NBA Rookie Life with Ryan HollinsCorey Brewer on Rockets Epic Playoff Comeback, Winning Titles in College and NBA
Ryan talks with 13-year NBA veteran, NCAA and NBA Champion Corey Brewer about the most incredible moments of his career, from his bond with his college teammates, to helping the Rockets to one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history, to scoring 51 points in a game.
NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Hollins is a production of iHeartMedia and the NBA
Man, how's everybody doing this? Here? Mary Ryan Hollins and Man, this is man.
This brother right here we're gonna talk about this is this is my dog. This is my dog, not the dog the d A W. G. Man, This is my dog man former teammate of mine. But he's he's one of the most interesting NBA players I've ever known. He's won championships of some sort on every single level. He's got nine lives like a cat, and I think, you know, just expect the unexpected with this man right here.
He's a high school football state champions, which so may not know.
You wouldn't nobody's look he's unfortunately, I'm sure he's gonna have pride in letting me know this.
But he's a two time collegiate champion.
He's an NBA champion of fourteen Parade, All American McDonald's All American and mister Tennessee.
That's strong words. Man.
In two thousand and four, man my dog none other than Corey Brewer.
Bruceki, what's going on with your man?
What's going on? You doing? My man? Ride?
No, that's a long list, Bruski.
Man, I went too bad back in my day.
Man, Bro, you you are, like, forget basketball. Do you notice you're one of my favorite people on the planet because you're you, bro, Like you would think like a lot of guys don't make that transition from the success you had in high school to success in college. It will go to their hands. Bro, But like you from day one have been the same guy. And we'll just let's just address the elephant, bro before you Let's just get it out. They're not too many pots people who have bragging rights. There's not too many people who just just shut me up unanimously, like you know what I'm saying.
But you put a whooping on me and.
The UCLA Bruins in the National Championship that I haven't forgotten.
And then when we played together, you let me know about it. Bruceki, But you are you are you? Bro? There's not another Corey Brewer on the planet.
Yeah, man, you know we did put the whooping on y'all.
Sorry, bros fans, but you know, the Gators we had to get our first championship against Ryan and La Bruins.
They kept doubling the post and it was just too easy for us.
We had to talk about that dog. We had to do about that they had to talk about that. Let let's get forward, Let's talk about NBA. We didn't want to talk about college rookie life. This is the NBA rookie life.
Okay, okay, I guess.
So college is kind of important because you Joe kim Au not to mention that team was loaded. Y'all had like freshman's that was NBA players and all kinds of crazy stuff. Billy Donovan was doing his thing and then Billy goes to pros and all that. Shoutout Billy Donovan and in the program. By the way, but you guys could have left after you beat us, and then you did something really silly.
Corey and y'all.
Y'all went back to school, Like let me know why you guys went back, what that experience was like, and then kind of like prepping for the draft because a lot of people are scared of at work, someone say, you're silly man. You could have got heard while I go back for what you know, So talk to me about that progress and what it was like going now through it just with your teammates. But y'all brothers, man, y'all have a bond that is really super cool, even to this day. Those Florida National Championship teams and anytime I run across a gator, they let me know about, Hey, you're the guy you knowing, like, you know, like I got to hear about this man to this day, but talk to me about going back to school better yet and what that experience was, like, why would you do something silly like that?
Man, Why would y'all do that? Y'all should have left me.
Nah for us, it was one of those things where I feel like nowadays everybody wants to be want and done. It's all about getting to the NBA. But we got to score our freshman year, we just had a bond, like we're all we all became instant friends, and by the time our freshman year was we were like best friends.
We were sitting each other every day.
We're in the same type of classes, and you know, we put that working together. Were all the gym every night, we work out together. You know, we get up in the morning, we work out together, and man, we were just best friends. So after we won a championship our sophomore year, we have been together for two years, like basically constantly, and we had something to think about, Like everybody's like you gotta go to the NBA. For us, It's like, man, we really do we really not want to play together again?
Was it more?
Was it more to friendship y'all being on the team while y'all chose to come back, or was it just like we didn't because.
All you guys weren't that good.
Y'all were like I wouldn't like, like if I'm not wrong, like fourth or fifth in conference. It was like, man, they talented, but y'all beat the stuffing out of us.
Bro Like, y'all got hot.
Nah, we got hot at the right time. But we're all gonna be drafted. We were all gonna be first rounded real left, like we were all guaranteed to be first rounders. But it was I'm telling you, man, our friendship mighte us go back to school just so when we sit down and we all made a decision together, basically we all went home taught to our parents, and we came back and we were just sitting in our apartment and I was like, basically it was like, man, I think, I think I.
Want to do this again. Man, I'm at the time of my life. We really want to go, you know, leave it is the league.
But we can only go to college one time, so we made the most of our college experience.
What was it like for you, Corey? You know when you left, was there like, hey, I'm ready to go? Was coach kind of force you to go in this situation we talked about earlier. You end up being the seventh pick in the draft in the twenty eleven draft, did you have competition? Was it like, hey, man, dang, in a perfect world, we all get on the same team.
What what was that shoo I down there? Feel like in?
Corey questioned, like, I do feel like y'all played with everybody in the whole league, you, Joe, Kim and I other than each other my tripping or did y'all meet somewhere in the league. I don't think so. But what was the draft?
And kind of like your mindset going in? What was it like?
Man?
To be honest, for us, it was it was crazy for me because I think we might be the only guys that cried before we announced.
We were going to the draft. If you look at it back at our.
Press conference, if you look at our press conference we announced we're going to the draft, we literally are crying on the podium and.
