Zach LaVine on DeMar DeRozan's MVP season, Bulls hot start, 2020 Olympics | The Draymond Green Show

Hi, it's Colin Cowherd. I started The Volume to bring you some of the most authentic voices in sports. While you're here, make sure you hit subscribe. Thanks.

Man, this interview is an exciting one for me. You know, obviously in doing this, you had an opportunity to not only ramble on about my thoughts as I like to do, but also had an opportunity to sit down with— we've sat down with Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers. And today I am honored to have another future Hall of Famer, a one-time All-Star, soon to be two.

Welcome.

Two-time dunk champion, which produced some incredible dunks, but more importantly, went on after that dunk contest to show what an incredible player he is and became an All-Star. And what we share in common and what started this relationship, which is growing and it's a lifelong one, is an Olympic gold medalist. I am honored today to have my brother Zach Levine. Zach, what up, my dog?

What's up, boy? I appreciate it, man.

Come on this. Absolutely. I appreciate you coming on. This obviously means the world to me. I have an opportunity to have these conversations. We had T-Mac on last week. But just to talk not only basketball, but talk life and just kind of get it all out there is always fun for me. But you know, from Renton, Washington, Seattle, for those of y'all that can't put two and two together. Oh, PT.

Outside of it, yeah.

Zach, if I understand correctly, your parents are athletes, right?

Yeah, my dad played professional football. The Portland Breakers is a USFL team back in the day. It was like the other NFL. And then went and played for the Seahawks as well for a couple years. My mom, extremely athletic, played softball growing up. So it was in my blood from the get-go.

Extremely athletic, ah.

Yeah.

We've seen that, that's for sure. And so your dad, he played for the Seahawks. Is that how y'all, how you ended up in Seattle or is your dad from Seattle?

No, my dad's from San Bernardino, California. Grew up in SoCal and ended up meeting my mom there after he retired. So he just ended up staying in the cold rainy city.

Okay, okay. And I also read that you became a fan of Michael Jordan through the movie Space Jam. You didn't watch basketball before Space Jam's out?

So I was a baseball player growing up 'cause my dad, my dad, ironically, actually got drafted to baseball too, before he went to college. And then when I was younger, just watching Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan together, I think as a kid, that's the best combination you can get.

That's, by the way, I've heard your dad is outta his mind, especially when it come to your workouts. I've seen some of the videos in the backyard.

Oh yeah, dude's crazy. Yeah. It was great. But it got me to where I had to go, man. And me and my dad are best friends. And that's what I wanted to, you know, I wanted to be like him growing up. So I think it's something that just molded me who I am.

That's interesting. And a question that I have as a father and always trying to find that balance of how much do you push your kid and what's too much? And I've seen growing up, some dads that probably pushed their kids way too much. And it altered the relationship. It altered the father-son relationship. And for me personally, my relationship with my, obviously my two girls, Olive and Cash, but my son, my relationship is way more important than him ever becoming a basketball star.

Yeah.

Or my two girls becoming stars. My relationship with them is way more important. And so when I see that or hear that, it's kind of heartbreaking because you to see a father lose the relationship with their son and to hear you say, my dad is my best friend and how hard he pushed you. What was the thing that kept y'all relationship so tight and not him pushing you away because he was pushing you so hard in basketball?

Yeah, I mean, I think that's a big thing. And like you said, it's sad. Cause being a dad and a father is number one. And I want to be there one day. I'm sure you have kids. But it's something that I had to realize growing up was how bad he wanted it and wanted it for me. I had to want it that bad as well. And he was pushing me to— he was helping me do all the things that he didn't have. He didn't have a dad growing up. He used to tell me, he said, I wish I had somebody like me that would love and care for you and tell you all the mistakes I made and try to guide you in the right way. So as a youngster, I really realized, like, You know, he's not here to hurt me. He's just trying to help and guide me to be the best person I can be. Not just as a basketball, baseball player, whatever it was, but as a man too. So I always respect and appreciate that.

That's what's up. And so you go on from high school and then as the Mr. Basketball in the state of Washington in 2013.

How you getting all these stats, Draymond Green?

I know a little bit, you know, I know a little bit and Jackson is great at what he does. As well, but I know a little bit about you, man.

