I just grab it and I throw it up. I said, nah,
that's too good to be true. And that shit went
in. All right, welcome back to Entirely NBA,
hosted by Entirely Media. I'm your host, Darion
Robinson. Kyle Murph. And today we got a special
guest with us, Jeremy Lamb. What's up, man? Well,
it's good. It's good to have you. Before we even
jump right into it, we did a post earlier in
the week that we kind of want to get your opinion
on real quick before we even talk about your
journey. Is Boston a super team? Would you consider
them a super team? I mean, I wouldn't say it's
a super team. I think they have no weakness.
They have a lot of players that could be smarts.
But no, I wouldn't say it's a super team. They've
got great players. Listen, so Kyle says it has
to be definitive, right? You have to have three
superstars, just like Miami had with Bosh, Wade,
and Ron, right? But I said you can kind of get
away with it with having two superstars and then
surround them with a supporting cast and another
all -star, similar to kind of like Phoenix had,
right? Like when Phoenix was first put together
with Katie, Brad, and Book, right? They were
like, ah, Katie's on another super team. But
my opinion, Bradley technically, after all the
injuries, was more like an all -star to me. He
wasn't a superstar. So that's kind of where I
got that play from, where you can have two superstars
and an all -star and a supporting cast. The difference
in Boston, like somebody like Derek White, no
one expected him to be that good. But I feel
like the system, the coach, Tatum. Jalen, they,
he fit so well with. Yeah. You know what I mean?
Nobody was like, oh, let's bring these superstars
here. Nah, they just made their team elite. My
argument was that if you call someone a super
team, it's almost discrediting to that team.
Like, you got to give credit to the organization
for building that team, Boston, like this year,
to knock it down. Like, they didn't try to do
something to stop something else. They drafted.
They did what they had to do for that team. Like,
that's my reason. No, bro. No, bro. But so that's
saying that if you become a super team, no matter
how you become it, that it's discrediting them.
And I get that aspect, but. Just the name. Just
the name. Man. Okay. Okay. Like, okay, see, bro,
right? So, like, right now, great young talent
on that team. If Shea, which I'm starting to
consider him one, if he becomes a superstar,
a legit superstar, and then what if Chet becomes
one? Then you got Dort. Okay, but hold on. But
hold on. First, we got to see what do you consider
a super team? Yes. Yeah. So what's your opinion
on that? Like me, I feel like a super team is
when you bring all the best superheroes to one
team. Okay. Yeah. Respect. But if you just build
and get better, y 'all are a great team. Y 'all
are not a super team. There we go. If that makes
sense. I understand that. I appreciate that for
clearing that up for me. Because I felt like
I was right on that. But we're just going to
jump right into it. All of us, you know, we all
play ball. So what, like, got you to start just
to pick up a basketball? What made you just start
playing ball? I mean, my dad played. But I felt
like they put a ball in my hand and I just, you
know, start playing. I'd be outside shooting.
And it was just, it was fire to me. When did
you realize that you was better than most when
it comes to that? Because, like, getting to the
league, that's just, that's a goal in itself.
So, like, when did you realize, like, NBA was
your dream to get in there and just start that?
Probably when, so I played in Peach Jam. And
I had, like, I played good. Coach Calhoun. started
looking at me or whatever, and he was sick. Like
he was sick in the hospital, and he flew out
to watch me play. Yeah, that's when you knew.
So I was like, oh, I might be able to do something
with this. I like that. I like that. So you brought
up your father real quick, which I saw a video
that I'm probably going to use. It was pre -draft,
I think, you and him together. How much did he
influence your game? A lot. I mean, he just...
i told him i was like i want to be great and
we'll be we'll go to school at like six o 'clock
getting shots up school started at 7 10 and he
was just there helping me every day he had camps
in the summer and we played one -on -one like
every day so a lot i like that I like that. Let
me pivot real quick. We'll come right back to
basketball. But I've been following you for a
while. So when we talk about fashion, man, where
did that come from? I don't know. Yeah. To be
honest, I don't even like, I don't love fashion.
I just, I just like to, you know, take care of
myself and be good. Yeah. I like that. So, you
know, you put something on, you feel good, play
good. And it's just like the lifestyle. I want
to talk about that college recruitment because
that's a staple for your journey, man. Like when
we talked to a group, just a consensus group
that we talk about, you know, guests that we
have, basketball, shit like that. We brought
up your name and the first thing they said was,
what did you say? UConn, Jeremy Lamb. I said,
yes, yes. Yeah. So what was that recruitment
like, man? What was your journey like? And did
you consider any school other than UConn? Yeah,
it was crazy. I wanted to go to, like, Georgia,
Georgia Tech. Because I'm from Atlanta. Yeah.
But I don't know. It didn't work out. And the
first school, like, the big school that started
recruiting me was UConn. And I just felt like
they... actually like my game. Yeah. Other people
just came in after, just was like, oh, you know,
he's good. He could be good. Let's see what he
do. But UConn was like, yo, I like this kid.
So I went out there, they showed love, and that
was the best decision. Yeah, I mean, to have
one of... a big school like UConn coming out
there like that's tough I'm gonna say especially
like speaking like everybody knows about Kimball
Walker like how was it playing with him like
just playing alongside him and just being able
to help out and get that championship it was
crazy we just he made it easy on me you know
what I'm saying everybody was like focused on
him and I mean me I was just like I never been
that player that's like super confident. Really?
And he had all the confidence in the world. And
he just, I don't know, he just put that on me.
