EXCLUSIVE! Pistons TOLU SMITH Pulls Up To The Show! 👀

EXCLUSIVE! Pistons TOLU SMITH Pulls Up To The Show! 👀

All the dirty work, all dog. I’mma dive on the floor, go try to block every shot, and I’mma be physical with you the whole game. You know, Ste going to be physical with you. When you think of the Pistons, you think of just hard work and just pretty basketball. That’s his identity you got to have when you put on that jersey. I’m not your average. Not a good dog, a bad boy for life. I set the tone. Don’t care about no. Let it be known. I kiss my respect. Come in the lane and see I don’t blow you. If you retaliate, I don’t I walk in the top. You must mess around. Mess around. Somebody better compete for Don’t prom me right now. What up though everybody? Welcome back to another episode of the Downtown Dude Show. Hope everybody is having a great Tuesday night. If for some reason you are not up to this point, then you have come to the right place because we have a very special guest with us here tonight. Tonight we are joined in this exclusive interview by Detroit Pistons and Motor City Cruise Forward Center Tollu Smith. Tou, welcome to the show, bro. I know we’ve been trying to coordinate this for coordinate for a little bit, you know, trying to get this done, but we finally got it to happen, man. Good to have you on the show, bro. Oh, man. Appreciate you having me, man. Appreciate you having me. Yeah, absolutely. So, just turned 25 recently, right? Yeah. Yeah. And uh from from the looks of your IG stories, the birthday vibes were immaculate. Yeah. Yeah. It was a good vibe. It was a good vibe. I was out there in Hawaii. I got to spend time with my family. So, it was a good time. For sure. We going to get into that, man. For sure. How’s your offseason been so far, bro? It’s been great, man. I’ve been down here in Atlanta training, just getting stronger, getting faster, expanding my game. So, it’s been real good for me. Yeah. When we were trying to uh It’s funny you say that. We were trying to schedule this. We were trying to get this done. Uh you were telling me that you were out of town putting in work and then I saw this and then it made sense. Yo, first of all, why you do that to them, bro? Why you do them like that? That was even necessary. I met everybody [ __ ] this year, man. I met everybody [ __ ] You know what I’m saying? I saw you uh you walked away with the MVP drip, too. So, you know, drip or drown. You know what I’m saying? I feel it. That’s what’s up, man. Yeah, for sure. It’s a blessing to be able to just continue to play this game. So, you know what I’m saying? Just happy to be around and keep playing. Absolutely. Shout out to AEL Hoops, too. Um, I wanted to ask you this because you got some ball skills. Um, we saw in the clip we just shown, but also we saw this recently at summer league, which we going to get into later, but I saw a few times during summer league, bro, you were just what I call boarding and pushing where you just grabbing a rebound and just starting to break. You look real comfortable doing that. is like growing up did you play point guard or guard or or was kind of handling the ball kind of easy for you? Yep. I had a late growth spurt in high school. I uh I didn’t hit my grow till like sophomore year I was like 63 6’4 and then I went to I shot up to like 610. So before that I was just playing guard. Um and then my senior year in high school uh we didn’t really we had some ball handlers but we didn’t have a lot. So I had to continually bring the ball up. So, and then my dad always preaching uh ball handling, you know what I’m saying? He was a he was like a community coach and we started with ball handling, we ended with ball handling. So, that just something that’s always been instilled in me. Just came natur to you. Okay. Got you. Got you. Let’s go to uh let’s go let’s kind of go back in history a little bit to your high school career. Um I’m pretty sure you already know this, but I’m sure there are people here who don’t, but you’re only the second Hawaii high school graduate to play an NBA regular season game. Yeah. Yeah. Crazy. Yeah, man. I think the last time it happened was in 1957, if I’m saying it correctly. His name was Red Rosher. And I know you Yeah, Rosher, right? Yeah. I know you grew up in uh Bay St. Louis in Mississippi. And I know you went to high school of Bay High, but you graduated uh in Hawaii as a senior, right? Yeah, I graduated in Hawaii as a senior. Uh I had some family out there in Hawaii and uh we wanted to get accustomed to my other side, my other culture. You know, I’m half Sao and half black. So my mom and dad thought it’d be a great idea to just go out there and experience life out there and it was a better opportunity for me like college-wise and it was a lot of guys out there on the west coast that would come down to the games like on a recruiting trip who wouldn’t want to go to Hawaii. So it was it was a good opportunity for me and uh shout out to to Kahuku and the Red Raider Nation, man. It’s been they’ve been they’ve been uh behind me ever since I started this basketball thing. So Coach Brandon, right? Co B. Yep. Coach B. Okay. Yeah, Coach B. That had to be uh something of a culture shock though, going from Mississippi to Hawaii. I mean, that’s that’s crazy. The biggest culture shock, I’m telling you. Talk about it. When I was in Mississippi, you know, I’m not saying people are rude or mean, but they just mind their business. You know what I’m saying? And and the way they talk to people is just southern twang, southern slang, and it’s just yes ma’am, no ma’am. Yes, sir. No, sir. And in Hawaii, it’s the complete opposite. You know, they always asking if you’re okay, if you need something. Everybody’s so friendly. And they don’t do they don’t do yes ma’am, no ma’am. They don’t do yes sir or no sir. It’s smart with just like yes or no or yes auntie. You know, you know, right? It’s a different type of feel out there. So, it’s that low spirit. How long did it take you to get used to the vibe? To be honest, I’m still not used to the vibe. Like, it’s super slow out there. It’s super slow out there. So, you know, you can get caught up in just just being like lazy out there. You know what I’m saying? I could never get out there too long. Maybe a week at most. Yeah. But there Yeah. Got to keep working. That’s what I’m saying. Everything is just just chill, you know? Yeah. I feel that. That’s what’s up, man. Let’s jump to uh your college career a little bit. Let’s talk about college for a minute. I know you went to um Western Kentucky where you started, but you spent most of your time at Mississippi State, right? Yeah. time Mississippi State. Yes, sir. Okay. Okay. So, in 2023 and 2024, you were named first team all SEC, which in my opinion is the best conference in college basketball. That’s just me, right? I agree. I mean, okay. Okay. Yeah, I agree. Yeah. Okay. For sure. I know um in those years you averaged um like something like 15 to eight in a block. And you play with the guys like it was it was some hoopers over there, man. DJ Stewart was over there, right? You know, it’s crazy. I always had this this like notion in my mind like man this guy NBA player you know what I’m saying just from the the way he this long arms super tall athletic guard slashwing shoot the ball shoot the mid-range really well defender I don’t I’m not saying like he he didn’t pan out but it’s just you know what I’m saying it make it it just shows how hard it is to play at this level you know what I’m saying so facts I always thought that he was a guy that you know could really make some noise in the league and I always had a uh a huge liking to DJ as a person and as a player. So yeah. Yeah, he definitely talented for sure. That wasn’t the issue. Super talented. Super talented. Crazy. Do you feel like um at uh Mississippi State? I want to shout out uh Coach Jans, too. I think he I feel like he doesn’t really get the respect and credit that he deserves, but I feel like he’s I feel like within, you know, within the actual league of of college basketball, he’s respected. Like they know, you know, I mean, hoopers know, even if those in outside world kind of don’t know. Hoopers and coaches. I mean, I think a lot of people just I think he’s starting to get that recognition. You know what I’m saying? Last year, the year before, just getting at the higher stage, you know? I think this year he’ll make a lot more noise, but he’s one of the best coaches in the game. You know what I’m saying? His resume speaks for itself. Um, players you previously played for him, they they’ll attest to the the um the mentorship and how great of a coach he is. And even off the court, how great of a person he is off the court. You know what I’m saying? It’s just like it’s two different people, though. That’s what’s crazy. He crazy as hell on on the court. off the court, he he’ll take his shirt off his back for you. You know what I’m saying? With that flip switch when it needs to. