Club 520 PodcastClub 520 - DeMarcus Cousins on Anthony Davis & Pelicans, John Wall at Kentucky, GOAT John Calipari
We’re back with Season 2, Episode 100 of Club 520, where Jeff Teague and the guys are joined by DeMarcus Cousins, reflecting on the NBA career of one of the best big men of this era. Boogie talks about getting recruited by John Calipari and playing alongside John Wall for one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time. The guys discuss the New Orleans Pelicans team which featured Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, and Jrue Holiday. The guys all agree that the Pelicans were one of the most underrated rosters of all time. #Volume #Club
The volume.
I'll be back at the episode of Club five twenty Live Vegas where we at take.
You know, Resorts World Vegas.
The hesitation almost cost some sponsorship and we trapp it out of here in the base. You know what's going on Club five twenty special special guests. To my left, we're gonna introduce my Man's last. To my far left, we got my dog Bishop be hearing out the pearles.
How you went nasty cool? And next let's get to it this spot.
Yeah, we started off signing with a bang baby because I know you keep it feat proper black forces with the white laces before.
Nah, I haven't, but you know I'm not mad at it. Though, I ain't mad at it. What's that you were sixteen? I'm the sixteen. We'll get you together. I'm saying your prayer you feel me spress.
He might gently rob you. You know what I'm saying.
No, Cuz could have got that out for today. Yeah, okay, I've seen cuz hoop.
He got some moments where that black King jersey held for cowbos. If I write my dog young dot, y'all young team, how you are? I'm chilling bro, hYP bro I'm a fan of our guests. Bro, I'm so excited to hear man you're trying to get him on the show for a minute, So it's cool for sure. Hell yeah, Man, listen, Man, this episode we've been looking for a long time. Man wanted to call this big to every hoop. You know what I'm saying, Kentucky legend, big man, you know what it is. And Marcus Cousins big Cuse appreciate you sliding on his big dog.
Thank you, guys, Thank you Man. I appreciate you'all boys having me Man. I love y'all platform. What y'all doing is dope as hell, and you know you got my full support. I appreciate any athlete that you know it's brave enough to go out and use his voice on every day basis.
So I applaug you Bro.
Appreciate that. Bro.
I just got one thing to say before we start. Be you and mellow for sure, Bro for real? Yeah, Heed the argument, that's argument, and that's dope.
Platform.
This for us is like we get you know what I'm saying, show love to people like we fucking because we really like basketball.
But you were legit, legit one of his favorite players. Bro. So This is a dope moment just happened. Man, Yeah, aciure for sure.
Bro, Let's get this ship.
Crack man.
We're already in Vegas. It's one hundred and eighty five degrees in the morning. Shots, everybody in Vegas. Hold it down.
Y'all got the toughest scale earth. For sure. We're gonna take it back in high school days. Man.
You know what I'm saying, growing up where you you was that dude, where you was at? How was it to you know what I'm saying, to be the point to where you part of that like inaugural Kentucky recruitment situation.
Damn, you know it was dope, bro.
And I think it was even more special because the group that was coming in, like you know how we came in, you know, from our background. You know, it's different types of kids that you know coming to you know, that collegiate level. And yeah, it just so happened that we were, you know, really really similar and me John and Eric, so uh, you know, it was really dope to to go into a situation that we really didn't know what we were getting ourselves into because originally our plan was to go to Memphis.
You know what, I'm saying.
So, you know, we were we were Memphis kids, like if that made sense, you know Dorsey, So you know, you know, for for things to kind of switch on the fly the way they did with Cayle, you know, making that move to Kentucky. I mean, obviously we wanted to play for Cal, but you know, going to Kentucky in that in that moment in time when Kentucky was kind of you know, it was still a very prestigious school. It was still you know, one of the most popular schools, but it was in a very you know low period when it came to you know, Tubby's last year's there. You know, they weren't quite having the success and you know when it came to kids picking schools, you know, Memphis had just became the hot spot, but you know, Cayle leaving, so it was now where you know, kids were kind of trying to follow Cal.
But outside of that, you know, it was the typical hotspots.
Kansas Duke, uh, you know, Carolina was still you know, a very popular school, so uh, you know, the U. C l A U s see things like that. So Kentucky wasn't really ringing like it was in our time.
You know what I mean.
So for us to kind of go there and you know, just get that blood flowing, that blue blood flowing again, and you know it's for me. It's definitely one of the most special times in my life. When they came to playing basketball. Uh, the way they accepted us, the way they embraced us, They allowed us to just be ourselves. And you know, we went out there and we not only you know, won games for the university and the school and the fans, but you know, we set a standard that kind of was everlasting for that period of time.