And we just, we just accepted him. So like his
confidence on the court. Damn, I'm trying to
figure out a better way to word it. His confidence
on the court. Paul was rubbed off when it came
to you being a better player. And you being like,
to uplift yourself to be a better player to help
lead the team. Yeah, just like going through
the tournament, going through the biggies. He
was like, I remember he had ripped shoes. And
he was like, man, I had 30 last game in these
shoes. He was like, I'm going to wear these again.
I said, bro, get some new shoes. He's like, nah.
Nah, I'm wearing these again. And he was killing
it. And then not to focus on Kimba too much,
but that, you know, that just notorious, that
just greatest college shot ever. How was it watching
that? Like just being on the court, being beside
him, watching him hit that game winner? To be
honest, I can't even explain it. you know i mean
i still watch i still watch it sometimes and
i'm like man like you know i was like living
through that yeah but i didn't know what i was
going through right yeah while i was going through
it you know it's crazy about that because i've
watched it a few times and obviously going up
into this interview i've watched a lot what i
see is not obviously hitting him in that shot
i also see you wide open and do you know that
during that stretch in that tournament You actually
have one of the highest three -point percentages
in NCAA history by a player who has reached the
Final Four. You were 11 for 15 that year. So
I say that to say, and anybody can watch this
and replay it, you're watching Kimba, yeah. He's
getting all the attention. He hits the shot.
But you, too, you were in a position where at
that point in time, whether Kimba took the shot
or you, Jeremy Lamb, took that shot, it was more
than likely a knockdown. Do you realize how well
you were shooting at that time? You said. I had
the best percentage. Yes, you have one of the
highest three -point percentages in NCAA tournament
history by a player who has actually reached
the Final Four. Yeah, I had no clue. Yeah, bro.
That's what I'm saying. So, I mean, at that time,
did you feel like you could shoot with the best
of them? I don't think so. I was just, like,
young, just going through it. But, no, I didn't
realize that. Yeah, bro. That's what I'm saying.
Nice. That's fire. 11 -15 is tough, especially
in big moments like that. But, yeah, so going
into your freshman year, like when you were going
into your freshman year, like you said already,
like you weren't the most confident player in
yourself. You knew that you were good, but you
weren't the most confident. Like you were having
some struggles. What were some of the words of
encouragement that Karan Butler gave you while
you were to get yourself back in shape? I actually
didn't talk to him until I got to the league.
You know, he was in OKC. But I just, when I was
in college, I literally just, all I focused on
was, like, getting in the gym. I was in the gym,
like, every night. And my philosophy was, I wanted
to go to the gym when I knew everybody else was
at the club. Yeah. Because I'm like, okay, they're
not getting better. I'm getting better at this
time. I got to get better. I have to be better
than them. Whether that was a competition, my
teammates, whoever it was, it's like, I mean,
I'm trying to be great. So, yeah, that's how
it went. Did you ever go out while you were in
college? Yeah, my second year, I went out. Step
out a little bit. That's stupid. But yeah, my
first year, I didn't go out at all. Well, after
Kimba left, you're the next man up. So how did
you feel? What was your mentality going in for
that? So you were already part of the championship,
next man up. What were your thoughts on being
that guy? Honestly, I wasn't. I wasn't built
for it. My second year, we should have been way
better. We should have won a game. We ended up
getting Drummond. Baz was our point guard. We
had both right. We was nice, but I should have
been a better leader, but I wasn't built for
it. Like because there were reports saying that
like the chemistry was off because I had those
big name players. They were saying like the chemistry
was off and that like there was just not team
bonding and all that stuff. Or do you think you
just played a major role in that or that was
just something that it didn't play out as well?
I just think we needed a leader and I needed
to be that leader. I don't know. I couldn't bring
us together like I should. We had all the talent.
We just ain't. We was cool, but we couldn't get
over that hump because of, I feel like, my leadership.
Yeah, see, I understand that. But at the same
time, like, we see it with KD, right? All the
scrutiny behind him just being a hooper. And
I think, too, like, whether you're leading vocally
or leading through just your play, like, you
already mentioned. Like, you're in a gym. Now,
the second year, I know you said you went out
a little bit more, but I'm assuming you're still
in the gym. You're still working hard. You're
still at games. Yeah. So at the same time, do
you think that, like, your play alone and the
way you developed your game, that could have
been all the leadership that you needed to provide?
I mean, it could have been. And I know, like,
after we won the championship, some people probably
got relaxed. Yeah. It's a lot more than just,
you know, leadership. I definitely could have
done more. But I mean, I was in a gym. I was
working, but I ain't bring like everybody with
me. Yeah. Like I could have. Or should have.
I feel you on that for taking that accountability.
But at the same time, like you can't you can't
make people want it as bad as you do. So I feel
like. Because you're doing, like, you're setting
the example. You're going to the gym. You're
doing what you got to do. You're still living
your life. You're not just being, like, a complete
gym rat. But, I mean, the dream was to get to
the NBA. Everybody had that same dream when you
go to, especially if you're going D1 to a major
school like that. But now, I mean, that's tough.
That's tough taking accountability. I say it's
very, like, that's good to hear. But speaking
of the draft, it's hard to describe, like, those
type of dream -like moments. But, like, how was
that when you? you knew that you you declared
for the draft you knew you were going to the
like you you were going to the nba like how was
that feeling it was crazy because everybody told
me like go to the draft you're gonna be a top
pick you're gonna be blah blah but then like
my first my first or second workout i twist my
ankle and i was supposed to have like 12 workouts
I end up only having four. Damn. So come draft
night, they're like, oh, you might fall out.