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I’m saying? And that’s what I needed. You know, I uh I was the best player on the team, but he treated me like a a walk-on. You know what I’m saying? Everybody had equal opportunity. Yep. You know, so it kind of it kind of kept everybody in check, kept everybody in their place, and kept everybody on their toes. So, everybody was working 10 times harder. You know what I’m saying? If the best players working the hardest, there’s no excuse for nobody else to work hard. facts. Have you ever seen that? Kind of reminds me of just that mindset, that nononsense mindset. It kind of reminds me of a clip I saw a long time ago with coach Papovic in the practice with for the Spurs and Duncan made a Tim Duncan made a mistake and Pop got in his face and was like, “Bro, come on.” Like respectfully, he was like, “Come on, bro. Like, made a mistake. You got to fix that.” And everybody was watching. And Duncan was just like, “All right.” Exactly. You know, you know what I’m saying? Tim Tim Duncan like you he the greatest power forward of all time. But most most people in their their mind will probably be like, “You can’t tell Tim Dan nothing.” But and it’s a humble opinion just like, “Okay, I’m listening to my coach.” You know, that’s that’s how everybody approach need to be if you want a great team. You know what I’m saying? So leadership on both sides. On both sides. You know what I mean? Coach like, you know, no, nobody anybody can get it if not playing the right way. You know what I’m saying? He he used to have the coaches going crazy. He on coaches, he on players, he on gas. It don’t matter. Anybody who messing up be getting it. You know what I’m saying? So yeah. And I appreciate TD too cuz you know he took it. He showed everybody who’s watching like you know you got to fall in line. You know y I’m not the leader. Coach is the leader. So I thought it was leadership on both sides. So it’s cool to hear you saying that about coach Jans because it’s a lot of those same characteristics that kind of pops as far as just the equal opportunity discipline or whatever you want to call it. Coaching, criticism, whatever. I think that’s a real dope thing. For sure. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. Let’s jump to uh let’s jump to summer league a little bit, bro. Let’s talk summer league for a second. Yeah. So, this was your second year playing a summer league, right? Mhm. Okay. To me, from my eye, you can let me know what you think. I could be off base. It seemed like this year you were just more comfortable, bro. Like, it seemed like you were just more familiar with the system, the schemes. Would you agree with that? Did you feel like you were more at ease this time around? Yeah, I definitely say that. I think um I think having a year under my belt gave me a lot of confidence and especially having a year under my belt with Detroit and that coaching staff. It gave me a lot of confidence going into the summer league. You know what I’m saying? Plus the work that we was putting in I was putting in separately. Um and just the chip on our shoulder. I think that u me and DJ got a lot to prove. You know what I’m saying? So we always come into every game like we at everybody. So yeah, summerly always fun and and having somebody you can bark, we always make it more fun. So facts facts. You mentioned uh DJ Dennis Jenkins for anybody who was watching. Um I’m sure having guys like him and having and Bobby, you know, who you guys played together with the Crews for a big part of last season. I’m sure that helped as far with summer league, just having that chemistry with your guys on the court, having that familiarity. Exactly, man. We uh it just it made it a lot easier. You know what I’m saying? and and playing with summerly with Ryan last year, it was not an unfamiliar face. So, we was just all meshing well, it was like fitting right in. It was fitting like a glove. We just just having that that chemistry that we had all through uh the first summer league through the through the GLeague and having guys like uh John come in, familiar face that that uh knows the system, that knows the defensive tendencies, it made it a lot easier for us to play. You know what I’m saying? So, it it was good for us. It was really good for us. It’s funny, Dan. Uh DJ said recently, Dan Jenga said recently that he felt like last year going into summer league, he was just kind of just hooping, right? Just trying to just get acclimated and getting up to speed on the fly schematically, right, on both sides. But he was saying this year he knew exactly what the team needed from him and he knew how to play and he just played with so much more intention. Is that kind of how you would describe it for you for yourself too? Absolutely. Absolutely. I think that we kind of all knew going into summer league what we wanted to prove, what we wanted to show as a team and individually. You know what I’m saying? I think that uh for myself, I wanted to show that my defensive prowess that I am capable defender. You know what I’m saying? Playing on both ends of the ball. Um yeah, I think that in terms of everybody else, whatever they was trying to show, they did. They did a great job of doing that. Um, I think that we followed the game plan and um, I think we handled business like we were supposed to. We we we uh, we were three and two, I think. Mhm. So, we didn’t do everything we desire. But, I think that for the most part, it was a successful trip. And it was cool to see other guys get opportunity, too. You know, guys like Zakai who didn’t get to play much in the first couple games, got to play a little bit later. So, that was cool, too, to see just, you know, coach giving the opportunity to other guys to get some shine and get to showcase what they can do, too. You know, it was it was good to see, man. You know, me and Z go way back. We had some of the biggest battles in SEC. So, see him on just be on the same team as him and then seeing everything I seen on the other side of the bench is like it’s just crazy. You know, they all like, “Dang, who is it?” I’m like, “That’s that uh that dog over there.” Yeah. He been sitting there lurking in Tennessee. So, just to see him Yeah. that pit bull. So just to see him like show out and get the opportunity that he needed, it was great. It was great to see. That’s what’s up, man. We talking uh summer league, we talking Motor City Cruz. I know you spent a lot of time with them last year. Um he had a you had a great year. 17 points, uh 13 boards, two assists, a steal, a block, just doing a little bit of everything. Um let me ask you this. What part of your game do you feel gets overlooked the most? I think I think the part of my game that gets overlooked the most is maybe two things. I think one is being able to facilitate. You know what I’m saying? I think that I can make the right reads a lot. Make the right plays and get other get my teammates involved in the game. You know what I’m saying? Maybe run the offense through me and Yeah. and make sure I make the right read, make the right plays. I think also just being uh playing on both ends of the ball. I think being able to rent protect, being able to to do those defensive coverages at a te just something that uh maybe not unnoticed, but something that I just need to be louder about, you know, showing I am capable. I am one a great defender. You know what I’m saying? So, yeah. Manifesting through the play 100%. Sure. Yeah. I feel that. I feel that. And you mentioned uh your passing. It’s funny you mentioned that cuz um did you feel like you were channeling your inner Magic Johnson? I know you said that recently. Shout out to Cody Davis. He got you quoted say you was uh channeling your inner magic. Yeah, man. I was just trying to do a little flare. You know what I’m saying? Switch it up a little bit. DJ always on the other end to give me the ball. So, just trying to trying to show out show some love to my point guard. So, facts facts. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, answer this for me, bro. um last season watching you know you guys games with the Crews and I I’ve mentioned this on previous shows so the chat can verify this but from my eye it just kind of looks like you guys with the Crews run a lot of the same schemes same actions as the Pistons. It kind of feels like the Crews is kind of like a study guide on how to play at the next level with the Pistons. Like am I tripping, bro? Like or is that actually a thing? No, it’s actually a thing. I think that uh I think that what what the coaches want on the big club and what the coaches want with the Pistons trickles down to to G team and um it’s a development league. You know what I’m saying? So, it’s not just to to go out there and play. It’s to develop and learn schemes of of whatever the other team is doing. So, I think that us being able to run those schemes and be able to learn defensive tendencies for the Pistons, it only helps us. It only elevates us and and doesn’t have us behind. You know, some teams, some G League teams might be running something completely different. So, right. Um, right. I think we’re in the best scenario in terms of just being ready, being in the opportunity to play and not being go out there and play. You know what I’m saying? you know what the offense looking like, you know what the defense looking like, you know, if you call this set out, you understand what that set is, if you know what defensive uh call is, whatever coverage that they running at the time, you know, it’s not it’s not Chinese or or foreign language to you, right? So, just being able to have that and um and I think the the the great thing, the beautiful thing is that they pay attention to the G- League. You know what I’m saying? They they learn, they looking, they they making sure that we doing something right. If we’re doing something wrong, they they talking to the to to our coaches or to the coaches in the G and they tell them to tell us that, yo, you need to do this better or yo, you need to talk about this coverage better. You know what I’m saying? So, I think the first year was was really uh really good for me, not in terms of just stats, but in terms of just learning the game from from a bird’s eye view. Yeah, it’s cool. You used to that’s kind of what I was getting now when I was saying you seem more comfortable this year. Yeah. You seem to be playing with so much more intention like more like muscle memory as far instead of just thinking about what you’re supposed to be doing, you know? That’s that’s what I’m saying. You know, it’s crazy cuz I was just talking to my train about this like last year or whatever year going into my first pro year being in college, I was just like a a low block. Throw the ball inside, score the ball. You know what I’m saying? That was our offense, right? And and my trainer, the first thing he told me was, “You not doing that in the NBA.” And I looked at him crazy. I’m like, “This how I got an opportunity.” You know, it’s like, “No, you’re not doing that. You going to catch a lob. You going to block shots. You going to rebound. You going to defend. You going to facilitate, get your teammates involved.” So, I’m just looking and I’m like, “Dang, nobody is posting up in the league.” You know what I’m saying? But you had to be capable of doing it just in case. Yeah, nobody if your name not Jokers, if your name ain’t a be, they not they not throwing the ball down there. So you I had to change my whole game around, become a lobster, become a a facilitator, be able to bring the ball up, you know what I’m saying? Trying to expand my game, shoot the ball from the three. So just changing my whole game just been such a a crazy experience, but it’s been beautiful all in itself. So it’s been That’s dope, bro. Yeah, it’s dope that, you know, like guys get second opportunities to get another stint with the crews or whoever because it’s like once again it’s it’s a preparation for the next level. So, it’s just like a great opportunity to continue in that direction. For sure. I think that’s dope, bro. I um I wanted to talk about this too. One phrase that I know that you’ll be able to appreciate is trust your work. And recently uh we had my guy Jeremy Hart on the show. Um Jeremy’s been with DJ for years. I think you guys y’all did some uh some uh kind of like work, didn’t you? Recently. Yeah, I got a chance to work out with him. Him and DJ, you know, that’s what’s up. Yeah, we had him on a show with uh Charles Hill who’s been with Ron Holland for for some time and his phrase is we worked on that. So Jeremy was just talking about um the importance of just trusting the work that you’re putting in and staying consistent and then just keeping your head down and focusing on the work, not the end result, right? So for you though like who are some of the people who have been with you on your journey whether it’s a mentor whether whether it’s a development coach or maybe a big brother you know I’m a little bro too so I know the importance of having that um but but who are those some of those people that kind of helped keep you focused on the work and keeping the main thing the main thing? Man, it’s been a I’ve had a I’ve had a great um plethora of just mentors to come into my life and just continue to to guide me along this journey. Um I I don’t know. I could start with my father know. Yeah. My father, man, my father and my brother, you know what I’m saying? They paved the way for me basketball-wise. My mother as well, we was we grew up a basketball family. So, I think that that kind of just in itself was just like, “Yeah, this is what’s what’s going to be.” Um, I think my AU coach, Coach Warren, when I play AU, he was uh it’s this funny story that I was thinking about. It was like a a dark night in the in the gym and we was just practicing and we was doing terrible like it was a bad practice. And he just huddled everybody up and it was pouring raining outside and he was just like harping on me, harping on me, harping on me. And he was like, “You know you can go to the NBA.” And then the lightning struck. He’s like, and everybody just got crazy and it got super quiet. And he said, “You think that was a normal? No, that’s a sign from God.” And just hearing that was just like just hearing that from him just gave me all the confidence in the world. You know what I’m saying? I think another person that helped me a lot um was Rob Allen. He a trainer that I’m with now that I started working with uh my first my first pro year and I’ve been working with ever since. Um he’s a guy that’s that’s been around in the league a long time who’s been training a lot of NBA players. But uh just having him as a mentor and just having that kind of relationship with him has been amazing. And in terms of just uh at the pro level, I think Stout um I don’t know if you know Marcus Stout, he he work the G- League and NBA team. Okay. Okay. He’s been really great. really great. A guy that’s familiar with the with the system and kind of guided me along the way. You know what I’m saying? Just helped me helped me as a player, told me what exactly I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear. You know, it’s been he’s been really like impacting me. You know what I’m saying? We built a great relationship. I’m actually going to go to his wedding soon. So, what’s up? Yeah. I think that he he’s he’s a great guy. Um NBA coach as well, just in time. Yeah. More than basketball for sure. It sounds like. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. For sure. For sure. That’s what’s up, bro. So, January 6 of this year, bro. You signed your 2-way with the Pistons. Yeah. Was it I think that was your first official NBA contract, right? Yep. That was my first official NBA contract. Yeah. Congrats on that, bro. Fill us in, man, on on what that moment meant to you after we talked about putting in work, right? just after putting in, you know, work for years, going through that situation when the the lightning struck, you know what I mean, that sign, like all those different things that kind of culminated into you being getting to that point. What did it mean for you to sign that first contract with the Pistons, bro? Uh, it was a great starting point, you know what I’m saying? Obviously, I’m I’m definitely not satisfied. You know what I’m saying? But I it’s it just gives you a sense of uh Yeah. This this you doing what you’re supposed to be doing. You know what I’m saying? The work is showing. the work is starting the show. Yeah. It’s just a blessing. You know what I’m saying? Without God, I wouldn’t be able to do any of these things. So, just having that opportunity to to be able to play at the next level and say that I am an NBA player, you know what I’m saying? And having people that have a belief in my abilities. Facts. You know what I’m saying? So, um but but going to training camp, obviously that was the goal. Um but you know, circumstances happened. I broke my pinky finger which was a freak freak accident. So I had to sit and wait and just uh it was that was great too. That was great too just learning and and sitting sideline and understanding the the speed of the game and and level intensity that that you got to play at cuz you know summer league I was just dear headlights like just playing basketball my first summer league. So, I got the chance to actually like go through training camp, go to uh the other training camp for the G, got to see the NBA games preseason, really just gather all the information before I really be like, “Okay, I’m ready to do it now.” That’s what’s up, bro. It’s uh Yeah, it’s it’s cool because you talked about how your point of view changed when you were sidelined. You kind of interpret the game a different way. It’s like looking at a map in two different different angles. You just perceive it differently, right? Yeah. So, how was it? I’m just thinking, how was that for you when you were watching? You talked about the familiarity and the the synergy between the crews and the Pistons as far as doing a lot of the same things. How how was it for you when you were on the sideline and you’re seeing some of the same actions ran? You like, “Oh, I see what I see what they’re running and giving you that confidence that that you’re getting you understanding what’s needed at this level. Did that ever happen for you when you were watching some of the game?” It it happened a lot like a lot actually like um getting called up sometimes, you know what I’m saying? He may or may not play, but just being able to see like, oh yeah, oh, he he score right there. Okay, that’s why I think this set a screen like this. You know what I’m saying? I get them open like that, the more opportunities for the team. And um just seeing the little the little nuances and areas where there’s abilities or opportunities to score, right? Or or or there’s times where maybe the person on the court ain’t see it and I’m seeing it because I’m courtside. Okay. Exactly. just noting that, noting all that. You know what I’m saying? So, it’s just just just gathering intel, just being making sure I’m steadily locked in on the game. You know what I’m saying? Yeah. Not not knowing when your name will be called. So, yeah. Somebody said in the chat, get or stay ready, so you got to get ready. That’s the old mantra, but it it holds true. That’s a fact. That’s a fact. Yeah. You seem like a You talked about having that chip on your shoulder, too. Um, you seem like a guy I haven’t known you for that long, but just from I’ve kind of gotten from you, you’re a kind of guy who feels like they’ve been overlooked at times. Um, somebody who’s out to prove something. Um, that you that you belong in the NBA, right? And what you did that and for the record, for the record, chat again can cosign. I’ve gone on record recently during summer league time saying that I thought you were NBA player straight up. They can cosign on that. Yeah, for sure. For sure. I mean, it is what it is. For sure. So with that in mind though, going undrafted on draft night, what’s the conversation you’re having with yourself like in your head to keep that confidence high and reinforce that confidence that you know that you belong? The the if somebody were to see me on draft night like my face like you know what I’m saying? I was just sick. Yeah. Cuz I ain’t you know I ain’t get a contract or nothing. I got I’m sitting there with my family, my grandmother, my mother, and all this. And you know what I’m saying? I’m just I’m I’m not the type to think like glass half empty. I’m thinking like glass half full. Like it’s a lot of opportunity out here. It’s not many like good bigs in my draft. So I’m like, “Okay, it’s a good opportunity for me.” Yeah, man. The draft night come I get nothing. N I’m sick. I’m calling my my trainer. I’m like, “We in the gym tonight.” Like I’m ready to work. You know what I’m saying? Most people be like, most will be like just down and out. I’m like, “Yeah, this this what I needed for real.” To be honest, I needed a little a little humbling, a little chip on my shoulder. So, and you know, it’s not about obviously people want to prove everybody wrong, but it’s just proving myself right. Like knowing that, yeah, I am capable. I am one of I can be premier big in this league. So, it’s just a matter of time at this point and just continue to work. Yeah. I still got that same chip from that night. You know what I’m saying? I never forget that feeling. Yeah. I was going to say you probably going to carry that with you as long as you play. That’s probably one of those defining moments. Yeah. Yeah. As long as I play it, it’s been it be it eats at me all the time. You know what I’m saying? Just just playing just playing this uphill battle, man. But it it make it all the more sweeter, you know? It make it more beautiful. So, it’s just going to be part of your story, bro. It’s going to be part of your arc. Absolutely. You know what I mean? Yeah. Just another detail for sure. Yeah, I can imagine too, you talked about you and DJ. I can imagine, you know, during that time actually, um, that you guys kind of have similar past as far as getting to the league, right? Not hearing your name called and all these different things. I can imagine that you guys probably had some conversations maybe throughout last year to remind each other like like as far as where we came from, we about to prove everybody wrong. I’m sure the two of you, especially the timing, you know, the draft and all these different things, I’m sure you guys had a lot in common to talk about there. You know what’s funny? Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me and D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D relationship is so hilarious like if I wish people just hear us on the court or or in the sideline or in the locker room or you know what I’m saying? Just we so it’s there’s no filter with us, you know, and there’s no filter on the court either. We talking heavy. I’m we not ones to start, but you know, that’s just the nature of the game sometimes. But yeah, of course. I think the relationship with us is like like we hit it off like as soon as we, you know, as soon as we got to in contact with each other knowing that we was on the same summer league team, he a great guy to be around. You know what I’m saying? Like really um just a just a real friendly guy on the off the court and just a guy to just easy to hang out with. Really cool. So yeah, we get on. Yeah. We get on the court and he just talking. I’m like, dang, this ain’t who is this? This ain’t who I was just hanging out with. And he’s just just dogging like barking, barking. He’s backing it up. So I’m like, “Oh yeah, I’mma like this cuz I do that, too.” Okay. So we It’s that Coach Jazz thing all over again as far as flipping that switch. You know, he come from Patino, so he got similar. You know what I’m saying? Right. So we getting we getting into it. We we uh we get into the G or whatever. And he talking he talking and sometimes it’ll be like, “Yo, he at you like you looking trash right?” You know, just like smack of a point guard cooking a little bit. I’ll be like, “Dang, you must want to stay in the G or something.” You I love it. I love it. You know what I’m saying? It’s just little stuff like that that we just be on each other about me. It just we just we love to push each other and motivate each other, you know? So, a close bond with DJ just because like he like it’s not a lot of genuine players out here. I’m not just knocking anybody, but I just say that he he a genuine dude in terms of like he