You know, caliperiod was there.
You know, you know, we've had conversations with Kyle and you know he thanks us all the time because Kyle doing what he did. It took a special group like that to keep this, you know, for sure, that machine running. And you know, obviously we didn't win a championship, but you know the blueprint we kind of set for everybody coming behind us was you know, even more impactful than actually winning a championship. So we'll always have our special place, you know, in history when it comes to you know, that uk era so really dope, man, it was really dope. That twenty twelve team the ass though crazy that a little bro bro though, man, move my dog. I was kicking it with Moot during lockout years. Move a wild board?
Bro?
Who guard a d What? Who gonna guard him? Who's gonna guard him?
Yeah?
Who gonna guard him? He was the number one point guard to his class as well. Ship, We had the number one pick in the draft. Bro, what are you talking about?
We had the number five. We matched up perfect.
They had number two.
I had a job.
Gilly.
They had T Jones.
We had Patrick Patterson, they had T Jones.
It wasn't enough.
That's a good good What about the team with Cat and them? Though they had they had a whip they had.
That might have been the most talented team to show that when they had like three starting five.
Look off the business crazy.
But the thing about college, like you know you can always you know, sit there, but like, well we we the only team that want to chill.
Well we always we know, like college, the best team don't always win.
The best team that night went, so you know, it ain't necessarily the truth when it comes to, yeah, we want to chip, the other team didn't.
When we line that thing up, it's gonna go.
All the way.
I promise that's crazy. Y'all had that much talent go to that school, bro insane. And that's why I asked that question because now you see, you know what I'm saying, Kyle rebranding himself in Arkansas kind of the same situation to where everybody was all right, Memphis was the standard.
We saw de Rose su Aric all right, I wanted to be like that.
Y'all set the tone for a lot of different things, and I think y'all deserve more flowers because y'all were really pioneers at the aspect of coming in and being that one and done situation that era like maybe not as culture like impactful it was like the Fab five, but y'all would like that for kids in that generation to come and actually play together for a common goal because y'all play for each other absolutely, and you don't never see too many recruits and y'all stature at that Todd period who.
Was doing that. So that's what super dope.
And I know, obviously you can tuck it to the core, But how is it now to see Kyle knows and get the wheels back rolling in a different situation.
Well, I mean, that's Kyle let's kind of expect it.
Man.
You know, I've got the utmost respect for Kyle, just the way he carries himself, the way he goes about business, the way he approaches relationships with you know, the people that he choose to have relationships with. So I appreciate, you know, everything that comes with Kyle. So you know, to see him go to the next program and in the first year obviously they haven't played yet with but just with the talent that he's brought in and just this short amount of time shows you the impact that Kyle has put on college basketball. So he's well respected with each generation, you know, and sometimes coaches kind of get lost in the generations. This guy has found a way to flow through each generation and actually be successful within those generations. And success isn't just winning the championship, cous Like I said, it's the best team that night wins. Like so you can't determine success off you know, necessarily championships in college because it's that hard to win, and on any given night, it's anybody's night. So I hate that narrative when they try to well he's only got this many, but you know, it's it's bigger than that when it comes to college basketball. For sure, he changed many families.
Lives Bootley bro.
And you know, I've been on record, you know, talking about that conversation, but just him with me deciding to go to the NBA and the conversation we had, it's just like, look and in my mind, I'm like, coach, I'm you know, I'm trying to come back.
I want to win a chip in.
College, like you know, you you feel that way, you means in love with the place, like you you really want to win for that university. So that's where I was at the end of the season, and Cal's like, look, dude, if you want to take care of my family, you're gonna stay.
If you want to take care of yours, you out of you. It's real. That's all I needed to hear. Real, you know what I mean, So real.
And it takes a coach like that to understand both sides of this thing, because you know, we've all heard the horror stories of coaches holding guys back, like and they missed that opportunity to get to that next level because it's not always guarantee you could just come back and then you the the hot thing that's not how it works when you hot and they like you, you have to you know, because that next year then they start picking you apart. Well, he can't do this necess you know, so it gets a little tougher, you know, going year to year. So, uh, Kyle understands that, he unders he understands both sides. He knows how to remain successful with you know, doing what he does, and he knows how to make these guys that play for him become successful long time.
And that's really what it's about.
That's real. I gotta ask.
I mean, we know you know what I'm saying, you as well take care of the guards how he's gonna take it. But imagine now if y'all have had the official official n Il situation, Oh my god, I would have stayed four years. How much you think you would have got, especially in Kentucky.
