Anthony Davis Breaks Silence On Luka Doncic Trade & Pelicans Drafting Zion Over Ja Morant

So John Morant gets drafted number 1 instead of Zion, and you're probably still a New Orleans Pelicans fan?

I think, yep, I'm probably still in New Orleans. And I said, I said, who the fuck they gonna trade me for, Luka? Like, I was just saying, like, who else can you trade me for on that team? And I never talked about this, by the way. You getting the first exclusive. I've never spoken to anybody about this.

What's up everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show. On today's show, Very special episode. Number 1 pick in the draft, in a very special draft. And our rookie year, I think my school played his school and he owed me $500. And he owed me $500 for like 7 years. And when I was a rookie, unlike him, I really needed that $500, but I couldn't necessarily show it. So he still paid me my $500, but I kind of didn't need the $500 anymore. But that was like, could have went towards my rent when we were rookies. Nonetheless, you all know I haven't had many guests on this season. So, you know, I really want to have special guests on, special people. And it makes for great episodes when you can talk in the same realm, talk in the same lane. I think it makes for great episodes. This guest is a no-brainer. He's an NBA champion, top 75. Draymond Green. Player of all time, the number 1 pick of the most special draft in NBA history, 2012. None other than AD. What's up, my brother?

What's up, Dre? How you doing, man?

Man, nah, nothing much, bro. I appreciate you coming on the show. And speaking of shows, by the time you all see this, it'll be out. But, you know, today is April 6th as we record this, and it's a very special day. "Foul Play" with Anthony Davis.

Yes, sir.

It's coming out. And the first prank on the show, like, how did, why me? Why me? Just why me?

First, I wanna say I love you, Dre. And I appreciate you. I love you too, bro. 'Cause I know it was tension between us and it still is. And I know how you feel. And I know you didn't, you wouldn't watch it. We would send it to you like, "Draymond, watch this. How you like it?" Like, "I'm not watching this shit." I'm not watching. But I appreciate it. I'm not watching. But man, it's like, you know, even when we was casting, right? And I went to, I can say who it is, who's my accomplice, right?

Absolutely.

So I should be able to say. Right. So when I went to Bron and it was like, "Yo, let's get," Bron and Rich actually, and they were like, "Yo, let's get Draymond." And I'm like, "Oh man, that'd be great." But then I started thinking like, man, Draymond Green's already like perceived as this villain, you know, and then putting him here, 'cause I know how he's gonna react, but it'll make for a hell of a prank that it will make the show great. And now we trying to sort in order like who's gonna be first, what's gonna be the first episode. And we was like, oh look, you got Rich on there, you have Bron on there, and you got Draymond. And to me it was, the most authentic, all of them, like the authenticity of all of them was great. But like, people know what to expect, right? Like, oh, you see, you get Draymond heated? Oh yeah, it's gonna be comedy. And so the entire time when I'm back there, you know, in the studio and in the green room, I'm watching and I'm like, man, this has to be the first episode. You know, this has to kick it off because we coming in with a banger. And they haven't seen it yet, but the reactions you had, I just actually watched it a little bit before, but the reactions you had, man, was like so funny and so top tier and it's so you, you know, and it was no other way to start the season by having you, you know, hitting off, bro. So once again, I appreciate you, bro. I know.

It's— Here's what I'll say.

Your face, man, is—

Here's what I'll say. Number one, congratulations. I don't think people understand and realize how hard it is to get a show to network.

Yeah.

That in itself, it's impossible to get a show to network. And for you to come up with an idea sit through the idea with Danny Barton and the team at Clutch and UTA, sit through the idea, find a producer, find a director, cast all the people. And then not only do that, which most people in the space do, but then you had to go with your relationships, get people that wanna prank someone, spend the time.

Yeah.

Shooting, filming the show. When I saw you this summer, you had just had eye surgery. No one knew you had eye surgery. And you like, "Man, I can't even take these glasses. I had eye surgery." You know? And to continue filming months on end, I don't think anyone understands the work that goes into that. So first off, I just wanna say congratulations.

Appreciate you, bro. Appreciate you. It's funny too that you say that, Draymond, because a lot of people like, You know, you see, I'll be posting all the promo stuff and you see people on social media, oh, this is what he was doing when he was hurt. They think I just filmed this now, right?

Yeah, exactly.

Like, no, I didn't hurt my, injure my hand and then come out, you know what, I'm gonna go film a TV show. No, fucking idiots. What I did, it was in the summertime last summer, but it was like the eye thing was real. And then at that time I'm like, man, I can't even, 'cause you know, we got all the lighting, the bright lights, and I'm like, man, my eye's still sensitive, I can't do it. Now obviously, as you guys will see a lot in every episode, I got glasses on, so, uh, to kind of help that. But man, it's definitely time-consuming, and I don't think, uh, you know, they picked up a show in, I want to say, maybe like 3 years, you know. So, um, you know, I'm definitely grateful to be able to have the team that I had, like, you know, like I said, Danny Barton and everybody at Clutch and UTA to kind of help me along with, um, doing this show. And it all came from just watching Impractical Jokers and just like, I love that show. It is so funny to me. And actually was a guest on their show one time a couple summers ago, and they asked me like, you know, you ever thought about doing your own show? And I was like, hell yeah. And then it kind of just came into fruition and putting everything together. So, um, man, it's gonna be fun. I can't wait for everybody to see it tonight, for sure.

It's super dope. Have you always been into pranks, like, or did them practical jokes you get, but like, have you ever pranked teammates or different things of that nature?

Yeah, man. I've always been like a little prankster, but it kind of like heightened when COVID hit. 'Cause that's when you have all, that's when we had all the time. Like, basketball season was canceled. And well, it wasn't canceled, but we had a gap. You know, and I was like, I don't know what to do. And so I was like, you know, on social media scrolling. I used to follow this guy named Chris. He was from Chicago and he was like pranking everybody. And I was like just getting ideas from that. Like, man, I'm gonna do this. I want to do this, see how it goes. And I ended up pranking my chef and that kind of like kicked it off like big time. I'll send you the video like offline.

Yeah.

But it's hilarious. We kind of, I ordered this 6-foot teddy bear. And cut the back open, took like some stuffing out. And I put my wife in it and she's in the backseat of the car. And I'm like, yo, you know, we're gonna ride around the car, this called Beats Cuisine, you know, with the Beats headphones. And you know, they, we going around, you know, me, Bron, like all these guys who got chefs, you know, they, Beats want us to do this thing and kind of, you know, they gonna air later on in the summer. He like, all right, cool. So I'm asking them questions and as we're driving, All right, I'm nudging my wife in the back seat and she's like touching his shoulder, you know what I'm saying? Moving. He's like, "Nigga, the bear fucking moving. Hell no." Like he's tripping out and I'm like, I can't hold it. Which is why in the show I'm behind the camera a lot. 'Cause if I'm in front of, I'm just gonna laugh and I'm gonna give it away. So I'm in full tears crying and I'm like, "Man, you tripping." And he like spazzing out and he don't know what to do. He freaking out. That's where it kind of kicked off from. And then at that point, I just started doing more and more pranks. And, um, obviously I was viral for the prank that happened, uh, years, years back when I was in New Orleans where I act like I cut the unibrow and stuff like that. So, um, now I just love— I just love laughing, you know. I love, uh, making people laugh. And, uh, you know, this kind of fell into that realm of doing what I love to do.

And I think this is a great segue. I wanna talk a bunch of basketball, but you dated this back to COVID. And I wanna talk, which is very special year for you. Probably as more special or as special as any year that you've ever been a part of. You go on to win a championship.

Yep.

What was that experience like? You know, going to the bubble, you're going to the bubble, but you win a championship. So you get the thing that you want ultimately, right? Like we all want that championship. That's what we're all striving for. That's ultimately why you left New Orleans, go to Los Angeles for a chance to compete for a championship.

Right.

And you feel the best thing you ever felt, but then you also don't get to kind of celebrate it the way you've always watched someone celebrate a championship or how you envision. Talk to me about the emotions of actually doing it, but then not quite getting the proper celebration and where it leaves you as far as championships go today.

Yeah, man, I talk about this a lot. I actually was just talking about this 2 days ago too, right before we played Brooklyn. And that was the whole reason. That was the whole goal, you know, leaving New Orleans. I wanted to compete for championships. Leave New Orleans, get to LA, and by far the best team that I've been on, you know, since then, at that time. And as we're playing, you know, to start the season, We kicking ass, we like number 1 in the West. And then COVID happens and we stop. Go to the bubble. We don't know what to expect, right? I don't know what's gonna happen, you know, how the game's gonna go. Cause we had way more games left than what we actually played in the bubble.

Mm-hmm.

But they kind of just, you know, cut it down. So we were playing and, you know, go through the whole run and, Draymond Green, you know, we win. And at that moment, I feel like I've accomplished everything, right? I accomplished, why did I come to LA? To win a championship. My first year, I get it done, right? I'm in a corner sitting on a little bench thing, wherever the thing is in front of the bench, I'm crying. And I'm just sitting there just soaking it all in like, damn, this shit really happened. Like, I'm really an NBA champion. You know, you get the confetti and you got the champagne in the locker room. Like my dad's back there. He enjoyed, like, it's a great time. My family's there. My wife is there with my daughter. Like, it's beautiful. You go back, back home. I go back to LA. I got the trophy with me. I'm like, yeah, but we knew that we wasn't having a parade. Right?

Mm-hmm.

