Zach LaVine | Ep 74 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball

Published Mar 4, 2021, 5:02 PM

Newly announced, first-time NBA All-Star Zach LaVine joins the boys on episode 74 to talk about his career year. Matt and Stak talk with LaVine about finally getting the All-Star nod, the Bulls recent surge and trade rumors involving him. Plus, he opens up about his idol Kobe and shares some stories about MJ and playing in Chicago. Also, he talks his special bond with his dad and his infamous dunk contest wins in 2015 & 2016.

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Welcome to All the Smoke, a production of The Black Effect and our Heart Radio and partnership with Showtime. Welcome back Man, season two of All the Smoke. We got a real special guys. What's up with your Brodie with the virtual headshake? I'm gonna tell you that I never told you back. I want to smoke. Welcome back to another edition to All the Smoke. Man, Welcome to the show. First time all start, Long Overdue, but first time All Star. Zach Lavin Man, Welcome to the show. Broke my dogs? My dogs? What up with y'all? Man? I appreciate it. Man, I've been wanting to come on here. We appreciate you. So, I mean, you're notorious for how hard you work. So first of all, Man, we want to congratulate you on being the first time All Star Long Overdue. You know, you got to dunk contest championships under your belt, but to actually be able to go to the game and play. How gratifying is that? It feels good? Man, Um the breakthrough. Have your peers and your family congratulates you. It's it's an honor. You know, always credit everything the hard work, and you know, obviously over the last couple of years. I feel like I've been playing at this level, but to you know, to finally break through in the playoff picture and you know, to see the growth I've had over these last couple of years have been big man. So it's it's gratifying. Obviously we felt it. You felt it. Um, you know, you've been playing at this level for you know, at least you know, two or three years. Now. What do you think changed this season and got you over the hump? Yeah? I think the main thing was my mentality, um, you know, going out there and try and do whatever it took to, you know, just to get the wins. You know, if that was you know, assist one night, going out there, try and bust my ass on defense, um, or if I got to take over and try to get thirty forty, you know, whatever it is, just you know, try to get try and get that team and a win calling in you know, I feel like did a good job of, you know, locking in each game for that. I mean, you've kind of developed obviously into a star player, but also a vocal leader. Have you always been a vocal leader? A guy the lead by example? How how is your leadership role kind of UM evolved over the years. Yeah, you don't come into at least for me. I never, you know, was in that type of role before. UM. You know, obviously in high school, I think all of us as the man. But you go through college and you at the bottom of the total pole and then the NBA obviously go through your rookie duties and things like that. So coming to Chicago, have the opportunity to be the you know, the main guy and then the leader. UM, you have to work on it. I was always a guy that you know, led by example with my work ethic and putting in the work after practice in an off season. But you know, vocally it's been it's been a you know, a process and I appreciate my vets, you know, having that on the team, Garrett Temple, guys like that, that's helped me. UM, you know, find your voice. That has to be authentic. You know, you can't be wishy washy with it. And that's the main thing I figured out. If you know, guys respect you when you're authentic, and you know, you gotta keep that maintained, that that that folks in the locker room and and keep guys involved and make sure everybody feels, you know, like they're part of the team. And um, you know, for me personally, just if I gotta go out there, put the team on my back, you know, make sure I'm locked in, you know, whatever it takes to get us there. But it's been tough. There's injuries throughout the rest of the season. We've been dealing with injury the last couple of years. So it's not a lot new with us. But you know, I think I think we're doing it well right now. Kevin Billy come over, it's helped a lot of bring a new vibe to the to the team. Um, you know, Vet coaches that's coached you know, not just superstar players, but you know for the future first ballot Hall of famers. So, um, he's definitely brought some some insight to the team. How are the younger players progressing? Patrick Williams, Kobe White? You and Kobe just came the first teammates recently each hit eight three pointers in one game. How's the progression of them? Um? Been coming in your eyes? That was my dog man. Obviously, you go through ups and downs your first couple of years, and I was experiencing the same thing. But I'm dous as workers man. You know, passing don't be a monster in the league. Gives you those little Kawaiti vibes because you got the big hands and he doesn't have a lot of emotion on the court. But uh, you know, Kobe is the same way man. He works, He works his ass off, you know, and even if he has a bad game, he comes in the next day, locked in, ready to go. And you know he does a confident man. They don't they don't back down. Born and raised in written Washington athletic family. Dad played a little bit of baseball and in the usfl uh. Mom played softball. Tell us about your upbringing, man, Uh, you know started my pops man, you know, come out the hood of Sandburn, you know, you know, moved his family out to beat with him once he made it out. I meant my