J Stone and a Porch Ft. Julyan Stone

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[00:01:59] This podcast is brought to you by The Plug. It's chillin' it's right. I feel like it's right. This shit's bomb. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It tastes like me getting fucked up. It was definitely strong. It compares to that, uh, what was it? Velvetberry? Because I didn't think anything would top that. Did you say elderberry? Youngerberry.

[00:02:28] Oh. I said youngerberry. Why not olderberry? No, we don't do that. That's what Diddy did. If they got elderberries, they should have youngerberries. Olderberry is sweeter than Jew. Ew. I think it's the blackerberry, the sweeter the juice. Yeah, well, yeah. She blacker than a motherfucker, too. You can't eat those, though. That'll get you. You can't eat those. That'll get you locked up. You can't eat those ones. Don't even mention the youngerberry. Don't even think about it. But I did say velvetberry for the record. Sure.

[00:02:59] I said velvet. Sure. Back to the intros. Back to the intros. Our guy here today has played some ball overseas. From what I heard, you know what I'm saying? He does some coaching and some other odds and ends things. But I let the man speak for himself, though. Hold on. Hold on. Play for the Nugs, though, too, right? And the Raptors. I'm going to get there. I got four years in the league. Spent my first two years here in Denver with the Nuggets, 2011, 2013. Hell yeah.

[00:03:27] Had some of the greatest OGs in the game, Al Harrington. Birdman, Andre Miller. Oh, yeah. Feel me? Great OGs. Then I went to Toronto, spent time up there. Then played with the Hornets. So I've been around, man. I also been cut by about eight teams. You feel me? So at least I got the jersey. So it's love. Hey, man. It's all about how many times you get back up and keep playing, though. Can you speak on Ty Lawson's alcoholism? So Ty, listen. He was at all the parties. So listen, I was out. That was at all the parties.

[00:03:57] I was Ty's rook, right? Yeah, right. Okay. So I was his rook, right? So I was his man. I was out with Ty all the time. I wouldn't say he had alcoholism. I would just say Ty liked to have fun. He did. There you go. He did. See, what I'm saying. This is what I say. He was at every function. He was at all the parties. That's the lifestyle, though. Exactly. When this is the lifestyle that you live, we watch Allen Iverson. You hear these stories. This is just the lifestyle that you live.

[00:04:25] But for me, shit, say what you want. Ty was the top five point guard in the league for a while. It was like that. But then he got his first driving under the influence charge. Yeah. So as a hooper, does that lifestyle affect players? Hell yeah. But it affects the biggest crown. Are there a lot of players that fall off because of that? 100%. Yeah. It's hard to stay focused. It's hard to stay locked in. Did you say that's the hardest part? Hell yeah. I was a 15th man and it was hard for me.

[00:04:54] I needed to try to get minutes and I was still outside. You feel me? So you go through that. You go through it. The lifestyle, you making money. You know, you in the nicest hotels. You sitting next to celebrities that you used to just see on TV. You feel me? It's just hanging. It gets to your head a little bit. It's not real. You know, it's not real. The lifestyle is not real. You know what I'm saying? It's crazy. Yeah. It's crazy. What makes you say it's not real? That's crazier than... Because it's just not real.

[00:05:24] It's all the bravado? Yeah. It's not like... It's this little duration of life that you have in the NBA life. It's small, right? But when you get out of it, it's nothing like it. It's like it's... Okay. You're gone. Imagine you're gone every night. Different city. Everything is accessible to you. Right? Automatically. It's nothing like real life. So what pro-life is better? Overseas or here? Uh-huh.

[00:05:53] And what's the differences? So hold on, hold on, hold on. Before you answer that. What's the midget content? Oh, hold on, hold on. No, stop. Hold on. Let's wait. We'll get to that. Let's wait. So mine's got a bit of a follow-up to that. So let them speak on that and then I'll continue. The league from just the outside looking in... Where did you play too? Hold on. This year? No, no. Where did you play? So like as far as in Europe? Yeah. I was in Venice, Italy for like eight years, nine years.

[00:06:23] Then I was in Naples. So I was on the Moffy Coast. It's a different lifestyle. Over here is like you have the glitz, the glamour, the league. I'm traveling. I'm the nice hotel. Europe basketball is ten times harder. It's grittier? Hell yeah. It's harder. It's two a day. It's like practice. So the one that offended me, this nigga, Luca said... No, I knew you were going to say that. Luca and a couple of Euros have said it's easier to score. Way harder in Europe. Why? Because they call fouls all the time here. It's more physical.

[00:06:54] There's no defensive three seconds. Yeah, there's no fucking paint presence. No, in Europe there's a huge paint presence. No, there's no foul for standing in the net. And if you miss a shot and it hits the rim, you can knock it off the rim. The goaltending shit. Yeah, so it's like it's harder to score. You have no open lanes. It's tough. It's all open lanes. It's more of a score. It's meant for that. It's meant for entertainment. How do you feel about them just running up the score just so everybody can break records and they call fouls on everything?

[00:07:24] Because you can't play defense. I'm a defensive guy. Yeah, and you can't play defense. I don't get money. Hand check no more and shit. I don't listen. But defense wins championships. And you last when you play defense. Everyone needs a hustle player. It's different. So you're saying the U.S. life is better? No, no, no, no. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying it. I'm not saying that. I say as far as like the way you travel, that is way better. Okay, okay. But in Europe, your life is— European living is better. European living is way better.

[00:07:54] And then now Barcelona is two hours away. So I'm going to go to Barcelona on the south. Barcelona on a Saturday. Barcelona on the weekend. You know what I'm saying? I'm going to go to Paris on a Monday because it's a two-hour flight. It's 60 euros. Hold on, real quick, though. You played outside of Europe, though, too, right? I played—no, no, no. Was it—I thought I saw Venezuela, too. Oh, yeah, I did. I forgot. I did just go to Venezuela. I just came back from Venezuela. I'm tripping. So what's that like? That's horrible. Oh, it is? That's a third-world country.

[00:08:23] You can't go outside like that. You're going to break to the game. So it's just basketball. Nothing else? It's just straight basketball? So what's some of the biggest differences between the NBA and the Euro League? Coaching. How they pay you? The pay is completely different, but coaching? You're allowed to coach in Europe. You're not bigger than the coach. What about, like, the player treatment? Oh, come on. What about, like, player treatment? It's a player's league. True. NBA's a player's league. Because it's a business. Because it's a business.

[00:08:52] In Europe, no player's bigger than the program. Say that shit to you. You're not bigger than your coach. You're not bigger than your coach. You're not bigger than the program. You feel me? So it's random. They just talking to you like any old way. Yeah, it's like, you know how back in the day your coaches used to talk to you? I don't believe shit. That's how European coaches start. High school type shit. Don't get a Serbian coach. You get a Serbian coach, he gonna violate you. Whoa. And they with the shit. Like, they'll fight you too. They'll talk to you. They'll fight you too.

[00:09:21] That's good. Like, imagine your country being bombed. I respect that. Imagine your country being bombed and it still looks like it's been bombed. That's what you need to know, coach. Let's bring that back. I respect that. The coaching culture. So would you say you have more respect for the Euro coaching style than you do? American? 100%. Okay. I think this is because of... Because they cater too much to the superstar here? Yeah, we can't coach. You can't coach. You can't tell LeBron James what to do? You can't do that. So you're saying not... Like, David Blatt was a great coach, right? Blatt was a great coach in Europe, but he couldn't...

[00:09:50] You can't coach that way in the NBA. That's why some coaches struggle. Because in Europe, I can coach you. I can tell you what to fucking do. Here, I have to manage your personality. I have to hope you listen to what I'm telling you to do. So you're saying not just the physicality, but how hard the coaches push players is different? Just talk to some players. NBA, you practice 45 minutes. So it's easier? You're managing little bitch-ass Pima Donnas, bro. You're managing. You're managing. Their feelings.

[00:10:17] So you mean to tell me that basketball over in Europe is harder than football for them? Soccer? Yeah, they get like... No, I think it's teams have gone missing. No, football, no. They hate cards all the time. They hate cards all the time. This is what I realized. I'm going to keep it real. This is what I really realized. We ain't shit. Hoopers, American football, we ain't shit. Prima Donnas. Them European soccer players. Oh, yeah. No, they're just... It's not even Prima because they make more money. It's you're just your notoriety.

