Tracy McGrady: LaMelo Ball is built for the Los Angeles Lakers | Ep. 49 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

Who's going to be the face of the NBA. the next 10 years? I'm going to give you. Ja, Luka, Trae Young, LaMelo Ball. It'll be between LaMelo. Ball and Ja. If if LaMelo Ball can get to La La Land, cuz I think he's built for that. Yes. Like he has that personality, that. moxie, like. he's built for that. I I think he can be. that face.

Hello, welcome to another edition of. Club Shay Shay. I am your host Shannon. Sharpe. I'm also the proprietor of Club. Shay Shay. And the guy that's stopping. by for conversation and a drink today is. a seven-time All-Star, a seven-time.

All-NBA selection, a two-time scoring. champ, a gold medalist, Hall of Famer. His government name is Tracy McGrady. We. all know him as T-Mac. T-Mac, what's up, bro? I'm good, brother. It's a pleasure to be. on your platform. Man, thanks for coming on today. How you. doing? I'm doing good, man. You know, been retired for about 9 10 years now. Um four kids, married. Um loving life, bro. And what's crazy is I'm more busier.

now than when I was actually playing. ball. Yeah, with kids, of course you're. going to be more busy. Listen, I'm I'm being pulled every. weekend, whether it's volleyball, it's. my son's AAU basketball, I'm all over. the place. Every weekend I am gone. So, what's the ages? So, I have a daughter at the University. of Miami right now. This is her freshman. year. Okay. Uh. she's the oldest. My youngest is 12. So, I got 19, 16, 14, and and 13. Okay.

two girls. Oh, well that's that's great. Congratulations. First, let me. congratulate you on your business. venture. You started a league. It's. called OBL, One's Basketball League. First, let me ask you, what made you. decide to start your own league and why. this format? Well, I I think, you know, when you look. at the landscape of sports, um we have three-on-three. Um you talk about UFC, uh where it's. one-on-one fighting. You talk about. tennis, you know,

uh two people going at it. But in the. sport of basketball, we don't have one-on-one. I mean, we. have we have underground leagues, but we. don't have a major platform to identify. There's a lot of untapped talent out. here. Everybody can't make it to the. NBA. Right. Everybody can't get that call to go and. play overseas and make a hundred, you. know, to a half a million dollars. So, I wanted to give guys an opportunity. here in the States, give them that. platform. And and some of these guys,

you know, probably had something to it it you. know, along their journey where they. deviated off the course, made a left. turn, and you know, things happen. They. were teenagers, and they didn't get the. opportunity to do their dream. I want to. offer that dream. So, I'm looking to. create stars, tell their stories, and. take this thing global. Do you think one. of these guys are because obviously. one-on-one and the thing about the NBA. is that all the really great players are. all really exceptional one-on-one. players. Do you think your platform will.

allow some of the guys to get a look. even if if they don't have college. eligibility? So, I I'm not I I don't want NBA. players. Okay. I don't want NBA players. want retired NBA guys. Huh? No retired NBA guys. No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. No, Shay Shay. There's some guys on the. block right now. Right. But give give the elite NBA. players the business in the game of. one-on-one. Really? You really?

What? Absolutely. Absolutely. I I listen, I I've seen some of these. guys, Shay. And these guys can go, man. There's a lot of under underground. leagues that are out here. They people just don't know about it. I. want to give them a platform. I'm. telling you. There there are Kyries out. here. There are James Hardens out here. KD. They're out here. I've seen the ages. are from 18 and up. The games are going.

to start in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, DMV, LA, the Bay Area, with the finals. in Vegas. Now, you're going to have. three winners from each city, correct? Yes, sir. Those three guys in each city. advance to Vegas. Yes, sir. You win 10,000 for each city. The winner of each city will win 10,000. So, there's 32 participants in each city. that were invited. So, you're only. taking one one for each city.

No, no, no. We're taking three, but I'm. saying the number one winner is going to. win the pot. Okay. For that for that region. Okay. Okay. And then you go to Vegas. So, all three 21 players they're going. to Vegas. And that's where we're going to crown. the king, the ruler of the court for. $250,000. So, the winner gets 250, the other 20, bro, y'all had a good run, but it's up. Hey. Hey, man. Come back, try again next. year, bro.

But you But I you know, I I look at. this, you know, this platform. I kind of, you know, want to get to. where UFC is at. Right. Right. Okay. Like who who who were the UFC fighters. before they got on that platform? Correct. And then they became this character and. and and became, you know, a big. household name. That's what I want to do. for these guys and and for the. one-on-one league. That's exactly what I. want to do. T-Mac, I don't know we used. to have a game we called it 11 or we. called it 21. You on no team, and you. grab the ball, and you.

everybody had to play defense, you tried. to score on everybody, and the winner, you felt like you really accomplished. something. Because sometimes you got a. guy that's way taller than you, way. older than you guarding you, and the. first one to 11 or the first one to 21, man, you felt like you accomplished. something. Man, absolutely. So, here's here's what I don't want to. happen though, Shay. I don't want to. have a 5'10 guy going up against a 6'10. guy.

Right. I'm saying? Like that that's kind of. lopsided because the 6'10 guy all he got. to do is just back the guy down and. then, you know, get an easy bucket. So, going through the first season, you. know, we're going to have to try to. watch out for that. But here's what I. here's what the the the ideal of. one-on-one what I want to bring to the. people. I want to break it into a height. class. Yes. Okay. I definitely have weight. classes. I want to do height class. So, you got your 6'3 and under. Right. Right. Then you got your 6'4 the 6'7.

class. Right. Right. So, I I I want it. to be evened out. I don't want this to. be a gimmick. And then if, you know, in. those classes, whether it's a 6'3 guy. who's the champion, and there's a 6'10. guy, and the fans want to see that match. up, hey, maybe maybe we'll make that. happen. But I want it to be evenly. matched before we, you know, create. those type of matchups, cuz I don't want. it to be a gimmick. It's funny that you say that because in. the original UFC, there were no weight. classes. So, you So, you had a 150-lb.

guy fighting a 250-lb. guy. Absolutely. And and and it wasn't. great content. It wasn't. It wasn't. great content. T-Mac, when did. when did T-Mac happen? I mean, obviously. you say you got a son that's playing AA. travel AAU ball, you played travel AAU. ball, you went to the tournament uh the. tourneys. I don't know if it's the ABC, the Nike, or whatever the case may be. When did T-Mac become T-Mac?

