Dwight Howard: I wanted to destroy LeBron | Ep. 58 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

we wanted to destroy LeBron in the Cavs. because of that I couldn't wait to see. Anderson barrage I wanted to rip his. hair off I wanted to kill it. ilgowskis whatever his name was. like running all my life sacrifice. hustle baby price wanna slice got to. roll a dice that's why all my life I've. been grinding all my life all my life. been running all my life sacrifice. hustle paid the price wanna slice got to. roll a dice that's why all my life I've.

been grinding all my life. hello welcome to another edition of Club. shayshay I am your host Shannon sharp. I'm also the prouder of Club Shay Shay. and the guy that's stopping by for a. conversation on the drink today. if an NBA champ he's an Olympic gold. medalist he's a three-time defensive. player of the year four-time first-team. all defensive player five-time first. team all-nba five-time rebounding champ. two-time block leader eight-time. All-Star Slam Dunk champ and Mr Georgia. basketball my state.

Dwight Howard. there's a title missing and we're going. to talk about that 75th Anniversary. let's go ahead and get into it right now. Dwight I've been very outspoken and we. talked about on our show skipping I. talked about it on Undisputed that I. believe that you that you should have. been on that team given what I just read. off forget how they feel about you where. he didn't take it serious yada yada I. get all that but based on your resume. you should have been one of the 75 best. players in NBA history.

are you surprised you're not and when. you got when you didn't hear your name. called what did you feel I'm very. surprised that I wasn't put on the list. uh when I saw that I wasn't on the list. I was really upset. and I really was just wanting to say. like you know I only want to play. basketball no more like what am I. playing for right I did all this stuff. I've accomplished all these things I. felt like I've been a great Ambassador. for the NBA in the game globally and I.

feel like that was just like a. disrespect like total disrespect and you. know even what you just said about you. know people saying like. oh he didn't take it off the court is. one thing but what you did on the okay. for somebody to not take it seriously. all that yeah that's what I was like I. did that that's what I was about to. allude to like how could someone say I. didn't take the game serious when the. stuff that you're mentioning three-time.

defensive player of the year I had to. take defense serious enough to want to. run it three times in a row correct and. I actually should have won it four times. in a row the last year I didn't win is. because I asked for a trade and the. media went on this Whirlwind about me. wanting to leave Orlando right and the. person who won. was 13 all defense that year right and I. was first team so it's like that don't. even make any sense correct so it was. just like a lot of things have been. happening I'm like me me taking the game.

serious I've been playing for 18 years I. had to take something serious in order. to play that low do I like to have a. good time yes I'm doing something that I. dreamed about doing since I was three. years old of course I'm gonna smile and. have fun. what is it that the fans and the media. get wrong about Dwight Howard this is. who I am in general. you know what I'm saying I think that. over the over a period of time has just. been so many things that have been said. about my character how I am with teams.

teammates all these things have been. like you know just crazy to me that. people would even think that one I'm a. bad teammate that I'm a cancer in the. locker room and I'm a bad guy that I'm a. Diva all these things that your partner. and one of your other soldiers say about. me you know all the time and I used to. sit back and be like man I want to have. a conversation with him to see where he. would even think that I would be this. type of person or where he got that from. oh wait yeah where he got it from you. know because that's not even me you know.

I've always taken this game serious but. I want to have fun doing it right I'm. not going to sit and be mad while I'm. playing this sport but I do take it. serious and obviously my resume shows. that in my body shows that I take what I. do seriously so you know I just think. it's always been a misconception that. the people in the media are just when. I've been like a polarized character in. the media you know where I can be loved. I could be hated based off if I left a. team or if I said something about this.

or me and Kobe didn't work out it was. just all these circumstances that people. said I wasn't who I you know I am today. you mentioned that you asked for a trade. from Orlando. what was trans what was happening in. Orlando that you felt that you know what. it's time for me to move on uh well on. the with the team I'm gonna start with. the team then I'll go personal with the. team I just felt like we went to the. finals why would you get rid of that.

team. right that didn't make any sense to me I. had no clue about it no one asked me. about it. like we just got to the finals you don't. throw away the whole team they basically. blew it up they blew it up so you know I. was really upset about it but we did get. Vince Carter back we did get some really. good pieces Matt Barnes and stuff like. that but it's just like we just got to. the finals let us build you add with. around. break it up like man he don't have great.

chemistry man Rashad me and Jamir our. two point guards that played in a place. that Jamir skipped to My Lou and Anthony. Johnson they did an amazing job why get. rid of these vets and these people that. are really grooming me and Jamir and the. youngest on how to be real vets and. players in the league like why mess that. up so after that you know on the. basketball land on a personal end I'm. like man you know what I've been in. Orlando for eight years I feel like I'm. not growing I feel like I had.

a lot of yes people around me are just. people that was more so had they come to. you and say Dwight this is what we're. thinking yes we went to the finals but. we feel in order for us to grow as a. team yeah and possibly get back to the. finals this is the direction but because. they cut you out of that process they. didn't ask they just started rebuilding. yeah that was just one part of it but. you know for eight years I had called. and text and emailed the owner of the.

team just to develop a relationship. because I I'm 18. I don't know anything. about money how to spend it how to save. it how to do anything with it and how to. be a franchise player right so I wanted. to talk to the person who drafted me. right never really had contact you know. and. when that situation happened it's like. man let me just go somewhere else and. start fresh right and then it just blew. up it just seemed like. the world went crazy after that could. you have handled that situation how do.

you think you handled that situation. um about going about asking for a trade. could it been handled behind closed. doors behind closed doors and that's the. thing that people don't know I went to. Otis Smith one-on-one the first person I. actually went to was Jamir Nelson okay. because we got drafted together and that. was my teammate he was like my big. brother right and I went to him and said. listen Jamir I want to get traded it's. not because of you Stan or nobody on the. team I love y'all I just want to change. for myself that's it that's all he said.

bet what you gonna do I said I'm gonna. go talk to Otis I went and talked the. oldest I said Otis I don't want this. public I don't want want nobody knowing. about this I don't want her to turn into. a situation like how LeBron just had and. the whole world is hating me because I. wanted to leave this team just let me go. somewhere and start first you said I got. you I thought it was gonna keep it. private then all of a sudden they came. out and said I wanted to get traded and. I hated this I hated that and I'm like. damn I never said none of this stuff. right and then it just blew up.

so that put so that had something to do. with probably maybe the the media and. the fans turning on you because of what. the way it was yeah the way it was. projected to the whole world and with me. I'm not thinking like I should say. something about it or do anything about. it because I know that I wasn't the. person asking to get Stan out of here or. do this and do that I just wanted to. leave so I'm thinking it's going to blow. over then it start getting into the.

season and then it's just coverage and. just all these different negative things. happening and I'm like dang it's nowhere. around it then I get hurt so now it's. like oh this is happening now I get hurt. and then now it's like I'm not trying to. play because I'm the coaches here so. just too much going on. and you know I just really really felt. bad for the city because. we did so much in Orlando and I know. personally in the community I was doing. so much and the fact that all these.

people have seen like they got they. turned on me because of what some people. who wasn't even in Orlando was saying. and You Know It uh it was heartbreaking. for a while. was La the first on your list I want to. get traded okay you made that a clear. you went to Otisville. La wasn't on your list LA was not on my. list at all where did you want to go I. wanted to go to Brooklyn I didn't want. to go to LA because I felt like.