[00:10:47] Everybody plays soccer, dog. They all know you. It don't matter where you're at. You can go to the middle of Africa and soccer. Minerva, Venezuela, soccer. Way younger. You play soccer. So they know Messi. They know all these sides. Like, it's... You talk about superstars? Soccer players are superstars. Like, we go to the club, the basketball players in Europe, we go to the club in Milan. Who the fuck are you? We think it'd be crazy. It's going crazy. Nah, the soccer players got a whole other section of VIP. In a room that you never heard. Like, you don't even...

[00:11:16] It's a BVIP. It's different. Oh, yeah. It's different. Very, very important. It's different, bro. Euro... Yeah, because soccer is big internationally. I feel like football in the United States is big, but in other countries, it's really not shit. Right now, we can go... I went to Italian, the pro-Italian American Football League. Me and me... We can all right now go put on some pads and go out there. Oh, I believe it. I believe that we're starting. No. Like, they're serious. Oh, I keep seeing them 40 and up or them 35 and up leagues.

[00:11:46] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Well, they play with no insurance. Them niggas is wild. They ain't no... In Europe, they ain't hit like that. Like, if it ain't rugby, you could... Yeah, but these is washed up ass niggas that got something to prove morally. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. And they playing for no insurance and no check. That's why I didn't do it. That shit is wild. I wouldn't do that shit. There were so many niggas that was trying to get me to play semi-pro football. I was like, bro, unless that check is crazy, I'm not playing. Man, that got to be at least a job check. That shit's got to be crazy. You got no insurance.

[00:12:15] For me to run over the middle and get hit? And then go to work at a regular job? And you still have to have another thing. And you got a semi-pro quarterback. So if you play receiver, you got a semi-pro quarterback. Come on. Especially over the middle. My brothers were all-American football players. And, bro, like, I wanted to see if it was a quarterback. They only pull defensive players from those leagues. Yeah, no, they don't pull nobody. That enemy ain't going nowhere. They're going to be right there MVP of the semi-pro league. If anything.

[00:12:44] Since we're talking sports, shout out to the Yankees for making it. Big facts. We're about to beat the Dodgers 4-2. Oh, no. I can't tell you like I know baseball. I don't. You don't fuck with baseball? No, I do. The thing is, one of my high school teammates, his name is Jason McCann. He's been at MLB and is an all-star. But, like, I didn't fucking know baseball. I was trash. But when I realized I was trash at a sport, I stopped fucking watching it. Stopped doing it. So I went out there, and my whole basketball team went out there.

[00:13:13] And, like, I'm cool. You're not throwing a pitch and it's coming close to me and telling me I got to wait this little strike zone. I'm swinging at everything coming my fucking way. Simple like that. And then in the outfit, I'm cool. I can run, catch, and throw that motherfucker. I feel you, but that's definitely not smart. But I feel you. No, it's not. But shit. I feel you, though. That's the way I was looking. Like, it ain't. Listen. But I'm going to be aggressive, though. You're supposed to go out swinging. I was trash. I have no problem saying I was trash. So you already was, like, one?

[00:13:40] The thing is, with baseball, even if you're athletic, you still could be terrible at baseball. Because there's some great athletes that still suck at baseball. Hell yeah. No, baseball is a hard ass. That shit's a hell of a hard. Hard as fuck. Be patient. You got to sit there. You got to have an average. I think baseball and golf are pretty similar. Mm. I still get both. Golf? Look. You could be fat. Some positions. And still do okay. You can't be a fat guy. Or a shortstop or a center fielder. No, definitely not.

[00:14:09] Unless you're a pitcher, that's the only way that works. Maybe at first base. But golfer? A pitcher? Maybe first base. I'm not by a baseball. For sure. But no, no. Hold up. There's still some good athletes that play baseball, though. So back to you playing overseas. What was your, like, you ever have a language barrier moment? All the time. Yeah. I never. I just sit there and pretend I understand my hug as well. Did you try to learn the language? I can understand Italian. That's what's up. I can't speak that shit. That's what's up. I can't speak that shit. What was your illest language barrier moment? Like, yes, you can. Completely crazy moment.

[00:14:39] You know what would be the worst is, like, in an emergency situation. Yeah, like, bro, like, I done got an accident. When it's serious. I done got an accident. Yeah, when it's serious. And, like, you don't understand shit, now the police are looking at me, and it's not my fucking fault. Right. But they can't understand me. What's one that stands out? I mean, that one. That one. That one. That one. Like, that one. Like, I never forget, I got hit in the car. And, bro, the police came, and the people tried to blame it on me. And I couldn't speak the language. They didn't understand me.

[00:15:06] So, now I'm behind in the cop car. There's not as much racial shit. Yeah, I mean. It's different out there. But still, in that situation, how do you get your point across? How did that end up? I had to get a team. I had to text a team manager, and he had to come and talk to me. And translate. But, I mean, this is the thing. Like, it comes up. But once you, like, as humans, bro, we can communicate without language. Yes. Facial features.

[00:15:36] Yeah, facial features and all that. That's what animals do. So, once you kind of get by that, it's not that hard. And then, you have to understand what your intentions are behind any words, whether it's the barrier or not. Like, if you say, I'm hungry, in any language, it's still, I'm hungry. All right. Speaking of I'm hungry, though. What's some of the best food that you've had internationally? Italian pasta is amazing. I won't eat pasta in the United States no more, period. What's your favorite pasta from Italy? Her favorite dish.

[00:16:06] I like angel hair with, uh... No, no, no. Hold on, hold on. I got a... Hold on. Let me answer it. I got a better question. Wait, but... No, no, no. Let me answer it. I like that. I like that. I like the linguine with clams. Delicious! Eating with clams. Eating with clams. Okay. And they got the white wine. I like that's... That's a little upper crust. That shit. Nah, but see, that's the thing. In Italy, it's only $7 for that. It's 7 euros. It's normal. They're like walking down the beach and like find some clams.

[00:16:34] So speaking of Italy, you ever... You know, your first time in Italy, you ever order something and they look at you like, yo, what the fuck you talking about? Nah, so I ordered a pepperoni pizza, right? When I first... And I don't eat pork no more, but I ordered a pepperoni pizza, right? You shouldn't. And that shit was not pepperoni. That shit was peppers. And I'm like... I come back like, no, pepperoni, pepperoni, pepperoni. Pepperoni. They're looking at me crazy. That's what I'm talking about, bro. And then it's salamino picante. That's what it is.

[00:17:00] And then I'm showing them pictures and that was one like for me that I ordered some fucked up shit, but I was known for ordering some fucked up shit, dog. Like you just start... Like, because I can't read it, so I'm just like... Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. I ate a lot of shit that I would never try in the States when I was older. That's good. Like just because I'm... Right in your horizons. I'm in fucking Venice, Italy. I was not supposed to be here, dog. So I'm going to try this shit. And like my family, reading my family out there, man, we going to enjoy this shit.

[00:17:30] Like we ain't from here. In Venezuela, what were you eating? Mesh. Yeah, but rice. Hella, hella rice. Sea food and rice. It was real more rice, bro. Yeah. More rice. More chicken, rice and beans. Like I was there for a month, but I didn't get the fuck up out of it because we stayed in hotels. Like we stayed in this... It was like a resort, which was actually pretty solid, but you couldn't leave the resort. So it got repetitive. Yeah. But it was like, it was cool. But actually Venezuela was solid.

[00:17:58] That's why you stayed South America for like a week. Yeah. I couldn't do it again because it just... At this particular point of my career, like I'm cool. I'm cool. I need to be there. Where's the ideal place for you to land if you're still trying to stay on the Euro side? I'm going to Italy. Okay. Just because I... And just stay in Italy? Just because I've been... I'm so... I've been there so long. Comfortable there? I'm comfortable. Whatever I need is whatever. So did you speak any Italian? Man, I know enough to get by. Like enough to get by. Andiamo. Nah. Like how you speak?

[00:18:27] I, una, panne. He must play Mario Brothers or something. No, bro. I'm very serious. This nigga watch a lot of YouTube videos. No, but where are you from? Like your cult, like where are your ethnicity, like your people? Everything but rice nigga and sand nigga. All right. Like are you an island? You like people from the islands? Nah. So he... Some of them. You sound like... When I first met you, I thought you was from the islands. So my guy is Mr. Multicultural.