1996. Summer of 1996. And Teaneck, New Jersey. I was playing spring football, Shay. And out of nowhere, this guy that was. affiliated with Adidas. came down to Polk County. and said he had an opportunity for me. But within that opportunity, I had to stop playing football. Okay. So, he gave me the opportunity to go and.

play at the Adidas camp. I knew nothing. about this. This is my first camp ever. You know, I'm I'm in small, you know, Auburndale, Florida, 10,000 people. I. don't know what's going on outside of. Central Florida. Right. I hear about Lamar Odom and these these. elite guys. And I'm like, you know, let's go. I I I. want to I want to see where I am as a. basketball player because I felt that. I'm I'm one of the best, but I don't. know. I've never played against talent.

outside of, you know, Florida. Right. So, I get to this camp, Shay, and I'm. seeing this 6'10 point guard, man. And I'm like, oh lord. You know, 6'10 where I'm at, they're. going to make you the center. This dude. is bringing the ball up, and he looks. smooth. I'm like, So, he was the first guy I faced, man, and you know, I had a great game against. him. And then throughout that whole. camp, you know, I was just making a name.

for myself. There's a buzz going around. like, who's this cat this cat Tracy. McGrady from Florida? Right. And bro, here comes the I made the All-Star game. that weekend. And the signature to put the icing on. the cake for that weekend, I was coming. down on the left side, and a guy was. running down the middle, and I didn't. really see him. I was going to windmill. You know, that that was in my mind. So, windmill is ball. So, I went up, windmill. It just so. happened he jumped into me and I. windmilled on him. And everybody in the.

stands, people running on the court, it. was pandemonium in there. That's when I arrived. From that point. on is I made a name for myself and that. just took place in the summer. So so you. knew from that moment okay, there's. going to never be any more football. I'm. Tracy McGrady, I've arrived. Okay, let. me focus on this. My life changed at that very moment. When I left that camp. I was being considered as the top.

prospect in our class, the 1997 class of. high school basketball players. When it played out my high school. career, my senior year in Durham, North. Carolina, and I became the number one. basketball player in America. So. you leave Florida to go to Durham, North. Carolina. What kind of transition was. that because you had said you really. haven't been out of outside of Central. Florida. You hadn't seen a whole lot of. players outside of Central Florida. So. now you leave your your base, which is.

Central Florida, and go to Durham, North. Carolina. Why did you do that? You know what I'd say, it it's. it's really just taking a leap of faith. Okay. You know what I mean? Because I've. seen so many guys come before me. that was extremely talented but they. ended up becoming local heroes, local. celebrities, if you will. Yeah. Right? Uh-huh. So this was just an opportunity, I mean. this was all God's God's plan for.

somebody to discover me that I had no. relationship with and give me the. opportunity to go to this Adidas camp. that was that that created the path for. me and that created confidence that I. was on that right path. Right. So it was just a no-brainer for. me to leave Florida because of the. opportunity that presented. presented itself and. I couldn't I could not let that pass by. and it was, you know, obviously being a.

great decision on, you know, my my part. and my family. Your senior year, after you finish up. your senior year, did you have. any ambitions of going to play college? Oh, so you were going to go to Kentucky. Yes, sir. I knew you was going with that. Yes, sir. Listen, I I took my business to a. couple of colleges. But I went when I went to Kentucky. and I saw how those boys was living. I said, I'm going to this is where I.

want to go to school. Okay. Right? I was already a fan before. I went there. Right. But when I took that visit, bro, and I seen how they were living up there. as college students, college athletes. Right. I want to go. I want to go to Kentucky. What? Adidas, you go to the Adidas camp, you make a name for yourself at the. Adidas camp. Adidas come in and say, "Okay, we got something special here. We. about to break him off.". What's going through your mind now?

So I'm sitting in my coach's office. Okay. And. you know, he's telling me I I I you. know, giving me this this speech, you. know, I know you love. Kentucky and what they have to offer. and I know you'll do great. He's giving. me all this, but he's like, I I have a. offer from Adidas. They want you really. bad. And when he said it in front of me. it it's. at that time, 18 years old, it's not a. hard decision.

I know it not. what I mean? It It's It's not a hard. decision when. we came from? Right, from where we came from. That's. That's like, man, forget college, bro. They just offered me $12 million. Like, what? I can't turn that down. Right. So you see this check today, Tracy McGrady. 12 million. What's going through your mind? Mama, WE MADE IT.

MAMA, WE RICH. MAMA, WE RICH. MAN, LOOK. HEY, MAN, LOOK. I ain't got to be laying on the couch. and hearing rat traps being popped. I ain't got to turn on the the the stove. to to to warm up the house at night. Got to go get some kerosene to put on. the heater. They ain't got to do none of. that stuff no more. Hey, man, hey, this. is too much information for you, but. bro, I used to sit sit on the toilet and. had to raise my feet up cuz we had rats. running around, bro.

You know what I'm saying? Like, hey, man. dog, them days is over with, bro. So you. know. obviously your your mom's not there. Was. was your mom with you or did you call. your mom on the phone and say, "Mom. get up here. I got some great new I want. you to see this, mama.". Nah, so my my parents was still in. Florida and I was I was in North. Carolina at the time still. Yeah, so I I called I made the call to. them and, you know, obviously they was. overwhelmed with joy, but. ah man, that's to me that's what it's.

all about, man. That that type of impact. that you have on your family and even. going through my career, I I you know, I. didn't I wasn't fortunate enough to win. a championship, but when I look back on. what I was able to do for my mother and. my grandmother You won the championship. in life. Absolutely. Absolutely. So. you you you get to Let me ask you a. question. Let's just say for the sake of. argument, we're going to fast forward. We come to 2021. Somebody got obviously.