Come on, man, And it's not necessar seriously, because you know, I think we was the hot ship. I put timing into it and everything, just the timing of it, you know, us kind of being that team that lifts Kentucky back up out of the shadows.
If you want to say.
In facts, how much these kids getting I saw what's the big king from Kansas got two million. Yeah, crowd of got five him.
Transfer is crazy, y'all say y'all getting If you.
Would have came back for your sophomore season, you would have got five million.
Is what I'm getting from my junior season.
Bro, you ain't gonna be there. Yeah, I get more than the rookie contract. Why not.
Gonna be the top five regardless.
I wasn't even gonna let you stayed at that long. Bro, I won't let you stay for you. You're really out of pocket.
For one.
You damn are really too old to okay money? Want to be rich?
I ain't, but I was like, you really wanted to be twenty four original college came go to the leaking where its friend tripping.
Man, I don't know.
I ain't never rich enough to pass up on no money, But I'm just saying that you had. It's not like that's it. That's all for you. You was the number one pick regardless. You know what I'm saying, My number one pick, Bro, outside of John, you was gonna go number one.
Nah, I didn't.
I didn't because you left with him. You was definitely the running for number one pick. Yes, Bro, if you would have came back that next year.
That's how it ended up coming out.
But for me, it was, you know, me going into college, I wasn't the guy where it was like, oh, he's guaranteed. That wasn't my position, like it ended up happening for me throughout the season. Me initially, it's like I got comfortable in that situation. After we lost, It's like I'm comfortable here, like also I want to win, like and then for me the NBA, it was just I never really thought I was ready, Like you know what I mean. I knew I was talented, but I'm looking at guys like Ben Wallace and Ship I'm like, man, I ain't got a chance in hell, bro.
You know what he's looking at? These are huge, bro crazy. So that was never really my reality.
But you know, by the end of that year, things changed for me, And like I said, the conversation definitely put things into perspective for me with Kyle, So you know, I made that jump. Who would you mind of your game after though?
Growing up?
Because to me, I feel like you was one of the first stretch bigs that could really handle the ball, Like I don't really know anybody before you that could really play outside the three point line. For me, I kind of say, my game it's like a mutt, like, you know what I mean. I never had a favorite team growing up. I'm from Alabamat, we don't have a especially, so I had a lot of favorite like favorite players, So it's obviously my My number one was Carmelo Anthemy.
Like I could see that the way he moved with the ball, like.
His size, the physicality, the finesse, the combination of both. You know, I fell in love with it. Amaro stot him out of the same type guy that obviously. I love Shaq with just his dominance and the intimidation that he played with. I love Power Gasol with his grace, like just the way and the way he thought the game. You know, he didn't rely on just athleticism. So you're definitely a mutt. Yeah you know what I'm saying. You know, And I had the opportunity to you know, being Amar's camps growing up as a kid, So I got to know Amar even the hot socks I took that you know from a Marion Moll like young Mello, So you know, I got a chance to pick his brain as a young kid, which you know, really helped. And you know, I could see the way he used his feet more so than you know, his his uh, his just usual athletics, and it was more in the feet with getting around people and being crafty with that.
Okay.
I just took a lot of things that I saw.
From from players that I liked, and you know, I just kind of combineded into my game and he's with the results of it.
It was a monster, bro. He came on the scene as a rookie and was dominant.
Like damn, I used to say when we played him, like, man, he get in shape because the rookie year used to get tired. I'm like, if he get in shaved, he gonna average thirty. Like he's too good. And I remember her for saying this motherfucker is nice. He's nice, and I'm like, like, out on customer. He was like, he's nice, Bro, he's nice. He was like, man, we got to stay away from him. He got stay in the West. We got staying on.
What I'm saying. He nice to me. He really nice, though.
I appreciate me and I'll definitely have some battles, yeah for sure. Yeah, he wasn't telling me that now.
Get in the locker room, He's like, now he's nice, bro.
That's because that's how I felt about John, Like, you know when you come in the league, I'm like, man, he ain't about to do all that running fast. The first game had he had his best game against stuff. It was like the second game and the ear think he had like twenty five and like ten. I was like, yep, I stayed away from that light. Yeah, like that's crazy. That's probably one of the few people league who was probably just as fast as not faster than you. Yeah, but he had rebox on so I was like, nah, I ain't know you about to get busy, and them he got busy though. That's the funniest The rebouked era that was y'all was the last era of the Nasty team a U shual You had to rebox with the Adidas, with the pro ball pat leathers. Yeah, it was bad Toments, but we definitely came up in the Nasty year all for sure.