I wanted to go somewhere who's they've. never won or they haven't had as many. championships and I wanted to help that. team grow and be a champion and I wanted. to play against Kobe because they just. beat us right so I'm like why would I. want to go to La I don't want people to. think I'm trying to follow uh behind. Shack or do any of that stuff. yes I wanted to go somewhere else and. make my own name and statement there and. the magic knew that I told them I wanted. to go to Brooklyn and they sent me to LA.

so once I got there I was like you know. what I just had back surgery I was. supposed to be out a year I wasn't even. supposed to play that season right. I said I'ma just go play and see what. happened. and. it didn't work out as well as we wanted. to. you mentioned you're supposed to be out. a year obviously you're coming in. three-time defensive player of the year. uh you finished second in the MVP voting. you a parental perennial God is Finnick. in the top five in the MVP you had taken. a team to the championship now you're.

linking up with Kobe you're linking up. with Powell what are your thoughts you. like okay this is not my original plan I. didn't want to go this is not my. original destination but you know what. Kobe piled another big defeat okay I. thought it was going to win I was happy. I was like yo. I didn't want to go to LA because we. just played Kobe and I really wanted to. beat him right but I'm like this is Kobe. right so I'm finna bust my ass to get. back to the gym and come back and play.

right mind you people don't know how bad. this surgery was right this doctor is. the best doctor in the world for back. surgeries you go to Watkins Dr Watkins. he said that my my herniated disc was. the largest that he's ever had to pull. out of someone. I couldn't even lift my calf I couldn't. do a calf raise okay that's how bad it. was the doctor in Orlando told me that. my career was over I wasn't gonna I. wasn't supposed to play anymore right I.

came back in four months it took a month. and a half to get my nerves and my calf. muscle to work if I regenerate. so I wasn't even supposed to play that. year and I came back and had. average 22 and 12 and 13 and people were. saying that I had a bad season for the. Lakers I didn't want to play and all. that stuff and I'm like man I went out. there and I I thought I turned up and I. wasn't even 100 right so my labum in the. whole process and played the whole. season with a torn labor so it's like I.

all I wanted to do was come here and win. right and when it didn't work out. just like damn. I feel like I was all by myself because. it felt like when I got kicked out of. the last game everybody turned it on me. like it was my fault. I was the reason the Lakers Had a Bad. season Magic Johnson said if I can't get. the Lakers to the playoff then I. shouldn't be a Laker so I'm like damn. this is crazy right. but I just kept moving kept moving.

it didn't turn out the way you wanted to. with the Lakers Russ comes to the Lakers. he's a HomeTown kid. his dream is to play for the Lakers he. watched them win titles. is there anything that you could have. shared with him to like Russ this is a. different animal you've got to win here. they don't care about what you've done. elsewhere they didn't care about my. three defensive players of the year they. didn't care about my all mbas they. didn't care about any of that they.

needed to see three-time defensive. player of the year they needed to White. how to get one of those Awards here. they're gonna need to see you do what. you've done other places here. see I think that. that be like the misconception where you. have to allow that mindset. if you allow that mindset. to take over you you will not have a. good season okay because you're thinking. about what everybody else is thinking. and I felt like that's what he was doing.

thinking about if you missed this shot. or he's hearing a crowd Boo and their. boy of him and their boy and his family. and all this stuff and it's like. you gotta tune that out right I I have. went through the ringer with the LA fans. right from leaving coming back leaving. and coming back and then booing me. throwing basketballs at me jerseys all. that stuff but I understand like they. just really passionate about their team. they love their team so people some.

people don't unders don't know how to. express anger even even when it's a fan. right you know so I get it so you got to. be able to just block all that hone that. out and go win and make them pay for. saying anything about you so when I got. back and I played again I made every fan. eat Day words about what they said about. me right no matter if they thought that. I did it in a bad way or however I left. the first time I made sure that the. second time I played they couldn't say. nothing about Dwight Howard whether it.

was how he was on a. I acted with the referees teammates it. was nothing they could say because I. left it all out there on the line so it. turned out good do you wish you had got. that kind of reception the first time. around like you got the second time. around I think that I got that reception. when I first got there right but I think. because we lost that season and how the. season went it was just people were so. upset because their expectations were so. so through the roof right and you know.

but that's every year we're delayed. that's every year and I and I get it you. know but that's why for me um due to. expectation thing I go out there and. stay in that moment and I live in that. and and that's how I'm able to you know. keep pushing. we'll get back to basketball but. this summer I mean I know I want you. know what I'm talking about I want to. talk about your your wrestling you're a. big wrestling fan you know wrestling uh. I think wrestling originated in Georgia. Georgia championship wrestling doesn't. get any better than that with Gordon.

solely Dusty Rose Mr hey oh yeah oh yeah. I grew up following the circus Savannah. Baxley Blackshear Vidalia they used to. come to uh come to Glenville so I'm a. big wrestling fan also. when did you become a wrestling fan and. who's your favorite wrestler uh I became. a wrestling fan in the Macho Man Randy. Savage. uh he actually is my Alias my Randy. Savage so I love Macho Man Randy Savage. uh he would probably be at the top for.

me then you got Goldberg okay Hulk Hogan. sting. uh The Undertaker right and the Big Show. so with the exception of the Big Show. Goldberg and Hogan all the rep. Savage dressed up sting dressed up uh. Macho Man dressed up so what would the. white hair Dwight Dwight Howard's. character be Who Who Are You Gonna Be. where you gonna put paint on you're.

gonna come out there like Nature Boy. that might be the action figure okay. that way I can wear any outfit I want to. wear I can dress up like GI Joe and be. slow I can dress up in a wrestling. outfit I can dress up in anything. because I'm the action figure. everybody's out there to see me put on. the show so because you can put love in. your Undertaker is a very tall man The. Big Show is ginormous uh uh who else uh. uh Hogan is fairly tall and you got Ray.

uh so you forgetting about uh Raven. Simone I'm Not Raven Simone uh dang. Simone uh oh oh oh uh oh man he passed. away yes yes yes yes Ramon Ramon Ramon I. don't know I said raven symbols. yes yes so so what's your move what. what's the White House move actually I. have a couple more a couple moves I've. been practicing I have the Debo my name.

is Dwight yeah and so what I'm doing is. running I thought a real strong elbow. right which I threw a lot of in. basketball right knock the people out. okay I got the Superman punch with the. basketball okay. um I also have uh this kick that I do. it's like a real high kick right so I. can do it from many different angles but. it end up knocking a lot of people out. I've been doing stunts and practices. just so you know I've actually got some. videos that I'm going to be putting out. because you I mean you've already you.

know auditioned for the WWE I did some. tryouts yeah I went down to uh. SummerSlam right and uh they had about. 75 people they're trying they try us are. in Orlando right they are in Orlando. which was crazy that it's Orlando so our. guys are trying out they're doing promos. and I'm watching and I'm like man I I. Believe I Can Go on stage and do what. they're doing right kill it right so uh. but the big one you got to have that. Persona you got to be able to talk yes. the Nature Boy was able to talk yes all.

the guys out there the entertainment. Gotta Be You got to be able to entertain. me let me go on stage they let me go on. stage okay I get on stage and and I kill. it so bad that they asked me to come. back the next day and do another one on. stage okay this time Stephanie McMahon. is there that's the CEOs and also Triple. H he's running out yes they both was. like Dwight had the best promo out of. everybody in there if you call us and. want to come to wrestling we ready for.

him. so you get okay well how about this here. Shaq also is a big wrestling fan yes. Shaq Dwight 2023 SummerSlam winner. against the Superman nickname I like it. I like it so you said 2023 20 23. SummerSlam we gotta go guess what. it's even bigger what. WrestleMania is in La this year okay who.

the king of L.A King L.A let's go Shack. let's go. let's go hey I'm ready. I'm ready to go right now say say you be. the referee you and Skip I'm taking you. down the way. that would be that would do ginormous. rate man what Superman vs Superman. you also had uh they have this specialty.

this TV show that's going to air in. January celebrities training special. forces yes. what was that like training to be a. special force that was the hardest. training I ever did in my life you got a. new Final respect for those guys huh I. have it's if it was something more than. respect. that's what I have for anybody who's. ever laced up those boots trained at. anything for any of the services because.

what we went through. was pure hell and I don't want people to. think that this was a show where after. we finished filming we went back to our. nice hotel and got a chance to get in. the bed no it was no hotels it was no. beds we're out in the desert 115 degrees. every day 40 50 degrees at night. scorpions in the sand all type of stuff. we're getting chased by dogs helicopters. getting set on fire tear gas I'm running. up 250 foot Towers jumping down the back.

of them jumping out of helicopters. backwards getting put in the ocean. getting drown proof test and doing. everything like it was the hardest thing. in my life and then the hardest part was. writing death letters to our families. right that was the hardest thing that we. had to do and then read it out loud. so we went through a busload of emotions. while I was there right we all built. this Bond because that's real yeah it. was really really real like.