mom when he was playing with the when he just got done playing with the Seahawks, and they had my life skin dad. So you know, it was you know, it was, it was, it was. It was. It was challenging coming you know, growing up, my dad was on me a lot. You know, I ended up moving there with my grandma for a little bit. Um and that's when you know, a lot of stuff started, you know, with my dad and me having all this ship outside working out. Um, you know, he almost tried to treat me as a pro as a as a young kid. Man. I pregame shooting, had a right down, you know, all my shots, come back home from school, get some more shots up before games, after games, so you know, even in the car, like driving the car doing interviews, asked me, hey man, how do you feel after the game and stuff like that. So he was almost trying prepared me for you know what I was trying to go after. And uh, you know my mom had held it down. You know, work two jobs for seven straight years. Um, you know, missed out on some trips, you know, just to have me go to AU games and things like that. So it's, uh, you know, it's been a long time coming, man, But at the end of the day, it's all worth it. Let me ask you this, because I'm a I'm a dad and a coach and my kids. At any point, was it ever overwhelming for you at a young age with all the you know, your dad trying to treat you like a pro when you were still a kid. You know, it's at some point it finally clicked for me because he was pushing me hard man, and you know, as parents, you almost wanted more than your kids, um, and that's what I felt. For some reason, I felt it and I was like, it won't work. And you know, for me, I can't have my dad wanted more than me. So and that's when we became really tight, because then I will start going out there on my own and asking him to come out there and rebound. I already had my shots up by time he came home, you know, from work. So it was it was something that I understood, like I can't have him want this more than me. And then that's what it took off. What I think, it's dope. Like I said, it started as a kid, but you're still known for you mean, we check you out on Instagram. What you got a whole motherfucking look like training facility in your backyard? Is that your backyard where you guys train out in the sand and shooting and all the drills you're running. Yeah, no, that's so. You know, I think right when I sign my contract with Chicago, I got my parents at their house and that's what that is. And that was that was his idea. You know, it's almost like an athlete's little paradise. We called the compound. Uh, it got the sand, you got the turf field, you got the you know, got the weight room, got it got the little you know, the the jail house weight room. You know, you my dad. You know, every once in a while be getting getting shi off, a crazylist and stuff like that. But uh, you know it's a you know, it's a paradise up there, man. Like I said, it's it works, man, it works if you guys come out there. Man, you know, you don't get put. You don't get put through some ship. We heard early on in school. Obviously your dad has been a great support system for you. That your teacher wants to ask you what you want to be, and you said at nbas Sor and your teacher told you it wasn't realistic, and your dad came up there to back you up. Tell us about that stuff. You know, everybody in class raise your hand. What do you want to be? Johnny Susan And then you know, Zach, what do you want to be? I'm gonna be the NBA player And she was like, you should probably pick something more realistic. You know, I'm in like third grade, and you know, I go home and tell my dad and you know, he go back up to the schools. You know, don't ever tell my son something you can't do. You know, his as one. Uh, you know, when I got drafted, he wanted me to go back. He wanted me to go back to my elementary school and talk to her. But you know, I'm not that bag. What did you go root for? I was the biggest Kobe fan, so you know that was that was my guy, like my dad was my my idol and who I lucked up too. But you know, you know, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were the guys that I wanted to try to be like. And code was it was was my biggest inspiration, you know, wearing number and things like that. That's uh, that's one of the main reasons I were attended Ethel High School. UM as a point guard. By your junior year, you shoot up the six three primary ball handler. What do you remember most about your high school experience? You gotta got you guys got a lot of talent out there. Yeah. Now, so one of my best friends actually, uh, you know, I called my brother he moved in with me at a rough rough childhood, ended up living with us for a couple of years, and it made us a lot better. Turned us into it like a top five, top team in the country. Another do our team named Josh Martin. We all went D one. But um, you know, we weren't really known for basketball, and you know, it was a it was a football school. But you know, we turned that thing out. Man. We ended up you know, compete never we lost in the h lost in the championship game a couple of times we never should have lost. But you know, great times. My high school coach allowed me to you know, roll the ball out and and and show some of my skill set. Um, and it helped me put you know, put myself on the map, played me at point guard. That's why I got my point guard experience. And then obviously when I shot up to six five, UM, it gave me a little bit more of my game to grow into. Who was recruiting you early on? I wasn't. I wasn't like a McDonald's All American or anything like that. UM. I was putting up twenty five thirty points a game. UM, going to the league camps. But