[00:18:55] Like he is the definition of multicultural. Everything but rice and sand. So me on the other hand, I'll be getting on this nigga because I'm Haitian. You're Haitian. Word. Word. Word. Deeply rooted Haitians. I got a lot of Haitian people. A lot of word. First generation born here in the U.S. My third favorite culture. So it's like... Damn. You get this fucked. You was in Denver? How'd you gonna come from Denver? I know hella Florida. Can we go from New York, B? Well, I mean, I came from New York first. I came from Brooklyn. Okay. Then I moved out. There you go. Flatbush, flatbush.

[00:19:25] Stand up. There you go. Word to the gods. Flatbush, what up? You real tight right now. Yo, that's on my mother. That's on my mother. All right, calm down. Come on. Come on. Slow it down. Slow it down. You digas gotta be real tight out here in Colorado. All right. He said, nigga, shut the fuck up. You're tight right now, B. All right, nigga. You made your point. Relax. But, you know, so I get the foreign living, you know what I'm saying, and how that lifestyle is. So, yeah.

[00:19:56] I get it. I get it. You know what I'm saying? Let me ask you a question. We're Haitian parents because a lot of times, like, I tell people, like, American black is different. Different. Come on. In Haiti. Maybe not started, but, you know. Okay. That's crazy.

[00:20:24] I guess they didn't, you know, but regardless, I definitely have grown up with that, like, that whole Kendrick shit. They not like us shit. You know what I'm saying? That's why that hits on so many levels and how it's different. And, you know what I mean? And it's different. Like, I had a different impression of black people from other than America for me was

[00:20:48] completely opposite than what I really found to be black folk from all over the world, right? Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. And this might sound crazy. As American blacks, whatever you want to call us. I feel like I know where you're going. We are probably the most uneducated out of all. Now, when you talk about our attention to detail from education to learning multiple languages,

[00:21:15] all my African partners, and that's who I've been around being in Europe, because you're not just black. Okay, I'm from Senegal. I'm from Haiti. Yeah, yeah. I'm from Cameroon. I'm from wherever. Like, right? Like, you know, multiple languages. Like, and it's just normal. Yeah. They're understanding of life, right? Yeah. Like, they might have different as far as why they're culturally not. Where we are here. But as far as intelligence. Intelligence, man. Like, we, it's way further.

[00:21:44] And I didn't understand that until I'm like, damn. But y'all know what four or five ladies is? I saw the same thing. So there was a bunch of dudes that I ran track with that came straight from Kenya. And it was fucked up, because they didn't even fuck with most American blacks. Mm-hmm. They didn't like how they were raised. They didn't like how they acted. None of that shit. They barely fucked with them. It's not our fault. It was wild to me. Yeah. They didn't have to. They took me off.

[00:22:15] I mean. Man, y'all, man. I don't know. I think you're coming every shade. We all black. We all black. You got the beard, man. We all black. Hey, let me go. Wait, are you white? You see? No, he's black. But he knows. Nobody knows, all right? No, but he knows. Nah, he's from Middle Eastern. He like us? He like that. You got some type of Middle Eastern. I'm dead. I'm for real, bro. He could be in the Elemental P community. I lived in Turkey. I lived in Turkey. You got some type of Middle East. You ain't just normally white. Yeah, nah. You got Middle Eastern.

[00:22:42] But, um, so with that being said, since you've been on both sides, Europe and the NBA, what's your favorite venue to play? Oh, that's a good one. Number one spot to play. That's a good one. You see that motherfucker on the calendar and you're like, yes, that's my spot. You play that, uh, I mean, for me, Staples. Okay. Because I was back home. Yeah. Okay. And so I got to play against Kobe and that motherfucker. That's what's up. And so it was different. And it's like, I'm back.

[00:23:11] I used to wear a Kobe stopper shirt growing up, growing up out there. Growing up out there. So to come back home, that was always like, I'd have made it. I'm from California. I made it to the highest, the highest arena you can play. I made it there. And that was like Golden State as well. Did you score on Kobe? Oh, yeah. Let me get that one. I got me a little bang out, man. So you got one? What was your Kobe experience? Yeah, did you score on that? Which one? Man, Kobe. I had a Kobe when I was playing him in the playoffs. It's a fadeaway. And it's like bouncing on the rim.

[00:23:40] And I'm like, hell nah. Like, and I'm just sitting on the bench. I'm the 15th man. So I'm not playing. Hold up. We who? What team? What team? Denver. Okay. And I'm just sitting there, right? On the bench. I know I'm not getting in. And it's like bouncing. I'm like, hell nah. And he kind of like stops and looks at me. It's almost like now it's going slow motion. Like, who the fuck is it? Who are you? And then that motherfucker just yuck out. And Coach Conlon just looking at me like, shut the fuck up.

[00:24:09] So did you get the pre-warned, don't talk no shit to Cole? Nah. Yeah. Don't talk no crazy shit to this nigga on the court. It was a firm up. Like, the game I got to really hoop against him, I thought I was getting cut. And this was actually when I was in. So you had the ball out. It was in Toronto, bro. We had made this trade. And now we were over the limit. So somebody was getting cut the next day. And I happened to have, it was me, Dwight Bikes, and DJ Augustine while fighting for this second string spot. And we were in the Staples Center. So we got to play.

[00:24:38] And it was the game Kobe came back, I believe, from the ACL or whatever, Achilles. Okay. And so he's coming back. And so I'm like, fuck, I don't know if I'm going to play. I'm going to be gone. So I ended up getting the second string. And I never get to play. Man, I come down. Xavier Henry's guarding me. I cross over. Kobe's in the corner. I kind of give a fake. And then Jordan Hill comes over. Ha! Give me a dunk, right? And I don't dunk on nobody. I don't score. But I remember all I hear is my auntie, choo-choo!

[00:25:07] The whole gym, right? It's the Staples Center, but I hear my auntie. And I remember looking down like, damn, Auntie Terry and my parents were up there. And I just remember that because it was impactful for me just to be on the court with Kobe. Definitely. Being able to do that. And that shit was just, to me, I wasn't supposed to be in that position, bro. I wasn't, I had, it was still the last day of signing a Division I scholarship that I signed. I was lying to people. I had offers. I didn't have no motherfucking offers. I had nothing, right?

[00:25:37] I went undrafted. I got promised the 43 to the Lakers, 32 to Detroit. So I have this big draft party thinking I'm going to get drafted. And Brandon Knight messed up the whole draft. The next thing I know, I wasn't drafted. I had 100 people right there at the draft party. Damn. And I'm going into a lockout. So I'm like, fuck. Like, I really don't know what the fuck to do. That's crazy. Damn. I wasn't supposed to be there, dog. You know what I'm saying?

[00:26:04] So every moment to me was just like, even from being able to go out and like, I'm in a club with some of these dudes, I'm like, fuck, I'm in the club with these motherfuckers. Like, this shit is not. Like, I'm calling my partners back at home like, yo, y'all got to come up here. That's wild. This shit don't make no sense. Me in the club. Like, my best friend is like, Ty lost and picking up my best friend. They're going out. You know what I'm saying? Of course. Of course. No, I'm saying like, whoever it was, like, it was that. Crazy. Nah, Ty, this ain't. I think everybody thought, like, Ty was outside. No, I fuck with Ty lost.

[00:26:34] Ty was outside, but I think it was. I just saw him everywhere I went. Yeah, he was out. That's what I'm saying. I was like, you're here too? I was definitely there too. I was definitely there with him because I was with Ty all the time. All the time. So, let's get us a little bit more funny shit. Who is the mustiest player? You either played with. Wow. You either played with or played against. You about to out somebody right now.

[00:27:03] No, no, fuck that. Fuck that. Let's go. I'm going to be honest with you. Absolutely. Let's go. Either overseas or here. That's terrible. Regardless. Who, who taught? That's terrible. You know what I'm saying? And the whole squad knew. Like, yo, you got that nigga good luck. You better wash your ass four, five times. Because, nigga, you about to stink for a week. That's terrible. Man. And I ain't going to lie to the league. I wasn't up close to nobody like that. So, I can't, I can't, I can't do that. And they, fuck. Gosh.