We had Rachis.
Yeah, yeah, classic, you gotta respect it. And it was y'all had y'all was Kentucky. Y'all had that ship ship Yeah. Yeah, they used to have the long shorts. I went to wake for it used to be jealous because they shorts came down to their calf. They had that is at his shoelaces. I'm like, he Wilent getting busy.
I'm like, what it should man?
Like you said you you were going through the process, like all right, how can I compete with these guys? And then you go and now it's like, all right, I'm in the league and I'm doing what the I was supposed to do. How is that moment you got set set in the Sacramento like getting to being an NBA pro?
How did I get settled into it?
Or just how did the conference? Like all right, I'm I'm here, like I ain't. I ain't question. I'm here. I'm supposed to be here.
It started with me in practice, honestly. And I'm a guy that like I build off moments, you know what I mean. And once I surpassed that, I don't really look back, Like I don't even take time to really appreciate this. It's on to the next, like you know, what what can I do next? So? Uh, and I plan on. You know, I enjoyed the fruit of my level at the end. You know what I'm saying. So with that being said, it started in practice, you know, and I had a really good defensive big as in my rookie year and Samuel Dallenberg. He was older, but he was you know, he was really good defensively. He was smart, and you know, playing against him every day like if I can, if I could fry him, don't nobody else really got a chance, Like and obviously it was guys you know that were better defensively, but you know, for him to be my test every single day, you know, for a full season, that was you know, that was like great, you know, target practice for me. So it started there and then you know, with just each game I built, you know, my confidence grew. And you know it was also kind of hard because I had a coach that was not fucking.
With me at all.
We see, he wasn't really fucking with anybody.
At the time.
It was Paul west Full So he was like he he never wanted me to shoot the ball. He didn't even want the ball in my hands, which you know I thought was you know, crazy. But and it's kind of weird because in a way, you know they're dog you're up and say you ain't coachable when you don't do what the coach tells you. But let's say I was culturable in that situation where with my career have gone, you know what I'm saying. So, I mean it could have been short. I could have been a completely different player, like you know, the opportunity could have whatever. It's It's a lot of hypotheticals, but you know that just you know, things I kind of think about in those type situations. But as far as just continuing my growth, it started in practice, and you know, it carried over the games, and with each game I got better.
I'm I'm facing these guys that I grew.
Up watching, you know, I'm like, I'm really frying these niggas, you know what I'm saying, like, and you know, once I just got to that level of you know, I feel like I'm the best player on the floor every night. You know, it was really no looking back for me, you know, you know that was my mindset every night. You know, I wanted to kill what was ever in front of me. And it didn't really matter who it was who got at you though, your plenty plenty, who was that one one that really like, oh damn, I'm cooking. But he tearing my ass up.
That's crazy.
I mean I got a long list bro, uh TD, Tim Duncan Man, he's a mute killing yeah man t d uh KG No, I mean towards the end for KG, he wasn't really you know, a bucket getter like KG was like a talker. Yeah, he was the ultimate team guy. You know, he kind of finished. They put the ball in his hands at the end of the game sometimes him and Pete Paul Pierce, so it was kind of like that situation, but he wasn't necessarily the guy getting it every possession. So not not KG, but z Bo for shows, z Bow fried my ass a few times. That's that's always been, you know, a fun matchup for me legend absolutely huh. Andrew Bianny and he was big as ship Bro. Andrew was the fun me up bro. You call Andrew Bynum before he tweaked out, yea was by them, was really good. He was early in my career. He was young, super young to us. Yeah he was.
He was going back at shock Bro, did you play ship?
I did?
Shack almost broke my motherfucking back pause. But Shack was in his last that was his last season with the Shaq was like four fifty out there, bro, Like he wasn't even moving Like, and I went to go for a rebound, I jumped backwards.
I just felt like I ran into a wall and my whole back cracked. Like I just laid on the floor. Bro. Like, man just contemplating, like do I really want to do this? Ship?
But that time him and Nate was wild and Bro, he picked Nate up in the game against IT.
They was beating us so bad in Atlenta. He picked Nate up.
In the game.
Oh, I say him do that in practice? I don't in the games have passed me the ball picked him up? I said, Man, what is his niggas homework?
That's what bro?
I was like, Bro, what pick this bet up in a game? Bro?
Yeah, I've definitely got my fair shire. Hell yeah, that's the league. Bro. I don't think it's nobody come through the league. But like, ye know, I've never had a bad night or a motherfucker ain't never fried me.
