Club 520 PodcastClub 520 - Evan Turner on guarding Derrick Rose, playing with Isaiah Thomas, Jayson Tatum’s Paris Olympics
We’re back with Season 2, Episode 98 of Club 520 where Jeff Teague and the guys are joined by Evan Turner. Turner talks about winning the Wooden Award as the best player in the country in college basketball, getting drafted No. 2 by the Philadelphia 76ers, having to struggle for a second contract, guarding Derrick Rose, playing alongside Isaiah Thomas on the Boston Celtics, and much more! #Volume #Club
The volume. All right, we're back man, another episode of Club five to twenty Podcasts. This ain't even a guest. We gotta film me in the building. Man, we've been waiting for this episode for a minute. Man introduced my man's last. To my far left, my dog Bi should be hearing out the pre least how you would nasty cool.
And Phoenix Baby, let's get to it for show.
To my right, my dog young not Cho, young tig. How you what I'm chilling?
Bro?
You already know I'm right right here. It's my dog the door. I ain't gonna hold you, j R. I got the special you know special pack from j My boy Dang hooked us up.
Man.
We in formula zero.
We all here. You love it.
Is Man till my left.
Man, we got a big ten legend on Higo State legend, longtime NBA vet and the man of the Point for a podcast. We got at Evan Turner in the building. Big dog appreciate you sliding on his brother.
And appreciate y'all. Man, y'all invited me. Like I said, I was touched, but it took so long to pull up because I didn't want to give you y'all stink er interview.
Hold on, Bro, that's so long to come up.
I was like, Man, I don't know if I can really they pause be popping.
I don't know if I dull it down or not. We follow you on Twitter, Elite Twitter. It's my best word, that's.
My best work. Sometimes I'd be like, Bro, are people watching when I'm posting? Because I'm going crazy? And what you're saying a circuit if you think about it, Bro, that beat it. Next wave of back niggas want to be no more. We would have lost the serviet. It would have been over. And I'm like, Bro, they could be some nigga's name Lebron like Nia just being some nigga name. Lebron is over for us, y'all because I'm being dead. Seriously, let's start off with the.
Order of my dog.
This story goes way back for me because I remember meeting Et when I was like sophomore in high school. Freshman in high school. He played for the Illinois Wolves.
Bro.
They had nice jersey uniform, team was all put together and here I come with these nappy braids, reversible jerseys, our own shorts, and were playing against Evan and Dimitri and they used to beat our assy.
We used to practice, they had plays.
We should just come to the tournament now, But I knew et since back then. Man, it's dope to see where you came from there to now. It's crazy as hell.
See.
Yeah, it's funny because you know, even back in that tournament, uh, you know, back in the day, like if you like an unsigned senior, you could play AAU. So we were playing seventeen or under, but we were sixteen, and I remember like just seeing the jerseys, not really knowing like who he was. But I'm like, oh, he he picking our pockets like Buddy Dunk and Ship Buddy, you know what I mean, like just giving us pure hells on my head. I'm like, he got to be an unsigned senior. So while we're playing Ship, I'm kind of like, hey, bro, like we can play over here, Ship, Like we got jersey like everything like Bush.
He said that the middle of the game, Bro, like you can play with us, Bro, we got jerseys.
I said, that's wrong with this.
You want to go to rebound to rebod cam like everything.
I don't.
I don't know. So once that game's over, we're like, Bro, Buddy's so cold. So we talked to our AU coach. I'm like, well, where is he supposed to go? This' like, bro, that kid is your age? Like that kid is my age. So like when we're sitting I'm like, bro, that's no cat Gee. We all said you was better than d Rose at the time.
Niggas was true, don't That's how good she was playing it right, So we might in some moments, but.
No that hey, we must have been living to you because he was killing us. And I just remember sitting there and always just remembering, uh, find out you are my age and just being like, man, it's gonna be a tough climb up if I got the battlever time. And we go to AU. We go to a b C D camp and like our whole team was just like every tournament you were in. We were just paying attention to you and be like what the tea kid do? What the t kid do? I remember my a you turn coach telling Skip Prosser like you might want the Meitri. This is the one Noyea. I remember, like literally like the Metri is the coldest dude ever seen. And we're like like chost Cap, like that dude over there that only like to play every other game. It's the truth. He was just showing up like like a B C D camp and not look interesting, like you know, we try and change our lives, right.
But you know it's just my look, bro, how I really feel? I just looked like that home was killing.
That's saying with an your age, ask you over there, SI.
You know I went to the tournament. We're still unsigned, so I'm expecting every tournament to look like some ship on TV. Like, so I want to go change my life. So when I'm showing up, they got reversible jerseys. This ain't this ain't it?
Bro?
I can't get jiggy.
With him, like Mike. I'm like, man, and I might do with the four X.
Yeah.
J Williams never gonna crazy and yeh and that was nearly Jeff T and no funny ship. I had been a fan ever since then. You're like sixteen years old. That was in Louisville, Kentucky. Was you already that guy around that time too? Though?
Uh?
Yeah he was Yeah, he was were talking, bro, he was.
I was mean, he can handle the ball, so we like, damn this nigga six seven would handle like he always had that right to left that left to right.
That mug was mean.
Yeah, we like, I'm like, damn he tall ship dripping the ball the point because when he was coming in the game, we thought he was gonna be like the power forward and he handling the rock and the little white dudes was just run around shooting threes, and him and Dimitri got the ball. We like, we ain't got nobody to guard, so he used to kill us. And I'll nerve forget like the Metri cold and you know, feel like, nah heat the cold when lookout tall he is. And that's how we became fans. And we was like, damn, I just kept up with him. And when I see him go to Old State, I'm like them we going there with because we thought Michael was staying. So I'm like, damn me going there with Mike and them. That's crazy, But I'll let you keep going DJ.
And that was That's pretty much it. Bro. I just remember going back to those days and like how loaded paul As that class was even then. What I'm saying, like, we thought she was better than Dee Rose, but they had like Chris Wright, they had you know what I mean, Jay Lucas's so they had damn and everybody. It was tough to make All American games and oh yeah, yeah, j was trapped. But growing up in Indianapolis around that time, it was probably pire hell.
Ship probably signed for you in Chicago, like, oh yeah, the Rose is prown. Yeah what's that like? Though, Like in high school, competing against d Rose.
It was you gotta think he was he was d Rose back then. So I remember the first time I ever really seen him. Uh, we had like an eighth grade All star game and it's like West Suburbs vers West Side, South Suburbs for South Side and I think like Northwest down State. So I was playing on the West Side team, so I was playing in a different games. But I remember being in the back and I see like a trophy and it's like player of the Year Derek Rose. I'm like, well, who the player of the year Derek Rose? Who the hell is Dereck Rose? Type stuff? Like why would he get a whole trophy? And I'm here type ship, That's what I like.
