Nacho or are you going? What is it cool? Ranch, cool ranch for sure. Yeah, I'm done with the cool ranch. But no one wants to be around you have to you eat those. I'm over it. I don't trip. I'll

be around you after you onions whatever. But like, yeah, right yourself on a plane though, like um it gets the flat and seeing on them healthy as snacks, like you know what I mean, carrots. It's like it's so true. Yeah, can I get you like a kambucha or whatever? I tried and it just wasn't me it was But no, you're right the veggie the crew detay little plastic containers. Yeah, I mean to give a flight attendant eye contact for reals. It's something you want me to offer me? Nothing for

real right now? I don't want this ship. But then Lynchi gets on the plane and he gets his yogurt covered pretzels. He has his own bag with his name on it. That's because Lynch is a man and we must protect him at all cars. Lynch got out fast the other night that altercation between Tri and Tori. Lynchi is still a trained killer. Like till this day, if I was going to get somebody, I'm having Lynchi by

my side. Context here, Lynch is Phil Lynch. He's the team's security doing your security guy, protecting the streets of Boston for over fifty something years. Fight breaks out on the court, that's the man you see running on to save the day and break it up. And he's really pulling up, Bro, He's really really pulling out. Lynci is a man, Bro, Lyncia is a MANU man. Okay, but Evan back to my original question, what is mad Brad? Because I feel like he's taken some heat this season,

especially for being too even killed. But what is he like really? I mean in the locker room with you guys and when people do screw up. I think he always tries to find a solution, Like you understand I'm saying. I think he gets if he were to get madness over an instant, I feel like incidents like over time where you know he's really trying to, you know, get people to rese the potential, you know what I'm saying. Sometimes, you know, if he gets mad, I think it's almost

like the answer is so simple to do right. It's like why don't y'all want to do right? Like you know what I mean? Like that's always been kind of like his inmost like life is simple, find a solution, like just do what you're supposed to do, you know what I mean? Same way why it gives you so much freedom because it's like you're pro do your job. So I don't even know if it's like mad Brad much more than it's like Brad is much more funny

and sassier than what you would think. Explain, please, man, when people trying to play him like like nerdy Brad, like Brad said, he'll do like a funny dude like Brad ain't like somebody like you pick on like there goes like the weird doing the room Brads like he's a man and he can talk ship with the best thing difference, Okay, we need an example of that. I can't get like, we can't be left hanging and not have an example of that. I gotta think I have

to he does have. He has a dry sense of humor with us where he'll drop something but then he like needs to make sure that you heard that. He's like I was joking. You know, I don't know anything. Yeah, for sure, I can't really say I have to think of something and maybe you can bring it back and tell it. But like I just know O for sure. Like one thing about him, it's like he's just a class he dude. He keeps his manners like you understand what I'm saying, so you know, you don't you don't

draw into like the little nitpick stuff or whatever. You know, But like and when when you when he does that so often you think it's kind of a way of him not being tougher, like not like, you know, trying to avoid confrontation, but like Brad can sit there and talk ship with you with the best thought and like it's not even like talk ship. He's keeping it real. He was just being nice. But you know what I mean by letting you live. So sometimes you'll sit there

and it's like and like that little aha moment. It's like way crazier because he just allows you make an ass out yourself from your learned from your mistakes. So I'll always say that about Brad. People try to play him and be like corner or nerdy. He's not like that whatsoever. He's cool. He's cool. It's cool as hell. And that's behind the scenes with the Boston Celtics right there, from one of the coolest people you ever met. That is true. It means more from you. Sometimes y'all kept

asking me. I'm like, bro, like I'm telling you he's cool, like he's a man, Like you gotta believe it, Like take that to the bank and you know what I mean, you'll get credit with that feeling. So so after the is two years in Boston, obviously you get a huge deal to go out to Portland. You're talking about how the manifest destiny went Western a manifest that it's true, yeah, but you're you're talking about how ill Brad is, how hard was it to leave? And it was I love