I'm like, that's crazy.
That's how I knew we'd never be another group like us, because that's just special. And then we all end up going to be top ten picks and touring them gets drafted our point guard.
But for me right here, I'm just happy. Man. I can't I can't believe it.
I'm from Portland, Tennessee, and now I'm in New York City about to get drafted.
David Stern.
Man, I watched the draft when I was a kid, me and my brother. Then Joe King's behind me. I'm talking to Joe I was right on the other side of me, and it's just like wow, like all three of us we've been we dreamed about this our whole life, but like we've been talking about this the last three years, like what would it be like for us to get drafted, And now we actually have the opportunity to get drafted. In this moment, we're in the green row and now it's just butterflies. Like my high school coach right there, the one for him, I definitely want to be in the NBA. Great guy, Tris Kington, and my mom there, my brother.
It was just it was a magical moment for me. Just to be there with the other guys, but to know I'm about to get my name called yeah relations you.
Know, like Okay, I'm I'm gonna have to tell you to smile.
You're doing a good job.
It's funny, brew as I watched this, like you I'll expect and joking, like you guys have electric personalities, bro, But I think like a lot of guys sometimes develop into that great veteran that they are. But like I'm watching this and I'm like hearing y'all talk, y'all are the same people today that y'all were in, the same confidence, the same energy, and like I said, like, you know, like a lot of good guys get caught on being one and done.
Like I feel like y'all just hooped. Y'all just played basketball.
Wherever you are, you're gonna, y'all gonna find a way. What was that mindset? Like it seemed like just now just being drafted was just icing on the cake to the work that you guys had put in, Like, oh, I know I'm gonna be successful because I put into work. You know, what was your mindset then? Like is it weird hearing you know the way you guys were then and surprise to how everything ended up now.
Yeah, yeah, we I feel like we're all gonna be pretty good NBA players. You know, Al's having a great career.
I still play Joe. Joe had an amazing Joe had an amazing career. I feel like I had a decent career. It could have been better, but I can't. I played thirteen years.
Hey man, I played thirteen years. I'm happy about it. But one thing.
About us all it's all about the team. I feel like that's why we were such a good team. We're all such good players because we didn't care who scored the basket or who got the credit.
As long as we won.
And I feel like a lot of people aren't like that. Like we're gonna make the right pass, We're gonna make the right play. I'm gonna rotate defensively, I'm gonna I'm gonna.
Help the helper.
He's gonna help me. I know he's got my back and I got I got his back.
And I feel like that's the way we played.
That's what we always are and to this day, if you watch Al Horvard play right now, play the same way. He's gonna be in the right spot every time, and he's gonna do whatever it takes for his team to win.
What about you know, now, you know, you get to Minnesota and you know, shout out James Johnson. We just got a chance to Uh, we got a chance to chop it up with him, and we were kind of going through the mindset of you know, if you're a top pick, you're going to a bad team. If you're in the middle, you can go to a decent team. You go later on, you going to a really, really good team. So you go to Minnesota. That's where you and me actually end up playing together.
Man.
Some of the funniest times of my life. Bro that minutes. So we won four team game and I had a blast.
Bro.
We just we had fun. They should have kept us together. If you think about that squad, we would have probably been me.
You k love ow.
You know Johnny Flynn. People don't know how good Johnny was before his injury. He was gonna turn into something. But talk to me about kind of getting to Minnesota. You know, shoot, man, you were used to having success. How was that transition for you and when you first got there, man, what was that like? And uh, talk to me about the Timberwolves. Man, once you get to the NBA, because you I mean nothing, but like this, you know this is a downgrade from what you did.
Man, this is different.
Nah, it was definitely different, Like everything about it was different. I go from the sunshine to the snow, from winning like every time I stepped in the court, I felt We're gonna win every game to we may not.
Win the game. So it was tough.
Man, I'm I'm not gonna lie. I had some dark days my first first few months in the NBA. For me, it was dark just because I wasn't I wasn't used to lose. It was mentally, it was mentally exhausting. It was messing with me, and for me, we played a whole different system. I went from running freely, running off screens, playing fast.
We just played.
Slow and we threw the ball in the post. And I feel like that was hard, Like that was the hardest thing for me. We just threw it in the post every time. So I had to literally learn how to how can I become an NBA player? Like this is not me, It's not my game. I had to become a whole different player than I really was, just to try to last, I guess you could say, because I'm like, I don't know, I'm gonna do this because this.
Is not my game at all.
And I think that's the hardest thing about when you're a top draft pick. Some guys, it's about situations. If you go to a situation that does and fitch your game, it's it's tough. So that's why a lot of times when I hear people call people bus or this and that, I can't really say that, Like you got to look at their situation and what situation they're in at that moment. And for me, my first few years were tough just because I was in a tough situation for my game personally.
So it was tough. When I first got dressed.
If we could laugh at ourselves, you know, they were like, oh man, we running a try and Gole was like, hey, hey.
Broski's the Kobe Broks.
We was running the doctor guy. The doctor guy had no Shock. We had no Kobe, no mg out, there, no Scotties. It was different, man, it was different. We made it work. We had a plas. I feel like it helped me.
It helped me as a player because I learned to play in different systems and different roles, and I learned to figure the NBA game out because by playing.
In so many different systems.
Cause I feel like I had five different coaches in Minnesota four years for sure.
And then I say, for that year, I love playing with you winning because I knew. I knew brucek was gonna feed the post, and you know, I look for me to be cutting like you, Hey, you was gonna make a play.