Blood Sweat and Tears and when people. see this I hope they understand that we. could have died right this wasn't a show. where it's a show where it's fake we had. to sign waivers. I could have actually passed away on. this show like for real right so that's. all we had to write these letters so it. wasn't a fake so it was the craziest. thing I ever did and people even the. staff sergeants and the people was there. was like why are you doing this and I'm.

like man I wanna I want to break myself. I want to see you want to test this I. wonder how far Dwight Howard could go. yeah and then I want to see if I can go. past that limit and I got there and I. was able to break past it and it was the. best feeling in the world because I went. through. I went through some there. like. seriously like. I never cried so hard in my life over. having to walk across the mountain with.

a little on a tightrope without falling. right and it scared we 90 feet in the. air. you're gonna see raw emotions everything. so I can't wait man it's gonna be. awesome for the people to see what's the. white doing right now right now uh just. got back from burning man I don't know. if you ever heard of Burning Man Burning. Man is uh this big celebration of life. it's in the desert 90 000 people from.

all around the world come together and. they just Celebrate life they build. these big pieces of art. um they have these big concerts where. these DJs come and it's 40 50 000 people. just celebrating that one time and you. meditate. uh wake up with the sun they have. Sunrise ceremonies they have Sunset. ceremonies and it's just a big gathering. for people to come together and just. spread love and great energy. um so we just got back from there but ah.

man I just been. really. that's trying to grow spiritually you. know that's that's the best thing that I. I could possibly do is just continue to. grow uh and continue to try to adapt to. everything that's going on around me. what about on the basketball front on. the basketball front uh well I've been. playing for 18 seasons and it seemed. like after this season it's really hard. for me to get a job you know which is. yeah because I'm watching.

media day started for some teams what. Friday Saturday and she's going on. Sunday started today okay we see these. media day everybody's talking and the. media's there and you're sitting here. doing an interview with me what's the. emotions going through Dwight Howard's. mind like damn I should be there and. somebody's can't I I had I had that. feeling all summer like. I really can't believe how disrespected. you know I feel. uh the top 75 it really made me feel. like I ain't even want to play no more. to be honest with you I was like why am.

I playing I just spent 18 years. going hard as I can for the NBA fans. myself these teams these organizations. breaking records doing all these. different things and then I get punched. in the face like this why am I even. doing this this disrespectful that's how. I felt you know so. like now I'm like man I didn't did so. much great things this summer I know.

whatever doors I need to go through. is going to be the best whatever I. whatever my next. if it's a team if it's a new career. whatever it's going to be. I'm ready to walk through it so. I would love to play more I can still. play. uh but. whatever happens gonna happen as a. starter minutes I mean back up I mean. what what are you looking for I mean you. and I talked the other night we were at. the premiere of the uh the redeemed team.

uh um Premiere and you and I talked had. conversations with Brooklyn. um have you Celtics Robert Williams is. out now he's gonna be out eight to 12. weeks uh a guy that can come in to. defend the rim. um play in the pick and roll uh Brooklyn. they need a rim protector they got. classic but they got they need a real. protector I I actually talked to. Brooklyn like I went to Brooklyn they. traded me from Charlotte went to. Brooklyn they told me that they didn't.

want to they didn't want to win at that. time. so they felt they felt like they should. waive me because they didn't want to win. like wow this is crazy a team doesn't. want to win right so I get waged I end. up getting to the Lakers and winning so. this time around I asked to come to. Brooklyn I talked to them they say they. need a big that could shoot. and I'm like well y'all just had a big. that can shoot so it's like I don't know. I don't understand it you know I felt.

like that would have been a great pickup. a big that could protect the rim play. good pick and roll defense rebound. rebound. um the pick and roll with KD Kyrie and. Ben Simmons I felt like that would have. been lethal with me in it because I'm. gonna get I know for sure KD and Kyrie. are going to get the most wide open. shots they could possibly ever get. coming off a pick for me so and I feel. like that would have been good I feel. like my uh presence on defense is.

something that would have been necessary. and then you know just the fact that. I've been in the league for 18 years. going on 19. um I understand basketball on a. different level so I felt like I could. have helped that team out a lot what. about Boston. boss says the same way they got a lot of. young talent I felt like I could have. been a Bill Russell. in this era you know with that team you. know I'm all about defense I understand. it on a different level Bill Russell was.

uh one of my heroes one of the first. books I read in high school was Russell. rules that was by Bill Russell. um so I felt like me going to the. Celtics and helping them get that back. that Championship pedigree they was. right there last year I felt like me. being a vet helping out some of those. young guys those young digs it ain't. like I'm trying to come in and play 35. 45 minutes but I can give a team 20 25. minutes and give you a good. uh 12 to 15 points and 10 rebounds and.

make sure the benches height make sure. everybody on the team is ready to go. every day I can do all that that's what. I've been doing for 18 years so. you know. it gives an opportunity and the team. that really want to win. put Dwight in what about the defending. champs the Warriors oh man that's. perfect I've been a warrior my whole. life I started out at my school as a. warrior they need a big. um I know they have kavan Looney and I.

know they have the young boy Wiseman. well I'm Dwight Howard. the wise men can learn so much from me. because he's headed in that direction of. being the great a great big man you know. what I'm saying so I feel like even in. that situation playing with all Shooters. like that. Steph the way he get open with me. setting screens he's gonna get more wide. open. play the same way. Draymond in the pick and roll me and him.

me being able to teach wise men how to. play defense how to block shots I see. him as a person that's similar to David. Robinson and his size and athleticism. there's a lot of things that I could. really teach him so I mean that's. another good team as well so right now. you're just in a holding pattern you're. hoping you want you want to play. I would love to play season 19. um and go out on top you know I'm saying.

I would definitely love to do that that. would be amazing and get a parade like I. deserve I ain't never had no parade in. the NBA even after we won the. championship right it was in kovitz so. you didn't get an opportunity to. celebrate like you wanted to celebrate. so for the sake of argument if this. thing if a team doesn't call. are you okay. with not playing another down another. dribble another minute in the NBA and. you're ready to move on to say something. else WWE or whatever it is Dwight Howard.

wants to do are you okay with that I am. I've been playing since I was three. years old. um obviously I know that basketball one. day has to end and there's other things. that can be done right. um. again I would love to finish my career. with a parade on a good team and end it. like that instead of out in the last. season. but. man you know I've been blessed to play.

18 seasons in the NBA so far. I went from a not for someone not being. able to what I wasn't supposed to be. here. my mom lost seven kids. I won but almost the size of a a large. Fiji bottle. and I end up being seven feet tall and. making in the NBA so I'm blessed. go back you see your mom had seven she. lost seven kids yes.

you're not the only child are you you. know sir. but she lost seven kids and I was. supposed to be the eighth one to die. but I just so happen to make it. so you know I'm so happy to make it in. the NBA and play 18 season so far. and I'm grateful for whatever the. universe gives to me. you mentioned last year the season did. not go the way you anticipated what the. hell happened.

the whole you responsible. well you supposed to hold it together. you're supposed to be the glue in the. locker room you're absolutely right but. also I needed some minutes on the floor. right. I'm not just talking selfishly but I. felt like I could have really helped. that team last year. um and you're absolutely correct. I was supposed to be that guy in the. locker room. um. I just don't think it worked either way. we all wanted it to.

um I think that every team was gunning. for us and they gave us their best shot. every night. and that uh. we didn't get the job done. and it sucked it would have left a bad. taste in my mouth. all summer. I probably spent 10 million times just. thinking about how bad we lost. how much. time was put into that season and to put. into every season but just for us to. come together and.