And that's the one thing that I miss the most. Like we couldn't get the full experience of winning the championship when you get the parade, the fans come out, you know, you on the stage and you get to say a speech, like you're drunk, you're having fun, like whatever it is. And to this day, I think about that, right? Like, man, did I really, did I really win a championship? And you hear the noise, which to me is probably the hardest championship to ever, ever win. Yeah. Accomplished. But for me, I also feel like I know I'm a champion, but I don't really, I want the real experience, right? So with this Y, it's like, I wanna compete so bad. I wanna compete for a championship so bad. Cause I wanna go on the road. I wanna go into, you know, now I'm Eastern Conference, now Western Conference team, you know, arena and gotta win on the road. You know, I want that. I remember the playoff times in New Orleans and, after COVID to play in environments in LA where, you know, I mean, we played y'all in New Orleans and it's all red in there and the crowd is loud. They cheering for you and everything like that. So like, I want that. And I've never had a chance to experience that in a final situation. Right.

Mm-hmm.

And for me, you know, it's like, damn, did I win? Did I not win? Like, I know I'm listed as a champion, but it's like, I'm not sure. So it motivates me more now to like, you know what, I gotta, I gotta have that opportunity again. Win, lose, or draw, like to be in that experience and that environment again, like that's the thing I want most, you know, um, before it's all said and done. So, um, it was a great experience. I look, I got the replica trophy. I got the ring. Like I got the pictures. I got the jersey. I had like the goggles, everything.

Oh.

I'm still a champion for sure, but I mean, to be able to do it in, you know, the old-fashioned way is something that I definitely miss and think about a lot.

You know, I hear y'all say all the time, it was the hardest championship to win. And here's what I think when I hear that. I think to myself a couple things. One is, I didn't play in the bubble, so I don't even know what it feels like to, like I never graced the bubble.

Yep.

So I don't even know what that's like. Sounds like prison to me, but I don't know. So I don't know. But one thing that I think is like, man, it must be really tough to like be in that bubble and not have people in there. Because everybody who's gone through it and won that championship say, that it's the hardest championship you could have won. Now on the flip side, as someone who didn't win it, a part of me wanna think like they say that because—

They didn't win it.

They, well, not they didn't win it, but almost they feel like they have to validate the championship. Now here's what I'll say. When people try to say like, yo, they need, like that ain't no valid championship. When y'all say that, I have to take it with a grain of salt because I feel like there's no need to validate the championship. Like an NBA champion, we played the game against the NBA players in a basketball court that was 94 feet by 50 and it had 2 goals and we're basketball players.

Start up, yeah.

If we were out in the middle of the streets playing this game, by the way, we still wanna win. Because we're gonna play basketball in any situation or—

Exactly.

Conditions we need to play in. So I never felt like, yo, this championship needs to be validated. That's bullshit to me. However, I do know that going on the road and winning in an NBA Finals, like I had the chance, I won on the road, Twice. We won at home against Cleveland once. We beat Boston on the road, maybe twice. There's no better feeling than like going on the road and like silencing their crowd.

Yeah.

So I actually want that experience for you because that's a different, like that's a different experience. But here's what I say when I hear people say that, it's like, You said it like, yo, it was so hard to do that. Choose your hard because just because going on the road and winning is hard, doesn't mean sitting in the same place in this kind of weak hotel for 3 and a half months wasn't hard. You know what I'm saying?

That's true.

But choose your hard, right? And so hard is hard. And that thing that I had to do over here was hard to me. It's hard. This thing you had to do over here was hard to you. It was hard. Who am I to tell you what your hard is? Like, damn, that wasn't that hard. Like, no. And I think the only people that actually ultimately end up doing that aren't champions.

Mm-hmm, for sure.

Because no champion is never trying to invalidate a champion.

Yeah, and I think a lot of times too, like a lot of people who say that, It's funny to me because if, whether it's a fan or a player or a coach or executive, like whoever it is, an agent, if your team won that championship, you would have a different perspective. You will, oh man, I'm a champion. Oh yeah, my guys won. So to me it's like, yeah. And if you think about, we were the best team in the league at the time.

That's a fact.

We were the number one team in the league. So it's like, Y'all saying something where it's like, oh, we were the 7th seed and we go in and then we ultimately won. Like we were the number one team in the NBA at the time as well when the league stopped and everybody had us winning the championship. So, you know, you can't say, well, oh, the Lakers, oh, it's not real. Or, you know, it was the bubble championship. They didn't have like, yeah, you think we come from playing in in front of fans our entire lives. And then all of a sudden there's crowd noise that's implemented in through speakers. You know, you got the fans on big-ass screens around the arena. You know, our family's not there. Then you got some fans that's all the way at the top that's limited. Like they got court-side seats, but they 6 feet apart in this chair. Like it's all different. You know what I'm saying? So like everything is different, you know, outside of the games itself. Absolutely. You know, you're now in a hotel room that's way smaller than what you'll probably get on the road when you're in the league. The food is okay, you know what I'm saying? It's not great. It's nowhere to go. They're trying to create things for you to do. Your family's not there, you know? So it's like, we are also, like you said, choose your heart. Like, we went through a lot of things too, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like you said, at the end of the day, we had to line 'em up just like everybody else and lace our shoes up and go to war. And I feel like when people say this, say this shit, it's like, yeah, but if your team won or your favorite player won, it'll be different. Like, no. Oh, y'all be saying everything that we are saying.

1000%.

You'll be saying everything we're saying. And I think, I just think that's the most hilarious thing about the entire situation. You know, one, y'all say that, you know, it's not validated, but we were already favorites to win and the best team in the league. And then two, if it was reversed, when you're, when you're, if your team would've won, it would be, it'd be totally different. You know? And like I say, it's compete to win. It's tough to win the championship regardless. You know, like, because all these guys—

NBA.

Yeah, it's the NBA. It's hard to win a game, man. Like, what are you talking about? It's hard as hell to win. You know, and I've been there and I have not been back to the finals. Like I got close, but like, even when we went to the Western Conference Finals in '23, like it was such an uphill battle trying to play from the play-in. You know what I'm saying? Like our shit, it was tough again. We literally used all our energy against y'all.

Yeah.

Like, and then we get smacked by Denver. It's like, it's bro, it's so tough. It's so tough. And you need a little bit of luck, like to win. You need shit to go your way. That year was just like our year, bro. Just like, you know, '21 was Milwaukee year and like, it is what it is. But I think it's, I hate when people say that shit. It bothers me. You know, it's like, what are you talking about?

I agree. I agree. Like I said, you can't invalidate a champion. I hate when people, Like, "Oh man, well he didn't do this." Or, "He didn't do that when they won a championship." Or he, no, no, no. Let me help you understand it. He's a champion. And that's where the conversation start. And that's where the conversation ends.

Exactly, bro. Exactly.

And I wanna go back to a time before you leave New Orleans, you switch agencies, you ultimately end up signing with Klutch Sports Group, like I'm with as well.

Yeah.

And within the process of you leaving New Orleans and going to Los Angeles, we'll say, you were fined at a point through that process. What was it like switching agents, essentially putting the trust of your future in the hands of a new person, that being Rich and Farrar? Yeah. And then get to find money on trying to make happen. Like, what was that process like with you and Rich? And you know, then you got the noise coming out of people like, "Oh man, look, he signed with Rich and now he losing, he costing the money." What was that whole process like with y'all going through that?

Yeah, man. And when I'm done, man, I'm gonna really tell like the truth about everything, man. But it was crazy. Like, that was my first time ever essentially being a villain in anything, right? 'Cause remember I came on the scene late, you know, junior year of high school. Like, so everybody was like, we don't really know this guy, whatever, whatever. You know, through college, you know, I won, it was like, oh, AD, everybody loved him. You know, go to Olympic team, like the best teammate, best rookie, and I'm having a great time. New Orleans is, oh, this kid, you know? So that was the first time, like, where in my life I'm like, yo, he's a villain. Mm-hmm. And people really don't like me. Um, but at the time, like, with the agency I was with, um, I didn't feel like I was, uh, getting the things that I deserved, right? And for, for exactly, like, at that point in my career, what I was doing. And I was like, it needs to— it's time to make a switch. And I end up, you know, meeting with a couple agencies and And by the way, I knew Rich way before. I knew Rich way before I even signed with them, with Klutch. And 2018 is when I signed with them and fired my other agency. And I think the trajectory of my career on and off the floor just skyrocketed. But it was tough because we went in as like, You know, I wanna win. You know, and I think the turning point was when I didn't make an All-Star starter, when I definitely should've. And it was 'cause the team, you know, was losing. It was bad. And it was like, nah, I can't. I can't do this anymore. Like, I'm trying to, I wanna win. At that point, because you know, when you first come in the league, it's like, hey look, I'm getting my money. I just wanna get bread. I just wanna get paid. And then at some point it switches like, oh, I'm trying to win. And by that time it was year 7, I'm like, I wanna win. I've been to the playoffs twice, you know, and had to run into this super team, you know, with—

Y'all all drafted to the same place the first time.

And we can talk about that 'cause I still have thoughts about that, like, goddamn. Man, I ain't gonna lie, I thought we could have beat y'all in '17 when we had DeMarcus, before DeMarcus got hurt. I'm like, we had DeMarcus, bro. I just feel like we would have gave them a fucking run for their money. But, you know.

I would love to see that. We would have beat y'all 4 to 1, but it would have been fun.

Y'all did beat us 4 to 1 already. It would have been the same. We ended up getting one in New Orleans.

Maybe 4, yes, that is true.

Yeah, we did end up getting one in New Orleans, yeah. But I just feel like at that time I wanted to win. And, you know, I've been to the playoffs twice in New Orleans. And I was like, you know, go to the arena and I see the crowd. I'm like, man, this is what it's about. And at that time, I don't think we were just in a line. We weren't, you know, in the same ballpark when it came to like trying to win. And that's all I ever wanted to do.

Yeah.