You know he's gonna figure it out. I'm like, look, I know my dog gonna.
Get I think honestly, a lot of my dunks came from.
You, you know, for speaker, get you open.
Bru Uh.
Talk about that Minnesota time. You've always probably yourself as being a defensive guy. Bro, for those who don't know you get to the league, you playing against grown men. Bro, you're talking about Kobe Bryant earlier. Was there a welcome to the league moment for you or was there a person better yet? Like dog, Like, I know I'm a defender, but I can't do nothing right on defense tonight and this guy, this guy got me messed up right now that I'm getting war out, you know, kind of that surprised, like Okay, this is the best league in the world.
It was probably for sure the first time I played against Mellow, just because people don't understand when Melo used to catch it on the logo, but he was so much he was so strong. But he used to play bully ball where he just throw it off the rim and miss, so Furpan just push.
Me out the way to get the offer rebound and go back up. And it was one of those things where I'm like, this is different, Like I'm a defender, but I don't know what I could do right here.
And so that was my welcome to leave with al was guard Mellow for the first time, just the jazz, just in his element on that logo and just going to get every offensive rebound, just to realize how strong he was, Bro.
Prian Melo was tough.
No, you're right, Bro, he was a legit like power forward or like I don't know if people noticed, Like I would line up as a center on the free throw line with Carmelo and.
Like he kind of be like, oh I got one. Like he would try to bully the centers on the free throw like dog, what is he on?
So hey, now you ain't lied, bro, And I think a lot of people don't know. Like you know, normally you can space a guy or send him to wait, but those physical defenders are tough because you can get in foul trouble and then like Mello could shoot it like the game was so easy for Mellow, Like Brudy, he'd be laughing at you. He'd be smiling like, man, it's too easy, like and it wasn't disrespectful.
The game was that easy for Mellow prime.
Mellow is unstoppable.
Its unbelievable, man, especially when he got it going.
When he got it going now he was.
Like, you gotta take away the Jane now the drives there, Like what do you do?
All you can do is try to make it tough, all right?
I bet I bet one thing between you and me, you do not know and you ain't gonna believe. But Corey Brewers' career high is stay tuned on NBA Rookie Life. We're gonna find out soon coming up next, now, Bruski, I'll bring you down, you my dog. I didn't bring you on here for that to only to bring you pull you back up.
You know you're gonna bring you back up now? Okay?
Uh, probably my funniest part of the show inn being rookie life.
Film Room.
We're gonna watch some film, we're gonna talk some hoop. I need a little bit of Bruskie and I need a little bit of coach Bruceki because you're doing a great job for those who don't know what the New Orleans Pelicans and player development and coaching and going through walk throughs and film and all that all that fun stuff. So we talked about your nine lives. This is one of them. You dropped fifty. Listen, this is the funny thing I'm gonna say. Bro, This is the funny thing I'm gonna say. And I want you to talk to me about this. You dropped fifty one points with defense.
Bro, you gotta appreciate what Corey Burr is doing tonight fifty one morning. People who score fifty don't play defens. Are you scrapping hustling like trying to win this game?
So talk to me about this game right here where you dropped the big fifty one and like how did this change your career at the moment, like your life? You know, for those who don't know when you in Minnesota, you're not getting national covers for the most part. But you are literally a part of history with fifty one and the type of you know, team selfless player you are.
You don't think of hey man, Bruskyn get.
Career highest fifty one dog, So I know you it doesn't surprise me. But talk about this game, man, how things changed for you?
Ah man?
Everybody started to notice for sure, you know, people started calling people always remember the fifty one game.
But for me, this game was.
Funny because when I came in the locker room before the game, I seen k Love he was hurt, and then Kevin Martin said he was out. I said, I'm about to go get forty tonight.
And that's why I told Kate. That's what I told k I was like, all.
These shots, I'm getting forty for sure, I said, And it came. I was like, I'll bet you can't get forty. I was like, all right, I'm getting forty tonight. So when the game start, you know, I got to guard the best player. So I'm like, there's gonna be a lot of energy here.
I get to shoot the night though. So I started out I had like two quick steals. I was like, oh man, I made my first couple of shots. I looked up I had I had a quick eighteen. I said, oh yeah, I'm getting forty for sure.
So I had a half court shot. At halftime, I'm like, oh, I got twenty six. I was like, man, I might get fifty. I might go from fifty. You know, just talking, you know me, Ryan, I'm gonna talk myself into getting some buckets.
Yes, so you know.
So the second half I kept it going. I was like, oh shit. So it was unbelievable. The crowd got into it. And once the crowd got into it, I was just like, yo, I can't miss. Like everything I do, everything I did was going right.
It was amazing.
You got a guy like Ricky Rubio is your point guard too. He just kept saying, run, I'm gonna kick it to you.
Run. I just kept running it every time I run out and get a bucket. So this was a great game, and we got the win, which made it even sweeter.
I think what people don't realize that I realized now from playing with you like you are that guy. Don't make a bet with you, don't challenge you like you trying to get yourself going. For those who don't know, we were just teammates and the Big three and Bruce Ki just talking trash doing all this left run. I'm like, nope, I'm not saying anything back to you because then you know you're back it up, you know what I'm saying. And you end up being a man shot at age Town. You end up being a rocket man with the rockets, like, oh, we didn't know this guy was this He got to be a rocket one day?
Man? Yeah, I end up in a rocket the next year. I think. So I had a good time. They said too, that's one of my one of my funny styles, especially when we went to the Western Conference finals. That was amazing being a rocket.
Let me say this, man, where does this come from though, Bruski?
