How's everybody doing. I gotta welcome you guys into a very special episode of NBA Rookie Life with Brian hollins Man, where I sit down with one of my favorite basketball players and in my mind, his game was so far ahead of the game. I'm talking Tim Thomas, one of the original stretch forwards. Now, when I think about Tim Thomas, his career was reinvigorated, I want to say, with Steve Nash and that Son's team, and he was knocking down threes and playing you know, three n D and I think the NBA started changing at that time. But man, he was a part of so much basketball history. But I think a lot of people forget how much game Tim Thomas had and how long out of Jersey he had been doing it, from the AU ranks to you know, doing a year over at Villanova. But a guy who's six foot ten, possibly six to eleven with shoes on, knocks down on the three seamlessly, can play inside and outside and versatile, and I don't think at that time in the NBA it was appreciated. A lot of people didn't realize there was a huge difference between playing the two and playing at three and playing the four, the plays were different, the sizes were different. Your two guard was between six three and six five, Your small forward was six five to six seven. You're a power forward was slated in. He was six eight to sixteen. And if you didn't fit in between those parameters, you weren't seen as a Division one player, depending on the situation, or even an NBA player. So a guy like Tim Thomas, Man, I think he definitely played in the wrong era, but he has so much success in the NBA, And I say, you know, one of my favorite players because you don't see guys with that type of size, that type of versatility. And I think the biggest staple of Tim Thomas's game was the longevity that he had in his ability to shoot the basketball. You know, really stepped in and took his career the longevity to another level. Man. But like I said, one of my favorites, man, and that guy who's been a staple behind the scenes in the league and played with some legendary players, played his ample time in the league. Man. So make sure you guys stay tuned, man, because he's gonna have some nuggets in this interview that you want to hold on. So stay tuned. Coming up after the break, Man, we have a special interview with Tim Thomas. How is everybody doing? We want to welcome you into a very very special episode of NBA Rookie. Like listen, man, this is one of the old gs in the game, one of my personal favorites. Look, man, I grew up a fan in this man right here. He was the seventh overall pick in the nineteen ninety seven draft to the Philadelphia seventy six ers. Man, one of the one of the originals. Man, my guy, Tim Thomas, Tim, what's going on with your brother? Brother? What's going on? Man? Doing? Good? Man? And listen, I'm a static to reach out to you. Tim. I gotta listen. I'm gonna put you on the spot right now. I'm put you on the spot. Listen. I grew up watching you, and I remember I got a chance to play against you when I was young and we were going for a rebound or something happened and like we kind of like locked up and you hit me. I'm a skinny guy. I'm used to getting hit. Man. I kind of hit you back. You said, what's something? I said, all right, what's something? And I'm like I'm like I'm about to lock up with Tim Thomas said, I'm like, and then like after the game, you like, I ain't back down, and you gave me kind of a nod, like, all, yeah, I'm fell o food with you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was That was the way. That was the way back then. And hey, Tim, I remember laughing. I got back to my boys and I'm like, man, I just locked it with Tim Thomas. I can't believe that. And he's cool with me. Now he likes you. Yeah, man. You know, you know in that era, man, it was a little physical, so you always had to kind of figure out a different way to kind of get an edge. And you know, especially when you start getting older in your career, right, you know, the young fellers like yourself start coming around and you know you're athletic and got all his juice, you know, so you just try to slow them down as much as much as possible. But now, I love your game, man. You always run, you know, a certain energy, certain effort, and he was always a plus to every team you played for. No, I appreciate it, man, it was it was a blessing beyond the court with you. I remember looking over it was really cool. But speaking of the young fellas, Tim, I gotta know when you're a young fellow, man, listen, man, talk to me and walk our fans through the draft day. Man, Where were you slated to go in the draft? Who ends up going with you to the draft? What was that day like? Was it? Heck? Was it? I mean we know it was a blessing. But as a competitor, we all have different draft day stories. And in the draft suit, brother, you gotta talk to me about the draft suit, man, Oh, the draft suit. All right. So in the ninety seventh draft, I was projected to go anywhere between one and ten. Right. Boston that year had two picks. I think they had a third and a sixth pick. So Rick Pettino was actually the head coach. He had just left Kentucky. So during my college days, I took no visits. I just picked Nova and went to Nova. So during your you know, pre workouts before the draft, you know, you go to every team once or twice, the teams that are really really interested in me. So I went to the New Jersey Nets twice, I went to Philly once, and I went to Boston once. My Boston workout was actually in Kentucky. So Rick Petino flew me all the way to Kentucky to show me Kentucky, you know, the city, the university, all of that. It was like a two hour tour and it got me right on the court and ran me for forty five. Hey, that's the NBA. Man. Yeah. So basically what I did was, I was like, you know what, this doesn't make any sense. You know, I'm already athletic. You know I can score the ball. You know, I was blessed with, you know, super super talent, and for you to just have me running suicide, it just it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. So I pretty much just pulled my shoes off and told my agent, I said, it won't be Boston. How old are you at the time. Oh, man, I'm nineteen nineteen. This ain't you nineteen years old? I said, I said it. You know, it's gonna be another team. It won't be Boston because first of all, why am I all the way in Kentucky for Boston workout? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, you know what I mean. Like, it doesn't make sense, you know what I mean. So the whole thing was off. So the workouts with New Jersey was great. It was you know, what to be expected. You get a couple of vets that come in and you know, you go one on one, two on two whatever. Back then y'all could work out with vets for the draft. Yeah, so that's how I went. So they they'll bring you in and you know, whatever guys was in town, all right, tim, let me see what you could do against him, you know, let me see what you could do against who was in your workout. Who they have you in there with. They have me in there with guards. So Sam Cassell was there. You know, I was so versatile, so it was a guard and then it was a big so you know, you went through that same thing with Philly. With Philly it was Stackhouse and it was who was the other big hold on? So I got to I got to go against not rookies like other draft guys. You look old with stack House like yeah yeah, and he looking at you like this little Joe ain't take him out you Yeah, exactly exactly. So you know that's what it was about, you know, And I guess that's the best way to kind of see, you know, what you're getting when you're you know, you're facing a vet in the one out of one situation because you know, they know all the tricks of the trades and everything, and you're coming in a fresh out of college. So game is game. But you know, if you got those tricks and those things that we now know as best, it helps, right, all right? So what talk walked me through this draft day? Man? I mean you were a big time no tim, You were a huge thing and you knew that green room deal was there. You said to arrange from one to ten. Taught me due that day? Who was with you when you're nervous? Were you like a showtime? What was that experience? Man? So our draft was actually in Charlotte, North Carolina. Um, my wife was pregnant, My wife was with me, my mims was with me, my brothers and sisters, and my uncle was actually with me. And then obviously your agent is with you as well. So that was the green room for me. And then I literally had my entire city of Patterson, New Jersey, come down. Yo. So I had about I would say maybe two hundred two hundred people, you gotta be kidding. And they were in the green room. Not in the green room, they was in the arena. There was was in the arena in the arena. Yeah, so I had about two hundred people that came down and support me, and then, um, I was just sitting and waiting. I knew it was gonna be either Philly or Jersey because those are the only other organizations