$12 million. Kentucky is still on the table. Are you. going to Kentucky with $12 million in. your pocket? Because you know Kentucky. is a is a is a Nike school. UK where. Adidas at a Nike school? What you going. to do, T-Mac? I'm going to Kentucky, bro. You going to. take the 12 million and still go? Absolutely. Absolutely. I Listen, if I. can make $12 million and enjoy the. college experience Right. Why not? Why not? I I I love college.

basketball. I watch it faithfully. I. watch my Kentucky Wildcats faithfully. So yes, I would have taken that 12 and went to. Kentucky for sure. Obviously it was a. great experience to go to the in the. NBA, but do you wish you could have. enjoyed the college experience at least. for just one year? Go to step shows, to. be on the yard. I don't know you're not. going to play at your first year, but. just to be just to be a college kid. Because when you go to the NBA, you're.

an adult. I don't care if you're 18, you're an adult. Cuz you got to get you. got to get a play a place to stay, you. got to sign a lease, you got to play you. got to pay all the bills all the bills. in your name. So you're no longer a kid, you're a grown-ass man. You're right. I think the. uh. all that stuff that you mentioned, I I I. don't care about that, but I think. you know, the one thing I I do miss out. on is that the whole March Madness day. Like.

that experience to me is is like the. memories that you would love to create. and be able to talk about those memories. 30, 40 years from now. So. for that, yes, I had I wish I had the. opportunity to experience that, but you. know, going to the parties and stuff. like that. I mean, that that that really is not my. thing. Uh when you when you played in the. league, how much one-on-one did you. play? Because you know, the only time we. get a chance to do a So only time we get.

a chance to do one-on-one with DBs, I. mean, it's a drill. We got one-on-one, but we're just not a calling somebody. out there just for fun. But you get a. chance and opportunity to go one-on-one. against a teammate. How often did you do. that? So. first of all, I grew up playing. one-on-one basketball. Right. Like that that was my. that was my thing. I I loved it. Um whether it was with my brothers. putting the making a a clothes hanger. into a basket, you know about that.

Right? We had a basketball. and you KNOCKED THE SPOKES OUT. SO YOU YOU KNOW ABOUT all that. Absolutely. So we did all that in the. hood, right? Um but when I got to the. league. obviously I felt like I was. you know, pretty talented offensively. And my teammate was Doug Christie who. was a premier uh defender in the NBA. So I took it upon myself to play against. Doug Christie every single day.

one-on-one basketball because I know if. I can figure him out and score on him. then I can score on anybody in the NBA. And And with that, built my confidence. as well. And that's why one-on-one to me. is so important because. you could go and train 2 hours with the. personal trainer, but then you go and. play five-on-five organized basketball, you have a coach. That coach has a. different philosophy and role for you. that you probably see yourself. And I'm. not talking about the elite players, I'm.

talking about the guys that you know, probably are really talented, but. they're not the guy. Right. You know. what I'm saying? So they they they're. being put in a role. So you train 2. hours, you go and and and play. five-on-five organized basketball. the role might not be conducive to what. you're training in. Right. Okay. I'm saying? So how many opportunities. are you really going to get to where you. feel you're extremely confident as a. ball player? Right. So one-on-one to me, if you do.

that same 2-hour training and you're. training or or playing one-on-one every. single day. your mental toughness is going to get. better and your physical and your skills. uh skill set is going to improve. immensely. Did you did you call out any players? Obviously you say you you you you cut. your teeth with Doug Christie because he. was a premier defender and you felt that. if I can beat him. I feel I should be able to beat him him. him. But did you call out some of the.

offensive guys because you know it is. I'm better than you one-on-one. Bro, you. not Bro, you not better than me. one-on-one. Stop saying that. No, I I I didn't call out anybody. Um. you know, I obviously. Kobe was somebody that. you know, I considered. one of the best one-on-one players. Like. he was the ceiling as far as one-on-one. basketball. Right. And. I knew because he was older than I was,

he came into the league before me. I knew I had to sharpen my skills in my. one-on-one skills if I wanted to compete. against him. Right. You know what I'm saying? Like So he was. your he was the measuring stick. He was the bar. Right, he was the bar. When I'm I'm a young kid looking at. Kobe, I'm like, okay. He's the bar. He's who I got to come at, you know, and and and make a name for. myself. competing against him. T-Mac, when you were growing up, were.

you always the first one picked? So when. they choosing up sides at the park, were. you the were you the first were you the. number one overall draft pick every. time? I was and in all sports. But what's. crazy is you know basketball is my third. sport, right? Really? Yeah, basketball is my third sport. My. my my first sport is baseball. Okay. And. then I played football. Were you a. pitcher? I played As a kid, I played. more baseball and football than I did. basketball. Wow.

You keep You said that I I read what you. said the best part about the NBA is the. one-on-one because basically it's a lot. of one-on-one. Okay, the man in front of. me I got to beat the man in front of me. And you looking at some of these. one-on-one players like KD and Steph and. Kyrie. Right now as you and I have this. discussion, who do you believe is the. best one-on-one player in the NBA? I have to say it'll probably be KD.

I I don't think anybody can mess with KD. in one-on-one. 7-ft. can shoot, can handle. I mean. he's he's so lethal offensively. But We got we got to have See, we got to. have that height. We got to have that. height because Kyrie. I was just about to say that. I was just. about to say that. I was just about to say that. But when we talking one-on-one and and. and not. if if we're doing height-wise the class.

Kyrie, man. Kyrie got a bag, man. Oh, I'm talking about a very. deep bag. Very deep bag. Yeah, he got a Santa Christmas bag. He. got one of those bag Yeah, he got one of. them bag. Hey hey, he got a couple sacks that he. got on his back, bro. He's carrying them. around. When you look at Kyrie, he got. game from the three-point to the. mid-range. Have you ever seen a man his. size finish at the rim with either hand,

kiss his the floaters the the fallaways? Like have you seen anybody in your time. and even now be able to finish like. Kyrie can? Yeah. Yeah. Rod Strickland. Wow. Rod. Rod Strickland was one of the greatest. finishers at that size that I've ever. seen. And he had handles, too. And then and I think that you know. what's crazy, I think that's Kyrie's. godfather. Okay. there's a relationship there between. those two. Right. But yes, Strick.

Strick Oh my god. He was He was one of. the best at finishing around the rim and. had the handles. You mentioned KD and when people talk. about one-on-one they say KD. The guy's. 7-ft tall. He got three-point range. He. got the mid-range pull-up. He got the. hazy pull-up. He doesn't really He. doesn't really try He likes to like the. mid-range. He don't really try to get. all the way to the rim, although he can. Besides the height, obviously 7-ft tall. makes you very unique. Besides the. height, what makes KD so unique?

Um. You You Shannon Shannon, you can't leave. out the height. Can't leave out the height because that. was that's what makes him so unique. Is his his he's 7-ft and to be able to. shoot the ball and be efficient that. way. Yes. You know what I'm saying? Like. think about it. This man is shooting. 50-some percent and it's mostly jumpers. It is. Right? Like that that that is.

insane to me. So I can't leave out the. height for KD because that is that's. what makes him so unique and dynamic. Is. he the most skilled player in that we've. ever seen in the NBA because of the. height? The most skilled player I've ever seen. is Kobe. Okay. More than MJ? The most skilled NBA The most skilled. basketball player I ever seen. is Kobe Bean Bryant. Talk about Kobe's bag.