There you go.

No, so you're Mr. Basketball, you go on to UCLA and having, and walk me through your transition and going to UCLA. 'Cause I know for me and going to Michigan State, I struggled a little bit that first year. I didn't get much time. The odds were kind of against me and I played as the year went on, I started to play more, but early on it was a struggle for me. Walk me through you arriving on campus and how your freshman year went.

Man, I mean, coming from Seattle, I mean, obviously you're not the most highly touted or like really hot, hot plate of basketball. We're a little bit slept on in Northwest. So, you know, obviously I did my thing in high school, but I wasn't a McDonald's All-American. I think I was in the top like 75 for players. So I wasn't going in thinking I'm gonna be a one and done guy, but Always been a worker, you know, always when I step on the court was the most confident person just 'cause the work I put in. So going out there, I had a chip on my shoulder and then being able to play against pros immediately on campus, you know, the runs up at UCLA at the SAC. So playing against guys like Westbrook, Jr., Drew Holliday, former guys like Josh Shipp, And like testing my game out, like right coming straight outta high school and seeing where I was really good for me. And just finding my way. I didn't start at UCLA either, but I came off the bench, had a good role and really just started picking up momentum from there.

That's funny. 'Cause I remember watching you at UCLA and I'm like, how are they not starting this kid? Like, this is insane that he's not starting.

Yeah, we had a really good team and I wasn't upset about not starting 'cause we were really good. I think we were like top 5 in the country with me, Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson, Norman Powell, the Ware twins. Like we had a really— Tony Parker. We had a really good team. So I was always accepting of a role as long as I was able to, you know, go out there and contribute.

And were you the highest draft pick of that group?

Yeah, I think, yeah, I went 13th. I went 13th. So it was, you know, it's the way it worked out.

That's interesting because I think a lot of young guys can learn from that. You know, we all wanna be starters. I think that's just the nature of what we do. But for, I think there's even more so than starting, there's more power in owning your role. And so if you sit back and you mope about it and I think I'm better than this guy, I think I'm better than that guy. Then you start to look at the draft boards, you're climbing up the draft boards. It's very easy for that to start to crumble. But I always try to tell guys, it don't matter if you're starting the game. Are you in the lineup that finishes the game? Yeah.

Yeah, exactly.

And that's what's important. And I remember you being in those lineups closing out games.

Yeah, no, it was big time. And you know, like you said, accepting your role and talent always shows regardless of when you're playing or where you are or your role on the team. You know, can you shine in those moments? And I feel like when the opportunity knocked, I opened the door.

Absolutely. And so you're drafted 13th to the Minnesota Timberwolves. With a young Andrew Wiggins, with a young Karl-Anthony Towns.

Yeah.

And it didn't quite go the way everyone wanted to go. I, now I personally think you guys were very young. And so being that— Yeah, Draymond Green. People don't understand how important experience is in this league. And I felt like they never gave y'all enough time to grow together and kind of, and they kind of moved on fast. What did you think or feel about that?

I mean, like you said, experience and us being extremely young. I mean, we're 18, 19 years old all together, you know, sharing the court. Nothing is going to be perfect. 'Cause you have to go through those bumps and bruises. And we, you know, realistically we only had 2 to 3 years to really like, everybody wanted the process to happen so fast and us to be good so fast. It just doesn't work like that sometimes. But growing up and having those experiences, you know, those my guys and it was really fun. But like you said, I don't think they let it marinate enough for us to really see what could have happened.

Do you think that group could have been successful if they did let y'all play or would you have just preferred for it to go the way it went?

I mean, I think everything happens for a reason, but you know, it's— It would've been tough realistically, you know, in this, it would've been tough there for everybody to stay on the team from a financial standpoint. 'Cause we're all, you know, really top level guys, but we never got to the point to find out if it would work or not. Mm-hmm.

So, yeah. I mean, I think financially it could've worked though. I mean, you look at our team, for instance, we have Klay making the max, obviously Steph making, the super, super, super max, but you have Klay making the max, you have Wiggs making his max at what the max was at that time.

Yep.

And I'm also making my max for what I could have signed for. And so I think it could have worked financially.