You might not. But you're still invited to the
green room. It's like, shit. You know what I
mean? If I don't get drafted, I'm sitting in
the green room. I'm in the green room. But it
worked out. And when I finally got drafted, it
was surreal. It was amazing. Sure. You're selected
by Houston. Did they feel good about you? Like
even though they only had few workouts with them
with having an ankle like did they feel good
about your game and like that you would be a
good fit for the team? So it's crazy. They didn't
even I didn't even work out for them. Really?
And they hit my agent. This was like two days
before the draft. And it was like we want you
want Jalen to come out. we just want to meet
with him. So I told my agent, I was like, I'm
not about to go out there. He was like, nah,
maybe you should go out there and meet with him.
I literally went and met with him and then left.
And then they drafted me. Why didn't you want
to meet with him? Because I just had like so
many meetings and workouts and all this shit
last minute. Yeah, dude. And, I didn't feel like
going. I feel you. Just like, I'm done. Okay.
All right. So you play with Houston Summer League,
and then they send you over to OKC, which in
hindsight, well, I guess we're going to figure
that out, but I would assume in hindsight, being
beside Katie and Russ, especially your first
year, what was that like for you? What did you
learn? I learned a lot. I mean, I didn't realize
it when I was going through it. Yeah. But they
was teaching me how to be a pro. And vets are
incredibly important when you first get in the
league. Because it's like a kid. Kids don't know
nothing. And when you get in the league, you
don't know nothing. So just learning from them,
their work ethic. Their habits. It was a blessing
to be up on it. But it wasn't just them. It was
Derek Fisher, Karan Butler, Serge Ibaka, Tabo
Sefalosha, Nick Collison. I know, it's crazy.
I learned from so many great men. I like that.
I like that a lot. Now, speaking of which, and
I'm going to ask you, since you're coming off
that year with UConn, right, where you already
mentioned... the leadership wasn't there you
guys could have been better etc etc that trade
that that actually brought you to okc i mean
there was reports that that kind of fucked up
excuse my language fucked up the chemistry um
so i want to talk about this would be your second
time where you may have experienced that do you
notice any chemistry issues that year or anything
you would say is like damn we could have done
this better or atmosphere wise The locker room.
Wait, you're asking me about the trade or the
chemistry? No, no, no. Chemistry when you got
to OKC. Yeah. That was a huge headline that year.
Like, ah, this trade. Yeah. Honestly, I didn't
notice it. Yeah. But people still hate me to
this day for that trade. Yeah. So that's what
we're going to talk about. And I'm just like,
I mean, I had no part in that. Yeah. But people
hate me to this day. No, I see. I see. I liked
it because I'm a KD fan, you know, and we've
been around that for a while. And when you came,
I'm like, yeah, this is going to work out. This
is going to be tough. So I respected it. But
for you to come in the league, get drafted, have
the excitement, go through all that, and then
get traded, how did you feel about that shit?
Like, damn, already? That was crazy. I remember
I got the call. They were just like, yo, we traded.
Y 'all just drafted. Yeah, right. I just got
here, bro. It's like, give me some time. I can
get traded. He's like, yeah, I'm sorry. I was
like, all right. And that's how it went. Speaking
of that, so did you have any, like, bad blood
to them? Or you were just like, hey, I guess
this is the name of the game. Now I'm in the
league. Yeah, no, I didn't have no bad blood.
It was all love. I mean, my dad called me. He
was like, yo, that's the league. Like, that's
how it go. But I was just happy to be there.
I wasn't, like I said, I never was, like, confident.
I just was, like, I felt like I was regular.
I was like, okay, I got traded. It's all good.
So, pre -draft, you were quoted saying, I just
want to go to a good, be in a good situation
where there's opportunity for me to play. Looking
back, are you still staying with that? Are you
happy how the beginning of your career started?
I'm happy. Just because I would have played in
Houston. Yeah. But I wouldn't have learned as
much. It was me and a whole bunch of rookies.
I wouldn't have learned nothing. But then when
I went to OKC, I was just learning and getting
better. And getting better at working on my game.
You know looking back at it was a bit. You said
you continue to work on your game. How did you
how did that change? How did those workout plans
change? How did your focus change? Versus what
you were doing at UConn. At UConn I was like
killing myself. Like every night I'm in there
trying to hit 800 makes. Yeah. Thousand makes.
See how many times. When I got to the league
it was more of like. You know, sharpen your skills.
Sharpen your skills. If I know I'm not going
to play, then I'll work out longer. If I know
I might get some minutes, just sharpen your skills
so you can be fresh for the game. Because there's
82 of them. So, I had to be ready. Kind of side
note, since you said 82 games, do you believe
in load management or do you think just thug
it out? Thug it out the whole year? I mean, for
me, I like to play basketball. So, like, if I,
me personally, if I sit out a game, I might lose
rhythm. So if I could play, I want to play. Now,
if I am hurt to the fact that I can't do what
I do, then okay. But if I'm just trying to, but
then again, it's different for LeBron and all
them. They playing all the fucking through the
finals. You know what I'm saying? So they got
to take a game off, two games off, do that. For
me, I was a role player. Like, I got to play.
You mentioned earlier you hadn't spoken to Karan
until your rookie year. What was that conversation
like? It was love. He was just like, damn, you
made it, young fella. Yeah. And he was like,
bro, watch and learn. And I was just watching
and learning. But it was love, though, right?