I never I never made the McDonald's. So I had I had pretty much a lot of teams on the West coast. You know, obviously you dub U c l A Arizona, UM, I got Louisville, Texas and Baylor. But besides that, I had a lot of mid majors UM San Diego, Gonzaga, Oregon State, you know, things like that. So but when U c l A came, you know, came knocking out. I committed under Ben Allen Um and that's where and that's where I wanted to go. I committed as a junior. I think appreciate I think I committed as a junior. What was that one year under Helln Like I didn't go into Helen Oh he was gone. I was with Steve Alford, he was gone. Yeah, Yeah, what was that when I went to U l A. Yeah, what was that experience? Like under Offerd it was tough. You know, we didn't see that a lot um. You know. I the main thing I took from it, you know, because I was coming off the bench. But the main thing I took from it, and it helped me get you know, helped me get used to coaching and playing through adversity. Um, so, you know, I always trying to turn a you know, a negative to a positive. Obviously I still was able to get drafted. I was a lot to repicked, but um, you know it helped me deal with you know, how coaching is and how if you don't see why, you still have to go out there and perform. So you know, it definitely definitely helped me for the future. You end up entering the draft after one season. You knew it was tied with that decision. You talked with your family about coaching helped you make the decision. What took you know what what what was the decided factor? And you feel like you were ready for the league at the one year. I didn't go into college thinking I was gonna be a one and done guy. You know, obviously I think I had the potential to get there. But you know at u c L A man, you know this, You do all the open runs, you get to play against the pros, you get to play against guys that you know, and I was stacking up pretty well. You know, I'm going against these guys and I'm like, hey, I'm not that you know, obviously you're not at that level, but I'm there you know, athletically I was. I was right there. Um, So that that put that in my mind. And obviously I had had a decent campaign at my freshman year. I got put on the big board. So the confidence wise, I was already there. I'm not you know, I'm not afraid of competition, so I was ready to take that jump. I felt like, pick over all other notable names, Andrew Wiggins and beide Aaron Gordon, Julius Randall. Did you have any idea where you were gonna go? Were was Minnesota supposed to pick you or someone else supposed to go? Were you surprised you win at thirteen? Man? So it was crazy the pre draft stuff. So I had like twenty five workouts, man, my, my, my, uh. My ranking was from like seven because I did three workouts with the Lakers. I thought the Lakers are gonna take me, and I was really excited about that. Um. And I my rank was from seven to the second round. So I had a ship ton of workouts, but I didn't know Minnesota's gonna take me until uh until my un tell right before you know, I worked out for pretty much every team in the top you know, the top five team, so I really didn't know. I had a hell of a workout inn so though, So any memorable stories from that night from draft night other than everybody thought I was saying fun me when I got drafted. You know, you know, that was a meeting for a little bit. I was a little you know when when my name came across the board, I was stilling. That wasn't even the you know, I was just like, fuck man, you know, I was stilling. I told my dad, you know, please don't cry, because I'm a cry But you know, it was a little misunderstanding, But I think everything worked out. The thoughts on, you know, I mentioned em Bead and Julius Randall to name a few, yourself, I kind of feel like you three right there and beat on this kind of an MVP run, you and Randall being first time All Stars. I thought some guys you came into the league with kind of starting to come into their own at the same time. Yeah, because we've been playing with each other since high school, man, and it's it's great to see, especially because you grow up with these guys, you respect them, you know them. Um, it's good to see, you know, guys put the work in and keep developing their game each and every year. Um, you know, it's dope. We go out there, compete against each other and dap it up at the end of the game. So it's just it's a it's a it's a friend of your life. Let's us up. So arriving in Minnesota as an eighteen year old, I didn't realize you was that young. You know you like you just told you're going to your seventh year only twenty five. That's crazy. Um. But arriving in Minnesota, Uh, was it what you expected? I know? KG was there briefly, great vet, someone we've had on the show and definitely a fan of the program. What was it like arriving there and then also having KG in that locker room? Yeah, it's eye opener. And I told I told a lot of people that are like, what's the hardest thing about the NBA? For me, it wasn't the you know, the competition athletically, man, it was the downtime that you have, UM and the travel and that that's what really got to me. And people don't understand that. You know, you have to be able to take care of your mind and be ready to play. So um, but KG was great man Um, Daddy's young my boys on the team. Now he was on the team. And then they got traded and KG came to the team, and KG is probably the best teammate you could probably ever ask for. UM, especially for a guy like me and a young young guys you know, me Andrew Cat, we were all on the team together, and just to see him lead by example at forty years old still was incredible. Ricky Rubio was sidelined with the ankle