It could have, but you guys also won, you know, a handful of championships and we were in Minnesota in the small market. So you just, you never know, bro. I don't know. It would've been tough, but you know, like you said, you never know.

And so you were traded to Chicago and Chicago hadn't really rebounded. I mean, obviously you had those few years in there with Tibbs and D-Rose and Jimmy had a solid run there, but Chicago never truly rebounded since Michael Jordan left. And obviously we all saw the documentary and how, Jerry Krause broke the team up. He told them that was it for Phil, it don't matter. And they never rebounded from that. And now I think everyone's finally starting to see that rebound. But walk me through those years of Chicago. I found out an interesting stat when we were at the Olympics, which was Zach hadn't won 3 games in a row since college, I think it was.

Yeah, 4 games in a row since college. That was my first 4-game winning streak.

Which is—

That's interesting. Yeah.

That's interesting.

You gotta play the card. Going to another rebuilding team, I was coming off ACL injury when I got traded as well. So I only got to play about, I think it was less than 20 games my first year there. And for anybody who knows, coming off ACL, that first year isn't really— you're just getting your feedback. And then that next year is really when you become back to, you know, who you are and all that training comes in. It was a great opportunity for me to go out there and showcase all the work I put in off-season, you know, 'cause I work out and I train, you know, like I said, not to be a number 2, number 3 guy. Like, you know, I work out and I wanna be a superstar and that's what I work for. And I think when that opportunity came, you know, I wanted to be ready for it.

Absolutely. And I know for me, when I play in Chicago, every time I hear the music in the starting lineup, It feels like Michael Jordan is about to run out.

Yeah.

'Cause that's just like, that's where we all learned that sound. Like that's where we learned, you know, I can't really, I'm not very good musically, so I can't really make the sound on my own, but we all know the intro song of the Chicago Bulls. And like I said, for me personally, when we're playing there, every time I hear it, I look at the tunnel like Michael Jordan's about to run out.

Like, those about to walk out.

Absolutely. And then it's only Zach LaVine run out and I'm a little disappointed, but it's all good.

Hey, man.

No, but so you then you go to Chicago Bulls initially knowing that the team was so bad. Did you feel pressure in going in there to live up to what the Bulls were or because the team was already bad, there was no pressure?

I mean, me coming from a rebuilding team, I didn't know any different. And that's where, like I said, you have to play the cards you're dealt. And that's where experience and learning how to win all comes into play. 'Cause, you know, I had to learn for myself what it took and to go into that. So it was a process. Obviously you go out there and try to do everything you can, but, you know, I was just looking forward to the opportunity to, you know, play my game and then hopefully, you know, have the Bulls build around me as I show progression. Mm-hmm.

Now the year is 2021. You become an All-Star for the first time. You win an Olympic gold medal. Sound like a damn good year to me, my man.

Yeah, hey man, look, a lot of work goes into that and it just, you know, it started manifesting. And then obviously going into this year with the year that we're having, the additions that we brought in, it's been incredible.

And talk me through those additions. And I wanna hear about one in particular. Lonzo has been a great addition. Alex Caruso has been a great addition, but DeMar, and you know, coming into the, well, just going into those talks, there's a lot of talk about you and DeMar, y'all play the same position. How is that gonna work together once, and then DeMar does, did you, well, before we get to DeMar signing, did you have any conversations with DeMar about coming to Chicago or was that all done with DeMar and Arturo?

But they went through their own process of going to get him. And then obviously I called DeMar myself when we were in Tokyo.

Yeah.

I had a conversation with him and I was all on board 'cause I wanted a guy like that. For all the narratives that got put out about it, I think it was stupid. You know, for people that don't know basketball, don't know him as a person or a basketball player, like DeMar DeRozan's an All-NBA, you know, player. Like you say, future Hall of Fame player. He's proven this before. And the narratives that got put out, 'cause he was in San Antonio. Like, he's been playing great basketball for a long time. I don't know where that came from. So it was great to have a guy like that. And the way we've been able to work our chemistry on the court has been like a hand in a glove.

I think it's definitely been beautiful. And speaking of those narratives, obviously, as you know, I'm very close to DeMar as well.

Yeah.

