Untold Stories About the Worst NBA Locker Fight Ever, The Jailblazers, Dysfunctional Knicks & More

Untold Stories About the Worst NBA Locker Fight Ever, The Jailblazers, Dysfunctional Knicks & More

welcome back to another episode of podcast P presented to you by Price pix a wave sports and entertainment original it is your guy PG-13 and I got my boys with me Dallas Rutherford and Jackie Long yeah yeah and with another edition of story mode which is one of our favorites here we got a special treat for y’all we want to welcome the bully that bullies bullies you dig you like how I did that we got the OG Zack r in the building what’s up my [Music] manj appreciate you coming through man you already know how you feeling man how how you how you been man I’ve been good man just with the kids man taking this retirement my daughter she played basketball my son and just been with the kids keep me busy so man putting all my time and energy into that my baby she going to Louisville on the basketball scholarship sir say sheol yeah so so shout out to Ma so she been doing her thing you know up out of CER Canyon so keep me busy with that man yeah that’s dope I saw uh you know doing a little research I saw the which was pretty cool you did the little kind of tribute thing that she posted on her Instagram which I thought was pretty cool you commentating you know just about her storyline of you know how she got to where she’s gotten the hard work I think Kobe started the intro and then it kind of played out which I thought was was was was dope man um I want to ask you know we going we going to talk about you know uh that in a little bit within the show but I want to ask about the viral moment where they caught you on the flip phone in the locker room can you what was what was going on what’s the backstory with with the flip phone man that’s so funny you ask about that with the flip phone it’s the cameraman he didn’t even know I’m like man he recorded me with the phone this we in the locker room before the playoff game you know I get there early and I see him record me I’m like but he already know he don’t supposed to record I said man when I got this phone now bro do not put the camera on me yeah so next thing I get a call and [ __ ] go viral bro I call the game and all you see is me on the flip phone they got all kind of memes this that man I said man ain’t this something yeah and at this time this is like Peak like Prime meme time too so like once they seen it everybody wearing with it yeah and I think that’s when what the blackberries was out I think that’s when 2015 had the Blackberry so man I had that flip phone you know from the old school man I still got a flip I still got a flip in the bag somewhere sh who the hell was you hitting up on that flip pH man [ __ ] one letter A Time hit you after the game I’mma see after the game press four three times you got really like really focus 14 three I love you that’s funny I still got a flip in the back somewhere in the bag that’s the trap for yeah the Trap boy rap I want to talk about a time where bonsi told the story about how he put you in this uh this tournament this summer uh tournament when you was 14 years old and you killed it any backstory to to how this came about man what where did y’all play at where was the tournament I think the tournament was in in Indianapolis or it might have been in M it was one of his tournaments I think okay and he had me come over there and I was a Youngster and we at the camp the ball state camp and he wanted me to play man I got out there playing and they was 18 19 and I’m out there dominating him like handling my own bun like damn big fella like keep working you know what I mean and we hooked up then after that cuz I’m from Maran he from M he’s probably about 20 minutes away our town so you know I grew up looking up the bonsi cuz he’s the first one who made it out the neighborhood who made it from where a brother come from the same circumstances so s buy go to Ball State and Mak it into the league you know that was a motivation for the guys in the neighborhood for myself and all the other homies that was coming up playing basketball you know what I mean so you know bony one of them OG’s at this time you already had like the name was already buzzing like you know this this kid Zebo is is the next up this kid is a Phenom you already had that name going into this tournament or was it kind of just n it wasn’t it wasn’t like that it wasn’t like that like you said really didn’t nobody know about me to like and then I did that and play a I got invited to Nike All-American Camp I think with my sophomore year and then I went in there d ated that you know rest in peace my boy Marvin Stone he was going to Kentucky okay and he was the number one player in the country I think he was a junior I was a sophomore you know I’m coming in with the attitude like man can’t nobody [ __ ] with me I’m about to go in here I’m about to get my rank up about to get on and show them you know what’s up so I went in there dominate I came out like Rank 10 in the country damn like going to my sophomore a year so so it was up popping in like yeah so like so they got you basically cuz your confidence you was in there really confident out yeah man what always this was bouncy zbo yeah a little bounc thr that hook you mentioned uh you know growing up in marrying Indiana and you know obviously I played in Indiana so I know what that basketball uh background is and how big basketball is in the state of Indiana was there any other sports you played or it was you play football one time man probably my freshman year I go out and going on the football field and Coach you know I’m probably about six seven long skinny man a coach football coach set me up he had me on the defensive end on the end so you know I’m I don’t really know too much about football they did a running play handed off the biggest player on the team offensive lineman man came out of nowhere and hit me bro threw me in the air cracked me in the air I’m talking about I flew bro I got up I told man you got me [ __ ] up threw my helmet off walked off walked off the field didn’t come back no more I said I can’t take that football I be ready to get down like we gotta get down man you hit me too hard so that football was for me at all that’s funny man so the story is true man football make basketball player damn right damn right at football Hey listen you gota be tough to play that football you gota be tough to play basketball but that football whole a whole different mentality you got prize picks is America’s number one fantasy sports app with over 5 million active users get in on The Daily action with your friends and become a part of prize pick Community today with prize picks you could turn $10 into 1,000 in a single game watching your favorite sports this summer you can make a prize Pi lineup in less than 60 seconds you just need to pick more or less out of two to six players stat projections and you’re locked in Jackie do you want to show the people how it’s done come on let’s do this D you know this easy work okay let’s see let’s see Jackie’s locks for the week let’s do some more or less projections for the next WNBA game so our first one is going to be more or less on Angel Reese 15 points less more or less on Cameron Brinks six assists uh I’m g go more okay remember you said she could pass I’ve been watching her more or less on Brianna Stewart 10 rebounds I’m g go more big Ste down there doing big things okay like it you already know what time it is your turn Dallas more or less Alysa Thomas 15 points 15 points let’s let’s go with the more all right more or less Diana terasi three threes made I’m gonna I’m gonna take less okay more or less Skyler Diggin Smith five assists we’re taking the more now y’all see how easy that was there’s always action on prize picks and this is the perfect time to try out something new as basketball is winding down make sure to try out Esports this month because for every Wednesday and Saturday in June if your lineup doesn’t win you’ll get your entry fee back choose from Counter Strike 2 Call of Duty League of Legends and more so download the app today and use podcast P for a first deposit matchup to $100 I repeat download the app today and use code podcast P for a first deposit match up to $100 pick more pick less it’s that easy CH now back to the show during your your basketball upbringing in Indiana like who what was the player that you looked up to and kind of idolized man you know coming out of Indiana man probably like the you know the Pacers you know um Antonio Smith um you know I mean Antonio Davis Rick Smith The Duncan Dutchman like you know Indiana you know we the high B of basketball you know that hoer you know everybody got a court on you can be in the hood we got the the the the the cheat Rim up you know what I mean on the back we’re on the PO so you know what I mean so you know basketball just so just like Sean km guys like that guys came out of Indiana watching them Pacers play Calbert Cheney big dog Glenn Robinson like in my AA me coming up those was my guys who I looked up to coming out the uh State you know and so after a great High School career you won a state championship in the MVP at the McDonald’s All-American Game you decide to go to Michigan State and play with Tom ISO but did you know when you went to Michigan state that you’d only be there for a year hell yeah I was in the hood I was already man I was confident I was already telling my my my OG’s in the hood I’m going to the league MH I’m telling them that my junior year like I was going to out the I was going to go to the league out of high school I won in high school every allstar game I was the MVP McDonald’s game Kentucky Derby you remember the Kentucky der it was before the Jordan classic and all that USA game so I was MVP in all the game so I was going to go out of high school with d miles darus miles my man D was like man I’m gone at night Camp he’s like I’m gone so I was like [ __ ] he’s like you might as well come on too bro like you killing this [ __ ] you everything you with me up there MVP you can do this [ __ ] too so man I was going the posting twins they was at my house in the hood of Maran man and I was after the McDonald’s game I had the papers on the table and my mama was just me and my mama the poing twins man I’m my house is this small as this [ __ ] room you know what I mean and we the kitchen right there in the bathroom so we sitting there I look at Mom I’m like Mom what you want me to do you want me to go to the league or you want me to go to school for a year she looked at me she said baby I think you should go to school rest in peace my mom I lost my mom at 17 she’s said baby go to go to college go I want you go to college and I looked at them I said man I’m going to college michig state for a years okay who else was on that list cuz Michigan State ain’t ain’t necessarily known for the the one and done especially under Tom ISO what was what was that ultimate Factor behind [ __ ] Tom up [ __ ] coach it like you said because coach wasn’t used to that you know he wasn’t used to no freshman talking about going even going to the league or even with Jason Richard Jason was a sophomore he wasn’t used to that so when I did that that was new to him you know cuz he wasn’t used to underclassman leaving right you know what I mean but I already had that [ __ ] playing like man I’m one and done so this was a conversation already that he knew yeah so it what did you feel any point where he was like cuz I I’ve been in situations I know when I was in school and you know uh of just of like the coach trying to hold you back and and not you know fully let you shine because he wants you to come back and return was that moment there I love that’s my man you know you know it’s I love I talk to coach a couple months ago and I I [ __ ] with him I said coach you know you held me back now yeah I I average a double dou with 15 minutes coach I know I’m talking I’m killing them [ __ ] in practice all of them freshman I’m what so I wasn’t like I wasn’t supposed to be start you know what I mean I’m killing them so I’m like come on man