I really felt like. it was embarrassing right yeah. um 33 wins with y'all roster uh even. though you know like I said you know me. jokingly saying I wish I could have. played more but even if I didn't play. we've still had who we had right and we. still should have been better. um so you know I take my part in it you. know I could have been a lot better. um whatever they needed me to be. um but.

it did not end good last year and it. really was an embarrassment. you know some days I was like man. you won't even we shouldn't even put on. this jersey like this. did. do you guys have a team meeting did you. discuss like man what's going on did you. try to hold guys accountable what. transport you got LeBron James. wherever you rank him by most estimation. he's a top five player of all time you. got Russ who's a top who's an all-in.

who's a top 70 who's all in uh 75. anniversary team player. uh A.D Auto A.D was Nick you're right. you should have been on that team but. you guys have more than enough those. three guys right there regardless of. whoever else you got. before they left to win more than. 33 games. um I agree. I just feel like. some things could have been tweaked we.

could uh switched some things up but it. just wasn't meant for us to win. um and it sucked man. um. I couldn't wait to play with Russ and. mellow. and yeah mellow's on his anniversary. team I couldn't wait for it to happen. again and it's like. I I didn't I felt like we was fighting. fighting it so much you know how like. people say you grab some sand if you. hold it too tight you know but you know. it's gonna fall out if you don't hold it.

enough. I feel like that's how it was like. I felt like I didn't mean enough like it. should have right. and you know this is just my opinion you. know I can't speak on anybody else but I. just felt like it should have meant more. to all of us. um and we could have done more I could. have done more. um so. I just hate how it ended you know. because it shouldn't have been like that.

but when you look at it the white you. bring a lot of guys and you know as a. team the pieces need to fit. you brought guys in to play roles that. they really never played before. I agree that's the hardest part you. asking Melo to play defense fellow ain't. no Defender uh uh Trevor reason is in. year 17-18. gone I mean you're asking guys that I. just think like for Trev I think he was. just put into some bad positions he had. just came off of surgery.

and you put him in playing the four out. of five. are you when you have him and LeBron. then that's not fair to Trevor and it's. really not fat of LeBron right to have. him at the five like this yeah it's. great because he can score and the. offense is going to run you know a. certain way but then now you asking him. to check Steven Adams or. Trevor to check both of these guys and. that Trevor is strong he might be skinny.

but he's strong and he'll fight. but come on yeah way by 50. yeah that. ain't that ain't fair to him and coming. off an injury right and you want him to. shoot threes. well you just gotta gotta be a little. bit better that's all. how surprised are you that LeBron is. playing as well as he is in year 19 that. he had the type of season that he had. I'm not surprised we came in together I. see his work ethic I know how he works.

his trainer is the best. uh he's been with him from day one so. you know LeBron he put in the work. is always working he always has Mike. with him he's always. you know doing whatever he needs to do. to stay right so I'm not surprised at. all you know I think you know what he's. doing he can play to he just feel like. he don't want to just play no more oh no. so you think this man theoretically. could play at the level that he's played.

at for another two three four years. if he wanted to. I could do that but I need a team an. opportunity but LeBron for sure he could. if LeBron wanted to play five more years. and he didn't tax his body like. sometimes thanks to the man got the man. Lakers you you and Laker right I am not. the coach my name did not say coach on.

the back or neither did I call out who. played or who didn't well I mean I'm. sure Frankie V the objective was to try. to play bronze somewhere between I would. say 30 and 33 minutes no the objective. was to play Brian the whole season every. game every practice come on man you. can't burn the man out like it wasn't us. I'm not the coach I I didn't think that. LeBron should have been playing that. many minutes early anyway only because. he been playing for 19 Seasons yes we.

know what you're going to get out of. LeBron get everybody else into it so. when LeBron is there we all hot but if. you taxing LeBron you taxing A.D you tax. and Russ. now the main three players is tired just. look at how the season went those guys. played the whole first quarter. and then they might rest with one minute. left for two minutes left in the first. quarter then go back into the second. quarter play the whole second quarter. then play the whole third quarter nine. and fourth quarter because if you go.

back and watch the games how did we lose. all these games. why because a.d's tired or he was he. might have been injured because fatigue. causes injuries are LeBron's tired so. now his shots are short or he don't have. the legs to get to the basket or Russ is. tired because the whole game he playing. 200 miles an hour trying to get to the. basket so it wasn't a balance like. I'm not saying if you're going to put.

DeAndre in the game let's say or whoever. put these other guys in so you can give. these guys a little break right so now. they can go in and kill but they was. playing too many minutes and they. overexerted themselves and so I felt. like that was a big issue for for the. team right there like you don't need. these guys playing big minutes right now. this is why we became a team right. you watch the new edition the added. Patrick Beverly Dennis Schroeder came. back uh they got some different pieces.

what are your expectations for the. Lakers this year I don't want to talk. about the Lakers no more because I ain't. on the team would you be willing to go. back to the Lakers I would have went. willing to go back to the Lakers I've. been willing to go back they told me. every time we're not gonna get nobody. over 30 a contract a multiple year. contract okay and so I'm like dang I. just helped y'all win the NBA. championship y'all could get your boy a. mill or two. or give me a meal right I don't want a. whole bunch of minutes give me 20. minutes and let me ball out right.

and you play you play Big for I Dwight I. give you credit you know me you played. big for me in that Championship run you. was huge you held your own against a. yoke. you had to play had to play Big minutes. against yo you came in you rebounded you. played big minutes against bam against. Miami you played well I was surprised. that they didn't give you that to bring. you back correct and then it was like oh. then you go to Philly you played well in. Philly and then you come back what why.

do you think they did that. I personally think that it came from me. leaving the first time so it's like a. they hit me back but I don't want to. believe that but I don't know to be. honest with you I I felt like. I should have been there I I felt like. whatever they asked me to do. I did it you know I came in I played my. role to the T I didn't complain about it. I didn't make any issues even last.

a thing with A.D was blown out of. proportion and I felt like that was. wrong for the people to twist it and. turn it like it was me and them not. knowing what was really going on and how. we ended up getting that out the way I. just felt like oh that was it was messed. up so now it's put me in a position like. I'm in now where teams may feel like I. we don't know about the white what would. I don't I don't remember what transpired. with you you mean A.D yeah. uh oh the argument you guys have yeah. yeah you know what I'm saying that they.

don't know what happened and all that. they came back like it was all it was my. fault right you know so but you and AD. worked it out right well we talked right. after that right you know what I'm. saying it was. it is what it is. your first stint you mentioned like okay. Kobe beat you the first go around now. you get an opportunity to play with Kobe. Kobe was very very hard on you no he. wasn't you don't think that was hard on. you no where was he hard on me well.

I think he said that he's well he said. it made him appreciate playing with Shaq. and would I guess he didn't really like. your work ethic there's no way he could. say he didn't like my work ethic. there's no way. there's no way there's no way there's. nobody in the NBA who would complain and. say something about Dwight Howard work. ethic it's no way. my body is better now than it was when I. came into the league who can say.

anything about my work ethic like that. tell me my body is better than it is now. I can jump the same way I jump now then. I jumped when I was 18. work ethic. ain't nobody out work Dwight Howard the. bat didn't rob you of anything the back. robbed me of opportunity I didn't have. no opportunity after that because people. were saying my back was the problem. right but I came back and showed them I. could still play I won a championship. with a bad back two times I had back. surgery right they came back and played.

for the Lakers and bust ass the first. time I came back I averaged 22 and 13 or. 22 and 12. after back surgery then the next time I. come back and we win the championship. so it's like people just be saying stuff. we're not really. paying attention to what they talking. about like when I don't if Kobe said. that he must have been talking about in. another context because when it comes. off.

he called me Soft Wind. I was playing against each other right. no you always played together no we was. playing against each other when he said. this okay I was in Houston yeah and he. was in L.A was that because you had left. because you talked you turned out a Max. contract I did not turn down the match. that's what it said what mass comes you. didn't turn out you didn't you went to. the you went to Houston I went to. Houston you didn't have a Max contract. offer from the Lakers no. so that was a lot they put out no let me. tell you and also this everyone was.

saying that they put Billboards all over. La that didn't happen neither. it wasn't Billboards I'm not going to. just say anything bad about all what the. Lakers just think that I'm disrespecting. but none of that a lot of that stuff. wasn't happening so there was no Max. contract to stay with the Lakers. the first time he was with the Lakers so. you went to Houston because Houston gave. you the match I went to Houston because. I'm looking at James Harden back then. right I see. that's what I see I see a young Menace I.

see somebody that I could grow with. because we dang they're close to the. same age right I'm a little bit older. than him but. this perfect that's what I'm looking at. it you got Chandler Parsons he's a young. guy he can shoot you got Jeremy Lin he. was playing good you got a whole a. younger group of people in Houston so. I'm like you know what Hakeem down there. people saying I don't know how to post. up which I used to kill in the post in. Orlando right so how can I post up now.

all of a sudden so I'm like you know. what I can go to Houston and work with. dream every day right. I didn't see dreaming that much when I. worked out there because he was never. there but it was somebody else who I. worked with and I ended up having an. awesome time in Houston we ended up. making it to the Western Conference. Finals okay. it went nothing wrong with that it just. me and Kobe at that time didn't work out. me being soft Why didn't it work out. there Why didn't it work out. we was both in two different points in. our career and one me can't do it by.

herself I had back surgery right and. came back and busted first of all I was. I think I was I think I led the league. in rebounds I was second to third in. blocks and everybody was saying I didn't. have a I didn't have a good season. that don't make sense right Kobe to a. different place now because Orlando you. were the man La Kobe so you're not going. to get the same opportunities in L.A. correct that you were getting in Orlando. so now everybody's saying well why.