don’t want to just see himself succeed. Like he want to see the people around him, too. So, um I can I can get with that. You know what I’m saying? He kind of plays the game that way, too. Yeah. Like even when I’m when I’m watching you guys in summer league, I’m I’m seeing how he’s looking for you. He’s looking for Bobby. He’s look, you know what I mean? He’s looking for everybody else. And then he, you know, he’ll get his own when when he wants to, but he’s definitely trying to get everybody else, you know, eating pretty much just letting letting him go, right? And that’s how it was in the G. Like I think that him him u being a point guard, he always had like a great relationship with his big man. You know what I’m saying? His previous bigs he always talk about he always talking like he always hanging out with him and always on the phone. So I knew going into it like he we going to have a relationship because big man point guard that’s how that’s usually how the dynamic go. Yep. So yeah, you have to. Yeah, got to. Yeah, we’re the heart of the team. So, you know what I’m saying? The connection been real good with us. For sure. For sure. I don’t know if you remember, but um open practice at the top of not the top, but the top of the year, I guess, as far as NBA is concerned. Before the preseason started, y’all were doing uh y’all had a little dunk contest. Mhm. And Dennis Car went off the off the side of the black. I think Sass toss it to him 360 with ease a little like did you did you see that? Did you you caught it? I seen him but I never seen him like dunk like that. So I was just like I didn’t even react. I’m just like ain’t no way that just happened. Like it really just happened. I’m looking around like am I tripping? You know what I’m saying? Yeah. Like he did that. I was like so got to the G. I’m like yeah all these dunks. Yeah. I’ve seen I’ve been seeing it like right I was front row, bro. Um I caught a video of it quick at the at the at the very end cuz I I saw him like practicing before and I was like he and I he was just leaping off the floor. I’m like, “Bro, what in the world?” Pull this phone out real quick just in case, you know, he went up and got it video. I got a video of it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I’ll show it to you. I’ll show it to you. It was last second, but I got decent quality of it in time. I actually had it on the uh the last one of the shows when Jeremy was on. I played it for them. Um, but I’ll send it to you. But it was that’s when I knew this dude is a freak athlete. Like the way he’s his bounce is crazy. Yeah. No, he a freak athlete for sure. And he he don’t uh he like super durable. Like he’ll just go practice and go home like he know what I’m saying? Like he’s just super durable. So just I guess it’s that Dallas water. I don’t know. No, he got to see he he need that longevity. That LeBron longevity. He better start now. You know what I mean? Why you still young? Got to start now. Yeah, for sure. Listen, bro. Let’s talk Let’s talk uh NBA a little bit. Mhm. On April 13th of this year, you made your NBA regular season debut against the Milwaukee Bucks, right? In 22 minutes, you had 14 points, eight boards on 66% shooting. So, first things first, we talked about realizing that dream. That dream on that night was realized. Every kid, bro, and you know this, every kid who loves who loves a game dreams of being able to step in between NBA lines and actually play a game. So, I was one of them. I just didn’t I wasn’t blessed with the hype. Um, but getting an opportunity to play, you know, on an NBA court and and not just two or three minutes either, like playing extended time to where you can kind of get into a rhythm, not worried about making mistakes, any of that stuff. Take us through that process, bro. like when did you know that you were going to be playing in that game, your first game? Was it the day before? Was it the day of? Like kind of take us through that a little bit. Yeah. Uh so the G season ended, so I think we had a few games after that. Okay. Like NBA games and was just up the whole time. So um you know what I’m saying? Once they found out like there was a lock for the playoffs, I think that a lot of teams started like I don’t want to get mistaken, but just resting some guys. You know what I’m saying? So, um, they we played to the end. We played all our games and then we had one more game where the coach was just like, “Yeah, we everybody have opportunity to play.” You know what I’m saying? So, um, I was on the bench. I was just staying ready. But I just I had the mindset going in every game that I played up, you know, that I was just just in case, you know, stay ready. Stay ready. So, um, that’s what’s up. That’s actually that’s what uh, Coach Bigger staff said, too. um he said, you know, I want to give these guy young guys a chance. Let these guys get an opportunity. That’s he’s always been about the young guys. It seems like just from my vantage point, right? Just trying to help these help help you guys in whichever way on off the court. So, it was cool to hear him say that. It’s cool to hear you say that, you know, with with respect to him and everything. Um that’s that’s a pretty dope moment. Had to be for you for sure. And then when you think about it, you going to go a little further when your number gets called, right? You pop up, go to scores table, pull off the warm-up. Any first game jitters? Man, I’m not g. You know what’s crazy? I was on a I was on the bench. I don’t know who said something to me, but they was like, man, don’t be nervous. I’m like nervous, bro. I’ve been waiting for this moment forever. You talking about nervous. So, I I pull out my jersey. I’m ready to play. So, I log in. I get in the game and foul. Soon as soon as I get on the court, I get fired. So I shoot two free throws. I’m like, “Dang, I ain’t even.” You know what I’m saying? You get warmed up yet. I ain’t warmed up yet. So I go to the line, I hit one. I said, “All right, damn.” Okay. I hit the other one. I said, “Okay, this is going to be a good game.” So I got I just getting acclimated to the to the field of the game, getting acclimated to the to the court. It was a it was a great experience for me, man. great opportunity. Just trying to uh show what I’m capable of and show what people in my position on that team is capable of as well. So Mhm. I I like the consistency you play with, bro. I mean, I I see a lot of guys now, you know, and very very talented guys, but from one game to the next, you see two totally different things, right? You know what I mean? Um, but it seems like you you talked about how you had to change your game, which is impressive to the point that I’m getting to is that you play the same way every game. You know who you are. You know who you have to be at this level. Defined roles. You may be the best in those roles, right? And I think that’s very, very important. Just having a discipline to understand that because that can be the difference sometimes between getting an opportunity for the opportunity and not is just being able to we I talked about this with a few guys. It’s like a lot of guys in the league can do this, but the team just needs them to do this. Mhm. You know, so I think having that discipline and understanding and self-awareness and still confidence in yourself that you still have a bag, a whole package, but for this team, I’m going to do this. And it seems like you kind of have that mindset. Yeah, for sure. I think uh you hit it right on the head to be honest with you. like um going into the to my first pro year, I’m just like my mindset is gain the coach’s trust. You know what I’m saying? Don’t step out the comfort zone. Don’t try to do something that you don’t be somebody you’re not. You know what I’m saying? So, you want to show what you’re capable of. And then once you gain coaches trust, then you can trickle out. May maybe you can bring the ball up. Maybe you can shoot a open trail, open mid-range. You know what I’m saying? But you got to you can’t come into a new program and try to tween show what you can do. I got this crazy bag. You know what I’m saying? Cuz to be honest, ain’t nobody bad crazy in the cage. So you think you f to out bag somebody franchise? Dude got counters to counters to counters, bro. Come on. So you got to stick you got to stick to your role. You got to thrive in your role. Once you