And we would always talk. Through all of that stuff going on. DeMar is, you know, he's washed up. He's kind of at the end. Mid-range jump shots, he doesn't shoot threes. And you hear all of that talk really for the last two, better part of the last two years since he went to the Spurs.

Mm-hmm.

And, you know, obviously he continued to push. And one thing that you and I both know is how he works.

Yeah.

And like works nonstop. But what was it for, if you've had these conversations, I'm not even sure if you've had the conversation, but what was it for AK and the Bulls franchise that saw Draymond Green and said, no, he can fit here and this will work. What was it that pushed them towards this direction? Because I don't think his market was that hot, especially when the Lakers went away, which, Goes to show, I always talk about talent evaluators and how they evaluate talent. But what was it that pushed y'all to get over what everyone was saying about DeMar?

I haven't personally talked with AK and Mark about what made them like him, but when they came to me and said, "How would this work?" I was all for it. We needed somebody that obviously I knew I could go to battle with every single day that's been in those positions. I haven't been to those playoffs like we were talking about before. And someone who's had big-time success in the playoffs. Somebody who has a calming presence in the fourth quarter and go down and make big shots and be a, you know, me and him can be a, you know, a one-two punch, you know, throughout the whole game. It's, it really has been like a match made in heaven. Him playing in the mid-range, me being able to get to the cup and shoot three. You know, we've been able to do pretty much everything. And just that presence he has, man, you know, I mean, you know, he has just such a confidence and a calming presence. That's been able to help us this year.

Absolutely. And it seems like everyone has taken on that demeanor. But I think when I'm watching the Bulls, whether it's following along on Instagram, whether it's watching the game, you know, we're sitting here talking about DeMar, but what I see when I'm watching the Bulls, or like I said, on Instagram, I see a totally different Zach LaVine. I see a Zach LaVine that is so certain of himself, that has kind of dialed everything up. I know one of the conversations that we had this summer was, "Hey man, you are Zach LaVine." Yeah. "You are that good." Yeah. "And embody that." And to me, I think as great as DeMar has been, you and I both know how it is to have one great player on the team playing great and no one else.

Yeah.

And so as great as DeMar has been, you have been equally as great. And although you've always played at the level that you're playing at, you've always put up the numbers and all those things. I think it's something to say for a guy that is certain in himself and carries himself that way. And it looks to me that there has been a change in you. Am I accurate? Am I off?

No, 100%, 'cause I remember me and you having that conversation after practice. And, you know, it was big for me to go out there and play on the level of guys of my talent and better than me. And me to accept a role on a team where, you know, I'm not gonna be the number one option, the scoring option, you know? And we all had to find our roles. And I've given you credit. Like, the reason we won that gold medal, Dray, you know, KD was by far the best player on the team. But you know, without you, we wouldn't have won that. You were the overall leader, but you accepted your role and played it for what it was. I think coming into the season, I never had that type of mindset. So by any means necessary, just try to find out a way to win, how I can, you know, improve my game to play both sides of the floor and then also share the floor with another dynamic, you know, guy as DeMar has been and, and still be myself. Um, I've been extremely confident. Like you said, DeMar has been off the charts. I know I've been right there with him. So it's, uh, absolutely. You know, it's been really fun to play winning basketball and have this type of season for both of us has been so fun.

Absolutely. And staying in Tokyo, because I do wanna discuss that, that was such an incredible trip. Obviously for us winning gold, but I always tell people what we did over there was special. And it wasn't that we won a gold medal, that was special. We built a bond amongst that team that I don't think most people truly understands. And the reality is, when we're over there, and you can speak to this too, when we were over there, it felt like, including America, that the whole world was against us and wanted us to lose.

Yeah, it was crazy.

Like, I mean, you're looking on like, obviously on the phone because you don't get ESPN over there, but you're looking on the phone and you have Americans dogging us.

And doubting you.

Like doubting us, dogging us. The world has caught up. These guys can't win, blah, blah, blah. And I felt like we had to come together the way we did in order to win.

First, it was really us versus the world. And especially with us being able, because of the pandemic, to not go anywhere and having to be so close-knit. Each and every day. Like you said, it definitely bonded us. And for me, being my first experience, you know, over there, it was incredible.