didn't it work out with you and Kobe I'm. like man it's me Kobe Powell Steve Nash. all these guys have these guys and even. play yes Steve Nash was hurt. oh Kobe ended up getting hurt so he. ain't even played right uh Powell was. hurt a little bit but he he had. migraines all type of stuff. um we just had a team with a whole bunch. of guys who was hurt right. so like this year. almost a day in this same thing so again.

you saying it's my fault that ain't even. cool. you just said it was my fault this year. because I'm supposed to be the glue guys. okay and I S and listen. I you can as any person who worked in. that facility about. I tried my best to keep whatever. whatever we could do I saved the whole. facility as much as I could I was around. as much as like we really tried I just.

don't think that when we got on the. court it wasn't it wasn't there it. didn't match huh it just didn't match. but. I don't know but this whole Kobe thing. let's get back to that go ahead you said. I want you to clear it up you said that. Kobe called me soft. where he said Kobe said he appreciated. Shaq more when he got Dwight Howard he. appreciated sackmore when he got Dwight. Howard but did he also say Shaq was lazy. yeah so let's go back and let's yeah. let's put all these people maybe was.

lazy and I didn't work hard yeah but. maybe both of you were lazy both of us. was lazy maybe I don't know okay I could. I don't know how he could ever say what. where he could say I was lazy at right. because you was coming out for back. surgery because the thing is when he. when you went to Kobe you had the back. surgery that off season right right. before right before the season and also. during that same season after every. practice I was the last person there.

trying to get in better shape trying to. work on my game every day you might not. have had an apartment yet so you might. need a place to stay where in L.A yeah. no I did oh my bad the thing was all. right. remember this that year who our coach. was that Tony wasn't it okay so is Dad. Tony a big man's coach. yeah so now if we would have had Phil. Jackson we probably would have had a. different type team I'm not saying.

Daytona is a bad coach and I don't want. him to think that but I felt like Phil. would have been perfect for me and Kobe. at that stage in our career right I. think when Kobe was trying to call me. soft he was talking about my mentality. there's no way I'm that big and I'm not. I'm allowing to affect me on. the court right that's why you're. assault okay you're allowing this. to affect you right that's what he was. saying now this little dude not my play. like you allowed the mindset you're.

allowed the rest to get at you like this. right you allowed me to because that. game that he did that we was up by like. 30 points go back and look at it I got. the rebound the whole everybody else is. already down the floor it's just me and. Kobe I hit her with a bow bow hit him. with another boat boom. did everybody come over there and try to. break us up and I'm like come on bro. like really but see he knew what he was. doing. that's why he said yeah you solved. mentally I just you up for the.

rest of the game right because now what. you thinking about trying to fight me. and wrestle with me instead of saying. all right here Pat gonna go run the play. get down to court that's what he was. talking about I want no uh he a soft. person like you can't be soft and win. Defensive Player of the Year three times. right you can't you can't play in the. NBA like this and the way we played back. then it be soft that's just not who I am. but mentally he was he was a hundred and.

ten percent correct why am I letting the. rest why am I letting them yeah why. didn't you do that why do you let the. ref bother you because I'm watching how. everybody else get calls and I'm like. damn I want calls like that you seven. foot tall. five six foot you're right but see. that's what I'm saying in my head I'm. thinking like bro this man just slapped. the hell out of me I can't even see. y'all ain't gonna call nothing. no we're not going to call it you know. what I should have said bet all right. I'm gonna go up and finish the next one. right instead of worrying about it so he.

was saying mentally I'm soft in that. aspect because me and Kobe don't have. plenty of conversations before that on. the phone right so he ain't that ain't. it. are there any similarities between. LeBron. and Kobe from the way they go about. their leadership style or the inner. similar different two different LeBron. is not LeBron is is he gonna talk he's. boy she's going to let it be known how. he feel what he think all that stuff.

Kobe only going to do that when they get. to that point right before that if. something going on the way he he go. about it is give him the ball and that's. how he gonna show everybody how he feels. right LeBron different LeBron can he. know he could go score what he wants to. but sometimes I feel like he'd be. wanting to toy around and play because. I've been playing against him for so. long so last year like I'm just watching. sometimes on the bench I'm like I know. he's just toying around right now. because I know he could go hard and do.

this and do that but it's like. I think that what might be the. difference like. Kobe's like he gonna kill kill kill kill. kill kill kill kill even after they did. he goes still keep trying like it was uh. what's that movie uh uh. uh there's some uh dang it Tina Turner. okay and uh her husband he said if you. die I'mma kill you right that's how Kobe. is he gonna keep what's up he's gonna. keep going yeah but LeBron like he just.

he's a he he. LeBron too nice. I wouldn't say he too nice but I think. that they just got a different type of. killer mental like LeBron like it's a he. won John Wick and the other James Bond. yeah John Wick is Kobe it's Kobe he. quiet he ain't like so for real cause. you John we don't really talk that much. he ain't talking doing all that acting. he just going to kill because like we. watching the redeem like I said uh at. the uh the redeemed team Premiere and we.

see the difference Kobe is like Cadillac. to himself he opened up as it progressed. but LeBron is joking LeBron you know. LeBron is like getting there hey we're. gonna have his birthday celebration for. Kobe they're like they're really two. different people and then they always. get compared together because of their. greatness on the court right and I feel. like people should stop comparing them. because it kind of puts like a it piss. them against each other yeah and I hate. it because like we should not be putting. none of these great so anybody that's.

doing this against each other like. competition is one thing when we're. playing against each other and we. talking trash that's different but like. nah don't take away from his greatness. to talk about his greatness like LeBron. has did some great things and Kobe has. done some great things too right let's. celebrate both of their greats because. look what LeBron has done in his 18. years he's a accumulated uh the wealth. of he's a billionaire now right why he's. still playing why he's still playing so.

let's celebrate him for that all the. things that. Kobe and Jordan have paved the way for. someone like for LeBron to do right and. now there's another one that's coming. after LeBron who's going to do more. because he's seeing what it takes to be. that goat you know what I'm saying only. a few are called to be that goat. everybody else might be called to be. something else right so that's why these. are the goat people LeBron oh I'm sorry. you grew up in Atlanta. what was growing you grew up uh you're a.

church kid. I think your father's a minister my dad. was no he was a cop he was caught my. granddad was a minister yeah so. even the cop Granddad the minister you. in church a lot huh. my head went to a church school. yeah so. um I was I was around Church a lot yeah. you could say a little bit so what was. you what was your upbringing like really. um I stayed in a College Park Georgia so.

the where we stayed at was really really. bad and uh we couldn't go down the. street to the gas station we could see. the gas station from my house but. we couldn't go down the street that's. how crazy it was so. I just honed in on my basketball skills. after that I got a Magic Johnson uh VHS. tape and I plugged it in every day and. that was that's how I worked on my. skills so I could stay away from you.

know everything else that surrounded me. and I wanted to make sure that I could. be one of the people that could come. back and say yo you can make it like. right this you you can do it and you. know that was just my mindset at 10. years old I wrote now my goals to be the. number one pick in the draft. um to be the top player in high school. uh just a whole bunch of goals of coming. to the NBA and I did them so uh one. thing my I learned uh real fast growing.

up is the powerful map a power of. manifestation you know really believing. in yourself really writing your goals. down in your vision and look at them. every day every day I I put it above my. bed and I just sit above my bed we'll. sit at the edge of my bed and watch it. and just imagine if I was in the NBA and. I was the first pick in the draft and. what would it be to come out of this. area that I was at. um to to be an NBA champion like all.

that stuff. I was thinking about it every day I. wanted to meet Wilt Chamberlain that was. my favorite player. when did you start growing were you a. normal sized kid I was little I wasn't. big at all until. uh I was about five nine five ten. and I broke my leg. going up the dunk on somebody I was just. learning how to dunk right I went to go. try to dunk and dude kind of blocked it. and I fell when I hit the ground.

um my leg just you had that little. default surgery. where they saw your balls and make you. taller I had the same thing that uh Paul. George had so his growth plate bro you. broke a gold plate they had popped so. they put it back in they put two screws. in and while I was. in my cast. I went from five eight to five eleven to. six eleven what yeah. crazy how you grow a foot man I don't. know man it was I guess it was me going.