Like, whatever y'all need me to do, like, let's do it. Um, and we try to get it done, um, you know, without it being any noise. Like, look, I want out. And, you know, at the time the GM was Dale Demps, and we were having discussions, and, uh, it just wasn't getting done. And so then, you know, Rich being Rich, like, okay, Well, now we got to be loud about it. And that's when I end up doing a media interview after practice and told them like, I want to be traded. And you know, then it kind of just blew up from there. And then I think that was around All-Star. And after I said that, maybe like a week later, I think Dale gets fired. I'm like, this doesn't even make sense. Like, but I'm the, by this time I was already the villain, but now I'm the problem. The GM gets fired a week later after I asked for a trade, but. I'm the problem, right? So then come back and they said they wasn't going to trade me. Well, they couldn't find a deal or whatever. And I go back and look, me, I'm still like, look, I'm a, at the time I'm like, I'm still a Pelican, so I'm not. Like, I'm going to still come in, be a professional. I'm going to work. I played. We played Minnesota right after the break.

Yeah.

Played Minnesota right after the break. And I had like 35. You know, going into the fourth and I got benched in the fourth quarter and you like the fans, the fans was obviously booing me when I first came out. And then they like, put him in the game, we trying to win. And I got benched and that's when they brought in Danny Ferry and we had a conversation like, you know, we gonna play you, you know, after that game, like we gonna play you like 8, 15 to 20 minutes a game. And I'm like, what?

Right.

I'm like, nah, I'm not doing that because now, and you know, as a basketball player, Somebody tell you playing 15 minutes, bro, you're bound to get hurt.

You bound to get hurt 'cause you gonna bullshit and you spending 7 of those 15 minutes getting loose.

Exactly, so I'm like, I can't do that. And he came and talked to Drew as well and hit all the young guys and told them they was gonna play them. And so, end up finishing the rest of the season, end up getting traded in the summertime, but, at that point, Rich had to come out and say some stuff too. And we ended up getting fined. And it's like, that's the toughest part about the business is that when, and we speak on this all the time, when a team is tired of a player, they can trade him with no consequence. Mm-hmm.

Right?

But once a player's like, I wanna do what's best for me, and cause I wanna compete for championships and win. It's not even about the money. Like New Orleans offered me a crazy deal. At the time. Like, it's like, it's not even about the money. Like, I genuinely want to win. And so now because I want to win, I'm considered a villain to this team and to this fan base, you know? And to this day, I go back and they still boo me, right? And it's like—

And that's why they still losing. You don't boo the best player in your franchise history. You appreciate him.

I'm gonna tell you what got me though, Draymond. I'm gonna tell you what got me though. And you say that best player in franchise history, like points, rebounds, blocks, like all this. You know what's crazy? When I went back, I did not get a tribute. And that was like, that was the final straw.

Get the fuck out of here.

Never got a tribute. I didn't get a tribute going back to New Orleans.

What?

No, no, no. Which pissed me off while the first game back, I think I had like 42 or 44, 43, something like that. I was fucking hot.

No tribute?

No tribute. I got no tribute.

That's not true. So somebody, hey, hey, internet folks out there.

Internet folks, look it up.

Somebody put a video of AD's game, first game back in New Orleans. There's no way you didn't get a tribute.

Never got a tribute. Never got a tribute. Nope. Didn't get a tribute. And that, so like, you know how it always goes, like, you know, oh, you get drafted to a team and then when you're done, it's like, damn, towards the end of career, I might wanna go back and shit. Like I've always had that mindset. Like, and I told Ms. Benson, I told Ms. Benson when the trade, when I was going to her right before the deadline to ask for a trade, I told her, look, Ms. B, I wanna get outta here. You know, these are the reasons, whatever. Ms. B was cool. Like we, me and Ms. B still cool to this day. And I told her and I was like, this might not be the end though. Like, you know, later on my career, who knows if I was to come back and we try to do something special as I'm older and a little mature, the game develop, you know, win a couple of championships, couple, like whatever. I don't know. You know, I left that door open. And when I went back that first game and got no trip, I said, oh, that door is closed. I can't. That door is closed. It's no way possible. There's no way possible, bro. And it's like, you know, that last 3 months, 2 months of the season, like it was rough.

Wow.

You know, obviously I wore the shirt and that's all that shit. Like I wore the shirt and all, like I get it. You know, they had a storm, you know, I saw this video where they had a hurricane and everybody cleared out the grocery store and it was just like my Ruffles was still in there. The only ones in there. It's like, I seen all that, you know, but it's like none of that bothered me. It's like, whatever. I understand. Like it was a bad breakup. Like I get it. You know, you gonna feel a way. The fans, like I get it, whatever. Like your best player is leaving. Like nobody wants that. You know? But at the time when I was there too, it was, we can't never get AD help. Like who are these guys we're signing? So it's like, you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't say like, we not giving him help. But then when he decides to leave, you're mad because he's leaving because he wants to go to win. And I always thought I was going to go back. And when I walked in the arena, And it's the emo— you know, man, it's the emotion. Like, you haven't experienced it, obviously, but like, it's emotional as fuck. Like, going back, I was just here 7 years, and I come out and it's boo! I'm talking about like loud, all boos. And so I'm sitting on the bench, and I'm sitting there, and they calling everybody. And I look up, Anthony Davis. And I'm like— Oh. Oh shit, ain't nothing on the screen. Go out and I said, oh yeah, okay, watch this. I was so pissed. I was so pissed, Draymond Green, like not one, it wasn't even a graphic that said thank you. It was nothing. It was nothing, bro. And I was like, yeah, that's fucked up. You know what I'm saying?

And you were what, 5-time All-Star there?

Yeah. Yeah.

They may not, New Orleans may not have 5 All-Star appearances combined around you. I don't know if he was there, but you get my point. Yeah, no, for sure. Come on, man. They don't, my point is there's been some dogs there. Not to discredit CP, D. Westin. Yeah, for sure, for sure. But you get my point. That's a bad organization though. That organization does not have the history to not celebrate a 5-time All-Star.

Yeah, it was bad, bro. It was bad. You don't just get fired. You know, first round, get swept by y'all. Second time we go, second round, you know, get a win. And it was like, I don't know, that hurt the most. That hurt the most. It was like, y'all not even, like y'all taking these last 2 months and making it seem like this was the entire 7 years. And then you had some of the announcers and, you know, reporters, all this stuff saying this stuff like, oh, well they rolled out the red carpet for AD. No, they did not. No, they did not.

What'd they do?

No, they did not. They didn't do anything. Like they tried to offer me the max contract, but at that point I was like, man, it's not about the money, I'm trying to win.

You know? You're gonna get max wherever you go.

Yeah, and so it was like, you know, they brought David Griffin in after and me and him had a conversation that didn't last very long and I told him what I wanted. You know, and he said he couldn't do it. And so I was like, all right, this is it. You know, and at that time, like for me, like you say, Zion's a fucking phenomenal player. Like when he's on the floor, bro, he's unbelievable. But I know what we just lost, right? We had Rondo and DeMarcus, right? Rondo goes to LA, Bug come to y'all, and we get Julius and Alfred Payton., right? And I go and Julius wasn't even like Julius at the time.

He wasn't this Julius.

He wasn't this Julius. He was still getting there. And I was like, look, I know how Drew operates with the point guard next to him. We just seen it, you know, with Rondo. Like Drew basically beat Portland, but he shut down Dame and CJ, right? And I was like, I tell David Griffin, I said, listen, if you can get Ja Morant at 1, then we got a real conversation going on because I know how it's going to help our team with Drew. Right. If Drew got to handle the ball, like Drew's soul, he loves to get people involved. But like Drew, we go score. We got somebody else who can do that now, who can play make. When we give you the ball, we need you to go be Drew. And that's when he's at his best. You know?

Yeah.

And he was like, he can't, he gotta take Zion. And I just didn't see at the time where like me and Zion would work. Like we were playing the same position. Like at this time I was only playing the 4. I was never the 5.

Yeah.

I never played the 5. And so it was like, well, is Zion gonna play the 3? You know, but at the time we had Solomon Hill, Dante Cunningham. So it was like, then you got Drew at the 2. And we just brought in Julius. So like, well, are you gonna bench Julius? Like, who's getting benched, right? You're not gonna bench your number one pick. So at the time I just, yeah. So at the time I just saw—

Unless you got 35 going into the fourth, but that's a whole different conversation. That's it.

That's it. Unless you got 35 going into the fourth, like we gotta bench him. That's still crazy. And so I was like, I just didn't see how to fit at the time. You know, ultimately it worked out like for me, you know, winning the chip and shit. But I was like, you know, I wanted to, I wanted to always be the guy that sticks with the franchise for his entire career. Like, I don't want to, like this last year being, this shit is crazy. Like it's the crazy. And I know we'll get into it or whatever, but it's like, like I always thought I was going to finish in New Orleans. Yeah. Start in New Orleans, finish in New Orleans, and never go anywhere. And when we just didn't align on our goals as far as winning, it just took a bad turn. But we had to do some things like had to get loud in the media, and I had to go out and be a villain. And, you know, Rich had to say what he had to say in order, you know, for it to get done.

Mm-hmm.

And I think now people are starting to like see and understand a little bit. But they didn't see it at the time, you know, which is what, this is 7 years ago. So I mean, it is what it is, man.

They still ain't got it right.

Yeah. 7 years later. Yeah.

They in the worst position they was when you left.

I left, so it was like, man, you know, it's tough. 'Cause I met like all my friends to this day, you know, they're like friends from New Orleans, like my chef, my stylist, you know what I'm saying? Like everybody that I knew, you know, I only knew New Orleans. I only knew in New Orleans, bro. Like New Orleans was me, like coming in at 19 and then all the way to 24, 25. I'm like, all I know is New Orleans. You know what I'm saying? And that shifts quick, you know? And when I had to, it was tough though because when Rich was telling me, like, you gotta go to the media. And I never talked about this, by the way. You getting the first exclusive. I've never spoken to anybody about this. You know what I'm saying?

Appreciate that, player.

But it was like, when Rich told me, like, you have to, like, bro, you gotta go and say, I was like, no, hell no. Be a villain? Man, change? I was scared. Like, I didn't, at first I didn't wanna be traded, 'cause I'm like, change is different, man. Change is hard.