Boston brother as hard as the lead. But then when you went to go talk about the offers, it's like, bro, y'all are just making me just I guess to leave your whole day like god damn offers. You couldn't refuse That summer was crazy. Yeah, you wake up that morning they say seven D and you have to ask your agent four different times, like seventeen or seven D like no, like seven and seven zero seven D. Like I called my mom and she's like, oh my god, like like, well,

what was your Like what did that feel like? Because you were you were hanging it, but I think you maxed out of like six or seven mill a year before you got that. Well, I get I didn't shoot. I mean I was comfortable, Like I walked in. I had my shoe deals, so like I told you, like I didn't get a crazy deal from Boston, Like my shoe deal was still the same. So like I've been

comfortable financially. I guess, like the one thing it was was like you know, finally, like I guess this is money to take further money to further take care of my family, of course, but then at the same time, like I'm not saying I was some title or anything, but I was just like, bro, I all right, I know I deserve this, Like do you understand I'm saying, like,

and I'm not knocking anything. I don't want to go deep into anything, but like when I watched, like I knew there's an yeah, but I knew I deserved it. I knew, like I was grateful for money I was making prior to but like I knew that it was a low ball too, Like I understand, I'm saying someone came down to it as my family and like my kids I didn't have at the time, I was like, I'm glad I was able to get this. I'm glad somebody appreciate it when I put in. And it's most

importantly sacrifices I made, you know what I mean. Like a lot of times we speak on a lot of stuff, and I don't like hyping myself up, but I made a lot of sacrifices for myself personally, and you know, publicly where it's all the glitz and glamour, where I always take hits for it, and you know, sometimes say, all right, I guess you get paid for that, you know what I'm saying. So it was a blessing and and and it was cool. And I remember, you know,

calling my mom and she was hyped. I remember calling Iguadala and he was so hype, and uh, you know, it was cool to it's you know, it's just cool to see. And you know, the biggest thing, like I always say, was just trying not to die before I signed a deal, you know what I mean, And that was to live first. I couldn't sign a deal to just life fifth and I kept trying to tell like, bro, I will come out there now, like let's just do this. Can you can you like email or facts that now?

Like one second, I said, yeah, like, all right, where do I need to sign? Like that was the toughest part, just making sure I stayed alive. You stay home, You didn't go anywhere. Yeah, I didn't, That's what I'm saying, Like, damn right. And then within a year you've got someone driving into your pool trying to take you out. Man. That was lit. That was crazy. That was crazy. That was a funny story. But like every part that was like it just it turned out. Well, it was a

week before Christmas. The dude didn't die. You know, he went right into the pool, didn't He went right into the pool, and he should have dropped, went over the pool and dropped and landed onto Montgomery you avenue. You know what I'm saying. It's funny now, it could have been really bad, you know what I'm saying, Like fifteen ft to the left. He would have went into my kitchen. I would have just been eating breakfast. Oh my god, you know what I mean. So and he came out

of broken ribs, hip, leg and ankle. But you didn't die. My chef got was it? He got a special award from the fire apartment. Yeah, and was there water in the pool at the time. There's water in the pool. Yeah, and then too, I got to use insurance too, you know what I mean? Yeah, all that ready for insurance and like you, there's no reason to call incaud you want your premium and go up. And it's like it's

about goddamn time. We all can relate to that. It was about time, bro, Like I'm glad you got to cash in, and you'll need to hold me up and like honor me because I wasn't one of a few people I was able to use a insurance for some real ship, you know what I mean. I got a new carpet everything I was doing my back, I got a new carpet because I got a new set of nights. But it was it was still it's still good. I like this, So it was stop. But that was a

funny part in the team fund. The team photographer, he had a great idea to bring out the droid on the drone before he took before they took the truck out the pool, so we were able to get some dope shots and everything. But it was just crazy because it took them four days to figure out how to take the truck out the pool. Because think about it,

it's an eighteen ton truck. It's twenty five down. Legit, how you see on my street in the street is only probably as narrows like twenty feet maybe, So you know what I'm saying. So every time I'm gonna look out the window from my living room, I would see the hole and I would just see like the three guys just sitting there like this, like scratching the head head to bring a bring like a little forklift or whatever. And when it was an engineering feat to be truck

out of your pool. Yeah, And every time I will open like the window, I just see them just like like kind of like that, like you know what I'm saying. I'm like, man, I'm not really tripping, bro, because nobody got the answers to a truck fall into a pool, Like you know what I'm saying. So I'm lucky that all played out and I was able to sell that house just like three days ago. So busne listing. Yeah, yeah, life, life appears to be paying you forward. You got the

big deal, Yeah, cashing on insurance. The guy the driver was okay, just had some broken ribs. Is a good stuff. Really stuff happens to you, Evan. I feel like all the time. We're gonna we're gonna do story time with Evan Turner to wrap this thing up. But yes, it's a little preview. Crazy stuff happens to you know, like when the truck went into my pool and legit my my my chef was like going crazy whatever, and I was just like, man, of course, like you know what