Listen, man. So So. you you you got MJ, right? And and. Kobe took who MJ was. but enhanced. the skill set, had a better handle. Right. MJ didn't shoot MJ didn't shoot threes. like that. So Kobe took it upon and and. and added the three ball to his game cuz. that's where the game evolved to.

But. skill-wise, the the the moves, the footwork, he had. a he had it all. You Kobe in a one-on-one battle, do you. believe anybody could beat Kobe in a. one-on-one battle? Let's just say in their prime, MJ and. Kobe one-on-one, who you taking? I think. I and I'm putting myself in it. Oh, you. Okay, I'm I'm going to throw you in. there. I Listen, I I put myself in.

there. I think if you play. in games. it'll be 5-5, maybe it'll be 6-4 or 1, but I I don't think it'll be, you know, 8-2 or 7-3 or anything like that. I'm. I'm going to. know who. to toss up. Okay, we going to play we. going to play a series of five. You get. Kobe five times, you get MJ five times, Kobe MJ. what's it going to be? Is it going to be. 3-2? Is it going Is it going to be Is I.

mean is it going to be 3-0? I MEAN WHAT. WHAT IT GOING TO BE? I Listen, I can sit here and say it'll. be. 3-0, 3-3-2. I mean, that's it's. hypothetical. I don't know what that. It'll never happen, but all I know is. it'll be a damn good show. It'll be It'll be a damn good show that. people would definitely want to tune. into. Well, people it was trending. T-Mac versus Tracy McGrady because you. were one of the first big guys, slender.

guys, 6-ft 7, could handle the ball, could shoot the three, pull up on the. mid-range, but you got all the way to. the rim. You looking to posterize. people. Absolutely. That my thing was and I was. telling my kids this this weekend cuz we. had a AAU tournament in Indiana. And our. first game we played against the tallest. teenager in the world. He was 7-6 and. out of Canada. I I I was telling my kids cuz they was. like, "Oh my god, he's so tall. He going.

to block everything." I said, "Man, I would try to dunk on him if I was. y'all. What are you talking about? I was. like, "It couldn't be me cuz I'd be. trying to put him on the ground on his. back.". Right. So like that their mentality is. totally different. So yeah, my my thing. was, "Bro, if you're in the way, I'm. going to try to go through you or over. top of you." Right. The playoffs started. Obviously the. Knicks the Knicks the Nets played. KD Kyrie. Are they the most skilled pair of.

teammates. that we've ever seen? Without a doubt. Without a shadow of a doubt. I I I. haven't seen a pair. a duo that skilled. Um. Mike and and and Pip? But Pip ain't have. no offensive game like that. Jordan had. the offensive game. Well, he. No, but Pip did, though. That's that Pip. did have offensive game, but Mike was.

just so. Mike was so great. I mean, Pip did. average 20 points, now. Yeah. But But. you know he he was the.

you. Do you think about what it could have. been had he not suffered that ankle. injury? Because he played on that bum. ankle in Detroit. And we never And And. people don't know we were robbed of an. opportunity to see Grant Hill in his in.

his true glory. We were robbed of seeing. greatness. G Hill was such a great talent, such a. cerebral player. Um. man, he had it all, bro. And it's just. it was just unfortunate that I we never. got the opportunity to play with each. other consistently because of that. ankle. And I know deep down in my heart. if he was healthy, I would have competed.

for a championship. my my years in Orlando. Wow. Ben Simmons, how much will he help the. Nets? Because we know Kyrie and KD going. to be KD and Kyrie. We know what they're. going to But what What does Simmons add. to the to the the recipe? Simmons add an element to their team. that they're missing right now. And. that's defensively. Right. That kid can. guard one through five. And with him. being out so long,

it he could come in right now and have. an impact on their team. Because. he can play defense. He doesn't have to. shoot the ball because he has two. killers on that that's going to do all. the scoring for them along with some of. the other guys that they have Seth. Curry, the Patty Mills that can shoot. But the impact that he can have on. guarding, you know, whoever the other. team's best players, whether he's a. guard, whether he's a power forward, it. doesn't matter. Put Ben Simmons on him, he would neutralize that and it'll make.

them a much better defensive team. That's what they're missing. You do. realize I'm bringing help off Ben. Simmons. Whoever guarding Ben Simmons, if Kyrie. gets the ball, go double. If KD gets the. ball, I won't be able to bother Ben. Simmons' hands. Listen Listen what But. listen what you're saying though. Yes. You are going to double. off of You're going to double off of Ben. Simmons? Yep. Right? And and and help one or Kyrie Yep. or KD. or KD. Yes. So that means So that means. you're going to leave Ben Simmons, who.

is a very smart basketball player who. can pass the ball. Yes. And And leave. KD in a one-on-one situation if you're. going to double Kyrie? What That is not. a smart thing to do. But here's the. thing that we know. We saw what Atlanta. did to Ben Simmons. Or is he Is he where. he needs to be mentally? I know what he. can be, but I saw what he was last year. at the end where he became unplayable. because of the free throws and his and. his he being afraid to shoot the.

basketball, T-Mac. That's That's That's fair. That's fair. cuz we don't know. I mean, the kid has. been out all season. We don't know where. he is mentally. I'm hoping with him being out for so. long, when he does step foot on the. court that he's healthy. mentally and ready to go because he has. a lot to prove. He He really does. And I. I think. you know, he he's going to do that cuz I. I actually like his game. Last year, I don't know we don't know. what was going on with the kid off the.

court. Something was bothering him cuz. I've never seen him play that way. Right. How did you How did you like that. situation? Because I felt it was unfair. I mean, what Doc What What Doc said and. then Joel Embiid said that, you know, the game turned on we had a. uh. day layup and we end up missing a free. throw. And I felt there was no coming. back from that T-Mac. Once he uttered. that, I remember coming on the show the. next morning, I said they're not coming. back from this. Ben Simmons is going to. ask for a trade. And sure enough,

Yeah, he was thrown under the bus. Um it was just an unfortunate situation. that. you know, they looked at him on that. particular play and then it it really. just gave fuel to the media and they ran. with that. And it Like you said, there. was no coming back. In Philadelphia, you. know Philly. Once Once some Philly fans is on you and. When When that series was over, I said.

to my friends and family, I said Ben. Simmons cannot go back to Philadelphia. Nope. It It It is not a good look. They. got to trade that young man and get him. out of there cuz it's not going to be. a good look for him if he was to start. that season. So they was going to boo. him and it was going to get ugly. And it. was really. really going to be mentally. tough for him to to to be engaged and, you know, competing at a high level for. that organization. When they trade James. Harden, he leave Brooklyn, goes to Philly, Philly trades Ben.

