Patrick Beverley talks about debating Stephen A. Smith on First Take, describing the pressure of staying sharp while being interrupted and the importance of fact-based commentary. He explains his prep routine and says Stephen A. respects younger analysts enough to mentor and protect them.
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What's up everybody? It's Draymond Green. Make sure you subscribe to The Volume's YouTube channel below so you don't miss any more of this great content going forward. And speaking of the media and the new media, you know, I've been saying that and you know, like I said, I spoke about it on this podcast and just watching you go up there on First Take and watching you on Get Up and seeing you start your media journey and, I'm like I said, I'll be the first to say it was a pleasure for me to watch. You were very knowledgeable, which I think is beautiful. I am not going to do you the disrespect and say you spoke well as if that's not expected. You know, I hate when people tell me, "Oh man, you spoke—" You speak what? Am I supposed to fucking speak bad? Like how am I supposed to sound? Like a fucking idiot? And so I'm not going to give you the, "You spoke well," but you were very knowledgeable. You were certain in what you wanted to say and you didn't back down from no bump. And I don't think people understand what it's like going up there and sitting next to Stephen A. Stephen A is great. Like—
No, no, no.
What? Like, he is the best. Elite.
Elite.
Absolutely elite at, like, he is the best at what he does. He is the absolute best. And I don't think people understand what it takes for you to go sit up there, listen to one of his rants, keep your train of thought because he may say something in the first 5 to 10 seconds that you want to respond to, but he may go on for 2 minutes. And you have to hold your train of thought for the rest of that time while he says 7 other things that you want to respond to. And then you have to respond back, not stumble over yourself, know exactly what you're talking about. If for one second you think you're gonna say, "And actually, um," he gonna come right back in and destroy what you were saying. So I don't think people really understand the pressure of that. And then actually being able to go up there and do it like you did. But what made you want to start your media journey right now? And where do you plan on taking it? It's a 3-part question. And I know you'll roll with it. And then thirdly, what was that like going up there with a GOAT? You know, we always talk about playing against GOATs. You playing with arguably the GOAT now. Like, what was that like going up there and facing the GOAT every single day you went up there?
So I knew I was always good with words. Like, I was always witty. Like, I'm quick on my feet. You know what I'm saying? You say 2, I say, you know, 4. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm real— Quick. I just, with the media, especially the new media, your facts have to be on point and timely facts, not something that happened, that happened, that happened. Timely facts that you can, "Hey, yeah, you said that, but that's very interesting to me because you just said this. So I'm trying to see how this compares to what you just say." "if they don't equal up to me. So help me understand so I can be better." You know?
Yeah.
And it came sarcastically, which opened the doors to everything. You know? And I had fun with it. Like, you know, I'm always telling the truth, but the person I am on the media and the person I am in my regular life is the person that I am on a basketball court. So it's not like I'm two different people. Like, if I say he's a cone, he's a bum, Like, I'mma say that to your face. Like, I'm not gonna— you know.
Absolutely.
You know what I'm saying? Like, you know.
Absolutely.
It ain't— Aaron Gordon, like, you a 2K player. Like, ain't no disrespect to you, but you a 2K— you ain't no, uh, you know what I'm saying? So, like, I don't have a problem saying that because when we play Denver Nuggets, I'mma say the same thing to him in his face, you know, whether Mike is there or not. So far as being nervous about saying things, wasn't an issue. But going up there with Stephen A, it was like, I don't think people understand like his vocabulary. Like it's—
Insane. My goodness. Bro vocab, dude, a thesaurus, a dictionary, encyclopedia. Dude is all of that.
All of that.
Yeah.
And he comes up and he's so fresh and he's, and people don't understand like he's an older guy. It's like, so for him to still be able to like, to say a word and deliver a message and anybody on any age level can like understand it, grasp it, and have knowledge about that is GOAT status, bro. It really is.
Absolutely. Yes, sir.
It really is. That's a fact. So like to go up there, you know, obviously, you know, I'm not gonna go up there like I'm just this, I'mma ask questions, I'mma, you know, text the night before. I'm prepared. Dray, I got my notes out, you know what I'm saying? I don't even wanna watch the playoffs, Fuck it, man, I'll watch this shit. You know what I'm saying? Like, I got my notes out. So I wanna come prepared, 'cause I don't wanna disrespect Stephen A. Smith.
That's a fact.
'Cause he gonna test me. He gonna test me.
Now you in his playground. See, we always, you know, we all call him out when he get to talking hoop. You know what I'm saying? And he know his stuff, but I would never believe that Stephen A. know basketball better than me. Just like you, like, this is what we do. This is what we eat, bro. This is what we do. But you go up there now, you in his battlefield. You better be ready to go.
Every time too. And he go test you and he go cut you off. And he go talk like you said, he go throw a little bit out there in the beginning, let up off of it, 2 minutes later, come back to it. And you sitting there, you can't be sitting there like, uh, the, the, the, right past you next. He can't do it, out the way. Now you looking crazy on TV.
Absolutely.
Nah, I'mma control my narrative. Steven A, I said this, I'm staying with this. This is my team. This is my prediction. I remember when I was up there, everybody talking about, man, Draymond, Draymond. I say, man, y'all need to relax, man. This man knows exactly what he's doing, man. Absolutely.
What's wrong with y'all?
You think this man, you think this team has came all the way to the championship to fucking lose? Like they're battle tested, battle proven with and without KD. Like, man, y'all tripping. Now everybody's surprised. Oh, Pat, you were right about Draymond. He was gonna— Nah, I'm a basketball player. Like, obviously, like, Dray knows what's going on. Okay, cool. Let me get that attention. All right, Steph, y'all cool now? All right, cool. Now it's on. Let's hoop now. Absolutely.
You know what I'm saying?
It's just chess game, man. This shit ain't checkers, man.
That part.
It ain't, you know? So like, and going up there with Stephen A. Smith was a vibe, man. And like, he's one of the few guys that like, He helps you. He's not here to like step on you or like, you feel me? He gonna let you know in the dough, "Yeah, this still my shit." You know what I'm saying?
Yes, yes.
Which I respect, but like he helps you. He ain't here to like hold information from you or like let you step in some shit and then like, "Oh man, watch where you going." Like nah, he gonna warn you everything that's to come and you gotta applaud a brother like that. Especially African-American brother like that, straight up.
That's a fact. I love that brother, man. He helps me. He'll send me text messages. If he see me do something well, he'll call me. If he see me do something wrong, he'll call me. And I always tell people, people quick to ask about Stephen A. And I always tell people, I say, man, that's a real guy. Like, you know, you see him go to work and you like, oh, he this, he that. I'm telling you, that's a real guy. And he cares and he helps and he's not insecure. Which he's willing to put his neck out on the line for you if it calls for him to put his neck out on the line. But I got a lot of respect and appreciation for him because like you just said, this is a business where, man, everybody after everything. And yet he's so secure in who he is and what he brings that he's not afraid to help. Draymond Green.
