I'm not a hater!

[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome, everybody, to the Name, Image and Legends podcast. I'm joined by my fellow pit legends, Lavance Fields, Jermaine Dixon, and Gary McGee. Boy, do we have a special guest today. If you're a basketball fan, you can't help but to love this dude's journey. Can't wait to dive in and talk about his basketball career and what he's doing now to give back to where he came from. Philadelphia legend, Brad Wanamaker, Roman Catholic standout, 2007, he was voted player of the year in Philadelphia. Led the Big East Pittsburgh Panthers during the golden era. The Big east, thousand point scorer, all American honorable mention, decorated overseas career. Spent eight years overseas, finally to make it to the mountaintop to fulfill every young kid's hoop dream. Five strong years in NBA, most notably with the Celtics and the Warriors. We are joined today by my fellow 2007 classman, Brad Wanamaker. [00:00:53] Speaker B: Appreciate that, bro. Yeah, no, I mean, I like that. All day. [00:01:03] Speaker C: That was nice. [00:01:04] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:01:05] Speaker A: So, I mean, we'll dive right into it. We really want to talk about you, you know, talk about your. Everybody talks about your professional career. They talk about, you know, you coming from overseas, right, Going the scenic route to get to the NBA, but nobody really talks about your holistic career. You did it on every single level. You're from Philly, proud. You got the North Philly tatter on the army, right? Let's talk about your history. At what point during your high school basketball career in Philly, with a bunch of legends, basketball gods coming out of there, did you realize, you know, you could do something special in the game of basketball? When did you know you were. You were on that level? [00:01:36] Speaker B: You know what's crazy? I always had a little doubt. I wasn't like the kid, you know, I was always the underdog. Nobody really was screaming my name besides people in North Philly. You know, when I was coming up in Philly, it was like, you got this guy from North Philly, you got this guy from South Philly, West Philly, all that. So when I was coming up, it was more so like the people in my area that would scream my name. We had other people in that 07 class that was actually really, really good. And, you know, I was playing catch up with them, and I wasn't a kid that always was on the basketball scene either. So, like, you know, I would have a game, practice, something like that, and I'm going back to the block, hanging with my homies. You know, a lot of the basketball players hung with each other. I think that played A part as well. I wasn't around. You know, the sports writers are going to all the. The games that everybody was going to. You know, I was going to play in the game. Then I was back on 19th street with all my friends running around and being a kid. You know, William bikes, playing football on the street, curveball, those type of things. So I think that played a part, too, with me just not being around, showing my face as much as other kids. I think that played a part, but, you know, just sticking with it. You know, that underdog mentality, just having that dog at me and just prove myself. Brad who? [00:02:42] Speaker D: Yeah, go ahead, Nick. No, no, go ahead, Nate. You got it. [00:02:45] Speaker A: You had that underdog mentality. Who were some of the other players coming out of class of 2007 that people might remember, and how did you fare against them when you guys ultimately played against each other? [00:02:54] Speaker B: I mean, I ain't fearing none of them, but, you know, we had Scoop Jardine. He was a really big name in 07. Probably my biggest rival. Everybody always pit us against each other. I'm from North Philly, he from South Philly. I went to Rome and he went to Newman. Jeff Jones was really good. Like, one of the best scorers I ever seen. I mean, that 07 class was crazy. Josh Martin, Malcolm Ellerby, and my twin brother Brian. The Morrisons was in our class at one point. Man, it's kind of crazy. I don't want to miss nobody. Sammy Laszinski, man, that 07 class was crazy. And it's just like Rick Jackson. Like, it goes on. The list just goes on. You know, obviously, y' all know, scooping Rick from syracuse, but yeah, that 07 class was crazy in Philly. [00:03:35] Speaker C: What about the kid? Is it Khalif Watt? [00:03:37] Speaker B: He younger than y'? All? Leave Wyatt younger than me, but he was tough. [00:03:42] Speaker D: He went to your school, though, right? He went to Roman? [00:03:44] Speaker B: No, he went to Norristown. Then he went to a temple. [00:03:46] Speaker C: That's why I remember from Temple. [00:03:48] Speaker B: The Temple going crazy. [00:03:49] Speaker D: What was your co. What was your coach name at. At Roman? [00:03:52] Speaker B: Dennis Sutton. [00:03:54] Speaker D: Okay, and what. What led you and Brian to going to Roman? Was that your first choice? [00:04:00] Speaker B: Yeah. So it's crazy. I never knew anything about Roman. Obviously. Me and my brother being public school kids growing up, like, never knew nothing about Roman. Really didn't know too much about the basketball scene. We was in sixth. Our sixth grade, summer, seventh grade, we went to Frederick Douglass. Shout out. My man Saleem. He introduced us to AAU basketball, and he just was like, yo, y' all gotta come play aau. We like, what the fuck is aau? I mean, at the time, we just playing on the streets, playing the leagues, playing, you know, before school, after school, that was our rep. That's when we played. And he was like, y' all gotta play aau. And then he introduced us to a team called Reach One, Teach One. And that's when we played me and my twin brother, and it was the Morris twins. And at the time, we all played football. So we was always, like, playing football, you know, little league football. And that was like all our first time really playing on the basketball, under the whistle. Now that's when we really got into it. That was like seventh grade. So it just was, like, new to me. And that's when. That's how I started in seventh grade with the aau. That's how it started. And then people started noticing us. It's funny, because we just played in our neighborhood. We had this one lead in our neighborhood. Me and my brother had these Reeboks. Swear to God, these red and white Reeboks. They called us the Reebok Twins. And then it just started growing from there. Like seventh grade, playing there. Then we were playing some leaves all throughout the city with this team called Reach One, Teach One. And then people started noticing who we were. And then we went to Philly Hoops. And when we got to Philly Hoops, that's when we played with Earl Pettis and D.J. rivera. He was a year older than us. Vinnie Simpson, E. Moss, my man Doodles. Like, these the top players in the eighth grade. Well, they was a year old in us eighth grade. They top players in our city and our state, so. So when we get there, like, they're a year older than us, but you would think they way older. Because I was like, low key, fanned out, like, these dudes. Nice, man. Like. And like at the Wild, I'm like, yo, they only a year older than us, bro. But we playing behind them. And that's how it came. We playing Philly hoops and Philly hoops. Ryan George, he Pitt us in every league throughout the city. So we playing against everybody. And it was the first time I ever played against Wayne Ellington. We was in eighth grade. He's playing for the Peacemakers, playing this tournament. And he just kept saying, this kid, Wayne Ellington, he's so nice. And then Earl was like, I'm better than him. So I'm with fully hoops. I ride with Earl. Earl was the number one eighth grader. Him and Wayne was Back and forth, and I seen Wayne play. I'm like, yo, this dude. Nice. But that really opened my eyes up to, like, really what basketball was. And that's how I started coming about. And then that's when people started, like, kind of recruiting me and my brother to the Catholic League and other high schools and stuff like that. So the guy named Rasul Hodge, who's kind of my mentor at the time, he introduced us to Roman Catholic. I never knew anything about Roman to that time, so. So it wasn't like a school that was high on my list. It's just something that happened, you know, St. Joe's Prep was one of the schools as well. And I remember eighth grade, we went and watched Friends Central versus Roman Catholic. I mean, if Mike Cook was at Friend Central at the time, Mustafa Shakur was there. We were watching. Me, my twin brother and my dad. We went to go watch the game. He was at La Salle University. I'll never forget, Mustafa Shakur had 50. Like, 50 enrollment. And they lost. Back to the game. He crying and stuff. I'm like, he said 50. No, I mean, I understand it. Like, he was winning the game. And after that day, I was like, yo, I want to play in there. I want to play in this. Like, so that was kind of like what also led me to going to roaming. Like, just seeing that atmosphere, the type of games, witnessing Mustafa Jacob up close like that, having 50 was kind of wild. [00:07:14] Speaker D: Is Roman in North Philly? [00:07:15] Speaker B: No, I was in Center City. So, like, downtown. [00:07:18] Speaker D: Downtown, yeah. [00:07:19] Speaker B: Got it. [00:07:20] Speaker A: What circuit were you on for aau? [00:07:23] Speaker B: I wasn't on no circuit. You know, I play for Malik Rose AAU team. It's called Positive Image. Malik Rose sponsored us, you know, that played with the spurs, won championships. He's actually still working in NBA. We got a good relationship, but I played with Malik Rose AAU team growing up. Before that. When I first started, it was Reese one teach. When I was my first AAU team. No circuit. But, you know, back when we came up, you ain't had to play on the circuit. You played against everything. Then I went to Philly Hoops, and then at the Philly Hoops, I played on Katina Mobley AAU team. Katina Mobley from my neighborhood. And he created the AAU team. So I played with his AAU team in ninth grade, and then at the ninth grade summer, that's when I went over to Positive Image, Malik Rose team. But I never played my age group. I always played up, you know, even when I was with Katina Mobley me and my brother was the only ninth graders. We was playing with 11, 12th graders, like 10, 11 grades. So we always played up. And then when I went to Positive Image from Malik Rose team, we played, it was open division. I don't got it no more, but it's open division. You know, it's the prep school kids and stuff like that, because we had prep kids that was going prep. So we was in 10th grade playing in the open division. So it's just like one of the things I always played up, uh, until my last year. And then I. Obviously, we played our right grade, 17 under. But, yeah, I ain't playing no circuit, man. I played against everybody, though. Everybody went to every tournament. The Big time tournament, y' all know about. Played against Deep Rose and Eric Gordon in the final eight. Like, so. It was like I played against every single body growing up, because it wasn't no circuit. It wasn't like, this team ain't going to that tournament. It was. Everybody's going to the pool, Williams, the Charlie Webbers and all like that. We going up to New York, to the Galaxy. What? Lee played for the Couches. So we going playing everywhere, like, so it wasn't no such thing as the circuit. Like, it was teams that were sponsored by Nike and Adidas and stuff like that. But everybody. [00:08:54] Speaker E: That's the good days at aau, right? [00:08:56] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. Because even now with the circuit, bro, you get on that circuit, you go watch. Like, some of them circuit teams are terrible trash. It's terrible. Terrible. [00:09:06] Speaker D: Did you. Did you play against G on the circuit? [00:09:09] Speaker B: No, I never played. [00:09:10] Speaker E: We ain't see them over there. [00:09:12] Speaker B: Yeah, I think they was in Vegas. They played. I mean, when you play in the Midwest, you really stay in the Midwest. I don't think y' all ever came to the East Coast. [00:09:20] Speaker E: We played. We played where we play in the East Coast. I don't think we did no East Coast. We did. Boo Williams. [00:09:25] Speaker B: Yeah. Midwest team in East Coast. [00:09:31] Speaker D: Who's the joint down in Houston? What was it called. [00:09:37] Speaker B: That four hours. [00:09:38] Speaker E: We played in Kingwood. [00:09:42] Speaker B: Oh, we played in Florida Nationals when I was in. When I was 12. [00:09:45] Speaker E: Oh, you didn't play when you got the 17s? [00:09:47] Speaker A: Yeah, the big time tournament was in Vegas. [00:09:49] Speaker B: That was the biggest tour. Big time was Vegas. [00:09:50] Speaker A: That was great. [00:09:51] Speaker B: But that was the only time I played against the Midwest Super 64, right? Yeah. And then Pit Jam Fest, I played against Indiana Elite. So that was like. I mean, teams like that. [00:10:00] Speaker C: But yeah, just to double. Just to double back real quick. Brad, when you Said like, that you used to just play with your brother. I play after school, before school. Like, that was kind of your wreck, playing locally. We had touched on that topic before, like, just about how kids don't. They don't really play no more. Like, outside. I mean, it's kind of just AAU and a trainer. Like, we feel like that helps kids in their growth, that. That kind of. That playing outside and getting familiar with the game other than just right away getting the trainer. We understand the business side, but I feel like they gotta get. People got kids gotta get back to that. [00:10:35] Speaker B: Yeah, no, most definitely. Because, you know, I mean, you being from New York, you know that playground ball, that's where you got your name at outside. And I feel like that's what's watering down the game a little bit now. The kids and pros and college players, they very, very skilled. Way skilled than anybody because they spending so much time with these trainers and stuff. But they don't know how to play basketball. They don't know how to pass. They don't know how to cut. They don't know what to do with the ball not in their hand. That's why Steph Curry looks so good. He could play for another 10 years if he really wants to, because he's so good without the ball. I think about that. He's so good without the ball. Some of the other guys in the league that's way younger than him gonna fade out because they don't know what to do with the ball in their hands. I mean, credit to them. I mean, they way more skilled than we would ever been. It's like that. That toughness that learn how to do the fundamentals of the game is all a lost art. Yeah, it's different. It's hard to watch it. [00:11:21] Speaker E: I was gonna say that. I was just gonna say that competitiveness when you playing outside and you playing in the park, you just want to win. You want to stay on the court. [00:11:27] Speaker B: I think that helps. [00:11:28] Speaker E: Helps you as a player. Just that competitiveness, wanting to win and always give you that winning mentality just being on the court. And I think they don't have that. Like, we said. [00:11:35] Speaker B: Yeah, bro. They don't compete with each other. If you my homie and we playing against each other. I want to guard you. Like, I could call my coach right now. Y' all know. L. He'll tell you. Me and Brian used to fight in practice. Like, me and my brother used to fight in practice. Like, that's how bad we wanted to win. Like. And it just Was part of our environment growing up playing outside like, we both wanted to win no matter what. I needed them bragging rights, bro. We go home together. I beat you today. Like, nowadays. Like, I ain't guarding him. Nah, he gonna let him get his 30. If they guarding each other, they gonna let you score. No, let me get off, bro. Let me get the shot. Like, I never seen that before. [00:12:10] Speaker D: Hey, so you and you young Morris twins, y' all from the same area? [00:12:15] Speaker B: Yeah. So they from Erie Avenue. I'm from, like, north, like, in the harden. I don't even want to say the heart, because, I mean, where they from is the heart of North Philly, too. But I'm in a different. I'm from a different section of North Philly than they are. But where they from is more so like my dad and my grandma from my dad. [00:12:30] Speaker D: Did you and B ever played the. [00:12:32] Speaker B: Boy swings two and two? [00:12:33] Speaker D: Yeah, they was too big for y'. [00:12:36] Speaker B: All. [00:12:36] Speaker D: Yeah, two and two. [00:12:37] Speaker B: No, no. So I want to say we played two and two. So like I said when we first started AAU in, like, was that seventh, eighth grade, we played against each other because in practice and then we didn't, you know, we played in the power leagues, like the police. Police athletic leagues. And then we put two teams in. So they have a team. They'd be on one team, then me and Brian be on another team. So that's how we had played against each other and stuff like that. But at that time, I'm dad tell you, they wasn't that good. But dumb boys work. And look at them, man. Like, I thought they were transformation. They made. [00:13:07] Speaker D: Was they big? [00:13:08] Speaker B: They always. They always had height and stuff. They always had height. Yeah, they always had the height. But they. Basketball was, like, new to them when they first started. And we all first started playing au, and they just got better because, like, they. Football was their first sport. That's how you. Football is their first sport. They play for the nice town football team, and that was their sport. But then they came into basketball. We played, what, seventh grade, au, eighth grade. And then come ninth grade, summer, I'm like, oh, shit. Real rap that they just took off and it's just like they was in a pub. Well, they was in the Catholic League at first. They went to Newman at first, and they left Newman and went to Prep Charter. So they was in a pub. We was in the Catholic League. And they root for us, and we root for them. We see them at games like, yo, we pulling for you. And they'd be like, yo, we wanna try to win, too. So that was kind of cool. And then, you know, they ended up winning the pub chip. That was pretty cool. And we won our cavity chip. So how many. [00:13:55] Speaker D: How many championships you won at Roman? [00:13:57] Speaker B: 1. Yeah, my senior year, when I would have my senior year. My junior year, we lost on a buzzer beater. Three for the chip. And then my senior year, we came back and won. [00:14:06] Speaker D: Who was your. Who was your top five? The college is recruiting you. [00:14:10] Speaker B: Who is my top five recruiting Me? Wow. Dang. Obviously, Pitt. I really wanted to go to Temple, so I'll say Temple, too. It just. I grew up down the street from Temple, and my folks were like, yeah, no, because at this time. Yeah, it was. It was too crazy. So they said no. So Pitt, Temple. I really, really liked Virginia at the time. Virginia was recruiting me. Georgetown, I don't just throw anybody there for my foot. I say don't. For Noah was there. Me and Jay Wright still got a close relationship to this day. But, you know, they had Corey Fisher and Corey. [00:14:46] Speaker D: They had all them guys. [00:14:47] Speaker B: McDonald's, all Americans, I mean, and Malcolm Green as well. And then Georgetown had Chris Wright, McDonald, all Americans and local kids. So it was like, why I'm gonna go to these places? Politics, you know what I mean? Why I'm gonna go to these places and go. So it's just one of the things, like, you know, pitches made a lot of sense. And then, you know, Jamie Dixon first, like, the crazy thing, how Pitts started recruiting me. Mike Cook was transferred from East