Because like for me, like no, seriously, like you have that like anything is possible with you, bro, or like like your competitive drive you were like top five of like don't tell me I can't do something? Like have you always been like that as a kid? Is it take a challenge?
You know?
Was it just out on the streets playing And just like where do you get that gamer like focus and mentality?
Bro?
Because like you always gonna play your role. But it's just like oh when it's needed. You ready, bro, like you have always been ready on every level.
For me. Man, I grew up in a small town.
I had to go on the trash rat with my dad, and I had to go to the field with my dad. So I was in the Tobago field like picking up other people's trash. So when I got to play sports, I was like, man, this is fun. I'm winning every time I step on anything, baseball, football, it didn't matter.
I was about to win, cause y'all, I don't want to go back to the field. I don't want to go pick up this trash today.
So anytime I could go play sports, I was trying to wear everything because you know.
That's what that's that's fun to me. I just carry me on.
When I got older, I'm like, I get on the court, it doesn't matter. I don't care who you put out there. I feel like they can't be me. I feel like I'm the best player no matter what. And some people like you can have that mind. No, I really feel that way. You have to prove of me. You kick my but you kick my butt. But it's gonna be tough.
Man.
Listen, Bruce, m taking my kids outside and we're picking trash.
That's it. I've seen it. We are about to do some more.
I don't want to do that. But I don't want to do.
That, na man.
But that's important, man, because it does you know, at a young age you instilled like a life lesson Like nah, I appreciate it like sports is fun. Some kids feel like they forced into that. And sports is not for everybody. Don't get me wrong, this is not universal for everybody. But that you know that appreciation of having fun, bro, because like I know, we don't have some I've been there with you, Brew. You don't have dog days and practice where you're gonna bring it. You're gonna compete, You're gonna have fun. And like I know you, bro, like if the challenges ahead of you, you have always stepped up and met it. Man, let's go to another game. You talked about playing with Houston man, shout out ahe town. Look at you man, dropping the fifty one ball man could not be better and taking a challenge. But again, Bruski, you duty impossible. This is what's at the stage. This is an elimination game. Y'all were down three to one. Normally you get closed out on the road at the crib. You're down in the fourth quarter, you go, you score fifteen to the nineteen points in the fourth quarter.
Bro, it's five about four?
Ten is Brewer head?
We're tied in one O two? Incredible?
It is Brewer for three, Teddy headed Brewer, the first lead of the second half of the Rockets.
What is going through your mind in this situation? Are you even thinking about anything? Is this just one of those anything as possible Bruce Ki moments?
Man, Nah, I for sure it's one of those things possible moments, just because you know how I feel.
I looked up.
I'm like, we're down twenty. I'm like, we can still win. I always feel like I can still win, no matter what.
The buzzer got. The buzzer gotta go out. As long as I got a chance, I feel like I can win. I feel like something I can make something happen personally, and I wanna make something happen. So in my mind, I was like, Yo, kick that thing over here, we're.
About to get it going. And once I made that first one, all it was trouble. I seen one go in. I tell everybody you know, I ain't the best shot in the world. But don't let me see one go in. Everybody can't get hot.
Bruce can get hot. So that's one of those games. I got hot.
I don't just get hot, I get hot hot. You know, we got to win. It was big time for us. We come back and win and see.
Yeah, because by the time you go back to the crib after this game, you know it's a rap. So were you when you trash talk, Bruce Ki here?
Were you locked in?
You know, what were you guys saying in the huddle and kind of what did you see in the atmosphere? You know with the Clippers at the during this game.
I'm definitely trash talk for sure. And the atmosphere they're fans. Once it was like we just took their heart and once you know, the crowd gets quiet all and I really, I really get amped up then. So we got it going.
In the huddle, I'm like, let's go.
They don't want this. You know, you can look on their face until they weren't gonna win this game. We were gonna win the game just because their whole everything changed, their whole demeanor, and that's what happened.
We got to win.
And Brew I say this too, like you know again like that fifty one. Like, Bro, you score fifty and play defense, like I feel like you don't. You're very unique where guys lock in they start hitting shots. But like I feel like you lock in on defense too, Like you literally get going on both ends. What does that come from? And do you get into like a zone defensively? Like oh, I could read the shooting, you know the gaps or some guys you know, take those calculated gambles or they know where they can be aggressive.
You know, how does that work? Bro? Because like I said, you get hot on both ends.
For me, I watched it.
I watched a lot of films so when I was a player out a guy nowadays, I guess they watched them, but I really watched them, so I knew the tendencies of the guys are regarding So when it was time to lock in, I was like, oh, I know what I can take away.
Now it's time. It's time to get to it.
What were some things you saw in this game during this run? What were some things you saw in this game and you waited to be aggressive with?
Oh, I know I can shoot the passing lane. I start shooting the passing lanes. I started getting some steals. And once I get a couple of steals, now they're worried about me. I know, CEP's a great point guard. So you gotta you gotta very You gotta really be calculated on when to take gambles and when not to take gambles. And you know I took some right gambles and paid off.
Man.
No, this and this is you know, you guys don't go to win a championship, but in each town history, Man, this is a game a moment that will never be forgotten. Man, But you know it's it's definitely a great job here, Bro and Brew Let's uh, let's fast forward here with the Rockets, you had another instance. You were down seventeen against Portland. You get hot and bruceke Goes, goes Bruce Ki here.
The team Houston, it's a one point game. My goodness, Cory, Bro have a night. What happened in this game?
Dad?
Like?
Was this kind of like the theme this season? What was it like with this Houston team?