you know I supposed to be starting I’m getting in the game coach playing me 15 16 minutes I’m damn near average double double in 15 minutes minutes yeah so you imagine I would have play 25 28 minutes a game right 18 and 10 like right easy easy so he knew that so yeah so coach ow me back a little bit but to his credit he wasn’t used to you know [ __ ] he trying to make his team good so I definitely understand but yeah he he did and you know we talk about it and laugh about it now you know what I mean so but I think the game changed now you can’t do that to can’t do it now these kids are so talented and they got the power you know what I mean like if if they ain’t playing oh [ __ ] well I’m going to go transfer over here and and now is it ain’t no sit out period so they can transfer and go play right away in in whatever system whatever coach whatever school they want to so yeah because of that the and the players and they’re making money and and they getting paid probably more than what the coaches is making at this point basketball don’t go I got paper you [ __ ] I’m going go over here and get the paper I got paper you know what I mean the old school coaches like you know you come in you play 15 minutes now I’m sure some coaches have had to make some big adjustments with that new Talent that’s coming in and how you’re going to retain that player it’s more like a business rather than like you having your structure your way so it’s definitely interesting to think about but after that you get drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in the first round and you arrive a season after the Blazers um losing to the Lakers walk us through what your rookie season was like your first year in the NBA and and what was that for you see back then you know the leagues and changed so much man I’m talking about from I wasn’t playing I had to earn I had to earn my [ __ ] like I came in with Sean km uh dell Davis um Rasheed Wallace arvita sabon like these are bigs pip like OG’s like real grown men and I was 18 you know I’m a baby so you know I’m like I’m new to this [ __ ] I ain’t as far as I’ve been is Michigan I ain’t never left my hood I’m from Indiana that was two and a half an hours so they send me all the way across the world you know and and them guys took me in Bunny and just had to earn my way you know what I mean and them guys respecting it you know hey zbo I need towels hey zbo I need you to go to the store give me donuts whatever they asked me I did it you know what I mean carrying bags you know today I don’t even think the kids these young don’t even carry bags you know what I mean so they got so many personnel that carry the bags now but you know just back back then earning it you know showing you a away like I had to sit on the on the floor was no sitting on the bench like n you ain’t no enough seats get on the floor like the whole game ass hurt not getting in if we win about 30 might get in two minutes coach cheeks might put me in two minutes but you know it was a great experience for me cuz I got better every day cuz I was I was banging with him I’m going in Sean km I’m talking [ __ ] I ain’t bagging down from nothing so I’m taking everything how it come so and them guys respect respecting cuz I respect them but I’m learning and getting better every day you know pip got me coming in the weight room teach me about weight room he the first one at the gym you know what I mean this Scotty Pippen one of the best ever to do a legend Zebo come on man we gonna be here at 6 8 o’clock in the morning practice start 11 meet me here eight like damn so first one working out get our shots up so me learning the way at an early age well speaking of all these vets like you just said you was playing being young and a teenager out of all them people I ain’t heard you say one person I got to ask you about my boy Steve Kerr they say you used to sit next to Steve cerr on the plane all the time and I just want to know what was H how was them talks with Steve Curr and how did he help you get prepared to be an NBA professional Man Steve my man him Steve Greg ice next Steve you know I’m I come League I’m green I hit I think this probably 30 games and I hit the wall you know you used to hit that that rookie hit that wall PG you know like God damn this season long long as [ __ ] I I asked Steve I said hey man do we get a break Steve think coach you know I ain’t playing think I can go home for a couple days I’m playing he laughed at me man St looked at me last said no Zach you can’t you can’t go home this ain’t you know it’s a you know I’m I’m Michigan State I’m driving home every other day to hours I’m taking my roommate car I’m gone so but he like man you can’t do that so just learning the ways and just learning Steve read Steve read books I he I got the reading Steve reading books we fly bonsy you know bigs all the other not bigs but really Dell Davis they gambling Steve every gamble every plane trip every road trip we took he reading a book b he read he just read all type of books I you know I’m young so I ask a lot of questions I’m asking he reading stuff about you know foreign policies he reading you know just just money money management just everything he so Steve used to and I think proba still do it same thing Elevate his mind and I always know that noticed that and took that game from like damn they helped the youngsters he really know that knowledge to help the youngst to give to give it to you like that’s crazy where he at now is what he doing and coaching and the Accola and got it’s no surprise speaking of coaching was it strange when you had to play against him when uh he was in the playoffs and now he you know he was coaching yeah how was that it was it was crazy but you always knew it because he he was all that you know like a player like he was one of the type players like ran practice and you know always talked like even though he didn’t play a lot or but he was that one hey this that and you know he always was vocal you know what I mean in the locker room you know around you know he was never scared to speak his mind or say what we need to do and even when he wasn’t playing so you always knew that he had that that leadership ability I know it must have been some good conversations or or good talks about Michael Jordan or you know how what was those conversations like man I ask him all the time man I ask him so many questions I think Steve probably got tired of me because I was yeah asking questions all the time talking you know I’m GNA ask you questions something but just asking about Jordan used to ask him like you know how like the things the type of things that he used to do you know what kind of cars did he drive you know I was like you know so I’m you know 18 19 so I’m new to this Steve cerr and so just like about Jordan ask him about like his worth ethic he’s just like Jordan’s he’s like what separates Jordan is the things that he do you know the time he put in his attitude and he’s hard on everybody you know he’s telling me how Jordan is hard and um how he you know he demands from everybody like he sets the bar right you know that’s why he did what he did in this league and he W the greatest ever to do it you spoke uh about Scotty and and you know him kind of taking you under his wing uh you ended up playing two seasons with Scotty what stood out most I know you spoke about just his his work ethic and getting you into the weight room and kind of teaching you that part of you know the the league on Preparation and all that stuff but is there any other stories that stick out to you about you know that time spent with Scotty man yeah it’s the time Scotty pulled up in the [ __ ] Ferrari and his knees was on on the car like and I got a truck I’m in a ESC my first year I’m like Ferrari like FR flone in I say damn Scot ain’t never seen no Ferrari but bro big bro your knee is on a steer wheel bro drive this [ __ ] n but uh n but man one thing about Scotty man he’s he’s the best every doing man and just like you said his championship pedigree you can see it and and he was doing stuff like you said having me then nobody he was the first person told me to come meet me here this time do this and do that and just seeing him standing after practice still well like at the end of his career he still doing same thing that he was doing in his when he started staying after working out doing his uh conditioning so just learning that pece from him and you know that Championship attitude M with uh rased Wallace being the face of the Blazers at the at the time and uh Scotti Pippen called him the Kevin Durant of the time you understand what I’m saying and I want to know do you have any stories about being Rasheed Wallace teammate like what was the best thing being his teammate man she big br man she he was a warrior man he you know he he played his his she game like you know back then was so used to you know get get on the Block but she was like how the big mans are today like she was shoot could shoot the three could he did the face up you know a lot of stuff she did I learned from from him you know we practice together do workouts the face up and you know shooting threes and just things he did and um the hook shot so just playing with playing with a guy like that and having a chance to to be around a guy like that that know the game and um his talent level was just so so crazy like and and the things he did even the defensive part you know he was a he was a [ __ ] on defensive end too so just learning from him just seeing him how he work and how he got to Tech every game you know and cussing the refs out but n but n but she he was a he a beast man and learned lot to say he he was ahead of his time too yeah he was with with his ability to shoot that three his his skill set being able to shoot the ball left hand right hand face you up beat you off the bounce you know I think he he definitely would have been a problem [ __ ] in today’s League you know what I mean you put him at the five he a problem you know what I mean so yeah big big flowers big shout out to she man what was the wildest Tech you seen Rasheed do the wildest [ __ ] you ever seen him do man when he ran up on the ref after the game I think he got spended um he he it was leaving and she caught him in his face I said f car early morning theyy calling boy League bro he care he spinning bro I want to always know about rashed since you play what was what what was the thing in his head was that a patch like a little his birth mark oh that’s a birth mark birth mark I always wanted to know what was that see back then brush used to be nappy cuz he never cut his [ __ ] so he come in nap he get it cut now but bro used to be nappy that was his thing it’s that Philly thing you know just keep it nappy yeah keep it nappy oh but he stay freshly chopped now though what were your practices like your rookie year because P always talks about how important just the practice time was in the beginning of his career he’s not getting a lot of minutes you got to prove yourself and you’re going against you know guys like Rasheed walk us through kind of what it was like for you in your first year just from a practice standpoint man that’s that’s our practice was our game so we knew that we knew we Wen playing you know unless it was you know coach made that clear so we knew that’s how we got to get better so at the same time I ain’t give I ain’t care I I had I don’t give a [ __ ] at toe I’m going there sheet I’m going there Sean km you know everybody and that made me better and also that’s making them better cuz here come a young guy who got energy around the boards um I like contact so I’m hidden you know what I mean so that made them step they game up too in practice so I made them better too so that that’s I got better you know what I mean cuz I Ain care who you was so I W backing down so it’s like all right I see youngster he ain’t going so you know come on with it I got to go at him so that make she hit me a little harder in the post you know what I mean so they going at me so just learn that work ethic man and just learn that you take practice to get better cuz I learned from not playing my first couple