Simmons. How far do you think. James Harden and Joel Embiid can go? I actually think that was a bad trade. Wow. I think it was a bad trade. I think. Brooklyn won that trade. Um. I think Joel was in such a groove and. that team was in such a groove. Yeah. Now, James Harden is a dynamic scorer. and a playmaker, no no doubt about that. But it seems like to me he's on he's.

slowing down. Right. He can't really get by his his defender. no more. Um. I don't know what it is. I don't know if. he's hurting, but he just he doesn't. look the same to me. Um I just thought. they had such great chemistry before the. trade to where Joel finally got in great. shape to where he could finish out games. and take over games. Right. He's surrounded by a guy like. Seth Curry who can shoot. I think the missing element out of that. team is Tobias Harris. Like he has If.

you're going to give him a hundred and. something million dollars, bro, you got. to elevate your game. You know what I'm. saying? Why we got to trade Why we got. to go and get a guy like James Harden. where we paying you a hundred million. dollars? a max player. Right, you're a max player. Like feel. that role for us cuz our big man is. doing his job. We have shooting. Right. You're a hundred million dollar player. Who's your MVP this season? That's tough. Cuz you got Joel Embiid.

that did what he did, led the league in. scoring, the first big to do that since. Shaq in 2000. You got Nikola Jokic. He's. the first man in the history to get 2000. points, a thousand rebounds, 500. assists. You got Giannis. Giannis was. Giannis, 30, 12, and five. You You got. Devin Booker. He was the best player on. the best team. Uh. where Where your MVP? I got to go with Joker. I got to go with Joker. I got to go with. Joker, man. That dude.

Uh he's he's something special, man. He. He is something special, bro. The man. can't jump over a dollar bill, but man, the the the the passing, the rebounding, what he brings to that team. He doesn't. have Michael Porter Jr. or Jamal Murray. Correct. And those boys is still winning. They're. in the sixth. sixth seed. I I have to credit him. But Joel Embiid, the way he came out the. gates, Can it be a co-MVP? No. My goodness. I.

don't know if if I don't think it We've. had co-rookies of the year with with. Jason Kidd and and uh Grant Hill, but I. don't I don't think they've ever been. co-MVPs. Well, this year they have to make an. exception cuz it needs to be one this. year cuz those two Those two boys right. there, they did their thing this year, man. I And I need I wish both of them. would get credited. You know, and I I. hate that I got to choose one and leave. the other. I I would go with Joker. And you know. somebody getting left off left off first. team all-NBA, too, because they play the.

same position. Somebody getting left. out. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You look at LeBron. You won two scoring titles. LeBron James was in position to win a. scoring title. Do you fault him for not going for it? Or do you believe he should have gone. for it? No. No. For what? No. LeBron has so much so so many. accomplishments on his resume. He He. doesn't need to chase that. That's. beneath him, really. And you know,

his team is missing the playoffs. What am I play What am I playing for? I. don't need to play for a scoring title. Not at all. Are you surprised. He doesn't. LeBron doesn't play for that. Right. And had he because he says well, I don't. play for stats. I don't chase stats. I. try to play the game the right way. Well, that would have been the wrong way. because to try to win a scoring title. means you're going to have to take up. try to take up get a lot of shots. And you're probably not going to pass. You're going to become what you're not,

which is he's a pass-first guy that can. score. And then he's like, you know. what? I'm going to score first now. I'll. pass later. Yeah, now you know what? I I really this. year I really love watching LeBron play. Um now I've I'm a fan of LeBron's. It's. phenomenal player, but it was just. something about his game this year to. where I looked like. I said, damn, man. If what I'm seeing out of dude. and some of the moves that he was making. this year,

if he had developed that earlier in his. career, man, look at here. Look at here, bro. He I mean, he was. already scary, but damn, to add some. some some more into his bag cuz it It's. crazy that this man is at. His bag has gotten deeper in year 19. Are Are you. That's That's what's so amazing. I don't. think people give enough credit. He's in. year 19 with all those miles on all. those minutes and miles on those legs.

And he gave you 30 in year 19 at 37 when. he gave you 30 at 21. The youngest and. the oldest. How impressive is that? I I salute dude. We We all should be. appreciate appreciative of watching dude. play, man. We we're all going to miss. him. You know, I I was. I I I played against MJ, but I was sad when he left. But man, I. I'm going to be sad when Bron going cuz. I I I just love watching dude play. He's.

just he's so fun to watch. Um, you know, whether it's his scoring. and his passing, just how he. he creates an environment around his. team that it just looks fun to be a part. of. Like this year, it was it wasn't it. wasn't like that. Yeah, what happened. this year? What happened with the. Lakers? Why didn't it work? Cuz you got old players, bro. That that. you went out and got. these old guys that. If they would have made it to the.

playoffs, I I think they would have been. a problem. Right. Because that's what. they were built for. But you can't go and get these these. older guys and think, you know, they're. going to play 30-something minutes for. 82-game season and and and think they're. going to hold up. Defensively is where. they struggle. Because. guard nobody. It's one thing if you got. defensive guys that used to play defense. and it's hard cuz Trevor Ariza can't sit. in the chair anymore. Avery Bradley can. have spurts, but he can't do it. But. when you get 37-year-old Carmelo and you.

get these guys that they've never played. defense and now you're asking asking. them to do something they've never done. and they're older. Yeah, you you you put you put guys. in a situation. that they had to. garner. um. a lot a lot of minutes and be consistent. at doing something. that they really wasn't good at. Right.