No, it was. And I think for me personally, obviously that was my second one, but you know, and I appreciate what you just said about me on that team, by the way. One thing that I learned my first time around in 2016, where, Man, I'm not sure how many minutes per game I averaged at Olympics. It was probably somewhere around 6 to 8 minutes a game.

Yeah.

But the one thing that stood out to me was since winning that 2016 gold medal, not one person asked me how many points I averaged per game. Not one person asked me how many rebounds I averaged per game. Not one person asked me how many minutes I played per game. The only thing anyone ever says was, "You won a gold medal, didn't you?" Absolutely, I won a gold medal. And so for me to then bring that mindset to this team and trying to help guys understand, "Hey man, I don't—" And obviously on this time around, I had a bigger impact in playing.

Mm-hmm.

Now everyone has an impact. We can speak of Keldon Johnson, everyone may, put up so much fuss about Keldon making the team. And I always tell people, Keldon was one of the reasons we won that. The energy that he brought every single day, practice, we don't wanna go to practice, Keldon in there loud, bringing energy.

Happy, yeah.

I don't think people truly understand that. And that was me. Like I was Keldon 4 years, or man, 6 years ago. 6 years ago, I was Keldon. And so I understood that. And like I said, I played a bigger role now, but for instance, it came down to like, who's gonna start, me or Bam? I'm telling Coach Pop, like, I don't care. Like, start Bam. Who cares? That don't matter to me. And I don't think people truly realize how important a guy settling into his role on that US team is in order to win that gold.

No, it was big time. And what you said earlier, winning trumps everything. Nobody asks you how many minutes you play. You won the gold medal. Winning trumps everything. And everybody was happy with the role that they had and that we got to celebrate with the gold medal. It was that, I think that's what the main thing that I brought back, like you said, to even to the NBA this year, me having my old role back with my team, winning trumps everything. And that's what we have to go out there and do.

No doubt. And as soon as we got back from Tokyo, which we all flew back together, news comes out maybe a week, week and a half later that you had left your agent and signed with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports. And I thought that was a very big deal because the reality is that you were with Bill Duffy and Niemer.

Yep.

And it's not that they were doing a bad job or, you know, I know for me personally, I can only speak on my own experience. When I signed with Klutch Sports, it wasn't that my previous agent, BJ Armstrong, was doing a bad job. I thought he was doing a good job and we had a close relationship. I just thought for me and where I was in my life and the things that I wanted to do, that Klutch moving forward was the best fit for me. It didn't necessarily make BJ bad. It didn't make Wasserman bad.

Yeah.

I just felt that that was the best decision for me. What was it for you that made you wanna make that switch?

It was like you just said, Phil and Nima did. I love those guys to death. They helped me grow as a person and helped me grow as a man into this league. You know, I love them. I still talk to 'em all the time, but you know, sometimes you have to go off and do something that's right for you at the right time. And I think me at this stage of my career, Clutch lined up with everything that I was going moving forward to and even, into the future. And, you know, I really appreciate what they did, but, you know, I really appreciate what Rich and Clutch is doing for me now and then moving forward. 'Cause that's the path I'm on.

Absolutely. And like I said, I saw that you made that move. I thought it was a great move. And like you said, and just who you are becoming and, you know, now this summer you're having a great season. You're about to be an All-Star. Your team is right there tied for first place in the Eastern Conference. You know, so obviously looking, albeit that y'all get healthy because y'all have been bitten by the injury bug.

Been a little banged up lately, man. Been a little banged up lately.

Y'all been bitten by the injury bug like we have. So albeit that y'all get healthy, now you're going into your first playoffs and you're able to compete for what hopes to be a championship. But, And speaking of y'all getting healthy, it looked like y'all have found a hidden gem in being hurt, in Ayu.

Yeah.

What's your feeling on him? What does he bring to the table that you like or love?

He's a dog. You know, he has a chip on his shoulder, was a second round pick, was, you know, one of the players of the year in college. Kid really knows how to play, does whatever his ass will play. Play defense, will go out there and score a game if he has to, play the point guard. I mean, he has a great feel for the game and, you know, we appreciate him. And with us being out, gave him an opportunity to go out there and start getting more comfortable in doing everything he has. And now with us being back, me and Draymond even said, "Man, keep playing this way 'cause we're gonna need it." And—

Absolutely.