that I had worked out for, you know, outside of Boston. So obviously I wanted to get you know, get back playing Jersey. That was it for me, right, so I just had my fingers crossed. Jersey actually drafted me and then thirty minutes later they made the trade to Philadelphia. Wow. Keith van Horn, Yes, Keith van Horne at that time had serious game, but his issue was he wasn't quick enough to run the floor with guys like Ai Stackhouse. And then you also had the original stretch for and Derek Coman in Philly, so I guess he figured like, I'm not you know, fast enough for quick enough to play the three in Philly. So having a power agent like David Falk who had him Jay that gets done quick. So it went from being you know, super super excited did to having an opportunity to be playing right in your backyard to now going down the street, which is you know an hour hour and a half where you played your college ball and playing with guys that you also grew up you know, watching, you know, so it was good. When did you know you were getting traded? So did you actually get the excitement of going to Jersey? And in the phone goes a little while like you just got traded? Like how quickly did that happen? And when when was that moment? Because it's people know, it's professional after you Yeah, you drafted and traded that quick, you know. So it was it was literally like right after you get drafted, you go shake at that time as David Stern shake David Stern hand, and you go do your media stuff. And it was literally like right after I did you know my media interviews? Wow? And my agent, My agent was right there, so he was like, hey, Tim, there's a trade in the works. So initially Milwaukee was trying to get involved. So you had Milwaukee in Jersey trying to do some three way type of trade because George Carr really loved Keith as well. Yeah, you know, so, my goodness, man, that's a lot going on. Did you feel pressure at nineteen years old, like and keeping horn his cold? I just got traded for him? I'm going to Philly. Dang I was at the crib? Or was it just like like you already kind of just whatever it is now? I thought the Philly situation was a better situation because I went into college at six ten, six to eleven, whenever you want to call it. I went in playing the three. So I wanted to start my pro career off at the three. Yeah. In New Jersey, I thought that they would at least put, you know, start me in at the four because they had a lot of wing guys in guards. You know, Philly really didn't. So you had Ai, you had Stackhouse at the two. It was a brother playing the three, Mark David. His game was basically play um you know back then you have bruisers. Yeah, guys that really played defense, and with bruisers, that was his game. So I figured like, hey, I got the skill set and talent. I could run the floor and quick enough. Yeah y'ah, so I could keep up. And um, I thought that was a better fit, you know, with me, Ai Stackhouse and then Derek Comba, you know all scores. What about the draft day suit man who talked you into the suites? What was it? Ninety year old I'm about to go kill the h Yeah. Well, it was one of those situations where you get it, you look at it, you're like, there's nothing else for me to wear, Like, what was it? Yo? What was it? First of all, my cousin was working as a tailler at a super store, right, so he had all these different crazy ideas on um, everyone in the family to basically wear the same kind of texture or color or you know, color scheme, right, And you know, I'm I'm gonna say, why not just get a gray suit, black suit, blue suit. So he's like, leave this up to me. This was like his project. Heave it up to me. So I go through all of the draft stuff whatever whatever. And obviously all men they pick you pick your shoes, right, So I picked my own shoes and it was his job to put the suit, you know, to the shoes whatever. So it was what it was. I walked in. I had no other option before the draft, and here's this ugly suit. It's probably like one of the worst suits ever in the NBA draft, and I'm stuck. I'm basically stuck with this suit. And that's how it happened. You know, what, hold on? What color was it? It was tan. It was like a tan silk. It was horrible, man, it was. It was horrible, horrible. When you see the picture, you're gonna be like, what is this. Every year they showed the draft, they showed you know guys in Bastu. Yeah, I'm there every year. There it is. You know that's classic. You know that's classic. Um, you know, we don't we normally don't go backwards. Now, I gotta hear, man, because you were one of the guys, For one, why didn't you come out of high school? You were nacking nack with the late great Kobe Bryant being and we know when Kobe, when Bean look over at another cat like it's war. So I gotta I gotta hear some stories. Man. I know you guys at that time eighteen nineteen years old, definitely you know cross paths and why why go play for Lapis over? Shout out coach Lappis over at Villanova? Man, that definitely huge, and then you know, drafted to the city, and hey, how did that prepare you? What was it? Well? You know, men, Kobe grew up together, Me and Kobe, even Scotter we all played on a you team, you know together, So our team was and still is considered to be the greatest AU team ever assembled. Right hold on you, Vince and Kobe were on the same AU team. Me, Vince Carter, Kobe, Bryant, Rip Hamilton, Kevin Freeman that went to Yukon, Donald Hand and went to Virginia, Anthony Perry that went to Georgetown, Ed Saunders that went to Yukon won the championship with you that way with Yukon. So we was we was loaded man different, a little different, a little different. So obviously was in the same class, an hour and a half away from each other. All through middle school, Code was chasing me coming up the ranks. Code took over the number one rank our junior year. Going into our senior year at ABCD basketball camp, I had dunked the ball to off my fingernail. I couldn't play the rest of the week. So he capitalized and took over the number one spot. The reason why I went to colleges because I always wanted to be a top and draft pick, right, So that was the goal. When you you know, in your high school the goal is you know obviously to go D one, right, So my goal at that time, because we had the offers to go straight to the league was to be on the board as a top ten draft pick. That year, Charlotte Hornets had the thirteenth pick. So they told us because we all were Adida guys, myself Kobe, so they had told us, if you're don't come out, even Jamaine On Nil Jamaine On it was in that class as well. So they told us, they said, whichever one of you guys come out first, we're gonna take between the three of them, right, So I knew it was going to be the thirteenth pick. You know, Cob already had his mindset on going, and then also Jermaine he was they had their mindset on going. I had different options, and I had nieces and nephews that was coming up behind me. So for me going to school for one year, six months, whatever you want to call it, I thought that was beneficial. It was gonna help me grow and develop, you know more as a basketball player. But that was, you know, one of the things that I wanted to accomplish was being top ten draftick. So that's why I chose to go to know that. It's great. Hey, Tim, did you have a moment you got the history of Kobe. He was on your neck, you know, took him a while to catch you and you looked over or sudden he did he like, yo, he's driven, like he ain't gonna stop. Yeah. Yeah, but that was him, that was him. You know, Kobe grew up different, you know, any other dad and Joe that played, yes, you know, so that helped him tremendous, you know, And we knew that instantly. We I mean, it wasn't hard to tell if he was around a guy because he was just flat out so much more disciplined than anyone else, you know, And we knew that. We knew that. And being you know, and those type of individuals, you know, you you played with some of them. It's like, you know, you get to the gym at six and they've already been there two hours before you. Y man, I thought you said six, you know. So it was it was that way, man, and you know, it was nothing that was gonna stop him, nothing and no one, you know, And we knew that at an early age, at a very very early age. That's that that's just that's just crazy to hear. And um, let me ask you this, man, because obviously, I think, for one, I'm still blown away that you guys got to work out with guys who are already in the league like I could if they gave me the call to go work out with the draft. I'm murdering this yet, like you know, like it's all like so that's crazy. Yeah, did you have that welcome to the NBA moment where you're like, dang, this league a little harder? Like, you know, I thought this was sweet, got tore up man by somebody just worked out on you as somebody had to play. Where you go like, all right, this this NBA is a little different, I gotta step it up, man. Yeah. Well I had a coach