That's cal It's like you.
Ain't playing enough.
You're not play Yeah, that's not possible, Bro, You're gonna have a bad night for sure.
I've always wanted to ask this and this is one of my favorite gifts means of all time. The post game interview when they asked you about the official you said, it's got but my favorite gift means of all time.
Bro.
It's used for all the wrong ship. But that's one of my favorite things about I've got for you. I had to ask you about how is that? Because he was in a moment he was like, man, this is a bullship. But to get to see it every use so much.
Now, how is that? Man? Because you like, I'm moralized.
With that one, Bro, Jeff, you know, bro coming on man like it's like an unwritten thing. Man.
They be on bulld shit now, you know.
You know the league pushing narratives, bro, you know, and sometimes it's you know, we need this team to get by or we aren't really concerned about this team winning right there. So you know, it was one of them moments. And I wasn't really happy about it, bro, like, like, let let us play ball, Like, let us play ball, like at the end of the day. And you know, I hate when they kind of you know, overrep for you know, want to control the game too much. Then they take the game out of the player's hands. So it was kind of one of those moments for me.
And then.
You know, when it comes to basketball, bro, like what makes it fun is that you know the way people express themselves and you know, the different emotions that you get throughout the game. Like that's what made us fall in love with the game from the beginning. So and obviously the NBA is a business. And not only is it a business, it's a billion so it's it's up there. So it's a lot of you know, qualities that have to go into you know, being a worker of the NBA.
So with that being said.
You know, it's kind of like a fine line between you know, the raw foundation of basketball and you know, incorporate business into it as well. So for guys that fell in love with the game, you know naturally organically, you know, it's kind of hard to translate, you know what I mean.
The entertainment aspect kicking. Yeah.
So for me, like when I step on the floor, bro, my number one purpose is I don't want to go win the game. Like I'm gonna show every expression when I'm excited about the player. You gonna see that. When I'm upset, you might see that, you know, if I'm frustrated. You might see that, and that's just kind of how sports go. It's it's full of emotions. Those emotions also get you over the lump, you know what I mean, those emotions that that digging deep, like I'm not going to allow this this player to score me. Those type of emotions help you perform. So you know, once you start trying to make that out of the game, it's hard for gods to translate because you know, some guy's feed off that. And then it's it's all the athletes that you know, naturally nonchalant like this.
Motherfucker, they don't really give them and that talented enough to you know, get by with oh yeah I care.
But man, it's you know, I like, at the end of the day, like I appreciate you know, every way, and at the end of the day, this game, this sport is an art, Like how have you decided to express your art?
Like that's how you do it? You're an artist.
So you know, that's the part of the game that kind of frustrates me when it comes to, you know, the business and the raw foundation for sure.
Because Dre was on yesterday and he was talking about life.
You know what I'm saying, when you're doing that and you're win it, it's passionate. It's all these good things that it's not as perceived as, oh, he's a problem, he can't control thisself. It's just like the same things to help me win the same thing. You criticize me for what you want me to do in the situation.
Right.
But we always talked very highly at this team that she was on. Man, y'all, Pelskin squad was so nice. I had one of the most underrated rosters of all time.
How that link up happened? Which part the beginning you just even thinking about going there? I wasn't thinking about it. It happened like, Yeah, I wasn't thinking about it at all. I got traded, you know, during the All Star Game right after, so you know that happened, and you know, I was at the point in my career. You know, I was in Sacramento for six and a half years, Almo seven years, and you know, I was frustrated.
I want to help.
I wanted another guy on my caliber, Like I just wanted something to help me, you know, get over that hump. I was really passionate about winning. I wanted to be that guy to you know, take them out of their losing years, all of those things. But it just didn't happen, and Bro, it would get to the point where I would just go home and pray, like, Bro, just send me some help, like anybody, and you know, you ask for things, they you know it'll happen, but not necessarily in the form you expected.
So I ended up, you know, getting traded.
And initially when I'm on the phone with my agent Rest in Peace, Dan Fagan, and he's like, you know, we could beat over the trade.
We could tell him we're not.
Showing whatever whatever, And in that moment, I'm like, damn, Anthony Davis like and I'm like, I've been asking to play you know a guy that's similar talent, Like they can help me get over the hump. And I'm like, it's not necessarily you know, a guaranteed thing that I can get to a spot with that type of help or that can help me, you know, continue to be successful in my career.
So I'm like, fuck it, we're gonna make this shit work, right.
And I knew I already knew a d I knew that you know, the different you know, the skills said that he had you know, he could do a lot of different things with the basketball.