[00:27:34] The mustiest nigga I've ever seen. Tough one, eh? I'm trying to think. I'll be up all niggas, but there'll be some nigga that just be stank at practice. See? Damn. All that money. Yeah, rich and still stink. That's crazy. All that money. No, it's crazy. Damn, nah, but he be in Europe because sometimes them Europeans don't be wearing shit, bro, and they just be stank. Oh, god damn. Damn, bro, I don't know, dog. You gonna, I gotta think about that. I had a lot of teammates.

[00:28:03] You didn't want to out anybody? Nah, I ain't about out, I just gotta think of which ones, like what year. He said, there's so many. Nah, because I gotta go through years, like I'm thinking 16 years, and like I remember, the worst part is, I remember there was a year where I had a teammate that was stupid musty, and I'm trying to remember what year that was in my head. I'm trying to remember what year that was in my head so I can remember who the fuck it was. So, you said 16 years, why are you thinking? I wanted to give props to that too, because playing in your mid-30s, or especially after that,

[00:28:32] that's like a, that's a rare group. Nah, that is, but that's it. It's undrafted, absolutely. Because, I mean, that's not old in just regular life, but to be a professional at any sport, there's not a whole lot of 35-year-olds, 36, 37. Bro, especially to even get into the league undrafted. Nah, that sounds crazy. And stay in the league for as many years, and even though, you know, it was a lot of teams. Right, it was a lot.

[00:28:57] So, what's the secret to playing for, you know, 15, 16 plus years? Because that shit's rare. I think, like for me, shit, it would have been 15. Yeah, it would have been 15. I think for me, bro, like, it was always having a will to want to be great and wants to prove something, right? Like, so you enjoy it still. I enjoy it, but like for me, I love coaching kids now. Like, I have way more fun and purpose in doing that. Like, that energy I gave in basketball. That's more meaningful? What?

[00:29:27] That's what's up. Like, my rah-rah, like, I talk shit. I'm that motherfucker. I love it, though. I love it. As a coach, I'm that motherfucker. That's an art. So, like, for me, like, my kids that I coach, they don't get normal coaching that you would see just if you go here. That's okay. If you're soft, you're acting soft. I'm not hearing none of that. Go take your ass on the bench. Yep. And, like, the parents understand because I love my kids so much. So, like, I can get on them and three of them cry at practice. Don't get me wrong. It sounds crazy. Whatever. But that next day.

[00:29:57] That's my son, bro. Yeah, whatever. But, dog, I'll have 10 kids at my house just chilling, playing right after practice. So, it's like, they know I got so much love for them now. But they know you're not. There you go. If you put that much energy in, you know what all the coaches used to tell me? If we stop getting on you, then we don't give a fuck no more. 100%. Then we don't care. So, if you're getting on them, it's because I believe something. And you see something. There you go. You see something. That's what everyone said. Wait until they stop talking to you. Yeah.

[00:32:09] His son's been playing long as an oldest, sir. The same age. Yeah, pretty much. So, my man over here, his son got like, yo, my man's finessing over here, all right? Finescing. Still needs to get more physical. But, yeah. Okay. I'll be watching. Regardless. Regardless. My man's finessing. You see my man playing. Yeah. So, my son, he's a very fast learner.

[00:32:40] Okay. Very fast. You know what I'm saying? And he's very hard on himself. You know what I'm saying? So, he, I gotta get better, gotta get better. You know what I'm saying? Like, his own internal drive is a little bit crazier than normal type shit. And he's been playing a lot shorter than everybody else. And I'm, I'm very like, I'm so picky about who he played for. Man, what? Or who he got coached by. Man, listen. You know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm.

[00:33:07] So, like, his only few years that he's been playing, where he played team ball, was only because I knew who he was coached by. You know what I'm saying? Listen, I'm with you. I'm already, I'm already know what type of time you want. And since then, it's like, I don't really know. You know what I'm saying? I'm hesitant. But my, yo. Because coaches are, coaches are more than just coaches. Like, if you really want to hoop, and what you talk about your son, right, is, I wish

[00:33:34] my, my son has a little bit of that, but I'm trying to get that click in him, where it's, I have the drive. I want to be, I'm not there yet, but that drive is going to get him over whatever hump that he needs to get to. Because he's going to hate it. What got my man hesitant is, is like game experience. He's got no game experience. So how does he get it? By playing, but that's my fault, but you know what I'm saying, for not getting him in those type of situations. It's 10. Absolutely.

[00:34:02] But it's the confidence level, you know what I'm saying, versus game time and then playing out here with the homies. It's completely different. Even, even, even my son. I got to get him to click and be like, it doesn't matter. And it's a hard thing. Because I, I argue with my kids that I coach in North Carolina, because when I see them go out and play with, they, in the park and shit, they play harder. They, when they get in the game, I'm like, you. Because they know they're people. Like, overthinking shit. Yeah. And so, that's normal.

[00:34:30] Only thing you got to do is keep them, he got to play. He got to be able to play a couple games. To where it's second nature. To where it's second nature. Yeah. But it's also like, the thing is that these kids also play way too many games, bro. There's not enough practice. I've heard that argument. I kicked that boy outside so much, he hate me. I've definitely heard that argument. I'm talking about like, I'm talking about actual games. You see five, six games, right? In one weekend. But you only have one practice that week. Two practice.

[00:34:58] How does that, when do you play more games than practice? There's a particular league. In football, right? Mm-hmm. You practice, Friday night you play. So you practice it Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday for one game on Friday. They also have to do that in football because if they was playing multiple times a week, niggas would be dead. But I'm just talking about from a conceptual standpoint. True. In order to prepare, you have to go over and learn the game. So there's a particular league. Yeah, figure out what you did wrong. Yeah. Figure out what shit you got to fix.

[00:35:28] So out here in Colorado, like the only leagues that are, unless you know somebody or you've been playing since knee-high type shit, you know what I mean, other than like club shit, the AYLs is no more, you know what I'm saying? They don't do that no more. It's specific, like you got to do tryouts, you got to beat, you know what I'm saying? There's no more, oh, we just put all these kids on here. We got all these kids that signed up. Yeah.

[00:35:52] The only other thing they got now is this other shit that you practice on the same day you play. Yeah, I hate that. That's that I-9 shit. I-9, yeah, you got that. Yeah, I know, I hate that, but that's where- I coached my kids on that shit, because I was like, nah, ain't no way I'm going to let you do that. That's where it's watered down. And do that shit by somebody else's hand and learn somebody else's bad habits. Fuck that. It's watered- That's why when you play some dogs, then that shit's- You get a wake-up call.

[00:36:18] It's watered down because everybody now goes to this AAU scene. Instead of we used to be in the Boys and Girls Club, the Wreck, the whatever, that was our thing. Then if you were the best in that, you got selected to go play a couple teams from a different city. Now you got 50. Everybody's dad got a team. Right? That's why it's hard to get gym time. That shit's crazy. I've never seen somebody fight for gym time so much. No, but that's everywhere in the country. That shit's crazy. My kids practice outside, though. My kids don't touch the gym.

[00:36:47] My kids don't even touch the basketball two times. They practice. My schedule is we have Monday skill development work. Tuesday, we got practice. Wednesday, skill development work. Thursday, practice. Then we might play at Saturday or we'll have open gym. Those four days, right? On that Tuesday, Thursday, we practice. They ain't touching no ball. They ass is running. I need to send my kids to show up. We're running. I'm great. We running 2020. It's the same thing I learned in college.

[00:37:17] We are practicing like I do in college. Forget that. Y'all worried about. You should be about to be tough. Y'all going to be mentally tough. I love it. Y'all going to be mentally tough because I'm telling you, my team, no lie, our first six months, we didn't even get close to winning the game. We was losing by 30, 35. They need that. And we talking. You go to South Carolina, you're talking about fourth grade, and imagine seeing a fourth grader that's 5'7. Right. 135, 140.

[00:37:46] And that's normal. And running. Listen, everybody played football and basketball, so they're running. They're tough, too. Equivalent to a 42-speed. You know what I'm saying? They're tough, too. And they're running on them, but still. And they're aggressive. Everything's aggressive. So my boys were getting sad. Where do I sign my niggas up? Listen, it's one of them things where you have, like, my son, like, end of the day, I don't care what nobody says, his mom made him run from that smoke because it was getting tough on him. Oh, really? It wasn't getting tough.