that and Larry Brown my rookie year that didn't love rookies. He just hated rookies. I don't know what it was about the word, the person. He just hated rookies, right, And he basically tried to run me in the ground and you know that whole that whole thing, you know, running running into ball or whatever. He tried to literally like just run me into a ground, and I wouldn't go for it, right, So I just kept going after, like every single day, just getting after, getting after, And there was times where obviously as a rookie. You know, you're gonna make your rookie mistakes, right, you might forget something within the playbook. You might forget defensive you know, rotation or something of that nature, right, because you know, it's just so much information being passed that at that particular time. And for me, I went again. I wanted to go and play in the three. So he had me basically playing two, three and four, So you gotta remember or all of those positions, all the defensive stuff, you know what I mean. So it was more or less like he he was pushing me on both ends. And it wasn't just basketball where it spun, Yeah, it was. It was the playbook. It was you know, I want you to get stronger, and and I'm already coming in at two thirty five, two forty, I have the NBA body right now. Yeah, but it was just him trying to do the mental thing to me. So but as far as on the court, yeah, I had moments where, um, you know, you run up against some of the real oldgs, like you know, trying to guard Elijah On, trying to guard Shot, trying to guard Barkley, Uh, you know, trying to stop the alley you from Sean Kemp, like there were times where you know you you you're on the court, you believe in yourself, you got the most confidence. But then you still, oh damn, that's Sean Kemp. Oh that's Barkley, that's you know what I mean, Like, yeah, it was time, It was It was definitely times. People don't understand that that was a golden era of the four. That power four position don't exist the more that was the golden era. And shoot, man, I want to I want to hit. And by the way, I played for LB two tim, I always prided myself on I was a guy that played hard. LB showed me I ain't played hard like I never had a coach. Me like Ryan, you ain't playing hard enough. Yeah. LB was like, yeah, go after every rebound, you'll block every shot and you you you go, you're the first one back every time. I'm like, LB, what if it's not my assignment. He was like, if you're at the top of the key, you go block that shot too. So I remember I was taking the ball out one time and you know, we just scrimmage. I'm taking the ball out of LB just and I'm going at a good page. We got that out. Yeah yeah, But I say one thing about Larry. I mean that when I went into free agency that next year, I mean, the most money I've ever seen in my life doing the things he told me to do, blocking every shot I went out to, every rebound. So I love LB. We got amazing relationship now. But at first, like you know, it's like, I'm not fooling, I'm gonna play the eighteen years that with no needs before I play year. Yeah. Nah. I mean when you're young, you don't really understand what he's doing, you know, But when you get older after a few years and you're like, oh yeah, now, now I kind of get it, you know what I mean. So definitely, albe is um. It's a great, great, great love. I gotta ask you about about two guys, two guys before we get AI. Everybody know they love AI. What was DC like man? Like you said the original stress for he was so skilled, he had a great frame filling the game walking, but what was what was it like, is there a moment in the game something you've seen him do that was just like, Yo, DC is different man, because I'm missing man at it. When y'all that squad, y'all had with stack Ai you everybody that's that's one of them all times squads man. Yeah, but the way management was operating, they pretty much broke the team. Like you know, we never really all played together. We probably played about maybe twenty games together, you know. And LB wasn't start me like Derek Common was the reason why I got I cracked the start a line up? Yeah, he it was something else. I'll tell you the story. But the d C was definitely um my og as far as helping me with getting a full understanding of that NBA game. Right, So, because you know how it is like everyone in the league can score, everyone in the league can do you know certain things. They have their strengths, their weakness system, right, yes, but you really have to have a full understanding of the system itself and how to get off in the system. It's just like any any you know, anything else. And that was my biggest thing because I didn't want to come in and try to do what he was doing in a low post or you know, made range or try to you know, do what Stackhouse is doing and what got him his success with getting to the free throw line, you know, eight times a game or whatever. Having the times he was getting to the free throw line and then with Ai you I mean you just cut and no one could do what you know, his what he was able to do with his ability. To this day, I still say he's the quickest fastest individual I've ever seen and played against. You know. But DC was the guy that kind of like showed me the ropes on everything, like, you know, you don't have to buy into what coaches saying we need you to play like this, We know you can do this, and you know, just play the game. And then also showing me the small things, you know, how to take care of your body, the weight room stuff, what you need to work on, what's going to really help you, you know for eighty two plus the practices it's not like nowadays. So he was the guy that really really helped me out. And then I had super veterans like Tim Chambers was on that oh I realized then Terry Cummins was on that squad, and then um we also had big Rick Mahorn. So I yeah, yeah, So I had some guys man that you know, get my newspaper on my breakfast, all that kind of stuff. But it was great because they also shared information and knowledge. So it was a beautiful thing. Yeah about AI, Man, you touched on a little bit, the quickest one of the one of the greatest players we've ever seen play the game. Is there a moment or a game that you remember from AI. You're like, yo, this guy was different, and like, hey, man, like we needed it, we were we had the right to. AI just reeled off real sudden, wild off anything that stands out every you playing with them every night, Man, every night. I mean to see one of the smallest individuals in the game play so big. It was just amazing, Right, this guy was one of the toughest guys around. And we're talking in that era where guys can take a chuck and you coming through the lane chucked and you know, guys taking you out the air, all that kind of stuff. So this guy would literally fall ten times, get right back up and continue to attack, you know. And he was just such a competitor that he didn't have to speak on it. You could just see him going right and it'll be times where you know, you might be down in the game, eight ten points whatever, whatever, and he just had that mentality like, you know, we're not gonna lose. I'm gonna get us back in it. I'm gonna get a couple of stills. I'm gonna do something to give us a spark, you know. And then once we got a spark, you know, he was a guy that wasn't afraid of any moment, you know, anyone, and he was gonna come after you. So you know, I enjoyed playing with him for two years and you know, just you know, seeing his approach, you know, every single night, even though you know, we was a team that we didn't win much because we was all still young outside of our vets, but you know that that learning curve between that the first two years was was great. It was great. All right, guys. Coming up next, man, we're gonna step into the NBA Rookie Life Film Room with Tim Thomas. He's gonna break down some of his plays, Sam Alan Iverson and one of your favorite rookie So stay tuned, man, we got some cool stuff coming up next. Well, we can't just tear you down. We gotta pick you back up. We gotta clip for you. We want you to break it down. Man. One thing we do. We step into the NBA Rookie Film Room and we gotta clip from you throwing it down? Man, I want to know who are you playing against? What game? This was what was going on, and we'll break it down. So take a look at this. He forty two cold out here for some team. So they want to run him towards Tim Thomas so Thomas can shoot to three. So here Obson's comes comes to the right side. Thomas, what the jam clearing the side? I'm playing a two man game with Overson and Thomas and there's a perfect pass and Tim Thomas lambs at home. All right, Tim, what's going on this play? Man? We got you. Ai is in the second year, you and your first year. Let's go into the NBA Rookie film room. What's happening here? So right here, it's basically a one four clear out for Ai. Ai was great going right. He was a little guy who had very very long long arms, can