Carolina. You know, he used to play a positive image with us. He came to Philly. Jamie Dixon pulled up to our open gym, and I was cooking, like, going crazy. And he just started recruiting me. Since then, that was. That's wild. Like, that's why I've been telling these kids nowadays, bro, y' all first. Seems a lot like the head coach was in the gym, and I'm going crazy. Like, I'm like, f. Mike. It's my opportunity. Yeah. And Mike. Mike, obviously, Mike was really good. He was killing that day, too. But, you know, he booty's young kid over there, so that. That, yeah, Jamie started recruiting me. [00:15:45] Speaker D: Did he speak to you in the gym? [00:15:47] Speaker B: Nah, he just was on. He was in the corner chilling. Like, he really was just there for Mike. But, you know, I did my thing. So I know he was like, who that kid is obviously with Mike Rice going over the pit too. Me playing all who group stuff. Who group camps. And him being, you know, the director of who group at the Time before he got the pit. It was that close relationship there. [00:16:07] Speaker C: I saw Brad as a sophomore, man. We was in the same tournament in Hawaii. I was a senior. [00:16:11] Speaker B: Yup. Yeah. That Hawaii tournament was crazy. They ain't the same, bro. [00:16:15] Speaker C: It ain't the same. [00:16:16] Speaker B: Nah, they made it more like a. I think it's like, more like a Nike EYBL situation with teams. It ain't as like we getting the best high school teams from different. So it is more like. [00:16:27] Speaker C: It's politics. It's a Nike. [00:16:28] Speaker B: Yeah. It ain't the same. [00:16:30] Speaker C: Oh, man. That was, like, one of the biggest tournaments, so Hawaii. Like, I was always hearing about it, obviously. And then be a senior and you get a chance. I remember we had a freshman. We never had a freshman move up on varsity in our school. [00:16:41] Speaker B: And his name, David Arms. [00:16:42] Speaker C: And I remember we got to the gym, he was like, going crazy. You know, we in New York. [00:16:46] Speaker B: I mean, we from New York. We own. Yeah. [00:16:49] Speaker C: Especially high school at the time. Yo, son, chill out. Son is like, yo, son is nice right here. I'm like, yo, bro, like. I mean, like, he a sophomore. [00:16:58] Speaker B: I'm telling you. [00:16:58] Speaker C: Brad water maker. I never forgot Brad from there. I watched him. I was like, oh, no, he good. He only a sophomore. And obviously Bryce was there like, yo, we getting Brad water maker from Philly. [00:17:09] Speaker B: That's funny. Yeah, I remember you told me that when I got pissed. [00:17:12] Speaker C: He's sleeping. Sleeping bags with rats, man. [00:17:15] Speaker E: He always tell the story. [00:17:16] Speaker C: No s. That was the funniest thing ever. So that was like, n. We got a dog coming in. Why he's sleeping. Sleeping back. I knew it wasn't true, but it just, you know, if the situation. Yeah. I saw you play before, so I just knew, like, all right. With Mike. So I said, all right. We're gonna have a nice little. We have a good crew. [00:17:35] Speaker B: Yeah. So that was cool. [00:17:36] Speaker C: I just want to say that. [00:17:37] Speaker E: What was. I was gonna say what was the hardest part Once. Once you got the pit. Once we. You know, we came in together. Oh, seven. Great class. What was the hardest part about adjusting once you got on the campus? [00:17:46] Speaker B: You know, man, I'm not gonna lie. So I'm gonna tell a quick story. I got up there, you know, we got the summer league. We playing a Green Tree. You know, me and Levance match up. I still remember I had 28 points. I'm feeling myself. I'm like, yo, that's the starting point guard. I had 28 points. I remember I had 28 points. I'm feeling myself, bro. Freshman, I'm calling my dude, bro. I just cooking this dude. I'm playing this and look real rat. You know how everybody is. I'm calling my homies, telling my brother, like, yo, I'm playing this. I just cooked. [00:18:20] Speaker D: Like, yeah, this is it. [00:18:21] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. So I'm like, I'm hyperbole. And, you know, before I even came up there, and I was talking to Jamie Dixon, and you're like, yo, you playing 20 minutes a game. Like, you know all this before I, like, so when that happened, I really thought it was true. I'm like, yo, what? And you know that the hardest part was the adjustment was just the everyday grind of going to, like. I think it was more so, like, the independence of, you got to get better on your own. Like, that was hard for me because, you know, like I always said earlier, all I knew was just the hoop. And so I'm coming to the gym for practice. Y' all already working out or doing what you need to do at the practice? Y' all doing your stuff. And then, you know, Obviously, Lee took that 28 personal, because my freshman year, he cooked me every single day. [00:19:05] Speaker C: Every single day. [00:19:06] Speaker B: So Lee cooked me every single day in practice. But it was the point of I was not going nowhere. Like, every day, I'm guarding, and nobody else wanted no parts. Like, all the seniors, all the juniors that was there, nobody wanted parts. And I think that that was the part of me that was adjusting. Like, just that fight. And I think I gained a lot of respect from you, too, in that league every day, like, no matter what, I'm guarding you. No matter what you do, I'm gonna talk some shit. But the hardest part, adjusting was not. Like, the coach is not being there. Like, yo, your turn. You. I try to tell the kids nowadays, once you leave here, they don't care about you. So it was one of the things I had to go through that fire on my own, my own. I had to find my way out. So that was a big adjustment for me. Just, like, finding ways to get better, finding ways to go on the court, finding ways to prove myself to the coach. Because at the end of that day, in the practice, they talk to the big dogs. They weren't talking to me. And I had a bad practice. I missed a bunch of shots to turn the ball over. Guess what? Go home, young boy. We'll see you tomorrow. Yo, lavance. What you need, Ron? You know what I mean? Big. Like, you know those guys saying, what you need? It was never, Brad, you good? Like, I mean, obviously you know, some. Sometimes it was there, but it was more. So, like, we need these guys to win games. So what y' all need? Salisi, make sure they good. They taped up to make sure it is good. So I think that big adjustment was when it was that, like, finding ways to get through it. And also, you know, I never worked out. So. Another story, Gary McGee, I tell people this day, he the first person told me how to work on my game. I never worked out. I never knew how you needed to work out to get better. He's like, y', all, I'm about to go to the gym. It's 10 o' clock at night. I'm like, for what it's like to work out. I'm like, what? All right. I think, like, the second or third time I went with you. And he was like, yo, get on the gun, bro. You need to go. You need to work on your jump shot. And that's when I started getting on the gun. Crazy. Yeah, crazy for real. He's like, yo, bro, you need to get on the gun. Your shot broke. Yeah, I remember all that. I tell people all day, like, yo, he was like, the first person that told me, like, yo, you need to get in the gym on your own. [00:21:01] Speaker C: That's what's up. [00:21:02] Speaker B: That's what's up, G. That's what's up. [00:21:04] Speaker A: So I think that's a good lesson, because it's. It's not all, you know, sugar and rainbows when you're highly. Come in with a lot of accolades to the Big East. Maybe talk about, like, your low point, like, experiences in games where you, like, felt like you hit rock bottom and how did you dig yourself out? And what was like, a turning point when you're like, wow, I've actually arrived. I'm going to contribute and be a great player. [00:21:27] Speaker B: So the low point was my freshman year, just not playing. You know, obviously. We played a nine. We played exhibition games. You know, everybody played the exhibition games. And then we get to the season. I sprinkled in probably three minutes here, come out, I don't play no more. So now we what, like 10 games in? I probably played 10 minutes total. Like, so that was, like, a low point for me. And then, you know, obviously, the rumors start coming in, oh, he transferring. I never. I never. To this day, people say that I never was going to transfer from Pitt. Like, it just. That was. Never was in me. Yeah, a couple coaches on pit stab. He's like, yo, we hear you transferring, and stuff like that. I was like, I never like, that never played in my mind to transfer. So I think the lowest point was just being a cheerleader, like, to guys I felt like I was right there with. And, you know, at that time, the older guys played regardless of what you thought. The older guys doing place, it was a situation there where I felt like I was better than a couple other players. I could do just as well as them. But, you know, the older guys, you know, played at that time. You know, there's more physical and tougher than me, they were smarter than me, and they just more was getting ready, I guess, you know, being on the other side as a coach now, I understand, you know, I still feel like I could have played a little bit more. So I think that was probably the lowest point of just me just not being a play. But on the other side, me and my dog G McGee said, Listen, we ain't hooping. We're going to work on our game and we're going to enjoy college. We enjoy college. We had a time, man. Listen, we enjoyed college. Yeah, that freshman year was. [00:23:01] Speaker D: Do you think you. Do you think you was playing timid? Do you think that's what it was, or. [00:23:06] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, sure, I think it was. It was. I was nervous. Different rule, I mean, coming from high school is give you the ball, give you the ball, give you the ball. You make a play to come in there, it's like, all right, you like the fifth option? Find a way. And then, you know, I'm getting the ball. I'm not ready to shoot. I'm not ready to do anything with it. And I'm catching it. I'm playing hot potato. So it was a lot of those things. You know, I'm getting turnovers and Coach Dixon like, yo, all right, young fella, your time is up. You had your chance. So, yeah, for sure. I think that that played a part. And I think you were talking about my breaking point. I think my breaking point that summer, going into my sophomore year, I'm looking at the roster. I'm like, man, I'm starting Maine. Come and we battle it out. And then I think they already knew Maine was starting. I had my opportunity. I started. I think I started the first game of the season, whether it was an exhibition or a regular season. [00:23:56] Speaker D: I don't remember the exhibition. I don't think. I don't think they knew I was starting. [00:23:59] Speaker C: Brad was skipping. [00:24:00] Speaker E: I think. [00:24:00] Speaker D: I think. I think Bradford, I think you blew it. [00:24:06] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think it was 50, 50. [00:24:09] Speaker A: I was in the back door meetings. It was 50 50. [00:24:11] Speaker B: I think it was a situation where they was like, we're going to reward Brad, but deep down, we want Maine. And I went out there, and I ain't do nothing. And I went out there, I ain't do nothing. And then the next game, Maine started to play well, and it just was like, all right. And I ain't gonna lie, that stung a little bit. I mean, but obviously, you know, me and man had a really close relationship, so. And I never was a hater. So, like, you know, next day in practice, we working out, we still doing our thing. We hanging out off the court, and, I mean, we doing all the stuff we usually do. But, you know, deep down inside, you know, I felt some type of way, not towards you, but towards the fact that I was like, I messed that up. But, you know, our relationship, that never got in the way of our relationship, obviously. But, you know, it made me work harder. It made me keep going. I think after that, I struggled for a little bit, too, like, with some games. And then my breaking point was at Rutgers. We played at Rutgers. My name got called, and I had, like, 15. Five and four, something like that. And from there, you know, I just was studying the rotation throughout the rest of the season. [00:25:06] Speaker D: Five and four. [00:25:07] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:25:08] Speaker D: And we were struggling that game, I think. [00:25:10] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, that was the game. [00:25:11] Speaker E: I remember that game. [00:25:12] Speaker B: Struggling Corey Chandler and all. I was, you know, going right at us. And then, yeah, my name got called, and I played really well, that game. And that was like, the turning point where from there on out, I just was in a rotation. [00:25:22] Speaker D: Hey, real quick. I don't know if someone gonna say it, but back to your freshman year. [00:25:25] Speaker B: Hold up, hold up. [00:25:27] Speaker D: I can't help myself. Just let me. [00:25:29] Speaker B: All right, go ahead, Go ahead. [00:25:30] Speaker C: I went to the crib. Cause we was eating street animals, man. They moved on my block, Edith. I go see Gary and Brad before the game. I'm hurt. [00:25:41] Speaker B: It's my senior year. [00:25:42] Speaker C: I'm like the coaches, you're gonna get it. It's you. It's me and you on the back course, huh? Do not go out there and just be passing the ball, not doing it. Said if you go out there and you don't do nothing, you open the door. This guy went out there. [00:26:01] Speaker B: He definitely came into the crib for the game. [00:26:03] Speaker C: Got to be aggressive today to let them know, yeah, this is my spot. But like you said, it was more important to all that, man, is your energy never changed. You wasn't no hater. Like, kids need to know. Like, you could be Competitive, but you still gotta. It's a team, like, you know what I'm saying? I think main term, like you said, it ain't changed the energy. Y' all relationship. None of our relationship. That's what I loved about all our teams. Yeah, I mean, we. We had our issues. Nothing that we couldn't get over, which it was cool. These kids need to know that because a lot of situations like that, you lose a kid, like you say, you struggle completely lose a kid right there just cause he ain't start. You know what I'm saying? And rightfully so. Like you said you felt you shoulda and etc, but you kept going. [00:26:45] Speaker B: You got to keep going. [00:26:46] Speaker C: You know what I'm saying? [00:26:47] Speaker B: Man, listen, if these kids these days went to anything we did in our time at Pitt, oh, my God, it'd been over, bro. He went through, bro. [00:26:58] Speaker E: Hey, Brad. But you got a thing. They could just get out of there too. [00:27:01] Speaker B: Yeah, they can get out of here and go play right away too. So. [00:27:04] Speaker E: Yeah, dudes. Dudes probably would have slid. We talk now. [00:27:06] Speaker A: Coaches are acting different now. [00:27:08] Speaker B: Now it's one person that definitely would have slid. [00:27:17] Speaker C: Where was he gonna go? Home game. Get out of here. We got the facts. Miami did not want you. Gannon. We got the fight. You keep pumping that. [00:27:29] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:27:30] Speaker D: Hey, Brad, I know you said, you know, you gained a lot of respect for the Vance and. And Mike, obviously being from Philly. Yeah. Pittsburgh with you. Who was your biggest mentor or you felt like someone you looked up to at Pitt when you first got there. How influenced you early in your career? [00:27:47] Speaker B: I mean, I would say Levance. You know, we played the same position eventually. I mean, obviously I played a point guard as a pro, but if anybody paid attention to Pitt, you know, I was basically like a point forward. You know, I ran the show. So I'll say Levance. Just the everyday battles and practice and then to, you know, hanging out off the court. Like, he just said, we lived on the same block, so we really was in each other crib all the time. Like, we go to practice together, we walk up there together. We in the car. G had a car. G driving us around. We really used to be together all day, every day. So advance was like big bro on campus. [00:28:17] Speaker C: Appreciate that, Brad. Man, I definitely. You gained a lot. I gave you G a lot of my respect your freshman year. But how you was not backing down like you said, man, people would have folded in that situation as well. I just had to test you, bro, because I liked it. You was ready for what was about to happen. [00:28:34] Speaker B: Yeah, it was crazy. [00:28:36] Speaker A: So I was with you all four years. G. We were with you all four years. You had a lot of great games. I mean, I remember so many moments. I mean, I talk about one of your moments where you reached a mountaintop where I realized you were. You earned your nickname. Backpack Brad. But what are some games, your favorite games that you remember that you're most proud of throughout your time at Pitt? [00:28:55] Speaker B: Man, I think that Louisville game at the peak we played was crazy. We went into overtime, won that game my senior year. Your senior year? Yep. [00:29:05] Speaker A: Your senior year, you were down 7 with 45 seconds left. [00:29:08] Speaker B: Yep. [00:29:09] Speaker A: You put the backpack on. [00:29:10] Speaker E: I think that was. Was that that game or was that West Virginia that you talking about? [00:29:13] Speaker B: No, West Virginia was Louisville. Louisville. [00:29:15] Speaker A: We were down 7 with a minute. [00:29:16] Speaker B: Yeah. Louisville. We came back. [00:29:17] Speaker A: West Virginia, too. [00:29:18] Speaker B: West Virginia chose to go overtime with Louisville. West Virginia was a crazy game. I got deceived to go to Ash. What other game that was crazy for? I just was thinking another game. [00:29:28] Speaker E: I want to tell you, my favorite one is when we played our junior year. First game. First game. Starting our first game, we was playing against Oakland. Oakland. [00:29:36] Speaker A: The Wafford game. [00:29:42] Speaker D: Y' all had me pissed. That game. [00:29:46] Speaker E: I was about to say, bro, my first start, we going down like this to these. [00:29:50] Speaker A: Crazy. [00:29:51] Speaker E: This is crazy. [00:29:51] Speaker B: That was the first time all of us got our feet wet. For real. That game was crazy. Yeah. [00:29:57] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:29:57] Speaker B: It was Wildford. I just got Oakland because of the colors. My fault. It was Wildford. Yeah. That game was crazy. It was another game. Oh, my Duquesne was good. My freshman year, though, we played West Virginia at home. That was one of the games I played. I had seven points. I was hyped that game. Lee was in a boot. [00:30:11] Speaker C: I was injured. [00:30:11] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:30:11] Speaker B: Ryan hit the game winner. Yeah. [00:30:13] Speaker C: I was trying my hardest to think over the first game because I remember that's when you. You know, when I went out, you started get. [00:30:17] Speaker B: I'm like, damn. Yeah, I started playing when you got injured your senior year. My freshman year. Yep. I was. [00:30:22] Speaker C: Game. [00:30:22] Speaker B: We had seven. It's crazy. Darius Nichols, we actually be talking there because he had la. Had cool kids on my team going to LaSalle next year. [00:30:29] Speaker C: Oh, that's dope, man. [00:30:30] Speaker D: That's dope. [00:30:31] Speaker B: Yeah. So, yeah, he talking and stuff. Yeah. That game. Yeah, I had some good games, man. It's hard to think all of them right now. [00:30:40] Speaker C: You get a triple double. [00:30:41] Speaker B: I