Yeah.
Then like before you know it, Buddy just pulled up and dunking everything. He goes to Semeon. He wasn't allowed to play his freshman year, but then once a sophomore year hit. He was he was God and everybody else is just them, like you know what I mean. So I was a distant second when we grew up playing. But to grow up and play in the city of Chicago, it's just crazy across Pat bed too. Yeah, Pat Bad. People don't man Pat Bad to me. You can say d Rose is out there g but Pat Bad was throwing up forty yeah, publicly taking out everybody. So I thought it was pretty dope. We had like a lot of dope talent during that time. And when you see what they're doing now. You look at John Shire during that time, he was by far head over heels better than everybody until d Rose took him out. He's shipped the coach a duke. Yeah. Collins left period Kan and then this player at Kansas. You look at Jake Pulling. People forget Jake pulling all the time and scored from there.
It was that high school my fault that he went to. Jake Pulling went to provide who was that big man from there, Brian Carwell, We went to Saint Joe. Yes, that was my bad. I just had a moment, Yeah.
Because he came to Indiana and yeah, bro, and then that turned to Greg Golden and Mike Conley and that was like a big deal. So, you know, around that time, growing up in Chicago, I think like there's like twenty players in the top twenty from the state that went D one, so you know what I mean. So I was playing versus a bunch of kids in the Big ten and I grew up playing Verse since I was ten years old.
That's a show.
And it was so crazy in the city, especially in that time period at oh five or six oh seven. Yeah, because you go from Josh McRoberts to Mike and Greg and then yeah, we had a.
Brough And I remember talking to Brad Stevens. He was just saying, like I would go recruit like from Butler, not trying to go get them, but I would wait to go see a guy play Verse something and be like, if they do decent, I know they're pretty good, because these dudes are going to be NBA Hall of Famers, you know what I mean.
It's crazy.
What was it like you had the battle? What was it like coming up in that time? Did that kind of kill your confiden and that you weren't Mike Nah? You know, because like you was cold.
Bro, Noah, because like Mike Mike, Dad's the reason our game confidence because I used to have good games against Mike, but I was like a hood hooper like.
And shit like that.
So like when I played again, so I just wanted to crossing because I knew everybody's gonna talk about it like I'm just gonna crossing. But then I started getting competitive and I was scoring stuff. But I ain't never look at it like that. They were just Gregg and Mike to me, Like I didn't really know they was like a big, big deal until I went to Vegas and I've seen how people was treating them.
I'm like, oh, dya shit, like you know be here, were.
Like oh that's great. Oh they can't go outside. Though I can go outside like I'm in with my friendly at the parties in the streets. They can't do that. So it didn't look fun to me to beat them. But then when I seen kind of love they was getting everywhere else, like they got rebock deals, and I'm like, oh yeah, they getting the real love. I'm getting the booties is getting tirked on at the club. They get the real stuff, So it wouldn't ain't mean nothing until I got to there and I'm like, I gotta figure it out. Then Coach Conley kind of put a battery in my back, like you just as good as them, man, it's his son, you Like, damn you think I'm good as hell?
Mere?
Like yeah, you should have all these offers too.
And I'm like, shit, he gassed me, and he gassed me to a whole nother level to be honest.
No, that's hard, bro, Yeah, that's definitely hard.
Shout to coach Connley.
Man for sure, Like you said, man going crazy in Chicago. How'd you end up at Ohio State?
Sid? Uh? My dad's from Ohio. So every summer else like nine to ten, I would go visit him in Columbus. So I would go to like Ohio State sports camps and I go to like Clark Kellar camp and he was like a big deal at the time. Yeah, so in the summertime, I kind of when I first went there, like I kind of knew, like how big of a deal, Like people like mess with the buck eye. So you fast forward like senior, like six years later, We're playing at the King James Tournament and I'm playing versus some white pigeon toe dude, and he's like the state. He just scored seventy seven points. His name is John Diebler. So we're playing versus each other and I'm looking at stands. There's a bunch of like scouts and coaches there, so apparently thad models there. So you know when you're young and they telling you like, hey, you're about to play for the best. Dude whatever he did, so you know, you go out. You're like this white dude like, man, I'm finna put on for the hood. So buddy, come out. He get me like five straight threes and then like you know, like they had a burner. Yeah, burner like volleyball. I had never seen somebody just like dribbling down the court and like pull out. He wasn't looking at the line, he was just pulling out of nowhere. Now. I was like, bro, this dude is different, and luckily I played well. That was like a Saturday. By that Thursday, I was on Ohio State campus and should I got offered. I went to NBA camp in June. I was like, bro, I gotta go somewhere. That's it was a dumb ass decision that should have just went to Wisconsin or Illinois. But I'm like, Okay, day Kwon Cook, Mike Conley, all of them at All State. I got to get ready and go there. But it was just like the boys pauses loaded. But at the same time, like you think about my trajectory, If like day Kwan Cook would have never left that first year, I might have been sitting for a year and a half two years. But I just thought when I was a kid that the thought of competition and being from Chicago, I thought like a top recruiting class or somewhere big I would be able to perform at and that should just worked out for sure. Incoming class though, yeah worked out.
They definitely worked out.
I was nice. What was the thirty three's name I had? I forgot his name, It was John Die twenty three is David, Yeah had Will Beuford. Yeah. Will ended up like the second time all leading scored dealer ing up breaking the conference three point record, and Dave was like the all time winner or whatever. I was cold and was played year. Yeah, and uh you know we finished eg sellinger is the best ever do it man. He was so coold. I didn't play with him, but the next year he really killed it. But you know, during that time, I just felt like the Big ten was something I was really familiar with, and you know, just going close to home was a big deal and that was really it. But when I look back on that, acc Ball might have been more fun, bro, what was definitely fun. I was trying to go to n C State, to be honest with you, and then, uh, you actually fit them, That's what I'm saying. I saw Julius Hodge. Yeah, they had to do Brandon Kysler, Yeah, straight, but right had committed and Syndackett eventually ended up dipping. But uh yeah, and then I was either that or Waite Force, which was you know coach Prosser and uh, what's the Italian coach? Yeah, Gottiyo. We were on there, but we pulled up the wait Forest and you know, our coach asked about like the black population, and there's like I think the guys go across the street to with some sale. We did, and my coach was like, nah, bro, you ain't supposed to leave campus. Okay. It's like as a white man, I'm offended.
I remember what. I remember what I said to wake Force.
He said that he was like, there ain't no black people on there, and he was like, y'all got said at the front of the classroom. I was like, damn, I went to the wake Forest. We had legitimate at the front of the classroom.
Damn, bro he set it tightened up.
I used to go to one same on State here the other day.
So there's a lot of black people.
Stay with you.