Man?
Was were you guys just like hey, man, like we know what we are? You know, like confidence I always said, confidence is is king. You know, you put yourself in those situations you believe, but this team had like a swagger man like you uh Traid PJ all those guys.
So what was it?
What was it like? And how are you able to come back? And you know you end up getting hot here? So what happened against Portland?
Man? I was trying to win the game. I knew, you know, we had to pick it up like defensively right there you see the still easy lay up.
Like I said, once you know, start seeing one go in big shots, it's time, it's time to win.
When it's winning time, I feel like I'm just a different person. You know. Sometimes people make shots.
When it doesn't matter, and I'm one of those guys that.
Make shots when it matters. So you can look at it both ways. And I feel like anytime my team needs to have a chance to win, I'm a my team the best chance to win.
Do you feel like because this game happened right here when you guys were going head to head with the Clippers, was there a bit of like, guys, we've been here before, Like you know, obviously when you get into those moments when you're down, you play a different style versus being up versus being comfortable. So was it more so like, guy, we've been here before. We know the lineup that's going to be on the floor to be successful.
Oh for sure.
We had been down and that Houston team we were we could get hot, man, we had, we had a lot of firepower. And then you got a guy like James on the court.
Whenever James on the court, of the games just so easy. So for me, I had a lot of big games that year just because I knew James had so much attention. I just just make the shut.
Not even that, just because I got a lot of easy, easy dunks and layols. If you had to highlight, I got add so many dunks and leyls by just playing off James gravity gravity and it was just easy.
I say that too, Bro, Where does that come from? Also?
Because man, you are you were, You've always been a one man fast break. Either you're going to get it still, you're gonna run out, or you just gonna take the ball off the rim and just go. Like what is that mindset come from? Was that something like you like at Florida, y'all used to do that.
Y'all used to just run.
I don't want to bring it up, Brazil, He's violent, But like, where did that? Where did that come from?
Was that you?
Because like players like you, I think it's an element where I love when you're coaching now because you can give that back. You were excellent you and Trevor at impacting the game without having the ball in your hands. So on transition, that was your play. Running out was your play? Hey, getting is still creating your own offense? What was your mindset? Was that something that kind of billy taught you? Was tho just instincts that you had or did you know, like, hey, this is how I'm gonna compliment with James?
Does h for sure? For college, coach d always just told me we got to run every time.
So even my high school coaches like, you got to impact the game without having a ball in your hands by the time, how can you play without having the ball in your hand? So my freshman year, the only way I got on the court was if I could impact the game without the ball. He was like, don't worry, you will have the ball eventually. Right now, you got if you're gonna play as a freshman, you.
Got to be able to impact the game without the ball. So that helped me.
And then when I got the It was the same thing my freshman year. I'm playing with Matt Wash, Anthony Rose, and.
David Lee and then me and Al on the court. So I'm like, I'm not one of the fourth Austin So I'm like, how can I get my buckets? I gotta get my buckets some way somehow, because I ain't just I'm not a guy that I'm.
Not gonna be on the court and not do anything. I'm gonna make something happen. I don't know how dudes play twenty minutes and have no stats, Like I'm gonna have some stats in ten minutes.
So for me, I always go out there like, how can I figure this out? I got to make something happen.
So playing with a guy like James All that's easy because I'm like, oh, I just got to be in the right spot and cut at the right time. And that goes again like Washington and paying attention during the game. If I'm on the bench, if I come off the bench, I'm washing it. I know how they're playing defense now, so by the time I come in the game, first of all, they're tired, and that's really my advantage. That's why they might come up to bench and after that, and I don't see how they're playing stuff.
So I'm about to get a couple of easy buckets right away.
Man.
That's huge, man, And I feel like you know, in today's the landscape of basketball, a lot of these guys are deemed stars before they are stars. But you are a two time national champion, high school champion McDonald's All American. But you're like, nah, how do I impact the game? So that is so valuable from if you're an AU coach listening or a high school coach. Man, that's how you teach your guys to be successful because you know that's what will put you on the floor in these situations. Before we move on, Man, you hit the one legged three man.
Talk to me about this.
When Bruskie James threw you the ball, I don't know if he was looking for the ball or not.
Doll, but.
I laughed because nothing you do surprises me. So Pey like the new corporal head, Like, nothing you do surprises me? Bro, did you know this shot was going in?
Again? Man, trub Blazers probably can't stand you. Ain't Clipper fans man or Brewing fans. Unfortunately. I'll be honest, party back over.
But you throw this bad boy in with the game on the line, Bro, you're fading away dog, And for some reason, I feel like in your mind you knew it was good the whole time.
I ain't gonna lie. I always wanna take the last shot. Some people run from the action. I ain't run it for nothing.
So as soon as in my hand first, I didn't think we're gonna pass it. When he passed it, I was like, oh, yeah, there's no pressure right now I'm shooting.
It's definitely gonna be good.
And went in And I laugh all the time because I'm like, people always talk about you wasn't a good shoot.
If you take all my half.
Quarter attempts away, I think my three parpacity wouldn't be too bad. Because I take a half court shot probably every game in my career. I felt like, because I'm gonna take them shot. Some guys they let the clock run out and they don't take that shot. I take that shot just because I might make it, it might help us win.
When I played with you, Bruce Ki, we won fourteen games, but we won't a battle, but we lost the war. I had a Dunk of the Year candidate dunk, one of my best dunks ever, probably in my career, and you had one too. So we were you were going to foot locker and you saw a commercial. Man talk to me about this play. I remember when you did this dunk right here, I jumped up. I didn't even know you had this Bruce Key talk to me, man.