I mean, stuff like that all the time. So I called my people. I'm like, yo, um again, yeah I called. I called. I called the team security. It's like, yo, truck just crash is my pool? Like, tell them I'm a misshoot around or I'm gonna be late. So when Rick Riley tells Coach Stocks like yo, Evan, uh, it's gonna be late to shoot around, He's like he's like a truck fell into the pool. So starts is kind of looking like you really believe that and he's like no,

look like you know what I'm saying. And then after I called my financed people and you know, my people, and they're just like, y'all, you know you're shut off the end, you know, just go about your business, will handle it. So I just told the people, like the fire department, love, bro, there's somebody here I talked to I just walked down the hill. I went to practice. People are like, shot. I'm like, bro, ship like this happens to me all the time, Like all the time.

It don't even shot me. I was like, of course, of course, Well that's a great story to go into our end. You do our first commercial break. We're gonna come back at this and get some more context of maybe some more crazy stories that happened in the life of Evan Turner. We'll be back right after this. I know I've been waiting forever to get back into TV Garden for a live Celtics game, and I know you've

been feeling the same way. So why not make up for some lost time get in on all of the action for next season by signing up for the Celtics Season ticket Member Waitlist presented by American Express Listen. When you sign up, you'll get priority access to purchase season ticket memberships for two season once tickets become available. So after you're done listening here, head on over to Celtics dot com slash Waitlist to sign up today and you'll be back inside the Garden in no time, helping your

boys grab a win. Alright, storytime with Evan is gonna come up in the next segment, so you're gonna have to wait around for that. But right now we're gonna jump in and talk about Evan, your your early portion of your career. And you were the number two pick back and you know something that you mentioned. I don't know if it was directly to me or if it was to the media in general while you were here in Boston. It's like the the expectations that come with

being a high lottery pick. It's like if you are the number two pick, you have to be a superstar or else it's a complete failure. Number two, number three, number four. Can you just explain what the pressures are for like a young guy coming in the league, And sometimes these at expectations are unrealistic when your number two picked, like things have to play out the right way. Like Trisian Thompson I were talking the other day. Had I thought about it, I would have I would have not

visited Washington. I mean I would not visit Philly. Film did one work. I only did Philly or not visited Philly, just like I didn't visit Washington. I went third or forth fit for an option where it could allow me to develop the way that people I would love to have time to develop a John wall and Brad Bill. I drafted to a team where the dude there it's about to be a first ballot Hall of Famer ye. And then the other dude that they drafted it's on his second max max contract, which is true out you

know what I'm saying. Okay, so when you break it down, what those two do, they don't really catching shoots. And now when it comes into it, it's like you got the franchise, you got certain people, it's like fit is everything. You know what I'm saying. So you're saying you would have rather gone later, even though the paycheck and contract is a little bit lower, You would have rather had the better situation than going higher in the draft in hindsight.

I mean, if you want to sit here and say I would have went I would have went tenth or nine for Gordon and Paul George, right, I mean, and it's not knowing this, but I mean we ended our four years with the exact same numbers. Yeah, the expectations were different, opportunities were different. Yeah, and goring to ill dues and don't let me hate, but what I'm saying, it's like during those two years of like having number two picked, there are certain things that people wanted that

wasn't realistic. Like one, I'm playing behind Agle Dollar. If we're not if we're not figuring out a way to make it work and I'm backing them up, I'm missing a lot of time and developing. And the Igle Dollars are great players, and that's one of my best friends. And I ever get it wrong. Two people on the average eight during those two years. The most anybody average was fourteen on that team, and that was lou Wille