[00:38:15] It wasn't getting tough where he was about to switch. He was about to make that. But it was, A, you got to be a dog. Yeah. She knows, and no disrespect. That is the only way. It's older man up. That's the only way. She knows. So in Colorado, no disrespect, he can be soft and he can be a little white boy. Too bad. I'm sorry. No disrespect to anybody that's in here, but I can do that.

[00:38:42] In North Carolina, you got to be strong enough within your manhood as a black man. I don't mean you got to act gangster, but you got to be enough. You're not getting punked, though. Tell him something. You can be educated, want to be a doctor, but you're going to stand on your ground. Tell him something. Tell him something. It don't, you ain't got to do that. Because you're raising a young black man. You can't run from the smoke. And everything that I say my son, and we still talk about now, it's the same thing. We're on the same page. It's the same thing he has to get done there, but now his environment doesn't allow him

[00:39:12] to be nothing but that. So if you don't, your ass is going to get beat up or fall on the ground every freaking time. So guess what? You better get up. Because this is life, though. This ain't basketball. Right. Life of competition, bro. And the problem is, I'm not raising my kid to fucking compete. I'm raising my kid to dominate, my nigga. Yep. I'm raising your dominant. I don't want him to be average. I don't want him to fuck everybody else up. I want him to fuck everybody else up because of life. But if you're trying to beat, listen, I'm raising my kid to be a top 1%. I don't give a fuck. Because they only take the top.

[00:39:42] That you should. And now, if you don't get there, you don't get there. But as long as, if he has that mindset, he's going to be the best that he's supposed to be. Exactly. And that's all that fucking matters. Yeah, you did your part. You can be weak as fuck at basketball, right? But if that's the best you can be, then you're going to be the best Jaden, but you still weak, bro. But shit, you're the best you're supposed to be. I'm cool. To your full potential. I can live with that. Yeah, to your full potential. Yo, that's how I am. Yo, he got it, though. He got it. I got three boys, my nigga. I'm telling you.

[00:40:11] I tell, they all, ooh, I got two mama's boys. Oh, yeah, I got mama's boys. I got two mama's boys, all right? You know what I'm saying? I tell mom Dukes all the time, you know, I know they're young. I know they're young. I know you need to nurture at certain times. I know it's appropriate at certain times. But you know what? They got to man up more than they get coddled now, especially my mom. Oh, definitely. You know what I'm saying?

[00:40:36] Because you're not doing them no favors by saving them and telling them, you know what I'm saying? They got to figure that shit out. You know what I'm saying? Before it's too late. You got to let that nigga man up a little bit to his age. Let me ask you a question. What is our job as parents to instill in our kids and make sure when they leave the house, they are supposed to... What is our job? What are we supposed to make sure they're capable of doing?

[00:41:05] That they're capable of living without us. Right? So independent. Independent, yeah. Make a maneuver, right? Yeah. Our job is not to protect our kids. No. Our job is to prepare our kids. That's the wrong P. It's the wrong P, and that's the problem. We spend time protecting them. When they get out, they can't sit there and maneuver. And you can't always be with them either, so you got to know that they can handle that

[00:41:33] shit on their own because you can't be with them everywhere that they're at. We constantly talk about today's society, but we feed right into the bullshit. Yeah. Everything, bro. You got to protect your kids, bro. But you can't sit there and not have your kid know how to walk up to the fucking corner and to the street and know how to go to the corner store and get you some fucking almond milk. Motherfucker. I don't know. You know what I'm saying? They got to know how to do this at a certain age because at some point, life going to hit them and your ass ain't going to be there. Yep. And it might be for two hours.

[00:42:02] They got to figure out how to live a life, maneuver, stay safe, and still be able to protect themselves from that. Like we said, you got to be prepared. You have to prepare our children. Got to be prepared for that shit. And the thing is, as young men, they are trying to take masculinity away from our men so freaking much right now, dog. And the easiest thing to do is tell them what fathers do, which is any book that you read,

[00:42:29] any religious book that you read tells us we are disciplined. We're there to discipline and instruct. Right? We're not there to coddle as fathers. No. Discipline and instruct. So our job isn't easy. It's not easy. But we're in a time now as today where fathers need to be as present and as available to their kids because they're trying everything to take, especially our young boys, they're trying everything to take our young boys away from us.

[00:42:59] Well, and I already went over this in one episode, but I worked with at-risk youth for like, give or take like 10 years. And the common theme with a lot of the kids that was locked up or in the system, they didn't have a father. They didn't have a father? 100%. Didn't have a father. At the end of the day, my mom, I was had a single mom. My dad was outside. Rest his soul. He was outside, right? But like, it gets to a certain point, as good as my mom was, as strong as my mom was,

[00:43:28] everything she told me, that nigga, my balls dropped. You feel me? I start, wait a minute, bro. Like, I'm feeling myself a little bit. And what you're telling me, I'm hearing it, but I'm like, I'm not meaning to be this way, mom. But this is just part of me becoming a young man. I'm not really under, I'm not trying to be disrespectful, right? But this is just, I'm feeling myself right now. And I'll never forget, it was, I got to that point and she called my dad and he saw it at that point.

[00:43:54] He ran in the house, grabbed me by my damn shit like this, lifted me up. And I was sitting there like, at that point, I went from being a man to like, oh shit. Yeah. Definitely. And my dad was like, I'm 6'5", 6'6", my brother's 6'5", my brother's 6'4", my dad's 5'8", 5'7". But I got up and I'm like, oh shit. Like, I don't know. That's my man. That you're a man. Like, this is, I feel, this is the difference of a man and a young man. You feel me? Like, let me, let me, let me. That shit shocks you a little bit. Man, what?

[00:44:22] In my opinion, what I think these last generations are missing is the big homie. 100%. Even with those single mothers, you know what I'm saying? Because I'm a part of that single mother. I had a big homie on the road. Big homie, 100%. You know what I'm saying? All the bullshit we did out in the street, whether we've, you know what I'm saying, snuck outside to go play outside, whatever, we didn't go further than right here because it was like, yo, where the fuck you going? You know damn where you ain't supposed to be going that far. Yeah.

[00:44:51] I know your ass just snuck out. Don't your ass leave this block. Yeah. And then watch everybody else go around the corner or go wherever they want to go, but your ass can't leave the block because big homie says keep your ass here. Because you'd rather not grab the ass whooping from big homie in front of all your boys. All your people, that's a fact. And get embarrassed on top of hurt. Yeah. And then on top of that get snitched on because that nigga definitely going to take

[00:45:17] your ass upstairs and be like, yo, this nigga snuck out and I caught his ass just now. He ain't going to snitch on you all the way, but he going to take your ass upstairs with you out of pocket all the way. You know what's crazy is the big homies when they're doing calls like in juvenile detention centers and shit, the big homies will keep them, all the youngins, they'll keep them in line more than the people that are face-to-face with them every day.

[00:45:46] They'll get on a phone call with them and have them acting right from a phone call. And that's what we lacking though because they done got so many niggas out of that lifestyle and to walk they path. There was nobody that was left behind per se. That's how they got about to go with it, yeah. To take on that big homie role. But that's how my- It's little niggas showing little niggas at this point. Would you say your big homies were solid? Your big homies did you justice? To a certain point. Okay.

[00:46:16] To a certain point, absolutely. Because I had this conversation with, because there's some jits back from my hometown that I'm like, bro, we gave them time every summer. I'm with them, right? But they needed me more consistent, right? But I was too busy following what my big homies did and what they didn't do. And now I'm making it and they're seeing that, right? But I can't give back that time. And it was our whole little group, right? My best friend is a strength and conditioning coach for the Miami Heat.

[00:46:44] We shared the motherfucking clothes together. You feel me? My other best friend, his dad put the ball in my hand. He's one of the head at Adidas. You feel me? So I saw off on the Boys and Girls Club, bro. None of us came from nothing, but we just grinded. But we left, right? How much of the big homies that really needed to be big homies left and did better for themselves? Now they're not in that community because of that. Right?