You know, I think that's how sometimes when opportunity happens, you go out there and start becoming who you're meant to be.

Absolutely. And I went on JJ Redick's podcast that'll drop this weekend. And one thing that we discussed was the importance of team and the importance of culture within a team. And the reason I am bringing that up is, staying along the lines of IU, if you and DeMar aren't, aren't going about things the way y'all are going about things, being true professionals. And Vooch as well. 'Cause Vooch is an ultimate pro. And Caruso and Lonzo, obviously. But you know, whenever you're speaking of a team, you're always gonna talk about the two top dogs. Just is how it goes.

Yeah.

But do you feel that the importance of culture and winning has helped move him along? Because as a young player, you also went to a Minnesota team that didn't have culture.

Yeah.

And it's kind of just guys out there doing what they do. Can you see the difference or the importance of culture and winning in him as opposed to what you were given your rookie year?

100%. 'Cause you're coming into a totally different environment with experience. And I can include myself being a, you know, 8-year pro now. You know, seeing guys like me in the gym early, guys like DeMar staying afterwards, getting their work in and then going and getting treatment. Guys like Alex Caruso, who's won a championship, speaking during film sessions and walkthroughs. Lonzo Ball sacrificing himself and pointing out defensive coverages. Like, I didn't have that. You know, like you said, it was just a— it was just rolling the ball out and guys just playing. So I, even coming from a winning program at Illinois, now coming into this, this is a totally different thing than I had, but it's helped him push along his game, at least I feel like, to where— Mm-hmm. This is a normal thing and this is how it's supposed to be ran.

Absolutely. And I wanna backtrack a little bit and talk again about Zach, pre-star Zach LaVine. And what I wanna talk about is actually an event that I attended with a bright-ass yellow jacket on. That was the dunk contest. I'm not sure I would ever wear that. Well, I actually, I didn't believe I would ever wear that jacket again. I actually gave the jacket to Mr. Fab because I'm like, I'll never wear this again. I was thinking about that jacket a couple nights ago. Like, man, I should have kept that jacket. I'll throw that on with some all black nowadays and rock out. But—

Crazy though.

I personally thought that was, and I've watched a ton of dunk contests. I'm 31. I've probably been watching the dunk contest since I was 4 or 5 years old. I personally thought that was one of the best dunk contests I've ever seen. And it was pretty much what it came down to was you and Aaron Gordon. And if I'm not mistaken, DeMar was in that dunk contest.

No, DeMar, DeMar, what he was going to be. I remember talking to him.

Okay.

'Cause we played Toronto like 3 days before the All-Star break. And he said, man, I was gonna be, 'cause it was in Toronto. Yeah. Said, bro, I was about to be in the All-Star, or the dunk contest until you put your name in there.

And I remember correctly, he was like, man, I'm not about to jump with them young ones.

Yeah, exactly.

But like I said, do you feel like that was one of the best dunk contests ever?

Yeah, I mean, obviously you can't base anything on era and impact like what Dominique and Michael had, or like fancy dunk contests, but you have to put that up there to be one of the best dunk contests just on, the pure skill, athleticism in the 50s that we were doing. And it was a toss-up and it just came down to who had the best dunk at the end of the overtime. And I tried to go between the legs in the free throw line. That was the first time I tried that and I made it. So—

That's the first time you ever tried it?

That was the first time I ever tried it. First time and only time. Happened, you know, so— Wow.

Yeah. That's interesting. That's interesting. And obviously that was up against Aaron Gordon. Who went on to give himself the nickname Mr. 50. What do you think or make of that?

I mean, A.G., look, he's had a bunch of times where he could have won a dunk contest. And you know, it's sometimes unfortunate, 'cause not everybody can win. And I mean, at the end of it, even said like, "Hey man, look, we should both be sharing this 'cause just for the culture and for what we did for this event." You know, it was big time, but, AG definitely is gonna be cemented in dunk contest history, even if he didn't win it.

No, I agree 100%. I actually thought the same thing. Like, man, just stop this now. Let them both win.