injury and you become the starting point guard over More Williams. Was that your welcome? Was that your welcome to the NBA moment or do you have another one? I would say that was that was just you know, that was my coming out. You know. I remember talking to more Williams and Mom was like, look, you know you you you the next upcoming guy. I'm I understand my role in my position right now. You know I'm gonna come off the bench. You know, we're don't help you get through this. And you know, it was ups and downs, especially playing the position that you ain't places high school and you're going, you know, against these top nots point guards in the NBA. UM I felt like my coming out party. Though, um we we played in Golden State. UM. Obviously that team I think that was the seventy and seventy three and nine team that year. UM, and I ended up with like thirty eight or thirty nine in that game. And that's when I was like, Okay, this is you know, this is who I can be. You guys had a nice young tree know of yourself, Wiggins and Cat, but I always kind of thought that you playing with them, you weren't really able to show who you really were because I think they were you know, Cat was the top pick, Wiggins was the top pick. They were highly talented. But to me, you were like the purest score out of those three. And I figured at some point you would probably have to make a move. But what was it like while you were there building chemistry with those young stars along with yourself? Yeah, and that's exactly what it was. Man. You know, you you have to you know the NBA, Man, you gotta play a role that you've given sometimes and you know it's it's frustrating at times, but at the same time, you know you like it because those your friends and your boys and you you're still out there on the same team together. But you know, I just worked and way it kept my head down and just waited from my opportunity. Um. You know, playing with those guys, you build a bond and the friendship that you know, it's ever lasting. You know, the fraternity and the NBA, so you know it was great. But when I got traded to Chicago, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't let pass up. I want to take I want to take you back a little bit. So I say these words, telling what you think. He ain't even stressed, though I remember that was I'm pretty sure that Dienelo Russell wearing that uh I think James camping. But Blake Griffin was throwing the ball off the wall on between the legs. Man, it was crazy. And it's crazy how you see all those players and a lot of those guys are in the NBA now, so it's it was Yeah, I remember that moment, But what was that experience? Like? What was crazy about that video? Obviously it went viral, but you guys were the young crew. I think you guys were in high school, but a handful of you guys made the league too, So what was it like being there as a youngster in all one second and then a handful of years later ship for you, maybe three years later, four years later, you're competing against these guys. It was crazy, especially going there and seeing you're in high school. Man, so these guys to you, you know, NBA players were just still your idols and being able to go out there. I think Kyrie was a rookie. I saw Kobe, I saw Lebron, you know, and just seeing these dudes that you used to see it on the TV, Blake Griffin, you just like, god, damn, man, like this is a lot differ and then what you expect. You hear the ship talking, you see the physicality, and it's uh, you know, it was an eye opener for us because we you know, in high school, you think you at the top of the top. Still you at the top on the camps. You really ain't even scratched the surface of what the what basketball is yet, right, We're welcome to it. Well, I want to get into to your All Star dunk contesting your accolades there. But before I do that, where did where did this bounce come from? And when did you know you could fly? Because you can really fly? In case you didn't known, Yeah, I mean sometimes, dog, I'm starting to get you know, a little more tired now. But here we go. It's I'm just talking. Sh I'm just talking. I'm just talking to you know. Um in high school and high school it started, man. You know, me and my dad did a lot of applying metrics. You know, we were on the Verdo Max I was doing. I was doing lunches on the football field from a hundred yard line backwards eight e backwards. I ran track a little bit rand sprints, so you know, I worked on, you know, building those muscles up. Um. And after I after I grew into my body a little bit more at like six six three six four six five, And that's when it started coming in. Right before my right before my senior year in high school. Um, you know, I was pulling off the same dunks. I was doing it the dunk contest growing up, you know, being a dunk of yourself. You know, I heard Vince was one of your guys. What tempted you or or or or prompted you to join the contest and you know, going into you can win or what? What? What was the motive any factor behind you wanted to be involved in the dunk contest? Yeah. So I grew up always you know, watched then't you know we could watch the tapes and you go outside and try you know, I watched the Michael Jordans, Kobe's and Vince's and go outside and try to do it dunks. But I want a dunk contest in high school, I think it was the Ball's Life All American Dunk Contest. Um. Now you know, going growing up, I'm like, okay, I got you. I got into NBA. I was like, I know I can win this. So I had even that Aaron Gordon dunk contest that we had, I had like I ain't dunks that I had, and I was like, there's nobody don't beat me if I make my dunks. There's nobody that's gonna beat me if I do these