to church you didn't tell me I was in. the church I literally I promised him. and I was like God. I ain't gonna do nothing no more man. please and so I was I literally mad. people would see me in church every. Sunday and be like yo like you wasn't. here that my clothes are shrinking. it was crazy I went from five eight to. five eleven to six eleven. in a year and a year by the time I ended. my uh ninth my ninth grade year I was.

six eleven I was the tallest person on. my team. did you think you would go grow some. more you like man I might be seven two. seven three I was thinking I was gonna. grow some more because my knees hurt so. bad like it I don't know what it was it. was just like pain in my knees every. time I moved walked whatever I did it. was just pain so your body had to catch. up yeah and then uh the the doctor was. telling me take some vitamin uh uh D.

capsules and see capsules and stuff for. all I was like man this is crazy. did you always want to go straight from. high school to the NBA I did that was. always my goal that was always my plan. um so College wasn't even you did a you. did you went to college I mean North. Carolina Kentucky dude they want him on. your radar I did not want to go to. college I felt like it was going to be a. waste of time waste of my time. uh. in a waste of the school's time and and.

teammates there like I want to just go. for one year and then leave so. I wanted to go to the league out of high. school I want to be like kg is one of my. favorite players all time I wore number. 12 because I wanted to be the reverse of. 21. um. so I wanted to come out of high school. that was my dream. fulfill that so if I ask you who's your. Mount Rushmore players to go straight. from high school to the NBA.

you got Kobe LeBron. kg. myself. you only get four now you keep naming. you only got four of my Rushmore okay. that's it. damn tmac ain't make it Mario started my. make it. I'm sorry Kobe. Club. [Music]. they gotta go on there. and then shoot me and uh kg I gotta put.

my favorite player on there you're right. you're right you're right. looking at your Gatorade National Player. of the Year your Nate Smith prep Player. of the Year award your co-mbp with J.R. Smith in the uh McDonald's All-American. Game one of the 35 greatest all-americ. uh McDonald's All-American. you go to that game and you're looking. around like okay. did you know you had to put it down in. that game. like because people say man I'm with. this little private school little class. a school little private school days.

I think before they before out that game. they already knew who I was so that game. was just like a. solidified statement game. um. and then me and J.R just took off Jr was. throwing Crazy Love shooting all type of. threes and I was trying to go dunk. everything and block everything and it. just ended up working out great for both. of us because we both wanted to go to. the league and that was kind of like our.

our measuring stick like yo we can do. this and then get better and better and. better every day from practicing it's. gonna need for us to go to college right. 18 years old. your multi-millionaire. what's going through your mind like damn. man there's more money than I ever. thought I was gonna have at one. particular time and what was the first. thing you bought. first thing I bought was I got my mom a. house and I got me a laptop.

which was dumb after I go back and look. at it like why did I get a laptop yeah. I got all things the first buy I bought. myself a laptop but I really just think. I did it because my dad was like Dwight. you need to save your money I'm like Dad. I just got some money let me buy. something and I bought a laptop. stupid like I ain't bought no car first. I know jewelry I bought a laptop and it.

was one of them small mini laptops like. I was stupid. what was I thinking. so you bought your mama house not in. College Park no uh I bought her a house. in Fairburn Georgia okay so uh they. found in the airport they they well they. have that house there but they live on. my farm I have a farm in Georgia okay in. uh North Georgia okay and uh they live. out there you got animals you got. animals on there I do what you got about.

some Texas Longhorns. a couple of uh real big black angus okay. uh then I have some uh donkeys chickens. Ducks uh Hogs so you got a farm farm. yeah how many Longhorns you got oh man I. just had about six new births okay so. it's probably about total right now. probably about. 75 different types of cattle okay I got.

one like angles red angles Charlotte. uh no I don't have a brummel oh bull no. Brahma booze yeah what about red angles. Hereford no I just got in the longhorn. you've got all Longhorns Angus I got a. couple kinds any beef cattle yes okay. got a couple but because that's what. your Angus is for eign. my dad takes care of certain things. right but now just like man I got some.

really good ideas for the farm uh I'm. actually starting I have a garden at my. house too so I Garden I have squash. um I have watermelon I have. pears I have apples I have bell peppers. in Georgia yeah how the hell you grow. apples in Georgia I got everything I got. figs I got blueberries. you got a farm farm there's no this is. my garden at my house and I have a rose.

garden with like. 12 different types of flowers right so. so you got chickens too I got chickens. when I get back where I actually about. to start the plant for the fall for. turnips and collards and all that stuff. you sell that stuff or you just eat it. this year I'm gonna be selling it and. I'm gonna be eating it and using it for. my diet with my my kids okay and stuff. like that. ah so you you live in a holistic you. from the earth you eating yeah what I. really want to do is try to really teach.

people that you know a lot of people ask. me how to keep myself myself in shape. right so that's one thing but also I. want my kids to be self-sufficient learn. how to uh live and eat off the land. right. um we don't know the state of what. America is going to be in soon so I feel. like we all need to learn how to grow. our own food we don't know what they're. putting in these Foods they're making 3D. chicken right people were eating fake. food so like we need to start eating the. right food so our kids can grow and we.

can actually. Feel Love again this food that we eat is. all processed so it's not you know when. your mama cook food or you break you. know the person that you love the most. they make that good food you can feel it. you know we need that. I'm looking at you in Orlando and uh. you're the first player to come directly. out of high school and play all 82 games. you're the youngest person in NBA. history to average a double-double in. the regular season uh you're the. youngest player to average 10 rebounds. in a season a young person the youngest. person ever recorded 20 rebounds in the.

game youngest person to do 20 more. points and gather 20 rebounds in the. game all NBA rookie first team the. youngest for one rookie of the year yeah. you feel you got robbed yes. but he had a great year I hang on front. he had an awesome year. um he really set the tone. and for me. um after that we're like I used to want. to destroy a Mecca yeah and it was only. because he said something like kind of.

disrespectful to me one time in the. elevator what'd he say and it was that. all-star weekend and uh I think. everybody's about to go party or. whatever he was just getting back uh. going up to a hotel elevator to go to. the rooms and I was like yeah I'm about. to just go on back and chill it was like. oh you about to get your Bobble and just. go reading. and so I took that as like him like. making a little joke about me because I. because I'm a Christian right so I was. like all right every time I play him.

2020. would that would that All-Star Game in. Denver. yes no this was. where was this at this. that one might have been in Denver or in. Louisiana. yeah it was one of them. and when he said that it like triggered. me after that I was like I'm gonna give. him 20 rebounds and 20 points every time. we play them. and I did it you did that yeah because.

you feel that because not only that but. he had he felt he got he got your award. too huh that rookie of the year I didn't. even care about that no more after he. said that I was like for the rest of my. career I'm gonna try to give him 20 and. 20. just for disrespecting me like that. well you mentioned that you didn't buy. anything of significance I think the. greatest thing you did you bought your. mom a house Mom and Dad a house but you. said you didn't buy anything now you're. known for your cars. I was after that I went and got crazy on.

my cars yeah but I do got a crazy car. now so so you started out what was the. first car that you bought yourself. first car I bought myself. had to have been the rose. damn you ain't even getting no starter. car you ain't getting no BMW no no. Mercedes no Range Rover how you start. with that I mean so if you get the rolls. where you go from there a spaceship.

