March 16, 2023 • 38 mins
Lauri Markkanen joins 'The Draymond Green Show' to discuss if the Utah Jazz expected to be this good, what it's like being in trades for All-Stars, when the NBA became a realistic goal for him, how European players vs. American players are judged, scoring in the NBA compared to Eurobasket, balancing being a family man, and more.
Produced by: Jackson Safon
#Volume #Herd
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume The Draymond Green Show presented by FanDuel. The
sports calendar is packed. No better place to get in
on the action than fanduels. So many sports right now,
NBA College Hoops, March Madness, PGA two. Ur app is safe, secure,
easy to use, that got exclusive offers, boosts, all that
(00:23):
stuff this month on FanDuel, and when you win, you
get paid fast. So jump into the action. They have
live betting. You can combine multiple bets same game and
the same game parlay. Tryout Same Game Parlay plus today,
Start making every moment more and download the FanDuel app
today twenty one plus and select states. Fanduels offering online
(00:44):
sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas dar
Casino LLC. Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler or
visit FanDuel dot com, slash rg Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee,
Virginia eight hundred, next step or text next step to
five three three four two, Arizona one eight at eight
(01:05):
seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG
dot org slash chat Connecticut one eight hundred and nine
with it Indiana one eight hundred five two two forty
seven hundred. Visit KS gambling heelp dot com Kansas one
eight seven seven seven seven oh stop Louisiana called one
eight hundred and three to two seven fifty fifty or
visit WWWMA Underscore Helpline dot org. Slash problem Gambling visit
(01:28):
www dot MD gambling help dot org. Maryland one eight
seven seven eight Hope, New York or text Hope New
York four six seven three six nine New York one
eight hundred and five two two forty seven hundred Wyoming,
or visit www dot one eight hundred gambler dot net,
West Virginia. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond
(01:50):
Green Show. I'm excited to have this next guest an
All Star, but the role wasn't quite pretty to an
All star game. You know, you're talking to a a guy
who was the seventh pick in the NBA draft, been
traded a couple of times, and a lot of guys
started or a lot of people not guys. A lot
(02:12):
of people started to count out, started to say he
wasn't what they thought he were gonna be coming out
of college. When he played one year at Arizona, was
first team Alpac twelve. I was drafted by the Minnesota
timber was and traded to Chicago. Absolutely incredible players started
(02:34):
Utah Jazz. Laurie marketing For y'all that don't know how
to pronounce his name, I just got to tutorial Mike Lowry,
just like the Bad Boys, Laurie marketing. What's up, my brother?
Welcome to the show. Thanks man, happy being absolutely man.
We've been trying to do this episode. We had it.
We had a schedule earlier this week, and I all
(02:56):
of a sudden, my podcast bag didn't make it on
the role with me. We just rescheduled for today. My
internet didn't want to work, so I'm actually filming this
on my phone because I refused to make Laurie wait
again and I refuse to miss this opportunity. But first off, Man,
how are you just? How are you doing? First time
All Star? How is life? My brother? Life's great? Man?
(03:21):
Just trying to fight for this playoff spot, trying to
focus on each game like it's our last. I mean
I can't. We're on a like we just talked about,
We're on a thirteen day trip, so you know, how
to a grind it is, So I'm as well as
you can be, absolutely And speaking of that, you know,
(03:42):
I like to let the interview flow, and just speaking
of fighting for a playoff spot, I think it's absolutely
incredible what you guys have done this year. Danny Ainge
comes in as the president of the Utah Jazz. He
starts shaking a bunch of things up. Everyone looks at
the team when all the trades go down and say,
(04:02):
this team is going to be the worst team in
the NBA, and yet you guys are right there fighting
for a playoff spot. Just just what's that been like
when y'all came into the season. Did y'all did y'all
expect to be this good? Or was it just like
a thing that started coming together those first I think
y'all started seven or eight and oh or something like that. Yeah.
So I was on here like the preseason pickup game
(04:26):
period of time because I was overseas playing. So I
got here right before a training camp and just saw
the first practice. I was on sidelines because like, we
got a lot of dudes who I think think that
they have been counted out and have a chip on
their shoulders. So just we had to get on the
same page. We had eight or nine guys come from
different teams too, so we knew it's going to take
(04:49):
a lot of time and a lot of work. But
then we got off to a hot start, and obviously
that's just that feeds your confidence and you just want
to keep going. So I think that was our motivation,
kind of people counting us out, and like myself, there's
a lot of players that maybe thought that their career
was going in the wrong direction, and we wanted to
(05:10):
prove ourselves. So that was a big thing for us.