years in the league that’s how I got better so so when I did get my chance they called my number I was already ready mhmh speaking of just you said the word contact and you like the physicality of the game and I’m always just curious when there’s somebody that was in the NBA beforehand or before now right now in the NBA it’s just a little bit softer less physicality it’s referee different there’s a lot of things that have changed but I’m just curious on on your thoughts on just the the way the NBA has gone with kind of going away from encour ing physicality and the game has changed like you said with the league with the physicality part and um you know I mean he used to be real physical now you know these guys got a lot of skill sets so you got guys like Wendy coming in and you know this guy 71 and pick and popping guard skills can shoot the ball so you know his talent level is through the roof so like The Bigs I think is hybrid bigs now like these bigs are different and uh I like how they playing you know I like them shooting the three but you know sometimes you got to get in the you know what I mean so you got get in the paint get you a couple easy on so you got Old School coaches who believe in that still too so not just taking way well you can’t post up no more so you know you got big boy yish you know what I mean and even big cat when he get down there you know like you know you get in the paint you know get you a couple easy B easy baskets warm you up then you go outside so you know the game a little different now these guys just come out pulling them threes and and running so you think you think if you played right now you would be more comfortable behind that three-point line yeah but not only that like they don’t they take out them they they don’t even shoot mid-ranges like midrange just right so yeah I like it but I I need to GE too now give me a couple give couple little booties post put you on my ass and get you a little quick easy two quick easy Four Points real fast you know what I mean I think it was Shaq uh was at the Dallas game and there was a football player that was like I think it was uh Micha Michael Parson I’m not sure I think it was his buddy could have been him but he’s like Shaq Shaq like you you getting 50 out here right like Shaq’s like yeah easy easy I I think I think he would I think a guy like you would score a ton of points easy easy no one wants to deal with nobody don’t nobody really want no contact you got some guys but then you got the league don’t want the contact yeah a lot of the guys you know they don’t like the contact anyway so so I know the year 20201 was kind of where it was the the jail Blazers name um was put on the TR Blazer’s team what was that like as far as the team when y’all was getting labeled this name and you know the fans aren’t showing up to games and kind of quitting on the team how did y’all rally with that how did y’all y’all kind of push through that what was what was the team’s kind of out look on that it was motivation for us cuz you know being in Portland back you know back then was different you know you we the only team out there we was the only thing I think they got you know a few different you know a couple professionals think a soccer team yeah soer team now but back then it was nothing it was just us so any little thing you know out there they going to blow it up the media they was more for the negative [ __ ] than the positive [ __ ] so the positive stuff you know they speak on but anything somebody get pulled over or you know the little incident after the game when she and uh Damon and was left they rolled back and they got pulled over and they was smoking or some [ __ ] like that like they blew that out of proportion so you know that jail Blazer [ __ ] was it it was just like really blown out of proportion cuz guys was good guys you know what I mean all them guys I learned from like I said still to this day we got a relationship you know you see Dame and St doing great things buns sheet so you know it was good just a time then man yeah was there a moment where like yukai is kind of like rallied together like Mo Cheeks I know was the head coach around that time did he was he the one like did y’all ever address the situation like yo this is what it is let’s rally behind it and let’s like show people that we aren’t what they’re trying to say we are yeah we did like you said Mo was a good leader and he he got us you know to focus in on us and rally you know to worry about us you know don’t worry about the fans booing us or you know worry about what what the um Portland paper writing or none of that try to make us look like you know like like you said Thugs and and guys that been to the Joint been to the penitentiary and stuff like that so you know that’s how Portland is you know what I mean yeah it rains every day and I I know I know it was you know this this was a big moment within that time that stretch where it was the slam heard around the world I’m still Hur from that can you tell us a little bit like what what happened there between you and Reuben man listen Ruben is a bully Man He’s a Bully see I ain’t get my story out yet I’m G get my story out I’m starting a podcast out the mud too so man we coming soon too so but n he he had to get some get back man he slamed me man you know everybody He’s a Bully you know rben is strong man so he come in that he just got done lifting weights now he got St he ain’t got no body [ __ ] I’m 18 19 it’s a grown man I think we probably 28 30 29 but little I’m talking about like Debo though he come in the locker room can’t nobody slam me after working out we in the locker room he come in out he lifting weights he hyp can’t nobody slam me can’t nobody slam me who want to lock up can’t nobody slam me like [ __ ] please I’m like so I’m sitting around I’m like you know I’m from the hood so we we I grew up locking in the yard we dumping each other every day that’s fun so you got Dale Davis [ __ ] here B all the sh I’m like Sean Kim I’m like I’m thinking somebody gonna say something like you got me [ __ ] up or something so don’t nobody nobody say something at this moment like damn so like got [ __ ] [ __ ] on man you can’t slam I stood up young like [ __ ] you can’t slam me can’t slam me man I stood up that [ __ ] how quick was try to grab me we locked up he said [ __ ] slam he throwing me all in the lockers boom boom I’m trying to you know I’m 19 I ain’t going so you like I’m like so I’m trying to man it’s a difference grown man I found out it’s different right your ass so found out right so we like he slam me the lockers boom all over the locker room boom boom boom so we get back to the middle now you know Portland in the locker room is carpet on the floor but underneath the carpet is concrete M so he I’m standing up I think he going to grab me again we getting he dropped on me went straight to the leg grab my legs man pick me up bro like this and D me on my back like a WWE like a WWE fo that slam was heard around the world huh man heard around the world oh she said that man I couldn’t do nothing but start laughing talking about slam me so bad bro they had to come carry me had to pick me up my tailone they put me on a Jay Jensen was a trainer J get on say put me on the stretch table bro I I me up man had to ice you up I could I had to walk out with they had to help me get out of there I couldn’t walk walk with a limp man I could practice for a week man I had a bruised tailone did anybody try to warn you like like maybe you shouldn’t do this like what were the teammates reactions well I knew he was the bully on chill chill chill chill yeah he was the bully already I know he was strong and all that you know what I mean oh man they probably was like look look Ruben got him little young Dum mother come on man did you dab it up after you guys were done at Le hell okay get get huh got his straight yeah right got some get back his [ __ ] was like popey uh TV speaking of lock up P has a p has a friend that always thinks like that he’s strong and stuff like this and I’ll never forget there was this one day where and P corrected me if I’m wrong but like P grabbed him and like had him in a pretzel where like his forehead was like was touching his knee and he was still trying to fight but it was a good lockup story that I think we have a photo of it somewhere maybe we can find it we’ll post that I’ll post that at some point man he heard me that slam that was but this was all like it it it wasn’t no animosity or it wasn’t like this was all out of fun this was all yeah that was out of fun that was out of fun but I feel like you know you don’t supposed to slam me like that bro you know it’s you don’t supposed to do me like that you know what I mean I thought he was going right you know you drop some you know you try to hurt me you feel me when you drop down and you do one of them moves so yeah I Ain really appreciate that cuz I felt a certain way about that I feel like he tried to hurt me so I you I know you mentioned the get back but how like was it like all right hey Reuben I’m ready like What’s Up N it’s can I run that back yeah well like that so we got to let it go you know in back in my mind it wasn’t like hell no I ain’t letting it ride so it feel like we making him RI hit that Flor you Tred to really I feel like nigg really tried to take my career way he hit me like man n try to take me out yeah you know what I mean fny yeah so I yeah I definitely got some give back we practice one day and my boy Quinn you know what I mean so shout out to Quintel Woods you know and we practice you know we going at it you know our practices was like we busting the first team ass bonsy uh who else Charles Smith Quintel Woods we had a our second Squad was crazy we going at them we busting they ass Ruben getting mad Quintel killing this [ __ ] bo bo bo killing it getting buckers they get mad Ruben here you go bully try to squir up Quin I’m just staring on the court he look at me like what you gonna do [ __ ] he looked at me I took him boom I took him took him boom boom you know he’s WR yeah he rushed me I F to the ground I got I got his arms like he can’t do he going crazy I’m kill you I’mma kill you [ __ ] D Davis you know he’s strong D Davis come get him up off of me he steady going crazy Jersey got over his head I’mma kill you I ran up on him again hit him again boom boom run crazy take me to the locker room me and Quint y’all go y’all go in the locker room y’all get out of here so we go back to the locker room we in there taking our time we already know if the [ __ ] run we going we about to jump really going F we going jump this so we already knew we GNA do so I’m put my shoes on we leaving they scared they run in the back man y’all better go he going crazy man trying to get back here come on back here back here we bu every day we get up out here he going crazy the whole team try whole team had to hold me back he trying to get in the locker room like six dudes had to hold you back they said so [ __ ] after that they spending me and uh I came back he played still he was on TV this [ __ ] was like popy Jones or something [ __ ] was big but you know just you know it’s a time you know I ain’t me and R we cool we at you know whatever it is but you know it’s a time of growing in pain and you know coming you know different experience you have in a league so something you could talk about like cuz you know the league is not it’s not all good you know it’s good with the pain but you know you go through things you know you go through trials and you go through tribulations you know players getting along with each other like into it so it’s just all part of it so yeah yeah I got my back for sure might be best tell it all it that was the best [ __ ] koodle [ __ ] what what is your uh your season three with the Blazers I want to just know you know saying with all that [ __ ] that y’all was going through and you know you having to know the system learning the system the the coaches the team and everything CU you went from from uh starting 11 games to 80 and increasing your rebounds per game from four to 10 per game and your points going from 8 to 20 I just need