Yeah.

And we go on about our night. 'Cause Toronto was definitely a great time. But can you ever see yourself participating in a dunk contest again? Or are those days behind you?

Oh, it's over. Yeah, it's over. It's done. I try, I can still get up, you know that, but it's not a— It's not the forefront of my mind anymore. And you know, now with me logging more and more minutes, you know, I was playing, I was only playing like 28 minutes a game then. So I could go out there and jump all the time. So no, I'm saving my dunks for the, you know, if you try to come over and set a charge or something like that.

That's the thing though. I'm never coming over and try to set the charge. I think you done tried before, I blocked it. Yeah, you blocked me twice. And then you tried and I got out the way. I ain't no fool. But you're not dealing with here is a fool. I'm not crazy. If I, listen, I keep trying to tell Miles Bridges, who infamously went out and said publicly that the one guy he wants to dunk on is me. I try to tell Miles all the time, you're not going to dunk on me. And the reason you're not going to dunk on me is because I'm only going to jump if I know I have the advantage.

Yeah.

And if there is even an inkling of not having the advantage. And when I say advantage, I don't mean advantage to block your shot. Although you wanna block your shot.

You get back outta hell outta there.

I need to be in a position to where I can foul you, where you can't make that shot. And I try to tell Miles this all the time, like, Miles, I'm only going to block your shot, foul you, or move out the way. Those won't equal out to you dunking on me. It's just not gonna happen. You may wanna take that word of advice too. But Prime MJ, Kobe, VC, and you, what's happening in that dunk contest?

See, a lot of people don't put Kobe in there. Kobe was a dunker, man.

Hey now, that's how I first learned about Kobe was in the dunk contest with the fro between the legs. Like back then between the legs wasn't common.

Yeah, that outfit was different.

Yeah, exactly. Isaiah Rider had did it. But it wasn't a common dunk and Kobe was doing all that. But who you, what's happening in that dunk contest?

I mean, MJ's gonna get the biggest fan reaction. You can already tell. Vince is gonna come with like the most, I would say creative. 'Cause he, it's gonna be a toss-up, man. I'll never put myself against anybody. I think it'll be me and Vince in the final, you know? But I think Vince might take me 'cause Vince, I always go against the guys that, you know, came before me. And Vince came with some stuff. It'll be me or Vince. It just depends on who makes that first dunk. That's what I'll say.

Ladies and gentlemen, Zach LaVine just, eliminated Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Let that marinate for a minute. No, that's—

It's a dunk contest.

Let that marinate. It's funny because last week, as I said, we had T-Mac on and I asked T-Mac, I said, T-Mac, back in those Raptor days, you know how you jumping guys do after practice? Y'all doing all the dunks while I go sit down and watch and talk my junk. But I was asking him, I said, "You or Vince back in those days dunking?" And with, like, he didn't even blink. Vince Carter by far, like not even close. And so it's interesting that that's who you went with as well. Because I think, I don't think people realize, number one, how athletic Vince was. But number 2, how good of a player Vince was.

How good of a dunker almost trumped how good of a player he was. Like, dude's a straight up Hall of Famer, 26,000 points average, you know what, 28, 29, 30 points per game a couple times. Like, that's, you don't do that by dunking. You know, you're off the charts.

Absolutely. Absolutely. No, I think I always tell people, I think Vince had an incredible career and I think he is one of the most talented players. That has ever stepped foot in the NBA. So it's great to see you give him his flowers because that doesn't happen often. And like I said, when you're talking any category that includes Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and, you know, and the two other guys are the ones that walk outta that conversation because I too believe that you would've been up there.

I—

You put on one of the greatest dunk contest performances that we've ever seen. And not once, but twice. And so I, two times, right?

You want, what's funny about it, you remember how you just said T-Mac eventually dunked after practice? You wanna know who beat me in a dunk contest that you wouldn't think of?

Wiggs?

Exactly.

Listen, man, I have this picture on my phone.

I tell you.

I have this picture on my phone of Wiggs jumping. And he literally jumped for a rebound. And his neck is above the square.

Yeah.

The top of the square. Like, I couldn't believe it.