Oh yeah.

Change is hard. And I was like, it's all I know. And I was like, to go to New Orleans, 'cause I started doubting myself. Like, man, I know I can do it in New Orleans. I'm gonna get all the balls, but I'm about to go play with Bron, spotlight. I can play with Rondo. Like, I'm about to play with all these players in LA or wherever at the time. I didn't know where I was going, but you know, like I'm about to go play with some guys and it's like, am I ready for that? You know, I wasn't sure. You know, so I'm like, man, I don't know. Let's figure this out over here. You know, I hit Bron, like, Bron, you wanna come over here? Like, I'm hitting everybody trying to figure it out so I didn't have to leave. 'Cause I was comfortable, you know? And I mean, I'm glad I did make the change, but that shit was tough when he was telling me what I had to do. And I was like, man, but at the day, you know, I had to grow up and do what's best for me at the end of the day and let the rest take care of itself.

So Ja Morant gets drafted number 1 instead of Zion, and you're probably still a New Orleans Pelican today.

I think, yep, I'm probably still in New Orleans.

—And you asked David Griffin, "Drive Draymond Green." He didn't.

So that's why you gotta take Zion.

That's why you leave Zion to your star player.

Yeah, you gotta take Zion.

That's why, man. And wow. And speaking of change, you know, you go to the Lakers, you then get traded to the Mavericks. —for Luka.

Yep.

And now this trade, I don't know, obviously you had the injuries, you know, you got injured there. And unfortunately, you know, you break a hand, like there's nothing you can do about that, right?

Yeah, it's not real.

Like these things that are happening, your eye, like, you know, like these things that, like, there's nothing you can do about that. But you had it, but aside from the injuries, it feels like you never stood a chance because— it feels to me as a fan base—

It's been down the barrel the whole time.

Yeah, as a fan base, they can't get over Luka. Like, I don't even know that they were ever mad you were there. They just were mad he wasn't.

He wasn't.

And as a fan base, every game, all the gripes, all these things, every day, everything you turn on, you read, you watch, they're all going crazy about Luka being there. And I'm not sure you ever, obviously injury to you, injury to Ky, all those things. But aside from that, I just don't feel like it had a chance even if y'all were healthy. Yeah. Because of the distraction from the fan base and how they received Nico and then y'all team as a whole. Talk to me about that and just like what that transition was of where you get, like they're getting Anthony Davis and because they're so upset about Luka leaving, it feels to me like you were never even received.

Yeah. When I first got, first of all, I had no idea that I was even traded. Zero idea that this was happening, right? Play in Charlotte, have like a 40-20 or something like that. Team goes to Philly, play in Philly, hurt my abdomen, go see the doctor in Philly, you know, and the team going to New York after, but I wasn't going to play. So I'm like, you know what? I'm going to, let me go back to LA, rehab, get ready. We play the Clippers on Tuesday. You know, at the time we beat Philly, we beat New York. Hey, we're going to be, we beat the Clippers. We're going to be in the fourth seed. All right, we're in 5th already. So I'm like, all right, this is the plan, cool. Fly back to LA, watching the game downstairs in the basement on the TV, playing the Knicks. And I'm like, man, good job, fellas. Good win. You know, hey, Tuesday I'll be ready. Let's go get this 4th seed, whatever, whatever. Now at the time I'm in a dilemma. I'm like, man, should I go, should I go on the game, play the game for a little bit, go upstairs, watch a movie? Like, let me see. Go upstairs, like, you know what, I'm gonna go upstairs, watch a movie. Get in the bed, turn the movie on, wife next to me, and you know, I'm trying to find a movie. I tell her to watch a movie and I see, uh, Rob Palenka calls me. But mind you, it's 8:45, 9:00 LA. So it's 12, you know, back in, you know, and 11:45, 12:00 in New York. So I'm like, man, you know what? I'll hit him back tomorrow. Like, you know, then he texts me like, AD, when you get a chance to be back, man, coach got something to run by you. So I'm like, all right, could be a trade. I mean, I did just come out and say that. You know, I want a big, like, I think we need a big, you know, whatever, whatever. Get done. Rich say he tried to call me. I never got Rich's call. Right? So Rich then called my wife. It was like, hey, tell AD to call me, whatever, whatever. So Rich, she's like, yo, Rich said call him. So I'm like, all right. So I look, I call him. She's like, man, take this downstairs, outside the room. Cause it's probably gonna get loud or whatever. So I'm like, all right, cool. So. Get down downstairs, my chef down there, he cleaning up. And I'm like, what up, Richie? Like, man, they just traded you to Dallas. And I'm like, shut up. But like, I know, cause I've spoken to Richie before. I'm like, man, Luka's so cold, bro. We used to talk about Luka all the time. And I'm like, man, imagine me with Luka. Like, pfft. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Cause at the time, like, I wasn't sure what Bron was going to do if he was still going to play, retire. But I wasn't even thinking about like being traded or like asking to leave. I was just saying in general, like the next thing, as far as what he can do, who can be close to Bron was Luka. As far as the height, passing ability, he can score, like all that as far as helping my game. And I was like, man, Luka, man. I'm like, man, have I ever got with Luka? Yeah. Oh my gosh. And so when he said trade to Dallas, I was like, eh, get the fuck outta here. And I said, who the fuck they gonna trade me for, Luka, nigga? Like, I was just saying like, who else can you trade me for on that team? And he was like, mind you, they just went to the finals.

Yep.

They just went to the finals. So I'm like, and it was never no discussion about like, man, we might get AD outta here or, It was nothing, right? And he was like, they traded you for Luka. I'm like, Rich, shut the hell up. What do you want? I'm thinking, really be thinking he's just playing. And he was like, man, I swear. And at the time, Rob Palenka is calling me. So I'm like, all right, Rich, I'm gonna call you back. Let me see what Rob, Well, Rob, no, I'm sorry. Nico was calling me. And I'm like, Rich, I'm gonna call you back. Like, hello? Yeah. I told you I was gonna come get you one day. I wanted you. Huh? I'm still like, all right. I know Rich and Nico cool. Like, y'all playing a joke.

Like, this ain't even real. He thought he foul play.

Yeah, foul play. Foul play. Got you. So I'm like, huh? So I tell Nico, I didn't even speak. I said, yo, let me call you back. So now I'm like, all right, I'm about to call Rob Palenka back. So I call Rob Palenka back and I'm like, hello? He like, yeah, you know, he, you know, telling me all this stuff and like, you know, basically I got traded for Luka and the stuff, some of the stuff he was saying, I just, I didn't understand. Like, what do you like?

Mm-hmm.

You know, we wanna, you know,, you know, when Bron's done, you know, when somebody take over, we wanna go younger, you know, rebuild all this. And I'm like, huh? I just didn't understand like what he was saying. But also too, like once, as I'm hearing this, I'm now like checked out. Like I hear you, but I'm not listening.

Right?

Mm-hmm. And hang up. And my chef is right there in front of me. And I'm like, nigga, I just got traded to the Mavs. He started laughing. Yeah, big dog. So I'm like, you know what? I know if this true. I go on X and go straight to Sham's page. Nothing. I'm like, yeah, they playing. So I'm walking out the kitchen, turning the corner to go up the stairs. Joel Embiid calls me. What he calling me for? Mind you, he in Philly, 12 o'clock.

Mm-hmm.

I don't answer. Going upstairs, then somebody else called me, another player, and I'm like, wait, hold on. So I go back to Sean's page, and then there it is. Breaking news, Dallas Mavericks trade Luka Dončić, you know, and I'm like, what? Run upstairs. [SPEAKING SPANISH] Baby, I just got traded to Dallas. Shut up. But now this time I'm like, I'm not shaking, but I'm like, like, it's like my heart is in my stomach. I'm like, yo, what the fuck just happened? Right? And I show her and she's like, what the hell? But now I'm like, all right, I'm running back outside. The first person I call my pops, like, yo, I just got traded. Like, man, shut up. He looking, he can't find that. And as soon as he was, as soon as I'm like, bro, swear to God it pop up on ESPN then and then— Like, and then my phone started blowing up. Everybody calling. And I just, I'm in shock. Like I'm genuinely in shock. So I call everybody that's with me and I'm like, yo look, I just got traded to Dallas. They don't believe me. Everybody like you're playing shut up. They don't see nothing. Think we ready to get on this flight in the morning? But I had no idea that this was happening, right? And I couldn't make sense of it 'cause I'm like, why? Yeah. Like, what is the why? Like, I'm not understanding, you know, like we come in, I have a conversation with Rob beginning of the season, I have a conversation with JJ and everything is like, we playing well, I'm playing great this season. I just come off of 40 and 20 and it's like, yo, AD's the hub. Everything around AD. Bron is like, yo, this AD. And I'm like, I thought this was, you know? But at the same time, like, even though I didn't understand it from my view, I understood it as far as the trade. Like, Luka is fucking Luka. Like, you see what he's doing now.

Absolutely.

You know what I'm saying? So like, Luka is at the time, what, he 27 now or something like that? He was 26, 25. You know what I'm saying? At the time I was 30, 31, 32. So I'm like, look, from the business standpoint, like I can't be mad, but like, why? Like I just couldn't fathom, I couldn't understand it. And I'm like, and nobody told me nothing. Nobody said a thing to me. So you just catching me off guard. Like, yeah, you traded to Dallas. That's what I couldn't get over, which, and I still can't get over like, I think I deserve much more respect than that. You know, what I've, you know, all the time I've been here. Shit, I was there 6 years. You know, all the time I've been there and all the time, like, we won a championship, like all this stuff and I can't get a phone call or a text to tell me like, look, this is what we're thinking. So all I'm saying, all I know is that Rob, what you was calling me for was to tell me that I was getting traded. But that was already 10 minutes before the trade was, before it was about to be announced. So you already knew this already, you know, or you had to, at some point a conversation had to start about me being traded for Luka.