thought you got one. That was the weirdest thing ever. I get like 10 assists, 10 rebounds. And have four points. [00:30:47] Speaker D: Would you ever say, was you ever trying to get the triple double? [00:30:49] Speaker B: I think one time and it just never happened. I get six points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists. Like what? Obviously you trying to get the assist and you can't get the points. I won't score, but I have rebounds and assists. Double double. It was weird. [00:31:03] Speaker C: Who was. [00:31:03] Speaker D: Who was your toughest challenge in the Big East? [00:31:05] Speaker B: Who was the tough, like, guard. Wise Guard. [00:31:08] Speaker D: Guard. Yeah. [00:31:08] Speaker B: I mean, I think one guard walked us all down with 35. [00:31:16] Speaker D: Who wasn't there. [00:31:23] Speaker C: Who's on sick? [00:31:25] Speaker E: He had an undisclosed illness. [00:31:26] Speaker B: Not even here at this time. [00:31:29] Speaker C: Clear my name. [00:31:30] Speaker B: Thank you. Like, we're all gardening. My guardian, Trey ass. Gil. [00:31:36] Speaker E: He had an undisclosed illness. He missed that game. [00:31:38] Speaker D: It wasn't an illness. [00:31:42] Speaker B: Hold on. [00:31:43] Speaker D: This is about Brad, But I'm just gonna clear myself real quick. All right? [00:31:47] Speaker B: I got hurt. [00:31:48] Speaker D: I got hurt the game before. I hurt my foot. And Tone, we looked over the X rays, like, it's good. He Knight was like, yo, we play South Florida. He came to me in the hood, he said, we playing South Florida. We could beat them. You should rest. And I was like, all right. Bet. Yeah, we good. And, yeah, he was. [00:32:07] Speaker A: That was crazy. [00:32:09] Speaker B: No, Yukon guard play was great. You know, Ken Bud, AJ Price and all them. Jerome Jackson. Like that game, that guard play was good. Johnny Flynn, D Louisville. Sosa. Not always a fan of Sosa game. I remember the first time I seen Sosa. He's in Hawaii when he was out there, Rice was out there, and I'm like, this dude. Nice. [00:32:30] Speaker C: He's still. [00:32:31] Speaker B: Yeah. Sosa at Louisville. So many good guards. The white bikes over there. Lamar Johnson, Odom, Marquette, now they. [00:32:42] Speaker D: That Marquette. Those guys, they was more your senior year because my Odom, I think he had just came in that year. Dwight was. I think Dwight was probably the man my senior year. My junior year. But the senior year, Oldham and Bike, they really went crazy. [00:32:57] Speaker B: They went crazy that year. Yeah. Yeah. Rc, Corey Fisher, Malik, Wings. Yeah. [00:33:03] Speaker A: Ben Hansborough. [00:33:04] Speaker B: Ben Hasbro cooked us bad. [00:33:06] Speaker E: Oh, my God. So bad at home, that pick and roll. [00:33:10] Speaker A: He's pick and roll, y', all, to death. [00:33:11] Speaker B: Yeah, he walked us down. That was bad. He walked us down. And that was like, our only loss at home this year, I think. [00:33:17] Speaker E: Yeah, we was ranked number two in that game, too. [00:33:19] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, we were number two in the nation. Yeah. That was the only loss at home, that game. He bought this. [00:33:23] Speaker C: Damn. Did it to him. [00:33:25] Speaker B: I'm missing some other guards, but, yeah, guard play was crazy in the biggies Shoot. All four years. All four years. It was crazy. But yeah, that was some of the guys like up when I was a senior, that was pretty good. He named a lot. Trying to think Deshaun Butler cook. This. [00:33:42] Speaker D: Sean Butler was tough. Deshaun Butler was. Deshaun Butler was probably the toughest one. [00:33:47] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:51] Speaker E: He had a good game against us. Overtime game. [00:33:54] Speaker B: They did it. [00:33:55] Speaker E: Yeah, the Butler did it. [00:33:56] Speaker B: Chuck. Brian cooked us that game too. Brian. [00:33:59] Speaker E: Oh, yeah, Chuck. He had a good game. [00:34:00] Speaker C: Brooklyn, you know, he bring that up all the time too. [00:34:03] Speaker B: Yeah, he cooked us that gig truck. [00:34:05] Speaker E: Is funny like that. [00:34:06] Speaker B: So he always. He like to throw that out there. Yeah. [00:34:08] Speaker C: You know, I said, yeah. Let me bring up the garden one too, man. [00:34:11] Speaker A: I mean. Yeah. Yeah. [00:34:13] Speaker B: So one of the most. [00:34:15] Speaker A: I'm glad we have everybody here. We finally can clear the air. This is what everybody's been asking all on our message boards. We finally can answer the question because we see it on tv every time they bring up Kimball Walker. [00:34:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:34:26] Speaker A: We see the play that defined our era, losing on a game winner. Kimball Walker. Talk about. We have the two culprits here. What happened on that play? How did it happen? Talk me through the emotions of that game. That entire play. The communication from the coaches to you guys. [00:34:40] Speaker B: Let's. [00:34:41] Speaker A: Let's clear the air now so we can never have to talk about it again. [00:34:43] Speaker B: I mean, well. Well, if you ever watch us play that all that season, we split one through five and Gary McGee guarded every guard. Great. He had moments. If you clip it up. He guarded Kemba Walker. Great. Kemba Walker just made a great play at the right time. And, you know, even now, like, you know, as you grow as a basketball player and your IQ grows, I'm looking back on it, who I was guarding. I think McCombs or something. Like now looking back on it, like, when I see Kim start getting his bag, I'm trapping, like, you know what I mean? Now you look back on it in that moment, though, you know, I've given the fake, like get the ball like when we tore in practice. But in that game, like, who knows? Like, now that I look back on it, I should have probably trapped. But now we stick to our principles. We switch a 1 through 5 all year. We was one of the best defensive teams in the country. Gary McGee slid with every point. The best point guard is in the league at the time. He was staying there. Tough to contest. You know what I mean? Just. [00:35:34] Speaker C: I have one question. Did you trust Gary too much? [00:35:37] Speaker B: Yeah, it's my dog. [00:35:38] Speaker E: I ride with Gary, my thing with it, too, always is I had. I had a lot of pride, too. [00:35:43] Speaker B: So. [00:35:44] Speaker E: I mean, it happened. I had a lot of pride. Y' all know I used to guard y' all every day, one on ones in the back. [00:35:51] Speaker C: I don't know why you. [00:35:52] Speaker E: You know, I wasn't getting a lot of win a lot. A lot of them anyway. [00:35:56] Speaker C: Not gonna lie. That's the one of the first things I told. So after all the stuff I put you through in that back gym, you gonna go for. [00:36:08] Speaker E: He way. He's way faster than you. He was 235. [00:36:14] Speaker C: Like you said. [00:36:14] Speaker E: Brad. [00:36:15] Speaker B: What? [00:36:15] Speaker C: You seen him getting into that box? You should have said, hold on, man. [00:36:19] Speaker E: Boy, G. Hey, I was about, say, we used to play three dribbles. That was about six, so. It was a long time, man. [00:36:27] Speaker C: Sir. But it's good, right? You could just laugh about it now, man. [00:36:31] Speaker B: But look, though, you know what's crazy? Even in that moment, we remember G, we got back to the telly. We in there, we mad. Like we in our telly. You know, we roommates. We in the dark. Like, we just mad. We turn the TV on. The first thing that comes on the TV is the step back. We laughed about it. We laughed about it. We was like, yo, bro, our senior year, we gotta make it run the tournament. Wow, son. [00:36:51] Speaker E: And them boys have my poster in the. In the locker room. We had like, cutout posters for senior night. Them boys, all the young boys in there crossing my poster off. Push me on the ground. Hey, dudes. Was vicious, man. But it was. It was. [00:37:05] Speaker C: You went, right? Don't worry about you in rival, man. [00:37:08] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:37:09] Speaker D: Hey, West Virginia got me too, G. [00:37:13] Speaker A: All right. [00:37:14] Speaker E: EBay. [00:37:15] Speaker B: Yeah. That was crazy. [00:37:16] Speaker C: Only time we ain't go to the East, Chip. Once Maine pull up. [00:37:19] Speaker B: That's crazy. [00:37:21] Speaker C: Everybody packed four weeks for nothing. [00:37:23] Speaker A: Gyro. [00:37:24] Speaker C: Nobody wanted no gyros after that gig. [00:37:26] Speaker D: That gyro Stan was right. Hey, Brad, by the time you're senior, you was. You were the leader on the team. You and Gary and. And Gil, obviously. How you. How did you grow into that role? Did you take that on? Was it. Was you more of a vocal guy? Because as far as we know, I mean, while I was there, you wasn't the vocal leader. You was. [00:37:46] Speaker C: How you play. [00:37:47] Speaker D: Yeah, how you play. So how was it your senior year with Gary and Gil being the lead on the team? [00:37:53] Speaker B: Nah. Yeah. Definitely took on more of a vocal role. And then, you know, it's crazy when you in that space, especially with them teams. We had Leading by example goes a long way. Yeah, you know, it was the vocal part, but we had a lot of kids that wanted to play. They wanted to get minutes, and, you know, it was a lot of unknowns going into our senior year. So the vocal part definitely was there. You know, I definitely grown into that. You know, learned how to talk and to our teammates and do certain things with them, like myself, Gary and Gil. We all had different traits of how we show leadership to the younger kids. But, yeah, no, you just being around. I mean, you guys obviously, you know, advance and how y' all handle things when y' all was in charge, and then, you know, just, you know, taking that and installing into the young guys. So, yeah, I definitely probably led by example a lot, but I was forced to be more vocal with that group because we had some young bulls that, you know what I mean, they know the ropes or they was doing certain things off the court that, you know, could have got them in, you know, especially because it was a social media era, too. So, you know, we had to be cautious of that. So they was doing some things that, you know, we had to nip in the bud for the whole program. [00:39:00] Speaker A: So you're a coach now. You know, you're taking over the reins at Roman Catholic, and you had an interesting. As a leader of the team, especially as point guard, you have a relationship with your coach. So now some of the things at the time, it probably was annoying. You probably, like, why is coach not playing me? Why is he saying, want me to do certain things, play certain roles? And now you're a coach. What would you say you would take from coach Dixon's relationship with you or things he's taught you that you can take to your. Your team now? [00:39:25] Speaker B: Yeah, just the. The. The whatcha karma. The taking advantage opportunity. I think that was one of the biggest things with Dixon. If you worked, worked hard, you. You bored every day, and you took advantage opportunity, I feel like he rewarded that. That's one thing I'm big on. Like, guys being on time, doing the right thing. You know, showing up before practice, after practice, working out. I don't know if y' all remember. I think it was our senior year G. And he brought us in one day. He was going at us, called his con artist, because we, you know, a couple of us was, you know, not doing the right thing in the school. Like, you know, we was on the verge of, you know, fell into some classes. [00:39:59] Speaker D: That was my senior year. [00:40:00] Speaker B: That was your senior artist? [00:40:01] Speaker D: My senior artist. [00:40:03] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, we coming fresh off the Elite eight. We smelling ourselves. We weren't really doing our schoolwork. Like, we all damn near, like, about to be ineligible. Yeah, they came at us bad. So it's just one of the things that I just, like, learning from my mistakes and experiences, like, trying to teach the kids, like, yo, don't take this opportunity for granted. You know, that ball gonna stop dribbling one day. Like, who are you? Like, you know, regardless of anything, you know, I always was respectful. You know, carried that with pride, like, being respectful and, you know, being a good dude, regardless of what was going on with me or, you know, where we come from, I feel like all of us, like, regardless of where we came from, we always respectful and we carried ourselves a certain way. So that's. That's one of the things I'm big on right now. I just tell the kids to be good people and take advantage of opportunity. I mean, like, you never know where it could go. I graduated. What? 2011 dictionary recruited me in 07. I hit him up. Yo, I need you to say something for me for my introduction as head coach. Brad. I'm on it. Two minutes later, he sent me something like, they go a long way, man. Like, and. And it's crazy, because two years ago, I went up to TCU to see my brother, and, you know, I meant to Texas to see my brother. And in the midst of that, I went to TCU practice, and I go down to practice, you know, Coach Dixon like, talking about me, then about to cry, like, this guy, man, and I'm like, dang, bro. Like, you felt that, right? That way about me. Like, he just was like, yo, he was one. You know, some kids that, you know, went through that struggle and. And persevere. So he just was trying to tell that message to the other people, but he just was. Because it was like, it's not out there as much as it used to be, where kids just, you know, persevering through certain things or get a little adversity and sticking with it. I was like, damn, that meant that much to me. Then him probably saying that to those kids, like, you know, just. Just, you know, you never know what impact you have on people, whether they are cultural players. [00:41:54] Speaker D: Yeah, that's dope. [00:41:55] Speaker B: That's dope. [00:41:57] Speaker A: So this is the Nil podcast. Name is Name, Image, and Legends. But I want to do a little exercise here, because this is the Nil era. Imagine if the Nil era was around when we were playing. What do you think your bag would be worth? What do you think you would be Worth as a player. What would it take for you to stay at pit? What would your market be for bad Wanamaker? [00:42:16] Speaker B: Me? I see it's tough to say that because I don't want to get on here and lie because on my senior year, I just broke the top 100, you know, so I don't know what my bag would be, honestly. I'm just being honest. I'm being honest, like, I don't know my bag will be honestly. But in that same breath, you know, I played in the Catholic League, which was the best league in, you know, the nation at the time. MVP Player of the year, the City State player of the year. I think I got a couple dollars, man. I don't know what I got a couple dollars, though, you know, I mean, I held my own. I mean, I went to ABCD camp, made the all star game. So I was in things. Max Preps. I was one of the award winners for Max Prep that year. I made the teams. So, you know, at that time, it was big when we played some shootout, I got mvp. So I was. I was doing a lot. My senior year, we was nationally ranked. We finished 29, 3. We won like 15 straight games. The end of season on a win streak. So, like, I feel like I made a name where I'd have got a nice little bag. But I already. I committed before my senior year even started, though, so. [00:43:16] Speaker E: But I was gonna say. I was gonna say. Let's say. Let's say after your junior year. After you. After. [00:43:20] Speaker A: Yes. [00:43:23] Speaker C: I was gonna do. [00:43:24] Speaker D: This is what I was gonna do. All right. Coming in freshman, you probably get 250, 250 going into your sophomore year. Turning guy. It might push it up to 450 going into your junior year when Lavance and all them is gone. They don't know. They don't know what Pitt's gonna be. They gotta pay you just because. [00:43:42] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, I think. Yeah. [00:43:43] Speaker D: You're one of the main guys returning. [00:43:45] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:43:45] Speaker D: Junior year you're getting like probably 900,000 in your prime year now. Let's start now. Go there. Go into your senior year. You the. You the Ashton. Ashton's probably the face of the team. The feature guy. He's the feature guy. But. But everyone knew that the engine ran through Brad. Yeah, you're getting at least two mil. [00:44:11] Speaker B: No. Yeah. [00:44:12] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:44:12] Speaker B: No, my junior year, my stats was crazy my junior year, so, like, I mean, the points and assists and rebounds I put up was crazy my junior year. So. Yeah, I know going to senior year, I probably would have Got a nice little check for sure. [00:44:23] Speaker E: What do you think you signed the nil deal with on campus? Who would you have wanted to sign a deal with? [00:44:28] Speaker B: I don't know. Whoever gave what you got on that Humber. [00:44:36] Speaker C: What, that car deal? [00:44:38] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:44:39] Speaker C: I think his name was before the baby right now. Word, it was the car dude in Pittsburgh. [00:44:45] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:44:46] Speaker A: Burrow. [00:44:48] Speaker E: I was gonna say, what's been the. [00:44:49] Speaker A: First podcast come sponsor the podcast Barrel. [00:44:53] Speaker E: I was gonna say, it would have been the first thing you caught, though, on campus. When we. When we out there, like, what you doing? You know, the Beamer. [00:45:00] Speaker B: I'd have copped one of those joints, man. I definitely would have caught one of those. When you put the Beamer on campus, I said, I think he let me. Let me. You let me use it to drive to go pick my brother up from the airport one day. I said, yo, I need one of these. [00:45:15] Speaker C: I ain't go front, man. He's pulling the whips out, man. [00:45:18] Speaker B: Yeah, he was. [00:45:22] Speaker C: Hey, man, get us around. [00:45:24] Speaker B: Trick truck. Trick truck. [00:45:26] Speaker E: I'm about to say the trick truck. [00:45:28] Speaker C: They get in the back. [00:45:29] Speaker E: Oh, my God. I know you're gonna say it. I ain't leaving until he get in the front seat. I'm like, yo, this dude crazy. I'm not leaving till he get in. [00:45:38] Speaker C: The first G. Was not. [00:45:42] Speaker D: Huh? [00:45:43] Speaker C: You asked. [00:45:45] Speaker B: Or may. When I pull off, though, she got the back. Exactly. That's the first one. [00:45:49] Speaker E: I was like, all right, bro. I'm getting in the back, bro. You. You're a wild boy. [00:45:56] Speaker D: That was crazy. [00:45:57] Speaker C: That was crazy, son. [00:45:59] Speaker B: Yeah, that was crazy. [00:46:00] Speaker D: Hey, Brad, we still in pit? I want. I wanted to ask you, lp, Another guy, you know, from. Well, he's from Lancaster, but you knew LP right before he got the pit, so. [00:46:10] Speaker B: All right, quick story about lp. Similar to, like, you know, my first time playing against Levance, the 28 points. We played in this league called Kasha Hawken. You know, it's like a really big league is still going on now. LP come up and cook me. Like, cooked me. At this time, I already committed to Pitt. He cooked me. So, you know, when I found out he was coming to Pittsburgh, he. He. You guys, him to this day, he was like, I cook bread. I'm coming. Taking all his minutes. So I had the same mentality as Lee. Every day in practice, you what I do. I was killing him, destroyed him. Not a day in practice went by where I was like, you're gonna get off on me, lp, just because of