And again, speaking of making the playoffs, recently at the
trade deadline, you guys just traded too well what really
more than two, but two in particular to the Lakers,
and Malik Beasley and Jared Vanderbilt, who are big parts
(05:31):
of your rotation. Obviously also Mike Kindley leave him. But
with those two guys going to the Lakers might kind
of getting traded and you're right in that battle trying
to fight for a playoff spot. What's the mindset like
for yourself and for guys on the team when you
traded big pieces like that, who's been contributing at a
high level all year for you guys. I mean, yeah,
(05:53):
it's tough. Obviously the relationship part, and we had a
good thing going on and so that part sucks. But
the conversation we had with front officers and everybody was
just like, just need to trust us. And I think
the players are never going to give up, so we
just try to find new ways to stay on top
of top of the surfers and just keep going. And
(06:16):
I think it's an opportunity for other guys to step up.
And I'm trying to myself trying to take that leadership
part as well, just trying to see you where I
can lead the team. And also speaking of trades, like
I said, you've been a part of a couple of
big trades, one with Minnesota with Jimmy Butler, this this
(06:36):
this particular trade with with Donovan Mitchell going to the
Utah Jazz. A lot of like I said at the beginning,
a lot of people have counted you out as if
you weren't the player that everyone I hope for. Yet
you're getting traded for all star guys like Jimmy Butler.
You're getting traded for all star guys like Donovan Mitchell.
When you get traded in a situation like that, whereas
(06:59):
four guys like that, do you somewhere in the back
of your mind feel like, well, I can't necessarily be
what they're saying I am, because yet these big trades
are still happening. I am the marquee guy from my
side of the deal that's going in these trades. Were
these all star players at the time before you're an
all star. Yeah, the Jimmy Butler trade, I didn't really
(07:21):
even take good it most because obviously at the draft
and you're a young kid, everything's just happening so fast.
I'm trying to come in and play as well as
I can. So I didn't really think that much of
that trade. But then by this Donovan Mitchell trade happened,
I think just I understood the business side of basketball already.
Like I loved being in Cleveland. I had a great year,
(07:42):
great relationships throughout the whatever eight months I stayed there,
and I love all the guys there. But I understood that,
I mean, you have a chance to get player like
Donovan like you probably can pull the trigger on it,
So I understood it. So I mean, that's all wayself,
especially with the family. It's just trying to surviving a
(08:04):
new environment again. But I mean as I mean, I
can tell it was a blessing now for myself in
my career getting in the right system and environment. So
ironically and watching Cleveland season, I think they're having a
really good season. A lot of teams have a really
good season, and I look at that team now and
(08:26):
you're the missing piece, and it's just funny how it
all works out. It's like, you get traded for Donovan Mitchell,
and like you said, if you're the Cleveland Cavaliers, you
have to make the trade you get. You have the
opportunity to get a guy like Donovan Mitchell. I understand it,
but you hadn't looking back on it. I just think
it's funny that I watched that team and I'm like, hmm,
they're really like if they had a three man with
(08:48):
some great size knocked the shot down that you could
actually like put the ball in his hands. They played
Carros Laverte at the three, but in my opinion, Karros
Laverta is the two you know, and so it's a
little different. So I think that's interesting. But speak to me.
Growing up in Western Finland, at what point in your
(09:09):
journey does it Does it come to you that the
NBA is a realistic goal? Yeah? I mean I wasn't
able to watch like live NBA games growing up, and
it was just all highlights, and so it doesn't really
seem realistic. Gets just so far away. And my goal
(09:29):
is to be a professional player and get to the
national team level in Finland. That was my main goal.
And then the college sport opened for me. And once
I got to Arizona, I still wasn't on I don't
think I was on any mock drafts or anything. I don't.
I don't know if that matters a lot, but I
mean I didn't. I wasn't seeing my name anywhere. So
(09:50):
just first couple of months at Arizona just started playing
pretty well and then my name starts pup man. This
might be a real possible. That was around January, maybe
like crazy. Really, I was going for college. A lot
of guys say that they knew I'm a one and done,
but in my mind, I was going there to get
(10:12):
better and I thought I'm going to be there multiple years.