off the bench. I average nine five for Drew average like twelve or thirteen with Dollars an All star at twelve, six and five, we were two minutes away from going to the Eastern Conference Finals. Shot to playoff round. Though he does what he only does, pull up in big moments and hit two big threes. We've been on to the Eastern Conference Finals. You understand I'm saying. During that time, there's a lot that came out about me and I could I couldn't cars or there's nobody that you know

stuck up for me during that time. You know what I'm saying, so I speak on that situation as uh as honest as I can. But I'm grateful because it really made me tougher to playing Philly, playing the city affiliate like Affhilly, like brotherly love, that type of toughness, that type of back handed compliment, weird you know, weird energy hater, just like you know, put up a shut up made me a tougher person. It helped me become a man and helped me, you know, deal with what

I had to and you know today. But I mean other than that, like, yeah, I would have went, would have waited. This might be my last exclusive these people. He's the only last thing to really care about me for real. But but I don't know who that Who was that? Just again something for whatever reason, he's always around again Yeah that's again. He just gravitates towards you. Now you probably just I am in the food room,

so you know what that to be. But at the same time, if I had to, I probably went third four f six, like one of those things. But I learned a lot in Philly in a sense of being a pro. I think one thing that I took with me that helped a lot was like dull cons already trying to talk to me about the value of winning. And I was around people like Ride throwing that like as a pro like if you didn't win, they weren't

impressed with it. Like do you understand I'm saying. You know, I was glad I didn't get NBA in that sense, and you know, somewhat, you know, figure out like oh, let me get forty points and be a loser. You know, but you're talking about those early Philly days. There's a lot of stuff that played out the way where you know, I have a have a have a president that when I got drafted, went from being a president to GM And you understand I'm saying, so now we get right

doing coming. So you go from being a rebuilder to you know, right Thor and having a mind and being like once you you don't shock or whatever. It's like, no, this is actually a good team, like you know what I'm saying. And I don't right Thorn talk, he said, and I don't trade good players, like you know what

I mean. And that's always said. And it was like, oh, when I was going here, I thought they're about the trade such and such, and we're me and Drew were going to develop as kid is heither beat him already don't but I don't trade good players. And for me personally, that was everything to me as an individual, especially in an age where you know you always somewhat get what you want and builds entitlement, you know what I mean.

But those little life lessons of staying and fighting and learning, and you know, once most importantly learning from my brother like Igua Dollar. Definitely you know it molded me well in different instances to help me later in life. You know now that you can look back at it and see the big picture. Was there a low point, a low moment that you remember the whole thing? Really, I found strength through vulnerability. So like when I say, like if I have to be honest, like no, like the

whole thing around that time as hell. And it's not because like Philly of Shitties, I understand circumstances. I understand stuff you control you can't control. I understand there's parts where I could have been maturing instances or whatever. You know what I'm saying. So like I never I never ever ever want to pin this or be a negative nancer or anything, but like what I'm just saying, it's like if you have to the positivity I got from it?

What's just from vulnerability? And those were like some of the darkest times I've had. You understand I'm saying, So how did you come out on the other side of those moments? I mean, I know you're talking about vulnerability, but like how did you make it through all that? Mentally? My support system and a really strong support system and you know, the you know, the right words can really help you. So you know Aaron McKee, like, you know, he definitely helped me. My family helped me. You know,

my mentor coach Momas helped me. I had your friends that you know, where they're around, they you know, try to join and support me. But you know, one thing I also remember, it's just like the story of Rocky that I took from Felly, Like you know what I mean, Like Rocky wasn't loved. You know what I'm saying, people

not Rocky and ship. You know what I'm saying. I remember Aaron McKee telling me like the best stories of their comeback stories, and like, you know, you kind of gotta remember who you are, and uh you equate that to you know, stuff you meet, like just even like the dumb stuff from like the Lion King Rafiki. It's like, how are you gonna be gonna be a goat or

gobe who you think you're supposed to be. You know, you know who you are, and you know one thing always remember it's just like, all right, I gotta really be my own best friend in my own worst critic.