It's decent, MOMMI. You could count on everybody being from Cleveland, you know what I mean. The state is from Cleveland, but there's some niggas in Cleveland. Yeah, but it's a decent vibe. I think college is cool for what it was. I learned a lot and you know, but the real gig was just trying to get to the league.
Yeah for sure. I mean you get off the subject.
But you know, I'm saying I l money shit going on, especially how you played in college, what you did.
Yeah, you you might have said that year for the little check you check.
I probably would have flamed out way quicker because I be able to handle, you know, everything that came at me, the craft, the crack, Johnny Manzil, all right, Marcus George, I would have died like girl saying he got a game. I can already read and write schools.
Not right, Oh, Ship, obviously you know what I'm saying. You know what I'm saying. You go on drift night. How was that process for you?
Because you know what I'm saying, you number two pick, and that was it was a cool, you know process when I hear everybody else's horror stories, you know, but I was blessed.
It was cool. I did one workout and when the balls dropped, Paul, we were we knew that I would go to Philly because John Wall was legit. So John Wall was a consensus and I just knew, like when number two dropted, oh I guess I'll be a Philadelphia or whatever. So luckily that was the case, and we went and did a workout, and you know, everything worked well until the first game and then you know, life change.
What happened.
No, just like Ship was real, Like I was supposed to come in and be brun right, perfect live. I had to go talk to my sponsors. So when people are like y'all got partners like I don't have, Like I didn't have them by the second year. So what did you think he was coming to? You was gonna be the man on Philly because you know it's cold, you know what's wrong. You weren't saying clearly, but that was iggy Enham team.
You got drafted to a tough team.
Got honest with you. I'm just joking. I got drafted to a really good team in a really good situation. And when I thought at Philly, I was like, no, I want to go to Golden State at number seven because I wanted to play with Steph like Paul is really really bad, and uh, I just knew the fit and I knew Dre wasn't no slouch. But back in the day, people forget we just started going into this team ball like before it was like a couple of years before that, like the Trailblazers didn't draft KD because I adn't think b Roy and KD like it had to be one alpha guard, one alpha big type situation. So when it came down to it, like I really just showed up and it was like there was ah, you know, it's Dre's team, and you kind of got like really fit in getting where you fit in. So that development of what you saw John wall Get. I'm not saying I've been John Waller, even Wes C. Johnson. He was in Minnesota cracking and you know, getting getting crazy opportunity. But it was it was a cool, you know experience, and that was probably one of my favorite teams.
Who grabbed like not grabbed you. That's crazy, but right what what if it really took you on? Today Winnings gave the game.
Right away. Yeah, right away, right away, Lou will shout out to Lou. Yeah the uh, I think he just took a liking into me because I just thought he was like, bro, what's to this man? You know? But I remember like the first one of the first couple of days, he picked me up and we went to the gun range and then he just took me around the city. And you know, that's the first real time I ever got drunk was with Lou Williams and damn Lou. Yeah, but but it was some real stuff. So I was chopping it up. I was going through like some rough rookie stuff and I'm talking about like I'm in the dumps. So, uh, we losing Philly, you know, Doug Collins is you know, he's definitely ah, you know, being tough on me in a sense. We losing Philly, Landy Detroit so it's like, uh, meet me in a lobby in twenty minutes. It's not an option. So I meet him in lobby. We go next door at the bar and he's just like, you got like eight shots lined up type of ship, and he's like you should start and talk. He's like, look, bruh, this game of bout aastball source to be fun. It shouldn't be up and down. Like if you bring this ship home with you, you're gonna be mad every single goddamn day. He's like, you ain't have fun since you've been here. It's like, just let that shit go be who you're gonna be. But like, you can't bring this shit home with you, like you don't literally let your head explode. And he's like that's it. Just go out there, try hoop if a nest from there, but like you can really hoop. And I was like all right, bet, and he's like, okay, now make sure you finished the shot. So like so I had like so that, like I took like two or three shots like off the bat. But I remember like Lou was somebody I could always rely on or relate to because he had went through everything as a player, Like when I was tripping practice and be like, man, you got me, you got me running your plays. I ain't run them in the game. He'd be like, motherfucker. Like when I was your age, they would take me out of practice and a coach for practice. You understand what I'm saying. So like, so when it came down to it, it's like I got real game from him. Eldon Brand was super cool and then obviously Iguodala. We had a butt hit to start, but eventually towards the end of my first year, we became my brothers. Like by the fourth year, you know, we didn't even play on the same team. I was the best man in his widding. And then you know when he had his daughter, you know, he named her Evan, and it was like, I thought this so like when we got to that level of like friendship and like connecting, I just felt like we had like a relationship that's just bigger than basketball. And that was what I really took from those vets because even my ups and down times, I could always count on them and depend on them, even if I felt like I didn't have a friend all right, So after them shots of and j Yeah, ship shots though.
It was honey, I was saying, Petron is Petronney, That's what I'm saying, and that I had a shot of Cranberry and I was, so.
When did you start getting comfortable in the league? Though? What I think there's different levels of comfort, not even so much playing, but so much is just like saying, forgetting accepting my role. You know. I think one thing that occurred was I came in super early speak. When you listen to your ages and stuff, you're trying to carry a brand. So yeah, I could have been like a prima digna type shit, and I was. But I think one thing when I started getting comfortable is just really buying into like the team atmosphere and really accepting my role and not really worried about like what people think, and just trying to go from worry about being great to just getting good each day, but also just swimming. You know, when you get selected high, like you look at Anthony Bennett, they cut you know, Andy Bennet could still be good, but like they undercome quick and like, bro, you're sad, like you needed like two thorough years. He was done within like twenty games and shit. So I was just on some like sink or swim and like try to figure out how to be the best player I could.
And that's one thing that they don't speak about a lot, is like when you come in the league, especially when you have expectations, is there's no time for you to fuck up, and you have to be less to be in a good organization or to have good vets. If you don't have either one of them, or if you don't have both, hit can get real spooky. And then, like you said, you bring work home with you, you all in your head trying to play basketball.
You forget how good you off that shit.
I'm playing in Philly, bro that the worst fans ever. Yeah, I'm playing in Philly. Is definitely different. So I felt as though like being in Philly for that little bit of time really kind of not saying like made us sick on a sense of how I like viewed the game of basketball. I was just like, you know, kind of like fuck it, I'm gonna have fun with it. But once I left fifth Philly, there was nothing ever that serious that was like that bad or tough because all that pressure there was od yea, I was supposed to be the number two pick and do whatever I went complete opposite and they had to like conteenue to swim, you know what I'm saying. After my fourth year in the league, dudes were signing for thirty some million and I'm all for two hundred and fifty thousand, you know what I mean. Like when dudes were signing, like I'm trying to it was damn there like September, I damn, they didn't have a place to go. Dam I'm twenty five years old. Like people are hitting the streets, asked you staying in the league or going overseas? M hm. So when you're sitting down, you're like, damn, just four years ago, I had ship popping. But you know what I mean. So like I just felt like I had to really you know, lock in, buckle in, but like almost on like some ship Entourage ship. When it came to Anny Chase, like bro, I'm not getting I'm not getting lead roles no more, you know what I'm saying. And that was just like the real thing. Where was you off to next?