get a shot off against anyone. So um, obviously you know he had to cross over. So he was gonna set his man up, pretending like he was going left, he was gonna cross back over. And my job was to see if my man was sleeping going back door, and if my guy was on me. If Chuck was to get stuck right there. I will come back around basically to the top of the key and then also attack towards the paint. So so obviously my guy got caught sleeping there and I was able to get a get a live right then. You know what's funny When I would look, I mean you got look, Tim, you got some bunnies there, man, We know that. Man. Three listen, man, Tim, I know you're here all the time. You played in the wrong era. Okay, you played in the wrong era. That was the same. I know you know it. But knocked down at three super bounds run the floor? You know wrong? Are all good? Listen? All good? Young guys are are are appreciated in a different way now shout out LB though, but young guys are. It was funny. We used to run a similar play for Shannon Brown, but he ran it off a pick a role like a twist. We have it now. AI gonna take two with him because he had that type of tension. Right, Um, you dribble to the right, he'll spin back left. You'll twist the pick and roll and then he just just s b will go Shannon will go back door to go back door and dunk one all right, Tim, Now, let's stand in this film room. You got the knowledge. We want you to break down a play from Bennedict mather in the Indiana rookie Man. He's not as tall as you be. Got a similar game, man, he can shoot it. He finishes at the rim. Well, man, he's having himself a heck of a season. So we want to see get a young fellow some love and shout him out. Here's Miami on the two way deal. Let this twin brother in Charlotte try all right, Tim, Like I said, we're here in this NBA Rookie film room. We got it. One of the diaper dandies. Man Bennedict Mathern. Breakdown what you see in his game? Man, you ran to win? You ran the three four? What are you seeing from Bennedict Mathern on this play? What is he looking at? Take us into the film room. I see a very skilled three slash four, has a great body, can get to way. He wants two on the floor. Great touch, you know. And I always tell kids, you know all the time, like to get to the next level, we got to be able to do a few things well. And this kid definitely is one of those type of players where you know, it does a few things very very well. What's he thinking on this clip, Tim, Well, obviously you see where the defense is kind of walling or shading him in on the left side as he's going left. And to be a big body to step through with the euro step. That's some pretty good footwork right there. I know a lot of the kids now are actually you know, using the euro step more. But to go into traffic like that, to be strong enough to finish like that and then be able to trick your body a little bit to you know, take that contact and finish, that's big time. What's the biggest difference you see from a guy like math Ring in today's NBA versus when you played where there was a you know, it wasn't interchangeable, it was a two, it was a three or four. What are you seeing from Benedict and how his game matures and how the NBA's played today. Well, most big guys nowadays that are in the league, they're able to play multiple positions and do multiple things on the floor. In our era, you had maybe one or two guys on each particular team that can play multiple positions. So now you're literally seeing in the course of a night, you're seeing about four or five guys pretty much all same hype. You know, all can you know, do multiple things on the floor, So, you know, I think it's good for the game. And then at the same time, as a OG, you know, we all say everything is about the three ball now, right, But you know, I just wish some of these guys would get some low post stuff in their game, because obviously the older you get, you're gonna need some of that may range and you know, some of that low post stuff to keep you around before we get you out of here. Tim, I like to ask this, obviously, if you could get in the air of a nineteen year old Tim times, you know, losing some games the Ogs, what would you say to yourself? Man, what would that that message be to yourself at that time, had two hundred people in Charlotte at Yeah, would will that message be to a night's yeold Tim Thomas? I probably would just say, enjoy the ride, enjoy the experience, because you know, as a former athlete, when you're in it, you're not really trying to soak up all the experiences. Um, and then when when you retire, you know it becomes more of a bigger thing for us to you know, reconnect with former players or see formal players or even a ten games and just you know kind of you know, recollect off some of the things that you went through. So I would just say enjoy the process. Because when you're so young and you're coming from the inner city and you know, you're seeing your first million dollars and all of all these kinds of things, it's it's all different. It's a new world too, you know, and I wouldn't change it, you know for anything. Man had a great career. Well, Tim, I appreciate you, brother, I really appreciate you coming out in a support an NBA rookie life here. But the one thing that we like to do is you gave us support. Where can the fan support you? What have you been up to? What are some initiatives that you're behind? Where can we can follow you and connect with you and see the things that you have going on. Well, I started my basketball academy called Tim Thomas Basketball Academy. Go google that. And then also I've been in a located based out of Jersey. It's basic. And then my AU program, Tim Thomas Players. This is our twenty sixth year of service. We just signed with Puma, so we're gonna be playing in the Puma circuit this summer, and uh, it's all about giving back man. Within our program, twenty three NBA players, nineteen dollars, all Americans. As I mentioned earlier, who who's some of the notable NBA guys that you had in the program? Um j R. Smith, Dante Jones, Earl Clark, arrest is Old, Eddie Griffin. I know you played against Eddie Griffin, Yes, numerous times, just the name a few. So this year we're excited. It's something new with Puma, and you know, it was going to continue our service of giving back and helping the youngsters finding niche within the basketball world. Tied Man, We preach you, j Man, and that's what it's about. You know, you were a part of one of the greatest AU experiences ever and instead of holding that in you, you know, you're paying it forward man, yep. And I think that's just huge for that next generation. I know, I can imagine you know, I threw my camp. I threw my camp for like seven years, you know, and it took a lot. And you had that thing going for twenty man, So salute man, and if you're in the Jersey area, make sure you guys go. They're out of support. Man. That's that's enough, man. I can only imagine the rewards. You end up more rewarded than the kids, do you know those situations? Yeah, well, honestly, the best reward is to see the kids playing college basketball. Are the ones that make it to the LEA had opportunity to play. It's a couple of the kids. Um, you know, Dante Jones actually dunked on me at the garden, so you know it's um, it's always a thrill, man, when you can see those young kids. Kyle Anderson as another kid, Um, you know that came through the program. So it's always good man, when you can see those kids develop and grow. Nazi Reid, who's you know, also in the league right now too nice. I like, yeah, Nazi is good. It's really good. So that's a thrill for me, man. And be able to turn the TV on and see these guys or get on social media and see their clips and stuff. That's that's what it's about for me, man. That's the whole legacy aspect of it, all right there, Hey man, and sim where your handles? Man, where can we follow you and check you out? Man? You can follow me on Instagram King Tim Thomas. You can follow the players on Instagram at Tim Thomas Players the League, and you can follow the basketball academy on Instagram at Tim Thomas Basketball. Consider it done. Man, Appreciate you for coming out. Man. A huge blessing is always man, always always loving the game. Man. Appreciate take care man, guys, I am blown away. That's by far one of the coolest interviews. And we got some NBA history there from Tim Thomas, some legacy moments from Larry Brown from you know, the draft being in Charlotte, you know, going against veterans. Like, there's just so many nuggets in this interview that Tim Thomas gave us, man, and like I said, his game definitely would have translated and was built for today's NBA. So shout out Tim Thomas. Make sure you guys go follow is a U team an academy, and make sure man, you guys take care of us here at NBA Rookie Light. So don't forget to like follow, subscribe, support all that cool stuff, and spread the word. Appreciate you guys and we'll see you next week.