thrive in your role, then you can expand. Then you can do this and be this player. I mean, I think about guys like Brook Lopez who first three, four years he wasn’t even shooting trades. Correct me if I’m wrong, but No, you’re right. Like, you know what I’m saying? Just playing his role, rim protector, finish around the rim, defending really well, uh, played the game the right way and, you know what I’m saying? Then he expanded his game as time went on, as he got older, as he got more professional, understood the game. So that’s what I try to thrive on. Just showing my coaches, showing people out here that um I can thrive in my role and be consistent, super super consistent as much as possible in my role. Right. It seemed like you kind of know the history of the game a little bit, bro. I’m I’m listening to the players you referencing and that was a long time ago when Brooke wasn’t wasn’t shooting threes when he was just in in in the post for the most part. So are you are you kind of a a student of the game in that way from the historical standpoint? Uh maybe not. every player, but bigs. I’m I’m a big fan of a lot of bigs. So, I I tend to look at a lot of old film, a lot old clips. So, who are some of your favorite bigs growing up watching some of that film? My favorite big of all time is Kevin Garnett, like uh just his mentality, just how he dog everybody on the court. Um I love Kevin Garnett. I also love Demarcus Cousins game. Um you know what I’m saying? Kind of similar just to Super Dog. He just want to out out play out hustle you and um super skilled. Yeah, super skilled. You know what I’m saying? So them two two my favorite bigs. Also I was my dad used to always like made me watch like Paul Millsaps. You know what I’m saying? Just a guy that had to change his game from college. You know what I’m saying? He a guy that was elite rebounder, elite um just block score and then but he was super capable of doing those things. So when it got to the NBA, just had to really just develop those those attributes and all those into this game. So that’s what’s up. That’s what’s up. Are you watching like Atlanta Paul Millsap or more so like Utah Paul Millsap? I like I like uh Atlanta Paul Millsap. Me too. I like it. Yeah, I like Atlanta Paul Millsap. Yeah. He was a little bit more polished than Atlanta, too. Yeah. Yeah. He was a lot more polished. Y took a little too. Marcus Audrey. He was nice, bro. He was super nice. He was nice. You know what’s crazy? Real quick story. Like I knew he was going to be nice when cuz you know before it was Aldidge, it was Rasheed Wallace as far as that that talented big, right? But when she came to Detroit the first time we played Portland, he went up against Aldridge and he he couldn’t stop him, bro. Yeah. This young 20 Yeah, I was watching that game. A lot of people might not remember that, but it was his game where he was just getting butt. You don’t usually see guys do that to She But this particular dude who was built similar to him, had a similar skill set to him. It was kind of looking in the mirror. He just couldn’t stop him. I’m like, “This dude gonna be a problem.” Was he doing fade? Was he fade? Yes, you already know. Got the high release like she, you know what I mean? The mid-range game is crazy. The corner jumper is crazy. So yeah, it was just it was it was wild, bro. It was like looking in the mirror Spider-Man meme. It was crazy. Like I don’t know. I don’t just looking in the mirror. It was wild, bro. But that’s what I knew he was going to be a problem. Go ahead. I need to go check that game out though. I want to go. I’mma find it for you. I’mma find it for you. Yeah, I’ll shoot I’ll shoot you the date for sure. 100% 100%. Yeah, man. I could I could talk about like history with the game all day all day long, bro. Like I The chat asked me to The chat asked me to to reel off the last 40 uh NBA champions in like from like 85 to 2025. I got them all right though. I I hit all of them, right? All of them, bro. All Throw a year right now. I promise you I got I got you. Throw a year out there. 96 9 Oh, Bulls. Come on now. Okay. Okay. What about What about 02? 2002 was a Lakers. That was the third of the three repeat. Bro, you might be kind of sore. Okay. Yeah, I stay up on it, bro. I’ll just be talking. I, you know, I know the game a little bit from a different perspective, obviously, is you, but I definitely know my know my facts for sure. At least try to, you know. That’s crazy, though. That’s that’s that’s fire. I’m not going to lie. I appreciate it, bro. Appreciate that. You know, got to stay tapped in. Yeah, that’s right. Let’s talk NBA playoffs, bro. Um, last season, Pistons, Nicks, right? Pistons, Nicks. Great series. Series that could have went a lot of different ways, had a lot of different things had or had not happened, right? Um, but let me tell you this though, bro. It was a big deal for us here in the city in state of Michigan, period. Just being back in the playoffs, bro. Like you got to you got to think it was our first appearance in 6 years, but it was our first win in 17 years. You know what I mean? Last time we had won was 2008 against the Celtics in the conference finals. So it had been that long since we or 18 years since we won a playoff game, you know what I mean? So 17 years. 2008. Yeah. 17 years. But it was a big deal for us. So for you, we talked about it a little bit. What was it like kind of being on the sideline just watching just watching everything probably with a even more clear eye kind of bird’s eye view? Well Well, first of all, I just want to say I I want to put our crowd against anybody. Our crowd was Yes, sir. It was there. Y’all hear that chat? Y’all hear that chat? Say one more time. Say one more time. The crowd was there. You know what I’m saying? It was It was rolling in there. But uh ju just to experience that, you know what I’m saying? Just to be a part of a playoff team is just special. You know what I’m saying? Being in the hospital, being in those locker rooms and understanding what it takes to be a playoff contender and to win games. To win games is just even harder. You know what I’m saying? Just going is hard, but just to win games is even harder. So, just just being able to hear all that just to um check the schemes out, understand like how how detailed they are about schemes and player tendencies. I think that was the biggest thing for me. Okay. Yeah, man. I I I’m still a salty bro. I’m not going to lie. I mean, I know I know it’s up from here, you know? It’s it’s definitely up next year and onward. Yeah. But I’m just like, man, last year I ain’t even going to get into it, bro. I ain’t I’ll be here all night talking about it. But I definitely felt that we were the better team and we should have won that series despite not having the experience, despite not playing with teammates since Villanova. You know what I’m saying? Like JB did. Shout out to Jaylen Brunson with those guys. Josh Hart, Bridges, and all those guys. But despite not having the familiarity, we were still right there. That’s crazy. No Jay Navy, no Stew for all but one game. Like, yeah, we good. We definitely good. So, super good. It’s only up from there, to be honest. It’s only up, bro. And I think it’s going to be a sustain. I see a sustained run, bro, cuz we so young and guys like yourself, you know what I mean? We got a very young core and TJ’s like, “No, we we sticking with this core. We’re going to build around this core. The young guys are going to lead us to the promised land.” You know what I’m saying? So we this this is the perfect time to get to get your stock on Detroit in in the Pistons right now for sure cuz it’s going to be a fun ride for sure. Let me ask you a question, bro. Let me ask you this. Talk talked about LCA a little bit. How would you compare how would you compare the environment at LCA with the environment at the Hump? So real quick, the Hump is that’s the Humphrey Coliseum, guys, where he played college ball at Mississippi State. And I heard I heard it gets crazy down there, bro. How would you compare the atmosphere with LCA now? I think that uh Dang, that’s crazy. Where is it more lit? Like which which which was more electric? It was electric in the in the little season. I’m not going to lie. It was It was crazy. It was crazy. Like I couldn’t even hear myself talk. But the hump be rocking too. It’s just the I think the LCA