that? Like, I'm like, yo, this Is the same stuff that happened with Levance. I gotta treat a young boy. It's like passing the torch. He did this to me, I'm gonna do it to him. [00:46:54] Speaker A: I made him red shirt, bro. [00:46:56] Speaker B: Every day in practice. Yeah, every day. Every day in practice. I want an LP bad. Yeah. [00:47:03] Speaker D: Did that build your relationship more? I was gonna ask you, did you feel like you was a mentor to lp? [00:47:07] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure. [00:47:08] Speaker D: I felt like LP looked up to you. [00:47:10] Speaker B: Yeah, you know, the family situation and stuff. You know, we used to hang out off the court and stuff like this. Yeah, that. Yeah, for sure. That's my young boy. We still talk to this day. I mean, a lot, but, yeah, I think that. That. That's one of the things that it bring you closer. All right, young boy, you gotta wait your turn, but I'm gonna show you the ropes. I'm still gonna love you. And I mean off the court. Yo, you want to get something to eat? You know how y' all did for us? Like, yo, you want to go eat? What you doing? All right, we go kick it up. We're going to freshman dorms today and kick it with you. So I think it was one of those things, too. Like, he understood. It ain't. It wasn't like I hated him or nothing, but it's just, like, one of the things, like, young boy, you got with your turn. And I still remember that game you cooked me. [00:47:50] Speaker D: Your mom every day was. Was one of your wildest stories off campus. Something that happened, whether out in the club or anything, something that's memorable to you at Pitt. I know that's probably gonna. [00:48:03] Speaker B: I'm keep it. I'm gonna keep it pg. [00:48:05] Speaker D: Yeah, definitely keep it. [00:48:06] Speaker B: I'm keep pg. When it still is. When the Steelers won a championship, remember how we was out acting like we were still. The fans going crazy? Campus was wild. The campus was wild that night. Like, we had a great time that night. Yeah, like, when the students want to chip. And we went out and celebrated like, we won the chip. [00:48:23] Speaker D: Yeah, that was the time. It was funny because that was my first time. We're keeping a PG now, you know, y'. All. I like the up, but that was my first time. Like, oh, we get a lot of love out here, because that was my first time going really, really, really, really going out like that, because I ain't. We didn't. We didn't party around. No, we didn't party around the white people too much. [00:48:46] Speaker C: We didn't party around. [00:48:46] Speaker D: Yo, that was my first time. They love us out here. Like, that was crazy. That was crazy. That was the time. [00:48:54] Speaker B: Pros, bro. That. That. Yeah, that. That was crazy. [00:48:57] Speaker C: I g. And then the camera gonna come right to me. [00:49:01] Speaker E: Oh, that picture. Clip that picture up. Hey, man, find that picture. Clip that. [00:49:05] Speaker B: No, I'm. [00:49:07] Speaker E: That picture. [00:49:09] Speaker C: You was on the camera, talking on the news. I'm like, what she said. [00:49:13] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:49:13] Speaker C: You was wrong. Why did it come to me, son? I'm wild. I'm not even a stellar fan. I got a yellow towel thing. [00:49:20] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:49:21] Speaker E: I had terrible times. [00:49:22] Speaker C: It, man. They wanted again. They won two times. Four years on campus. [00:49:26] Speaker B: That was crazy. [00:49:27] Speaker C: That was crazy. [00:49:28] Speaker E: That was the time, though. Angle lie. [00:49:30] Speaker C: That picture on Facebook. Our Muslim brother Gil should have it. [00:49:33] Speaker D: Yeah. Yeah. [00:49:36] Speaker B: Now, that's probably my wildest. [00:49:38] Speaker C: I'm trying to kept it pg because we don't want to talk about. [00:49:41] Speaker E: We ain't got the Patreon yet. [00:49:42] Speaker A: We can't subscribe to the Patreon to get the exclusive. [00:49:47] Speaker C: That's what they want to do. Look at Brad. [00:49:49] Speaker B: Wait, you want to talk about what? I hear you. [00:49:52] Speaker C: They want to talk about Pamela's in your back pod thing. We're not doing that. [00:49:56] Speaker B: Pamela's back pocket. What? Just leave. [00:49:58] Speaker C: We don't want to go. [00:50:00] Speaker B: Hey, phone it thrown in the freezer. [00:50:02] Speaker D: But we're gonna leave it alone. [00:50:09] Speaker E: Hey, Brad, come on. I was your bro. I was your roommate. [00:50:12] Speaker B: It was. [00:50:12] Speaker C: It was in the market. [00:50:13] Speaker E: It was honestly in the microwave. [00:50:15] Speaker B: It's not gonna work the next day. [00:50:17] Speaker E: But you just put it in there. We didn't turn it on. You just put it in there. [00:50:21] Speaker B: Okay. [00:50:22] Speaker E: I shut it back, like. Okay. I'm good. I'm good. [00:50:26] Speaker B: Under the bed, though. But not. Not the freezer. [00:50:28] Speaker D: The freezer crease under the couch downstairs. [00:50:31] Speaker C: Anywhere but in reach. [00:50:33] Speaker B: Oh, you could be cussed out, man. [00:50:35] Speaker C: Crazy. Come on, Nick, man. Nick. [00:50:37] Speaker E: Yeah. [00:50:40] Speaker A: So obviously, great pick career, which led to you having an incredible professional career, a unique career, because really, it's like you had two careers. You had a full career, you know, eight seasons overseas, then you had the NBA career. A lot of people talk about your NBA accomplishments, your college accomplishments, and they forget about, you know, all your accolades, and you reach really reached the pinnacle of basketball globally, overseas in the Euroleague Euro Cup. Talk a little bit about your overseas experience. Like, what was your favorite team you played for? Or what do you think you learned from that overseas game that prepared you to have your NBA career? [00:51:15] Speaker B: Man, listen, y' all about to get an exclusive. Like, I never. I never really talked about my experiences overseas anybody. Like, some people that's close to me. Know about my situation over there. But I. Y' all rundown of everything. So my first year overseas, I probably played on four teams. I went to Italy, I played for the team, and it was more like a training camp invite because my agent was like, it's a big team. You should go there. And, you know, you make it on this team, you good. So I go there, I play really good. The point guard on the team was with the national team at the time, so I'm playing really good. So I'm thinking I'm good. The point guard come back. I practiced a couple days with him. I'm better than the point guard. But they was like, nah, we gonna stay with our point guard. Blasey. Blasey. So then I leave that team. I stay in Italy that I go play for Terramo, and I'm in the back court with Dee Brown that went to Illinois. You know, I was a fan of Dee Brown. He's Final Four, you know, he was going crazy. D, Will, the Hill, all them, they was crazy. So when I got a chance to play with him, I'm like, yo, this is crazy. So he was. He was. He was good with me. He was showing me the ropes over there. Then I get injured, I mess my hamstring up, and it's. You know, this is the lockout year, so I mess my hamstring up. And during that time, you know, I'm doing, you know, the rehab and recovery and stuff, but the team lying to me, like, oh, you got, like, another month till you ready. I'm like, what? But, you know, I'm like, man, it's crazy. So I'm. I'm doing my rehab and stuff. And it was like, I mean, if you want, you could go back home. You know, we could just part ways and stuff. So in my mind, I'm like, yo, f. This overseas stuff, like, I just dealt with that now. I got injured. I'm cool. But the crazy part about it is they signed Jeremy Lynn, and it was under the table. Nobody knew what the team. So in the midst of us parting ways, Jeremy Lynn was coming over. And then as soon as that happened, the NBA lockout was over. So he lost me. And they never got Jeremy Lynn, so they messed up. And, you know, now they. I come home, the Hawks invite me to camp. I go to training camp with the Hawks. I get cut the day before Christmas. And then I was like, yo, this crazy. This wild, you know, I mean, at the time, you know, I got low, Brad, so I ain't got no bread. I signed my agent. You know, you get your. Your front. I mean, they front you some money. So I'm like, yo, I gotta pay these dudes back because the interest will keep growing. And then I'm like, man, what to do? Like, so I do the training camp with the horse. I get cut. So I'm like, all right, after New Year's, I'm gonna decide what I'm gonna do. Then the team, the second division team in Italy called me, and they offered me a nice little check. So I went inside over there for a month. I come teammates with Austin Freeman from Georgetown. So I'm like, oh, all right, cool. Mike Nardi was there too. Mike Nardi was injured at the time, so I wanted to replace Mike Nardi. So I signed over there for a month. Cause this is how long he's supposed to been out. At the end of the month, they was like, nah, stay like, we want to sign you for another couple months. In my mind, I'm like, no, I hate overseas. Because at the time when I was in Fort Lee, it was like a big snowstorm. We were stuffing the house for a week. I couldn't leave at the house for like, a week. And so I was miserable. Like, man, I ain't doing this, bro. So at the end, I got my check and I dipped. Then I come back, Danny Ferry called me. I go play with the Spurs. It was Deely at that time. I go to the Spurs. Corey Joseph there, Flip Murray, Squeaky Johnson. Like, we loaded Eric Dawson, Julianne Wright. All these dudes constantly getting 10 days, 10 days, 10 days. So I'm like, I'm gonna go there. I'm gonna get me one. I go there. I played really well. Obviously, the ten day never came, but I'm playing good. The spurs, you know. Yo, yeah, like, keep doing what you're doing, Blasey, Blasey. We end up winning the D Elite chip. So I'm like, I'm good. I know I'm set and I'm feeling myself. Cause we just was in the club last night with the game and all the bloods, they all got red here, bro. I'm like. Cause you know, we don't come from no gang areas. Like, we ain't in no gangs with us. It's this block versus that block. So I'm in the club with the game. And because TJ4 was our coach, TJ4 at home was close. So I'm in the club. We in this section together. It's all these dudes Red. Die. Hit here. All red. I'm like, yo, you see you look across. Dudes over there with blue flags. I'm like, nah, this can't go down, bro. I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm telling with the game. I know they got stuff situated. So it was kind of wild. This, because we played. We played LA in the Chip. It was kind of wild, no? Yeah. Then the season end, and I'm like, all right, bet. You know I'm gonna get called up or somebody gonna call me. So I'm just playing a waiting game, and I never got that call. So then my second year, I go to France, and I signed a nice check to go to contract to go to France. And that's why I played my second year in France. It started well, and then they started playing, like, games with me, not wanting to play me. So it was weird. Me and the coach was fighting all the time. The manager was fighting all the time. You know, when you fight with the coach and the manager overseas, they cut you immediately. But they want to pay me, so they just letting it prolong. Prolong. Waiting for a team to buy me out. [00:55:43] Speaker D: What was the name of the team? [00:55:44] Speaker B: Limoges. [00:55:45] Speaker D: Limoges. [00:55:46] Speaker B: Limoges in France. And so we was fighting. They just went and cut me. So it just, like, I just dug the season out. Then that's when my daughter was born, in February. So I'm like, yo, I need to go home. My daughter about to be born. They was fighting that. I'm like, bro, y' all gonna let me go? I'm going. So they eventually let me go, and I was home. They kept rushing me back. She's boring, y'. All. You gotta come back the next day. What, Bro, I'm not coming back. I stayed another 10 days. But I got a letter from the hospital because she was in the icu, because, you know, sometimes, you know, the collarbones and stuff. So she's in ICU for a couple days. So I got a letter. They was like, you gotta send us a letter. You just staying home. But they was trying to pay my money. Like, you don't come back, you ain't get your money. So I'm like, yo, y' all gotta send a letter. So the hospital sent the letter to him, and I was cool. Then I got back, and I got back, I was, like, miserable the rest of the time there. So, yeah, then that was the year two. And then after that year, I wound up playing in the summer league. No, no. After my fresh. After my rookie year, I played in the summer league with the Hawks. So when I played good before this, before, I went to the most with the Hawks, and I played. I start three games at this time. They drafted Mike Scott and. Who's the guard? Jenkins. Mike Scott and Jenkins, they had those two. And I'm starting point guard, so. Huh? Yeah. Shooter. Shooter boy. John Jenkins. Yep. And so it was us three, you know, and I played. I'm playing well the first three games, and then next game they're like, yo, we're going to bring you off the bench. So I hit my agent. I'm like, yo, what they talking about? They're bringing up the bench, like I'm playing well. He was like, no, they probably doing that. They want to see how your role going to be in the NBA. You know, you're going. Obviously you're going to be a backup point guard, so they probably just want to see you in that role. I'm like, all right, bet. Pit me in, take me out. Pit me in, take me out. I'm not really playing. I'm like, man, what's going on? And he was like, dog, that could be a draw. He was like, that could be a situation where they just trying to not let nobody else see you so they could save you. And they sign you. All right. Then the last game of the summer, I don't play at all. And I'm like, he say that again? No, they just doing that. I mean, don't worry. You good, you good. That's just. They want to hide you. So that's when I went back overseas because of that situation. [00:57:50] Speaker D: Is it Keith Glass was your agent? [00:57:52] Speaker B: No, no, this is. I'm a heavy Walters and Steve McCaskill. [00:57:54] Speaker D: Okay. Happy Waters. [00:57:57] Speaker B: Yeah. So that was year. Year two, the year three. I signed in Italy, Pistolia. And that was like my breakout year. Like, I signed for nothing. Like, nothing. Like, basically, it just was like one of the things, like, I'm just gonna bet on myself. I went into the situation knowing. Not that, like, you know, if they see this, I'm not trying to shit on the organization, but at the time, you know, the money wasn't right. They was known for not paying players and stuff, but it was just with the situation, I knew, like, you know, Italy at the time was a good league, and it was an opportunity for me to play against, you know, the best competition to prove myself. So I went over there for nothing, knowing I want to get all my money and. Which I didn't really get all my money, but too many, you know, that I coach called and it's like, yo, you got the ball, you can do what you want. And you know that thing like, you know, I needed to hear at that time. So I went over there and I had a great, great season. And then that just set it off for me from there. And then after that, I go to Germany for two years. And you know, when I went to Germany, that's when I started winning championships and stuff like that. A funny story. When I was in Germany, Darren Nuggets called me. And you know, I'm always like, at this time, I think this, at this point, I just was like, at the NBA too. I was like, I'm locked in overseas. I'm gonna be the best, you know, player I could be overseas. So then the Nuggets called me like, yo, we got, we got a two year deal for you. He's like, yo, we got a two year deal for you. You coming back home? I'm like, all right, cool. Like, appreciate it. I mean, I'm still like, just like brushing it off until, you know, official. Now I call my agent like, yo, Gary Nuggets gm, call me sir. He's like, yeah, the two year dog, right? Yeah, they told me too. He said they just waiting to trade a player, but it's done. I'm like, all right, cool, Bet. Then they called me again. It was like, yo, we got it. You know, we're gonna make the trade. Azzy Blasey. And at this time, you know, I got the crib in Florida, so my whole family down. It's like around July 4th, so we had a big, like, 4th of July joint. So talk to my agent again. I can share this with my family. He's like, yeah, you can share with your family. It's a done deal call. I still got the pictures and videos and everything. I go share with my family. I swear to God. It's funny that. It's not funny, bro. We start crying, taking shots, we getting drunk. Like, yo, we did it, bro. We did it, bro. Like, I'm super emotional. Like, yo, all our work paid off. We cheering, we talking. Like, we was up all night drinking. Like, we're just celebrating. Yeah, that's what, Two days later, like, yo, it ain't gonna happen after NBA. I'm never going to the NBA. [01:00:15] Speaker A: Wait, so how did that call go? [01:00:16] Speaker C: That's what I want. Yeah. [01:00:18] Speaker B: Agent called me and just was like, man, I got some bad news. I'm like, what? He was like, they couldn't make the trade of the player, so they can, you Know, honor the contract. I'm like, dang. At this time. It was a verb. It was only a verbal agreement. [01:00:30] Speaker A: Oh, so yeah, you hadn't signed it yet? [01:00:31] Speaker B: I didn't sign anything yet. It was a verbal agreement. I'm like, oh, man, all right, bet F the NBA. I'm never going to the NBA. Blasey blasey, stuff like that. Then I signed back overseas and I went and played for David Black and David Black called me. It was like, yo, I want you to be God. Hey, fresh off coach at Brian, you know, Brown, my favorite player. Yo, I want you to be my guy. Huh? What? There's who this David Black. Yo, I'm gonna be the coaching. And there was a faca. And I want you to be my guy. Like you got the. You got the keys to the team. So I'm like, all right, bet. I ain't even talked to no other team that summer. I'm like, all right, cool. I'm coming there. And that was it. Like he said, you come to me. Are you NBA out? You want to leave? Two years. It's a two year deal with the NBA out. And I was like, all right, bet. So I went, signed, played with David Black that whole year. And this one I released. It was like after NBA, you know, I had a great year that year. And Celtics was like, what's up? You know, Celtics blasey blah. And I was like, nah, I'm cool. Shane Locking go play for the Celtics that year. They get all them injuries and he go crazy. So now 2017, who went crazy? [01:01:41] Speaker C: Who you said went crazy? [01:01:42] Speaker B: Shane Larkin. Shane, he was still in that year with the Celtics. He was getting a lot of opportunities. So now I'm Saudi like, Shane, good, stay nice. I'm just looking like, yo, that could be me, bro. I could be all. And I'm Saudi, bro. Like, I'm back over here. I'm still in. So then I finished that year and then it's coming into my second year with through Safaka. And right before they called me like, we don't got the money to pay you. We're not gonna do Euroleague this year. We're gonna drop down the Euro cup. I'm like, what? Nah, I'm coming because I need this check, you know, this biggest contract I signed. I need that money. Like, we ain't doing that. So I end up still going over Turkey. And at the time, you know, I practiced with the guys a few times. And then I had a meeting with the team and the gm they was like, yo, you can't practice with our team tomorrow. What you mean? I'm signed to the team now. It's causing