How's everybody doing. I gotta welcome you guys into a very special episode of NBA Rookie Life with Brian hollins Man, where I sit down with one of my favorite basketball players and in my mind, his game was so far ahead of the game. I'm talking Tim Thomas, one of the original stretch forwards. Now, when I think about Tim Thomas, his career was reinvigorated, I want to say, with Steve Nash and that Son's team, and he was knocking down threes and playing you know, three n D and I think the NBA started changing at that time. But man, he was a part of so much basketball history. But I think a lot of people forget how much game Tim Thomas had and how long out of Jersey he had been doing it, from the AU ranks to you know, doing a year over at Villanova. But a guy who's six foot ten, possibly six to eleven with shoes on, knocks down on the three seamlessly, can play inside and outside and versatile, and I don't think at that time in the NBA it was appreciated. A lot of people didn't realize there was a huge difference between playing the two and playing at three and playing the four, the plays were different, the sizes were different. Your two guard was between six three and six five, Your small forward was six five to six seven. You're a power forward was slated in. He was six eight to sixteen. And if you didn't fit in between those parameters, you weren't seen as a Division one player, depending on the situation, or even an NBA player. So a guy like Tim Thomas, Man, I think he definitely played in the wrong era, but he has so much success in the NBA, And I say, you know, one of my favorite players because you don't see guys with that type of size, that type of versatility. And I think the biggest staple of Tim Thomas's game was the longevity that he had in his ability to shoot the basketball. You know, really stepped in and took his career the longevity to another level. Man. But like I said, one of my favorites, man, and that guy who's been a staple behind the scenes in the league and played with some legendary players, played his ample time in the league. Man. So make sure you guys stay tuned, man, because he's gonna have some nuggets in this interview that you want to hold on. So stay tuned. Coming up after the break, Man, we have a special interview with Tim Thomas. How is everybody doing? We want to welcome you into a very very special episode of NBA Rookie. Like listen, man, this is one of the old gs in the game, one of my personal favorites. Look, man, I grew up a fan in this man right here. He was the seventh overall pick in the nineteen ninety seven draft to the Philadelphia seventy six ers. Man, one of the one of the originals. Man, my guy, Tim Thomas, Tim, what's going on with your brother? Brother? What's going on? Man? Doing? Good? Man? And listen, I'm a static to reach out to you. Tim. I gotta listen. I'm gonna put you on the spot right now. I'm put you on the spot. Listen. I grew up watching you, and I remember I got a chance to play against you when I was young and we were going for a rebound or something happened and like we kind of like locked up and you hit me. I'm a skinny guy. I'm used to getting hit. Man. I kind of hit you back. You said, what's something? I said, all right, what's something? And I'm like I'm like I'm about to lock up with Tim Thomas said, I'm like, and then like after the game, you like, I ain't back down, and you gave me kind of a nod, like, all, yeah, I'm fell o food with you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was That was the way. That was the way back then. And hey, Tim, I remember laughing. I got back to my boys and I'm like, man, I just locked it with Tim Thomas. I can't believe that. And he's cool with me. Now he likes you. Yeah, man. You know, you know in that era, man, it was a little physical, so you always had to kind of figure out a different way to kind of get an edge. And you know, especially when you start getting older in your career, right, you know, the young fellers like yourself start coming around and you know you're athletic and got all his juice, you know, so you just try to slow them down as much as much as possible. But now, I love your game, man. You always run, you know, a certain energy, certain effort, and he was always a plus to every team you played for. No, I appreciate it, man, it was it was a blessing beyond the court with you. I remember looking over it was really cool. But speaking of the young fellas, Tim, I gotta know when you're a young fellow, man, listen, man, talk to me and walk our fans through the draft day. Man, Where were you slated to go in the draft? Who ends up going with you to the draft? What was that day like? Was it? Heck? Was it? I mean we know it was a blessing. But as a competitor, we all have different draft day stories. And in the draft suit, brother, you gotta talk to me about the draft suit, man, Oh, the draft suit. All right. So in the ninety seventh draft, I was projected to go anywhere between one and ten. Right. Boston that year had two picks. I think they had a third and a sixth pick. So Rick Pettino was actually the head coach. He had just left Kentucky. So during my college days, I took no visits. I just picked Nova and went to Nova. So during your you know, pre workouts before the draft, you know, you go to every team once or twice, the teams that are really really interested in me. So I went to the New Jersey Nets twice, I went to Philly once, and I went to Boston once. My Boston workout was actually in Kentucky. So Rick Petino flew me all the way to Kentucky to show me Kentucky, you know, the city, the university, all of that. It was like a two hour tour and it got me right on the court and ran me for forty five. Hey, that's the NBA. Man. Yeah. So basically what I did was, I was like, you know what, this doesn't make any sense. You know, I'm already athletic. You know I can score the ball. You know, I was blessed with, you know, super super talent, and for you to just have me running suicide, it just it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. So I pretty much just pulled my shoes off and told my agent, I said, it won't be Boston. How old are you at the time. Oh, man, I'm nineteen nineteen. This ain't you nineteen years old? I said, I said it. You know, it's gonna be another team. It won't be Boston because first of all, why am I all the way in Kentucky for Boston workout? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, you know what I mean. Like, it doesn't make sense, you know what I mean. So the whole thing was off. So the workouts with New Jersey was great. It was you know, what to be expected. You get a couple of vets that come in and you know, you go one on one, two on two whatever. Back then y'all could work out with vets for the draft. Yeah, so that's how I went. So they they'll bring you in and you know, whatever guys was in town, all right, tim, let me see what you could do against him, you know, let me see what you could do against who was in your workout. Who they have you in there with. They have me in there with guards. So Sam Cassell was there. You know, I was so versatile, so it was a guard and then it was a big so you know, you went through that same thing with Philly. With Philly it was Stackhouse and it was who was the other big hold on? So I got to I got to go against not rookies like other draft guys. You look old with stack House like yeah yeah, and he looking at you like this little Joe ain't take him out you Yeah, exactly exactly. So you know that's what it was about, you know, And I guess that's the best way to kind of see, you know, what you're getting when you're you know, you're facing a vet in the one out of one situation because you know, they know all the tricks of the trades and everything, and you're coming in a fresh out of college. So game is game. But you know, if you got those tricks and those things that we now know as best, it helps, right, all right? So what talk walked me through this draft day? Man? I mean you were a big time no tim, You were a huge thing and you knew that green room deal was there. You said to arrange from one to ten. Taught me due that day? Who was with you when you're nervous? Were you like a showtime? What was that experience? Man? So our draft was actually in Charlotte, North Carolina. Um, my wife was pregnant, My wife was with me, my mims was with me, my brothers and sisters, and my uncle was actually with me. And then obviously your agent is with you as well. So that was the green room for me. And then I literally had my entire city of Patterson, New Jersey, come down. Yo. So I had about I would say maybe two hundred two hundred people, you gotta be kidding. And they were in the green room. Not in the green room, they was in the arena. There was was in the arena in the arena. Yeah, so I had about two hundred people that came down and support me, and then, um, I was just sitting and waiting. I knew it was gonna be either Philly or Jersey because those are the only other organizations