So with that alone, I was intrigued and I'm like.
We can definitely make some shit yas cold and it would take and you know, coming in, I'm like, you know, we gotta figure each other out and that that first half a season that we played, it wasn't that successful, but we had a lot of good moments, and you know that was good enough for me.
I'm like, Oh, We're gonna definitely make this shit work.
We got an all season to kind of get some guys in here to compliment us, so I think we can make some things work. And Uh, on top of all of that, we had the perfect coach and Avin Gentry, who was you know, super open minded. You know, he was a free flow type of coach.
He was.
He was a coach I would say is all about control chaos. If that makes sense, Yeah, for sure. So he allowed me and they need to you know, get a rebound and push and initiate the offense. Uh, we also have to you know, compliment Raison and Drew because those guys with the ultimate teammates would allowing us elite of what they do, but also allowing us to flourish on what we do, and it took guys like them to you know, be unselfish and also understand the bigger picture on what we were trying to do to be okay with that.
It was it was.
Times Rondo would get a rebound and throw me the ball to bring it up like so we had that type of chemistry and obviously it was short lived, but man, it definitely could have been a beautiful situation.
I could have won the ship, bro man, And honestly, I don't.
Think it was happening that that year that you know, I blew my achilles, But you know, down the line, I definitely thought we had a chance to be a special team. We definitely needed, you know, more shooters to you know, kind of help us out and open the floor for us. But we definitely had the foundation in the quarter, you know.
Shape.
I always tell the story when we played, y'all, I remember you just talking shit to me. He was like, why you ain't playing? I was sitting out one game. He was like, why you ain't playing? Like next time we play? On playing?
He was like, you're scared of dope. He's scared of Dope's scared of dope. And I'm like what.
So we go to Minnesota. We laying, I'm on the cour I'm like, yeah, motherfucker. I was like, what's his as he said, what, Bro, it's a picture Cat posting up.
He looking at our bench like, Bro, crazy, So you're behind that. It's him, Bro, you always you're being a part of that. It's crazy, Bro, He's Cat's post mastermind.
Bro.
He's looking at I'm crying. Bro. I was like, hey, Bro's crazy.
Didn't get on offense, like I told you, he started on cuz cuz go to the basket catch just wrapping up.
They like switchge dodge. He was like, he can't run tips, he gotta go on somebody.
I said, he's crazy. Wow, y'all be having like Kentucky beef Man.
No, it wasn't.
It wasn't that for me. I got a lot of love for Cat, super talent. It man a really good play. You had a really good season this year too, shout out to him. But you know, for me and the time I was at, it was more so just coming from a competitive nature. Like I said, when I stepped on the floor, Bro, like I'm killing whatever in front of you, and I want you to understand at the end of the game the difference between me and you.
Like that was my mindset.
So nah, honestly, I was just trying to put Cat in his place, Like in my mind, I felt like I was the best big in the league. And you know, it's also a form of a compliment because I know how Tomergan you know, Katy is the fact that at that moment in time, Cat was considered one of the better guys in the league or a better big in the league.
I'm you on my radar too, the same way I'm on yours.
So when we match up, I'm gonna make sure I get the best of you and we win the game.
And you know that was that was my mindset.
I might have the best big lineage though I was thinking about that in the college. Is Kentucky just you can't be alone? Is that's crazy? Yeah?
Yeah, got big man you for sure.
Yeah, from a big and also as we know from a guard standpoint, it ain't too many people with Kentucky.
Now Kentucky.
That's why go Bro's to go Bro like you. I mean, like it's many forms of a go too Bro. Like obviously he's not the most winning his coach, but his impact on college bro changed untouchable. Like it's not many cops, it's many forms, it's many for it is. But ain't saying that many top players like that. He didn't. He got a bunch of top Kentucky. Kentucky got way better NBA players than du Oh yeah, Kentucky for sure.
Bro.
We can go from Cuz years on up.
But that's what I'm saying.
What what generation I'm saying because JT B and all them after that, all them hard beat me down killers.
Because you got j T. Jabari, Uh Kyrie, r J.
Beard.
We don't count Broky played two games one year. Bro, man what I'm talking, I'm taking Duke over all, telling Bro, Devin Booker, him, John Wall it's along.
Listen as a Louisville Fair hurts me even pick you on this side, but I have to pick you on that.
Yeah.