[00:47:11] Because now I look at my community back home and it's the big homies in the community. They were never even supposed to be in that position. But the real big homies is out doing what they were supposed to be doing, hoping to inspire, but not understanding the time. You know what I'm saying? And that's where, for me, I see. Because the people that are really supposed to be big homies ain't the big homies in the community. It's really the mother that ain't really got the experience. You talk about good example and bad example. And there are bad examples. Just in general. Just in general. So when they leave, though, there are bad examples.

[00:47:41] When you strive for more, like if you're a big homie striving for more, right? And I'm a young... Then you should be doing more. Then you leave where you're at. But you do got some... Do as I say, not as I do. But you do got some that can say, yo, I messed up. I'm trying to... Let me guide you, bro, because I know this from life. Maybe I'm not messed up, but I just know this life experience. But a lot of people, we're trying to advance in life. How many niggas are trying to stay in the hood? There is niggas that's trying to stay in the hood.

[00:48:08] But are you teaching the kid, yo, you need to stay in the hood? Or are you trying to teach the kid, unless you're trying to change the hood, get back, we're trying to elevate, or are you telling the kid to go elevate? So you're telling the kid in New York, you're telling the kid from Compton, yo, stay in Compton. Or are you telling the kid to go to Santa Barbara and go to Santa Barbara and get this nice-ass house and raise your kid in a good district or whatever, right? I can attest from me and where I grew up, none of my niggas I grew up is still on the same block. My grandma is still at. You know what I'm saying?

[00:48:38] I got maybe one big homie in his family and his wifey that still stay on the block. But that's because they've been there for generations type of shit. It's a good living situation for them, per se. House paid off. Well, not even. It's like... That's the way... In New York, it's more called rent control. If you've been in a certain spot for a certain amount of time,

[00:49:05] the super or whoever owns that building can't charge you more than what you were paying back in the day, regardless of inflation. That's what's up. My grandmother, her apartment that she's still in, she paid fucking... Let's just say under $500 a month for her apartment in Brooklyn. Back in 1990? Yeah. Because she's been there longer than anybody in that month.

[00:49:34] Almost 60 years, my niggas, she's been in that apartment, bro. Same price. That damn near her building. Same price. Exactly. Bro, they done offered her millions to move out. I bet. So they could cop her fucking unit and then the one under her. He said, fuck no, this is my house. Absolutely. Are you kidding me? You can take it when I die, motherfuckers. And when you die, you ain't gonna take it. Take a kid's generation. Nah, bro. But that's what we gotta do more of. That's the family. But, you know what I mean?

[00:50:03] We gotta do more of that. So, I can tell you, like, only because of certain circumstances, certain people only stayed on the block because they were too old to progress or too locked into where they were at. Not to say that they weren't doing nothing with their lives. It's just like... Just comfortable where they're at. No, no. It just made more sense for where they lived in New York to stay where they're at and what they had to go. You know what I'm saying? 100%.

[00:50:32] But everybody else, their kids. Everybody else on the block. My homies. The little homies that were coming up behind me. You know what I'm saying? My homies, big brothers and shit like that. My big bro and shit like that. You know, everybody. Nobody's on that block no more. Yeah. But I see that changing. They only come back when I come back to go check my grandma. But that's what I think is changing. I think that because our generation, right? And this generation now has strived for so much, right?

[00:51:02] And has started to accomplish so much that now you're starting to see them gradually come back. Like you said, grandma's house. Where now just you going back in that community is going to bring more people back in that community during that time. And you start seeing more big homies coming up on, not necessarily on the block, but being available, right? Because it's not necessarily you have to be there. But now knowing that, hey, man, you're here, but you came from this block and I have access to you is enough. And I think that that's where our generation is. Because I'm seeing it.

[00:51:32] We have fathers in our generation. Oh, yeah. And so you see, once you're a father and if you're a strong, you're a good father, you don't just father one kid. Because then they have friends. And then they have something. And then it becomes now you're creating that big homie, right? You're creating that system. It's your own community. It's your own community. All that starts with a community, right? And that's where a lot of us have broken off to go here. Your family went here. Your family went here. But there's no community that's still been there or been built.

[00:52:01] And now you're starting to see. Like, I'm seeing my son's generation. Like, just with my team, bro, there's eight dads there every day. We don't have a coaching staff, right? Like, yeah, I'm who I am, so it's easy to be out there. But we have eight dads that are out there that are teaching. Like, I might not. Like, there's games. I don't even. I'll go sit in the stands. But, like, I'm dead serious. Like, we have eight dads because it's bigger than that. We have. Oh, yeah.

[00:52:31] My son ain't going to always want to hear nothing from me. But I know these other men's got this. Yeah, it helps. And what did you just say? It's a village, man. My nonprofit is called The Village. Yep, takes a village. That's what you just said. That's the name of my team. Takes a village. And so that's what it's about, dog. Yeah. That's what it is. Now you're going to. I honestly believe that the kids our age will now start seeing. Big Homies. And you'll start seeing them make that. You know, make that adjustment. That makes a big difference. Make that adjustment. That's the whole reason they got mentor programs and shit.

[00:53:00] Because that shit helps. Yeah, 100%. That's it. Elevates you. Then, yeah, like you said, you're prepared. Yeah. When you got someone just giving you game every day on how to handle shit. All right, listen. You step into every situation like, I already know what to do. I'm good. You're good. It's about getting game, bro. And getting game. Simple. Simple. Simple. I can say that's one definite thing we got from the big homie era. We got more dads out of it. Man, 100%. 100%.

[00:53:29] Because I can legit tell you every one of my homies I grew up with, they fathers. Yeah. That's what's up. Whether they with, they baby moms or not. But they're present. Yeah, they're present. They fucking father. Every single one. 100%. Gotta be. And they're prideful about it. Absolutely. 100%. You know what I'm saying? There's nothing to hide about it. I can say that's definitely what we got out of that. Because we can't say with our certain age group, you know what I'm saying? Or our age range.

[00:53:57] There's a lot of fathers that are our age range that are present with their kids. Especially with their sons. Man, doing a damn good job. And also, you know what I'm saying? It doesn't even matter. Sons or daughters, you know, just present with their kids. They don't hide like it. Not at all. Not at all. And it's crazy how the media portrays the baby dad as niggas that is deadbeats because it's not the fucking case. No, but that's because they want to show the deadbeat.

[00:54:26] But there's way more of us present than anything. That might have been the case. Like you said, it doesn't get hard like it. But they're not good. I put some up on my social media, right, the other day. And I was just talking my shit. I was like, bro, I'm a hell of a fucking father. And I said, I'm going to tell myself that because at the end of the day, it ain't about anybody else. I know what the fuck I am. I'm a hell of a dad.

[00:54:51] And I said, any other father, bro, you a hell of a fucking dad, bro, if you was over here. You a hell of a father. We don't hear it. We don't do it. But you are a hell of a father. We ain't post here because at the end of the day, we're fathers. Because our shoulders, bro, are built different. We're built for this shit. Yeah. We're built for it, bro. Take on everything. We're built for it. Take on everything. You either know what it's like to be without a father or you know what it's like to be with a real father. Man, listen.

[00:55:21] And I tell my son sometimes, the kids that have fathers, they don't understand how fortunate they are because you have no idea what it is to really not have a... It's different. I'm saying, oh, dad, I don't want you to come to my school for this play versus not having an option of your father to be there for you. Or, ooh, more happy. Yeah, you know he won't be there. You know you won't be there. Now you know everything. You're going to be the one that don't have nobody there. Or hold up.

[00:55:48] Or knowing who your father is and not having him available when you want him. That's tough. You know what? I think, I'm going to be 100% it. I think that's the hardest. Because that's how it did, bro. I think that's the hardest because when you know somebody is non-existent or you make him at some point he's non-existent and he's almost like a figure and you're just... He's gone. My life is used to not you not being there. Yeah. But now when I see you and you pop in and I don't see you and now I want you here

[00:56:17] because I know you're available but then you're not. Like, mentally that's fucking me up. And I've heard that from... That's fucking me up. I've heard that from a bunch of kids. I'd rather you be gone than in and out. But see, the crazy part is though, with that being said, a lot of times it's circumstantial. Yeah. It might not even be the pops' fault. Not always. No, 100%. And the child won't never know until they get to be an adult like you and I. Yeah, you know how much I had to go through.