to know how were you able to make such an improvement after two seasons talk to me man like you said giving credit to giveing credit to she giving credit to Sean km to Damon stymy to the guys the OG’s the veterans you know them going hard drink your water drink your water get that water drink your water you get it out drink your water cotton throat get it out drink your WWA we going to get it out you don’t worry about nothing we story mode we want your story good sure have a good story yeah so continue but yeah just you know them guys like that so when I got that chance like you said The Thing I Got U most most improved player that year um but just getting that chance coach cheeks believing in me giving me the chance to play and I think she got suspended or something during the playoffs and I think I he he started me and I took off from there you know he started me against the Dallas Mavericks we was down 03 and she got suspended or and I brought the team all the way back I I was a big part of the winning three games in the row to tie to Dallas Mavericks in the series so that was like my coming out party so but you know like I said shout out to them guys man you know all the ogs that that believed in me gave me a chance to to play man and um join them in a team like that when we was playing after after you won the award you end up signing a six-year extension uh after that incredible season and you mentioned that it sounded like you had the support from your teammates but was there like a specific moment during the season maybe you had a few string of good games where you were kind of like okay like I’ve kind of found my way in the NBA or found my my my role here on this team and did a teammate come up to you were the coaches in your air like yo keep this up you’re going to keep playing was there any like specific moment where you knew you had your spot man you know what just just like you said all the team all of the the players my teammates it was encouraging you know all those like got like zbo like man keep going you know keep doing what you’re doing man you know keep getting the easy rebounds keep being that beast and it was never like no haters [ __ ] were like oh you know don’t do this do that it was all positive so with them being encouraging like that they just gave me the confidence to you know all right I’m I’m going against these guys every day I’m I know what I’m going to do to you other guys so having that confidence and having them the older guys believe in me gave me a boost too yeah question for the both of you just on that like I would imagine like that’s great that you had supportive teammates but there has to be the other side to that right like are there some guys in the NBA that are vets that kind of look at the young guys as like okay like we we want you to do well but don’t do that well cuz then you’re taking my spot like have you guys ever had to experience the other side of that with someone that’s lowkey kind of hating on you like you know what I mean like absolutely and not not necessarily from from me and my position but I’ve been around teammates and saw it them hating on another like person in their position you know what I mean um where it was just like like they they they honestly didn’t want that teammate to perform and and be successful and every time they did something they talking [ __ ] and they saying little [ __ ] under their breath and like so I’ve been around and I’ve seen that in a locker room where somebody is hating on somebody in their position for sure that’s a lot to fight against you know what I mean the last thing you want to deal with is your teammates yeah like we winning you know what I mean like why you mad that this person performing like they giving you a break you know what I mean yeah like P said I seen it like come to League even with Portland like guys was older guys was hating on other other guys and so like you say you always got some haters these guys got jobs and you know I mean that’s how they take care of their family so you know a lot of guys see that and they you know start changing or get the [ __ ] into this guy about this guy know but for me I ain’t never been like that I always been a congratulator I never been had a hating bone in my body always show love that’s why I [ __ ] with everybody in the league pee everybody it’s respect cuz you know I’m you know always just like you know go get it man go get you a billion stay out of trouble man don’t do what I did do this do that so and guys feel it like you ask p you know you know somebody genuine you know somebody fake as hell you know what I mean like so you know if you’re a real person talking about you know while your last season with Trailblazers you guys go and draft Brandon Roy and we know what kind of player he was Brandon Roy uh was unbelievable Talent um and gets that respect I think in our today’s game was the same respect you know D Rose gets um with what could have been or what would he have been if the injuries never happened saying with you know Grant Hill in his time tmac uh Penny Hardway he’s in that category of the guys if they didn’t get hurt from your perspective and seeing him his rookie year what was your your takes on a early Brandon Roy and did you see the the elevation that he took cuz at one point man he was Toe to Toe like Kobe was my guy and when I would watch them two go against each other it was like I ain’t never seen someone compete like this against like you couldn’t do [ __ ] with him man if a little bro would have got that injury he would have been like you said in the talks with Kobe and the other greats and seeing him just like how Poise he was coming in his rookie year was just unbelievable like like he already had matched up with them guys just already top tier he was a rookie right and we only got to play a couple Seasons together but seeing that what he did them Seasons I was there I just it was unbelievable just his talent level his Poise the way he get to the spot raise up and it’s it’s handle you know it’s handle so like you know it’s handle so good you you might not think it’s good but you you ain’t going to be able to rip him nothing and his size and know he’s big right post you can shoot it mid-range he could do it all what was that transition like because at this point you kind of like you know a a young vet at this point and then now Poise Bry comes into the play and and from year one he was already you know primed to to kind of be a number one option to sort of speak so what was how was that transition when you know was it cuz I don’t I don’t know broy that that much but he seems like he’s kind of like the quieter type of guy did he was it just organic like hey man you you know take over lead us you know I’mma do my part just get us there was that was that kind of like just how it played out or yeah like you said he was just like you said quiet but you know he was a leader so he was always that type to go boo go let’s go you know here here you go you know so he was the type to get everybody going and he had so much talent that you could see it like you know it stood out so you know I was number one option when he came when when he came but you could tell where where it was going and you know I was fine like with that because I knew he was special and I wanted to stay with that group you know I wanted to stay with Lamarcus and BR Roy and G Odin you I understand I was older and they you know you they want they got the young guys coming in and they trade so the business part I understood that part so but um no he was he was definitely one of a kind was you on the team with him when he made that one tenth of a second shot nah or what the what’s what’s what was that shot he made the one he caught half court yeah half court quick as hell you went on that team I went on that team that [ __ ] was crazy yeah he had a couple how he h that like in one tth of a second no he was special he did that’s all that’s been on his tongue that’s all he did Tong rag listen so during the 2007 NBA draft you get traded to the New York Knicks and I wasn’t aware of this I’m curious if you know that during the draft they actually showed like their proposed trade for um you for Steve Francis and Channing fry and Spike Lee actually stood up and cheered yeah when they showed the actual trade which probably was funny but when did you realize or learn that you were being traded to the man it’s a cold business right so dig so so [ __ ] up you I didn’t want to get traded you know when your first time getting traded somewhere getting traded from where you’ve been you I was in Portland I got there 18 I was there for a six seven years so you know kind of you know how you feel at home and [ __ ] so when I got traded I was sick as hell right but I’m at the I’m at the Four Seasons on um Wilshire and um just tonight a draft and I’m downstairs I see the general manager Kevin Pritcher right at the time so I W up to KP I’m like What’s Up KP like what’s up zbo I was like man y am I getting traded he’s like man no man you’re not going where we want you here you’re not getting traded so I’m like okay so cool so I go upstairs I tell couple my homies up there I tell them man I just seen prer man I’m cool I ain’t going nowhere I’m good like you know I’m straight I ain’t going no he just told me I ain’t going nowhere right man so we sitting back in the room blowing whatever watching the draft come on trade Z Zack Randol going to New York Nick look man I’m man stomach drop right back downstairs man sick stomach drop I had to go in the restroom I’m sick as hell right so I like man I just seen this uh dude he tell me he ain’t I said man this [ __ ] ass man come on man like and then you see it like now you see it with you know it’s business so now you know it’s business I you see stuff with you know James and a guy in Philly and other stuff other players but you know it’s business man but I I that’s how I found out and he told me and a couple hours later I got traded when he told me I wasn’t getting traded so it’s like damn funny enough man same situation because you know KP was was the the GM in Indiana yeah and same situation right we have a meeting in New Orleans uh Allstar Weekend yo am I getting traded like Le just let me know like you know let we can work with each other like just or or not even that just let me know so then now I you know I could be at peace with that like don’t just leave me out the drrive N no you’re not getting traded you’re not getting traded couple days go by agent hit me like man you you and you know the teams are are are calling cuz you know Pacers are shopping you around so I’m like really we just like I we just sat down on this subject right here and the same person was at the head of it so y’all don’t want to throw no shade or or nothing that way but man but that was that was like kind of like when when I understood the business part of it and and just like you know not necessarily you can’t trust them but at the end of the day they gonna do what’s best for them and that’s kind of where my mindset shifted you know cuz you know I always you know kind of knew early on with the business when I used to have teammates getting traded and I was like damn anybody can go at any moment but you never expect it to be you until you know what I mean and then that’s when it kind of registered that like all right they going whatever is going to make the team better is that’s that’s what the agenda is so I kind of found peace with that why why is that though then and for the both of you like cuz there also there are some GMS that I would assume that are a little bit more upfront about if you are getting traded is it more like let’s say for example he did tell you you were going to get traded is he fearful that you’re going to go up to the homies and tell your friends and and then it leaks or something gets out like why are there to like to me it would seem like an easy thing if everyone understands that business is business why can’t you just be truthful or upfront with the player with what your intentions are I think that’s just a harder conversation to to like I don’t I don’t I think it just might