a lot of problems because the current players on our team calling the agents, asking what's going on. They sign thinking you wasn't coming back. You gonna take all eight minutes and stuff like that. I said, that's your problem, not my problem. They say, no, you can't come around the team. I said, so what that does with my money? I mean, y' all tell me I can't come around, then what's that? It was like, no, I stay around. We're gonna help you find a situation and stuff like that. You know, you still could practice in the gym. We'll let you work out and stuff like that, but you can't be around our team. Cool. I hit the guy up. He not letting me use the gym. It's a real situation. So I'm going. This is in Turkey. I'm recording. I gotta record it for, you know, just in case we gotta go to court. I'm recording it. Yo, another day coming to the gym. They locked the door on me. They don't let me in. Nobody answering their phone. I got all this recorded. I gotta record. I gotta take pictures, time frame it. All that. Like, it's wow. Like, I'm in a different country, bro. So in a time, you know, other teams start getting word of in the early. They calling me like, yo, what you want to do? And I'm like, at this time, I'm like, I'm cool. I'm really cool. Like, no, I'm cool. I just really want to buy out and just go back home. I was just cool off it. Like, I only want to play this season. I want to buy out. I just want to go back home. Other teams have calling to calling, and I'm like, no, I'm, you know, ready to see what's going on here. And then that's when Fenerbachi started coming into the play. I was already in Turkey. They was like, why don't you go to Fenerbahce? You in Turkey already on stuff like that. And at the time, I was like, nah, I ain't playing no finnabace, bro. I heard about the coach. He too crazy. He be acting crazy, cussing guys out. And, I mean, I just played for David Black, the coolest coach ever. Like. Like, I don't think I met a coach that was cooler than David Black, bro. All right, get your work in. All right, get out. Go home, enjoy yourself. See you tomorrow. He was that type guy. But it just was that NBA mentality. [01:04:08] Speaker D: Hey, because that's different overseas. [01:04:11] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. NBA. So he was treating us like we was NBA guys. The way he practiced, the way he scheduled our practices. And, like, yo, we felt fresh going to take games, the way we perform. [01:04:20] Speaker A: You guys were winning. [01:04:22] Speaker B: Yeah, we won. Yeah, we won. We went to the. The elite eight of the fine, yearly, early elite eight. We lost in the playoffs to Real Madrid to go to the Final Four. So it was like he had us prepared. He had us ready. And. Yeah. So now I'm like, all right, finna bought you on my line. I'm like, nah, I'm cool. Then, like, again, like, the famous people in Turkey, they call me and text me, dude, Brad, this X, Y and Z, you know, I'm big fan about you. Fan. Why don't you come over and stuff like that? And I'm like, yo, what the hell? Like, it's crazy. So then a coach Finn, about your coach Obrotovich, hit me up. Yo, let's just have a talk. Let's come get some tea, you know, let's get some tea. Let's get some tea. Let's talk it out. So I go and I was like, all right. I leave with him. I go and talk to him and we talk about everything. He was like, yeah, I know you probably heard stories about me and stuff like that. Trust and believe I'm different. You know what I mean? Don't feed into that. I know that. Probably be concerned, stuff like that. I'm like, nah, I ain't really worried about that. I'm used to tough coaching, but I just said, I just really don't know what I want to do right now. And then, like, we met again, like, a couple weeks later, because I'm still there. But at the time, they point guard injured. Bobby Dixon injured at the time, so they, like, they in need of a point guard. And Bodan Bodanovich, he came over to the lead. They all came over to the league. So at the time, they need. They need somebody to score the ball and stuff like that. So I eventually was like, all right, cool. I eventually said, yeah, and went over and signed with them. And it was like, crazy. I was like. I was like, God, bro. In Turkey, I was like, a God. Yeah. I think Fenerbachi is turkey, bro. My followers on Instagram probably was like, 4,000, something like that. That Joe went to, like, 15 to 20,000 in just one day. Just because that's how I'm feeling about you. It was unreal. And I'm like, yo, what the hell is going on? So now, you know, I'm getting crazy messages. I'm going to restaurants. Yo, come here. Yo, come here. Everything was on us. So I'm going, what? And I mean, Salt Bay before he blew up that joint. Like, yo, come in, we going. No reservation. Yo, we about to pull up, clearing it out for us. Like, bro, I'm saying, I'm God in Turkey. I'm really like, God. Like, unreal. Any and everything I wanted to do, I could do. And I'm just like, yo, this is crazy. Crazy. Like, everything is at arm reach. Like, we was like kings out there to some of the guys on the team. Like, bro, we do whatever we want. What you want to do? You want to do this? But the scary part was we had paparazzi following us. So, you know, I like to get out. So now I'm going. We on the Asian side, and you gotta go on the European side to really party. So we crossing that bridge to go party. Dudes out there with cameras taking pictures. We come back to practice the next day. Coach like, man, be the careful. Y' all stop all night because we got practice tomorrow at 9:00am we out to, like, you know, the club's in Europe, gonna close the seventh. Yeah, for the club, we're going to eat breakfast. And for breakfast, we're going straight to practice. And then we're gonna take a net right at the practice. So. But he. They get wind of everything. And then just like, yo, we got the cap before. Everybody really got to the media. So now we hitting the club up. Yo, we pulling up, but you gotta make sure outside clear. Like, we like, some real. Like. Like, you know how the NBA guys be hiding and stuff going through the tunnel. Like, yo, like, clear it out so we can get out the car, win. Like, it was unreal, bro. Like, when I say everything was in armreach, like any other thing. Phone call, text that don't happen like this. I was like, yo, this. [01:07:15] Speaker A: Was that your favorite country you played in your best experience? [01:07:18] Speaker B: I mean, that's tough to say. I won the most in Germany, probably. Well, I wanted. I wanted turkey, too. I think Germany was like that stamp. It stamped me. Like, it stamped me out there in the Euroleague world. When I was in Germany them two years, I love Italy because of the food. Like, the food, you know, that's why I fell in love with Italian food. Italian food, my favorite food right now, I could really eat pasta every single day. And I was able. Like, when I was. When I was in Italy. I paid for pistolia. And, you know, at that time, I'm playing one game a week. So I was able to travel Pisa, Florence, Mafi Coast, Capri Island. So I'm doing all this wild shit you see in the movies. I'm going to all these places. Rome, like, I'm going everywhere. Like, every time we get it off there, I'm going to all these places. So, like, I'm like, you know, this. This ain't. This ain't real. Like, so you got freezing. Yeah. So, like when I was ill, yeah, that was like crazy. Like, the places I was able to visit. But then in Germany, I was in Germany, I was able to go to Berlin a lot. You know, that's like my favorite price city off these. I always travel to Berlin, you know, Munich, stuff like that. Fly to Barcelona, like off days for the Barcelona. You know, when you're in Europe, that's. It's cheap. One place to another place. That's only like €30, $50 to go over from here to Barcelona. I'm in Barcelona for two days, come back and ready for practice. When I was over there was super dope. Even when I was in Turkey, I was able to go to Dubai. In who else I went was a quick flight. Where the pyramids at? I'm tripping right now. The Pyramids. I was able to go to Egypt. I'm tripping. I said I was able to go to Dubai, I was able to go to Egypt. I'm doing all these experience and I got my kids with me, so they seeing all this stuff too. So, like being over there, like, in certain countries, I was able to do things, you know, obviously being in Turkey, I was able to go to Dubai and Egypt, like, without a hiccup. And my mom was able to see that too. So I don't know, it's hard to say where. I mean, Italy was the food. Turkey was everything. Every Turkey, man. Istanbul. It's a trip you gotta make, man. [01:09:17] Speaker D: Especially everybody talk about. [01:09:23] Speaker E: My first year was in Turkey, so. [01:09:25] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, everything big. Slid everything there, man. [01:09:28] Speaker D: Did you play? Did you play against Malcolm? [01:09:31] Speaker B: Yeah, Malcolm left. The year I got there, he was in. Malcolm was in Russia. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But we played. [01:09:46] Speaker D: Y' all didn't cross paths in Germany? [01:09:48] Speaker B: No, he wasn't. He was out of Germany when I was in there. Euro Cup. [01:09:53] Speaker D: Oh, okay. [01:09:54] Speaker B: Yeah, so we. Yeah, we definitely played against each other, though. [01:09:58] Speaker D: The same class y' all both is. [01:10:00] Speaker B: Oh, seven. Yeah, 07. But, you know, the first time I seen Michael in person. Was. Was it our sophomore year? We was in Alhambra tournament in Maryland. Yeah, the high school. That's the first time his team was tough. Yeah, he was nice. He was nice and shit. Yeah, yeah, he was nice. But the thing about Malcolm, he kind of set that up for me for the NBA because he did the same thing. You gotta think. He went with Steve. He went overseas and came back to the NBA and I did it right after he did it. So he like opened that door for me because he's, you know, he went overseas, came back and signed that two year deal with the Hawks. So like, he opened that door for me. At that time that wasn't popular at all for somebody to go over and come back. Usually you got a European guy that's been in Europe coming over to the NBA. You never heard about American going overseas and coming back that door for me, for sure. Yeah. [01:10:46] Speaker C: So something I would want to. I want to ask that you. You said especially that you shared that with us. What happened with the Denver situation. [01:10:52] Speaker B: How. [01:10:53] Speaker C: How was you able to turn down that Barcelona deal to go to the NBA for the Celtics? [01:10:59] Speaker B: Listen, after that, all right, big deal. [01:11:03] Speaker A: That was a big check. [01:11:04] Speaker B: Dumb numbers weren't accurate. Them numbers weren't accurate. Somebody wasn't accurate. Nah, my family came at me, this is an exclusive. Listen, bro, if dumb numbers was dumb. [01:11:13] Speaker D: Numbers, they were saying 5 million, right? [01:11:17] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm on crack if I ain't taking it. Yeah, I'm on track if I ain't taking that. I was like, dave, all right, yeah, that was just. That was. Somebody made that up. Like, I. I wasn't even in talks with. I wasn't even talks with Barcelona at the time. Yeah, I think we was. I was finishing up the season with Fenerbachi and I already was agreed to Boston. It just wasn't signed. So, you know, we was in the playoffs. We was in the playoffs and, you know, Austin Ainge was coming to our games, stuff like that. And then they drafted Robert Williams. I'm still overseas on NBA draft. And they text me, yo, we got a big man, if you want to come over, that spot is yours. So basically I'm like, yo, let's do it. So I agreed overseas. So that, yeah, them Barcelona's numbers, crazy. My family hit me up like, yo, what you. You signed NBA minimum? Like, yeah, no, especially after what you. [01:12:12] Speaker C: Should have with them. I'm like, boy, you, you tough. [01:12:15] Speaker A: Yeah, you always better on yourself. [01:12:18] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. But I, I did have some crazy numbers of deals overseas kind of like, floating around at the time. And I just was tired overseas. I'm not gonna lie. I was tired of it. So it just was like, perfect timing, too. I was tired of it. [01:12:31] Speaker A: So what's the hardest part of being overseas? What wore on you to make you tired of it? [01:12:35] Speaker B: My kids were just getting older. I think that was the part of it they was getting older. Me and their mom, you know, was, you know, going through our separate ways at the time. You know, it was a rough patch for us. You know, we kind of, like, outgrew each other. So I think that was. That was one of the biggest things, like, just wanting to be around the kids. You know, I just. I was just tired. The kids, you know, was going international school. But, you know, they needed to be around, you know, American kids and live around that American culture and obviously be around family and friends. So it just was one of those things, like, everything just played apart, and it just was kind of like perfect timing. Like, I really was tired. I'm not gonna lie. I was tired. I was exhausted from being over there, and they coming home and being home for two months and then jumping right back and going back over here for 10 months. You know, I mean, I was fortunate enough to, you know, be on winning teams where my season lasted that long. You know, I'm forever grateful that. But that grind different. [01:13:26] Speaker A: What's tough about the grind? What's different overseas as compared to being. [01:13:31] Speaker B: In the league or you in America, you home, like, you could get. You know what I mean? Or even during the season, family and friends can come see you. I mean, so I can see my parents, you know, my siblings, you know, overseas. Ten hour flight, six hour flight. Thousands of dollars. Ain't nobody doing that. You know what I mean? I'm in Boston. Five hour drive. Oh, philanthropy. Yo, let's all drive together. I mean, you know, San Fran, catch a flight. Charlotte, let's drive down. You know, I got family that live in Charlotte, too. So, you know, it was those things that played that part, and it just was, like, time. It was time to come home. Like. Yeah, I was over it. [01:14:03] Speaker D: When you was in Boston. I came to the game when y' all played Miami and we hung out afterwards. It was, I think, Rob Williams and Daniel. How you say his name? Did he play with you in Germany? Did y' all play together in Germany? [01:14:20] Speaker B: Indian Tyson tournament. Okay. [01:14:22] Speaker D: Was he. Was he one of the guys that you were close with? [01:14:25] Speaker B: When I came to tube? Yeah, because we was together for two years in Bamberg in Germany before I came to the NBA. So we was together for two years in Denver. Then obviously I went to Turkey for. And then when I went to Turkey, he played one more year in Bimberg and he came over. So he's. He was with the soldiers a year before I got there. So when I came back, you know, he was there. And then obviously Marcus Morris as being, you know, silly guys that, you know, was close. You know, growing up the then Pualo was assistant coach in Philly as well. So it was a lot of that team. Yeah. [01:15:02] Speaker C: And I just wanted real quick hold up. So now when Boston is serious, how that phone call go now when it's. You said you agree but when he now and yeah, talk about that. [01:15:16] Speaker B: So it was, it was. It was crazy because when I got back from overseas, I was home for like couple days and I went right to Boston and I met with Brad Stevens and Pool island and we just drove around Boston, you know, going through the city and stuff like that. Right before I signed my contract, you know, then I had the press conference and stuff. So I mean, it was crazy, you know, just. It was a surreal moment. Like even during the midst of all of it, I just was like, yo, what the hell? And it's crazy because the night before I went to Boston, I went out with my guys, went out, we partied like we was in Jersey when I'm party. So the next day I go to Boston, I got the black polo team, some blue jeans on. It's the same outfit I had that night on in the club. I couldn't even change, bro. I woke up, washed my ass and I went right to Boston. Like I was the same outfit I had the night before, I swear to God. But yeah, it was crazy, bro. I ain't lie was crazy just being out there going through that process of like, yo, I really, really made it. Like I'm really here. Like it was kind of wild. [01:16:14] Speaker D: So you made it far. [01:16:16] Speaker B: Yeah, I tell everybody all the time watching that my rookie year in the NBA was probably the worst experience I ever had as a basketball player. I was miserable. But on the outside, I could not show it because why would explain that. [01:16:33] Speaker A: Explain that? [01:16:34] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm gonna explain it. [01:16:35] Speaker A: Just reach your dream. [01:16:36] Speaker B: I show it because so many people was proud of me and everything. Because here I go in my prime overseas, I come to the NBA and I'm a fucking cheerleader. Yeah. [01:16:46] Speaker D: How you take that step doing the. [01:16:47] Speaker B: Midst of all that? I was told I was going to play. So I get there, I'm doing well. And then you Know you start to see certain things. We in the preseason, we play certain games. I play a little bit here. Haha. I'm not playing. I'm not your average rookie. I'm 29. So if I'm fresh out of college, I'm cool. All right, cool. Every rookie got go through this at that time. You know, at that time when we was coming up, at that time as a rookie, you, most rookies weren't playing in the NBA right away unless you just was that good. So I'm 29, I'm a 29 year old rookie. I'm going through that process. I'm miserable, like miserable. I'm a cheerleader. If you really paid attention to some games, I'm not even cheering, I'm on a bench slouching. So like it was, it was, it was bad because little Brad was paying attention to all of it. So he had games and I go watch him gay and I sitting on the bench like that, I'm like, why are you acting like that? He's like, you do that your games. I'm like, no, I had to be more engaged because he really paying attention to this. So I had to be engaged. Obviously my parents start saying stuff about it like you gotta be proud you made it and stuff like that. But I'm like, yo bro, I'm a cheerleader, like I play, I do well and then I don't play for 20 games. Like, what bro? So then, you know, we gotta do our two on twos, three on threes and practice to stay in shape. And now I'm in practice, I'm cussing dudes out, I'm cutting coaches out, I'm throwing the ball in practice, I'm, I'm spazzing out because like I'm frustrated because we doing these twos and twos, three on threes. I'm working on my game, I'm doing well, but it comes to the game, I'm not getting a shot. So now I'm in practice that we scrimmage in, I might make a crazy play, duck on somebody, all going hype. No, I'm like, like I saw, I mean it was miserable. I'm not gonna, I was miserable and you know, I just had to like fight through that and act like it was all good for the outside people, but deep down inside was cooking me. And you know, I go from practice, I come home kids happy. Yeah. So it's changing my. Ooh. Like, what's up? All right, let's go out. You know what I mean? Let's do something, fam. Come visit. Gotta play it cool for them. They super excited. Someone's first time ever going to the NBA game. They getting passes to be on the court or like in the midst of all this. It was bittersweet. My first year was bittersweet. It just was like one of the situations, like, damn, I'm a cheerleader for these niggas. Once again, mindset, like, I