So I didn't think I was that close yet. But
then season progressed and I thought I had to take
the leap when you have the opportunity, So it really
happened quickly in my mind. You just keep worrying about
every day and grinding it out, and then two months
(10:33):
before the draft here like, oh I can do this,
and you just said and growing up in western Finland,
you couldn't watch the games live. Explain that to me,
because number one, I think it goes to show how
far the NBA has come. I think Adam Silber does
an incredible job. But explain that to me. Why you
(10:54):
couldn't watch the game lies. Was it a TV capability
thing or compatibility thing, or was that the time difference
was so dramatic that you just weren't able to stay
up and watch the games. Yeah, just as a kid,
the game's come at three or four am, so I
just wasn't able to stay up. And I can't remember
exactly Like if I really wanted to wake up, I'm
(11:16):
sure there would have been a way to some stream
just get online and see the games. But I think
it's easier now. And that's just so what you just said.
Just availability of the league. Just it's all over the
world now and like I know, my friends and family
are easily watching my games, they can watch it on
League Pass whatever. So just I didn't have the opportunity,
(11:40):
and I think it was mostly the time difference. Obviously,
it's just can't. Can't be waking up at three or
four am and going to school at eight am. So
absolutely okay. And you just spoke about like my goal
was to be on the national team, and I think
(12:02):
it's I want to dive into that a bit. And
so just number one, how beneficial you getting traded to
this to the Utah Jazz opened up a space where
you know you're coming in and it's like you said,
it's a bunch of good players on the team, but
not anyone that's become a superstar until you know you
(12:25):
now you you coming all Star. But coming into this season,
no one's a superstar. Everybody you know, y'all got a
bunch of good players, but no one's a superstar. You
come out of euro Championships, European Championships where you're with
your your national team, and you are superstar. You are
(12:45):
the star you are to go to. Guy, How did
coming out coming immediately from there right into the NBA
season in a position to where you could actually jump
into that role? How much. Did that help you blossom
into who you've grown into it this year in the
Utah Jazz as in you know who you will be
now in the future as the NBA continues to go,
as your career continues to go. Yeah, I think it's
(13:07):
just about everything really clicking. Obviously, my confidence was super
high going to the eurobas and being the guy and
seeing all different coverages and trying to lead the team
over there. But then just getting into Utah and like
you said, no real superstars every time, everybody trying to
figure it out and just got I always give a
(13:28):
lot of credit to coaching staff and teammates obviously, but
the first thing Coach Hardy was like, yeah, we just
need the same version that you were playing over there.
We need to hear And I think that that was
a really big thing for me, just being the guy
in Cleveland who I took the challenge to guard the
(13:48):
best players on the team and really try to do
whatever a team needed meet to do and they still
traded me, so that that that was just the business
of basketball, that kind of which my mindset to that
I got the confidence back up and in the EuroBasket
and just coming in with that and just try to
keep that going. So that was a big mental switch
(14:10):
for me too. It seems to me. It seems to
me in watching basketball. I've had the opportunity to compete
in two Olympics, so I've gotten pretty familiar with the
international game, and it seems to me Olympics, World Championships,
and euro Basket Championships, it seems to me for the
(14:32):
Europeans or really any country outside of America, that winning
those three is a much higher priority than necessarily winning
the NBA Championship. Is that the case and if so,
why is that? Well, yeah, I'm not the ones who
(14:53):
said anything about NBA champion I haven't been close to
that yet, so you can probably compare that a little
bit more. But I mean, I always take a lot
of pride representing the national team. Obviously that's where we're from,
and trying to I'm the only finished guy in the NBA.
I'm trying to kind of carry that torch over here
(15:13):
as well, And obviously my ultimate goal is to win
the NBA Championship. But I haven't been to playoffs yet,
so I still got some ways to go. But I think,
I mean, they are very important goals from both, but
just maybe the I've always represented Finland my whole life,
(15:34):
so maybe that's why it could be a bigger deal
that it's been a longer, long term goal for myself
since like NBA's really the last couple of years. But
obviously the I want to experience both, yeah now for sure.
And I think, you know, it's the way you just
(15:55):
put it, like it's been a long term thing. You guys.