I don't power yes maybe I was sending me. maybags. and I appreciate you guys. but they were sending me Maybach so I'm. talking about these maybachs was fire. they sent him made backs with like this. big air conditioner in the Middle where. you can just press a button and it's. just seeing fresh air throughout the. whole thing with you with like some type. of potpourri that come out uh that land. a lot with the back where you can open. up the back yeah like like a DJ Khaled. yes.

um but now I got a it's called the bribe. is six by six and so it's. that's the G wagon it's the big one yeah. yeah the elevator like yeah yeah. oh oh no yeah that one and I got that. from Dubai that one was. this is my last car purchase 1.2. and after that I was like that's it so. how many cars is in the fleet now. I have that car and I have the Cullen.

and then I have the other Rolls-Royce I. got two bikes in the van bro that's it. no eight eight eight eight eight eight. eight I got a truck you one guy you need. eight cars I got five kids they ain't. able to drive yeah you ain't got no kids. in the truck and the other truck and. then you do realize when they get old. enough to drive they're not gonna want. that why not how old are your oldest kid. right now 14. okay so they don't want no.

truck no not that I'm not saying they're. not gonna want a truck they're not gonna. go in that truck that's cool but what. I'm trying to teach them is the value of. old trucks so they can have this old. truck you ain't got no old schools no I. had an old school man and my dad. he blew the truck up man trying to drive. it. he tried to drive it every day like an. everyday truck he tried to drive it fast. and then set it down and it just blew up. only thing left was the dog on the door. handle.

come on Bob you tripping man Fox should. have won my car back. Orlando obviously you were big you go to. Orlando you know the comparison's gonna. stop gonna attack yeah. um. I I liked it you know I felt like he was. the most dominant player and every day I. put on my jersey I said I'm gonna. dominate dominate dominate Dominate and. shoot I wanted to do whatever Shaq did.

if that was dunking on everybody I. wanted to dunk on everybody but he took. offense to it like I was trying to. disrespect him and I'm like bro why you. the most dominant player to ever played. basketball did you have. convert did you and Shaq sit down did. you have a conversation with him but not. about that because I didn't think that. he really. felt a certain way about me until like I. started seeing more and more interviews. right. oh he's not a Hall of Famer I don't. think he should have this he should have. that I'm like hey.

Shaq got a problem with me so I don't. know what it is or why he got an issue. with me but did he think because you. adopted the Superman moniker. how did I adopt it from who. I mean it's not his that's what I'm. saying and the first Superman was Kurt. Rambis if you really want to get. technical because ramus was a Superman. before Shaq so did we both get it from. him right or did we get it from Clark. Kent right like is it really that. serious it's a nickname right and I got. the nickname Superman from Soulja Boy. because he had a song called Superman.

and uh it was a couple things that. happened in practice when I was in. Orlando I used to live crazy weights. right so how much could you bench my. highest bench uh was 315 four something. four what yeah four thirty something. yeah some uh I was in Orlando. basketball on the web was like two. pounds right that's what my free throws. was like that. by the way your free throw would like. that before it was because the bench. press.

I'm telling you I was bench pressing so. much man for real that's why I stopped. because I literally was yeah your. shoulder your shoulders I mean I. couldn't I couldn't shoot the ball right. I was was like this. it's all like man let me chill out do. some yoga and get right right I used to. over 400 some pounds and um that's all I. did to go in the gym bench press do uh. uh leg curls uh squats uh biceps yeah.

see I know you're working that's all I. did at first and then once I learned how. to train. like after I had my back surgery. I have a doctor uh in uh and Lance his. name is Dr Clayton Gibson. changed my my whole life my from the. inside out how I how I thought the food. I ate you know what I put in my body to. drink everything this guy was just like.

God said you know what I'm saying so I. was just glad I was able to meet him and. he was the one who actually got me right. after I had my back surgery to come back. to the Lakers I lost 30 pounds in 30. days are you vegan I mean do you eat. meat not well I mean no I'm not vegan. okay but I might have to go vegan. because I found out that some of the. were the strongest tribe or the. strongest people on earth. were vegan so I'm like man let me try it.

I want to try it out were they vegan by. choice. yeah because they might have not had. opportunity to get no meat no they did. but they they just knew like for example. gorillas they don't eat no meat and. they're the strongest you're gonna eat. 40 pounds of grass Let's go. people be kidding me that man you see. yeah that ain't mean it ain't vegan. because you ain't grass but I just said. yeah a elephant he only would he eat.

right look how strong is it looks strong. elephant is you eating 300 pounds of. leaves. got vegetables and fruit and stuff like. that eat that meat the white you grew up. eating meat look at that okay. do you know what happened why. when they kill these animals that stress. from those animals yeah it's getting. transferred to you that's why we have. all these mental issues that we're.

having in our country right now because. the foods that we eat even all the. processed stuff that stuff sends off. what happens when you cook when you plug. when you pluck that vegetable off the. vine nothing happened it ain't stressed. no oh cause where is it coming from like. an apple what is the Apple on he was on. a tree you're gonna be growing and then. we started the growth don't get right so. what you you know you're about to farm. and all that stuff hey I grew up y'all. see the good thing is if you eating food.

from farming to table then yes I could. understand right and meat like that but. if we're getting it from the 3D Source. if we're getting it from Google right. but you're about to eat it for 3D you. about to eat it from the uh from from. Farm to Table right that's correct so I. would do that that's what I'm saying I. would do that but not just going out. every day and getting you know crazy. types of people working all that stuff. how special could you and uh T-Mac and. Grant Hill if you could have been oh my. God. man I was trying to it really hurt me.

that T-Mac said that he didn't want to. play with nobody from high school and. I'm like didn't you say you came from. high school yeah how are you not going. to play with somebody from high school. because so much stuff I could have. learned from just. you know learn from him and then Grant. Hill but I just felt like and I could. understand it now that I'm older you. want to play with an older person. because of the minds right and I'm like. bro now I could play with a younger guy. because I could show him the right type.

of mindset to have right because I. didn't experienced it from the top to. the bottom I know what it takes to get. to the top and I know what happens if. you at the bottom and then what you got. to do to stay in the lead you know what. I'm saying so. I don't mind playing with a younger guy. on the team because I believe I can help. him I think that a lot of those guys. back then did not have patience to want. to be with a younger guy and I get it. because after the season you don't win.

you put in all this work you're like man. whether I just do all this for like why. but. you know it's it's a learning process so. I just. you know looking back on it now it would. be a lot better now when you look back. you guys uh. Nike had built this big promo it would. the Muppets LeBron and Kobe yeah you. ruined it I ain't ruined you did ruin it. I got my own puppet right at home right. now my dog but I still got a puppet at.

the house and I'm glad I ruined it. because that one ain't right they pissed. our whole team off and I'm glad we went. out there we sold LeBron in the Caps. that hell no the puppet gotta go. for real because I'm like how y'all. gonna have a whole Nike commercial about. LeBron and Kobe in the finals and they. ain't even in the finals yet and we took. so much we took that y'all took that. personal huh did we. we wanted to destroy LeBron in the Cavs. because of that I couldn't wait to see.

Anderson barrage I wanted to rip his. hair off I wanted to kill and. ilgowskis whatever his name was you. dropped 40 and 14 in 14 games telling. you I could not wait to get on the floor. with them I tried to break the goal in. Cleveland that's why the shot clock came. down I wanted the was Ben Wallace on. that team that year. I think he might have been out every big. man they had because they want I said. I'm gonna get my own puppy I broke my. own puppy to our gym and I had my own.

puppy that practice you don't want to do. what's like that that was I was I was. kind of looking forward and you wanted. to see that I did that's messed up you. from Georgia and you want to see two. people that ain't even posted Georgia. play in the finals. sometimes you want to see I mean can you. imagine because I'm seeing bird in Magic. can you imagine not seeing Federal in. the dark I mean some things you just got. to see.

wanted to watch me and call me scrap. man y'all you with that man y'all got. well that's only because I'm gonna give. you let me tell you what happened what. happened. Kobe Bryant. Lamar Odom yeah Derek Fisher Pau Gasol. and Andrew Bynum and Phil Jackson they. had experience that we didn't have they. knew what it took they knew they knew.

what to do at all the right moments in. the game and for us I felt like at that. time we were so young and inexperienced. that. we didn't know how to handle the moment. right because. mind you just the finals you got this. big the big uh trophy on the car yeah. Big Air trophy you got all these fans. we're the only team playing in the world. besides the Lakers so it's like this all.

new for us right they knew how to handle. that whole situation we had just got up. in it so for us we all excited and then. I think a couple plays kept us out from. winning that layup with Courtney Lee. yeah yeah Alger saw goaltender if you go. back and look I think he go attended it. right that play right there. cost us might have cost us a series I. believe we would have won that game we. would have won the series because that. was game one if I'm not mistaken right. of game two game two I think game two. but.

you know what Kobe Kobe and them did it. man Derek Fisher hit that three to put. the dagger in. but. man after that game. I sat down and watched him celebrate. and I was like man if I get back to the. finals. I'm we're not losing I'm gonna make sure. I do whatever I can. so where our team is no doubt that we're. gonna win right. I had Lamar Odom on my podcast and he. say he knew they would beat you guys.

when he saw you joking in the court do. you think people took your personality. because you you are a fun-loving you're. an outgoing guy and took your. personality and held that against you. yeah because you're the same guy that. was joking up and down the court when. you won three defensive players of the. year so it don't make no sense but I but. I get it that's about again like I said. just these older guys and the perception. that they've had people's perception can. become every everyone's reality right so. they see that I'm laughing having a good.