Yeah, And that's lets you know how much I funk with Cal because I didn't care about this because he doesn't know ship. But like, tell me, the might like it, but I like Cal because basketball. I'm about to make sure that it don't matter what y'all do the next four years of your life. Everybody about to be straight and not funk with that more than anything, because it's just like sports. Everybody about to be cool, and I'm gonna make sure y'all cool. Yeah, y'all can put a banner up my brother. Everybody mortgage just be taking care of could never come.
He did.
Off the court.
Respect, No drake bars. He got a little of a bird on his arm. It's a slug it is. He's dedicated. Why he do that? That's my Lady's for the family. I ain't go there, hold on what. You don't even know what Butler twice.
For the family turned up.
Butler Bro's crazy man.
I aint gotta show back. That's crazy shouts about dog.
But now in the era, I'm saying, you see a lot of crazy bigs, Like how is it now that you see like the beis kind of flourishing, like you see you know what I'm saying, step back to see that because I definitely feel like just you came a little bit too early. Pause like you would have been doing the same type of time, like you see a being you shoe yo, like dominating the league at that position, getting m v P mitches one time. You know what I'm saying, the big was respected, but it was kind of like slighted with her numbers. Now it's like, okay, they leading away type shit.
It's definitely, you know, an era thing.
I do feel I came in you know a little early when they came to my skill set in the way I played the game.
Like I said, when I.
Came in the league, my playing style wasn't really embraced even when I went to college. Like you know, me and Kyle laugh about it all the time now, but like Cayle, you lied to me, Bro, Like he told me I was gonna be bringing the ball all the first practice, Bro, I tried to I got a rebound, tried to bring it up, I didn't turn it over, and Kyle, what's the stop?
He like, what the fuck are you doing? Like why are you dribbling the ball?
I got the number one pick at point guard and I got my fucking center.
Dribbling the ball.
That's college And in my mind, I'm like, you're right, you know, you dont do my thing. So it was like nah, like get your big ass hunder the basket and you know, try to catch love nigga. So you know, going into the league, it was it was similar. It was still it was still too bigs in the post when I came into the league. You know, they were really pushing, you know, you know, the jump hooks and ship like that.
It wasn't.
It wasn't the flashy layups and being crafted around the basket. That wasn't really embraced. And definitely shooting and ball handling, it definitely wasn't. So that's kind of why, you know, I could see why west Fall wasn't really feeling me either as a player. So you know, fast forward to now, and you know, you see where it's basically the big is initiating the offense, and yeah, no matter if they can score it or not, the offense is initiated through the big. And it's just crazy to see the game now developed into what was once upon, what was once frowned upon, you know what I'm saying. So you know, that's that's basketball. You started shipped off. And you know, I mean, we at the point now where guys don't even know how to make a post pass. Like when I was growing up, that was actually a drill, like you know, show how you know, drive to the elbow. He has to actually know how to make a post pass for sure. That's something that's not even really tall anymore. So it just shows the evolution of the game.
It's like now that even ridicule bigs you can't shoot. It's like, bro, he supposed to.
You can't hit the open three sit down, like, damn not true. I remember when he started. I mean, you was always capable of shooting threes, but I remember when you started shooting threes, like pulling up. I'm like, bro, he really going. I'm like everyone if he was back, he was shooting like a guard. I ain't tripping like I shoot threes, bro, I ain't about to hesitate or nothing.
I'm like, oh yeah, he got all the freedom in the world.
And I remember Alur said that, like, I gotta start shooting threes, like that's where the game is going. That's why I think ours real special because he always knew where the game was going, always to say that.
He was like, brother, the game frek shows that, Yeah, that's he's definitely shooting the cover.
Bro.
It's all he shooting nasty, disgusting, but we hit them six pace. I said, what the fuck?
I know the kind of damn six bro.
You're not Kyle Cover.
Bro, I'm telling he is now.
Like, like you said, the biggest, it's the big era right now. Like to see a guy like Zach Edy get drafted but top ten, yep, and for people in college and say, man, he can't play in this league.
He can't do that.
I think it's another turn of the game because seeing him go top ten lets me know we're going back to the big area.
Because I would have never thought Zach Edie was going top ten but were slow. It's going first round.
And so when he got calls, oh, ship, but thought but you see him and the guy from Yukon, I don't know the same for Shure, the big from kind of got drafted too, and it's like rem Protection running the floor score in the paint.
The big man error is back and like to know that it's like and you still hoop. I'm like, Ship, what we're doing?
Man, I don't know what we're doing.
Bro.
You know, I've I've embraced this new journey. Like you know, it can be a lot of reasons why I'm not in the NBA or whatever the case may be. Yeah, this is also why I've kind of you know, moved into this lane too of using my voice, and you know, just speaking for myself, because we also came into the air where if something was said you just kind of had to take it on the chin.