think I'm right there with these guys. You know what I mean? Yeah. [01:19:03] Speaker E: And going from you as the man, like, the man over, you know, the. [01:19:06] Speaker B: Man, man, like, yeah. [01:19:08] Speaker E: You know what I'm saying? Champion. All those chips. Yeah, that's. [01:19:11] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:19:12] Speaker D: Yo, but even say that you said like, lord, Brad saying you slouch on a. But just think about that. You played in the NBA. Your son got to see you play in the NBA. [01:19:22] Speaker B: How. [01:19:22] Speaker D: How was that for you guys, man? [01:19:24] Speaker B: It was, it was cool. It was like super, super dope. To the point now even sometimes we. We randomly talk about it, he's just like, yo, dad, like, you know, you had me around certain people, certain players. Like, even now, like, I still got teammates that I talk to. I hit them up real quick, right? And they responding. I mean, or, you know, sometimes they hit me up like, yo, that's little Brad. Like, they checking in, like, stuff like that. So, like, just that experience, like taking them everywhere with me, you know, which I did love about the NBA. The family was able to travel. So, like, the family traveling, like, I'm taking them. We're going to 10, 10 day road trip, yo. Yeah, going to school, come experience this. So we going to different cities, you know, letting them and their mom go out and experience stuff like, you know, hey, go do what you need to do. Go see this. So, I mean, it was pretty cool. The one year I was in Boston, we played Toronto on Christmas day. The fam travel with me, like, yo, you know, make this trip with us, Spend Christmas with me in Toronto. It was cool. Took pictures with Brad on the court. We still got the pictures. Christmas in Toronto. So it was, it was, it was a dope experience. And I just be like, you got a little taste of it, like, as a kid. Like, go taste that for yourself as a player. Yeah, that experience second to none, but, you know, just the midst of my first year, me and like, me like, like, everybody else around me loved it. And I was the only one that hated it. And it's just like, you know, at times I had to fake it like, yo, this joint crazy with you downtown, yo, fuck the NBA. Yeah. [01:20:48] Speaker A: But you. [01:20:49] Speaker B: So you worked. [01:20:49] Speaker A: You worked your way to being a player in the rotation. What did it take? Like, what dominoes had to fall for you to actually get your opportunity and hold onto it for as long as you were able to? [01:20:58] Speaker D: Calorie leaving. [01:20:59] Speaker B: Ah, man, just staying with it and believing in myself and a lot of trust in Brad Stevens, my ex with me. We lost to Milwaukee. My first, My first year. We lost in Milwaukee in the playoffs. And I played garbage minutes, but, you know, I played and I went out there and I played well. And our ex and me, and he was like, yo, I think you really could have helped dusting that. Serious. I'm like, bro, I probably played 25 out of 82 games. We should talking about Oscar to help. In my mind, that's what I'm thinking. A part of me believed him because I'm like, yo, I really was doing my thing, even though it was traffic minutes. And he was like, yo, honestly, you know, I know things didn't go as planned. Please give us another chance. I'm gonna be calling you soon. So it made me feel, well, made me feel good. I go back home like a week later. He still text me, you know, don't forget what I said, you know, blasey blasey, stuff like this. And amidst all that, my agent, like, what you want to do? You know, obviously now, you know, the overseas team's calling, offering money and stuff. But I did a whole season home. I can't go to. Yeah, I can't. Like, I just, like, I can't, like, I can't like it. Like, as miserable as basketball was just the piece of being home, seeing family and friends on a consistent basis. I just, like, I can't go back. I just can't go back. Like, I agreed to Boston pretty quick to go back even though a lot of people didn't like it. Like, a lot of people didn't like it. That was close to me. Like, why would you go back to a team which, you know, promise you playing time and X, Y and Z and you know, us, you know, we cut from that cloth. We rather take something that's something to be handed to us. I just was like, I got something to prove. I just was like on a mission. Like, I got something to prove. So, you know, I agreed to go back to Boston after, you know, I talked to the coaches and then the draft come. They selected three guards and a forward. [01:22:47] Speaker D: Who did they pick up? You remember? [01:22:49] Speaker B: Yeah. Carson Edwards, Romeo Langford, they both was first round picks. Grant Williams, Was the first round pick, too. And then Traymond Walters in the second round. [01:22:56] Speaker C: Yeah, I remember. [01:22:57] Speaker B: I was like, damn, they got all alone. Romeo Laker was. He was a lottery pick. So I'm like, damn, they got all on and they want me to come back. I believe in myself. And then Brad was like, we still want you if you want to come. And I'm like, yeah, I'm coming, coach. And that's why I agreed to go back to Boston. And then Kit there, you know, doing my thing, playing well, Kim with this one. Kim would come to the team, too. Kyrie got traded. Kim will come to the team. So we just going through the preseason everything. I'm doing my thing, I'm playing. But, you know, they screaming the young kids name. They on the young kids. And now I'm like, back in the same situation. We do preseason game back in the same situation. The youngest getting more menaced than me. I'm like, yo, what the fuck? But, you know, I just got that fight in me that I'm not going to give up. You know what I mean? So. And you know what's thorough, like, you know what's real about me through that whole process. I'm taking the young boys under my wings. I'm taking them out. I'm taking them to eat. I'm doing all this, bro. Swear to God, they tell you, yo, I'm doing all this. Taking them out to eat, yo, talking to them, yo, you need to do this when you're the game. But in the mind, I really want to play, but it's just like one of them things. Like, as a vet, I feel like I got to get. [01:24:05] Speaker A: You never been a hater. [01:24:06] Speaker B: Yeah, I got to get your young boys games. I gotta get them game. So in the midst of all that, I'm still getting them game. Like, yo, you got to do this when you win. You got to make sure you're doing this blasey, blasey. Like. And I don't think they really was, like, expecting me to say that, because they know we in competition for the minutes, But I'm giving them game. Yo, what y' all doing after this, bro? Y' all eight, come on, let's go eat. I mean, yo, what y' all doing? I'm about to order you something to eat. Like, I'm doing all this for the young boys. And they lottery picks and stuff like that. They contra supported mine. No, I mean, but it's just like, I'm 30. Y' all young boys. Y' all first stepped in the Lead. So it's one of the things, like I'm, you know, look out for y'. All. So we just going. We just going. Season start now. They playing over me. I get thrown in there, sprinkled in here and there. I ain't really feeling it, but, you know, I'm still. Still looking out. The young ones can tell you I had a great attitude the whole time. We about to leave for a West coast trip. A lot to you. Not now. First, I'm just going through the joint. I'm like, yo, why I'm not playing? I'm really, like questioning why I'm not playing, why I'm doing everything I need to do, why I'm not playing more minutes. Brad Stevens is like, yo, waste your time. Waste your time. When the time come, take full advantage. Swear that's what he's telling me now. I'm going to pull out and, hey, bro, what's up, man? He was like, man, Brad fighting for you. That's what he said. Brad fighting for you. Y' all know the NBA is the higher ups. That big calls and stuff. That's you just that big of a coach. It's the higher ups to make them calls. So he just is like, you know, stay with it. You know, Brad fighting for you. Stay with it, stay with it. Obviously, I make 1 mil, you make 2.5 mil. You playing over me. This is the NBA. Regardless of if you think you're better than me or not, you know, I mean, we've seen that with Dewan Blair when he was the spurs, he was putting up numbers, but them other guys made more money. So, hey, Italian fella. So it's just one of them things. And then we going on a West coast trip. Right before the trip, I swear, Brad, I'll never forget, Brad was like, be ready. Like, all right. I ain't really been playing. He's like, be ready. All right, cool. Play these spurs. We go up probably 25, 30 on the Spurs. He like, brad, you know, I ain't bullshitting. No. No minutes. It's the NBA. I get in, I'm going off, I go off, I get a couple buckets, I score. He subbed me out. He's like, thank you. You said thank you for like, thank you. You gave me that. You sent me in. Thank you. He just was like, thank you. And then from there on, I played every game. So I think that was one of the things. [01:26:14] Speaker D: He was like, you validated what he wanted to do. [01:26:17] Speaker B: I validated what he wanted to do. And then from there On. He just played me. He played me, Just played me. And I was, you know, doing really good. Like, really, really good. And then the NBA shut down, and that's when the bubble came. And I think that's what opened it up to. Everybody's seen it. Because, I mean, you look at my stats, it was. It was the same, but in a bubble, that's all everybody had to watch. So now people that wasn't watching the Boston game, they watching Boston game, and they saying, like, oh, shit. [01:26:42] Speaker A: Why ain't he playing? [01:26:42] Speaker B: Yeah. Huh? [01:26:44] Speaker A: They're like, why ain't he playing? [01:26:45] Speaker B: No, they was. No, no. I was in the rotation at the time, not playing well. So people hitting me up like, yo, shit, Wanamaker's actually good. So the people that. The casual fan that never watched a Boston game, you know, obviously, the people that have been seeing us playing stuff, they knew what I was doing that season. So now it's like a whole, like, lead of, like, different people reaching out and getting DMs. Oh, you nice. Oh, blasey blasey. So, I mean, that felt. That felt good. It validated a lot of things for me. So, to be honest with y', all, bro, after that season, I just was not motivated no more. I was like, I did it. That's my dream. I did it, bro. What a guy. I played in the NBA. Fucking was in a rotation, played well, I did it, bro. I did it 31 at a time. [01:27:30] Speaker A: And then. Is this before the second contract? [01:27:33] Speaker B: This was my second contract. I signed two. [01:27:35] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Yeah. That'll kill the motivation a little bit. [01:27:37] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. No, it's. No, So I. I signed my first. Only both times I signed Boston was one year. So I say one year. One year. One year. So I said two year, two contracts with Boston. But then when the summer come, I'm hyped, like, all right, cool. I'm about to get a nice little check. You know, we're seeing what other people getting blasey blasey. But I'm not working out the same. I'm not gonna lie. I'm not working out the same on my game, stuff like that. You know, it's one of them things. I really was hyped. Like, I really did that I was in the league, playing the rotation, Putting up numbers. 15 points here, 12, 13. You know, I mean, I'm guarding the best players. Let me get stills. So, I mean, I didn't work out the same that summer like I did in summer's past just because I was like, yo, I Did that. I made it. And then, you know, going through that process, you know, I get a call from a team right before free agency. It was what you call the Phoenix Sons. They was like, yo, we got three year deal for you. You know, take it now. I was like, what the. Oh, I'm not taking it. Because if y' all offer me, they offer me three or nine mil. Like, looking back on, I should have took that. But like, yo, I'm like, my boy. [01:28:45] Speaker C: He was getting 40 M's, bro. [01:28:48] Speaker B: Three years, not mil. I'm like, yo, they offered me this the day before free agency. Or if you just go get a check. That's my mom. Like, I'm getting the check. If they trying to make me agree to something before. Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm getting a check somewhere. I'm getting 12 mil for three. That's what I'm thinking. Like, I think I did enough to get that. [01:29:07] Speaker E: What's your agent say to you after you. After you told him to deal? What? [01:29:10] Speaker B: He said, no, he my agent. So my agent called me and was like, yo, Phoenix got this for you. But they want you to agree tonight. I'm like, what? Tonight, the day before. But also in my back of my mind, I'm like, we play Philly. I played good against Philly. Every time we play Philly in the playoffs, I played good. So I'm like, I'm coming home. I know I'm better than some guards. Like, you know, that's my dream. I wanted to really play facility. So I'm like, yo, I told him, I said, I'm waiting on Philly. I want Philly to offer me. I know they gonna offer me. I mean, I played good against them. A Philly kid. [01:29:38] Speaker A: Were they in contact with you at the time too? Like with the gm? [01:29:40] Speaker B: No, I never. I never saw the Philly. [01:29:43] Speaker D: Did your agent say you should have took that deal for Phoenix? [01:29:46] Speaker B: No, he just. He just was like, you know, he was like, what do you want to do? I'm not pushing, pressuring you to do it, but this happened a lot in NBA where guys agreed to deals before. And I was like, I don't know, bro. I really don't. I was like, I really don't want to go to West Coast. That's what I'm saying. I really don't want to go to West Coast. Like, Boston was nice, bro. Five hour drive, people coming up all the time, hour and a half flights. I'm like, I'm in a perfect situation where I'm playing opposed to family and friends. So I just. I just didn't want to go on the West Coast. But mind you, you know, Phoenix, Scottsdale is probably my favorite city. [01:30:15] Speaker A: Hey, I would have took good care of you out there. You know, that's my hometown, man. It took good care of you. The food, Come on. [01:30:25] Speaker B: It might have been my favorite, like, city to travel to. And when I was in the league, it was all it. But, yeah, that was the deal. And then, you know, free agency started. A couple teams called, but they was like. I was the. At the thought. So they was like, oh, you know, man, we're gonna get back to you. We interested, blah, blah, blah. And then that's when Steve Carr. Well, my agent called me like, yo, the worries, you know, they want you. I'm like, all right, cool. What the damn. Hit the play with stuff. So it's crazy. My agent called me, was like, yo, Steve. Steve, Kirk will call you in a second. So Steve called me, and he was like, yo, I like what you did, Celtics, but I think you have the same type of, you know, go in the state. I'm like, all right. And he was like, whatever you do, you know, just make sure you do the right thing. But no, you know, you got to roll over here and go to state. And I was like, all right, bet. Then my agent hit me back like, yo, that's about to call you, huh? Steph Curry called me like, yo, good luck in free agency. We like to have you and going to state, blah, blah. That low key. That was icing on the cake. I'm in my parents crib. He called me first. It said North Carolina number, so I already knew it was him. So I went outside on the porch and I answered it. And I'm talking and I'm, you know, I mean, I go back into Chris Miller. What's what. I'm like, yo, that was stuff. Stuff just called me. I was like, what? You lying? I said, I swear to God. He just called me and saying what? I'm like, he said he'd like for me to come to Dakota State. He was like, yo, that's crazy. Little Brad and all them in there. My nephew. It was like, what? I'm crazy? I mean, like a day later. No, not a day later. Hours later, I'm in the drive through to get some food. Then Draymond called me, yo, what's up, Yo? Hello. What's up? You know, you gotta answer every number now. It's free agency. [01:32:02] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:32:03] Speaker B: He's like, yo, this Draymond. And I was like, yo, out there. Yo, you said, I got the biggest hit in the world. When we did this on tv, we started laughing and joking, like, on the phone and stuff like that. And he was like, no, man, no, no, I like your game. Stuff like that. Come to go to State. And I was like, bet. And that was. That was like, yo, I'm going to go to State. And that's how that happened. But, yeah, Golden State was frustrating, though. I ain't gonna lie to you. It was frustrating. It was cool to see, like, the day in the day out of Steph Curry, how he worked on his game, you know, Draymond, how he approached the game. Like, it was cool to see that Wiggins and all those guys. But for me, it wasn't, you know, the best situation. You know what I mean? Early on, I played in preseason. I played early in the season. You know, a couple guys, you know, that they thought was gonna have big roles on their team were struggling. And then I had a meeting with Steve Kerr. This. When you ain't drafted, you don't. You don't. You know, they didn't get drafted. You know, not one of the guys. For real, you know, you go through these things. So I had to meet with the team, and they just was like, yo, we going, you know, put a couple players in that second unit and basically put the ball in their hand. You know, we got to get them guys ready. So basically, like, fuck you kind of situation. And now, you know, I go through my streak where I'm getting one shot a game, may not shoot a game, get two shots this game, may not shoot this game. Now I'm playing four minutes in the first half, four minutes in the second half. So I'm playing eight minutes, and I'm eight minutes. I probably test the ball, like, four or five times, and I'm the point guard. So it was tough. And now we go to a point where I missed 19 straight threes. So now I was like, yo, fuck it. I'm losing my confidence. So it was like, all the things played an effect. And then my family calling me like, yo, is it too much pressure? You backing up Steph Curry? I'm like, nah, I don't feel no pressure at all. I just. My opportunity just changed. I mean, they see, you know, who I was in the preseason to. Now it's just. Everything changed. Once again, if you ain't really paying attention, you don't know what happened, what's going on. So, you know, and the media out there is crazy. So now they just cooking me in the media. [01:33:55] Speaker E: Crazy. [01:33:56] Speaker B: Are you trash? How we get this bomb? Blasey, blasey. And then we got Nico Manning and we got Jordan Poole. They play good. How do we ever play this bum over them and stuff like that? So, like, they just cooking me, you know, we. [01:34:08] Speaker D: So is it the media or fans? [01:34:10] Speaker B: Like, social. On social media? Not like social media. Okay, Yeah. I mean, but some media people were saying, like, why not get Jordan Pooh a chance? I'm struggling, rightfully so. Like, I'm barely getting shots up. I'm shooting one or two shots a game. I'm not in rhythm. Like, it. It. I was, like, super frustrated then, you know, it's still covet. But, you know, in San Fran, they ain't open it up all the way. So I go to practice. I ain't got no outlet, bro. I'm coming and looking at four walls. I'm in jail. I got a nice spot out there. [01:34:37] Speaker A: Overseas again. [01:34:38] Speaker B: Yeah, my crib. Nice. Where'd you. [01:34:41] Speaker D: Where'd you stand? [01:34:42] Speaker B: I stayed right in downtown San Fran at a