that I had worked out for, you know, outside of Boston. So obviously I wanted to get you know, get back playing Jersey. That was it for me, right, so I just had my fingers crossed. Jersey actually drafted me and then thirty minutes later they made the trade to Philadelphia. Wow. Keith van Horn, Yes, Keith van Horne at that time had serious game, but his issue was he wasn't quick enough to run the floor with guys like Ai Stackhouse. And then you also had the original stretch for and Derek Coman in Philly, so I guess he figured like, I'm not you know, fast enough for quick enough to play the three in Philly. So having a power agent like David Falk who had him Jay that gets done quick. So it went from being you know, super super excited did to having an opportunity to be playing right in your backyard to now going down the street, which is you know an hour hour and a half where you played your college ball and playing with guys that you also grew up you know, watching, you know, so it was good. When did you know you were getting traded? So did you actually get the excitement of going to Jersey? And in the phone goes a little while like you just got traded? Like how quickly did that happen? And when when was that moment? Because it's people know, it's professional after you Yeah, you drafted and traded that quick, you know. So it was it was literally like right after you get drafted, you go shake at that time as David Stern shake David Stern hand, and you go do your media stuff. And it was literally like right after I did you know my media interviews? Wow? And my agent, My agent was right there, so he was like, hey, Tim, there's a trade in the works. So initially Milwaukee was trying to get involved. So you had Milwaukee in Jersey trying to do some three way type of trade because George Carr really loved Keith as well. Yeah, you know, so, my goodness, man, that's a lot going on. Did you feel pressure at nineteen years old, like and keeping horn his cold? I just got traded for him? I'm going to Philly. Dang I was at the crib? Or was it just like like you already kind of just whatever it is now? I thought the Philly situation was a better situation because I went into college at six ten, six to eleven, whenever you want to call it. I went in playing the three. So I wanted to start my pro career off at the three. Yeah. In New Jersey, I thought that they would at least put, you know, start me in at the four because they had a lot of wing guys in guards. You know, Philly really didn't. So you had Ai, you had Stackhouse at the two. It was a brother playing the three, Mark David. His game was basically play um you know back then you have bruisers. Yeah, guys that really played defense, and with bruisers, that was his game. So I figured like, hey, I got the skill set and talent. I could run the floor and quick enough. Yeah y'ah, so I could keep up. And um, I thought that was a better fit, you know, with me, Ai Stackhouse and then Derek Comba, you know all scores. What about the draft day suit man who talked you into the suites? What was it? Ninety year old I'm about to go kill the h Yeah. Well, it was one of those situations where you get it, you look at it, you're like, there's nothing else for me to wear, Like, what was it? Yo? What was it? First of all, my cousin was working as a tailler at a super store, right, so he had all these different crazy ideas on um, everyone in the family to basically wear the same kind of texture or color or you know, color scheme, right, And you know, I'm I'm gonna say, why not just get a gray suit, black suit, blue suit. So he's like, leave this up to me. This was like his project. Heave it up to me. So I go through all of the draft stuff whatever whatever. And obviously all men they pick you pick your shoes, right, So I picked my own shoes and it was his job to put the suit, you know, to the shoes whatever. So it was what it was. I walked in. I had no other option before the draft, and here's this ugly suit. It's probably like one of the worst suits ever in the NBA draft, and I'm stuck. I'm basically stuck with this suit. And that's how it happened. You know, what, hold on? What color was it? It was tan. It was like a tan silk. It was horrible, man, it was. It was horrible, horrible. When you see the picture, you're gonna be like, what is this. Every year they showed the draft, they showed you know guys in Bastu. Yeah, I'm there every year. There it is. You know that's classic. You know that's classic. Um, you know, we don't we normally don't go backwards. Now, I gotta hear, man, because you were one of the guys, For one, why didn't you come out of high school? You were nacking nack with the late great Kobe Bryant being and we know when Kobe, when Bean look over at another cat like it's war. So I gotta I gotta hear some stories. Man. I know you guys at that time eighteen nineteen years old, definitely you know cross paths and why why go play for Lapis over? Shout out coach Lappis over at Villanova? Man, that definitely huge, and then you know, drafted to the city, and hey, how did that prepare you? What was it? Well? You know, men, Kobe grew up together, Me and Kobe, even Scotter we all played on a you team, you know together, So our team was and still is considered to be the greatest AU team ever assembled. Right hold on you, Vince and Kobe were on the same AU team. Me, Vince Carter, Kobe, Bryant, Rip Hamilton, Kevin Freeman that went to Yukon, Donald Hand and went to Virginia, Anthony Perry that went to Georgetown, Ed Saunders that went to Yukon won the championship with you that way with Yukon. So we was we was loaded man different, a little different, a little different. So obviously was in the same class, an hour and a half away from each other. All through middle school, Code was chasing me coming up the ranks. Code took over the number one rank our junior year. Going into our senior year at ABCD basketball camp, I had dunked the ball to off my fingernail. I couldn't play the rest of the week. So he capitalized and took over the number one spot. The reason why I went to colleges because I always wanted to be a top and draft pick, right, So that was the goal. When you you know, in your high school the goal is you know obviously to go D one, right, So my goal at that time, because we had the offers to go straight to the league was to be on the board as a top ten draft pick. That year, Charlotte Hornets had the thirteenth pick. So they told us because we all were Adida guys, myself Kobe, so they had told us, if you're don't come out, even Jamaine On Nil Jamaine On it was in that class as well. So they told us, they said, whichever one of you guys come out first, we're gonna take between the three of them, right, So I knew it was going to be the thirteenth pick. You know, Cob already had his mindset on going, and then also Jermaine he was they had their mindset on going. I had different options, and I had nieces and nephews that was coming up behind me. So for me going to school for one year, six months, whatever you want to call it, I thought that was beneficial. It was gonna help me grow and develop, you know more as a basketball player. But that was, you know, one of the things that I wanted to accomplish was being top ten draftick. So that's why I chose to go to know that. It's great. Hey, Tim, did you have a moment you got the history of Kobe. He was on your neck, you know, took him a while to catch you and you looked over or sudden he did he like, yo, he's driven, like he ain't gonna stop. Yeah. Yeah, but that was him, that was him. You know, Kobe grew up different, you know, any other dad and Joe that played, yes, you know, so that helped him tremendous, you know, And we knew that instantly. We I mean, it wasn't hard to tell if he was around a guy because he was just flat out so much more disciplined than anyone else, you know, And we knew that. We knew that. And being you know, and those type of individuals, you know, you you played with some of them. It's like, you know, you get to the gym at six and they've already been there two hours before you. Y man, I thought you said six, you know. So it was it was that way, man, and you know, it was nothing that was gonna stop him, nothing and no one, you know, And we knew that at an early age, at a very very early age. That's that that's just that's just crazy to hear. And um, let me ask you this, man, because obviously, I think, for one, I'm still blown away that you guys got to work out with guys who are already in the league like I could if they gave me the call to go work out with the draft. I'm murdering this yet, like you know, like it's all like so that's crazy. Yeah, did you have that welcome to the NBA moment where you're like, dang, this league a little harder? Like, you know, I thought this was sweet, got tore up man by somebody just worked out on you as somebody had to play. Where you go like, all right, this this NBA is a little different, I gotta step it up, man. Yeah. Well I had a coach