He never wanted to do it. He would just casually, like after practice, he would just casually do some stuff I'd never seen before. I'd be like, wow. And that's coming, you know, I did what I did in dunk contest. It was crazy.

Well, let's see. We got Wiggs, who gonna make the All-Star Game this year? And we all need to be pushing for Wiggs to also get in the dunk contest.

I don't know if he's gonna do that.

No chance he's doing that.

No chance.

Hey, but before I let you get outta here, I don't want to take up much more of your time. I am very appreciative of you coming on. The last thing I want to discuss, you are a free agent coming up this summer. How are you approaching free agency? Are you excited about it? I know for me, I never wanted to hit free agency. Like I signed my extension before I hit free agency once, but I was a restricted free agent, which was after my third year. And I had to hit it that time because that second year I ain't play. So I needed that third year to earn my money.

Yeah.

And then obviously my current contract, I signed the extension. So I never wanted to hit free agency, but how are you approaching this? Are you excited about it? Are you not worried about it at all right now and just playing? I think that's a little cliché because we all think about things, especially when talking about the type of money that you're gonna be up for.

Yeah, no, obviously I'm excited for it. Now we're focused on the year and everything like that. And my whole focus is on winning. But I mean, I'm excited. I've never been a free agent. You know, last time I was, I was a restricted free agent and I had to sign an offer sheet, you know? So not a lot of people go through that. So I'm excited about it. And obviously I got a great support system with Rich and Clutch that's gonna take care of me and my business on that end. But I'm looking forward to it. And 'cause it's a new experience. Not a lot of people get to go through it and have a choice. So I'm excited.

And Hunter as well.

Yes, and my wife as well.

Zach, my brother. Yeah, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.

No, you know, we're extremely excited. Obviously like what we built in Chicago and what we're going through this year, you know, I'm extremely happy. And I know that, you know, for right now this is my home, but you know, it's, you know, I'm excited 'cause it's a new experience.

I must say, I am excited that you're going through this with Rich. And the reason I am excited is because I know the way Rich goes about his contract negotiations. And I've now been I've had two agents before Rich, so I've gone through contract negotiations with now three agents, Rich being one of them.

Yeah.

And he goes about it in a way totally different than I had seen before. And I think that one of the things that I was most impressed about was the way my contract was drawn up.

Mm-hmm.

'Cause I think so many guys get caught up in how much money is it? What's the dollar amount? And the reality is there are a lot of things little nuances in contracts that if you don't understand, you can get screwed over.

Yeah.

And Rich is actually the one who taught me all of those things. I mean, I'm talking about going in, I'm in year 7 or 8 of my career, and 7, and didn't know those things that he's taught me, whether it was the payment schedule, Love of the game. You know, all of these different things that he included in my contract that really made my contract worth more than the actual dollar amount.

Which is crazy that you didn't know about that until your 8th year. So I think that's what I'm looking forward to with Rich, 'cause like you said, he's really a savant about it. You know, it's just cool.

No, absolutely. So I am excited to see you go through your process, brother. But even more importantly, I am, as excited and watching you and DeMar tear apart the Eastern Conference. And I think it only goes up from here. Like this is year one that we're seeing it. I think it only goes up here from here for you guys. And you know, I was talking to DeMar and you know, and just looking at y'all roster, like that's gonna continue to improve.

Yep.

And you guys are gonna continue to improve 'cause you're two workers. So I'm extremely excited about it, brother. Good luck the rest of the way. Good luck with getting y'all guys back healthy. I'm looking forward to getting back healthy and getting out there too. But I can't thank you enough for coming on, my brother.

I appreciate it, man. You know, I'll talk to you anytime in the off season. We gonna enjoy a nice glass of wine together, dawg.

We definitely gonna do that. Oh, by the way, I see you got a New Balance hoodie on. What's that about?

You know, I'm a little bit of a free agent right now too. So I'm just, you know, I'm messing around with all these different brands and, you know, enjoying my time there too. I'm a free agent everywhere right now. It's crazy.

I love to see it. Well, it works. It goes hand to hand, my brother. But good luck the rest of the way, bro. I appreciate you coming on.

I appreciate you, dog. Stay safe, get healthy, man.

Yes, sir. Thank you.