dunks. So, um, I just wanted to go put a show on at least, you know, have that experience, especially at I think I was the second youngest besides Kobe to win the dunk contest. Yeah, hell yeah, that was dope. And then you became the fourth player to win back to back dunk contests. Um when you were able to take down Aaron in Toronto, talk to us about that particular dunk contest, because that one took everyone back to you know, comparances of Dominique and Jordan back before you was even born. But it was one of the best dunk contests we've seen. No, it was. It was crazy and you could just tell it built up. That's something that I was gonna go down in history. Um, just the stuff that we were doing. Because I'm be honest with you, I didn't think anybody was gonna come close to me in the first dunk contest. I feel like I wiped the floor. You know, I thought it was a suite second one, you know, a g came out with the same amount of energy and confidence I had, So it was, you know, it was gonna go down to the last blow. And that's when I I was like, look, I'm either gonna make this dunk or miss it. When I tried to go from the free throw line, um, you don't think, God, I made it, but you make that should look effortless like your free through ducks. Look, motherfucking effortless. Is incredible. That last one I did was the first time I tried it. But to go through the legs though, to go through the legs from the free throw line. That was the first time I tried it. Wasn't tried it. Yeah, the first time I tried never never to that was dope. Have you have you ever talked to Aaron Gordon about that? Like, have you ever sat down? But like, man, what made you think about doing that? Wait? You know what I'm saying. Have you have had a conversation about that moment? Yeah, We're in the same agency, so we definitely talked about it. You know, We're going back and forth, like I think I got you on this one or that one. But at the end of day, I grabbed I grabbed the mic. I don't I don't think people remember this. I say, Man, to be honest with you, I think we should share this trophy. You know, we put on a show together. So instead of you know, one or one or winning, I think that was just something for the for the culture of the NBA. That was something that was special. So there's rumors now that you're hanging up your dunk contest eligibility. Is there any truth to that at the right old age or is that the last time we've seen lac Leen Man. I don't, I don't know, Man, It's yes, yes, he said. He said, he don't know. I wasn't even in the same row. Everybody it was crazy Jack. Everybody still wants me to do it. Man, I don't know what else I can. To be honest, I don't know what else I could do. It comes a time to where you know, I'm I'm eventually doing hang it up. Obviously, I know I still got something left, but you know, I think I've passed that part in my game. Now I want to go out there and show you know, I want you know, I want to be NBA Champion. I want, you know, more, more, more refined things. You know, exactly it's time some three point contest. I can get that one. What are your thoughts, uh this year on the format? Obviously, you know a lot of guys, you know, some of the bigger stars come out and said, you know, they didn't really want to do it. They thought it should have been a time off. Um. You know, the NBA said, hey, we're gonna knock this out. We're gonna do it all in one day. With this being your actual first time competing in the game, what are your thoughts on kind of how everything has come together? Um, considering the circumstances in the pandemic. It's a totally different year, matt Um. You know, just from the standpoint that nobody's played like this before, and even next year it might change. So we might be the anominal year of you know, having no fans and in some places having fans and having games canceled and things like that. So you know, it's in the air. You know, I'm I'm all for it. I'm always for competing. We're playing games anyway, so um, as long as it's safe, you know, especially because I made the game and my family is able to come and see it, you know, I'm always for that. But um, you know, I'm always like, as long as it's safe and the NBA knows what they're doing, So you know, I'm fine with it, with with with our start not being a normal way, you know, not having family and friends and fans and stuff like that. What that's some of your memorable moments of All Stars in the past, man Um, Just any All Star game in general, just something that, yeah, whatever, you remember the most, some of them, some moments you hold you hold close here that you remember you first think the All Star Man I remember, I remember, you know, vividly sitting in front of the TV and and Mike's Mike's last All Star game. Um, you know, him and Kobe going back and forth and then Mike hitting the uh that baseline jumper and they're supposed to win in Jamato neil foul foul cope. Yeah, So you know I remember watching that just literally sitting in front of the TV, man um. And then also you know, just just my own personal ones obviously with the dunk contests and stuff and seeing you know, talking to the guys on the sideline and seeing their faces, you know, after we're pulling some of these dunks off and talking to them, and you know, just having that that that camaraderie is has been has been big. A lot of memories. So you signed a working extension in minnesot soda and then tear your a c L before you're traded to to the Bulls talking without your first major uh injury as a as a basketball player. Yeah, and that was you know, that was tough, matt Um. You know, I was having a really good year. I think at the at the time, I think we had all three of us were averaging