that and Larry Brown my rookie year that didn't love rookies. He just hated rookies. I don't know what it was about the word, the person. He just hated rookies, right, And he basically tried to run me in the ground and you know that whole that whole thing, you know, running running into ball or whatever. He tried to literally like just run me into a ground, and I wouldn't go for it, right, So I just kept going after, like every single day, just getting after, getting after, And there was times where obviously as a rookie. You know, you're gonna make your rookie mistakes, right, you might forget something within the playbook. You might forget defensive you know, rotation or something of that nature, right, because you know, it's just so much information being passed that at that particular time. And for me, I went again. I wanted to go and play in the three. So he had me basically playing two, three and four, So you gotta remember or all of those positions, all the defensive stuff, you know what I mean. So it was more or less like he he was pushing me on both ends. And it wasn't just basketball where it spun, Yeah, it was. It was the playbook. It was you know, I want you to get stronger, and and I'm already coming in at two thirty five, two forty, I have the NBA body right now. Yeah, but it was just him trying to do the mental thing to me. So but as far as on the court, yeah, I had moments where, um, you know, you run up against some of the real oldgs, like you know, trying to guard Elijah On, trying to guard Shot, trying to guard Barkley, Uh, you know, trying to stop the alley you from Sean Kemp, like there were times where you know you you you're on the court, you believe in yourself, you got the most confidence. But then you still, oh damn, that's Sean Kemp. Oh that's Barkley, that's you know what I mean, Like, yeah, it was time, It was It was definitely times. People don't understand that that was a golden era of the four. That power four position don't exist the more that was the golden era. And shoot, man, I want to I want to hit. And by the way, I played for LB two tim, I always prided myself on I was a guy that played hard. LB showed me I ain't played hard like I never had a coach. Me like Ryan, you ain't playing hard enough. Yeah. LB was like, yeah, go after every rebound, you'll block every shot and you you you go, you're the first one back every time. I'm like, LB, what if it's not my assignment. He was like, if you're at the top of the key, you go block that shot too. So I remember I was taking the ball out one time and you know, we just scrimmage. I'm taking the ball out of LB just and I'm going at a good page. We got that out. Yeah yeah, But I say one thing about Larry. I mean that when I went into free agency that next year, I mean, the most money I've ever seen in my life doing the things he told me to do, blocking every shot I went out to, every rebound. So I love LB. We got amazing relationship now. But at first, like you know, it's like, I'm not fooling, I'm gonna play the eighteen years that with no needs before I play year. Yeah. Nah. I mean when you're young, you don't really understand what he's doing, you know, But when you get older after a few years and you're like, oh yeah, now, now I kind of get it, you know what I mean. So definitely, albe is um. It's a great, great, great love. I gotta ask you about about two guys, two guys before we get AI. Everybody know they love AI. What was DC like man? Like you said the original stress for he was so skilled, he had a great frame filling the game walking, but what was what was it like, is there a moment in the game something you've seen him do that was just like, Yo, DC is different man, because I'm missing man at it. When y'all that squad, y'all had with stack Ai you everybody that's that's one of them all times squads man. Yeah, but the way management was operating, they pretty much broke the team. Like you know, we never really all played together. We probably played about maybe twenty games together, you know. And LB wasn't start me like Derek Common was the reason why I got I cracked the start a line up? Yeah, he it was something else. I'll tell you the story. But the d C was definitely um my og as far as helping me with getting a full understanding of that NBA game. Right, So, because you know how it is like everyone in the league can score, everyone in the league can do you know certain things. They have their strengths, their weakness system, right, yes, but you really have to have a full understanding of the system itself and how to get off in the system. It's just like any any you know, anything else. And that was my biggest thing because I didn't want to come in and try to do what he was doing in a low post or you know, made range or try to you know, do what Stackhouse is doing and what got him his success with getting to the free throw line, you know, eight times a game or whatever. Having the times he was getting to the free throw line and then with Ai you I mean you just cut and no one could do what you know, his what he was able to do with his ability. To this day, I still say he's the quickest fastest individual I've ever seen and played against. You know. But DC was the guy that kind of like showed me the ropes on everything, like, you know, you don't have to buy into what coaches saying we need you to play like this, We know you can do this, and you know, just play the game. And then also showing me the small things, you know, how to take care of your body, the weight room stuff, what you need to work on, what's going to really help you, you know for eighty two plus the practices it's not like nowadays. So he was the guy that really really helped me out. And then I had super veterans like Tim Chambers was on that oh I realized then Terry Cummins was on that squad, and then um we also had big Rick Mahorn. So I yeah, yeah, So I had some guys man that you know, get my newspaper on my breakfast, all that kind of stuff. But it was great because they also shared information and knowledge. So it was a beautiful thing. Yeah about AI, Man, you touched on a little bit, the quickest one of the one of the greatest players we've ever seen play the game. Is there a moment or a game that you remember from AI. You're like, yo, this guy was different, and like, hey, man, like we needed it, we were we had the right to. AI just reeled off real sudden, wild off anything that stands out every you playing with them every night, Man, every night. I mean to see one of the smallest individuals in the game play so big. It was just amazing, Right, this guy was one of the toughest guys around. And we're talking in that era where guys can take a chuck and you coming through the lane chucked and you know, guys taking you out the air, all that kind of stuff. So this guy would literally fall ten times, get right back up and continue to attack, you know. And he was just such a competitor that he didn't have to speak on it. You could just see him going right and it'll be times where you know, you might be down in the game, eight ten points whatever, whatever, and he just had that mentality like, you know, we're not gonna lose. I'm gonna get us back in it. I'm gonna get a couple of stills. I'm gonna do something to give us a spark, you know. And then once we got a spark, you know, he was a guy that wasn't afraid of any moment, you know, anyone, and he was gonna come after you. So you know, I enjoyed playing with him for two years and you know, just you know, seeing his approach, you know, every single night, even though you know, we was a team that we didn't win much because we was all still young outside of our vets, but you know that that learning curve between that the first two years was was great. It was great. All right, guys. Coming up next, man, we're gonna step into the NBA Rookie Life Film Room with Tim Thomas. He's gonna break down some of his plays, Sam Alan Iverson and one of your favorite rookie So stay tuned, man, we got some cool stuff coming up next. Well, we can't just tear you down. We gotta pick you back up. We gotta clip for you. We want you to break it down. Man. One thing we do. We step into the NBA Rookie Film Room and we gotta clip from you throwing it down? Man, I want to know who are you playing against? What game? This was what was going on, and we'll break it down. So take a look at this. He forty two cold out here for some team. So they want to run him towards Tim Thomas so Thomas can shoot to three. So here Obson's comes comes to the right side. Thomas, what the jam clearing the side? I'm playing a two man game with Overson and Thomas and there's a perfect pass and Tim Thomas lambs at home. All right, Tim, what's going on this play? Man? We got you. Ai is in the second year, you and your first year. Let's go into the NBA Rookie film room. What's happening here? So right here, it's basically a one four clear out for Ai. Ai was great going right. He was a little guy who had very very long long arms, can