The UConn family is fire. So he definitely looked
out. And, yeah, that's the moment. So if we could
sum up your OKC to one chapter before we move
on to the next one, what do you think the greatest
lesson you learned during that chapter was? Just
don't take that shit for granted. Yeah. I mean,
he told, I remember, Russ, one time I was in
the shower. The trainers came in and they was
like, yo, you got to get treatment. You got to
do this, you got to do that. And I was like,
I got a dentist appointment. And they was like,
so you can't get treatment? And I was like, my
dentist appointment in like 45 minutes. And Russ
walked up and said, remember why you got a dentist
appointment. I'm sitting there like, what you
mean? He was like, you think you'll have a dentist
appointment if you wasn't in the league taking
care of your body? And I'm sitting there like,
he said, bro, go get treatment. And when you
go to the dentist, tell him you go be late. I
was like, say less. Go get my treatment real
quick. Real quick. I like that. So, Having Russ
cool, having KD cool. Who do you think the, I
don't want to say the person you got closest
to, but someone you remember the most from that
time, just from OKC? Someone I remember the most?
Yeah, yeah. Probably someone not on the team.
Oh, shit. But, no, I just remember, like, I don't
know, just all the fucking rookie hazing. The
hard times through that time that I didn't realize
how they were, like, helping me. Right. But,
yeah, they was on my ass. But it was all love.
And just to backtrack a little bit, you know
you did score your first career high on Houston.
Yeah. But do you think there was something like
proving a point in that one or it was just another
game? It was just something else, you know? Well,
to be honest, I wasn't thinking like that because
I wasn't getting a lot of minutes. So I was just
thinking like, oh, I'm about to play the homies.
But that game, AD was like, yo. He was throwing
it to me like, yo, go. I'm like, go. He's sitting
there like, what? Coach put me in a little earlier.
I had a good game. But they, like, it was them
that, like. That pushed you? Helped me, yeah.
All right. So it was dope. So the confident players
that was on the court that live off that confidence,
again, gave you that confidence to go out there
and play, which is basically what we're going
to bring you to my next point. So after that
chapter in OKC, you got traded over to Charlotte
to go back, connect with Kimba. Was that an easy?
Easy move over there for you because you just
go into something that's already familiar where
you know You have that leader leadership in there
so you don't have to worry about being a leader
You don't have to worry about being a score.
You just got to go over there and just play a
role like you said. Yeah, it was better because
When I first got traded, okay, see I knew nobody
over there. Mm -hmm. So it was like a It was
like uncomfortable but then you go to You know
Charlotte where you know somebody It was like
much more comfortable obviously I played with
him and After that was fun, you know That's Charlotte
team looking back on it. I guess Tough it tough
as team in my opinion out having out Jefferson
right out. Then you also had obviously you Michael
Kidd Gilchrist. Jeremy Lim was on that team.
I mean, he's three years removed from Linton
Sanity, but he was over there with you. Courtney
Lee Batum. I mean, the team was tough, bro. Yeah.
We made the playoffs. Yeah. Yeah. That's what
I'm saying. One of the biggest things that you're
known for besides UConn are those two game winners,
one late game basket, but two huge -ass game
winners, both against the Raptors, by the way.
Bro. Bro. We got to talk about that. Run down
that first one for me. I don't even know how
that shit happened, but it was crazy because...
So, K was being guarded by Kawhi. And they were
supposed to switch on the screen. But before
it happened, Coach was like, yo, don't screen
because Kawhi would have switched on to me. So,
he was like, yo, Jay Lamb just... Go get it.
But he didn't tell Timber. Oh, shit. So, Timber
was ready for the play, but I just broke the
play. And when I went and grabbed, if you go
look at the video, Timber's like, yo, what the?
I saw that. I said, damn, Timber. He's like,
what the fuck? But then he hit it. I just grabbed
it, and I threw it up. And I was looking like,
wait. I said, I got a chance. I said, why you
go in? I said, no, that's too good to be true.
And that shit went in. Yeah, it did. And for
those that can't remember who was on that Raptors
team, which, again, you beat them twice. Who
was on that team? That's the same championship
Raptors team that won that year. Kawhi, Pascal.
What's a little short dude that would like Drake?
No, Fred VanVleet. Yeah, Marcus Shaw. Larry's
on that team. Danny Green. Yeah, that was a tough
team. Yeah, and y 'all beat them twice. Yeah,
so that was the first game winner. And then,
shit, what was it? Let me see. Not even two weeks
later? You hit a late game three with three seconds
left to beat them again? So my question is, bro,
obviously... Obviously, you say you didn't have
no confidence. You had to have confidence to
hit these late game winning shots, bro. I just
felt like that was, I don't know. I just felt
like it was like meant to be. Yeah. Yeah. So
when he sent me, I mean, when he passed me the
ball, I was like, I got it. Take advantage of
the opportunity. It's like a move. And then I
think that same year you had dropped, again,
it might have been one of those games, 32. So
I think that's one of your career highs too,
32 fucking points. What's it feel like to be
in a zone like that? It felt good. I don't know
how to explain it, but it felt good. See, like
the basket was just wide open. It just felt like
you don't respect anybody that's in front of
you. Yeah, you get that killer mentality. It's
time. It's time. You're either going to follow
me or I'm going to get a bucket. Like once you
started getting a little bit more playing time,
you started being more of a bigger role with
teams. Did your confidence start building or
did anybody ever like coach you about confidence?