over twin points per game, all right. At twin points per game for guys that were twenty one and younger. I think we were some of the first to do that. Um it was tough, man. UM I had to switch my mentality pretty fast from like a y me or pour me to pretty much attacking it and saying fuck it, I'm gonna get better and back to you know, I'm gonna prove everybody I can be better than what I was before. You know, because the NBA is relevancy, they'll they'll write you off pretty fast. So, UM, you know I wanted to put all that to rest, and you know, I put my head down and got to work now, so you were able to overcome that. And then the trade for pretty much you for Jimmy Butler. What was going through your head at that at that time, you know, mixed feelings obviously, because you know I was hurt and they traded me while you hurt, so it's almost like they give up on you. But I saw it as an opportunity, like I said earlier, UM, you know, to go out there and showcase you know what I can and be, you know, fulfill who I want to be. You know, I put all this hard working out of you know, I work to be, you know, a number one guy and a superstar level guy. I don't work to be a French player or you know, a role player. UM. So you know, an opportunity knock, you gotta walked through that damn door. And that's that's how I saw it. You said you modeled your game after number eight cod and and and and he was a big influence on your life. Any stuff that that that you could share with us on or off the court, UM a moment to you. And Kobe. I never knew him personally. I I got a couple when I was younger. Um, and then too when I actually did get to play against him and meet him. You know, I was in sixth grade and there was a tournament. I remember we had to go watch the USA team play and I'm sitting on the sideline um of him warming up, and I remember I'm screaming at the top of my love's Kobe. Kobe. He going through his routine at like he don't hear nothing. He made about twenty five straight elbow pull up doing the same move. It was crazy to me because he didn't He's doing the exact same move hard as hell straight. I'm just screaming his name. Like then you know, he don't respond to me or anything, but he was just so locked in. And then, Um, you know, obviously I get to play against him, you know, my first two years in the league. UM, I had a really really good game. Actually to the first question, that was actually like my coming out party. That was my first big game. I played against the Lakers and at Staples Center. I came off the bench, I had like twenty five and Kobe was guarding me in the fourth quarter and he tapped me on the ass and said, keep going, young fella. UM. And it was big for me because I remember Kobe always used to guard the best player in the fourth quarter. UM, and you know at that point, you know, he kind of locked me down. I didn't I didn't shoot the ball. You know, I think I shot like one or two more times. Um was being real physical with me. But you know it was just crazy, you know, like this is my idol man and he's guarding me. So it's it was it was big. That's dope. UM. During Quarantine, the last dance came out, did it hit you different watching it because you were or you are a bull currently just kind of seeing what they were like when you know, when they had to run because unfortunately, like there was, there was no social media back then, you know what I mean. So it was almost our look at the you know, the the Dynasty of the Bulls through a social media lens. Was it different for you being a bull? Yeah? And especially you know, obviously I was a huge Michael Jordan fan, and you know, I think all of us were. And just seeing you know, how how he interacted with his teammates and how he moved as a player and the way his mind worked. Um. You know, you can watch all the status you want to and all the highlights, but seeing you know, dudes and practice are having up close interviews is different. So it's uh, I thought I thought it was eye opening. Um. And to be honest, it's crazy that they were still that popular and that famous. You know him, Dennis Robbin, you know, if they're in the social media era, man, oh my gosh, it had been they were, they're already stars then just imagine now it would be it would be ridiculous. Oh yeah, Dennis would have been a madman in the in the social media era where you could really catch ship he was because he was already on his ship. You mean imagine like the coach saying, you know how much money he would have been had been crazy? Yeah, and he was always with a select he had kept the bass celebrity one next to him, so that would have been crazy. Ye you uh, you know, being drafted by Minnesota and then getting opportunity to come to the Bulls. What is the difference, um, in the environment of the organizations. It's a big market, man. Obviously they've had some down years and you know, the trade pretty much with with Jimmy coming out. You know, Jimmy was still is damn your top you know, top ten, top twin players. So you know, they shot it as a you know, a rebuilding time and you know, I just wanted to do my part to try and get the Bulls back on the map and get them back to that you know, that championship era. UM, because Chicago Sports is big, man, They really they really root for you. They go after you, and UM, you know, I accepted that challenge and you know I still do and it's it's exciting. You know, I'm very humble to wear Chicago across my across my chest. Dropping forty nine as a career high and hitting threes tell us that that zone was like, yeah, I mean, for some reason, man, I cannot get I haven't got fifty yet. I've had over forty five. I don't know how many times I have not I haven't got that fifty