obviously the arena’s a lot bigger. And when you fill the arena like that up Yeah. It’s crazy. And you know what I’m saying? It’s not fans just just just like clapping and sitting there. They up. They up and they they shouting. They loud. You know what I’m saying? So just hearing that to compare the hump, I don’t know. I love the hump, but nah, it ain’t it ain’t it ain’t like Okay. I had to throw it in there cuz you know I I heard it get it get pretty lit down there. So I had to just It definitely get crazy in the hump. Check on that. Get crazy in the hunt. For sure. For sure. Let me ask you this. Talking about comparison thing like that. Do you see any similarities between these three coaches? Coach Jans, right? Coach Jamal McMillan, that’s the Motor City Cruise coach for everybody’s watching, and Coach Bigger Staff. Do you see any similarities with the coaching style or do you see any differences with the coaching style? Is there anything that McMillan, Coach McMillan, or Coach Bigger Staff said that kind of reminded you of Coach Yans? Like that’s something coach Yans would say. Um, you know what? Are they all different in their own way? I think they all different in their own way. I think they all different in their own way. I think that Coach James is like Coach James is somebody that you may or may not want to put a camera on depending on the time. You know, you might you might want to cut the camera off for this practice. Like that type of coach. He gonna grill you. You know what I’m saying? Yeah. I think that uh J I think he a phenomenal coach. Another coach that’s in in the process of being NBA. He’s been in the NBA, but just going back. So, I think he’s he’s a little different. He’s more on a positive side. Like, yo, you you you uh you did this, but you did this this and this really well. You know what I’m saying? Now, if we do this well, we going to we got we got some money. So, got you. One of them guys that’s really motivational, you know, which is a different side of coaching that I haven’t seen in a while, which is it was good for me, you know, just to see that kind of coaching staff. I think JB is a mixture of both. You know what I’m saying? He’ll grill you. He He don’t care who he is, but he’ll he’ll definitely keep you confident as well. You know, you know what I’m saying? I see it all the time. You know, him and him and Kay have encounters and just you’re the greatest player of all time or greatest player in the NBA, right? And then I’m saying he’ll just be like, “Yeah, hell yeah.” And just seeing stuff like that just it give you it give you confidence like, “Damn, he believe in his players.” You feel me? So I think that J J uh Coach JB just got a little mixture of both. That’s what’s up, man. So it’s probably it’s probably kept you wellrounded as far as having different styles. You probably feel like you can be coached by anybody, but you know, at this point, but it’s like honestly, bro, I ain’t going to lie, man. I hope I hope coach is here for a long time, bro. I feel like he fits this culture perfectly. Like going back to Yeah, bro. Like just going back to the coaches we had when we were winning. Larry Brown, even Rick Cara before that took us to the conference finals. You got Chuck Daly, like guys who just are sants but are also personable. You know, a lot of people feel like Larry Brown wasn’t that personable, but once you got to know him, from what I heard, you know, he’s he’s kind of like coach Jans in a sense as far as he’ll give you the shoulders back. You know what I mean? So, I think that’s a pretty dope thing. And I’m really looking forward to next season, bro. Um it’s it’s like I said, man, I watched um Nate McMillan play in the NBA before before J-Mack was coaching in the NBA. So that’s kind of how I got familiar with with J-Mack with coach. But before that, I watched Nate um play with the Sonics and things like that. He was a defensive minded coach and then I watched him coach, you know what I mean? Coach I think the se the Sonics when they were to the Sonics, the Blazers and I think the Pacers. So he has always been around the game, always been either playing or coaching. So when I heard that his son was a coach, I was like, “Oh yeah, makes sense.” Yeah. Just naturally. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It makes sense. It does make sense. Do you um do you have a favorite Piston of all time? Not count your teammates. Not count your teammates. That they don’t count. Can’t cheat. I might have to go Rasheed to be honest. I might have to go Rasheed. He was a dog. He was like one of the first few like versatile bigs. You know what I’m saying? Like he he can pull he can bring you out, shoot the ball, put it on the ground. And I like the way he just he bark. You know what I’m saying? He don’t he don’t back down from nobody. So I love that part about that. And KG always when KG used to talk and like who’s somebody that used to always give you problems and stuff like that, he always said Rasheed Wallace. So I used to just watch him too like okay what is it that made him so hard to guard so I used to take take a look at him as well. So facts bro. I think he’s just as talented just naturally talented as any of those guys. Yeah. I mean because he as good as KG was, he wasn’t a consistent stretch, right? You know what I’m saying? She was two or three feet behind the line with ease. So yeah, that makes sense why you would watch a guy like him. I do see some similarities there, too. Yeah. Have you um have you gotten a chance to know any like spent any time with any of the guys? You talked about K a little bit like Jaden, Desire, Tobias, JD, Ryan, Steu, Sass, all of them guys. All them guys. I mean, I think that uh from time to time we always got to spend time with them. I think I mean when we was out there uh we was out there in Dallas. K had us out there uh around his home. Got to see his house and be amongst his family. So um yeah, we always spend a lot of time and obviously we share a locker room. So uh I think all those guys been great. I think the event’s been really great for me just hearing them and just letting them mentor us and other guys. Hearing guys like Tobias always talk positively and speak on the things he speaks on. Um, yeah, it’s it’s been good. It’s been really good for me. Yeah, I feel like Yeah, the vets have really been great, you know, for the young just the experience factor just cuz it was a lot of first times like a lot of first things that happened for, you know, a lot of these young guys. First time in the playoffs and okay, first time in All-Star game, first time in all. It was just a lot of firsts. So, I think having those vets who have kind of been there before, have some playoff experience can kind of just give you a head start so you’re not learning on the fly as much. It seemed like that’s kind of what the off the court part seems just as important as the on the court part. Would you speak to that a little bit? Yeah, I agree. I agree. I think that uh I think that like guys like like Kade and Tobias and all the veteran guys and even some some of the young guys, they all on the same page. We all on the same page in terms of like what we want to do, what we want to achieve. Um, I think they all speak in the same frame in terms of like, yo, like we got to take everything like with a chip on our shoulder. Like you saw the record last year, you saw what we did last year. We need to prove everybody wrong, prove ourselves right, you know? So, um, I’m going just speak on Tobias again, like being a being able to be around him and and being able for him to just like talk to me, you know what I’m saying? Just him saying like, “Yo, you doing like keep doing what you’re doing. you doing the right things right now. Like you make yourself look good. You know what I’m saying? Like hearing that from a guy like Tobias Harris who don’t have to talk to nobody. You know what I’m saying? He been in league for a long time. Just hearing that it’s motivational. Like telling myself, “Yeah, I’m doing right. I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing here.” Yeah. Just speaks to the character of the person. Yeah. Outside of basketball, you know what I mean? Yeah. And he don’t have to, you know what I’m saying? He has no reason to lie. You know what I’m saying? Just just a guy who’s speaking from his heart. just tell him what how he see it or or he’ll