I gotta love who I am. I remember who I am, And I think like with that strength after leaving there, like nothing ever really bothered me because I always just walked around with a great bee on whoever, it's like, you know what I'm saying, So I thought like during that time, it really uh, it really helped me continue to stand on my own two feet as a man because I went in as a kid, so on my only real thing or like the Philly days, like not

even just talking about like basketballs however, and like I just take positivity from becoming a man from that. I think you're also unique though, in the fact that you can do that, you know, to check yourself in the mirror, and and I feel like young twenty two year olds that isn't that's rare. The person that you are, the personality that you have, and the perspective that you could take even at that time. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I

guess it could be. You know, sometimes maybe it slept to twenty three or twenty four, who knows, But you know what I mean, I'm glad I was able to halt the breaks, you know. And I don't want to give myself any type of credit because about that, because I was fortunate through God to have the right people around me, Like I know, like I don't know why He shows me so much favor and grateful for it. But like sometimes I sit there and like God, damn,

like God just dead. That sent me an angel. There's been times ratherip and like you don't even know, like so like I don't want to take toughness or nothing. That's been times rather hip than like damn, he he sent that. So I'm grateful for that and something else that he sent you. You know, since you've been in Boston and you talked about being a kid and growing up your dad. Now, man, um, what's what's that like and and what got you to that point of life?

Um that you were ready to you said, what got you at that point in life? When I met a girl? And um, no, that's what's so cool, like when you're a kid or he used to watch all these athletes say like this is cool, but my best, my best accomplishment is having a kid and everything I used to that's that's nonsense. There's no way, and it's like that's the truth, man, Like I have a kid, it's like the most beautiful thing on earth and uh man, And you know, they have a spinning image of you, and

like I guess it's like another sound of God. Did that hit you that hard? Like immediately it took a little while. It took a little while, but you know sometimes you know when you see your kid. My kids are spinning image. I means just like you know what I mean. And I don't know if that's a good thing or bad. No, my kids don't look anything like me, Evan, Like I don't know if you can see back there.

They have blonde hair, like so enjoy that. Her mom complains about that too, She's like, she don't look like me at all. But what's so cool? It is just like your kids they just think of the coolest thing on earth. They're they're unremorseful for a lot they have for you, and like the tendencies they pick up from you, you know what I mean, Like, you know, think like when my dad says like, oh my dad, like damn, she thinks I'm she thinks I'm a big deal. You

understand I'm saying like that. That's just a gift from guy. And I really appreciate it that you're her superhero. Yeah, I guess, but yes somewhere. But now being being a parent, it's the dopest thing on earth, Evan, What's so funny is I remember being pregnant with Mabel, my first, and walking in a locker room and I said some or you said something to me here I said something to you, and I'm like, what are you going to have kids? And You're like, oh, not no, not for for a

long time. Man, for a long time, right, And that's that's kind of what I'm talking about here, is it can happen in an instant, but like you get to that point of life where you're ready as a man to do that for sure. And I guess I don't know if they said you're never fully ready when you have kids, but I thought, I mean, like I said, I thought, and mentally like also too, like like an restart,

refreshing life, like you know what I mean. I need to be able to see her grow up and see all the great life she hasn't head of her and you know, all the cool stuff she's I can't wait to be like a pta parent or like you know what I mean, picking up and driving her places, or like the times where I try to tell her I

was cool and she don't believe it. Like I can't just wait the you know, be a helicopter parent, I guess or whatever that you know what I mean, Like, I think that's gonna be the cool stuff to being an NBA. We're fortunate enough to do a lot of things and see a lot of things, but you also live on unreal life. So like sometimes to normality is what you miss the most, and you get that from your kids, you know what I'm saying. So I appreciate that and I'm looking forward to that part. And she

she's dope. She's in gymnastics. She just turned three, and uh, she likes basketball a little bit, but um, she likes a lot of it actually, but we don't really play it, but she she she likes like well actually her mom and who so she's really into it, like were parents are like so I want to play bass far like when I get her, She's like Michael Jordan's. I want to watch Michael Jordan's. You know, either gotta watched like say,

The Last Dance every night or like some type of highlights. No, it is cool, but I'm like, oh wow, Okay, she really is a spinning image of Evan, Like love Story. She's like, I want Jordan's. I'm like, who is telling you? Like like like you mean like these She's like you Jordan's Jordan's And I'm like, oh my god, I really did make her real quick Before we take one more commercial break, Evan, could you imagine like where Jayson Tatum and Rob Williams and these guys are of being fathers

at their age. I respect the hell out of them for being able to do what they do to be like so into it at that age. No. Absolutely, No, it's beautiful. It's definitely beautiful. I think one thing is, you know, obviously just seeing you know, full for with you know, Rob and Tatum, you see Deuce and everything. I think it's a great it's a great experience for the kids. And you know, aga dollar first one is m v P, or one is NBA championship or whatever.