When they were in their prime and now. that they're older, you ask these guys. to do Mhm. That's that's not going to. work. What advice if you could have given Russ. some advice? What advice would you have. given him? How to help because, you. know, it seemed like he was very. confrontational with the media. They ask. him a question and he's like, "Well, what did you see? Well, tell me what I. should have done." You know what I'm. saying? It seemed like. I just felt that he didn't accept. responsibility accountability for some. of the things that were going on. I'm. not saying he's the the sole blame of.

why the Lakers underperformed. But he didn't look maybe he did. Maybe. that's Russ. Maybe we had a magnifying. glass on him because he's playing with. the Lakers. Maybe because there's more. expectations where there's no. expectations in OKC, Houston, and. Washington. Well, I think. um. with Russ, I think a lot of what. happened to him this year in terms of. like the negative publicity and and. the the negative uh.

write-ups about him, I think he. contributed to that. Yes. And I think when he was going. through his bad. um. bad spells of of of playing, I think he should have just kept his. head down. and. you know, just really just said the right thing. Just just. really talk about, you know, put onus on. himself. "I'm not playing well right. now. I'm in the gym working, you know,

working on my shot. I'm I'm talking to LeBron trying to. figure this thing out. I'm working hard. every day to try to get out of this. You. know, I want to come up out of this." I. mean, you're playing for the Lakers. Yes, you were you're on the biggest, you. know, platform every single night and you're. playing with LeBron on top of that. So, everything is magnified. But I I I think. when you're on the defensive side and. then you're trying to then you say that. you don't have any expectations when. you're playing for the Lakers, now now.

now you've opened up a whole can of. something that. you don't want. And I I I think he just. should have been, you know, saying that. he was working on his game to get. better, to come out of the funk, talking. to LeBron, and doing whatever he could. to get back on track. If he was to take. that role, I think, you know, a a lot of. that negative press would have been. suppressed. Yeah, you can't say you. don't have expectations when you play. with the Lakers. When you look at the lineage that they.

got from Mikan to Wilt to Kareem to. Magic, Worthy, Shaq, Kobe, Baylor, Russ. They got 17 titles. That's all. Lakers nation know is expectations is. titles. Yeah, but I you know, listen, man. I I think a a lot of that. stuff on Russ was unfair as well. You. know, we we talking about a dude that. averaged a triple-double for three. straight years. Like this dude is a. future Hall of Famer. Like he he he. didn't have a good year, but he's been. in the league what? Sports 15 years or.

something like that? Like come on, man. We we can't we can't do him like that. T-Mac, you played you know you got to. update your resume. That's what you got. to do in sports now. Now what you did 2. years ago ain't what they How did they. help him How did that triple-double help. him the Lakers right now? I'm listen. I I I get that. I didn't think it was a match for that. team anyway. No. When they made the trade, I didn't. think it was a good match. Right. I I don't know what they were. thinking. I I just felt like.

Russ has to have his own team. He has to. have the ball in his hands. Thank you. But it need. you watch. He could go to a team like. Orlando where they have no expectations. and the eyes are not going to be on him. on a nightly basis and he'll average a. triple-double. Yeah, average triple-double and he'll. take that team to the playoffs. Yes. Yes, absolutely. But when you because. when you look you're like, "Hold on. Man, Russ had 10 assists. Man, he had. nine turnovers.". Look, man. Russ Russ, you you.

inefficient, bro. You shooting 30 You. got to stop shooting threes, Russ. You. shooting 28%. I I. But you got to understand who Russ is a. a strong-willed, strong-minded type dude. that. he wants to prove like when when people. are saying stuff about him, I sense that. he's a guy that wants to show every. improve everybody wrong. And he just. kept forcing the issue and. it never really turned for him. LeBron said of the current players.

he would like to play with most. is Steph Curry. T-Mac, when he was playing, who would be the one player you would. want to play with? Is trick question? SHAQ. GO AHEAD. REALLY? SHAQ. I MEAN, YOU who else? Yeah, well well, you right. I thought. You know what? I thought you might say, "Man, you know what? It'd been nice to.

play with Kobe.". Man, Shaq, bro. That That is the number one. choice. Always. Yes, it would have been nice to play. with Kobe. Bush. Come on, man. Shaq was. so dominant, bro. So, yeah. You know what? Uh. I never got a chance to see Shaq play in. person. Explain to our viewers and listeners at. home, when Shaq got the ball on the block, what was it like?

It was. Hey, good luck, y'all. Hey, hey, hold your ground. Man, look. Shaq. And I I forgot who said this. Somebody. said I think KG said said this. Shaq was. raised right because Shaq could have. punished. And and he did punish people, but I'm. talking about even on a on a whole.

'nother level to where I think Shaq. could have averaged 35 40 points a game. Like that's how dominant I think Shaq. could have been if he was like really. nasty and. Right. you know, just if he wanted to do. that. I don't he didn't have to because. of, you know, what he had surrounded. him. But he was. I I. This dude was. strong. He had big hands, strong hands. Um. I would I remember I learned my lesson.

playing against Shaq. Cuz when we. when we played against him, we obviously. we had to double-team him. So, I was one of the guys that would go. down and try to double-team when he has. the ball and we'll go and double-team on. the bounce. Right. So, I went one time and and tried to. double-team Shaq, but he was in a. shooting motion coming up and I tried to. knock down the ball out of his hand. and bro, I about broke my wrist. I said, "Never again will I ever try to.

do that." You know how guys when they. had a ball like. at their waist side and you try to knock. it down? Right. I tried that, man, and about broke my. wrist trying to do that. That dude about. took me up out of here and he still. scored. And and one. People don't realize. Mac, people don't realize how big and. how agile people are and all like, "Man, look at Joel Embiid. Look at" But you. got to realize Shaq was probably 20 lbs. heavier than Joel and I believe he was. more athletic. Shaq can literally like.

run like really really fast. Shaq can. really really run. Not just like that. for a basketball player, but for a. football player, Shaq's size 7'1" 330. 335 and can move like he could? Shannon, and he could do a backflip back. in his day. Come on, man. 7'1" 330 and can do a. backflip? Man. You know, eventually you mentioned it.

LeBron's going to be gone. KD's going to. leave. Steph going to move away. Who's. going to be the of who's going to be the. face of the NBA in the next 10 years? I'm going to give you Ja, Luka, Trae Young, LaMelo Ball. I think. it'll be between LaMelo Ball and Ja. If if LaMelo Ball can get to La La Land, cuz I think he's built for that.