Right.

And it never got to me like, hey, this is what we're thinking, whatever. Right. So I think that's the biggest thing that kind of like, like fucked with me this entire time. But the trade happened, whatever. Get to Dallas, and the first game, like, I wasn't even ready to come back. I'm gonna be completely honest. I was like—

But you was feeling that pressure, I'm sure.

Yeah, hell yeah.

I felt the pressure for you.

Yeah, I'm like, look, these motherfuckers just went to the finals and they just traded Luka for me. I gotta, I got to, like, I have to, you know? And I get there, I get to Dallas,. And I'm in a— I check into the hotel and I go get some food and I come back because I didn't play right away. I come back, um, and it's a, it's a, uh, what, what's the, what's the name of that hotel in Dallas? Uh, the Crescent, the Crescent Court. And they got the little mailing cards that you can write and it was one under my door. Then I pick it up with some macaroons on the door handle. I don't even eat macaroons. So I open the door and I open, I open the door and I get the letter. And it read, dear AD, hope you liking your time in Dallas. Here in Dallas, we love Dirk, barbecue, and Luka.

Jeez.

And the Cowboys. But what we love more than all of that is championships. The boos you're gonna hear are not for you. And it had no name, nothing. I'm like, so right there coming in, it was like, oh yeah, this shit about to be crazy.

Oh.

Coming in, I'm like, this about to be crazy. So now I'm feeling the pressure of the trade, like damn, they just traded Luka, they just went to the finals. Now I'm getting, and then you start seeing the stuff on TV, you know, like, oh, fire Niko. And they had a hearse outside the arena with a casket, like all this crazy stuff. And man, Niko, Like we super cool. So I'm like, damn, I feel bad for him. But he's looking at a vision like, man, I feel like this can help us. So I get there and I'm like, you know what, I gotta play. Playing Houston. And I'm not 100, but I'm like, I can't keep waiting. I have to go out on the court. And I go back and I go out in the first half, like, you know, J.K. is trying to take me out in the first quarter. I'm like, nah, let me run. Like, let me run. Mm-hmm. I'm feeling it, my body is so hot. Like I got steam coming off me and I've never been like that, but I got so much adrenaline in my body. I'm like, you know, play the whole first quarter, come back in. I play like 9 in the second. I come out the end of the first and I'm grabbing my abdomen like, man, this shit a little sore, but like whatever. And then it started trickling down. I'm like, you know, I started feeling something in my groin at halftime. Mm-hmm. And I'm like, man, shit, whatever. I just ain't played in a minute. Like, it's whatever. Puts a heat pack on, go out, and a move I make fucking 50 times a game, nigga. Just step, and I felt like, I ain't feel a pop, but I just felt like something. And I was like, man, it's something weird. So I tried to run. I'm like, damn, I can't run. So I'm like, yeah, probably ain't gonna come back into the game. And we end up, you know, I'm on the table and I could lift my leg up and they trying to turn and I'm like, man, this shit feel good. Try to jog on a practice court, couldn't go. I'm like, man, maybe, you know, my hip was just locked on my ab, my adductor was locked, I just popped it. That next morning I woke up.

Sit like—

When I say I couldn't move my leg, I said, oh my gosh. What the fuck just happened? And ended up being, you know, you know, tore it and everything like that. But, you know, I, it was, it was the best. And that's the only time me and Kai ever played with each other. The only time we, only game we ever played. That first game against Houston. And at the time, that was the only moment where I felt like, yeah. At that time, I felt like they forgot. They forgot about Luka. 'Cause it was so intense, it was like, okay, okay, I can see it now. But then once that injury happened, come back, play in, you know, obviously I had 40 at the end against Memphis, like play well against Zach. And then the eye shit happened in the summer.

Mm-hmm.

All right, well I can't do nothing for, I couldn't do anything for 2 and a half months. Like I couldn't walk, I couldn't lift weights, I couldn't run, I couldn't play basketball, nothing., come back September. All right. Trying to get, but now I'm trying to like catch up while we got games to play in a month. Right. So this is now my summer trying to catch up, do all this. Um, then get hurt again, you know, with the Achilles this time.

Mm-hmm.

And so trying to like make up for lost time that I, that I missed in the summer, trying to use it in the season. You know, that's tough to do.

That never works.

It never works.

It's nearly impossible. You need a training camp, you need a preseason. That never works.

Never works, it never works.

Because when you're coming back, everyone else is—

Exactly.

Everybody else like, yo, I'm going to the playoffs.

They already there.

You just can't catch up.

You can't catch up. And so like, it was just tough, man. I just felt like, like you said, I don't think they ever had a chance to really appreciate, and it's also me, because I was hurt, so I never gave them a chance to appreciate, you know what I'm saying? Like what they got, or to see the vision that Nico had or whatever. So for me, that's just the toughest thing. Like, I think about most of my time in Dallas, like damn, I never was able to stay on the floor to show them, you know, what Nico saw, but also what they've been seeing.

Mm-hmm.

My entire career. Like, oh shit, we getting Anthony Davis. So that was the toughest thing. And I just felt like at that time, then when we got Koup, it was just like, yeah, you know, we just need to go ahead and get off of this, you know? But I, and I say this all the time, I feel like we could have won 60 games. We could have, you know, traded for Michael Jordan. Like we could have did whatever. I think it would always been like a cloud over Dallas because Luka wasn't there. You know, not more so like who we got, but it's just like they missed, you know, they missed and slash missed Luka so much that it's like, I mean, and then you think about like what he's, what he's doing, you know, and everything. So it only, you know, adds more fuel to the fire and shit like that. But, you know, my time with the teammates and, you know, my time in Dallas is, it was, it was, it was cool, but I just never had a chance to really, you know, do what I wanted to do and go out and perform, uh, the times I did. But I mean, when I was on the floor though, it was, you know, I did what I had to do, you know, but I just, I just couldn't get to, you know, where I wanted to because I was always playing catch up. And then, yeah. And then, you know, with the— Oh, and I thought about that a lot too. Like when I play, like, all right, now you got to go get 50 every night because that's the only way they will forget. You know, like, oh, God forbid you get 24 and 14. It's like, oh well, you know, look at what it got. Like, it's always that. Like, you know, I'll be out at, you know, sporting events and it's like, we want Luka, we miss Luka. It's like, I don't know what y'all want me to do, y'all. I didn't—

I didn't choose this. I didn't choose you either.

Yeah, so it's like, you know, I don't know what to do, you know? So it was a— It was a crazy time, but I mean, I enjoyed my time there for sure.

Yeah, no, that's— and the criticism for Nico, warranted or unwarranted?

I think it was unwarranted, bro, because—

I agree.

Because when you sit in that seat, you gotta make decisions that motherfuckers are scared to make. You gotta make decisions that people think you're fucking crazy. Right? All the great ones have. You know? And I think Nico's vision was on point. We just didn't have the opportunity to show it. Right? You know, you get Coop, the number one pick, paired with myself, Kyrie, you got PJ. Love, foot, his whole foot was messed up. You know what I'm saying? He had foot surgery, so he couldn't play. Gaff, training camp, rolled his ankle, was out for a while. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, we, you know, we getting, we got these pieces, but we couldn't never put them together because of injuries. Like, and so it's like, it's hard to do that. And then, you know, when he gets fired, you know, you in there and you got, you know, I never forget, we playing Milwaukee at home. In Dallas and I think PJ was at the free throw line. And while PJ was at the, it's a close game. When PJ was at the free throw line, you got the fans chanting, fire Nico. And I was like, what? Like what? You know what I'm saying? So it's like, you know, you see that type of stuff and you see it's like, damn bro. You know, he made a business decision that he thought would help the basketball team. You know, and I think, you know, you don't see it. And it kind of went back to, you know, my time in New Orleans when I asked for a trade, like you don't see it at the moment. And we just never had an opportunity to put it all together. So, but I think it was, I think it was unwarranted for sure.

Most definitely. Now you move on from Dallas after Nico's fired and all the things, move on to Dallas, you're in Washington and you spoke about how you wanna win. How you wanna do that, you wanna go on the road and win. But Washington's in a rebuild. You know, they've been rebuilding for a few years now. What is those conversations like? Obviously they swing and get Trey, you know, they swing and get you. So clearly they're trying to work their way out of the rebuild. But sometimes that just doesn't happen right away. You're in year 14, soon to be year 15, like myself. What are those conversations like with you as far as like, being a part of a rebuild and trying to see that through?

From the outside looking in, Dray, like people don't understand. I didn't understand. I was one of these guys too. It was like, damn, Washington? Like what? But then when you get here, you look at the facility, you look at, you know, the little details of it, the team. It's like, not bad. Like I like the young guys on the team. These motherfuckers can play. You know what I'm saying? Like, they play hard. They not afraid of the moment. They not scared. Like, these guys can really hoop. And so for me, you know, I'm like, when I talk to the GM, when I talk to the owner, when I talk to the president, I'm always and always gonna be about winning. Right? No matter what, I wanna win. And if that's here, then that's here. You know, but when you're, like you said, when you're in a rebuild, you know, and for me, I've, I'm at a young 33 and every year that I play from here on out, I want to be able to compete for a championship. Like that's what I want to do. And if their goals align where it's like, you know, I just know and you know, it's tough to be one of the worst teams in the league and then next year you're a championship contender. Yeah.

It's tough, tough, tough thing.

You know, but now if you saying, hey, look, we can go from one of the worst teams, hey, we make playoffs, you get, you know, first, second round, and you stacking, then, you know, it's a different conversation.

Different conversation.