Like one thing, like I thought it was the coolest thing was like a little Andre's nine or ten. It's like that's a door open where his mind can go, Like do you understand saying, see him what he does? Don't do that? And that's the normality. It's not being like it's some far fetched dream. Let's they made the

NBA or do anything. But but like to have people know you're to somewhat be larger in life, Like to be able to see that and be able to you know, see your parents and that glory or you know, your kids see that should do. I think that's a great thing that they're able to share. And I think that's you know besides something, you know, having the gifts of being fathers. It's definitely gonna make for some great memories. Especially you know a little dude is he's probably sick

of all sort. You know, we're famous than anyone on this team right now. Who you're talking, No, Lie, We're gonna take a quick break and come back for actual story time with Evan Turkey. We're all in the same boat when it comes to trying to come up with great gift ideas for birthdays. Anniversaries, graduations, and every other occasion. We're all looking for something unique, and now the Celtics

have you covered. The team's official digital gift cards provide flexibility and allow you to treat your favorite sees fans two tickets without even having to worry about which games will fit their schedule. Just choose your gift card value and your recipient can choose their preferred game and their preferred seat location. It's that simple, So head on over to Celtics dot com slash gift cards and grab one today, and don't forget to tell your recipients to thank me

for sending you over there. All right, storytime with Evan Turner. Here we go. Evan. The first thing that I want to ask you is story time about your time here in Boston with the Celtics. There are stories that we have heard, such as Kelly Olynnock having to take down some burritos in a certain amount. It was that was disgusting, disturbing. Yeah, at one point I was like, what are we doing? He's gonna kill himself. You told about when when you

did the Chappotle for like however much more? Oh yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about either take us into that story or another one that that stands out to you from your time here. This is the coolest story. And shout out to Phil Lynchy so Um and Kelly Olenic. So we're arguing on the bus about the best point guards, right, so you know, Kelly, he's best friends with David Stockton stopped in or whatever some time some kind of like

the top five point guards of all time. So I'm like, man, you gotta do j kid like Isaiah tonas like I'm saying all of this, throw in white chocolate like whoever. I love why I used to I used to carry a rookie talk point guard all time coming for me. I used to carry Williams rookie card in my wallet as a kid. I thought, you're just messing with Kelly. No, no, So look so that's where you got mad. So you know, Kelly do this stuff like well the best point guard.

And Sean stopped in and I'm like, I totally did you, bro. But Stockton didn't win championships like Isaiah won too with you know, kind of like the replacements in the sense like lamb beer like you know, and he won two championships during the l a. Jordan's you know what I mean, Like we aren't arguing this, like if he if he if he's a jerk, go ahead, like do whatever, but like we're not doing that. So Kelly's like, man, well he had two of the hardest stats, like the steals

and assests. He's like, people may never ever ever reach that level. You know what I'm saying, Yeah for Stockton. So we're arguing about that. So I kid you not. I get off on the wrong elevator right and you're on the wrong elevator. I feel like I don't have a key of something weird I called the hotel, like the lobby. I feel somebody come up behind me and grab me. I turned around. Who isn't No, it's Isaiah Thomas, the real Isaiah Thomas, all right in New York. I

don't know. We're in Atlanta. We're playing We're playing the Hawks on massh from TV like that night. So that's when I said, I guess it's in the studio. So when he grabs me and people don't know Isaiah Thomas and I went to the same high school, Okay, so like yeah, my high school coaches, Yeah, we we swear about the same Italian dude r P. G. Pinon tour. No, you know what I mean? So like when he grasps me, I'm instantly I'm not like oh my god, I say,

I'm like, you need to come with me right now. Okay, you got five minutes. And he's like, yeah, it's all right. You want to hear this? So mind you. I could have been arguing Kelly at twelve thirty two. This happened at like twelve thirty six. Made odds text everybody, Yo, come to floor whatever, come to this room right now, like so mind you? Like, so Jay come down, like everybody was in the conversation with Jay, come down, Isaiah, come down. I think I actually took due to Kelly's room.