Yes. Like he has that personality, that. moxie. Like. he's built for that. I I think he can be. that face. But Ja Morant, if he. continues to do what he's doing right. now in Memphis, he also can can can be that face. Man, I need you to explain to me how. Luka does what he does. You talk about. Joker can't jump over a dollar bill. Luka can't jump over a dime. Well, let. me tell you, uh Shay, it's it's all. skill, bro. That's what a lot of guys.

lack. See, these kids nowadays rely on athleticism. They can run fast. They can jump high, right? They can blow by somebody and and. just explode over them. But if you blow. out your knee and you're not as quick, you're not as fast, you're not as. explosive, what are you falling back on? See, Luka Luka is not going to have that. problem. He's so skilled. He's a big body. He. know how to use his body. He got the. ball on a string. He's a smart. basketball player. He's a great.

facilitator and he can shoot. Like you. you you can't speed somebody up that. plays at their own pace. Right. Right? That And that's why he's so great. He. plays at his own pace. He's going to get. to his spots and do what he wants to do. Who you like in the NBA finals? Who you. like the teams? West. Western Conference, Eastern Conference, and who you got winning? So, beginning of the season I had Golden. State Okay.

winning it all. But I don't know about Steph and his his. injury. So, my. uh decision has shifted. I'm going with. a rematch of last year's NBA finals and. I think the Milwaukee Bucks are going to. win it again. Talk about Why is it that Giannis you. don't feel Giannis gets the credit that. he deserves? Because when I tell I say. when when Shaq was being as dominant as. he was, nobody said Shaq can't shoot the. three, Shaq can't shoot the mid-range. They said Shaq is dominant. Giannis is.

as dominant. But they're like, "Oh, man, he can't. Man, he ain't no Embiid. He ain't no. KD.". Yeah, but you got to understand, Shaq, these guys It's like cuz. I I and I don't know if you talked about. this on your show. Like somebody asked. me, I think I was on Shaq's podcast and. they was talking about can Giannis play. in in in back in, you know, our era. where the defense was was really tight. and.

um you know, the the paint was was closed up. And I. said he would struggle because if you. look at when he had some of those. playoff series against Toronto where. they would just clog the paint on him. and he couldn't get downhill on the. same. That's what I was referring to. I'm not talking about Giannis now. he can play in any era cuz he's he's. developed his shot. He's confident now, right? So, um he's not at They was like, "Well, Shaq?" Because I was like, "He.

can't He can't really He's not a. consistent shooter." And I was like, "You go back in our era, guys that were stars and superstars were. consistent shooters. The The KG's." And. they was like, "Well, Shaq and and Tim Duncan." I was like, "But those guys play with their back to. the basket. That's not Giannis's game. Giannis comes downhill. So, if the paint. if if back then if you don't you're not. surrounded by all those shooters and. it's upon you to score the ball, who you.

passing to? Cuz we didn't we didn't have. that type of uh spread offense that they. had. Yeah, you didn't have You didn't have a. Steph and Klay on the same team that. could space the floor. No, so so so he would have struggled, right? But in today's game, it is. tailor-made for him cuz he's surrounded. by shooters all on the court. So, the. paint is open for him to to come. downhill. Now he's developed the back to. the back basket. I see him do the. turnaround now. Now he's shooting the. three ball a little bit more. So,

he's uh I I don't know if why he's not. getting that attention. Maybe it's cuz. he's been in the the small market like. Milwaukee, but he's a force. He's a force. What What T-Mac What How. many points would T-Mac average in. today's game with the floor space like. it is right now? Well, I had it Well, I had it 32 in a in. in a. you know, tough defensive era. So, I'm. go ahead and probably put about eight. more points on there. You You believe you can GET 40 A NIGHT? MAN, LOOK, I think one year I probably.

could have averaged 40 in today's game. cuz I only shot six threes a game, Shay. Right. I only shoot five or six threes a. game. That number probably would have. doubled. Oh, yeah, you'd have been a T-Mac. in today's game and I was I wasn't going. to settle just threes. I was a guy that. got to the free throw line as well. So, I probably put another, you know, six to. eight points on there. And the thing is different about today's. game, they let a guy get hot and they. won't even get the ball out of his hand. They'll just let him keep cooking. Man, BACK IN THE DAY YOU'D HAVE to get keep.

cooking me. They're going to get that. ball out your hand. Yeah, but you know, I mean, when a guy's hot, man, there ain't. nothing you can do. I'm shooting over. double teams, right? Come on. I'm. waiting on you. Well, you see what You. remember I think it was Memphis. Might. have been Memphis or OKC when Book had. back-to-back He had two 50-point games. He had 48. They started doubling him in. the backcourt. They like, "Nah, you're. going to give it up. We're not going to. let you get three three 50s in a row.". That's the way to do it. If you're going. to double somebody that's hot, yeah, you. better double them in the backcourt cuz.

you do it in the frontcourt, I'm in my. shooting range. You're too late. How good would the Magic would have been. had you stayed with Dwight? Could you. have challenged for a title? Could you. have possibly won a title, you and. Dwight? Yeah. Yeah, cuz I mean, Dwight played for a. title. Yes. So, Absolutely, yeah. I don't think people realize how good. Orlando Dwight was. Dwight Howard was a force to be reckoned.

with. Athleticism. off the charts. I mean, you talking. about having an impact on a game as a. guy somebody that averaged 30 points. He. has that type of impact on the defensive. end. Like that's who he was. Controlling. the offensive rebounds, defensive. rebounds, blocking shots, running like a. gazelle. I mean, he was phenomenal, man, for those eight years in Orlando. Do you feel you were snubbed on the top.

75? I do. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, it it's I. didn't go in my closet and cry and and. and wanted to, you know, call out the. people. Nah. It's I'm a Hall of Famer, Shay. Right. You can't get no I mean, hey, that's a. very select company. Yes. Very select. You would say to Tony, yo, your last I. think that was your last year. You were. so close to that title. T-Mac, you you. you had it. You were 20 seconds away.

As you're sitting on the bench, you're. like, "Okay, we got this one. We got. this one. Just make a couple of free. throws. They got to foul us. We going to. be good." As you're sitting on the. bench, what's going through your mind? Shay, let me ask you a question. Yes. You played your career in Denver. Yep. All right. And. you retire from Denver. Yeah. You enjoying life, off-season. Somebody.

calls you up. "Hey, man, we got We got a. tight end. He's hurt. Can you come in and and and give us a. body?". Sure, why not? Right. Now, it's it might be a coach that you. have the utmost respect for. Right. Right? But when you come back, that tight end is healthy. You ain't. really getting no burn. Y'all make a run. for the Super Bowl. Right. You don't. really play like that. Y'all win a Super. Bowl. Do you feel like you was a part of that? Nah. Yeah. We competitive. Come.