Portland?
I ended up going to Boston.
And that's when when you h that's why, Yeah.
That's when the band came.
Everybody can came together. Boy.
Uh, we had Uh, we definitely had two years in Boston. It was definitely fun and you know it, it had uh obviously reunited a feeling for me enjoy playing basketball and also had uh had a great foundation for a landing point. When I was done, I still go to Boston. You know, you get get mad love and at the same time have opportunities to still you know, it's been Uh, my position and game of basketball just help for sure.
Man, we got we're gonn fast too far. We got to talk about y'all linoking up in Boston.
Man, It's to be honest with you. Gee, Like I thought it was cool. I knew Jeff was cool, but I used to be like, bro, if you're this funny, why do you not show that, like, like literally show people that. Like I thought he's the funniest dude on earth. Now I thought he was nice, and Uh, the funniest thing about Boston I was waiting around to Uh. It was either I was gonna retire or I was waiting for Boston, like I ain't have no chances. And Brad was kind of like, maybe I'll throw you a bone. So like when it came down between me and Jeff, I'm talking like poor Allen's like, man, it's between you and Jeff. I'm like, well, y'all should just take Jeff because I'm not better than Jeff. Like if y'all trying to win a championship, I'm like, bro, that's just that's O D. So then we show up and like they take Jeff and like I'm just like, all right, I guess I'll on the coaching pretty much. Jeff is just like we end up being like.
One of the times.
The back of the bitch. I'll look over and Jeff and like you have his shoelace. Sometime we just be told was that nigga not brough there? At one point I'm like, bro, I'm right, Bro, this is how you know it's different. And it's like, bro, everywhere you go, like you would be able to keep your initial don't name is Jeff t you know. So when we're going on the board, I'm looking at Brad and Brad like JD k W and Jet j T Like what the fuck is Jet? Like is Jet? Yeah? It is like Jeff TIGG. I'm like, my nigga, you can't he's older than Jason Table. He can't get his.
In you remember, and that's you know what's loked up about it?
He wrote to play. He was like JT said somebody else, So I'm thinking I got the ball. I'm like all right. So I was like, hold on when I when he go here, I go here. He's like no, no, no, no, you're here, Jet.
What the Kim? Kim in tears and I'm in the back. I'm like, Bro, No, they ain't just call you Jet. Kim is crying.
Kim called me Jet the rest of the year. Bro, Smiff is crazy. Bros is like kidding at ain't walking like little please?
But that that time in Boston, I mean, I don't know how Jet felt. Hell, like, what the hell are we doing moment? Because it's COVID. Yeah, man, like I'm trying to tell dudes that were better than me how to play basketball. That's when I knew coaching was full of ship because I was like, I'm like a dacity you, Bro, this man is a problem in that, you know. Yeah, they had me beat Jason Tatum position like, Bro, he's not listen to shout out say like you know what I mean. I'm like, Bro, I'm not gonna tell him nothing like a work one on with this like, no, it's perfectly fine. But we were able to. We got, we made bonds, were playing one over. Yeah, for sure, we got.
We got a classic group chat Man midwe called the mid West Group chat Man. We all became really cool. That experience in Boston. Bro, it's funny as hell, what did you? I wanted to always ask us.
Even in that experience in Boston, I still thought you had a two or three more years to play like what you did. Boston kind of stopped. We saw each other in Atlanta and I told you before, Bro, it's almost over for me. Yeah, you know what I mean.
You told me not that you shouldn't be here and so you shouldn't be so you shouldn't be in London.
They're gonna get eleven point two minutes per game.
He told me that, and they I didn't sign. They offered me a year another year after that, but I didn't sign. I should have had signed it. I don't know what I was thinking, but I hated it so much because I was like, damn, I love Atlanta, but they told me I had a cap like you can only play.
Nineteen minutes, you know what I mean?
It was just like Damn, I was just averaging fourteen off the bench of Minnesota.
Well, I come here. All I can get is nineteen minutes.
Bro, I was them there being a runner for six man fourteen and twenty two minutes.
I was hoping.
Damn.
I was like, nah, and I thought COVID happened. I should have went.
To the next.
Tim's like, come on to the next You're gonna probably start. But then Brad caught me. It was like, Kimba's out, You're gonna start. Kimball's going Kimba's out for you. Remember Kimball was hurting and then you woke up. He was like, you're gonna start. Kimball's out, and I'm like, damn. The Celtics cold like. I was like the Knicks. I don't know too much about the Knicks. Ain't got nobody, So I'm go to Boston. I was like, that's gonna really get me back.
And I got there.
He was like, we're gonna start markets at the point, you're gonna be the sixth man.
The six man.
I'm like, in the first game, I hooked like three layers.
But I'm right, mane, I'm in a bench, like Bro, they just can't get right but he don't.
Breakaway left to say, but it got to the point I didn't miss a three the whole preseason.
No time out. You was missing so many layups. We had played three on three and when you have made a layup, run them short.
It's like he usually miss, so miss little jet with us.
I was so scared to shoot the left at that time, I would really shoot a three. I was making so many threes. I was like, fuck that. I ain't running to fast breaks. I was running to the corner.
Damn.
I was scared to shoot a layup. Damn. I don't know why.
But then I had a game at the end where we started playing again. My labs came back, but I couldn't shoot no more. My three was broke his hell.
But that was did you ever tell and you said something that was this one of like Jeff a lot of Pauls because he was his opin was super different and might to somebody that like be saying some off the wall stuff. My year, that's my man, And I remember we're in a gym and you're like, bro, that's my unpopular opinion. But I think James Harden is a better shooting guard than Kobe.
Bryant, don't say that. I've been waiting to say this, so we would have talked about this. This is gonna go virus.
Getting killed for so long. Can seriously man, Kobe right, he said the k was better than Kobe as episode.
You can call me. They're going after you.
That's that's at that time we were talking about We're talking about that. Okay, I did not say that.
I'm ill be be lying too. He ain't say none of that.
I ain't going down that, Kobe, bro.
But you had great the dude that said it had great day, I said, And then I said that.
I mean, I'm not going to say that. Never mind you, it was good.
It was Jailer and was battling and him, were just having a conversation and e T And Jason was there.
It was I think you said. And then Jason and Jay they went crazy. They went nuts. They definitely went nuts. But to be honest with.
You, you're con persuaded me a bit, don't I'm telling so Ship, that's the first.