Yeah, you know, but it's not gonna happen overnight, right? And so for me, like, I wanna be able to compete for championships and, you know, Obviously this team is not there yet. You know? So I gotta, like, I'm going into the summer, you know, having conversations with them. Like, what's realistic? Like, what are y'all thinking? If we are, you know, trying to win, what other players are we getting? You know, are we getting other players? You know, like, what can we do? What's the flexibility? What flexibility do we have? And then kind of go from there. But at the end of the day, I want to compete for championships. Like, I've been to the playoffs, I've been to the West Conference Finals. Like, I want to win. You know, I want to win. Like, it goes back to the earlier conversation. Like, I want to go on the road, man. I want to go on the road and say, yeah. You know what I'm saying? So I got to see what they're talking about. But, you know, first I want to get the hand 100% healthy, which is almost there. I haven't been cleared for games yet, but I'm now doing, you know, some live action, 1-on-1, 2v2, stuff like that. Obviously, the season is, you know, winding down, but my desire for winning the championship, like, that's what I want to do. And, you know, I've expressed that to them, and, you know, there's more conversation to be had, though. But, you know, I do like these young guys. You know, they—

Draymond Green.

It's a great organization, great ownership. The young guys, Bob Carrington and Will Riley, you know, you know, they, Trey Johnson, Alex Starling, like these guys can like really play. Ke'Shawn George, who torched us in our second game in Dallas with 32. Like, like they can, they can really play, bro. They can play. I mean, they played a couple of times. I missed both. Actually, when we were just in Golden State, like these guys can play.

Yeah, they can.

They can play. They play hard. You know, and I think I could be a great, you know, vet for him, but you know, I wanna compete for championships and you know, who knows, maybe it's here. I don't know. We're gonna talk about that at the end of the season and kind of just go from there.

No doubt, man. I love to hear it. And I think to have that kind of vision of like, nah, I can see it through if it's right, but I got things that I want for myself. I don't think you're wrong for that regardless of, no matter what people try to say in this league, you're not wrong for that.

Yeah, for sure. I mean, I learned that in New Orleans, man.

Fact. A couple more questions before I get you outta here. I appreciate you taking all this time, bro. I just wanna ask you about the NBA today.

Yeah, yeah, let's talk about that.

Number one, you know, looking at the way this season is playing out, who are, say, your top, or not even, don't have to be a top, But who would you say have a realistic shot at winning a championship this year currently?

Currently, obviously OKC, you know, they're— Well-oiled machine. Well-oiled machine. They have to be the favorites no matter what happening, right? The way JT has come back in like, man, Fuck.

Crazy.

I didn't expect it, bro. Like, and it's funny and we can get to the MVP conversation and shit, but like the way he's come back and just like he never missed a beat. You know what I'm saying? Besides the first game. It's like, bro, like that's not, and he came back early. Like this is not supposed to happen. It's not supposed to happen. So you kind of automatically like from the East just put Boston in there, you know, because of what the, and what JB is doing. You know, it's like, you know, I think like Joe Mazzulla has these guys playing extremely well and they figured it out. You know what I'm saying? That was the biggest thing. If JT comes back, then how can they coexist when it's been Jalen's team the entire year? You know, so you put Boston in there. I had the Lakers until this Luka and Austin thing happened. Mm-hmm. I think that's just tough on him. Also, I'm not sure when Cade is coming back, but Detroit, that took a hit, even though they still playing well. Denver.

Always.

Always.

Always got a chance.

Always got a chance. As long as they got big fella over there. They gonna have a chance. And my sleeper team, man, I don't know if they can do it this year. This year, but I know they'll fucking compete. San Antonio, man. I don't know if they can do it this year. I'm not sure, man, if they can do it. But I feel like in any series, it's hard to say, like, I can see them winning. I can see them winning against everybody in the West, but I don't know if they have a chance. And then always, like, No, I think like when it comes to y'all, like I don't care what CJ is, like y'all, I mean y'all have done it so many times, bro, and know what it takes and with the coaches and you and Steph, like, you know, as the head of the Snakes, it's like, y'all motherfuckers, what this nigga motherfucker did his first game back is crazy. Like what the fuck are we talking about, bro? Like I'm watching this shit like, hey, come on Steph, like what the fuck are we talking about?

—3 months.

Come back torching niggas. So Houston too, but I just feel like, I don't know if Houston really got it right now. I think they'll compete, but I don't know—

Their chances went out the window, honestly, when Fred got hurt.

When Fred, yeah. It's to expect that they're gonna be— Yeah, they need to show they missing that PG.

Without Fred, yeah. It'd be a different story with Fred. Without Fred, it's gonna be tough.

Yeah, but I think, Right now, OKC is, they got a very, very high chance to repeat.

You spoke about the MVP conversation. I wanna ask you about the MVP conversation. But before that, you mentioned the Spurs and what Wemby's been doing. When I look at Victor Wembanyama, I think I guard him pretty well, all things being considered.

Yeah. Fucking 7'8".

Exactly. All things being considered, I think I guarded him pretty well. But when I look at Victor Wembanyama, I think you're probably, like, if I was gonna go in a lab and like create someone to go up against Victor Wembanyama, like, you're not going to create some 7'6" person because like you just can't. Like, that's just don't happen.

Right.

But if I was going to create the perfect person that I know can compete with him offensively, that can guard him, it'd be you. You're now in year 14 of your career. You are already a top 75 NBA player. You're already an NBA champion. You've already made a boatload of money. You're already a first ballot Hall of Famer. All those things. But now you got this young guy, you already beat him in the Olympics for a gold medal, right? Like, but now you got this young guy coming along and he's threatening to dominate the big man category. You're in season 14, but you're 33 years old with a lot of mileage left. Do you watch him play and it motivates you to like, yo, I gotta get back healthy. I gotta get back in tip shot. Because I want, like, what's your thoughts when you're watching him and how that matchup could be for you and him in the seasons to come as you're healthy?

Yeah. Well, first, the shit he's doing is unrealistic, bro. Like, on both ends of the floor. You know, like, the tallest guy we've seen do some shit like that is KD.

Yeah.

You know, it's like, who can put it on the floor, post up, shoot from deep. And now you got this guy who's, what is he, 7'5", 7'4", 7'6", like, who's doing it with ease, bro. It's like, it's like when I play against him, it's like he's one of those who's like, "Hey, you gotta go to bed at 9 o'clock, man. We gotta get some rest." Yeah. You gotta get, 'cause it's gonna be a battle because he has so much shit with him, right? One of my favorite players to watch for sure. And it brings the best out of you. So like, it was just like when we first got in the league, bro, when y'all were going through y'all run. Every time we played y'all, I fucking knew, yo, Draymond's guarding me, nigga. And it's about to be a battle. He's gonna be physical. He gonna get into me. He's gonna fucking be handsy. Like, all right, nigga, let's go. So now you never knew that. I never talked about it. But I remember the night before, bro, I will always, all right, all right, this is what he likes to do. All right, we gotta work on counters. Hey, AD, go quick. Like I would have to like constantly remind myself 'cause I know what the game is about to be. With him it's so tough because it's like, even though like with him, I try to like get into his body. All right, go, go, go, body him. But he's so fucking long and athletic that it's like, you can do what you want. I'm going on the other side of that rim and I'm gonna block it. You know, over the rim, man. So it's like, it's tough, bro. It's tough to like go against him. You gotta create space, but he covers so much ground that it's really tough, bro. And then on the other end, you gotta guard him. It's like, he can put it on the floor. He can draw fouls. Like he jumping from the free throw line, like fucking Space Jam and stretching and throwing that shit in the rim. Niggas like, you back off, he's shooting the 3.— cash.

Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? He's getting to the line. So it's like, it's really not much you can do. Like he's really a human cheat code. Right? But I look at that like, damn. Okay. All right. Here we go. And it's these type of players, you know, that come in the league that keep you like, this is why I want to continue to play. Here we go. I got to battle him. You know what I'm saying? And I'll look at that like, damn, I wanna, man, I gotta get healthy, bro. Here we go. Get healthy this time to get back. Like, here we go. And so like, it's already my month. Like since I haven't been playing, I've kind of used this time. Like this is my summer. I miss my summer, but this is my summer going into the summer. So I've already been like uber locked in on trying to like get 100% healthy, mentally, physically, you know, emotionally, like letting a lot of shit. Yeah. Like just go, you know, a lot of shit I'm holding on to, man, let it go, bro. Let's go. Like, this is the year, you know, but the stuff that he's doing, bro, it's inspiring and motivating to be like, I can't wait until, and you know what's making it even more better, Draymond Green? That he's talking shit now.

Yes, he is.

He is talking shit now. He talking about it. Yes, he is talking shit now. Which is like, yes. Like, I love that. I love that. He went on there like, I'm the MVP, man. Yeah. You know, he in the game, he talking shit now. He's talking shit to Luka when they—

He is.

That's like, that makes it even much better. That makes it better where it's like, oh yeah, he's starting to get the dog. Oh shit, he gonna be a problem. And so now it's like, okay. Like, that's what makes it more fun, bro. Like, that's what makes sports sports. Like you got, you know, Wimby now, he's talking like, 'cause he was just a silent assassin, he didn't say shit, but now it's like, now I'm about to let y'all know, I'm about to stand on it, you know, and which he is. And so for me, I see that and then, and you just like, he's one of the ones you look at the TV and you just smile as he's playing, just like, okay. Like there's nothing you can do because, you know, like I said, his athletic ability and his skillset, you know, but for me it's like, Yeah, I know it's gonna be a battle. Like the only time he got me where I was like, fuck, I can't do shit was the first game in Dallas. But I knew for myself too, like I wasn't ready to play a fucking game.

Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? Any other time, like when I was in LA, it was a battle like every time, you know? And so, you know, I'm getting back to that level where it's like, hey, when y'all like have people, like when we play against, like, hey, when y'all play against AD, like AD, Wimby, it's gonna be one of those games, you know? So he definitely inspired and motivated me to kind of get back to my old ways for sure.