[00:56:47] You know what I'm saying? I pray for 18 all the time. 18 all the time, we keep it bucked. But this is another thing too. As a mother, I ain't finna let you fucking just talk to me. And even as a father, as a mother, I don't think you should let me talk to you in any type of way as far as to the child. Right. But at the same time, I'm not finna let you pay no images to my son and I. So if you actin' wild, I'm at the point where, hey, this is what it is, brother. This ain't me actin' this way.

[00:57:13] You see how this is how your mom's actin', or in her case, this is how your dad's actin'. Now you're old enough to understand this. I'm not gonna say, yeah. You're old enough to, I'm not, cause I'm not, you're not paying no picture of me. Cause I know at 18 what it is. Yeah, you know. I'm gonna say I know exactly what you're sayin'. I grew up in that. And I won't even explain my situation. I grew up in that. Where, you know what I'm sayin', growing up. Don't laugh, it ain't funny. Yeah. It ain't funny.

[00:57:43] Moms and pops have terrible relationships. Nigga, that's why I grew up in New York and came out here. Nigga. Okay? So, you know what I mean? It's hectic, but it's... Shoutout to my mom. You know? Straight up. Shoutout to my mom. Shoutout to the mothers. Right, right. Shoutout to the mothers. Shoutout to all the mothers. All the mothers. All the mothers. Love you, mama. All the mothers. All the mothers. Love you, mama. Let's call them right now. Let's call them right now. I'm about to cook. I love you. My mom. No phone call away.

[00:58:11] I say, my dad was outside. He grew up in a different era. And so everything I seen, my brother seen, my mom endured. She never allowed me to not understand that that was my father. She allowed me to understand that he had issues that he had to overcome in life and demons that we all have. And I didn't understand all of them until I became a man and had to go through my own and understand like, damn, dad, you just didn't have the same foundation I had to get over this shit. Right. Right.

[00:58:42] But my mom never stopped. I was always my dad. Whenever he was straight, clean, whatever you want to say, he was in the house. And they went together. They got divorced when I was five years old. But my dad always had access to me because my mom always said that, that's your father. You need your father. He needs to clean up, but you need your father. So she never allowed me to have a bad freaking image or anything other than what I saw in my own eyes.

[00:59:08] But even after that, what I've still saw in my eyes, she would not allow that to be the picture that I had of my father because she knew anything that he had. And so I tell my mom all the time, I'm so appreciative of that because it allowed me to grow as a man. And then when I understand and I talk to my dad about the things, I can have a better understanding of shit because as a man, I know what it is. Because you know there's the flip side of my baby mom is to be like, man, he ain't shit. Yeah. He don't do nothing.

[00:59:38] Bro, my mom never did that. And so for me, like my dad, my dad could come back after everything he did in fucking life and been through and be a fucking dad with open fucking arms. And I could still love my dad and understand that like, yo, like my mom, for some reason, if my mom can forgive, if my mom could be open, my mom can understand the importance that you mean. And I'm looking like, I don't understand, but you do. Then there's a reason.

[01:00:04] And when I was 24, 25, I'm like, damn, pops like shit. Like my dad, my mom, my dad got my mom pregnant at 20, 22, right? My other brother, 22, like during that year, he outside, like he in the military outside. Like I know you out some violent. Like I remember, I know what it's like for me. I could imagine being 22 with a kid. I was, what? Like, like I understand more. I'm not saying this right, but I'm cool. But I don't say that's right.

[01:00:33] But I understand more because you, you, as a man, I understand what that feeling is. You know what I'm saying? And so I could, I could appreciate, I could understand, I could appreciate certain addictions, right? Like my dad had, right? I can understand. Just certain situations. Yeah, well, I can understand where it came from, dog. Because in life, you understand like, okay, if you don't have the right surroundings, the big homies, people around you, this could go left for this.

[01:01:03] It can go right, right? So I understand how you went right or left, dad. And I, and I, and I appreciate it. My mom always made sure that no matter what, my dad was always a fucking superhero, dog. But like you said, if you don't have the foundation, you don't know what you don't know. Like Superman. And then you, and then you just got to deal with shit the way, the way that you feel you should deal with it. But if no one gives you that game, like we was talking about, that shit, you're going to fuck up here and there.

[01:01:32] And that's what happens. You're going to Superman, brother. Yeah, you're going to fuck up sometimes. My dad was a superhero. Where all his shit at the end of the day when he left this earth, I understood that he was a superhero, dog. And my mom has always been a superhero, but I understood that he's a superhero. Without my mom, I would have never been able to understand that. Never. Never. Never. So that's where that shit hit for me, dog. It hit different for me and that type of shit.

[01:01:57] Because as a man and raising young men, it's very important that the mom and the father have a very good balance. Because in order for the kid to get where he needs to be, he needs both. He needs the dad to be able to be a dad and then the mom to be able to fulfill her part of it. Right. And still be able to. That's the balance. It's the balance. That's the balance. Balance is key, but it's hard. It's hard to get there because as a man and as a woman, we have emotion, right? Like, that is what it is.

[01:02:26] But for our kids' sake, like, the best thing we can do is figure that out because we're trying to raise successful men and women, you know? Like, regardless, that's what we're trying to raise, dog. It's a tough one because we got egos, but, you know, but fuck that. So true. And only men can raise men. Yes. Man, that's 100%. Say it again. Say it in the mic. That's 100%. Say it in the mic. Only men can raise men. That's 100%. That's 100%.

[01:02:56] You don't know what it look like. Hey, appreciate you, famo. I appreciate that, yo. Yeah, thanks for coming out. That's one of my first podcast. Oh, hold on, hold on. Before, you didn't cut it yet, right? No, no. I drank this motherfucking too. By the way, this shit was hit, dog. So I'm going to put you on the spot, though. Talk to me. Because you've been hooping. You've been hooping professionally, what? You said 16 years now? 15. 15. 15. Crazy. All right, so give me top three players that you played against or with.

[01:03:26] And then give me your top five favorite players of all time. Or if you want to do a top starting five, either one. Okay. Top three I played with. Or against? That's tough. So play with. Do you want to give me play with or play against? Okay, give me two that you played with, two that you played against. KD. KD. Okay. KD was different in OKC. Okay. He was different. Okay.

[01:03:57] I think, honestly, one of the greatest performances I saw in that year was Kimba Walker. Right? Okay. That year in Charlotte was crazy. That year in Charlotte was crazy. So to see that was nuts. Okay. To see that was nuts. I'm glad we talked to players because you still owe me a stink ass. That's what I'm trying to think. Hold on. Hold on. I'm going to get back to that, too. I'm going to get back. All right. And then two players you played against?

[01:04:25] And then your top five favorite players or your top starting five? Either one. Played against. That was KD, too. I was a part of it. I was a part of it. Okay. This is a game, bro. So KD. So KD's that dude then, right? No. And D-Rose. He's that dude? D-Rose. D-Rose. D-Rose. D-Rose. I played against D-Rose in high school, college, and in the league. Different. Yeah. Okay. But KD. I was part of a different team. KD had like 40. KD had like 40. KD had like 45.

[01:04:56] KD had like 40-something. And like Serge Ibaka had a triple-double. That was the crazy. And I was just. You said you were a big fan. No, I was sitting on a bench in amazement. Like everybody. And the way. The way. Ladies and gentlemen, listen. If you are in the NBA and riding the bench, guess what? You are still in the fucking NBA. I give a fuck. Hey, but listen to what I'm trying to tell you. I witnessed.

[01:05:27] Whoever said courtside seat was exactly what it is. He said that was a show. If we went up by 25, I wasn't playing. Like that's just what it was. But KD and Russ were talking so crazy to Ty and Aaron Afalo. And Afalo, bro. They got out of Afalo. Because they. What did they say? What did they say? It was just wild. Because they had 40 to triple-double. And I remember like Ty and Aaron were talking trash to each other before. Because they both partners. Ty is cool with KD. Yeah. Aaron is cool with. With.

[01:05:56] Everybody from Cali. With Russ. Because they went to school together. Man, they came out there. And if you go to YouTube, type in like KD and Russ is 40 and Serge Ibaka's triple-double. And you're going to see how crazy it looks. Hold on. It was video games. Hold on. You got into the league at what year? 2011. Lockout year. 11-12? Oh damn. Lockout year. Lockout year. Yeah. When we made. What's the name be the. We lost the. The head of team management. Who?