Time we fought. You was at me on that. And then I just remember we would be in the back of the bench. We always have these crazy debates. So that's the first person that really told him how cold Luca was. That's effect I give it. So like when we sitting behind the bench, like Luca kind of going through like his first half, like things like Bro, I don't know jee, this man kind.
Of like it's a fire as story.
But you're like, man, this man kind of like lazy, like he's just not doing nothing for me. He whined. And I'm like, Bro, that's like you don't run up the court. I'm like, bro, look at him. He the man. I'm like Luca him, he's not worried about no regular season game in fact, So then we keep going, said Bro, you sure he good? I said, Bro, he gonna turn it on. He's really him. So like where were we We're up ten or twelve. He's in Dallas. So we in Dallas and it's like Bro, JB and j T getting rid of us. Man, I said, Bro, I'm telling you, like it might not look good now, but in clutch, if they get close, we're not gonna win, he said. I said, Bro. I said, I'm just saying, the game get close, we're not gonna win. So, like the game start creeping down. So the more and more he at me and I'm like.
Like you, he's a coach.
I'm a player and they weren't listening to.
That's how crazy this that season was.
I'm sitting in the crowd with him, like down with the players. It's COVID. So I'm sitting by him. There's just kick.
The kicking the ship like everything. So I'm senter. I said, bro, if you get closer, like we're not gonna win. Like I'm telling you. He's like that. Bro, He's just like that, like he's just it. So it get closer, they call the time out and like I think they're down like two, So like Jeff like get it, like bro, like ain't no way. I'm like, bro, I'm telling you, And he like you did.
I called about to do that that step back he hit the game winner.
And literally bro, and like while we watching it, Jeff watching, I'm back there like Dickie and watch watch.
Like that.
Literally he learned about Luca dont.
Hit the shot, looked at him, he's I told you we worked for the Celtics.
I told you.
I told you. I'm like, damn, we celebrated ship.
Look ship.
I was like, j T, that's some bullship, man, We're gonna be up. I quit after this ship anyway kind of knew. I'm like, man like, just be worried about him.
But I thought that was a dope day because at the end of that's the first time that youbody ever listening.
Yeah, like April, I was like, years cold. What made it so funny? J T, that's a shower. I got we Go. That's why I love et we Go. There he was like, Luca better than me.
He was like, damn near.
I was like what.
I was like, Nah, hell no, j He was like, Bro, he's my favorite player. That's a yo et crazy bro favorite player.
My daughter man, Luca was she did bro? I said, Bro, dude, that's my favorite player. I'm like, man, like, you got to meet Luca. Like now that you go to the store, you like I saw uncle Jason on somebody. Yeah, that's but you got to meet remember that you got but funny ship like Jason, that's one of my favorite players. Fast.
I gotta ask how I feel to see them. Know what I'm saying, be Victorias, y'all know what I'm saying. Y'all saw them early on, putting in the hard work for them to win, and y'all to know them for real?
For how did that feel to see them cross one?
Man?
I thought it was I thought it was dope.
Man.
You know what Tatum, Bro, he's such a good dude. So when you sit there like like when you talk to me, listen when I was young, Bro, I wann't listening. Ship for real, So like when you talk to me, really take advice, Like, Bro, you a good kid. But when when when he tasks back in and like you know, you talk to him like you really want people like that to win? You know what I'm saying. Even when you sit there and you build brotherhood like Jack my fault Jeff, Jeff won the championship and he facetimed us from the locking. Yeah, when you sit down, it's like when you look at Club five twenty and everything, Like, Bro, I be turned up for y'all because anybody brother, it is dope to see you know, good people winning.
Sure you feel about you. That's why our group chat.
When we be talking, I'd be just having a bob, but I'll be telling him some of the stuff we talking about, just not everything, but some of the stuff that we'd be like laughing.
At, joking about.
But like j T, like you said, see him win and know how much like how bad he wanted to win.
We was like yeah, but me and.
E TV like, hey, man, what he doing?
Man?
Like we was watching the finals like man, he birst started playing because you.
Know I'm betting, Like.
Yeah, I'm like j T for real, Man, is he gonna make? He need some free thrones?
Know you gonna how seriously when we FaceTime, you know it's I'm like.
Bro, you see it when my man trophy away, I'm like, how we feel? How we feel you knowing like what you think? Literally he said he not even be pick what were doing?
Man? Was come on, that's my fault of you with your wifey. I called man late but like you you see this right saying, I'm like, man, this nigga got I gotta talk to somebody.
Said he's not MVP.
What we doing?
Said?
I don't know, I said, Jaylen played glease, I'm not hearing that.
I said. It's like, so what that means for our legacy? This is all because when you think about that run, which is crazy. We talked about like you look at Jordan ninety two, he had that crazy run of a championship MVP whopped the damn Like maybe Brian did it once or whatever, but like when you thought about it, how many times is it perfectly set up for somebody to win a championship auto Olympics and when it's coming to the changing of like the tight and yeah it was. It was really set in prime. Even if you think about like the Sports Center, like Sports Illustrated article or like shit, he dropped his Jordan three during the Olympics, you know what I mean?
I like it just seems like that's why I was so mad about the Olympics.
Yeah, it was like supposed to be a changing of the guard, and I just felt like it was supposed to be him because it was all set up, even though it might be in AE.
I don't know who it was really.
But like this what made me so mad that never happened to anybody else.
Bro, you understand, I don't give a damn what you're talking about. I'm the star player. I know him, Melity, But like Derek White, Drew, y'all better say, y'all ain't playing get into because the world ain't right.
That's the fact.
The world already fucked up.
It's like they tried to dim his light on purpose and they're just like, oh, he's taking it this striw he's such a good one.
No, he crashed out.
Yeah, Bro, that's the first time I felt like they went crazy on the ricelin. Let's target it, Bro, if you think about it, I felt like it was something deeper balls and just like rotation. Now you say, I can't hop like give me eleven minutes.
Yeah, he was supposed to be in the rotation. But like Bro said, Jeff made a great point like maybe he come back, like he's.
Gonna come back.
Steve Steve, Steve, he quit before they fired him. They said this was this was his last.
He knew last I was man when he shout up to the lookings like Nigga, I saw what you did last sum with this team. They was like, you gotta go, but we need j T for the Great Hill on his way out too. He keeps troubling let Great Hill too.
Yeah.
Because the fact shot man, y'all know this, Nigga man Haler Burden DJ DJ like the fact like, for instance, they didn't have like dang mm hmmm, I'm team us a shot out to Haller Burdon. But like then they have Kyrie, like come on, my g like two little cold dudes and then let the killers be like I don't know, Like that was crazy, bro.
And when he said we might considering Jailer Brown for between twenty years, I said, he's out of.