ball yet, but it's coming. That game was crazy, man, Yeah, that game was crazy. We were down the whole game, um, and I was just feeling it. Man. I got a lot of easy shots. You know, early stat You know this, man. You notice if you get easy shots early, you know when once you get in that rhythm, it's hard to get out of it. You know. I was getting open looks and then uh, gotten one of them zones that came down to the end, and you know, I'm not scared to take or miss any shot. Man. So you know we got that you and I was going for the win. When you hear your name throwing around in trade rumors, I mean, obviously you're having your first All Star season. How is it tough? Do you stay locked in feeling and it's part of the business. I know, I know that's what people want you to do, but um, how is it being you? Like I said, you're the best player on the team. But constantly hearing your name throwing around and possibly being traded. Yeah, I mean it's different. You I've been traded before and it's it's part of the business. I learned that pretty early in my career. But um, you know a lot of it is rumors. You know, if it doesn't come to me personally, you know, with my age, Rolf, I talked to the front office. If it doesn't come to me personally, I don't worry about it. Um, you know, I also take it as you know, if there is other teams looking for you, you know, that means you're wanted. You know, you you looked as you looked at as a bonus, as a piece that can really help, or somebody's trying to you know, rebuild around you. So um, you know you're taking in stride, man. But at the end of the day, until that happens, I worry about my team and you know how I can help affect, you know, the team at hand. So you guys are right in the mix, um for the playoffs this year? What is your guys? You know, your ongoing message every day you know, obviously the goal is to make the playoffs and it really makes some noise in it. This is gonna be new for this young group that you guys have. But what what is your message daily in and out with your teammates. Yeah, it's not just me, it's you know, the coaching staff. Like I said, Billy's done a great job that Garrett always talk to me. Um. You know, you you can always have a goal in and going. You gotta strive for that, but we gotta go one game at that time because that that you know, at the end of the year, that's not doing come sooner. Um, you know, you gotta take it one game at a time and then let the chips forward. May so take care of business each and every day, you know, get your work in and practice. Um, And that's cute. You know, still strive for that goal at the end of the year. You're playing a legendary position for historical franchise. You're playing the two guard for the Chicago Bulls. Have you got a chance to ever meet Mike or talk to Mike about what you got going on right now? And you playing the position he he made very famous over there. Yeah, I met I met him. I haven't talked to him, you know, and along I met him. Actually my rookie year. Um, I did a workout for Charlotte, and uh, he walked in like early into the workout, and you know all of us are hyped, you know, especially because he's in there, so now you're trying to show out and went over and shook his hand. His hand was so goddamn big, he wrapped my forearm, so um, you know that's when I met him. But you know, it's it's it's crazy, man, especially the stats that you see in you here, and there was one that was crazy that came out this this month. Because I think I'm averaging thirty this month and I'm tired for the thirty first best Month's crazy, right, it's my big How good this motherfucker? The stats he has, It's just like wow, that's you know, I couldn't I couldn't imagine. You know, we always wish we could have played against him. It's just like, that's this. I was a bad motherfucker. Man. Before we get out of here, we're gonna hit you with some quickly. But before that, there's something about Seattle. You guys, breed hoopers. You guys have had a ton that made it, but a lot of guys that didn't make it. That definitely should have made it. What is it about basketball out there and kind of that community and fraternity of Hoopers? What you nate, you know, Jamal, the list goes on Hoopers. I mean Seattle Hoopers have been on the bat for a minute. What is it is it in the water out there? What is it out there to get everybody? Seems like to the league out there? Man, I don't know. And you got you you name so many guys you almost forget about something, you know, and it's it goes back a while, you know, dudes like Doug Christie, you know, Jason Terry, Um, you know, we got we got Marvin Williams. You know, it's just so many dudes, Isaiah, Tom, it's every brother. You know. You don't want to you know, miss An, you know, but it's you know, I think it's a hot bed man um. And especially now with no team being there. Um, you know, guys are really out there trying to you know, trying to make it out and um, it's always been a great community. The pros give back, you know, and you just fall right in line. I remember me in high school and jam All taking me under his wing and going to the pro runs and watching them and then you know, me trying to do the same thing now with dudes like Jayden and Jalen Um and and going from there as a young guy coming up, Paulo, Benchyrold, that's gonna be off the charts in this couple of years. So it's you know, it's a fraternity and we just you know, we keep the cycle going. Talk to us a little bit about Jamal's summer league because you guys obviously super competitive, but the ability to also draw other stars to come to your home, you know, basically to you guys at hometown and home turf and play. He has one of the best