[01:06:26] And then Jalen Brown came and took it over after that. Who are you talking about? No. We. My lockout year was. That was. Lockout year. That was. The lockout year. We lost to the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. When they had Meta World. That's when they lost to OKC. OKC had lost in Miami. I want to thank my therapist. Next year we lost to Golden State. The year before. I'm talking about the player rep for the. So hold on. Hold on. Those niggas lost. I got. I got.

[01:06:55] I played a little bit of playoffs. And that one. That one hurt. He said I played 12. So. I'm a playing guard. They were just like. Coach Carr was like. Go guard Steph. So I'm just chasing Steph. Just lock him down. But then like on offense. I'm a playing guard. He's like. Go below the defense. You don't even. You don't touch the ball on offense. You go below the basket. Yeah. I don't drive to the basket. I'm playing like. I'm playing like Rudy Gobert. I was below the basket. My job is you exert no energy on offense. And you just. One step. You just all step. I promise. I feel so weak.

[01:07:26] Bounce out to the outside. Yeah. I did. I know those boots off. I body you up just enough for the switch. And then it goes to the fucking perimeter. I didn't even do that. I didn't even do that. I didn't even. I just said squeeze. I was just. I was like standing out of bed. I was damn near. Like if it goes. Do you got a jumper though at least? Yeah. Yo. It's funny. It's funny. I do now. I sound great in Charlotte. How does your jumpers win? I sound great in Charlotte. You don't have to sit a lot of papers. It's funny shit. So you. Did you play. You didn't play when Chauncey was. Was back here. No.

[01:07:56] Mr. Big Show. He was already. I left the year. The year after Melo Trace. So I came in. Oh. After Melo. He went to New York. Yo. Yo. That's my. It was. So. The Nuggets. I was there. I was there. The epic Melo. Melo Gallo game. Contra to these niggas. Contra to these niggas from here. I am a Knicks fan. Hardcore. My nigga. Die hard. Like. I heard that in. I cried. I heard that right now when you said that. I cried back in the day when them niggas lost to San Antonio and got they ass beat.

[01:08:26] Yeah. I cried during those ass whoopers bro. It makes sense. He was Superman. Why you doing my niggas like that? Like. Because the Spurs were nice. Yo. The Aguilers were nice. No. No. It was before Parker. It was Genobly. It was. It was. And it was Terry. It was Dummy. It's fucking freshman year. It was. It was. It was. Bruce Bowen. It was. It was. It was Robinson. They were different. Yo.

[01:08:56] It was. So you like the. You like the Knicks now? I think that's a manning. That's a fact. You like the Knicks now? Hold up. You like the Knicks now? Fuck me. I've always. I've always. We've always liked the Knicks. No. I'm saying. Do you like their team now? Yes. Yes. But I think. Let me talk. Let me talk. You don't like Jordan. Let me talk. Let me talk. Because you're a Knicks fan. It makes sense. No, no, no. It makes sense. Don't talk to this guy. So who's the greatest player to you? Don't talk to this guy. Don't talk to this guy. Are you being for real? I'm being for real. No. Hold on. Hold on. We're not talking to this guy.

[01:09:26] We're not talking to this guy. I feel like he has a blast. This guy is blasphemy. Okay. Okay. Hold on. Okay. He's got a wild, like, checklist. Who has 11 championships? Stop it. Bill Russell? Hey. He's a great CEO of the time? I'm not going to argue. I'm not. Yes. Hold on. So let's back up. So you made me by championship? We go by rings and things. That's what everybody's told me my whole life. All right. Bet. So hold on. Let's back up. Let's back up. But you said Barry Sanders is the best running back. He asked me a question. Stop it. He played for the Lions.

[01:09:56] Now we're switching. Stop it. I'm just saying. He said rings matter. This guy is wild. This guy is wild. He said rings matter. There's exceptions to every rule. So my man is Uncle Ruckus, bro. Okay. That makes sense. That's it. All right. Bet. All right. All right. So back to the Knicks. That might be true. I am. John Starks is my favorite point guard. Stop. Just stop. Just stop. Just stop. I feel. We got it. He was playing point guards?

[01:10:25] No. That's a. No, he wasn't. Okay. Big John Starks. He was not playing point guard. He was the one that stars. Everyone was concerned on the New York Knicks. No. He might have brought. All right. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. He just thinking. The mismatch. This guy is a Nuggets fan. Because he's dribbling the ball down. Look. This guy is Nick Van Exel in all of them. You know what I'm saying? Now I'm tight loss in me. Hey. Hey. Nick Van Exel was called. I bet. But this. It's not the Knicks. You talking about the bug-eyed assassin right now?

[01:10:55] Nick Van Exel was nice. I know more about Nick Van Exel than the Knicks. I do know more about the Nuggets. You feel me? Okay. So let's get back to on task here. Big John Starks was still a point guard. Stop it. Get out of here. You can't tell me more about John Starks because I mimic my whole fucking free throw behind that niggas free throw. So it's Steph Curry a 1 or a 2. Stop. He asked me a question. He's a modern. He's going to go down as a modern day 1. But he's a. But. John Starks started that shit. So hold on. So 1, 2.

[01:11:24] You entertaining this guy. That's what I'm making of words. I stopped. A long time ago. So. I am not happy with the current Knicks. I was more happy before the cat trade. You were happy when they got rid of Randall. I was. Hey. Abso-fucking-lutely I was happy when they got rid of bum-ass Randall. All we need is Embiid. Why? Because Junius was a joke. Why couldn't you bring Junius? Hold on, hold on. Why? I'll tell you why. You see Mikael Briggs is jumping. My nigga. I'm not. I'm not. Listen here. Shh.

[01:11:54] I am not disrespecting Randall's game because my nigga. That nigga's in the league and my black ass is over here on the couch. All right? I'm not disrespecting that nigga's fucking game. I know. I can say. But to play for the Knicks and to play for New York, my nigga. Yeah. Regardless of Brooklyn being just the new niggas on the block. And that's still New Jersey Nets to me. It's the. Yeah. All right? They'll never get Brooklyn to me. Wasn't he an all-star a couple years ago? Listen. Let me talk. Yeah. Three times a year?

[01:12:21] Because he was the only nigga on the Knicks making fucking moves at the time. And the Knicks being relevant in the all-star game is a better fucking all-star game. He can't be Charles Oakley. He can't be a better version of Charles Oakley. Listen. Listen to me. When he needed to be available, he wasn't available. I respect that. I respect that. I respect that. And let Jalen Brunson fucking move up on his team. Julius Randall.

[01:12:47] So why he can't be productive coming off the bench or be a Charles Oakley type of guy, but better? Thanks for joining us, everybody. Yeah, we can keep going, but. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that. We appreciate your time. Julius Randall. Stop it. I'm not saying that. This is going nowhere. Julius Randall was supposed to be the star of the team. Yeah, I love it. Like the Knicks. Julius Randall was supposed to be the star of the team, my guy. That was crazy. He was supposed. No, come on. No, he was, but. He got hurt.

[01:13:17] Let's get that straight. When he got traded from the Lakers, he was supposed to be the star of the team. So who's your number two right now? Because that ain't it. So hold on. My number two on what? On the Knicks. Who's the number two right now on the Knicks? He's gone. For me personally, he's gone. Who's number two on? Who's the number two? Steven Chinzo. Please tell me. I can't wait to hear you. Hartenstein. Hartenstein was my number two. Who's your number two on the Knicks right now? Right now is Hart. Josh Hart. That's a problem. So much. That's my number two player on the Knicks.

[01:13:46] It's impossible to edit. Because I'm not sold. I'm not sold on the catch rate. None of this is being kept. Yeah, we're just bullshit. Goodbye, everybody. And Anobi. Whatever. You can take it out. Fuck you, cheese bags. Anobi's your number two. You guys are not a bunch of Knorr. Number two. I'm safe. The RODECaster Pro 2 is the world's most powerful all-in-one audio solution for all types of creators, including podcasters. Graffiti and Julius use one at the plug. It offers studio-quality audio and revolutionary features for creators.

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