time and in their mind they probably. thinking he ain't really focused on. basketball he thinking about everything. else but in turn. when I'm training and practicing that's. when I'm not laughing and smiling. because I'm really locked in on getting. better the court when I'm out there in. front of the fans that's the show time. that's when I'm out there at my greatest. I'm having a good time I'm a dunk block. shots and have a good time why am I out.

there mad like I'm an MMA fighter that's. not who I am I can't go out there and be. that way and I'm and it's crazy that. I've had to and I still have to express. that to people like. what I I that's this is just who I am. do you think you're a good leader do I. think I'm a good leader yes I think I'm. a better leader uh now than I've been in. the past I think that there are some. things that I could have worked on but I. also think that I. um.

at those times I didn't have the proper. guidance to be able to lead. um but I think I'm a good leader did you. ever have problems connecting with your. teammates did you ever have problems. with your teammates uh. I don't think I really had a lot of. problems with my teammates uh like. people said that I did I know in Orlando. uh we were very close-knit and Houston. the same thing we was very close-knit. um well then why y'all closing it why do.

you and James Harden fall out did y'all. fall out I don't think me and James was. close Okay uh and I don't know what. happened okay you wanted to go there. because I went and pick and roll me and. James hardening to pick and roll he'll. bucket get him pick it wrong I've been. trying to figure that out too since I. left uh Houston why is he acting like. this because I left LA because to go. play with him so it wasn't like so how. soon did you notice a shift or a change. in his attitude towards you I would kind.

of say like in our second season. together and I was just like dang like I. feel like we competing against each. other what we should be did you talk did. you have a conversation with him I. didn't that's what that was that was my. fault that was my fault and I actually I. had a conversation but it was kind of. too late. and I I could have been I could have. been better at talking to him but. I chose to go around him and we talked.

to other people which now the message. coming from other people yeah it's Gonna. Get Lost in Translation so I I could. have been better at that for one as. being the older guy right and knowing. better right and two just if really want. to win. really squashing that better you know. what I'm saying but I didn't know how to. at the time because. I didn't really know how to talk to him.

like that right when it seemed like it. had gotten to that point where when we. first got there it was cool. but then after you know it got to that. point it's just like dang we not even. we're not even talking no more like we. decided to come down here together like. right I wanted to come see us wear. championships in us grow but. you know it didn't happen that way so. I'll put that on me right I'll put that. part on me where would you rank yourself. as an all-time great defensive big man. that's an all-time great defensive big.

man yeah I gotta be top three. name three better besides probably Bill. Russell. I got three offensive player defensive. player of the years. I mean. yeah I mean if you just look at a war. you you like your defensive Powers. better than Elijah won. how many he got he got one. okay. David Robinson how many he got well if.

that's the case so Ben Wallace Ben. Wallace got four did Kimber got four so. they got more we right there now you. said top three I got I named guys all. right you're right you're right all. right all right so. I like dream okay. dream I think he's top. and so I would go with me dream and. probably uh. shh. Dennis Rodman.

you're like Bill Russell. all right. please nobody think I'm sad Bill Russell. can't play defense. I just believe that with the error that. we have I don't know I don't know I like. Bill Russell too. but. he not in that group. because he Bill Russell. he by himself okay you say you have a 14.

year old son how many kids do you have. now five you have five kids I have five. kids oh this is 14. oldest 14 the. youngest is eight okay had five baby. mamas. uh one of them passed away right before. the bubble uh so my youngest son has. been living with me since then. um and ever since I've been in the. league and had kids you know people have. always tried to find a way to make it. seem like God not a good father and I. don't take care of my kids and all that. stuff and that's one of the things too.

that I back then I should have addressed. and talked about but I just like why my. kids know I love them and that's all. that matters but it just sucks that. people would be so caught up in. somebody's life life like that that they. would sit up there and make up lies and. make and pass judgments on situations. that they have no clue on how difficult. is it to be. professional athlete and to be a single. parent. it's hard as hell. having to travel all the time and leave.

my son you know what I'm saying and when. his mom died he was six. so that's a very critical age yeah he. really didn't understand you know when. she first passed away he's he's saying. to me. hey Dad my mom died but they took her to. the hospital she's going to be back so. in his mind he's thinking and I. understand that she's coming back. because that's what when you go to the. hospital you're gonna come back. so I'm like man how do I even express.

this to him and tell him that so it took. me a while to really like get him to. have a better understanding of what. death is yeah and. um and it just made our relationship so. much better you know and now it's just. like. that time that we've had together is is. really bonded us to a point where the. other kids my other kids is like man. like Dad. we we need we want you like please can.

we live with you like it's it's just. amazing to see my kids are getting a lot. older now so just a different. personalities and me being able to talk. to them about my experiences and. uh it's just so different it's just so. different I'm glad that you know even. though I have five children I had to. experience them in having different moms. I'm glad I have these kids because. it's the best thing in the world man so.

it's a blessing to be able to have. children. and the personalities that they have. anyone play sports all of them my. daughters are really just starting to. get into volleyball okay and basketball. like you stay tall my daughter is 11 and. 12 and they at my shoulders and I'm. seven feet wow that's tall and my son is. eight and he's right here in my in the. middle of my chest so it's like my kids. love sports. uh but they can do it all I feel like I.

almost got like the the Dwight Howard. version of The Jackson Five right so. like I I I've been really coming up with. some ideas of like what I can do to see. them really really be successful in life. and I want to really help them with that. so. um. I'm looking forward to. to really doing that. have you thought about well you know. what if I don't play basketball if last. year year 18 was my final year.

have you thought about the transition to. maybe coaching your kids obviously. you'll have more time to spend with the. kids have you thought about that yes I I. I would I love that being able to coach. them and being able to really like. pour that greatness out of them you know. I believe that every person on Earth has. greatness inside of them right we have. that energy built up it just would need. someone to call help us call on that.

greatness help us pull that greatness. out and with my kids I can see it I see. what it I know what it would take. because I had to go through the ringer. to get to where I am today right so they. have a perfect example of what to do and. what not to do because I've experienced. so much in the league where. they know they can do this and be. successful and do this and not be. successful and I've had the opportunity. to uh and a blessing to experience it. even having even the bad things I've.

experienced like you just alluded to. somebody coming out and making a. statement and saying I'm like this or. you know my situation with my kids moms. you know all these things are could. could possible do you hate that like one. of your kids mom it became so public and. you wish you could handle that situation. look look we we we can handle this who. was in the bed with us yeah it was just. me and you right so why why are you.

putting all these other people in our. situation because they not going to ever. understand it right they they're not. going to see from the father they're not. going to see the mother's point of view. they're not going to see the child's. point of view unless they've experienced. it right and the people that experience. it they gonna tell you the same thing. that I'm telling you don't let the. people out in the public enter your. private business right because they will. ruin you and they will ruin the kids. Minds right and I don't think sometimes.

people really understand that until it's. a situation and they have to experience. it for themselves and now they're like I. wish I never did this I should have did. it this way but then it's okay. now we know let's keep this private. let's keep this between me and me and. you because our son our daughter is the. most precious in this moment let's not. forget what what we're actually our. purpose is so. yeah just take a lot of times with the. kids moms they haven't experienced.

nothing like this before being with an. NBA player dealing with the fame the. fortune or whatever that whatever may. come with being a sports figure yeah. they never dealt with that you know what. I'm saying so obviously for on the. woman's side on a woman's standpoint. they dealing with you know being they. could feel rejected they could you know. feel like the people online are talking. about them so they they're heard about. this and now they want to you know hurt. people might want to hurt somebody else. yeah it's just so much going on and it's.

like yo let's keep it private man you. don't you don't want all these people in. your business because they really don't. care yes and that's the thing that a lot. of people don't really get until they. actually get into the situation and see. these people don't care no they don't. they only they only doing this because. they want that gossip they want to have. something to talk about yeah yeah Dwight. I really appreciate you stopping by and. give me a couple of minutes of your time. yeah cersky if this is if last year was.

your last season congratulations on 18. great Years thank you so much you're. going to be in the Hall of Fame in five. years from when you do hang it up so. congratulations on unbelievable one. Georgia Board to another yes sir down. south Georgia Boys. [Music].

all my life.