be a harder conversation for him like they don’t want to have the conversation is what you’re say like it’s easier to be like no we ain’t going to trade you that just seems evil yeah business right you can only cover up business with so much I feel like like there’s got to be a reason I feel like why they’re not being upfront with you yeah and then you got some some organizations like that’s Champions like San Antonio and I pop he and them guys they GNA let you know like correct yep you know we don’t think we GNA bring you back or we going to do something this and then guys respect it so I I I don’t understand why people don’t take that why organization don’t take that lead I mean what a guy G to do beat you up or cuss you out or something feel you know like we getting rid of you we don’t need to tell you [ __ ] the hell out I think I think we received that way better just being up front like I think we receive that way better we don’t want you cuz you don’t feel on the team pee your nose is too big in certain places goo cool where where I’m going there do I have a say from like a reputation standpoint like you want guys to feel welome to make you know why I got so I got so I didn’t so let me go practice on that believe it or not like players talk you know what I mean and and then reputation go around like hey man I don’t know about going to this place cuz they [ __ ] watch your back you know what I mean that’s the conversations you have yeah you get there hey nice to meet you yeah that’s crazy so you arrived with the Knicks on a team there’s Jamal Crawford Quinton Richardson Stefon Marberry Malik Rose just a ton of Talent on this team but you guys underperformed that year what about that team you think like guys didn’t click or didn’t the the the name didn’t translate to the success of the team it did like we had a lot of Talent on that team and like you said that year I think I got there the Year this the second half of the season and the next season I got traded at the beginning but that year we came back and I got traded man we were balling I think we were we were our record we was above 5007 and something but every you could sell everything would be clicking and that’s when you know the Braun free agency thing they hung their hat so they thought Braun was coming to New York and BR was never coming to New York and they done traded their whole team right trying to clear they think coming so they like they didn’t even they got rid of me they got rid of M they got rid of everybody D we like damn didn’t even we we was hooping okay so that was that was the uh the decision that was the time of the decision okay so they got rid of the whole team yeah I thought that was crazy espec because that was that was my rookie year like I’m watching that getting ready to come into the league and so in my rookie year I’m like damn like LeBron Chris B D way like and I’m in the East I got to deal with this like that was a big decision for me uh cuz you know I was just used to at that point watching Bri and Cleveland and dwade in Miami like I you know them that big three was separate yeah that was a crucial time for me coming into the league when it comes to travel every family has a happy place a five-star resort with the kids club or an all-inclusive by the beach my family happy place is Cabo Wabo what about y’all for me it’s down in lagona Beach there’s a hotel has a basketball court right by the beach the family goes down there once a year and it’s kind of like our family thing well my family didn’t like nothing by a beach cuz we black we don’t know how to swim so uh you know we strictly was around stuff that had literally uh amusement park around where you could do some uh what would I say with City everything was out here La Palm Springs or something that’s what I say you dig wherever your happy place is Price Line wants to get you and your family there more often and thanks to Price Line familyfriendly options you can save up to 60% on familyfriendly hotels you can even sort by room type and amenities like pools and get access to Deals you can’t find anywhere else with Price Line you never have to miss a trip there’s value in using Price Line because it helps you save money so you can spend your savings at your destination like Japan so download The Price Line app today to save up to 60% off familyfriendly hotels and go to your happy place with price line this episode is brought to you by better help yo guys damn it’s crazy it’s already June you know what I’m saying this year flying by fast man look what is something you’re proud of in 2024 so far and what’s something you still want to accomplish this year fellas I’m proud of just the man I’ve overcame to be um fatherhood obvious obviously is most important and um obviously winning a championship is still on the list so uh you know that’s what my mindset is geared towards going to the summer I’m proud that I’ve been in the gym consistently this year Jackie it kind of fell off over the last couple years so this year we’ve been in the gym which is fun and for the rest of the year just growing our mortgage company seven mortgage and getting more loan officers on the team well man like Dallas said just been in the gym getting more sexier getting more beautiful more more unbelievable and uh just you know working working harder man staying more focused you know people always say I’m older but I’m not so I always try to keep in my mind quit saying that you’re a older person because you’re start looking it and feeling it and I definitely don’t look it or feel it so I don’t need to be saying it so at the end of the day I’m just feeling good man work work is good life is good family good and friends is good you know and Call of Duty is good so you know I’m feeling good fell that’s all I can say when life goes so fast it’s important to take a moment to celebrate your wins because there’s Beauty in those moments and you don’t want to speed by them and therapy can help you take stock of your progress and set achievable goals for the next 6 months if you’re considering trying therapy give better help a try it’s entirely online designed to be convenient flexible and suited to your schedule just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with the licensed therapist and switch therapist anytime for no additional charge take a moment visit betterhelp.com podcast P today to get 10% off your first month that’s betterhelp hp.com podcast p so it Isaiah Thomas was the head coach of the Season at this time and and and he didn’t take losing very well walked home from a game in the snow um and you two kind of didn’t you know get along or see eye to eye at moments throughout the season what was the relationship actually like between you and Zeke man me and Zeke was cool man you know I had a lot of respect I a lot of respect for Zeke and you know Zeke is one of them type like you say he’s he’s he’s real he’s going to tell you cuz I think they were talking about trading me he came to me told me like we’re thinking about trading you but I think we’re going to keep you and um just see how it work I was like cool you know I want to be here with you and um everything and uh so you know Zeke was always a realist and he always tell you you know everything you want to hear that’ll help you out and you know guys’s respected that and guys’s respect Z for the simple fact he was real like that he’ll tell you the truth and um he want the best for you so like you said um that that was a big part of it and me Zeke cool to the day how important was that Nick’s tenure in the helping you throughout the rest of your career that next teing when I was there even though it was a short period of time it still helped me like coming in with Zeke just learning Zeke taught me a lot of professionalism too cuz when I came there we had to wear we was he said you got to dress up every game you got to dress up on the bus you got to dress up on the playe so I didn’t have all these suits so just you know wearing suits all the time coming into the game professionalism and you know people seeing you you know seeing you the first time and getting their first impression so just like teach me a lot you know a lot about the Prof ISM and you know things off the court and uh that type of nature damn so he made you wear so y’ was wearing suits and [ __ ] on planes y’ had to wear suits and they suited up like like they got y’all got a sweet today PG I wear a damn sweat I save me so muchay Money wearing a sweatsuit yeah [ __ ] now these guys they dress up for the locker room photo or the the walk out now it’s like AED back I wonder how you would have done now with with all the extra it’s crazy now crazy but it’s good it’s good man I like it you know I like it for the league and I like it for the guys too man it’s good cuz a lot of you guys got a lot of fashion and and a lot of guys just regular but each guy can show what they want individually they if it’s they style they want to rock this [ __ ] they gonna rock it so that’s cool you know guys want to come and sweat some guys want to get Fly some guys want to put some [ __ ] on it’s cool right right right but I you know I think it just comes down to like that’s where what whatever is going to make you comfortable going to work at the end of the day that’s what it that’s what that [ __ ] be about you know what I mean some people like to dress up before they go to work some people like man you know I’m I’m going to work like let me just throw some [ __ ] on get ready to go to work that’s where my my my energy is is sh is kind of geared towards um and then you know you got the people the the flashy guys yeah I want to Brand myself you know what I mean I want to show you know who I am in this in this space off the court so where where are you on that scale I think I’m I’m right in the middle I think I’m right in the middle I got those days where I’m like man I’m just going to work today you be fly you be flying though but I you know I have my days where I’m like you know what I mean let me put that [ __ ] on today I feel good I slept 8 hours last night you know what I mean I’m well ened nothing no more huh huh y’all don’t get fin nothing no more not no more not no more you know you know they used to F us for dress code all type [ __ ] I’m happy they lifted the [ __ ] where you had to wear suits on the bench yeah that used to kill me my first couple years why you used to h i to travel with suits and [ __ ] like you got to travel like with the sup first couple years in the league like you know they it was on that old school NBA [ __ ] where you got to do duties and stuff like you talked about so I used to be thinking about that it’s a ton of [ __ ] I got to carry plus I ain’t trying to crinkle my suit so yeah that bu blankets that suit back in the day blankets that was he fly as hell that was a wild could tell her we were clean clean as hell yeah what was that like though when when the dress code like finally lifted like what was that around the league but you see for me it just it it was cool but like I don’t think like when I was playing I don’t think you could you know still I think you still had to wear you could wear sweats I think yeah so it was cool okay cuz I was in some sweats like a [ __ ] at my end I ain’t going to lie but no like you said this it’s cool though now I like how the league is doing with the dress code so After experiencing backtack losing seasons and you’ve been traded now the third time in three years uh you end up becoming an Allstar in your first season with the Grizzlies did you feel like you were ready for that moment I was so frustrated you know getting traded and then going to Memphis I was like when I first hear about it I’m like hell no I ain’t you know nah like cuz my daddy from Memphis my folks in Memphis like you know i’ been i’ be in Memphis all the time before I got traded so me coming there I was like H I know everybody here so I didn’t think it was a good idea so man I went there man God had another plan man it was the best decision that ever happened the best thing that happened to me best thing happened to my career that’s my city they show me love you know they