We go, I take Isaiah the time is to go knock on Kelly's store. When Kelly opened the door, I'm like yeah saying that right now. It's like Isaiah time was Likelly, how could you even say such? I did? You know what I mean? So like so like legit, it was just hilarious because um, you know, Jay came down there and the other Isaiah Timas came down there. You know, what does Lynch you have to do with this story? So when I told people come down quick quick.

When we're all talking, you just see Lynchi like like kind of zooming into where we're at, like what's going on? And then we're like, Lynchi, where do you? Like what like what's going on? And say you said come down quick, as though something bad happened, like Lynchi was coming out of nowhere to like save the day. He just took off. So he's like when a few people, not knowing the situation, he shows up by himself. He's ready. Yeah, he was ready.

And I remember being like, man, good old man, she bro Lynchie came down, like I'm talking, I looked like he dropped everything and just took off and saying no, no, this is he was ready to save a lot. This

was some for some dumb stuff, man't she. But but then when you bring it back to like just the whole Isaiah Times conversation, really hearing them talking like you know, really just hearing real talk about basketball, you know what I mean, like just his opinion on certain things like how cool he was asking about like old Town Hall of Famers. Around that time I bring this up, Jake

Crowder is getting reputation as a defender. Remember being at my house like probably like a month before that, and we're watching m J highlights and Jay said out loud, I don't think I could have clamped m J. Right. So Asaiah's like, it's like Jame's head was growing in Boston. Okay, I get like Boston, Boston man's you don't ever let me getting messed up. But I was kind of like, now this, everybody get out of my house, bro. So yeah, we get to the point where like you've gone too far.

Too far was an understatement. I'm like, and you know, I'm playing behind Jay, so we kind of like competition. Like so now they told this man good enough to start, and now you think he could clamp up Jordan's But you know what I'm saying something like let me let me not. So when that came out, actually, Asaiah asked me, said, yo, so be honest, you've seen Jay Crowder play defense, I said big as I was like, yeah, no, he's good, like play defense, physical, he's tough, like yeah, you know

all that good stuff. It was like Kenny clamp up Jordan. Asaia was like like you no, bro, It's like now he's just like I'm gonna give you this he said, let's go back and look at those numbers. He said, we for sure had the toughest defense in Detroit because we were able to play physical and everything. I'm talking when you could hand check. Yeah, he said, at one point in his career, we we slowed him down. We told when we started dubbling, once he crossed half court,

we said, we slowed him down. You average thirty seven point nine, so he said, and that was two people on and we could beat him up. So he's like, no, you could not stop you ever s thirty tithing point nine. He put a system in for him to stop him, and we thought that was good. So he said, you

can never do that. Oh there. It was just like I mean, you respected it, but it was just like it was just a whole just wholesome, like just dope conversation, like you know what I mean, Like imagine y'all were able to sit down just chop it up with Turner. I mean, that's gonna go. I mean, you're gonna get this is the highlight of your mom I'm sure year

year or whatever. But like I don't know Stephen A. Smith for somebody like that, who knows, but you're gonna you know you're gonna jump into it was just appreciating stories and appreciating the mileage that he has, you know, And it was just super cool because this is Isaiah Thomas and he really just took time out of his day on a woman and just hung out and talked to us literally in the hallway for forty minutes. I bet he loved it as much as you guys did.

And I'm sure I'm sure he did. I don't know, but we definitely loved it. And it was super cool. And it's like the irony and that story you're just talking about talking about, like twelve thirty two and legit, I see him in twelve thirty six, like, and I was like, legit, right, no, bro, we're going It was like he was there to defend his name. He bears were ringing maybe and maybe doing as they at dirty, So I'm glad he was able to defend his name. That was for sure. I very much enjoy sitting down

with Evan Turner for an hour to chop it up. Man. This has been a lot of fun. Thank you for doing it for real, for real. I appreciate y'all. No, lie, uh, it's been cool to see y'all. Man, I hope to uh hope things get back to normal. Bro, I'm sure it's been super weird.