That was that was labeled as being professional. Yeah, you know what I'm saying.
And now it's the areas like motherfuckers say something, players come out like you motherfucking lot.
You know what I'm saying.
We in that air now, So a lot of things was said, and you know, a lot of narratives was put on my name and you know, some true something not. And at the end of the day, if you want to know who I am as a person or how I care myself every day, you can hear straight from the horse's mouth, you know what I'm saying. So I don't need nobody else to speak on. I can speak for myself. And uh, that's just kind of where I'm at with it now. And as far as you know, continuing to hoop, man, I love the game, Like you know, it's it's hard to just be like, all right, I'm done with this shit. I've been doing this since I was a kid, Like you know what I'm saying, Like this is like waking up brushing my teeth. Sure you know what I'm saying, so just to you know, call a quiz because one one door shut on me. There's so many opportunities out here, and I've come to understand that and I've come to embrace it. So you know, I'm gonna continue my journey playing and if you know, as far as me, you know, reaching out trying to convince these guys of what I am and who I am, you know, I'm kind of done with that. Like an opportunity comes that makes sense for me, you know, you know, I consider that. I definitely look into it, but it's as far as me, you know, going out trying to reach out to them, I'm past that because you know, you know, you know what I bring to the floor. It's been proven if you really wanted to know who I am, you would take the time out yourself to get to know me. And I listen to the next because that's what this business is like. That's why narratives it's such an important thing because that's literally what you know, it's passed around.
It's not them like, hey man, you know, who are you? What are your answers? What do you?
Is?
None of that, you know what I'm saying. They just listen to the next person. And everybody don't vibe with each other.
It could be some shit I don't like about you, and you can go to him where he don't like me, So shit, I don't like him, and that's just kind of how it goes. So you know, that's why I'm at with when it comes to, you know, playing ball overseas life though, that shits sweet. You know, I'm enjoying it, bro, Honestly, I just gained a whole new respect for who because you know, you be brainwashed the thing like the NBA is the ultimate level of basketball, which is a fact in itself, but when you think about it's only what six hundred guys in the league. It's two billion people playing basketball. So you mean to tell me that six hundred and first person isn't good, you know what I'm saying. So you know I've come to experience like to understand that, and Bro, I'm you know, I'm back to, you know, really loving the game and getting back to my competitive nature and being myself and it's been fun. I found my joy again. You know, I'm happy. I'm happy where I'm at in life, and you know I'm gonna do this ship until I'm.
Tired of man. When you get tired, man, complay on my team in the Big Three.
Man, Bro, I'm gonna get there. I know I'm gonna get you got three or four more years. But when you get there, Bro, you are not gonna be played at a Big three or forty.
Big three. Fun as hell.
I see you out there cooking and I'm trying, bro getting cooked by young nigga man shout the riskal Kentucky.
He was a bucket. It's a mask. But nah, Big three cool though.
Other Big I'm talking about you for I'm gonna be out there, Bro, You're gonna be coaching. Bro.
I am gonna be coaching Gary Payton. Yeah, I'll be a coach. I'm gonna be a coach. Slacky p turning the coach, Nick be the coach. Is crazy be winning though, Nick?
Team winning.
Yeah.
They got Jeorge Crawford, your.
Instant grids, My dog, he's been cooking out. That's the hell of a day.
He got that name in New Orleans, Yon.
Yeah that's his lane though.
Yeah, Big there still get a bucket for sure. Out there. Bro't do no with it. No, I can't mess with him for sure, man, but listen because we appreciate you sliding on this.
Man.
This is a high anticipated interview. Man, We thank you for sliding on this big dog.
Man. Tell people that can find you where that can support you at too.
Man ship this.
You know his Booky Cousins on Instagram and uh, you know I got my own podcast with All the Smoke with Rachel Nichols, So that's been going really well with me, sir, for me and you know, just support man, support all this ship.
Man.
I think it's it's really dope what we're doing. And like I said, it takes a lot of courage to you know, go out and do these things. So you know, support my brother Jeff and his guys and appreciate this thing. Let's take over man Tappy and check the show. All the Smoke Productions, Club five twenty one More time to redemption where we at again Resorts World Man, Vegas, Vegas, so much love.
We appreciate y'all letting us create in this space, like share some scrap all that good ship. But before we get up out of here, be hearing some people that can buy.
Some merch chop Club five twenty dot com.
First person to buy t T shirts be hearing, go buy some black forces with white laces, coming straight in to the dog with it.
Be back next time