understand that they understand a person like me you know I mean like I’m Rough Around the Edges like you know I always been Underdog my whole life you know what I mean especially in the league like me not making like I they make a lot of All-Star games but I average the same points as Dirk and Tim and kg you know all the dogs back then the West you know it was it was just stack Forge it was night in night out you had a problem on your hand so it’s like I was hanging up there but they always tell me you know you can’t I’m like damn coach why ain’t allar why they a [ __ ] with me like well you ain’t you ain’t winning you know they used should tell me you know that was the reason but you know I just feel like I always been that type of Black Sheep like rough round the edge type of guy so just going to Memphis it’s a place where it’s a hardworking place you know it’s a blue collar town you know it ain’t you know people it ain’t just easy so they see the hard work and they respect it so that’s where I touched them at that’s where they touched me at You me giving back to the community me giving back to the neighborhoods me showing them that I’m just like them I come from where they come from so that was the best thing that ever happened to me in my career man I know there was a there was a special video and a special moment out there where you kind of embraced this young fan and touched you know this young fan in a heartfelt moment and and it kind of just showed just how down to earth you were and and in in that moment how did the fans kind of embrace you when you when you came to Memphis man they they they show love man they did man and you know me getting out there in the community me showing on me me talking to everybody you know I’m I’mma speak to everybody I’mma say what’s up I’mma shake your hand I ain’t gonna never you know look at you like you know big doggy and none of that type [ __ ] cuz I ain’t how I’m built so they just seeing that side and just and they respect it man you know and um that’s my city and you know I got I’m going to give me a house there I always keep a house there I work for the team got business in the city you know the label the record label and stuff in the city so you know that’s my that’s my city man so Mark was there already then you come there then Rudy wasn’t drafted there yet right no Rudy was already there Rudy was already there Mike Mike was already there it was almost like you was the last piece to to a hell of a successful group uh Tony Allen then got traded there right yep and Tony Kan did y’all did y’all feel like something special was brewing once that that nucleus right there was put together yep like you said after our first year I got there with r I came and Rudy Mike and Mark they was already there and I think we won like 16 more games or something my first year there but you can feel it you can feel the excitement you can feel you can see the the potential in this team and and and excitement around it and they beli in I think the next year we went made the playoffs and proved so much and I think we beat think it was San Antonio we beat you know the you know beat AC beat them so after that they just they seen it and we just kept believing and and they putting in they instilling that belief in us too you know the fans and we believing in oursel and you know we that team 2011 playoffs you went for 31 in game six versus the number one seed Spurs at that time you guys for the AP seed uh what was it like matching up with Tim Duncan and uh ultimately upsetting that that loaded Spurs team man that was probably one of the best moments of my career just winning that series and I think winning the first series for the Grizz is ever um winning so just being there and not only that going against one of the greatest power forwards the game in the game and Tim Duncan and and the greatest coach and Coach pop and so just being that and knowing how that team is and how they’re like a machine and just beating them at the AC SE it was just like it was it was great you know we really thought we could do that year do something that year and win a championship cuz we just beat you know one of the best teams and organizations ever you know in the game so just having that confidence man that we we could go all the way that year so as a fan it was it was a joy to watch you and Mark you know play together and the chemistry that you guys had at the four and the five talk a little bit about how you were able to develop that type of chemistry with Mark you know on the floor and then also just kind of curious what your relationship with him off the court was like man Mark my little big brother man just Mark a great guy man he people people be forgetting Mark was raised in memph memph like Mark came to Memphis he was when Paul got drafted so I think Mark spent middle school he spent a lot of time there so you know Mark act you know like us he listen to 36 he listen you know what I mean Project Pat you know he word for word you know what I mean so you know but no just man he he he a good dude man he’s so unselfish like he’s really like a seven feet point guard you know what I mean like he’s just so talented like he just know how to get everybody going and he was that defensive anchor and you know could shoot the ball like one of the best Shooters you know bigs you know probably when we was playing so just um just being that man and just knowing where I want the ball at like he he studyed you know he knew every position he knew the guard’s position he knew you know the the the the shooting guard the the fors so he was like a point guard like he knew everything so he knew where he supposed to be so Mark helped me out a lot and on the defensive end he did another person that gave you a lot of success on your team was my boy Mike Conley that boy Cole he still doing his thing I want to ask you how do you think he’s still able to make an NBA like impact right now like man because he’s he’s such a he’s so talented not only that he’s just his leadership skills I mean and the way he take care of his body the way he he’s such a professional and professionalism the way he carry himself and the things he do and um he can really play I I told him [ __ ] man he might as well he play really another like he is cuz he take care of another five years if you want to you know what I mean and not only that like he’s a type of guy like like you said with Steve Curry he’s going to be a type of guy you might see coaching one day be a head coach of an NBA team or you know a general manager he’s going to be one of them type of guys that’s how I feel what he’s doing right now right on the court his teammates it’s awesome seeing Anthony Edwards has just given him a a ton a ton of Praise yeah and you never Mike is one of them guys that every team he played on everybody you never heard you never going to hear nobody say nothing bad about Mike you know I mean such a great guy and a real guy and um he just want everybody to win he’s one of them guys like you know we talking about guys you seen ha ain’t got he a guy who ain’t got no hate in him a always show love to the younger players whoever coming in and he’s just that type of person was there ever a moment when you realize he was he was like that like he that he the [ __ ] oh yeah he he Indiana he know he Indiana guy that’s little bro he been the [ __ ] you know he Indiana when you you coming out of Indiana you ain’t got no choice but to be a dog you know what I’m saying he been that yeah for sure when you faced off against big Blake Griffin everybody in the world always assumed that y’all going to always have some type of ups and downs some downs and up some fish fights or whatever and at the time for some reason everybody in the world has something against Lob City I just want to ask you what is it about Lob City that everybody hate it man really just I mean we just wanted to beat him for us you know for the when we when we want to play and for me me personally you know Blake came in you know I’m I was at the prime of my career and I was with the Clippers and Blake they had the number one pick so I’m like okay Blake coming out of Oklahoma he’s going to be the number one pick so in my mind you know from getting traded from Portland to New York New York to Clippers I’m like okay well I’m GNA get traded again so after a while you like all right [ __ ] I’m gonna get traded again so I knew that cuz he want to come in he gonna play he don’t want to pick we play the same position so that happened and they traded me to Memphis so that was the like I said that was the best thing God had a plan man so that was the best thing that happened and you know from that with me I just took that as a rivalry you know as you know show him that you know we you know this ain’t de you know what I mean and he’s talented and he was a beast too so just coming in having having them battles man and so then you get to go um on that 2013 playoff run and your team was able to get some of that revenge against the Clippers and the Thunder who previously had eliminated you guys from the season and you guys Advanced to the Conference Finals to play the Spurs what made that Squad that you had that year so special man we just knew each other we we we was clicking like you know I said like you said like how the Spurs they run they they they team and how they pla a fine sewing machine so it was like that we we knew each other we knew or or he wanted that defensive end you know we one of the best def defensive teams in the league um locking [ __ ] up so just coming in we we knew that we was going to um that we could do something that we could had a Clippers on the stream we I think we were down when we came came here and we won and and went back to Memphis we knew we had them and um so just having that confidence and just you know just we G to [ __ ] [ __ ] up anybody who get our way like you said earlier on the show you said the West Was stacked it was reason why you weren’t able to get certain all stars and all this [ __ ] just when you played for the Grizzlies you know what I’m saying everybody was over here so I want to ask you who was the toughest team to beat during that time the time in Portland a time in Portland for me in my years probably would be probably always been the Spurs man always been the Spurs you know what I mean they always been that team where I think like you said with Memphis we went to play I think one playoff here they swept us you know what I mean might have been in the Western Conference Finals but just um for me it’s just been been in San Antonio Spurs man Pap always having them guys ready and everybody on the same page what about you P my toughest I mean [ __ ] it was always that he that Heat team we couldn’t get past him you know what I mean like as as good as we felt every year felt like we come together we figured it out I think when we talked about this I think a couple episodes ago what changed was when Chris Bosch they put him at the five that changed the whole game for us and we couldn’t really match up with him because you know Roy as good as he was he’s you know uh his his strength was playing at The Rim and being in the pain and you know protecting the basket so then now when they put Chris BOS at the five it was hard for Roy to come out and still me be at the rim and so yeah they they that’s when they kind of that was the separation right there I thought we we were good enough to kind of compete and and you know the series could have went any way at at any given moment I felt like it was moments we were up in that series but we just once they did that we couldn’t get past that Heat team we’ve talked about it on the show and we even just kind of mentioned that how the NBA has changed just the play style less physicality is there a team that you watch today that most resembles kind of the old school you know grit and grind type of basketball man the Grizzles I like the Grizzlies down like you say you got you know you got jiren down there you had you know big Steven Adams and and I like Denver to because you know they still throw the yic on the Block and you know you got some teams that still get