No, I love that, man. And is he the MVP?

Second in the West, playing unbelievable basketball. Oh, shit, man. He has a very strong case. He has a very strong case. Like, we can't also forget, they might now be third because Lakers lost yesterday. So they might be either tied for third or be third, Denver. Like, you can't fucking Jokic, bro. Like—

And he gave him 40 yesterday.

40. That's what I'm saying. So it's like, it's hard to always discredit. Like, you can't discredit what he does because he's done it so many times. So now, what Jokic does is become normal to everybody. So people are, they numb to it. Like, oh, Jokic had a 50-point triple-double, you know, like, oh yeah, that's normal. Like, it becomes like his game has become so normal to people where it's like, I'm gonna look at the box score. They're like, man, yeah, Denver beat them. Yeah, Jokic had 45, 22, and 17. Like, oh, damn.

Yeah.

Yeah, he balled out tonight. Like, it's not even like, wait, what?

No.

You know what I'm saying? It was like, on 60% shooting. Like, what are we talking about? So people forget that because he's been so dominant and great that it's like, it's just another random Tuesday for Jokic, you know? But him, and then you gotta, I think you throw Jalen Brown, bro. Like what they've been, what he's been able to do to carry, like nobody thought Boston was gonna be where Boston is.

—I actually thought they was going to be dog shit.

Yeah, I'm like, they lost JT. Ooh, they lost Drew. They lost, like, they going to be a fucking—

I'm like, it's over.

And to come out and they, come on, man. So I think you got to throw Jaylen Brown in there, bro. And then I don't know, like the whole thing, like what's going to happen with Luka, if he's ineligible or eligible or whatever. But if he's eligible and you throw him in there, I think those like my top 4. With, I think with Wemby leading the charge, man.

Wow, all right.

I think Wemby leading the charge, bro.

Wow, AD got Wemby for MVP, y'all.

Right now, right now. I ain't mad at it though. Right now, right now.

I ain't mad at it. And listen, I think Shay has been great, but I think also for him, a lot, and this is just what happened to great players, People get used to you scoring 33 a night.

Like they just get numb to it. The only thing about like, I say with Shea, nah, I can't say that shit about Shea. Yeah, he's in there. He's in there. I can't, like, I was just gonna say like, it's a lot of times like, just like Wimby, like Shea does what he does, but I think also too, I think, Like, Shai's, like what he does on a nightly basis, you can't say it's really where it's like, oh shit, like spectacular. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's like, damn, Shai had 33 again. Oh, he's on some 20-point game streak, you know, and stuff like that. So you kind of look at Shai, you know, and it's like, damn, damn, Shai did it again. But when you look at like the numbers and the triple doubles Jokic put up, these video game numbers Wemby is doing. And then you think about just like, because you expect Shay to do what he's doing.

Yeah.

Right? You know, you expect, oh, they number one team. They ran through the league last year. Like, oh, they gonna be the same thing. So it's like, damn, you expect that, you know? And I think you expect it from Jokic too, but it's just something about the triple doubles and the, like the high triple doubles, you know, high number triple doubles. And then what Wemby's doing and then, No one thinking Jalen Brown was going to carry the Lakers. I mean, the Celtics, you know, to where they are before JT got back. I think that, oh, Laker fans going to kill me for saying Jalen Brown Lakers. Oh shit. But I think, I think you throw Shane there. So that's my 5. That's my 5. In order, in order I go as of right now, as of April 6th, I will have to go. Wimby. I'll go Jokic, JB. Fuck, wait. Oh man, that's tough. Wimby, Jokic. Wimby, Jokic, JB, Shai Luka.

That's not a bad 5. I ain't mad at your 5 either.

That's my 5. I don't know if I'm sure about the order though. I gotta go back and do some more research, but that's my 5 for sure. That's my 5.

More importantly, you got Wimby MVP, so it's fine. I mean, I respect that.

That's who you have? That's your MVP?

So I'm biased because I'm sure a lot like yourself, him coming out saying, yo man, defense is 50% of the game.

Yeah.

Like to me that I agree, that has to count for something. It cannot count for nothing. And so that's why I get twisted where I'm like, oh, like you, because again, it's one thing if he's like a good defender, but he's like the best defender in the NBA. Like it ain't like he's like, oh man, like this dude is, a good two-way player. Like, no, no, no. He's the best defender in the NBA. Like, this dude cover up mistakes like nobody's tomorrow. Like, rules don't exist. You got an open layup and you see him out the corner of your eye, you dribble the other way 'cause you know it's getting blocked.

Yes.

Like that. And so it's not like he's just out there saying, "Man, I play defense too." No, no, no. This dude dominates the defensive end too. As good as he dominates the offensive end he's dominating that end. You know, it's like if you do it, put it like this, AD. When players dominate the offensive end, à la Luka Dončić, à la Shea Gildress-Alexander, à la Steph Curry. When players like completely dominate the offensive end, they win MVP. Well, this dude is damn good offensively. And I mean damn good. Like, like— Draymond Green. And he completely dominates that other, like completely. That has to count for something. And that's why I say like, it's unfortunate because I think Shea is well deserving. But at the same time, Wimby's number 2, you know what I'm saying? Obviously they're behind Shea, but no one expected them to be number 2 in the first off.

Nobody, nobody, yes.

Right? And so obviously they're behind them, but no one expected them to be number 2. 'Cause number two, the numbers that he putting up and the defense that he's playing, I think that's gotta count for something and I'll take him as the MVP as well.

I don't know if they, but you know how it goes, man, the goalpost moves, you know, certain players didn't move for me 100 times, you know, but—

It kept moving.

Oh man, you know, we not even gonna get to that, that's a different segment, you know, but I think, like you said, you have to account for that, like what he's doing, you know, defensively is, is, you know, it's, and it's absurd. And I think, like you said, he's up there, you know, with the offensive guys. And if you look at the other guys, like, the only other one is, is, uh, JB that's going to also probably give you the same thing on a defensive end. Like, he wants to guard the best players, and he does a pretty good job defensively as well. So it's like— Mm-hmm. Who do you, like, are we giving two-way guys? You know what I'm saying? That's like locking in on both sides.

If you go by the name of the award, which is Most Valuable Player, it's not who's the best offensive player. It's the most valuable player.

Exactly.

You have to.

You have to. I mean, it will, and the motherfucker's getting the Defensive Player of the Year award.

No question. He's gonna get 100 first place votes.

Yes, 100.

Unanimous.

Unanimous, so I think it's deserving, but he does have some competition. He got competition, and this is probably the first time where it's like, out of all 5 guys, I don't think that I can be mad if it goes to any one of those guys. Like, because all of them make a case and it's like, well, okay, Luka, you deserve it. Or Shay, you deserve it. Wimby, you deserve it. Jokic, JB. Like, I feel it. You know, I think JB, I think JB doesn't like, that was just mine, but I think he doesn't get as much, you know, recognition and love as he'll need to be the MVP. For sure. But JB, you in there for me, brother. I see you.

And definitely first team All-NBA.

Oh, 1000%. 1000%. So yeah, but I think it's Wimby's time, bro. It's his time. Like he's proven it, you know, over and over. He's shown it. And what I love the most is that he's talking shit. I love it. So I think he, I think he probably, I think he gets it.

Two more very quick things. LA 2028.

If I get asked, if I get asked, probably.

It's only two years from now. It's two summers from now. It's very close.

If I get asked, I've seen all like the stuff on, social media about the team that they want. It's not from them, but you know, if I get asked, I'll do it for sure.

Love that. And my last thing, as we sit here, college national championship about to come up. You are a college national champion, but like, forget the national championship. I want, I want to go a little further than just the national championship. NCAA champion, NCAA, NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, National College Player of the Year, Consensus First Team All-American, NABC Defensive Player of the Year, National Freshman of the Year, SEC Male Athlete of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, NCAA blocks leader, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Rookie of the Year. The most decorated college player, arguably in the history of college. Is that safe to say?

Very safe to say. Very safe to say.

Now I have a question to ask you. Why, number one, that shit is crazy to have all those awards. Just so y'all know about out there, by the way, I stole one of those Player of the Year awards. So I was Player of the Year that year too. But we gonna leave that there. But honestly, and we'll get outta here off this, that decorated of a college player, why don't you do more in the college landscape? Align with Kentucky more, align with college basketball, NCAA tournament more, all of these things as the most dec— like, is that something that you just wanna say for after? But like, as the most decorated college player we've ever seen, why not more in that space as dominant? Like, you can make the argument as the best.

To be honest, Draymond, I don't think, You list all of that, but I don't think how we talk about like, you know, JB don't get recognized for everything. Like I feel like that way when it comes to college basketball. I think people forget like the dominance I had on the game of college basketball when I was there. You know, I see all this all the time. People talking about, you know, the freshmen and, you know, they never talk about our Kentucky team. And they never talk about me. And it's like, I just saw something on Instagram the other day where it said, I think I had 172 blocks. And then the next, you know, the next person, it was a team. Like the rest of the next 5 were teams. You know what I'm saying? It's like, we don't talk about like me enough when it comes to college. And it don't bother me like to an extent, cause it's like, Bro, we talking about college basketball. Like, don't ever get it twisted like what I did. But I also didn't average, you know, 20. The game is a lot different, by the way, from when we were in college, bro. It was, it's totally different. So like you see all these guys now who's averaging 25 or having 40 in a tournament. Nobody ever hit 40 in our tournament unless you were a lower school and you were the best player on the team. Like where you shot 30 times, but you wasn't getting 40, you know? So. Our time is different, but, you know, I think about it, it's like, I've, one, I've never been asked. I've never been asked when it comes to the college basketball. And then as far as Kentucky, I've always wanted to. Season obviously got in the way. I always wanted to go back when Draymond Green was there. And I literally just said this the other day. I was like, man, what if I'm done? I go coach at Kentucky, you know, or be whatever, like all this stuff that people got at GMs. And like, I just don't want to give money right here. Go get players. I want to be involved. So, um, I don't know, maybe it's something that when it, you know, when I retire, but, um, I'm glad you threw that out there because hopefully the NCAA, you know, recognized this. Like, look, when it comes to college basketball, you know, like freshmen, I don't think, you know, besides you could say KD, but like no one has done, you know, what I've done and have the awards and accolades that I've done. Like it is. Yeah.— it didn't happen. It's not happening.