Old, out the pot. Here's true, he's definitely trying. It's like thirty one, like by time to get today age, it's gonna be super rich. Like, Bro, I don't start my own country. I told you.
Contry hop it up here. I'm playing for so then next twenty eight reversible Lou.
I laughed, you Bro, I laugh you, Bro. I lad me, look who's the best player you ever played with? Mm hmm, Bro, it's a it's so different. I think pound for pound, damn name was cold but Isaiah Thomas. Because when you break it down, bro, niggas, you would be like in practice and you see Brad talking to him and he'd be looking up you, like, Bro, this is our best player for this, you know what I mean? Like you the shortest doing the huddle heat like five eight, this is the lead dog. But like literally, Bro, every the stuff I saw him doing ain't a night out like how talented he was. But one thing that occurred that I think that. I always said, like that little fucker always worked, like I'm talking about like work work, work, like show up at the gym seven to eight, like even now, like still working. And I always thought like, uh, how you hoop? But like the fire in his eyes or something like I had never really seen. I thought PG was pretty cold to be like like when we were young, like he was, like he's still cold, don't get it twisted. But the stuff he did with Indy when I played with him for a couple of months. Pause. Uh he was twenty two years old dropping forty in the old school playoffs. Yeah yeah that like oh, like like why they sports were still one hundred type shit? And then uh, man, Drew Howday was cold cold Drew Howdy was like, to be honest with you, because everybody just mentioned like head the head Drew did they like? I think Drew was probably like the best I ever played with.
Yeah, now yeah, man, you talk, you talk bunch a couple of coffee with the pacers.
Man, what happened?
What was that team? Like?
I killed them?
You was coach? You don't know what happened? This is what people be forgetting too. I don't know. I just got there late, so like niggas wildly. But I think one thing that happened you got to understand too, Like Jeff correct me if I'm wrong. Before All Star, dudes go super hard falls. Once All Star is over and dudes kind of get their accolade, they kind of turn off a bit. So like when we were sitting there, we were already kind of taking l's, we were taking adjustments. But then I think what came down to us, like with team and competitiveness when you bring me in, like, of course ears are going to perk up. Like you got two dudes trying to sign contracts. Lance Stevenson was ahead of me. You had Paul, George, George Hill. Like arguably you can sit there and be like George would be like, damn, he might take my spot. This might be like he might take my spot and such just such, and who after Ben and I come in. You know my personality like talking ship ornery like you know what I mean, like joking, like poking the bear, like I just you know what I'm saying, just know what's you know, know what's going on, but having fun with it. And I think aside from that, I think the chemistry is one thing but like, bro, we weren't good enough to beat the heat nigga, Like when people are asking that dumb ass question and we cut rotations, So like, y'all gotta shout out Roy Hibbert because I think he was unbelievable in George Hill too, Dope dudes, Roy was averaging six and six bro, and shout out to like Frank Vogel because I wasn't mad. I'm like, yo, roll with your killers, but like he's killing us like ship but like and this is not Roy Hibbert like slander because Roy Hibbert don't get enough credit for what he's done.
Yeah that verticality, bro, he's a real own star trying to clown them.
But he wasn't like nothing. You know, George Hill, I think ye had something like when we were playing our main go to guys, I don't think we had enough firepower when we cut the rotation down the second mm hmm. You're like, come on, brother, you had me like yeah, me on a like not me now, Like it was twenty fourteen, y'alls all right, so it was nice CJ. Watson, Like you had Louis Skola that was still like ramone. Yeah he was yeah, yeah he was cutting like rotations. I just think you're not taking out Broun and all without you know, having a new scheme. But Bro, we weren't being the heatles Bro and I just I thought that was like a great starting five. But everybody has to perform play at a high level. And we only had like three people playing at the high level. And you can't and they're three was who Yeah, And then when you break it down like after that, you know me and Lance y'all probably we had talked about this. Me and Lance got into it. And what was so funny with that was, uh, me and Lance hung out every day at each other. Yeah, we say we sat next to each other on the plane, like me and him would go out together, like together. And I remember we're going through like a walkthrough and just like young dudes, you can instigate some ship Andrew bite him is sitting on the sideline. Yes, yes, Andrew bidam sitting on the sideline. And I guess we like going through walkthrough. So me and Lance are kind of like playing around and like I think something happened when he's trying to go for real and like I think I might have stopped him, and like I think coach yelled, there's something weird. It's like a weird moment. So then like Andrew's like, ooh, he stopped at like and Lance like, man, come on, Burtis ain't got the type of heart I got little but Lance, if you know, it's personality, that's how it's just how you talk to New York. And like, you know, I didn't really kind of take it like oh d because like at the same time, it's like, come on, brother, I think it's bugging. This is but you know what I mean, like you're bugging. So like we go through it again, and uh, I think I did the same thing again, kind of like slapped his stop through whatever. And we kind of like a little tussling a little bit, and I think I kind of like slapped something again. So when I turn around, he's like, don't do that shit no more. So like when he put his finger in my face, swipe, swipe, we grab each other's throat scratch, men, I got like duper scratch and I like little scratch, like duper scratch. Yeah. So then we get off the court and then uh it got broken up or whatever, and then uh shit, that was it. That literally was like the whole moment of the playoffs and was used and so like that's what ruined us, and it's like now we was fired. Lance was like really like that was my man's like you know, as little kids when you're younger, when you fight over a box of cereal, like off the principality of it. And I thought that was pretty much it. And just like a little bit of shout out to Indiana up in like a fan base that wasn't real estate. Lord Jesus, am I wrong for saying that?
Is that the end was not right at that time because Larry kept drafting white people. So I didn't really care. We needed we needed to reto he got plumbly. I was all right, I'm calling these niggas right now.
How we like local fans? How hard pause? How hard did we jagged a considering? Because you'll probably really thought we had a chance to win. Y'all was supposed to lose to US. I wasn't.
We was up gate we y'all was in Atlanta game six down three two?
Oh you all right?
Bro?
Who got hot that game?
For?
David was hitting it off the backboard.
Yeah, but the one big foreign dude, Yeah, that's the reasoner version of Ivan Johnson.
That's why Peril could play. I mean, Hibbert couldn't play no more. We put Peril three shooting on them three.
But what y'all thing? Y'all thought he was gonna win the chip that year? But what did y'all keep it real with you? Like man having old bitch ass and came out here and fucked up the team like because literally that's all I ever heard after that, Like bro, I literally shot four times a game at average seven.
We made it so funny. It was being around and knowing some of the tape.
You know, you weren't there was problem you fucking and I knew that, But they just blamed you because they treated Danny.
That's that's the only thing. You just got slack because they tried.