get a shot off against anyone. So um, obviously you know he had to cross over. So he was gonna set his man up, pretending like he was going left, he was gonna cross back over. And my job was to see if my man was sleeping going back door, and if my guy was on me. If Chuck was to get stuck right there. I will come back around basically to the top of the key and then also attack towards the paint. So so obviously my guy got caught sleeping there and I was able to get a get a live right then. You know what's funny When I would look, I mean you got look, Tim, you got some bunnies there, man, We know that. Man. Three listen, man, Tim, I know you're here all the time. You played in the wrong era. Okay, you played in the wrong era. That was the same. I know you know it. But knocked down at three super bounds run the floor? You know wrong? Are all good? Listen? All good? Young guys are are are appreciated in a different way now shout out LB though, but young guys are. It was funny. We used to run a similar play for Shannon Brown, but he ran it off a pick a role like a twist. We have it now. AI gonna take two with him because he had that type of tension. Right, Um, you dribble to the right, he'll spin back left. You'll twist the pick and roll and then he just just s b will go Shannon will go back door to go back door and dunk one all right, Tim, Now, let's stand in this film room. You got the knowledge. We want you to break down a play from Bennedict mather in the Indiana rookie Man. He's not as tall as you be. Got a similar game, man, he can shoot it. He finishes at the rim. Well, man, he's having himself a heck of a season. So we want to see get a young fellow some love and shout him out. Here's Miami on the two way deal. Let this twin brother in Charlotte try all right, Tim, Like I said, we're here in this NBA Rookie film room. We got it. One of the diaper dandies. Man Bennedict Mathern. Breakdown what you see in his game? Man, you ran to win? You ran the three four? What are you seeing from Bennedict Mathern on this play? What is he looking at? Take us into the film room. I see a very skilled three slash four, has a great body, can get to way. He wants two on the floor. Great touch, you know. And I always tell kids, you know all the time, like to get to the next level, we got to be able to do a few things well. And this kid definitely is one of those type of players where you know, it does a few things very very well. What's he thinking on this clip, Tim, Well, obviously you see where the defense is kind of walling or shading him in on the left side as he's going left. And to be a big body to step through with the euro step. That's some pretty good footwork right there. I know a lot of the kids now are actually you know, using the euro step more. But to go into traffic like that, to be strong enough to finish like that and then be able to trick your body a little bit to you know, take that contact and finish, that's big time. What's the biggest difference you see from a guy like math Ring in today's NBA versus when you played where there was a you know, it wasn't interchangeable, it was a two, it was a three or four. What are you seeing from Benedict and how his game matures and how the NBA's played today. Well, most big guys nowadays that are in the league, they're able to play multiple positions and do multiple things on the floor. In our era, you had maybe one or two guys on each particular team that can play multiple positions. So now you're literally seeing in the course of a night, you're seeing about four or five guys pretty much all same hype. You know, all can you know, do multiple things on the floor, So, you know, I think it's good for the game. And then at the same time, as a OG, you know, we all say everything is about the three ball now, right, But you know, I just wish some of these guys would get some low post stuff in their game, because obviously the older you get, you're gonna need some of that may range and you know, some of that low post stuff to keep you around before we get you out of here. Tim, I like to ask this, obviously, if you could get in the air of a nineteen year old Tim times, you know, losing some games the Ogs, what would you say to yourself? Man, what would that that message be to yourself at that time, had two hundred people in Charlotte at Yeah, would will that message be to a night's yeold Tim Thomas? I probably would just say, enjoy the ride, enjoy the experience, because you know, as a former athlete, when you're in it, you're not really trying to soak up all the experiences. Um, and then when when you retire, you know it becomes more of a bigger thing for us to you know, reconnect with former players or see formal players or even a ten games and just you know kind of you know, recollect off some of the things that you went through. So I would just say enjoy the process. Because when you're so young and you're coming from the inner city and you know, you're seeing your first million dollars and all of all these kinds of things, it's it's all different. It's a new world too, you know, and I wouldn't change it, you know for anything. Man had a great career. Well, Tim, I appreciate you, brother, I really appreciate you coming out in a support an NBA rookie life here. But the one thing that we like to do is you gave us support. Where can the fan support you? What have you been up to? What are some initiatives that you're behind? Where can we can follow you and connect with you and see the things that you have going on. Well, I started my basketball academy called Tim Thomas Basketball Academy. Go google that. And then also I've been in a located based out of Jersey. It's basic. And then my AU program, Tim Thomas Players. This is our twenty sixth year of service. We just signed with Puma, so we're gonna be playing in the Puma circuit this summer, and uh, it's all about giving back man. Within our program, twenty three NBA players, nineteen dollars, all Americans. As I mentioned earlier, who who's some of the notable NBA guys that you had in the program? Um j R. Smith, Dante Jones, Earl Clark, arrest is Old, Eddie Griffin. I know you played against Eddie Griffin, Yes, numerous times, just the name a few. So this year we're excited. It's something new with Puma, and you know, it was going to continue our service of giving back and helping the youngsters finding niche within the basketball world. Tied Man, We preach you, j Man, and that's what it's about. You know, you were a part of one of the greatest AU experiences ever and instead of holding that in you, you know, you're paying it forward man, yep. And I think that's just huge for that next generation. I know, I can imagine you know, I threw my camp. I threw my camp for like seven years, you know, and it took a lot. And you had that thing going for twenty man, So salute man, and if you're in the Jersey area, make sure you guys go. They're out of support. Man. That's that's enough, man. I can only imagine the rewards. You end up more rewarded than the kids, do you know those situations? Yeah, well, honestly, the best reward is to see the kids playing college basketball. Are the ones that make it to the LEA had opportunity to play. It's a couple of the kids. Um, you know, Dante Jones actually dunked on me at the garden, so you know it's um, it's always a thrill, man, when you can see those young kids. Kyle Anderson as another kid, Um, you know that came through the program. So it's always good man, when you can see those kids develop and grow. Nazi Reid, who's you know, also in the league right now too nice. I like, yeah, Nazi is good. It's really good. So that's a thrill for me, man. And be able to turn the TV on and see these guys or get on social media and see their clips and stuff. That's that's what it's about for me, man. That's the whole legacy aspect of it, all right there, Hey man, and sim where your handles? Man, where can we follow you and check you out? Man? You can follow me on Instagram King Tim Thomas. You can follow the players on Instagram at Tim Thomas Players the League, and you can follow the basketball academy on Instagram at Tim Thomas Basketball. Consider it done. Man, Appreciate you for coming out. Man. A huge blessing is always man, always always loving the game. Man. Appreciate take care man, guys, I am blown away. That's by far one of the coolest interviews. And we got some NBA history there from Tim Thomas, some legacy moments from Larry Brown from you know, the draft being in Charlotte, you know, going against veterans. Like, there's just so many nuggets in this interview that Tim Thomas gave us, man, and like I said, his game definitely would have translated and was built for today's NBA. So shout out Tim Thomas. Make sure you guys go follow is a U team an academy, and make sure man, you guys take care of us here at NBA Rookie Light. So don't forget to like follow, subscribe, support all that cool stuff, and spread the word. Appreciate you guys and we'll see you next week.