That's what Matt Barnes said. Matt. Barnes said he felt like that when he. was with the Warriors. Like, "Yeah, we. won the ring, but I ain't do nothing.". If you can't contribute to the battles, I don't feel a part of that. It was a. great experience because I've never been. that deep in the playoffs and to go. through, you know, that run with them, oh man, it was it was amazing. I I loved. every bit of it. But in terms of if we. would have won the ring, it It wouldn't have felt the same. I.

wouldn't have felt validated as a. champion. Right. Obviously, you leave Toronto. You get a. max deal as a sixth man. I don't know how many how many how many. max players were got a max deal as a si-. HOW THE HELL YOU PULLING T-MAC, HOW THE. HELL YOU PULLING THAT OFF? HEY, LET'S JUST SAY THAT WAS good. representation. So, obviously, you go to you you you. you're making the rounds. What are what. are some of the players some of the the. big name players Obviously, you go you.

go to Orlando and then you end up in. Houston. So, what are some of the. pitches that they tell you, "Okay, T-Mac, you come here, but this is what's. going to happen. This is how it's going. to be.". So, Pat Riley sends a private plane for me. in Orlando, flies me to Miami. I meet up. with Zo. And. Zo takes me out back. We hop on some jet. skis. I'm like, "Bro, what Where are we. going?". We going on jet skis and and and ride. the jet skis to Pat Riley's house.

So, I'm at Pat Riley's house chilling. You. know, he do his own thing, set the rings. out and all that. Hell of a pitch. Right. And you know, so I I I went on. that visit, enjoyed every bit of that. Go to Chicago. I stepped foot off the plane, walked. through the terminal. When I first. stepped through the terminal, I see. uh Benny the the the the the bull. Right. and I see the cheerleaders. Like, they.

got a whole parade for me in the. airport. I'm like, "Oh lord.". Get to the hotel, sitting in my room, they pop in a tape. Oprah sent me a personal message. I'm. like, "Oh boy.". Oprah's talking to me. I go to the freaking Cubs game, singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game.". I'm in the dugout with Ernie Banks. I. throw out the first pitch. Sitting in. the stands, they got. uh airplane flying over with advertising.

talking about me. I'm like, "Oh my. lord." Like, they rolled out the red. carpet for me. But. with all that, they were competing. against Orlando, which is home. And from. a kid, that was my dream to put on that. Magic uniform. Right. That's that's the reason why I. left Toronto. That's why I didn't sign. with the Bulls. That's why I didn't sign. with Miami Heat. Yeah, you I mean, you enjoyed it. You. enjoyed the sales pitches, but you just. like, "Ah man, I do I do the private. jet. I do the jet skis, but I ain't. coming here. I ain't coming here. I'm.

going to Orlando.". Thank you. I appreciate it. I'm I'm. going to soak it up. I'm going to. remember all this. I'm creating. memories, but I'm going to Orlando. Who was your toughest guard. and who do you feel guarded you the. best? Of course, it was Kobe. I mean, I I think. um. he was one of the toughest guys. But that's obvious. I'll give you some. of the guys that you probably wouldn't.

think of. There's two guys that. was tough to guard offensively. That was Cuttino Mobley. and that was Jamal Mashburn. Like, them. two dudes was a problem to guard. Wow. Guarded uh. Well, number one, Cuttino, because he. was They call him Cat for a reason. Right. Right. They call him Cat for a. reason. And he could shoot the ball. Uh just tough, wiry, strong, left-handed. type player. Mashburn's 6'8", naughty, uses body.

Don't have the athleticism, but can. shoot, couldn't really block his shot. like that, and just know how to use his. body, man. And he he had a bag. Um so, he was one of the toughest. And somebody. to guard me, Artest was pretty tough. Um I loved the. challenge with him. And. um. man, I can't give nobody else that credit. You got the record. You scored 13 points. in 33 seconds.

What's going through your mind? Okay, the first shot goes in, the first two. points go in. Do you think, "You know. what? We got a chance." And then if I. could just get Because it's never been. done before. So, did you think that you. guys realistically had a chance to win. this game? I thought we had a chance to win the. game. Uh. based off of. what I've done before of coming close to. doing something like that, yes. I I felt like we had a chance. 13 points.

in 33 seconds. I felt like we had a chance. I did. I'mma get you out of here on this. one. The 2000 superteam, the 2000s. You. got Allen Iverson, Kobe, McGrady, Duncan, Shaq versus Steph, Kyrie, LeBron, KD, and Giannis. Who winning. that? They're too small. They're too small. They're too small. Man, Tim Duncan and. Shaq will have a field day. They're too.

small. They're too small. Who guard I. want to know who guard I guess we could. put we could put Giannis on Shaq. KD, you got you got T you got Tim. Duncan. Um yeah, we too they too small. going to guard? I I don't know. Who is. Kyrie going to guard? Kyrie. small, Shay. You with you with Kobe and. AI, ain't nobody guarding nobody. They're too small, Shay. They're too. small. Looking back at your career, is there.

anything you could have you wish you. could have done differently or your. career would have played out. differently? What are What are one thing. or two things you would change if you. could? Nothing. Nothing. It It happened the way it was. supposed to happen. Right? Right. I I went through it. I did everything um. that I possibly can do every time I. suited up. And the results is what they. were. So, I I. it is what it is. I I I To me, I had a a. unbelievable career. Right. And my post my post career is.

going to be even better. So, I won't. change anything. Would it Are you upset. that you didn't win a championship? Do. you believe the perception of Tracy. McGrady would change had you won a. championship? Not not the one in San. Antonio. If you had been a contributing. factor like in Orlando or like in. Houston, do you believe the perception. of Tracy McGrady the player would have. changed? I think people's. uh. I don't know. I I I I think people would. call me a champion. Right. You know, I I.

I think that would be. uh embedded in in people's mind, but. I get a lot of love out here, bro. I'm respected where wherever I go. All. right, so I The guys in the The guys in. the league know. Players know players. And they you know, they they I I already. know they give you the love because you. don't score 32. by being a slouch. Right. Right. Now, you you don't. And And And what's. crazy is when you hear.

uh uh he didn't have a work ethic. Like, so. you mean to tell me somebody that. doesn't work can accomplish all the. things that I accomplished in my career? Like, that's what you're saying? You're. You're saying this You're saying this. league is that easy that I don't have to. work that hard to accomplish that? Nah. You might can get away with something. like that in high school, but. because you're probably the most. talented player on the court. But when. you get to the NFL or you get to the MLB. or you get to the NBA,

where everybody is equally as talented, nah, there got to be something to set. you apart. Man, you got to set yourself apart by. how your your your mental and your. physical and how you prepare yourself. every night. It's hard. to score 32 points. every night for 82 games. You kidding. me? Well, I want to congratulate you. congratulate you on the OBL. Best of. luck with that in its inaugural season.

And uh bro, I appreciate you giving me a. little bit of your time today. Hey, thank you, Shay. Appreciate you, brother. Best of luck, man. All my life, I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price. Want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life. All my life, I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price. Want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life.