That and Danny and Danny average six, I average seven. You want to know what made me so mad? I shot fifty percent from the three with the pacers. I ain't never done that, damn. Like so when I'm sitting here, I'm like, I hate this bottom, Like you know what I mean, use his high hand, use this book. That's the only thing I'm showing. Fifty percent They got so after that, I never shot at three again, and it was just a bad fit. That's a bad fit. But like that time, it hit me with a doozy like I said, I was supposed to have an eight point seven million dollars signing bonus. Damn my dumb ass trying to be probably for like, man, this team, y'all keep the playoff money. So I gave up a quarter million, man, hey, find me a new team, like all right, you mis qualifying bonus. And then in sordanter Ferrari that same week. But you know somebody has like I guess I didn't comprehend how serious it was obvious. Yeah, So then that free agency comes out in like July first, like my phone ain't ring. Then we get always fighting ship like August mitched cup Check called me and it's like, what do you do. I'm like, I guess I dribble shoot like you know, that's what Kobe do. I'm kind of like Kobe, like, don't call me and ask me what I did. And I'm like, with all due respect, man, like I'm not saying on the best, but like you all didn't lost y'all, like owen forever the past three years, not average like twenty five, like to offer me a quarter, I'll get it off the block and type shit like but be and honestly I was not. I'm never like that, so don't get At the same time, Familion, I'm like, bro, like, we'll get off the bike. Seriously, like you might as well throw my life away and get it off the block. And that's not being like, that's ignorantly speaking. That's what I thought at the time. And I'm luckily shout out to Brad Stevens. He's like, bro, I can't let people to you like that. I don't know what change you found. But he gave me a little bit of money and help me, help me and like, no joke, help me get my career back. Because even when I left that situation with the Pacers, you got to think I went from like the six series of like I was supposed to be like a megastar and then I wasn't. And then ship just hit the ground, and you know, you go to a real point where Jeff, you relate, are you going overseas or you're going to play and stay and fight? So that was, uh, that's real as ship. Like we laugh about it, but you know, I joke about it but it was some real stuff and you know, obviously it didn't stay dark forever.
Plays in the playoffs when you was in Boston. Yeah, I have a squad, but y'all talk the most shit. I said, they put Jay Crowder. All these safety.
We talked the most. Ship were all mid except from one dude bro like one person get hot. Like everything I te average thirty. I eat my little ten. And then every blue moon when I go get seventeen, and you're gonna hear about it twenty every game I have seventeen. Yeah, little nigga.
Everybody had Avery Bradley talk. He never even talked.
Yeah, but like that was like that was and if you think about it, it's like the real first time they'll tell you I really jumped out my shell for real, because like around that time, I was kind of like I was still on the portrait guards to like marketing wise Brandon, So like, you know, that was the real time I was like, Man, I'm just gonna be wan, gonna be forget, like trying to be perfect. It's like that shit ain't worked, and legit, ship we I really jumped off the porch and Sundays Man Sundays Tuesdays Wednesdays before or after that as a hobby, you know, but like not jump off the porch and on weird stuff. But it's like that comrader in that team ship. It was like, Bro, I realized it took more and not saying like partying, but it took more to really like build relationships and what really makes a great team and atmosphere like ship. We were we were seventh in the East, Bro, but you couldn't tell us like Tom Brady was walking the city and we swore we had the streets on wine, you know, like we go to clubs, I'd be like I would be on a microphone shining out niggas. That's getting ten minutes again, Jordan, We really, bro, We had it cracking. Did won every game?
Y'all.
Ain't want to play some things four Thanksgiving, All Star, second Nights of back to be like that's the only reason why we got the forty five wins. Was like a twenty win talent. We just tried.
By used to. I ain't go like, y'all, did you know, it's like damn these niggas is good?
Bro. I t was so different, Bro, different, Bro. When you think he was about like, where do you rank him? Where do you like? At that time?
He was the toughest cover for me, like.
With Brad Stevens offense, So buck bro, he was.
The toughest bro. Everything ran through him. But he didn't have a ball the whole time, like y'all used to run that little floor Where were you called?
Four snap?
I think? And Kelly have to be this somebody and you bro Kelly Olennitt was throwing that motherfucking shalt Well.
I'm like, yo, this ship is wow. He was nice, he t I mean, I was cold, Bro. I ain't gonna lie. He was a tough cover and he got fouled so much.
Hell yeah yeah, went to the line like a motherfucker was he? What about with d Rose?
Oh no, d Rose, Like I'm talking about that tom My t was a tough color all timas d Rose.
Bro.
Nothing you can do, Bro. You could bag all the way up in the paint. You could sit on the dots.
Bro.
He will run at you, just jump over you.
You what the fuck?
So then if you get close, he run right by you. You get the medium he crossed you get. But I'm like, Bro, I can't guard this food man. That's why I tell you, Harry hot Light, if you go look, will he run that MVP year? Probably on fifty of them?
Bro, like different color jurneys that motherfucking cap.
Yo.
What was it like? Uh? Was playing with Joe Johnson's cold man?
He probably, I tell everybody, probably the most skilled player I played with because his handle, he could shoot, float or post up. He ain't really had no like no on his game. He could play defense. Only thing he couldn't do. He won the athletic but he could score with the best of them. He was really liked that. And what was your favorite era?
Fatigue?
Right over?
I don't get this nigga.
Because it's dope the here now like as friends that went on the journey with him, like growing up, it's like ship y'all met, and like how long you know each other?
Niggas?
That's what I'm saying.
You think about really well, this nigga probably win't right before he made the All Star and through on, like right that year before that's when I really start going to the A heavily.
Yeah, he was. He was a different player for sure to me.
To me, I probably said the first two years in Minnesota for sure, wet.
When did y'all start hearing the streets and Indie going back to the locals and being like, Yo, my nigga, my nigga, Jeff better than Mike Conley because I know that was.
Because that had to be, like y'all, did y'all ever go back like you wouldn't really like, let's talk about it.
It was really e j or nothing like even as good as Mike was, j was got even even.
What he did to Derrick Rose and high school was crazy.
He did the Jordan kids. Bro, that's what markets is on that Bro's order story.
Bogus. They bogus because he wasn't supposed to be up in there and they knew that that was like that was our like, Bro, it was like the nineteenth best team on Earth and they got an ESPN game. But that was just that was it was. You would have been cool, but he already played ranked players. Yeah, like Jordan's coming to the building, Gordon, it was bigger than what you think you think, so it was a whole production he put on. But like, Bro, you wasn't. It wasn't time. It was bigger that I actually like that. That was some real talk.
It was bigger than For sure, that was bigger because we knew Jordan's kids was cool, but I forgot his name, the other Jordan, not the fry one, the oldest one. He had an offer from Jeff Jordan. Jeffy was but they was both Illinois kids at the time. Yeah, so that was ADU. So what's so funny is I get up aired for that? Eric Gordon was, Uh, he was committed to Illinois. So during that time I was supposed to commit and de Rose was supposed to commit.