Or are you just kind of just like, hey, I know
I'm good at basketball. It's going to come. No,
I mean, people try to tell me. Like Kim said
to me, like, bro, like, go ahead, bro. Like,
you're nice. You can do that. But I just, I don't
know. I never was the one to come out and say
25 shots. Yeah. You know what I mean? And I should
have. I didn't. Why do you think you didn't?
Like I said, I was never that confident person.
Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like I never
was like, oh, I'm about to kill this motherfucker.
No. Yeah. I just was like, I'll give him 20,
25. Somebody start talking shit, maybe I'll give
them 30. That's what I'm saying, man. Like, I'm
not trying to make you reminisce on the past
and be like, make you feel bad about anything
you did. Because that whole time we was going
through it, I'm like, man, you can really give
buckets, you know what I'm saying? And you just
were chilling, bro. I should have did more. Nah,
the career is straight. It's all good. So after...
After staying in Charlotte, you ended up in Indiana.
That was a great team. You were part of that
second unit, which was outscoring teams by 18
points. What do you think the chemistry was there?
What got y 'all clicking so well when you got
over to Indy? I don't know. We just clicked.
We just clicked. We had Malcolm. We had me at
the two. Two day one. And we had Domas and Miles.
And we just was, we were just clicking. I remember
me, Malcolm, and TJ Warren, we were averaging
like 18 plus. And then, you know, Miles, it's
easy with him. He set a screen. He's either going
to roll or pop. He could do either. We was just
getting buckets. So was there a leadership in
there? Did you feel like you were playing that
leadership role in that unit? Or was it just
everybody clicking and whoever's night it was
was the one who was going to get the buckets
the most? I definitely led by example at that
time. I had a lot more years than other people,
so they looked up to me. But, yeah, we just clicked.
You know, Malcolm, he's from Atlanta. So, yeah,
we was just. It was a good thing. Now, you guys
were on a streak. Looking good, obviously, like
we just mentioned. We're going to talk about
this because I want to get how you feel emotionally
about it. Damn, bro. Then you suffered a devastating
injury. Obviously, I saw this. I was actually
watching that game. Before you left, you hit
two free throws. Just the mental part of that
and obviously the physical battle to get back
to it like you're still doing now. What do you
go through? What is that for you, like, mentally
to go through something like that and try to
be who you were, get back to who you were? It
was definitely tough. It was definitely weird,
too, because that was my first injury. People
always say, like, life goes on. But COVID hit.
So, life stopped. Yeah. So for me, it felt like
I got hurt and then life is over. Yeah. But kept
working, kept working, kept working. The first
couple of games that got back, I played well.
But the thing about the league is 82 up. So you
can play good for the first 10. But then the
next 10, and the next 10, and the next 10. So
that was the tough part, just as I'm getting
older, recovering, trying to stay solid, dealing
with politics, new draft picks. It was a lot
of games. I know, especially going through an
injury, because no comparison at all. At the
same time, I'm just coming out of college. and
then I tore my Achilles for the first time. It
was my first injury, and I tore my Achilles,
and then the world stopped. And I'm like, what
the hell? And then when I got back just playing
pickup and everything, I'm getting back out there,
and I'm like, yo, I cannot do this. This is a
whole different issue. It definitely takes a
lot of mental stuff to go through, and I didn't
even have all the resources that y 'all had.
So it's just like, I definitely feel that. After
time in Charlotte, Now that you're in Indy, you're
going through an injury, how are you personally
feeling as a player at that point in time? I
felt good. I felt like because the league had
stopped, you know, I just felt like I wasn't
missing nothing. And I got time. But I felt good.
It was a tough time, though. But it wasn't like
the worst time of my life because COVID. So going
from Indy, you then get traded over to SAC. And
honestly, that might go down as probably one
of the evenest trades we've ever seen, which
is crazy. You and Sabonis, Justin Holliday was
in that trade for Halliburton, Buddy, and Tristan
Thompson. And obviously you've seen what those
two teams have grown into. You were part of that.
So, I mean, going from Indy to SAC, do you feel
confident that you guys could do something or
no? Yeah, I mean, shit, when we went over there,
Domas was like, yo, we have a couple games after
playoffs. We might be able to do something. And
I was like, yo, if we make the playoffs, then
we definitely going to be back next year. Because
I know there's about a clean house and all that.
But I just couldn't stay healthy. And that's
how it happened. Yeah. So unfortunately, they're...
Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game.
It's messed up a lot of NBA players' careers.
What is some advice or just some points to keep
the up -and -coming hoopers or the people that
are playing that get injured that could keep
them in the right mentality or right mind frame
to keep going forward? I would just say injuries
feel like it's the end of the world, but it's
not. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes I feel
like, fuck, will I be able to? will i ever be
able to run again yeah or jump like i used to
all them thoughts gonna go through your head
but it's not the end of the world it's still
hard work and attack like your injury like you
would you know a basketball and you're uh currently
still going through an injury right ankle injury
yeah yeah how's that going for you right now
doing all right Yeah, it's all right. All right,
cool. That's what I like to hear. But all the
teams you played for, all the locations that
you've been in, which one truly felt like home?
Definitely Charlotte. I figured so. Close to
home. I mean, I built my crib out here. And Charlotte
is just... We're going to be out there in a couple
weeks. Yeah, actually, my man right here, he's
getting married, and their bachelor party's out
there. He'll be out there soon. Hit me. Hey,
don't tell me twice. I will hit you up. I will
hit you up in two weeks. Kind of just some other
questions. Like, what is the hardest part of
being a pro, just being in the NBA? The distractions.