Oh man, that's one of my favorite players, this couch. First of all, I thought defense was gonna move, but he set up to take the charge, and I was trying to prove it if I still have my bounce because I was coming off fa cl surgery, so I was taking off no matter what.
I had something to prove. Once I took off, it was over. He was just in trouble, not.
For lack of appurtition.
In the middle, well Face over Cory Broer, so face was worried about jumping outside of the ark.
Broer didn't know it was there. Mooster, he had a three on one and he just carried it right up and over. He slapping right down.
I remember, man, my eyes just got big and like it looked like you like flew, like all of a sudden, you got real big and like you literally took off. Man off a plane, and you know at this time, the Lakers were stacked, man, like this was prime time. Did you feel a sense of like, man, you got Kobe, you got the Lakers, you got the World champs here, like, man, I gotta go.
I got to show out here.
You know, because I know you love to show up, you know in those big games.
You love the challenges. Was this part of it?
Oh, for sure, We're in LA. You know, well, you're in LA. You got to show out. You got to show up. Everybody's there.
You're like on a big stage. So for me, yes, that was great man, No, that was huge.
Man.
I think like I'm laughing, Corey, because you have some of the most amazing highlights I've ever I mean, you flying over guys, You're hitting buzzy beat of dunks, like you're going on your own four court. Like you have a crazy set of highlights. Man, you were put in your work in the league. We talked about those championships earlier. They talking about your NBA championship. You went to Dallas. Somehow, Man, people go their whole careers bro and do not win, and you got yourself an NBA championship thanks to Dirk Novisky talk to me about Dirk during that run? What don't people know about Dirk? When did you know that things were different? I think I was there the year prior the goals were championship. It didn't work out, But what did you kind of see from him? Because on that run he knocked off the league's best and he did it game at the game at the game, So what do you remember seeing about Dirk during this run? And kind of like what don't we know about his preparation, his work and like the way that he was locked in. He was a man on the mission, but you got to see it up close and personal.
No, Dirk was locked in man. He put into work every day. All those guys like you got Dirk, got Jay Kidds, Sean Many, Jason Terry, like those are real veteran guys. They have Pages Taccivis on the bench, him and Brian Cardinals, Like we had veteran guys who knew how to play and.
Wanted to win. Like everybody wanted to win on this team.
Tyson Chandler, he was controlling the paint. But like during this series, like Dirk was like give me the ball, like he demanded the ball.
He wanted the ball. He felt like nobody could guard him, and.
When I was looking, I'm over here, like nobody can't guard him because he was just going crazy and he wanted it though, And that's why I expect dirty so much, because I'm like people you say dirt was soft, dirt was this.
Dirt's not soft. Dirt is a killer. And you can tell right here like he was getting to it.
What did you see about him, especially because I think you guys saw, okay, see Durant and those boys correct me anymore if I'm missing You saw the Heatles run Wade.
They were supposed to win, not one, not to not you know what I'm saying.
And all the analysts at the time were like, oh man, they don't have a shot is this And you probably kept hearing that over and over again. So talk to me about what you saw dirt going against these stars.
He didn't back down.
No fear when you see dirty dirt, man, he had no fear.
Every time he caught that thing. He wasn't he wasn't being stopped. He felt that way.
He felt like nobody could stop him. And it was true, like nobody could stopping him.
It wasn't nothing. They could do. They wasn't stopping dirt. And he brought the ship phone. He brought it back to Dallas. That's what it was all about. He wanted to bring Dallas championship and that's what he did.
I'm gonna throw this out. Let me know what you know, say what you can say? Man, what was that party like?
Man?
Ain't nothing like you go beat the team on the road. Y'all want the chip. We're gonna party in your city. What was the party like?
Man?
Give me, just give me what you could give me.
Bruski Man, we was in live and we had a great time. When Q came in, it was it was a blast. Mark Cuban, great owner. He took care of us.
We had a blast that night. You know, we celebrate like champs were supposed to celebrate.
How does that match up with your your Florida Championships? Was this a different level of like kind of day? Did you look around like, dang bro like I want a championship?
I was a part of this. What was what was that like?
And how did they compare with your with your with your gated championships?
They're totally different because you know in college you went in with dudes, you live with your roommates, like it's something special. But then with these guys, man, it's like it's the NBA. It's hard to win the NBA Championship. So and some of these guys have been they had been in the lead for so long, but they like they wanted it that bad. Like just to say them, I'm like, yeah, I'm like my fourth fifture in. I'm like, man, it is hard to win one of these. There's been ten twelve years, Like they really want to shift.
And it was just it was a thing of beauty, man, just to win it and to go back. You got the parade like Dallas is Dallas was it was. It was crazy. It was amazing.
Man, that's that's good times.
I'm salty, y'all couldn't win when I was on the team, you know, you had to wait till the next year when I went there, you know. But that nonetheless, I was happy for Dallas and and happy for for everybody, man, And that was cool. And I feel like, you know, a lot of people don't know you know, Dirk was in that kind of like Johnnie and Yo kidsch Category or Steve Nash and just like, oh, you're you, you were MVP, you were good with You're.
A regular season guy, you know.
But I felt like this solidified anything you could say, and even more because you know, you had guys win championships, but I think Dirk was one of the rare guys, Like he was the guy. Like you had role players, you had guys that played their job to a t, and then it was like he was the guy. And that's done. There in impossible championship to win. You got to put that respect on on it that this is what this is historical what he was able to do.