Yeah. Yeah, I remember sitting there and being like, all right, bro, we might have pause have a three headed monster, but de Rose want to commit, and I'm telling them like, yo, I'll wait until Derek commits. But it just never happened. And I feel like that was like one of the real reasons pushed me to a house state too. H e Gordon started, Uh, he de committed. He took his ass on the Indiana, which was very very smart because that made no goddamn sense. And then uh shit, that was it. Man, y'all, Homie and Hoop, they're Devin doing this. Shout to do them out.
Y'all have been cool though, get him on the pot y'all have been cool at all show that's my guy.
Yeah, it looks like that for sure would have been.
Crazy you d Rose, Eric Gordon, that would have been hard, Bro, I probably would have made it.
You think y'all would have been better than Luther Head Darren Williams and uh what's my boy?
Yeah, I discriminated against people on the sticky Bro, so I'd be like, don't ask me, don't ask me ifout you one of those come saying I'm six seven. It's like when you sit there, I think like you a better career though, like like the Illinois up they rose went to the final four, like the championship game is damnself? Eric Gordon average twenty seven, like they was probably been on the bench for just serious, Bro, you would have played.
Bro?
You six seven?
Bro?
All you at the four? Bro, it's college. Thats my big ten. The ball the first for I don't want to start playing playing like a start. I'm playing like a bum. You're gonna get that shots, Bro stopped talking to me. I'm like, I got six shots. Man. My homie started the game shooting jumping my line.
You ain't lied what's up? Ro Roll? I know you.
I know, we got to get out of here. So but you get the big deal from Portland.
After your good years in Boston, you do your thing, you come back, you bounce back. Now you get the big deal from Portland.
What's that like, bro? Man? That was you don't like to get some money from That was the first time I really like, damn, you know what I mean? Like, so I remember going to sleep because you remember, I just told you two years before they did me dirty. So I'm like, no, I just know my my free agency finna be. It's gonna be. And so I remember I'm like waking. I talked to my agent the night before it starts paused, and I legit. He'said, you should be straight. We'll have some dope stuff going, like we're gonna start at like fifty. I'm like, oh, that's perfect, Like shit, I'll do fifty. And I just remember like going to sleep and waking up in the middle of the night and being like, bro, if they give me fifty million dollars, I'm gonna be mad than I'm a motherfucker. But you know what I mean, like in my head because like I had to make up for the last one. But I also say now just be grateful. So then like when I wake up, my agent calls me and it'say, yeah, I got a deal for you, and I'm like what is and he's like from Portland. I'm like, okay, I talked to dang right before that. It's like and I'm like, well, what is it. He's like, it's a four year deal for like seventy So I'm like seventeen and he's like no, like seventy and I'm like, oh my god, like you know. So then I call my mom and I'm like, yo, Mom, I'm gonna sign the Portland and I'm gonna get like, I'm gonna sign in Portland for four years seventy millions. She's like seventeen. I'm like no, like seven and a d and my friend and like my mom was like that's crazy. She's like that was crazy. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, And she's like, oh my god, and I'm like yeah, So like I'm next. I was supposed to go to Portland like the fifth so like I felt like lottery ticket, like I was trying not to die. So that's we're gonna get you up here. Due press conference like went like today they're like no. I'm like the fifth I'm like no, I can come Like we don't need to do no, I said, bro, I don't need none of that ship just like go get it, like let's get this deal and like call it to day. But I think, like, you know, one thing that occurred that was like pretty cool. Besides like the money factor was which was cool, it's going to the West. I had so much respect for the teams in the West because I've been in the East for so long. I just remember being like, damn, like this is definitely going to be tougher. But you know, as a team like go you know, I was able to go to Western Conference finals for the first time. We had two fifty years win seasons, and I thought, like shit, like we were able to adapt and do some dope stuff. Granted, I mean Dame did it his damn self, but I mean I was still enjoying myself and having fun. But I think that that part was just a unique time to try to you know and figure out, you know, new ways to play the game and open up your role. But at the same time, we had like, you know, the second best back corner NBA, and it was that was you know, that's a fun time to watch, fun time and be around. But uh, you know, I think personally I kind of saw the writing on the wall. I don't know about you, Jeff, but like, sometimes you just get tired of like like always adjusting, bro, you know what I mean. Like, and sometimes it wasn't bad, but at one point actually like not like I keep adjusting my role, adjusting my role to the point where it was like kind of like no and void, which wasn't like terrible, but it was also at the same time, like how else can I make an impact here unless you know what I mean, unless I'm able to play heavy or you know, get to that, you know, be able to be in those final minutes. And that was kind of where I knew to myself moving on from there. I always just say like, yo, I'm not going to go overseas the second contrast stop coming. I'll chalk it up like a man and just be like, yo, it's over. You know what I'm saying. And the same way I was able to take like a thirty year old spot when I was twenty two, I'm like, that's just a game, and I just knew, like, shit, that's a sign and on some trade me like three times in a year. I'm like, man, that shit did I ain't gonna keep playing with me like or that ten days? Like you mean like go somewhere for ten days and then not play. It's like like, nah, bro, young kiss my, you know what I mean, Like sign that one thing. You know, I'm grateful for, like the league and everything. But I was definitely ready to start the new chapter and comprehend like, Yo, it's been a hell of a run. But you know, Portland's cool, Portland's a fun time and it was some great runs and great battles and but you know it's damn the people say I played ten. I'm like, Bro, I played eight. You know what I'm saying. It wasn't in a sense like nothing bad, but you know, just the time time and changed.
Yeah for sure, man, but you stuck around. But listen, man, at we gotta do this again. Man, you failed me at the show. You ain't even a guess, But that's a fact. I want to check my man's out. I gotta hide the point for park Man. Tell the people that need to have to be into bro.
Yeah you know, man. First off, follow me aving turn on Instagram. And LinkedIn or wherever you get you know your it's crazy. Yeah, you know, you know, I get down on Twitter. It's the kid e T the only one. And then Ship and you listen to point for it. It's a normal way you spell it p O I N T F O r W A r D because can't spell. And then the last but not least, y'all like this pause, y'all be kicking it like it's dope ist, dope ist, dope light subscribe because that's how you can help me out. Dad asks all right or else I'm gonna have to go back to work now. But for real, bro, I appreciate y'all having me on and what y'all, what y'all is doing is dope. And like Jeff, you're the coolest dude I ever met. I'm glad you found your lane and like people can really see how bright of a personality special you know, a dudes you are in a nine crazy way. But like Ship, you know, I thought you was like cold at hooping, but like Bro, you funny as fuck. So I appreciate you able to do and like with your your homies, are able to really jump on pause. I appreciate what your niggas doing.
We appreciate you be here and tell people that can grasp some March at.
Shower Club five twenty dot com. Baby, we out the volume