Distractions. Think about it. You have access
to whatever you want. Whatever. So you got to
be disciplined and realize, you know, why you
in the NBA? You actually love basketball? Or
do you love this episode? So that's the biggest
thing. That's the biggest thing. And you don't
know who actually likes you and don't like you.
Because everybody like they love you. How'd you
deal with that? I made some mistakes. But no,
I just try to stay in the gym. You know, just
understand why I'm here. You know what I'm saying?
I'm trying to take care of my family. Trying
to take care of my kids. I'm not just out here
trying to party. You know what I'm saying? Like,
fuck off. What got me here? Someone give you
four names, and you tell me what's the most slept
on quality about these four players. All right?
Okay. Number one, obviously, is Kimba. Number
two, Durant. Three, Westbrook. And four, Jeremy
Lamb. All right, so what's the most slept on
on each of them? Yeah. All right, who's the first
one again? Kimba. I don't think he slept on at
all. What's the next one? KD. KD is a killer.
Yeah. He's a killer. Westbrook. Russ. He's a
fucking great person. See, that's what I'm saying.
Yeah, a lot of players say that. He's a savage
on the court. Yeah, bro. But he's a great person.
I like that. i like that and then what's the
most slept on quality about yourself bro about
me people don't know that i'm actually i actually
have a personality i will people think like you
know i'm just boring and just like whatever yeah
but i actually want to be A comedian one day.
Swear, bro. Yeah, you're lying, bro. Nah, you're
lying. I do. Oh, shit. Okay, okay. So you're
a funny guy. Whenever you go out and do a show,
bro, send an invite. I got to see you, man. I'll
send it, bro. I'm fired. That's tough. Kyle's
got a... So I know you went through some injuries,
and so we talked about the emotional aspect,
but there's a great question Kyle's got for you.
So kind of the same thing. There's four different
players. So when it comes to injuries, it's part
of the game. So if injuries never happened to
these four players, which one do you think would
have had the best career? It's more than four
players, about five, sorry. So it's T -Mac, D
-Rose, Brandon Roy, Penny, or Grant Hill. Who
would have the best career? Who would have ended
up being the better player, at least? So, you
know, T -Mac is my favorite player all time.
Yes, sir. He would have been. Stupid. Wait, but
then D -Rose. Yeah, yeah. But he had limits.
But Penny, I might. Well, I don't know because
Shaq left Penny. Who else? Who else? Grant Hill
and Brandon Roy. Brandon Roy. I'll go Brandon
Roy one and then T -Max two. Because B -Roy was
a problem. He played like a video game. He played
like a video game. He was stupid. Man, I caught
you on that. What do you mean D -Rose has some
limitations? He can't shoot. Hey, man. He can't
shoot? Hold on. He can't shoot or shooting is
not the best part of the game? He couldn't shoot.
No, no, bro. Okay, okay, okay. The buzzer beater
in the back. Yeah, okay. Well, I mean, it was
a bank shot. It was a bank shot. I mean, you
had a little middie. Word, okay. But that's what
you're living with. Yeah. Ah, that's a good point.
Some people, it's like, nah, don't let them get
to the middie. Don't let them get to the, you
know. What's crazy about you saying that is that
you yourself had a middie. I mean, honestly,
J. Lamb, I consider you a scorer, so let me ask
you then. You got these three players, which
I think are probably. I ain't going to say LeBron,
and I'm not going to say Kobe. I just want to
talk about legitimate bucket getters. So my top
are obviously KD, Melo, Tracy. You put those
three in a room together, on the court together,
I should say. Who's coming out on top on some
1v1s? KD, Melo, Tracy. On one -on -ones? Yeah,
king of the court. Well, I mean, KD. That's what
I said. Yeah, that's what I said, yeah. KD, I
mean, he... He's one of the best shooters all
time. Yeah. Yeah. He can really shoot that shit.
Melo definitely can shoot, but you know, he took
a lot of shots. KD will have like 35 on 11 shots.
Crazy. And if he get hot in a one -on -one, what
do you honestly think you're going to say? Not
much. Yeah. Just kind of wrap it up. It's kind
of some closing questions. Not to get too deep
or just reminisce, but if you could go back to
your 18 -year -old self, what's some advice that
you would give yourself? I mean, this is different,
but I would probably tell myself making it to
the NBA is not life. It's not the end goal. You
know what I'm saying? Because the NBA is a fake
world. We live in a fake world. We get everything
free. Everyone loves us. But that's not life.
And once you retire, then you live life. So just
taking it for what it is. I'm glad you bring
that up. Because it actually segues into my next
question. So what is life, or at least what I've
seen from afar from you, is the children that
you've had. So being a father. What's one lesson
that you have or eventually want to instill into
your children? That's a good question. I have
learned that my kids look at everything I do.
And they believe anything that I tell them. So
just trying to teach them to be great people.
But I don't know. That's a loaded question. I
know. I'm free to think about it. A loaded question.
I might have the same kind of a loaded question,
too, when it comes to why you were playing. Having
those mentors when you went to OKC and then all
the teams you played for and everything and having
those vets there and becoming a vet yourself,
did anybody give you any financial advice or
just any thought process on what you're doing
after the league, even though you're young and
you're like, man, I'm an NBA. What are you talking
about? I got all this money. I got all this stuff.
Anybody actually kind of coach you when it came
to that? They definitely did. They told me a
whole bunch of times, oh, think about what you're
going to do after the league. I'm like, what?