KD had the dominance, but nobody's done what you've done.

Nobody, you know, so yeah. So it's like, I think they need to just start realizing, you know, that, you know, when it comes to this college basketball shit, it's not close. You know what I'm saying? And so, and so hopefully, you know, we'll be able to touch that avenue. And honestly, quite frankly, I just never thought about it either. But it does piss me off when I watch some of these games and, you know, they talk about some of these players and they was like, oh, it's the best freshman I've ever seen. And it's like, what? When did you start watching? 5 years ago? You know, so it's like, you know, and they have all these stats and there's all this and they was talking about some team, I think they were talking about Michigan, that didn't lose a road game this year. Like we've never seen this. So I'm like, And we didn't lose a row. Like, and they were, sorry, they didn't lose a game outside of Big Ten, right? They won all their games on the road and turned it, I mean, in a conference, you know, in a conference. I'm like, we didn't either. Like we lost out of conference to Indiana and then we lost in the SEC tournament. You know what I'm saying? But it's like, my bro, we were dominant too. You know? And so I think, you know, and we won. You know, so they talk about all these teams and, you know, I think that bothered me the most. Like, man, y'all don't give love to our 11-12 team as nearly as much as we should be getting. And then two, I just don't think they show me as much love, like, in a college basketball space as they should, you know, given, you know, everything that I've done in a 6-month, you know, 6-7-month span.

1000%. No, I agree, bro. I think, Well, if they don't give you your flowers, I'm gonna give you your flowers. The most decorated college player in the history of the NCAA. There's no one better. There's no resume better. There's no one who dominated the game. We talking about Wimby and what he's doing. You were doing that at the college level. And that's just what it was. You go in the hole, motherfucker dribble the other way. That's what it was. You know, lobs, like—

All that.

Everything, you name it, all of that. So— All that. Definitely gonna get your flowers here, bro. I can't thank you enough. As I said, to start the show, congratulations on your show, Foul Play with Anthony Davis. Out, check that out, man. To have the work ethic to get a show to network.

Yeah, man, appreciate it.

Brother, that's next level. And I know people don't understand that business. That's next level.

Yeah, it's a different world, you know what I'm saying? That I wasn't, you know, I didn't think I was ready for, you know, like long hours every day, every other day, you know, sacrifice from the fam, like all that. And, you know, just like our sport. So whatever you want to do, you want to be great at something, you got to put in the hours. It takes dedication. It takes, you know, hard work. So, um, I'm glad I got it done. I'm glad it's over. And I don't say it's over. Season 1 is over.

Yeah.

And, you know, hopefully that everybody like it, but after the national championship game. Like I said, they'll be seeing this after, but I hope that people really enjoy it. And every Monday, 9 PM Eastern, man, you can, it's new episodes coming out. So, and you leading the way, bro. You leading the way with one of the best ones that I've ever fucking did, bro. I'm telling you, like when I say comedy from start to finish, like. Yeah. That's why we had to do it number one, bro. So I appreciate you. I know, I know Farah was telling me like, Draymond Green wasn't watching. He doesn't, he's still mad from it. I'm like, bro, it was like, and I answer everybody that, you know, got pranked. Like, I appreciate everybody being a good sport and just like, cause it's tough. Like, you know, when they got me, when they reversed it on me, I was like, damn, bro. Like I started sweating like, fuck, I don't want to be pranked. You know what I'm saying? But like, I really appreciate everybody like being good sports and just making it fun and just like, listen, you know, whenever you ready to get somebody, like I got you, you know what I'm saying? So— My dog, my dog. I got you. So I just hope that, you know, everybody enjoy it, bro. It's a lot of hard work and time that went into it. And I just pray that, you know, we able to move on to season 2.

Everybody will enjoy it for sure. As much as I, Hated being pranked. I've actually gone through it now. Job well done, man.

Yes sir, yes sir, appreciate you.

Congrats, bro. Thank you so much for coming on the show.

Yes sir.

Get healthy. You wanted to, you know, you just spoke about me. You are one of the guys that, I'm not much of a sleeper, but you are one of the guys that like, you make me better because when I'm on the floor against you, against Victor Wembanyama, against Kevin Durant, against Kawhi Leonard. When I'm on the floor against you guys, I'm undermatched, you know, from a size perspective, from a skill perspective, I'm undermatched. And what it brings outta me is the best because it requires me to be locked in at every turn. If you don't got the ball, I gotta be locked in because if I give you one step, I can't make up the ground, you know what I'm saying?

Right.

And it's like that with all of you guys. In different ways, but it's been a hell of a 14 years to align, to be in a draft class with you, to align our entire careers and play against each other. And I just wanted to share with you how much better you've made me. How I learned to guard certain guys was I had to try to figure you out. And it's something that I used to try and I used to do it, all the time to you and then you figured it out where I would send, AD loves to go left. He goes left. And so what I would do is I would send AD left and I start trying this like, yo, I'm gonna send him left and see what happened. Because if I send him left, he don't have a counter to me sending him left.

Right.

Because that's what he trying to get to. So now I just gotta cut that shot off once he go left. And I started it and it was working and then you figured it out. And I thought I had you figured out and you figured it out. So it's been an honor to play against you and try to get better and try to answer the bell when we match up. But I thank you for making me better. And I appreciate you for coming on the show.

Oh, for sure, bro. And same here, bro. Like, you know, I actually saw a clip that you just did or what you said recently. Like somebody, one parent came to you and was like, my kid wants to be Draymond Green. And you was like, if your kid wanna be me, he sucks.

He's awful. He's awful.

But no, but like on a serious note, bro, like hearing that and I was like, man, Draymond's actually, bro, listen, I know what you did in high school. In high school, I know what you did in college. I know what you did your first couple years in the league. You know what I'm saying? But you had to, you chose to make an adjustment in your game for the betterment of the team. You know what I'm saying? And that's how y'all got 4 chips, right? And so, you know, when people talk about like, man, Draymond, Draymond, I'm like, Listen, I remember Draymond used to go get 30. Go watch Draymond at Michigan State, bro. Go watch him at Michigan State, what he used to do his first couple years in the league. Trey ball, all that, put it on the floor. Like everything, you know what I'm saying? So like, for me, you know, especially in these playoff battles, like when we played and stuff, like I had to be super dialed in because I knew from the defensive end what you were gonna bring. You know, like, yo, it's gonna be a battle. Like, you gotta work on your shit. And so for me, like I said, I used to always before, the night before the game, just like watch film and like, what is he gonna do? And then go try to work on that. Okay, if he go, you know, like you said, I go left, go left, shit, I used to bump, fade, floater, right? Oh shit, okay. He's sitting on that now, what I gotta do? Oh shit, all right, that's when I got to the left step back.

Yeah.

Like, create some space. So it's like, you actually helping me as well. So like every night that, you know, I, even now, shit, even now, bro, like when I was in LA, Phil Handy, you gotta play fast against him. You know what he's gonna do? Like he's gonna, so like, like every time we play, bro, I have to be super locked in and it is a pleasure. Cause I know no matter from year 1 to year 14 to year fucking 18, like whatever. Like I know when I go against you, it's gonna be a battle. It's not gonna be one of those where it's like, Oh, well, I know he ain't coming to play. Nah, nigga, I'm coming to play today, especially if it's you. And the same with me.

Absolutely.

Yeah, and the same for me. Like, oh shit, Draymond. And we have those games where we're like, oh, we gotta play him. All right, shit. You know what I'm saying? But I know when they come on and say, hey, tonight we got Golden State. Oh, Draymond playing? Okay, bet. All right, here we go. Hey, don't say nothing to me today. Hey baby, I'll talk to you after the game. Yeah, I got a lot. Hey, don't come over here laughing, man. Like, it's one of those where we gotta be— where I gotta be super locked in, um, because I know the energy and the effort and the tenacity that you're gonna bring to the game, bro. So, and we talk shit now, so it's like—

Absolutely.

Like, yeah, it makes it much more fun, bro. So, like, I appreciate you for making me better. You know what I'm saying? Like, making me every day have to work on my shit and get prepared to, you know, go into these battles with you because we gotta appreciate this shit now. Cause man, this, bro, you remember we 2012, we was just rookies. Yes, sir.

Now we're 14 years.

That's what I'm saying. Like we about to go into year 15, bro. Like this shit goes by so fast. So like, I appreciate every moment. I appreciate every obstacle and every battle that we ever, you know, encountered together, bro. And, you know, hopefully it's more down the line that we able to, you know, make it even more great. Battles for everybody to see.

Yes, sir, brother. It's been a pleasure, man. Appreciate you, my dog.

Yes, sir. Always, bro.

If you're rocking with the Draymond Green Show, be sure to click follow on your favorite podcast app. And while you're there, go ahead and drop a 5-star rating and leave a review. I wanna hear what you think. And it would also mean a ton to me if you share it with a friend that you think would enjoy it. Let's keep this thing growing. The Draymond Green Show is presented by Audacy and executive produced in conjunction with The New Media. Our executive producers are Leah Reese Dennis, Danny Friesinger, and Greg Holtzman. Video production and creative design by Curt Courtney, Tim Meekle, Lauren Vieira, and Evan O'Brien. Special thanks to the team at The New Media and the team at Audacy. Maura Curran. Josephina Francis, Hillary Shuff, Eric Donnelly, Kate Rose, Colin Gaynor, and Jake Gally.