No, yeah, his run, whole that whole serious man, the way he played was like it was unbelievable basketball. People go back and watch this series and he's doing it against Hall of famers too, so that's why it's even more crazy.
And he just couldn't be stopped.
If Yokic right now, they both tied and won championship. The European goat. Man, we're always talking about the you know.
The the NBA goat.
Where do you see the European go Is Dirk still the godfather right now?
Where we saw that brother Yokic go out and.
Do it could have been so a lot of people argue could have been a three time MVP.
Man, where do you kind of bring those two?
That's tough.
I'm not gonna lie before it's all said and done. You know, Joker probably, you know, he probably take it over. But I still gotta give Dirk's praise right now.
You know, Dirk's still a man for me, you know. But Yok's got a long career ahead. So yeah, so it's gonna be probably gonna change, but right now, stay with my man, Dirt.
No, I ain't man, And you're right, you know, it is hard to evaluate guys while they're playing, but it is scary because it feels like Jokic is just getting so much better right now in a way like I've never seen a center manipulate.
The game the way that he does, the way that he takes advantage.
And it's so it's not conventional because it's a guard you used to you, Bruskee, You're gonna guard the best player.
You're not gonna slide and guard Yokic.
So now you off the ball, you can't impac the game you want to, and when you go peaker, you can't steal like you said, shooting those passing lanes, Like, what does that do when you have a guy like that that is waiting on you like gamble, gamble, gamble.
It's unbelievable. You can't, you can't. He's the game, man, he has the ball.
You have to really stay solid and stay at home because he makes the impossible passes. He makes the late passes where you think you play a good defense and then he throws it right past your ear for a l So he's special, man, He's just the things he's doing the court is it's tough, and he makes the game so easy. Look like you don't even sweat.
Go out there, all right, Hang in there, man, we're gonna find out some exclusive info about Zion Williamson. You're not gonna believe what Corey Brewer has to say coming up next on the being rookie, Like, let's go back to James Harden.
Man.
Some argue James should have had more MVPs than he got got robbed.
Of a of a few.
You know, I was a hard MVP guy, But talk to me about James, man, what when did you realize James Harden was different? You have another perspective because you played with him versus what we saw on the outside. But when did you realize, like, this dude ain't like you seen great players like James is a different beasts and what's special about him? Is there a story or when you kind of realize it kind of like, ay, like he got everything.
When I first got to Houston, man, you know, you know, playing against him.
You know, I feel like, oh, I can guard this dude, this bet But when I started.
Playing with Ben and his team, the way he was going out there getting thirty forty fifty, it was so easy.
I'm like, Yo, this dude is unbelievable.
And you know he puts in the work, but when he steps on that court, it's just like the game is easy for him. He can get anywhere he wants to get to, he can do whatever he wants to do.
He can pass, he can shoot, like man, he was athletic. He was dunking on people at the time. It was just like this dude, he's a total package. You know, he added the step back.
Everybody was doing the step back then the Euro I'm like, he has it all and like James, James is unbelievable.
Man.
When you think about you know, you kind of talked earlier about Yo Kic. When he's done, we'll be able to properly evaluate, you know, what he can do in the game of basketball.
When we look back up, I feel like all the.
Great great players impact the game like they changed, like Steph Curry about the three pointer, Charles Barkley with the with the eight second back down like you know, Kareem with the sky hookings, no Dunksan cot Like, what do you think James's impact on the basketball culture will be or how guys come out like, oh man, I'm the step back Like you said, the step back is a weapon. What do you think James's impact ultimately will be on his next generation?
Yeah, you don't.
You see all the kids all they work on right now step backs in euros, And that didn't started to James. Harden was doing all those step back in euros, Like we know, man, because we're an old school you know man, who was doing the euros. But when James started doing the euro and started shooting no step back, I feel like every trainer, every basketball trainer.
Was like, we got to add that, we got to add that, and.
That's what he already impacted the game. I feel like all these young kids that's that's where they're getting it from.
Now.
See, nah, man, you're spot on, and you're right. I don't think you know, we'll see wherever James's story goes, but I think we'll really appreciate like and like I think it's almost casually thrown around, like, oh, give me the ball, let me cook, like James Harden like bro no, like we may never see again what he was to do, Like, no.
I ain't that no more.
He was unbelievable and he got the beard? How many people got the beard?
You got the beard out there, gotta he made.
The whole thing, the whole nickname the Beard. It's crazy, like he really impacted the game.
Shoot, man, let's move on.
Man, you got a chance later in your career to go rock out in Philadelphia. You got to see the big fellow Joel and big shoutouts him b for winning his first MVP this season.
Let me know, man, what man, that big fella so different? Dog?
I felt like he's huge, for one, but like what made him different? And from playing with him, what did you see kind of in his talent level?
He's huge, but he can shoot, he can handle it, and he can pass. He can do and he can shoot threes. He can score all three levels, and you can throw it in a post. He can score every time. He can score every time when a block you go, that's why you got a double one, and he can shoot it. Then he can back up and shoot the three. It's like this dude is seventh foot it can move and do all this like that.
He's unbelievable. Also like he's a one of the lifetime talent. You know, Jokics is amazing and then be in his own right is amazing.
Also, where's the next step for a guy like Joel? You know, I don't know, just just like on just some hoop talk, because you saw him play. He can do anything on the floor that you know he could. I felt like Jokic when I watched him. You knew how well he could pass, but I felt like him taking the ball when it mattered and making the play and scoring took him to a whole other level. Know he can pass, but I feel like for Yo Kich is the offense. What do you see that next step with a guy like Joel? Because when you can score at a level all three levels, you can do anything on the floor, Like you're kind of certified in that respect. What do you think the next level for Joel would be? You know, if you're gonna give him some advice.