What? I'm going to play forever. I'm going to
die. But the best advice would just save your
money. Save your money. Don't take risks. Just
save your money. And that's what I did. So I'm
happy that I did. And that was the best advice
I could get. with what you saved and that advice
that was given to you did that give you any thoughts
on what is next after you hang up the jersey
after you retire or are you just you still thinking
or have that plan in place so you know last year
i played in the g league yeah yeah and um damn
near every team i played against every player
on the other team told me that they looked up
to me or You know, try to play like me, whatever.
So that made me realize that I probably want
to do, like, player development, coaching, because
I can help these little kids. So I'll probably
do something in that field. And stand -up, don't
forget. Don't forget stand -up. Oh, yeah. I got
you that one. Yeah. So Jeff T, we were just talking
about this. He has said that, you know, for as
long as you're in the league, you're devoted
to just the league. Like your whole goal up until
the point you get there, even after you leave,
is being a ballplayer. And he said a lot of times
after you leave, you don't know what the hell
to do with yourself. So you either go broke,
you go into a depression, which, you know, sad,
I get it. But there's a lot of feelings that
come with that. And so I'm glad that you just
said you went, you know, that experience in the
G League. kind of put that into your mind that,
okay, I could do something afterwards. But I
got to ask, because you're still technically
on that team. So when you do hang up that jersey,
do you think, or at least what is it right now
besides development, besides comedy, that you
enjoy doing the most that you say, okay, shit,
I might be able to do something with that? Now
I just work out and chill. I was never good at
anything else. Okay. okay so i mean i played
darts yeah i was nice at darts i might go on
a little like european dark tour no darts is
tough it's a lot harder than people think like
you don't play the game man you ain't you ain't
on the duty 2k nothing i never played 2k no call
of duty either okay i'll be chilling though i
just I'll be telling you. As a non -gamer, because
if I do play the game, I do just play either
Call of Duty. I retired 2K. I can't do it no
more. I can't do it. It's too frustrating for
me. But Call of Duty, relaxing. I get in there,
get my two, three games in, I'm out of there.
I got about maybe. Yo, hold on. I did play Call
of Duty back in the day. You did? But now it's
changed. Oh, yeah, for sure. Who do you think?
And I know you talked about all the fake love
in the NBA, but who do you think, out of all
the players you played with, was probably your
favorite teammate? I had a lot of great teammates.
Yeah. My favorite teammate? I mean, it's hard,
though. But I'll say two. I'll say Marvin Williams
and Kimba Walker. Yeah. Marvin was tough. They
were my favorite teammates. Marvin slept on them.
But I had a lot of great teammates. Yeah. So
let me ask you. TJ McConnell. Ah, TJ's a good
one. I forgot you played with him. Malcolm Brogdon.
Vic Oladipo. D -Fish. Come on, y 'all. There's
too many. I got a question for y 'all. Yes, sir.
Does LeBron playing with his son make him the
GOAT? This is a question for you, Darion. It
ain't got nothing to do with me. Oh, damn. Does
it make him the GOAT? Does it make him the GOAT?
I think... Okay, so my honest opinion is if there's
many variables that go into being the GOAT, meaning
like influence, not only your play on the court,
but influence the shit that you do for the league,
that you do for yourself, blemishes, shit like
that, then I... Then sure. Yeah, because that's
never been done. Jordan couldn't even do it.
Then sure. Hold on. Damn. Come on, man. It don't
sound like you really mean that. I'm assuming
that you think it does. Hold on. First of all,
that's saying that I don't think that Jordan,
or I'm sorry, that Bron is the GOAT. You're assuming
that I don't think that. So what are you saying?
That's a good question. No, honestly, listen.
So if you would have asked me a couple months
ago, I still would have said Jordan. But we got
some tapes in, bro. And it's crazy. So we got
some tapes in from footage of literally Braun's
high school career going up. And then I got to
thinking to myself, like, damn, bro. He was elite
from that level all the way on. Never had a blemish.
He's done all this shit. So right now, currently,
yes, I do have him as my GOAT. Yes. Yeah. Yeah?
Yes, I do. Yes. Yeah. Damn, man. Go ahead. Tell
me your side. I'm just saying, like, I mean,
which one is more impressive? Oh, it's bronze
by far for me. So you win three championships,
go play baseball, then win three more. Well,
here's my thing. The reason I say bronze is more
impressive to me is because, like, you saw, you
take the leadership and coaching that. that those
teams had from the Bulls that's carried over
to the Lakers. You saw the same thing with Kobe.
He got five off of it. Now imagine if Braun had
that same triangle offense, that same coaching,
and was able to do that. I think he'd have five
or six too, but he doesn't. He's never had leadership
in the coaching. that he's had over the years.
He's pretty much damn near being the – we've
seen this shit, man. Come on. He's pretty much
damn near being the coach. He's able to do it
with the Cavs. Bro, he's smarter than the coach.
Yeah, I'm going to say he's definitely the coach.
And he's smarter than the GM. Yes, that's what
I'm saying. So he's pretty much, you know, done
this – I'm not going to say all by himself, but
he's the head of that. So to do it with three
different organizations, play as long as he has,
do all the things that he's done from a career
standpoint, from a player standpoint. I just
think it's the most impressive. Now, Jordan's
a killer. I'm not going to argue anybody with
that. Like Jordan. LeBron is the greatest player
of all time. I like it. He has to be. He playing
with his son. It is wild, bro. How you been playing
that long? Right, right, right. I still got about
two years. I was hoping my son would see me play.