penthouse, bro. That nice, like. But I'm coming from the gym and going there. From there to the gym. I have nothing, bro. So it's like, I'm struggling here, but I got no outlet. I can't get out, get a drink. For real, for real. I can't go partying. For real, for real. I got family and friends. So. [01:35:02] Speaker D: Are you with your family or y'? All? [01:35:05] Speaker B: No. Yeah, we're going throughout the worst. Yeah. So, you know, out there by myself, so, like, there's all that going on, and it's just me. So, like, think about that. Basketball ain't going well, but I don't have nothing else. Like, you know, you got it. Usually one of the two going good. Like, best one ain't going good. All right. Coming home to the folks, they cheering me up. I got best one. I'm coming home to the crib. Ain't nothing there. I'm, like, thinking. [01:35:27] Speaker D: Thinking about. [01:35:28] Speaker B: Yeah. So the good thing about it, which I did, like, though, when it came to a point and it was like, time to trade the line and stuff Steve did came to me like, yo, it's not working. And, you know, Steve Kurt was speaking up for me in the media. He just kept saying, yo, this ain't all on Brad. Like, you know, he's in a tough situation. You know, we trying to find ways to help him. Like, he was speaking up for me. So I did give him credit for that. He was speaking up for me during that process. But then he came to me like, yo, we're gonna find a team for you. Blasey, Blasey. But right before the trade deal, we go and we play Charlotte in Charlotte, and Steph get sick right before the game. So at the time, I'm really not in rotation. That shit was like, yo, Brad, you started. [01:36:04] Speaker D: Oh, you played good this game. [01:36:05] Speaker B: And I played good against Charlotte. Yeah, played really good against Charlotte. And then that's, like, a couple weeks later, they hit me up like, yo, lamelo ball. Injured. Devontae Graham, injured. You know, we want you to come over. And then, you know, Steve was like, yo, Charlotte want to trade for you. How you feel? I'm out. Trade me, bro. Like, I need a fresh start. Crazy. We drive to Sacramento right before the game. They announced everything. I mean, link up with a teammate. You know, we get up real quick before I dip, and then, you know, I go to Charlotte, I get to Charlotte, and I. I was hoping, like, hooping, bro. [01:36:41] Speaker A: I remember that you were hooping. [01:36:42] Speaker B: I remember hooping in Charlotte. Like, I'm. I'm falling back in love. Like, I'm hooping, bro. I'm getting opportunity. These guys down. I'm falling back in love with it. I mean. And then we get towards the end of the season, five games left in the season. Here we go again. Yo, Brad, can we have a meeting? Yo, we got a couple players on the team we trying to build. They stock up, you know what I mean? Trade value up. You know, you good, though, but, you know, these last five games, you might not play. Just to build the situation up, I called my agent like, yo, bro, what? Again? He was like, no, that mean they probably want to resign you for next year. Blasey, Blasey. I said, bro, we making a playoff run. What are you talking about? We're at the bottom. We ready to get in the playoffs. Like, we got a chance to make the playoff run. He was like, no, you know, stay positive. Still be a good teammate. All right, cool. I'm still being a good teammate, you know, I mean, because I really rock with the team. I made a good teammate. And I mean. But I'm like, yo, this shit killing me, bro. It's so. This one, you know, it's bad when I swear to God, everything. Other niggas on other teams coming up to you after the game, bro, why didn't you play? I'm like, you. Like, you respect me a little bit? Like, yeah, for that team. Like, you know what I mean? You know, obviously, all of it might not be real for they tried. I mean, but I know some people that was. Action was real. Like, yo, why are you playing, bro? Why are they playing? I'm like, I don't know, but I am. [01:37:51] Speaker A: So coaches are that honest with you, and like, the front office that honest with you when you're not playing? They'll be real, like, hey, we're trying to build other people's stock. Like, describes. Who are those conversations with mostly? [01:38:01] Speaker B: Well, now, that was with the. The GM of the team. I mean, the coach wanted to play me some situation, bro. I always been in a situation when coaches was rocking with me, but it was the gm. I really had to meet with the gm. He just was like, you know, we want y' all build these guys, value up, trade value up and try to trade them, and rightfully so. All them dudes got traded. [01:38:17] Speaker A: How does that make you feel? Do you, like, almost respect the honesty, bro? [01:38:21] Speaker B: Because then you gotta think it messed up other stuff for me because I'm still trying to get a contract, bro. My contract ended. So now, as a whole, as a league, if you watching me, you thinking, why he not playing? Like, come on. Why he not playing? Like, headache. So now I'm like the NBA again. Finish the season off agent, like, all right, yo, I'll, you know, go enjoy yourself. I'm like, I'm done. What you mean, you're done? I'm done, bro. It's. I'll call him right now. He'd say, you ain't done. What you talking about, bro? I'm done, bro. I'm not doing this no more. I'm done. Like, it's over. I said, my time is up. It's over. I'm not playing no more. He's like, no, we talk. Go enjoys this summer. Go on vacation, something like that. I said, all right. Bet a couple months come. Free agency come. I'm not answering this phone call. I know it's probably teams calling. I'm not answering any. I'm really done. Yo, bro, give me a call. I'm done, bro. Then my other agent hit me up. She was like, brad, what are you talking about? You're not done? Yeah, no, I'm really done. Free agency, you know, And I ain't signed with nobody, you know, I mean. [01:39:18] Speaker A: You know, I mean, offers coming your way. [01:39:20] Speaker B: Yeah, I ain't signed. I ain't signed with nobody. I want to answer no call. I really was done, bro. I was mentally cooked. I. I wasn't working out. I wasn't doing nothing, bro. And then. Wow. Yeah. And then I Don't know if somebody got injured with Indiana or something. And then he was like, yo, Indiana said, come for training camp. You know, if. If things work out, they assign you for the four year. No, they said no non guaranteed contract. And then, you know, by a certain time, you know, you could decide if you want to guarantee or not. If you do. Well, I'm like, nah, bro, I ain't doing that shit. I'm really done. And I don't know if y' all remember I go to Indiana, I'm looking bad. My first dealing. I'm looking bad, bro. Like, I really was. I remember I hit you up over that hibernation, bro. I wasn't doing. I'm chilling, bro. [01:40:06] Speaker A: Brad, it seems like you. You went out on your own terms, like a boxer, like a prize fighter, going like Floyd Mayweather, going out on your own terms. But there's some more questions that need answered out here. A lot of people have opinions about some of these players we watch on tv. Who's the best? You know, you got to play with some of the best, you know, play with Kyrie, you play with Steph. Who was the best players you played with and who was the best players you played against while you were in the league? [01:40:29] Speaker B: All right. I don't want to compare nobody. No. So don't. Don't ask me this player, that player. I still. I still talk to a lot of those, so. Okay. [01:40:37] Speaker A: But, yeah, we're not gonna compare. I just want to. [01:40:39] Speaker B: I just want to know who's great. Yeah, no, people be trying to get me to, you know, I mean, on camera, to say who's better out of certain players. I just don't. I mean. But no, yeah. Kyrie, man, like, his talent was second to none, obviously, playing with him. Steph Curry, yeah, they. Them two, like, set the bar, like, really high of, like, what it. What it took to be a pro day in and day out. I mean, just sitting there watching. You know, some days I really would sit and just watch Kyrie work out, bro. And it's like some of the stuff he did is just like, yo, why are you doing that? He's just so good at basketball. The angles. He doing his layups to make certain layups and stuff like that. But then we get into a game, he actually doing that. I mean, then, you know, Steph Curry, I was that video. That viral. Viral video of him in Chicago making all them shots, threes in a row. No, I was sitting there watching that, like, so it was like, I was able to experience all that and then, you know, I played with Kemba as well, another great point guard. And kemba, he making 500 shots a day. He go through a certain routine where he's making 500 shots. So it's like, yo, bro, I'm just seeing, like, this greatness, and it's like, yo, I'm not motivated. You know, I mean, certain things that just motivated me to get better. And then, you know, just playing against certain people. Brian LeBron getting a stop on LeBron at one point. Like, you know, I mean, I still got that video saved. But then it's also, you know, he walked me down like I couldn't do nothing. I couldn't move your night. He just walked me down like, Lord, and just laid me up. So it was like, you know, you see those things, like, you know, being able to put against LeBron and, you know, obviously Lou will, you know, I really love this game. And then, you know, when I got to the NBA, we was like, matchups, like, you know, because he came out the bench, you know, obviously six man, Louville, you know, arguably could be a starter at any team. You know, it was like going against him at times. And I remember we played in la and I. And, you know, it was the matchup. I felt like I won that matchup. He came to Boston. Oh, my God, it got dark, bro. That Joe was like, yo, Brad subbed in, coach. Like, you got low. Two minutes later. Yo, Brad, come sit down, right? He was busting our ass, like, you know, it was cool, like, guarding the Kawaiis, the pgs, you know, being able to play against the Kyle Iri, you know, from Philly North Philly, tough guard. [01:42:40] Speaker D: How was that? [01:42:42] Speaker B: That was crazy for me, especially, you know, going against him in the playoffs. You know, I mean, it wasn't too many words being said between each other, but, you know, that competitors was there. It was a lot of love shown afterwards. I actually just ran into him the other day. He was working out his kids and stuff. And I was. I was having to work out with Roman, and I was with him. We was talking a little bit. You know, we just. I mean, talking or, you know, congratulating me, telling me how proud he was of him. And I was like, bro, you going to 20 years in the NBA, NBA. I mean, I'm. I'm proud of you. Like, bro, you. You set that standard for what a Philly tough guard is. You went through everything, you know, going through that Memphis situation, you know, similar to me grinding it out. You know, they ain't believing you you made your name other places. I mean, you arguably gonna get his jersey, retired in Toronto. He's the hall of Fame point guard. Like, the career, he passed. And then we got some similarities. You know, we're talking about him, you know, his sons. You know, his sons play ball. So working his sons out, and he. He only could work one son out. The other side, he can't work out because they fight like, that's me and little Brad. He's speaking it. He was like, bro, I played. I'm about to be 20 years, and my son will listen to me. I'm like, bro, I went the hardest way to the league, probably, and he don't want to listen to me. So, you know, it's those similarities and, you know, that respect of, you know, we're dealing with the same thing with our kids, you know, trying to help them, you know, pursue their dreams. Obviously, that's cool. But, yeah, man, it's hard. AD guarding KD and Garden, Harden, Westbrook, Chris Paul. Like, I remember one time I plucked Chris Paul and laid the ball up like, you know, it was kind of wild. And he was like, yo, good defense, like, yo. So, like, it may be crazy, stuff like that, like. And, like, guarding those type of players, making plays on them. Shoot, who else? [01:44:17] Speaker D: How is it guarding Westbrook? Someone, like, straight attack mode. Yeah, I love Westbrook, so I got it. [01:44:22] Speaker B: Yeah, I played Westbrook when he was in. He was with Houston. Him and James Harden was in the backcourt together. And that was my matchups. I mean, that was tough covering. Like, it was. It was tough covering. I was hyped because I played good that game. I think I had, like, 13 points that game. And we won, so. And then we went out, so, you know, I was feeling myself. It's crazy because looking at these players, like, you playing against these players that you just was watching, like, this boy just averaged a triple double for three straight years. He's the one of the greatest point guards ever. And, like, I'm standing toe to toe. So, like, I never took those things for granted. Like, even after the game, like, during the midst of it, between them lines, it's like, yo, you, bro. But at the end of the game, I'm fanned out, like, yo, Rogers really played against Westbrook, and the night before Kyrie introduced me to him, we went out, Kyrie introduced me to him and stuff like that. So it'd be like, stuff like that, bro. Hey, more than most people, but it's big. You know what I mean? [01:45:08] Speaker D: You keep saying you went out you went out a lot in your NBA career. [01:45:12] Speaker B: Nah. To dinner. [01:45:19] Speaker D: I get it. To dinner. Whatever. You went out. But what I want. Where was your favorite city to go out in? [01:45:24] Speaker B: Scottdale. Oh, you did say that. [01:45:26] Speaker D: You did say Scottdale. [01:45:27] Speaker B: Scottdale, bro. Scottdale was all it. [01:45:30] Speaker C: I want. [01:45:31] Speaker D: No, no, no, no. [01:45:32] Speaker B: Scottdale. [01:45:33] Speaker C: I w. I went out with Brad. [01:45:35] Speaker D: In Miami, so I know I love Houston. So when you say Houston made me. [01:45:43] Speaker B: Think of Houston was a fun city as well. Yeah. I mean, la. Cool. I'm not a big LA guy, though, bro. Like, people love la. I just never was crazy about la. I think it's just too fake for me. It's crazy. On that island is different. Yeah, that island was crazy. That was the Houston island. That was crazy. [01:46:11] Speaker D: How about say this is a good question, because you played. You played against James in high school because y' all both was. [01:46:18] Speaker B: Oh, seven. [01:46:18] Speaker D: No, obviously, I didn't play each other. [01:46:20] Speaker B: Okay. No, he owe six. [01:46:21] Speaker E: No harden. No, James, 07. He o. Seven. He owe seven. It's the. It's the one, Brad. We got the one. 07. The one. That's the one. The one. That ain't the two. Huh? [01:46:37] Speaker A: He's on seven. [01:46:40] Speaker E: I don't know who he played for. I never seen him on the circuit either, though. I'll be honest. I've never seen him on the circuit. He was on album. [01:46:46] Speaker B: What do you play with SoCal. Who? [01:46:47] Speaker E: No, he ain't played with SoCal. [01:46:48] Speaker A: He didn't play with SoCal? [01:46:50] Speaker E: No. SoCal was. That was Kevin Love, and I don't know. [01:46:53] Speaker A: And that was Brandon Jennings. [01:46:54] Speaker B: Yeah. Kevin Love, J.D. [01:46:56] Speaker A: Luster. [01:47:02] Speaker D: 7. [01:47:02] Speaker B: Damn. Jane Carter. 07. [01:47:04] Speaker D: Because even I. Every time I said, I'd be like, yo, Brad. And G was in a crazy class. [01:47:09] Speaker B: Thank our class. D. Rose, O.J. mayo's, the bill Walkers. [01:47:13] Speaker A: Play for Pump and Run Elite. I think that's Nike. He was Nike Circuit. [01:47:19] Speaker D: Yeah, that's Nike. [01:47:20] Speaker E: He wasn't a piece there. [01:47:21] Speaker B: 07. Too deep. [01:47:25] Speaker A: I had to play against Jared Bayless. [01:47:27] Speaker B: Jared Bayless. [01:47:29] Speaker A: Derrick Rose. [01:47:30] Speaker E: Tough. [01:47:34] Speaker B: Autumn dude. [01:47:35] Speaker A: Yeah, he was a child. [01:47:38] Speaker E: He was on my Nike team, too. Lee from. [01:47:40] Speaker B: Hey. [01:47:40] Speaker E: Came from USA camp shooting 30 shots. [01:47:43] Speaker B: I was like, dang. [01:47:45] Speaker A: He was a top 10 pick. He wasn't worried about y'. [01:47:47] Speaker B: All. He didn't care. Yeah, I get him up. [01:48:07] Speaker A: I had my 20 twice on him. That's all good. [01:48:12] Speaker B: I'm good. Brad. [01:48:13] Speaker A: Hey, that's my mountaintop, Brad. That's when I. That's when I lost motivation. [01:48:16] Speaker B: Yeah, but. [01:48:23] Speaker A: So unbelievable career. I mean, Unbelievable example of just grit, determination, betting on yourself and bravo, going out on your own terms when you felt like you're ready. But I think arguably probably your most important challenge is what you've decided to sign up for next. Being the next head coach at your alma mater, Roman Catholic. Talk a little bit about what went into that decision, wanting to go back and coach. I mean a lot of NBA players, they make their millions and they kind of just support financially or start an AU team, they're not really involved. Like what is motivating you to actually get back and donate not just your money but your time to invest in these young men? [01:48:56] Speaker B: Nah, man. You know what's crazy, I didn't plan on it. It just kind of fell on my lap. Not like that, I mean I earned it. But you know, people around me that know I say I'll never coach basketball. And when I first like was done with the NBA, the Hornets actually offered me a job and I was fresh out and I just seen how the NBA operated. Players run it the way players talk to coaches. And I'm like, yo bro, I'm the same age and not ordering these guys, they're not about to be talking to me any type of way because I'm a coach now. So it's just like one of the things that I couldn't do it and I just said I'm not going, you know, coach. Then I was coming back and you know, I got my AU program in the city and I just was around, you know, mentoring it, you know, I mean, helping out, stuff like that. And then I was like, effort. I mean I'm as a coach and that's when I coach because at first I only did 1700 and then three years ago I did 15U for the first time and I just took my 15, I did 15 years, 16, you 17 and I just coached my 15 year team. So for the last three years I coached my 15 year 15 under team and that's how I got into coaching. And you know, I love it. You know, I mean it got ups and downs, you know, with the kids, you know, and the parents, you know, that part of it is ups and downs. But you know the, the biggest thing is seeing the kids go to college and you know, just some of them kids experiencing AAU, you know, I mean some people that play my 15U probably never play AAU again afterwards, you know, just because it's nice, great basketball, you know, kind of everybody get a chance. But the next year, you know, you gotta be better. So like a Lot of people, even, you know, that I coached two years ago, I see their parents, they super grateful for the experience they child had. So I think that was one of the keys to me getting back to it, like, really, like, you know, helping them kids out and enjoy the experience. And then, you know, in the midst of, you know, all of it, you know, I hit Roman coach up like, yo, I want Brad to come to Roman. He was like, what? Like, you want your son to come play for me? Like, yeah, I want him to come for you. You got the. The perfect blueprint. And I mean, you ain't gonna take no. You're gonna make sure he show up every day. And, I mean, you're gonna help prepare him for college. I mean, you. If. I mean, y'. All. Y' all probably know too much about Philly basketball. Kids that go to Roman and graduate