go down and get a easy B basket on the Block like you know San Antonio um Philly with Philly with big Joel so you still got some teams to still go back to the old schools you got cuz you got coaches that you know that come from that and they still kind of believe in that but you know you know you got analytics that [ __ ] changes a lot of way players play too and change the game and do you think do you think that will ever change because we’re getting far farther and further away from that it feels like but do you think there’ll be a day where there’s a four and a five like for me I I think so so I I I feel like this I feel like it’s going to be like a revolving clock I feel like I don’t know when it’s going to be one year you going to get a dominant class you going to get three SF Footers you going to get four 69ine guys who just like Shack or you know down there catching everything dunking and like a Joel so I think it’s a revolving clock you gonna get a big man come in they’re gonna be like oh you know right here go another Shack or here go another you know car Malone or or or ya me or some [ __ ] like that so I just think it all come back around because at the end of the day that’s like kind of how it happens right like a player comes into the league special talent and then they become extremely successful and then now the team other team’s around like [ __ ] we got to find somebody for him yeah and then now that’s when you get all right the big man it back like so to your point it’s going to take uh you know it’s going to take some time like if Joel and them was winning and you know he had championships I could very well see like all right [ __ ] we need to we got to go find another we got to go find another one of him like you know that’s that’s the example right there so we need somebody for him I I think at some point yeah to your point we that’s when we going to start seeing everyone’s got a thirst a drive to be the next big thing to put the world on notice and for me to be one of the best basketball players on the court every night so if you answering when your thirst calls Sprites for you well you know it is for me then my drive has got me to where I am today as an actor and Sprite is for the makers and creators like myself The Visionaries that put in the work to build their dreams whether you’re shooting cinematic Masterpiece on your phone or filling notebook with sketches are you up all night turning your bedroom into the booth keep going y’all thirst is everything having equity and being a managing partner in my own mortgage company at the age of 35 has quenched my thirst to be as successful as I wanted but even that hasn’t stopped my drive towards greatness Sprite is made for those who thirst for success and are working to make their dreams a reality so keep going and remember to be true to yourself obey your thirst Sprite hey y’all let me put you on to something real quick I got something you need to check out you ever heard of the bo app that’s Bo not black the bo app if not you’re missing out so check it Bo is the largest dating and lifestyle app made specifically for the black community now for those thinking it’s just the same old scene nah be switch things up sure you can find you a boot thing if that’s what you’re looking for but if you’re looking to just make friends Network group chat with folks based on shared interest or find out about events near you or anything B okay got all that for you okay that’s all it do the ad been around for almost 7 years y’all that’s a long time and over 11 million people have download it crazy that’s like the population of New York City and LA combined if you downloaded the app before and deleted it redownloaded I mean why would you do that anyway it’s because they introduced a bunch of new features and there new people to meet on there oh and did I mention that it’s free so go download B today in the app store or on your Google Play it’s fun it’s for us check it out let me know what you think I mean there’s so many beautiful dilicious people on there who is this right here I think she want a holler well anyways man with you being from Memphis knowing the whole get down being from there and everything I want to get your state on the Grizzlies right now today man when healthy and they got you know J ran in the fold I want to know you know where do you see this generation of Memphis basketball where you see him at I see it next next year they gonna be uh see they they injured they injured this year so everybody was in injured but next year everybody gonna come back healthy you know J talked the job I see him a couple weeks ago he looking good and he ready so he been working his shoulder healing and um jiren he healthy we got Brandon coming back Marcus goingon to be back healthy so uh Bane he healthy so next year we going to be te to be reing with we’re going to be right there up the top again next year you like J doing all that yeah extra stuff you you know you don’t you don’t scare you n no he he whoever jumping better be scared on we need him back we need him back for the game yeah he miss missing why you a working for Memphis I work for the team I do see I didn’t even know that I work for the that’s why I said I’ll be back in Memphis so I work for the team and stuff so I’m always there I actually just left Memphis today this morning congratulations sir thank you sir has that been been going on like talk a little bit more about you know your position and what you do you know I’m like an ambassador Ro um so I’ve been doing it I retired what uh 21 22 and I started doing it then so just being around there being in the community um you know just being that face around there you know knowing everybody so you know been around a player so you know just giveing me that opportunity man and you know maybe to go somewhere bigger you know I mean why not we we went damn near to Memphis the whole damn show you been there all this stuff you did I mean you should do something yeah dope you see yourself in like a like a front office role man you know I was thinking about that but you know I love the game man I don’t know I’m kind of getting that inch for Co coaching man cuz I feel like I got a lot to you know teach players teach young players give back and even on the women’s side you know what I mean but like I feel like I don’t know maybe I want to start coaching a little more doing that because you know he teaching these young players you know some little tricks and you know teaching them you know you ain’t got to jump the high it’s all the time to to get your shot off that little bump going when you give him that little bump he freeze for a second you get a sh so just a little different things we see zo as a coach I can see see wear Su button they hoodies you probably be the coolest shirt wear be wear glasses with a hat I’m them I’m clear jump squ JS clear jums yeah coach Mo man oh I got I want to see this happen now coach zo baby speaking of the the the viral moment between you and and D cousin when the bullies get bullies moment did you like when that moment happened did you have any inclination that that would have been a a a a viral moment around the internet like what was it a like just friendly banter was it just L bro banter cuz I know de CU he you know that’s family you know it was so funny cuz we always you know he always gonna be mad or I’m always going to talk [ __ ] to him he always going to say something so it been going on so when I said that I didn’t think it was going to go viral like that and they heard it good like right right it was like they was waiting they heard it good waiting to see what she was going to say at this moment that was funny so you know he was just [ __ ] with um little buddy buddy Hill at the time I like man leave my little guard alone you know [ __ ] we from where the bullies get bullied they stopped there so it was just little joke so yeah bullies get bullied that’s funny and so at Memphis they end up retiring your jersey talk to us a little bit about just that which I’m sure was a special moment for you what was your reaction when you found that news out man a kid coming from poverty from a single parent home man mother on welfare man wasn’t supposed to be there wasn’t supposed to be here like man that’s it’s just man damn there shed tears man you know I did shed tears when they told me every time my jersey cuz you know where I’m from you really don’t make it out and definitely don’t go in no NBA arena and see your jersey up there so man having that is a blessing and and I left everything I every time I got on the court I left it all after I played hard I gave him my all so just seeing that seeing a team organization to respect it like that and respect me like that and the city also to be be behind it man it’s a great feeling man and [ __ ] PG he he going to have his when he get done playing he going to have his jersey up a couple spots I hope you deserve for show I hope man hell yeah no no I mean you know at the end of the day it’s it’s in the team’s you know hands but man I hope you know I hope I I paved the way or if I you know did enough to kind of inspire uplift you know that era of the time that I was there you know whether it’s in Indiana whether it was in in uh La I don’t think my stent was long enough in Oklahoma um but you know hopefully in those two other places I do you Indiana I’m make sure I’m be there man support you sure I might get booed I might be the first player to get boo they put you up booing huh they they going boo you they how do you feel about you know P’s gotten recently he’s gotten a ton of love and support from the younger generation and to some people it’s you know it’s come as a shock I’m just curious from your perspective have you been hearing like Carmelo Anthony’s son like Paul’s my go Brandon Miller you know what are your thoughts on that that’s nothing new like you know I’ve been hearing that you know about you know kids P being kids favorite player you know what I mean so that ain’t that’s not no shock or no surprise cuz I mean the kid is man is a future Hall of Famer so you know what I mean so things he done his game you know um the way he play is is way guys play now is like a new generation so but he been doing that so it’s no surprise mhm yeah appreciate that OG so um speaking of the Next Generation your baby girl shout out to her you you stated earlier she just committed and and will be a part of Louisville basketball and following your footsteps what was kind of like that initial you know uh was she always into basketball was you did you kind of hey here go ball like did you like cuz cuz I got a daughter as well and it it didn’t go as it’s not going as well with basketball and Sports in general but though you never know my daughter my second daughter my youngest daughter she’s into it honestly she’s she’s been picking it up and like she’ll go in the backyard by herself and she’ll just shoot we put her on her team and I asked her like you want to play basketball she like yes I want to so she’s all about sports but my oldest she’s got my height she’s literally the girl version of me but she she’s not into sports yeah that’s like you said that’s my daughter I don’t have to tell like you said like your younger daughter like she always you know she been around it cuz she know coming to games but she always played and she always loved to play like I never had to here go here mckenley let’s do it like like now she works out go works out before school go swimming and she’s telling me dad I did this then like damn you know what I mean like super serious yeah so she takes it serious so that’s what I love about her I love that she the way she loved the game the way that her worth ethic is can I see that her worth ethic that’s way I was you know I I didn’t have training you know I was coming out of mar we a have training our training was the concrete 14 Street Park in the hood right Charles Park you know concrete that’s where we got our train at so just seeing her how she love to play and you don’t got to tell her to do it and her love for the game is that’s what you do it for cuz if I got to tell her come on man