Just keep making this teammates better, you know what I'm saying. Like he's so dominant, so special. Now it's just you know, keep passing, keep putting guys in the right spot, keep leading the team.
I be a leader.
Now you're the man, big fellow, So lead them boys and put them in the right spot, make the right plays. And you know it's all about winning.
Man. No, you ain't lie and Bruskie.
We can't get you out of here without talking about you got that boy? You got you got a chance to work with that boy over there, Zaya.
That's the deal right there, step through. Why not a little strong up talk to me about him.
I don't, I personally don't feel like, you know, look, we want to see him playing balls every hooper.
We want to see the best.
But I feel like, because a lot of people don't know how special that boy is, there's more questions than answers. But I feel like you actually get to see him. What is the league missing? What are they not doing? What are people not putting the proper respect on his name when he is on the floor, because I don't think a lot of people really know what he is. You talk about embead, his size and his speed. What is Zion man?
What is he? Like?
He's unguardable man. Just the way he can get to that basket. You know, he can handle the rock, he can make the right passes, but he's unstoppable and he wants to get to the realm and he can get to the rialm. No matter how you play, you can back off him, you can.
Get into him. And he shoots like seventy percent at the rim like Sidney sent from the field period. Like he's just unbelievable.
That the touches, the touches amazing. And I feel like it's got to stay healthy. You know, hey has some injuries. Hey, a lot of people been hurt. You know, it's all it's okay. We're gonna be healthy. Once he gets healthy, we're gonna be all right. And I think you can really gonna help to tell.
Us big time flush for Zion.
Forgive me not not to say that's a silly question, but does he have that killer of mentality?
Does he have that hit factor? You know? Does he have that.
When it's time to turn it on. That gold button. Now we know it's levels to this. Some dudes have that go button, some don't. Does he have that button? And if so, what does it look like for you?
Oh?
For sure, he definitely has that button. And it looks like we're never out of a game. Whenever he's on the court, I feel like we can win. And that's how you know a guy. He's the real deal. Whenever you when you never out of the game, when you got a store like that, when you never had a game, you know he got it.
He's got it.
Man. What does it look like his explosion?
For god, that that's that big, that quick, like I know, like we watched the tapes, we see the highlights.
What does that look like in person? Is it? Is it that fast twitch?
Like?
Is he is he running with the guards and with the guards that I would say to eighty two ninety wherever he is, like, what.
Does that look like?
Bro? Yeah, he's probably faster than the guards.
If you watch him the way he moves his fast twitches, it's one of a kind, Like to be that big and it's fast he moves, it's like it's unheard of and so all I know is when he touches the wall, when he wants to go, he can go.
That's crazy, man, and shout out design.
Like you said, I think the game is always better when you see these guys on the floor, you see them playing, and you know, long long career ahead of these young guys. And I think you know we're getting to that stage in the NBA where you know, Lebron is older. These guys are getting up up in age and you know can't give you those same you know, seventy eighty games, So you know they're gonna have to take that next step forward and I'll be excited to see when the Jians Desions they become that next future in the NBA.
So hopefully nothing but best for Zion moving forward. Man.
But Bruce Ki Man, I know you you took time to come out and hang out with us. Man, gonna have to do it again. You're doing a great job over there coaching. Before I get you out of there, I want to I want to ask this. You've seen the highest level of basketball on every single level. You get a chance to pour into these guys. If there was a you had a chance to talk to a young seventeen eighteen, you know, nineteen year old Court Brewer, what would that advice be? And what's maybe some great advice that you can give these young kids moving forward to have the success like like you you said, Brusk, don't I don't never want to hear you talk about like, oh I didn't achieve this, like bro Like people would kill to see the things that you've seen in the NBA. It's a blessing dog and you just definitely deserve your roses. But what would that advice be to a young Bruce Ki or these young kids trying to be a Corey Brewer.
You know, work on your game, but don't just work in your game. Study the game. You gotta study the game. Man, study, study the game. I feel like the more you study, the better you're gonna get once you.
Get on the court. Because a lot of guys work on their game, but they don't know how to.
Play the game. I feel like you study the game and teach you how to play the game.
And so don't just be don't just be great at certain things. Try to be good at everything. It can make you play ten plus years in the lead, and that's what it's all about. Playing ten plus years in the lead for me.
Man, you ain't lie.
Man, brew Appreciate you coming down, Oh man, this is long overdue.
Appreciate you taking the time, big dog. You're killing it, you know, you my guy. Man, we'll get up. We'll be getting up soon.
And you know you have to hop on here when you get some time and do this again. But brew Man, outside of obviously the Pelicans in the amazing season, you guys are gonna have.
Where can we support you any foundations? You know?
I don't know if your Instagram Twitter, guy, you got a handle, wee can go follow Bruski.
But where can we support you?
Man?
At the real Corey Brewer on Twitter? You know it's all like guys little Twitter. That's about it, man, that's just I stay low, man, I got kids, play with my kids, coach coach basketball and play with my kids.
Oh my goodness. Man had a blast.
And I tell you, man, Corey Brewer is my guy talking about it day one, A humble, a hard working, hard worker man.
The brother was picking up trash. Man. That is huge there, man. But we appreciate you guys. Forget this.
We do this for you guys, So make sure you like your follow subscribe, Spread the word out for us man so we can do more cool stuff here on NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Hollins and guess what
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