from Roman. Throughout our city, the percentage of us playing in college is very high compared to all others. I mean, all our kids go to college from Roman, and they play on these teams right away, you know, our coach, you know, he got a good plan where he prepares them for the next level. So through the midst of all that, you know, I was just like, yo, Brad, come to Roman. I'm not thinking about coaching at Roman. Brad coming to Roman. He gonna play for you. Cool. I'm like, yeah, I'll be around. I'll come to the workouts and stuff. So I show up to the practices. He's watching. He was like, why don't you help out today? Why don't you volunteer? He easing me in. And then next thing you know, I'm, like, coaching with him. Like, I'm coaching. He was like, yo, why don't you just coach the jail with us and see how I go? All right, cool. Coaching. But in the back of his mind, he already knew he was stepping away. [01:51:34] Speaker D: This is your head coach? He was your head coach. [01:51:36] Speaker B: No, he's my assistant coach. [01:51:37] Speaker D: Okay. [01:51:38] Speaker B: He's my assistant coach, and I was there. But this past season, so I think, like, he already knew he was stepping away, but he just was trying to see it's going in the right hands, you know, like, our alumni don't play about this job. Like, it's serious. His school been open so many years, there's only been 17 coaches, you know what I mean? Because, you know, they gotta make sure that the right person, you know, taking over so early in the season, he just was like, yo, I'm stepping away. This could be yours if you want it. I'm like, what? Man, you ain't going nowhere. He's like, no, I'm serious. I'm stepping away. So as the season prolonged, he mentioned it to me again. Like, no, like, you know, seriously, something with my business going on, you know, it's an opportunity for me I can't turn down. This could be yours. If you want it, just let me know. But he, like, through the midst of it, he's showing me the ropes, like, cutting up film with him, like, scouting. That's how we scout going to games. This is how we watch certain players. So, like, I'm going through all that with him. And I mean, as a coach, some days he let me run a defense end of practice. And, like, we. We get to practice. He like, all right, we got this. This Brad, you running down there. So he throwing me in a fire on stuff. Like, brad, run that drill down there. I'm like, so, like, he just was, like, slowly prepping me. And then we go to Miami. We in Miami for our tournament. We win a chip right after the tip, he like, like, let's go. You winning one next year. I'm like, what the. He's like, next year, you're just gonna be. You gonna win it. So I'm like, yo. He just throws smoke in the air. But then, like, I'm starting to be like, no, he dead serious. And then we go through the season and stuff like that. He just, like, once again, he like, yo, listen, I'm not putting no pressure on you. Do you want it? Like. I'm like, no, coach. I'll do it. Like, at this point, I'm like, I want to do this. Like, you know what I mean? I'm really, like, getting that passion for it. I want to do it. He's like, all right, you know what I mean? I'm gonna put my word on the line. I'm. Put my name on the line for you and let them know, you know, I'm, you know, vouching for you. You still gotta go through that process. I'm like, all right, cool. And then we start getting close to the playoffs and stuff like that. Preparing. He just was like, you know, I can't believe this. It. But he never really wanted to talk about it too much. Cause he didn't want to get too emotional. Like, he was stepping away. And so he just. Through that whole process, he just was, like, gearing me up for it. Like, whether he was prepping me off the court, prepping me with certain stuff, teaching me how to talk to the parents, like, what goes on behind the scenes, stuff like that. So he prepped me all season for it, and then when opportunity came, I just was like, yeah, I got it, bro. I'm gonna do it. [01:53:48] Speaker A: Wow, that's. That's awesome. If you guys are coming off a state championship run where you guys fell short in the state championship, what's the year looking like for. For next year? What are you guys expecting? Is it championship or bust? That's what the media is saying. I think in local Philly newspapers, I. [01:54:03] Speaker B: Mean, they say championship or bus. Hey, championship or bus. You know, I mean, I'm a guy that, you know, I mean, I ain't gonna step into it and, you know, aim to fall short of a championship. So, you know what I mean? [01:54:12] Speaker E: We're going. [01:54:13] Speaker B: If we're going for a chip, you know, I mean, year one, year 20, we're going to the chip. And I mean, I believe in the team. We got. I mean, we got the talent, you know? I mean, we got good character kids. We got kids that work hard, you know, I mean, I put them through conditioning last yesterday. We had. We did a lift, and then we had conditioning afterwards. I made them run a ladder. The one, then three. We had to climb the ladder to 11. And they went through it. Like, I'm expecting kids to quit. You know what I mean? How we did. Our pit. Niggas was throwing up and stuff. We were expecting that. They went through it. They. They finished it. So I'm like, yo, I was proud of him. Like, all right, cool. I made him, like, shoot a couple free throws the practice. I'll go home. And then today at the press conference, I've seen a couple parents. They were like, yo, I don't know what you did. He was sleeping on the couch. He ain't making upstairs. Yeah. I mean, so it was. It was a good workout. And they just was like, yo, you killed it yesterday. Cool. So, I mean, we're back at it tomorrow, but, yeah, man, just. Just trying to bring everything I learned, everything that I've been through and installing in them, you know, I mean, hopefully it helps them be successful in a main career. [01:55:14] Speaker D: You. I know B. B's coaching at the college level. Do y'. All. Do you talk with him about the way he see the game from the coaching side and, like, do y' all pick each other brain, or you learn from. You know, learn from him. [01:55:28] Speaker B: No. Yeah, yeah, he's doing a great job. [01:55:30] Speaker D: He's doing a great job at his. [01:55:31] Speaker B: Yeah, no, he. He doing a really good job. You know, I mean, he's first year as head coach out there, he fell one game short of 20 wins in his first year. I mean, which is, which is crazy. It's remarkable. And you know, I mean, we never, you know, use excuses. You know, his starting point guard was down half of the season, and then his backup point guard got injured. So, you know, he's playing a third string point guard. You know, I mean, when you in college, it don't matter, you know, next man up. But I mean, I felt like if he had those two players a little bit more, he'd get them 20 wins. Nah. Yeah, we talk a lot. I mean, I called him at the mild practice. Oh, he called me like, yo, how things going? I mean, pick each other brain. You know, certain things like what we think about play. Like, he, he got a little joint he shared with me, like plays and workouts and stuff like that. He always sharing stuff with me. I mean, I don't always go through it. It'd be hundreds of things. I'm like, dang, bro, you flooded my phone. You gonna make my storage full. But I mean, it's such a cool thing to do. Like, you know, I mean, we both in the same, you know, space where we could take you back and off each other and you know, like, I know he got my back, you know, in my first year as, you know, leading Roman and him being the head coach, he gonna tune in and watch games when he can, but you know, I call him anytime and you know, yo, bro, what you think about this? How you think I'm handling this? Certain things like that. And I mean, even like the AAU coaching like, he was, he came around this summer and he was watching me coach AAU and stuff like that, and he was super impressed. And he also gave me tools. He was sitting on the bench like, is. Is good because it's, you know, come from a good place. I know he ain't just out there saying anything. I mean, he come from a good place and obviously it's my twin brother, but nah, yeah, we. We definitely, you know, help each other a lot, you know, and I watch his games and, you know, I'm telling him things maybe he could do and stuff like that. You know, for the most part is we take it back off each other. [01:57:14] Speaker D: When. When I came to the game of gcl, I was watching you coaching style. You were laid back. Chill. [01:57:20] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:57:20] Speaker D: Are you. Is that the way that's. You? Obviously that's, that's Brandon in a nutshell, but that's gonna be your coaching style. [01:57:29] Speaker B: I mean, that's not me. In practice, though. In practice, I'm a different. But I just feel like it's one of things, you know, especially in high school with the younger kids, your players feed off your energy. I mean, when it's the highs and lows, if I'm out there acting crazy, I feel like they gonna feed off that. They gonna act crazy. So it's one of the things I try to stay even, kill. Even though sometimes. Sometimes I'll be ready to spaz. But when you see me in dc, I ain't gonna lie, I was a little nervous, bro. You know, I got through. I got thrown right in the fire. [01:57:55] Speaker D: I know, I know. I. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I guess. [01:57:59] Speaker B: And DC Live ain't no joke, you know? DC Live ain't no joke, bro. We was playing all the top teams, and I was a little nervous because I still was in the midst of learning a player. So I didn't want to, like, overstep, which I shouldn't have cared about, but I didn't want to overstep. And I also wanted us to still look good, because I didn't. I didn't know the players well enough, their personality, to, you know, cut somebody out. And I didn't know how they would react to it, you know, because, you know, at the time we working out, when Chris is running their workouts and running the practices and they come to the games, I'm just coaching. So it was a situation where I didn't know how they responded me if I acted a certain way. So I really was just like, let me stay this way and not overdo it, because then, you know, there's all these coaches here watching them, and the worst thing to do is me. To kill a kid. Confidence. And now they can't perform in front of a coach. So that's really why I was like that. Obviously, this year it'll be a little different, you know, because it's really my shit, you know what I mean? And I've been through that fire with them right now, so it's gonna be the same voice they hear, so they know how I am. You know, they tell you, like, if they BS me and I'm on them, but, I mean, as long as you're doing your thing, I ain't got too much to say. [01:59:05] Speaker D: How was it coaching your son? [01:59:08] Speaker B: Oh, man, I love it. I love it, and I hate it. It's crazy. The hate part is not really hate, but it's just one of the things, like, when you know your child, like, I know when he bullshit, I know he not really into it. And it's like, I try to avoid that and. Because it could come situation where you think I'm picking on him and that could fuck up, you know, maybe his practice or how he perform it, you know, I mean, so it's a tough. It's a tough family dynamic because we could be at practice and I'm gonna treat you like I treat everybody else. If not, you might get it, you know, I mean, worse than the other players, just because you're my son. And we went through a little stretch where, you know, I say something to him and he just talked him back the whole time. But in my mind, I'm like, bro, I gotta be coach. I mean, like, it can't be dad. So that part be cooking me. Like, especially AAU because he's our best player on our 15U team. So he doing his thing. But I've still got to be like, yo, play some. Like, yo, get back, yo, what? Yo, like, what you talking about? Like, I gotta eat that. Like, bro, I'm coach not dead. I mean, I want to still want to eat. I can't because I'm coach, not me. So, like, yeah, I mean, we had one. We had one bad incident where he recently, like towards the end of our season, and I went at him and he like, just mouth and ain't shut up. Get out the game. I mean, I'll tell him on the bench. He on the bench. He's still going off. I really wanted to go down there and punch on him, like, open that up. But I couldn't because it was bigger than me and him because it's the whole program. I mean, watching our games, his media be at our games. So, like, me doing that is like, dang. What does Brad wanna make an elite team really about? Is it about him and his son or is it about all the other 30 kids in the program? So it was like, is that part of it that's tough coaching him? Where it's like, I gotta make sure I'm coached. And, you know, we had a little rough patch and we talked through everything and I just let him know how I felt about it. He let me know how I feel about it, which I thought it was pretty cool. We needed it because I really wanted messing with him for a little bit. And I never wanted to come to that point where, like, you know, basketball is determining me and my son relationship. I mean, you said so many times where a dad coaching his son mess up their relationship off the court. So I Never wanted to be like that. It was to a point where I made him go stay in my parents house for a couple days. Like your brother. [02:01:18] Speaker D: I was about to ask, are y' all walking on eggshells in the house? [02:01:23] Speaker B: No. [02:01:23] Speaker D: I know y' all good now, but at that point, when you're not talking in the house, bro. [02:01:26] Speaker B: Yeah, yo, now I'm picking on him. I come in the house at the work dog. Why the kitchen, yo? Why you sneak right here? I'm picking now, like, yo, clean up. What you doing? He's like looking at me like, you never act like this, like. So I'm like, you gotta stay in my pants for a couple days, bro. Like, earn your key. Yeah, so. But now we good. Now it's fine because, you know, I get to see that development up close. Like, he's coming into a player. I mean, he's really coming into his player, and he's doing it his own. Because through all that, I'm like, yo, you got to get to your own workouts, you know, I mean, I pay for your Uber. I pay for your workout. You gotta, like. You gotta go do that. Like, I'm. I'm not gonna keep taking you everywhere. I want to see if you really want it. So he said, no dab workouts here, blah, blah, Cool. All right, dad, the Uber, right? Boom. I need to Uber here. I need it. I mean, catch the bus here. It cost this much to work out. So he went through that process of doing it by himself, and it really showed me, like, all right, you want it. You ain't doing it just because I'm taking you everywhere. So, I mean, it worked in our favor that way, too. [02:02:20] Speaker D: That's good. You said you have four guys transfer in this year, right? How is it recruiting high school with bringing guys from other schools, bringing it going. Going to go watch 8th graders. Do you enjoy that? And is it tough to talking to parents and like, how was that? How was the recruitment part? [02:02:40] Speaker B: I mean, I wouldn't even say it's really recruiting in a sense, because in high school, you got one kids that want to be at your school. So, I mean, not to be cocky. Like, our school speaks for itself. So it's like kids come to roaming on a strength of they know, like, you know, the education there, the structure there, and you got a chance to be successful. And, you know, all our guys do well in college, so that blueprint is there, but that was with the other coaches. So now I got to prove myself. I mean, so that's another part of Me that's motivated. I actually got two young kids that want to come to Roman who I'm going to watch tomorrow night. They got a game tomorrow night. I'm going out to watch them. Yeah, they eighth graders now. They tough, like, they're good, but they want to come to Roman. Like, so it's like the other. Other schools on the ass, though. But it's like one of the things I gotta show my face. Like, I gotta show their face. I got the parents numbers. Their parents say we want to come there. It's one of the things, like, they could say they want to come here all they want. If I'm not doing my part, they gonna go somewhere else. You know, I got the four transfers coming in. They wanted to come to Roman before I was coach. [02:03:42] Speaker D: Okay. [02:03:44] Speaker B: They was interested what I would say two of them was. And then once I became coach, wasn't in the midst of me becoming coach, you know, I had to have that conversation. Oh, hit last. Head coach reached out. Oh, Brad gonna be head coach. Ain't come out yet. Brad gonna be the coach. I mean, if you still want your child to come, you know, you could talk to him. Two of them. I had relationship with their family for years. I mean, in the midst of it, they were still like, on board with it. You know, they were still, you know, that obviously they had some questions for me. They were still on board for it. I mean, one of the parents, dad used to come watch all the summer workouts to make sure he's made the right decision. You know, stuff like that. You know, I mean, people won't question it too. My first head coaching job, you know, outside of aau. Right. I mean, so it's a big thing. But right now we're in a good space for everything. You know, obviously people speaking highly of me right now, the way our workouts have been going and, you know, people have been reaching out. That's interested. You know, some kids that's going to be sophomores and juniors actually hit me up like, yo, after the season, we want to come over. So, like, it's crazy. Like, college, college, everything goes down. Like the college people doing all that transferring. It's the thing in high school now. Like, it's crazy. [02:04:44] Speaker A: The name of our podcast is Name, image and Legends, and there's no more epitome of what a legend is than you, Brad. Thanks for joining us, sharing the exclusive stories. Putting to bed all the rumors, all the lies, and really opening up and telling us your journey. A story of grit, perseverance, believing in yourself and just always, always reaching for the top ultimate competitor. And now you get to give back to the future. You're an example of if everybody's a coach, everybody's a parent, you know, everybody wants a brand. Wanamaker, you know, on. On their team and to be mentoring their kids. So thanks for sharing your wisdom and then talking with us, talking about all the old stories. You're one of my favorite teammates when I played at pick class of 07. I always remember you, but thank you. Thanks for joining. [02:05:29] Speaker B: Yo, yo, yo. Y' all know Nick hit me up, bro. Scouting on Philly team. I almost didn't give him the scout, but I might eat my dog. I had to give him this. [02:05:35] Speaker A: I didn't put you out. They asked me where I got it from. They asked me where I got it from. [02:05:39] Speaker B: Hit me up like, yo, what's the scout on this team? I gave Nick some info. [02:05:43] Speaker A: Got us a state chip. Got us a state championship. [02:05:45] Speaker E: Yep. [02:05:46] Speaker B: I'm like, ah, I can't go and stay grain. But you my dog. Yeah. [02:05:51] Speaker A: We won't say. We won't say. [02:05:54] Speaker B: But no, I appreciate, like, bro, man, love y' all dogs, bro. [02:05:59] Speaker E: Thanks for pulling up, brother. [02:06:02] Speaker D: First interview, man, this is great. [02:06:04] Speaker A: If you guys like what you heard today with the legend like Brad Wanamaker coming on, gracing us with his presence, be sure you guys like and subscribe. We got more coming at you for the name image and Legends podcast. [02:06:16] Speaker B: Peace, peace, peace.