take the ball then you know you don’t really want it and I really want push it on you like my kids if you want to do it you can do it but if I got to push it on you then it might not be for you it might be something else that you want to do what position she play she play like a 3 Four 3 four okay do you see similarities in in in her game a lot man them jeans is something else man you you done T her you done Tau her Tau her a little bit a little hook little face up game so we we do a little we do a lot of work and I’m always in the gym with her yeah she been working with uh shout out to Phil she been working with Phil lately Phil handy soy so yeah so you know she just stay in the gym man she’s a gym rat rest in peace the uh late Kobe Brown all right I know she uh she played and was coached by or played for and was coached by by Co at that time what was that experience like man rest in peace cold man it was just one of the greatest greatest times for her man I think that right there really turned her up because when she came we moved out I retired and we moved out to LA and she was like um Dad I think um the Slam Magazine with Kobe and Mama girls just came out and she was like Dad you think um since we’re moving La that you can call Kobe and see if I can play with his team so I was like man I can try I try to reach out to C and see ain’t no guarantee but you know for my baby my kids I’mma go to the sky I’mma try so I reached out to co and he hit back I’m like what’s up you know bro I’m moving to La my daughter seen the team she’s such or such age you know you got a spot for her and Co like man Zebo I don’t know he’s like let’s bring her down here to Orange County and we’ll see how fit in with the girls so I was like okay man she came down there bro she fitted in like a puzzle man the girls loved her man she was another big that they needed and it just worked out man you know she’s just looking at the Kobe like wow coach was the same age as well so it really worked out perfectly to play in that group that’s she got to work out with Co yeah so man worked out man and you know like just being there and she’s learned so much from Kobe like she Kobe put her made her running 16 she ain’t never running 16 in her life Kobe had her running all the other girls they practicing she running Kobe got her running he got to get in shape mhm you know mckeny she ain’t never she all right that’s what I got to do yeah how how I know since you was there how was Gigi playing basketball at kind like how what was her game watching her play kind of like her dad like her dad man her shot and everything like like I said them jeans was crazy she like her like her how Kobe shooted like she shot it like that like her whole form you know how the way how he on the court like she walked like you could just tell like a a girl Kobe Bryant like it’s crazy was it was it interesting like what was your view on you know your time with Kobe just pure competitiveness and then from him to go to that to a coach what was what was kind of like that from your perspective cuz I’m sure you kind of have you know you view Kobe a certain way and then you get to see a whole another side of them that was probably polar opposite in some sense from from what you were accustomed to man seeing that after Kobe got done playing and being around and coming around moving to California moving LA and been around it Kobe dedicated his life to them girls he dedicated his life to his team every college that they wanted to go to he was going to try to get them there he was about to coach Sage the high school down there and I was going to bring McKinley to Sage so he was going to be the coach with all the mama girls at the sage high school he’s going to be the head coach so that’s what he dedicated his life to I mean all day every day G in the gym working the girls out you know it was all about his girls m All About Them Girls man yeah that’s that’s awesome that’s sad man so with uh baby girl now going to Louisville how many games we attending [ __ ] man all of them she she gonna be calling see my see her mom going to be with her her little sister and brother so she going to be on my ass like where you at you know I I really never missed too many of her games you know she go to she went to USA game and um Spain I was there and everywhere she go I I’ve been there so man I’ve been her whole career so that’s what I’s up I Ain I don’t think nothing going to change man so [ __ ] I might get a little spot around Indiana again so I can quick trips quick on you know it’s hour 30 minutes two hours so down there kids balling yeah my son he balling my other daughter she 15 she like how P says daughter she like ah she kind of want to play for fun or play to be with her friends on the court like she’ get a rebound and pass it out she’d be smiling stop smiling don’t shoot the damn she getting a rebound smile she out there with her homie she like I’m with my homies daddy we having fun yeah see that’s that’s that’s where my oldest is at right now yeah she she’s kind of doing it because her friends are doing it um but it’s funny cuz she started the season out she plays for her her elementary school so she started the season out not liking it you know she’ll be half assing it like scared to hit people scared of the contact shy like you know she was in that phase and then towards the end of the season like and she’s the tallest uh girl on the court end of the season she like calling for the ball she like rebounding and dribbling up herself like she she taking all the shots and so it was it was cool to see that like oh okay so like I just got to get her into it you know and she’ll she’ll find her way um but it was cool to see you know as a parent and as a father is just like a okay yeah look at my look at my baby girl finally yeah s her jeans doing I love it well y’all it’s time for my favorite segment rated PG so right before we get out of here since we got Zebo we going to do something little fun and different today how rated PG works is where PG takes a under the radar play talks about his skill who don’t get acknowledged enough or whatever and he tells us about his skills and everything so we can start watching him and all we want to know is to DP who do we got so Zebo can help you out well I think it’s only fitting uh this player right here um who is a ton of talent he’ll be in this year’s draft he had a hell of a uh 2024 College run uh in the tourament and he’s has a lot of Zebo uh likeness and comparisons um and I I think DJ Burns Jr uh game has has been awesome he had a hell of a run like I mentioned just his ability his Poise I think his confidence um and you don’t see that level of of I would say you know just mity on the court that I think you saw in DJ Burns this season and so I know you’ve heard of the name and you’ve heard of the comparisons to you what do you feel about you know DJ’s game and and and relation of of them comparing them to you man I like him I like him I like the kid man he first came on the scene I think was during the tournament he’s making you know big waves and like I told I talk to him actually I know a guas guy Rick in Chicago I know him so we got on the phone and we talked and he’s you know talking about me you know the the young man he’s very smart he’s um he’s investing his money he’s buying you know um vending machines he’s trying to you know doing clothes he’s like he’s in the music so his his mind is so he’s developing like he want got so much stuff he want to doing and for me I told him from the basketball standpoint just get in the best shape you can you know lose much weight you can get in the best shape you can work on your shot you know what I mean because you know the game has changed you know the NBA has changed in the way they play in a different style so just at that you know at that that fact and tell him you know you know NBA the only one that pay pay green so man it’s a lot of you know go out there and get your money and just work hard and believe in yourself man so I know he recently lost 45 lbs had something to do with that yeah oh yeah yeah he looking good I told him he was looking good yeah yeah no he did he he did a lot of weight he did 45 lbs is no joke to lose that that that before and after picture was I’m curious to see what his game is going to be now and he got his touch is so soft he can shoot the ball so just I like the I like the kid game man and I think like you said the comparison to me you know that’s that’s you know that’s cool cuz you know he got side so he he good and he just got to keep working man you know and don’t get discouraged and just keep believing in yourself that’s what I told him yeah what what team like you think he’ll be a good fit with his play cuz I I like him personally as a four I think just cuz he’s probably what 69ine yeah as a five and I know it’s not like too many throw the ball on the Block fives to for him to be but I just think you know the fives now a little bit more athletic they little a little bit more versatile you know they getting up the floor a lot quicker and I like you and like you said I like him at that five position I think he San Antonio do good because Popin put him in the right positions you know how was Blair you know remember was a Blair he played at you know kind of similar to him put sling position yeah so I think you know a team like a San Antonio I think a veteran team that’s you know that’s been winning that he could help A team out like that and come in and make a difference you know what I mean if you come in there even put him in there rebound or you know get you a couple easy baskets something like that so that that’s not that’s not bad that’s not bad because if you put yeah if you got the big fella big wmy that allow him to be free and be R why you got a real big to kind of hold the anchor down on the block that’s not that’s not a bad little one too right there to be honest yeahp pop always put you in the right position so pop going to know where to put him at There You Go San Antonio y’all got a little little little tip in the air right there from the OG himself coach zo I coach zo you going to be coaching coach skills just make sure you give me tickets behind the bench come on man I got you man we want to thank you for coming through and uh spending time on podcast Pete that was a hell of that might have been our best story mode I I think man we hope y’all love it make sure y’all like subscribe and comment and uh follow all of the social platforms see you Monday same time you dig you dig [Music]

2-time NBA All-Star and 17-year veteran Zach Randolph joins Podcast P for another edition of Story Mode. Zach shares stories about his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, battles at practice vs Rasheed Wallace, learning from Scottie Pippen, and insightful talks with Steve Kerr.

Zach also shares his side of the fight with Ruben Patterson and provides insight into how being traded to the Knicks went down. Z-Bo also discusses how Memphis embraced him, playoff battles against Blake Griffin and Tim Duncan, and shares how great it was to see his daughter coached by the late Kobe Bryant. #memphisgrizzlies #zachrandolph #paulgeorge #portlandtrailblazers

0:00 Start
8:20 NBA Player Influence
9:10 One & Done At Michigan St.
13:20 First Year W/ Blazers
15:00 Relationship with Steve Kerr, Scottie Pippen & Rasheed Wallace
23:00 Practice Was Z-Bo’s Game
26:20 The JailBlazers Era
28:28 Worst Lock Room Fight
36:22 Breakout Season
41:04 Brandon Roy’s Talent
44:30 How The Knicks Trade Went Down
54:55 Isiah Thomas as a NY Coach
59:25 Best Thing To Happen To Z-Bo
1:03:15 Matching With Tim Duncan
1:04:00 Chemistry with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr.
1:07:00 Battles vs Blake Griffin
1:09:07 Career’s Toughest Team To Beat
1:10:57 Modern Day Grit & Grind Team
1:18:10 Viral Moment with DeMarcus Cousins
1:19:00 Memphis Jersey Retirement
1:21:24 Z-Bo’s Daughter Playing Basketball
1:23:54 Kobe Coaching Z-Bo’s Daughter
1:29:12 Rated PG: DJ Burns Jr.
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New episodes drop on MONDAYS.

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