He was hoping to get drafted with his son. Like,
what? I know. We were talking about that the
other day. I think he's still got about two,
three maybe years of being dominant. Hey, hold
on. Since we're on the same page, this motherfucker
over here is not. Actually, I didn't even release
the podcast yet. I didn't say anything. He don't
like Brian. I didn't say anything. He don't like
Brian. Who don't? This guy, he don't like Brian,
bro. I didn't say I like Brian. I didn't say
that. I got the footage. I'm going to send you
the footage. I did say I don't like Brian, but
I didn't mean it in that way. Let me explain.
I am a brawn hater. I am a brawn hater. That's
because I'm a Kobe fan. But I am a brawn hater.
But I'm a sensible brawn hater, if that makes
sense. It's all contradicting. It's all contradicting.
Everything y 'all said is right. Just give him
one reason why you don't like Bron. I don't know.
I told you that. I told you I just don't like
Bron. I don't know why. You don't know. I don't
know. And I even said it. It was a sexist statement.
Wait, you have no clue? I think it's because
I'm a Kobe fan. I think it's because I don't
want to admit the fact that LeBron. It's better
than Kobe. That's why I don't want to admit it.
That's my thing. You're a real hater. I'm a real
hater. Look, and I give everybody their flowers
and their credit for whatever reason. Can't do
it. I just can't do it. Even if I met him, I'd
be like, nah, fuck you. You're too good in the
league. Get out of the league. Retire. Give it
to somebody else. Nah. But nah. That's what it
be. Nah, I'm not going to lie. That's why when
you asked the question, that's why I was like,
this is all for you, Darion. This ain't got nothing
to do with me. It's a show question. All right.
Yeah. So now that obviously Bron's in your top
five, who's the other four if you had to draft
a team? All right. So number one, I'm going to
go Steph at the one. Then I'm going to go Kobe
at the two. Then I'm going to go MJ at the three.
And I'm going to go Braun at the four. And then
I'm going to go Shaq. Shaq, yes. My man. My man.
When we did this discussion earlier, I literally
kept thinking to myself, like, there's no starting
five or no five I'm picking that doesn't have
Shaq in it. Yeah. Shaq or LeBron. Shaq or LeBron.
Those two are definitely all in it for me. If
you don't put them in it, you just hate. I'm
not that much of a hater. But if I didn't take
Shaq, then I would put Jokic. As all time? All
time. I'm not mad. I think Jokic is tough. I
think he slept on him. I just think he ain't
got enough years under him yet. What? To be called
all time? All time? All time. Oh, okay. I'm just
saying. I'm not saying you're wrong. When he
retires, maybe. But right now, I just want to
give it to him now. All right. Okay. Okay. Hold
on. Hold on. So that's your five. Give me a two
-man bench, seven players. Who are the following
two you'd pick then? That's coming off the bench?
Just two. Like right now or just all the time?
All the time, it don't matter. I mean, the Jokic
pick, that one blew me away. I didn't expect
that. So I'm excited to see who these next two
are. I'm going to go... I had to think for a
second. I was like, damn. I was thinking Rick
Fox for a second. I'm going to go Fox. Then I'm
going to go PG. Indiana PG 13. PG 13. That's
tough. And then I'm going to go Wait, this is
all time? Yeah. All right, PG. I wonder why PG
and Kawhi didn't do more together. They ain't
play together. It's got to be that thing. I mean,
they got games in, bro, but every time. You know
what it is, man. Come on. They couldn't get no
chemistry together. That's what I'm saying. So
speaking of, kind of going back to the first
question, do you think that was considered a
super team? Like this last year, last year Clippers
was a super team. Yeah, didn't they bring in,
they brought in Russ, they brought in Kawhi,
PG, they just brought everybody in. Harden. I
think they just brought Madden. I didn't say
they were super team because I just thought they
just brought Madden names there. People were
telling Russ to retire before he got to the Clippers.
And then James. And James wasn't even a James
Harden. They were saying that he was washed.
And James is still nice. No, he is. But people
were saying he was washed. So they were just
like, you know what? Avengers come together.
James is the James that people want him to be.
He could still average 30 100 % 100 % and I also
don't think Westbrook should retire but I'm just
saying like so if you have a third option that
can average 30 Well, I think it's you know, I
think the only reason why I'm saying that like
on paper yes for sure But I think only so I'm
saying that is because of how it played out.
That's we all we saw played I told you it's not
about how translate you think it wasn't a super
team because of how it played out. Yeah Like
everybody broke up. It broke up. That ain't what
a super team is. I mean, how many super teams
can you count that actually formed and won besides
Miami? And Golden State. That's it. Name the
rest that actually won. Those are the only super
teams that I think existed. Oh, in Boston. Yeah,
so that's what we talked about. 08 Boston. Yeah,
they were a super team for me. I think that's
the only team that existed for a super team,
in my opinion. Okay. KD's Nets. Is that a super
team? KD who? KD's Nets. Brooklyn Nets that year,
or those years. Kyrie, James Harden. Yeah, that
was a super team. They had Kyrie, KD, and James.
I don't know. I think you got to have some type
of, I think you got to win. Success. Get out
of here. Success. Get out of here. I feel like
without success. A super team don't always win.
We're going to, we're going to let you go. So
we'll go and wrap this up. But again, thank you
for coming with us. Come on. Shit. Thank you
for joining us on the, on the pod today. And
then we'll, we'll be in touch and I'll let you
know when it releases and obviously tag you in
any of the reels, but thanks. We really appreciate
it. Appreciate y 'all, man. Thank you. And I
hit you up in about two weeks.