summer leagues around. Yeah, and that's all. That's all, mall Man. You know, he's such a loved, you know guy in the basketball league. You know, everybody knows how great of a guy is and teammate. But um, you know, this dude is still you know, still going out there. I think Mams forty right now, he's playing like he's twenty five. I'm just playing with him this last summer, Matt and this this dude still go. I'm trying to tell you he'll be a Hooper for the rest of his life. Jamal never love the game. He doesn't such a great job of bringing guys in, and you know, the proem is pretty much like the Sonics. You know, that's the only pros that you get to see right now. You know, hopefully the Sonics come back and you get a team in Seattle. They need it, so but until then, Jamal is doing, you know, such a fantastic job of keeping that basketball culture alive out there. Yeah, I mean, obviously being happy where you're at being a Chicago Bull. If if if a Seattle organization did ever come back, would that be a dream or a goal of yours that play in your hometown. I think it always is, especially because we haven't been there so long, and you know, before the end of my career, I would love to at least be able to have a chance to go do that. Alright, quick hitters, Jack, you want to start him off? All time best five Chicago Bulls who all time best starting They don't. Hey, don't be scared to throw yourself in there either, and I did. I did that on a I think Mark Spears told me the same thing. I'm not afraid of it. People don't give you backlash for whatever you say. Anyway. I don't give a damn. You know, of course I want I want to play with him, So I would say, uh, I say Derrick Rose, Michael Jordan's um put me in there. I'm gonna slide to the three. I'll play the two or the three. Put Scottie Pippen and and Joe Kim Noah. There's so many different combos you can do. Man, there's so many different combos with the boards you can do. Though. You know, if you could be name dropped by any artists in the music game present or in the past, who would it be present or past? Wow? You know I'm a big I'm a big West Coast guy. Watch a lot um, you know. I like I like the common rappers, like future stuff, Chief Key, I like Chief keeps. Chief Keief is always been one of my favorite rappers at Chicago. So I'll say those three top three songs on your pregame playlist, Top three songs, top three songs right now? Damn? Can I look go ahead your pre game playlist? I can't lift the phone. Yeah, you know, we got the phone set up. I can't look top three something. You know. Sometimes I go with I go with the old school stuff. Man, I'd be listening to some old Score and Beach. Yeah. That's my that's my lay, that's as Yeah. You know I was listening to Uh. I was listening to Joe before the game the other day. You know, I think I was listening to John B a couple of times. But then I go, I still, I go, I go listen to Future. You know, I listen to twenty one, Savage, Little Dirk, things like that, Pops, I pop smoke a lot right now. You know there's a piece of pop smoke. He has some he has something. Yeah, he has some Beggars that first album with some Ship. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. If you can create an all time dunk contest, including yourself, who are for other people you put into dunk against? Vince gotta be in there. Of course. I want to see that. I want to see that in person. Um me, Vince, Um, you know I'm putting it. I'm putting Lebron in there. You know, Lebron never done. Dunk contest is high school. But I want to see Lebron in it. Um how many people four or five? You got? You got two more? Yeah? Five? So me Vince, Braun, m J and UH who's the guy people wouldn't really think about. That's crazy. Um. It was one of the most athletic dudes I remember watching and growing up was andre Igdollar when he was younger. Man, he was you know, you gotta help us with his answer to this question. Okay, okay, who do you want to see on All the Smoke? Who you want to see on All the Smoke? Man? Yeah, it is because it's always I've always wanted to be on here. You know, I'm glad I got I got next in line? Has has that? Has? Have you guys been on it with Dame yet? Nah? No, We've been trying. We've been on and all. It's funny because we just didn't see j McCullum too, and and and we've been definitely definitely being watching with Dame. H else you watch on Dame Dame? Is it? What else? The guys really? I think Dames will go. I want to see an old you know, older dude KG. I think KG was the best one you had because he can give you stories. I mean I could throw something of your away, like a Jamal Crawford or Brandon Roy. Then the people basically put mall would mall would be mall would be mall would be great. Roy. Roy has a lot of stories. Yeah, I think I t would be great. Tool. You got a healthy journey man. That's what I'll pick them for. Shore was zach Man. We appreciate your time. Best of luck in the All Star Game, and happy Early Birthday. Me and Jack are gonna be in Tuloom during the same time because my birthday is the day before years, so I'm the ninth You're the tenth man. Good luck in the Star Happy birthday to both you buys. Happy early birthday, Bro, you know what y'all live it up. Hey, that's the rack with Zach Levine. You can catch all the smoke on Showtime Basketball YouTube and the I Heart platform Black Effects. We'll see y'all next week. This is all a Smoke, a production of The Black Effect and Our Heart Radio in partnership with Showtime

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All The Smoke

ALL THE SMOKE pairs two of the most outspoken and controversial players of their time. Known as fier 
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