sit me down every now and then just say like you need to continue to work on this or do this or that and keep excelling at this. So just just having those people like just hearing them kind of voices you know what I’m saying cuz I to be really hon brutally honest I used to like watch clips of Tobias like when I was in high school and and he used to do those day in the lives and stuff like that. I used to watch those. So just being in the same locker room with him is just a full, you know what I’m saying? Three, you felt like you knew him a little bit already. Yeah. Yeah. And just just being around him is like, dang, he everything that I seen in the video. He even more just a nicer guy. Just somebody that want to be a veteran, you feel me? So yeah. Yeah, he definitely has seemed to have embraced that role. So I think it’s pretty dope to see everybody kind of gravitate towards him. All of us, too. You know, Tim Jr. I thought he was a great vet. Be I thought Bees was a great vet last year. You know what I mean? As far as instilling conf like I think Bees was kind of that vet that kind of bridged the gap as far as being old enough to be respected but young enough to still be kind of current and had vibes. You know what I’m saying? Like even with the IG Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like you would see like just little things, bro. I would see things like when Kate is doing his postgame interview after, you know, pitches win the game or whatever. You got bees waiting for him so they can walk through the tunnel together. Just little things like that so he’s not walking alone. You know what I mean? Or just after the game, K had a huge game. Jaden had a big whoever. JD had a big game. First one retweeting it or blasting out where IG bees like he’s just instilling that confidence, keeping those vibes. I thought that was pretty cool to see from him and from guys like THJ. Just all those guys seem like they really had a good impact on the young guys. For sure. Yeah, for sure. I think you hit it right on head with bees. I think that uh he kept the vibes really high from from the encounters I had. He’s super positive guy as well. Somebody who like you said bridge the gap for the young guys with the older guys and uh somebody who always like maintained a positive like mindset every practice, every every game. So yeah, I’m going just leave it this. I hope he comes back. That’s just my I really I really hope he comes back. I’m going just leave it at that. I feel like he was huge last year and I’m just hoping and praying that he’s Yeah, we will be so deep if he Man. All right, I’m going leave that there. I’m going leave that there. But let me ask you this, bro. Um, who is your between Okay. Who was your toughest cover in practice between JD Z and Paul Reed? Who was the toughest cover? Like, who were you like it’s about to be a war? Uh, I don’t know, man. I have to say I think I think the biggest the it’s hard to say. It probably be Stew because you know what I’m saying? He so deep and some minded. Right. You got to be on your on your P’s and Q’s be ready to play. So, I think all them guys bring a different level of uh you know, different something different to the to the court. You know what I’m saying? So, it’s a different look from all three guys. Facts. But if if I had to pick one, I just say Stew because you know what I’m saying? He a rim protector. Somebody who uh weighs what put his hat on defense. So, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You’re right though. They all they do have all different skill set. Like JD definitely has so much more to his game that I, you know, that people still haven’t seen yet at a polished level that I just can’t wait that like once that gets unlocked, it’s it’s going to be trouble, I think, for the rest of League cuz he’s got so many natural gifts already. It’s just and he’s strong. He a bull, you know what I mean? And and Paul too, like like all these all these guys are talented, man. So, let me end it with this, bro. And I’m going to let you go after this, but I’ve been told that you’re a music head. I’m definitely a music add. Okay. So, what we listen to? What kind of music we listening to right now? Who I’ve been listening to? Um, Dang. Like, who you got in your playlist? I’ve been listening to a lot of Mary Jay right now. Okay. And I’ve been listening to uh I always got Lauren Hill playing. I love I love that uh that that uh what’s the album called? Which one you talking about? Best album. I forgot what it was called. So you were So you you heavy in R&B? I’m big R&B guy. Yeah. Big. I’m big R&B guy. I love reggae, too. Yeah. Oh, okay. That’s what’s up. That’s what’s up. Okay. I I just recently started to uh dive into reggae cuz growing up I didn’t really listen to it a lot. But it hit different as I get older. I I don’t know why, but I just I just I for real I just I just hear it differently, bro. It’s weird. It’s weird. You might not understand a word they saying. He just like, “Dang, I’m listening to the chords.” Yeah, I’m listening to the music, bro. Yeah, right. Yeah, they they good vibe to him. Yeah. Yeah, they definitely do. So, question, Kendrick or Drake? Don’t answer that. Don’t Don’t answer that. Don’t answer that. Don’t answer that. Don’t answer that. Don’t answer that. Don’t answer that. All right. So, here’s what I need you to do, though. Um, last thing. Whenever you are bored out of your mind, I got some dope Pistons anthems from yours truly for you to tap in with. Okay. One of them was the intro that we played. Yeah. So, make sure with it. I was rocking with it. Okay. Okay. I saw you bouncing your head a little bit. I wasn’t sure. You know, I was definitely rocking with it. Yeah. So, make sure you tap in with those, bro. And let me know what the verdict is. Definitely. For sure. For sure. But listen, bro. We appreciate you, man. Taking the time to to come on the show tonight, man. You have a lot of supporters here in the chat who are watching. Shout out to the chat. Everybody who was here, we looking forward to seeing you get more of an opportunity to ball out with the Crews and the Pistons next next year, bro. Appreciate you too, man. Appreciate your chat. Appreciate the opportunity to be out here, man. For sure. Abs. I’m I’m gonna say this too before I let you go, man. We know you’re a certified NBA hooper, but from the time that I’ve known you, the short time that I’ve known you, you seem like you’re even better human. Yeah. And for that, I want to shout your parents out. I know I know growing up, you know, with your mom, you know, work I think she worked at the Boys and Girls Club and Right. and your pops, you know, helping kids get kids off the streets, allowing people to come to his gym. A lot of things that people don’t see, you know. So, I just want to shout your parents out. That’s something that we really do highlight here on on this show and also the the King and D show is just the village, bro, right? The unsung heroes, you know, that provide the way for guys like you to realize your dreams, you know? So, I I just think that’s the most important thing. So, I just want to shout your family out for that for sure. That’s a blessing, man. Appreciate that. Appreciate that, bro. So guys, everybody, make sure you guys are keeping up with Tou. You guys can find him on Twitter and on Instagram. Here you can see you can follow him on Twitter at toluith1 and you can find him on Instagram at t0LU_. That’s T0LU_. If you put to then you’ll be spending an inordinate amount of time looking for somebody who does not exist. Don’t ask how I know that. Anyway, um, with that, we are going to Got to have fun, bro. Got to have fun with it, man. Listen, funny, bro. I tried, bro. I tried. So, listen. For anybody who can’t find it, though, I’ll put a link in the description for you guys. You can go follow him. Um, and that’s a wrap for tonight’s episode. And y’all know the drill, man. Detroit verse everybody. Peace. Knock me down. I got cuz when I step on the floor, you know your time’s down. I’m on my way up and I’m not going to stop. We headed straight to the top in I got to waste it. I got no time to waste it. Everything we hear them with time. Hit me with me with time. Hit me with time.

The “Downtown Deuce Show” is joined by a special guest in this exclusive DETROIT PISTONS interview!

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