You you grew up in Finland. You been that your
whole life. You know, these guys grow up in front
of the whole time. Yeah. Yeah, So I think it's
like that prop for your country, because here's the thing
I've over the last few years, I've become more of
a football fan, and you know, and that's huge in Europe,
(16:19):
and it's like a religion, you know, like like like
football in Europe, it's like a religion. National team in Europe,
you guys almost do national team every summer, whereas for us,
we usually get a team together. Uh and and maybe
that particular team is together for two years and and
so I think it's it's kids in America they grow
(16:41):
up wanted to play in the NBA, you know, and
you grow up like man, I want to win an
NBA championship. Once you get to the NBA, then it's like, wow,
I want to play for Team USA, you know, like
I want to I want to compete. I want to
win a gold medal. But that's once you get to
a certain point of year NBA career, you know, it's
not necessarily like I grew up saying, man, I want
(17:04):
to play on a national team. Now I grew up saying, man,
I want to play for the Detroit Pistons. So I
want to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. So to me,
that's just been an interesting thing to watch as as
I've Yeah, maybe it's more of a realistic goal as
a kid too, for myself coming in from a smaller
country to it's much more realistic that I play and
(17:26):
then on the national team than I actually make it
to the NBA and play for a certain team here.
So maybe that's part of it too. But yeah, always
take a lot of pride, try to play every time
I can, and I think I've played my best basketball
in the NBA after having the summer with the national team,
(17:46):
just being in good shape, coming back right ready for training,
get off the bench, bet the NBA with FanDuel, America's
number one sports book. Right now, FanDuel's given new customers
ten times your first bet in bonus bets doesn't matter
if your first bet is an airball, You'll get up
to two hundred dollars in bonus bets win or loose, okay,
(18:08):
all on a top rated sportsbook app at FanDuel that's safe, secure,
easy to use. Don't miss out. Just visit FanDuel dot
com slash coolin FanDuel dot com slash colin. Then place
your first bet two hundred dollars in bonus bets guaranteed,
make every moment more with FanDuel, the official sports book
partner of the NBA twenty one plus in select states.
FanDuel's offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement
(18:32):
with Kansas dar Casino LLC. Gambling Problem Call one eight
hundred Gambler or visit FanDuel dot com slash RG Colorado, Iowa, Michigan,
New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia one eight hundred,
next step or text next step to five three three
four two, Arizona one eight at eight seven eight nine
seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org, slash
(18:56):
chat Connecticut one eight hundred and nine with it Indiana
one eight hundred and five to two forty seven hundred.
Visit ks gambling heelp dot com Kansas one eight seven
seven seven seven l Stop Louisiana called one eight hundred
and three two seven fifty fifty or visit WWWMA underscore
helpline dot org slash problem gambling visit www dot MD
gambling help dot org Maryland one eight seven seven eight Hope,
(19:18):
New York or text Hope, New York for six seven
three six nine New York one eight hundred and five
to two forty seven hundred Wyoming, or visit www dot
one eight hundred gambler dot net West Virginia. I agree
with two one hundred percent. I actually played in the Olympics.
The last time I played in the Olympics. I really
wanted to play because I was coming off really too
(19:40):
shitty and probably two of my worst NBA seasons, and
I'm like, yo, I need to like come into tiptop.
I need to do Olympics so I could come into
the season in tiptop shape so I could get back
to Austar level, and it actually ended up working out
that way. But I always tell people when you're coming
off that Olympic, when you're coming off dout Olympic Summer
(20:01):
or eurold Championships or World championships, like you come in
and shape, you hit the ground running. It sets you
up for the rest of the year. So I think
that's I think that's been a huge thing. But I
asked the question on this podcast a couple of weeks
ago to Gilbert Arenas, and I would love your take
on the being that you are European. Um, I would
(20:22):
just love your your view on it. It's actually come
up on television once last week or earlier this week
with Kendrick Perkins and JJ Redditt. Now I think Kendrick
Perkins start talking white and black or or something white
and black. My question was more so, UM, do you
(20:43):
think or why is it that I have saw this
list Stephen. They put a list out and it said
top five players with the most pressure to win an
NBA Championship. It's like James Harden, someone else, someone else. Oh,
Jason Taylor was number two or three and Joker was
(21:03):
number four. And so when I when I saw that
I said, that's interesting to me because Jason is younger
than Joker number one. Jason is also not an MVP
and NBA yet Jokers a two time possibly soon to
be three time MVP. How is he higher up on
(21:25):
that list? And it brought me to a place where
I'm like, I feel like Europeans or American born players
catch more flat and it kind of goes into the
same thing or what I was just saying about championships
and how European players may feel American players catch more
flat for winning a championship than European stars. Do do
(21:48):
you think that's the case. That's just what I've noticed,
and that that list really put it at the forefront
of me. So I would love European just as a
European player. Huh yeah, they might get away with it
a little bit more. I haven't really thought of it,
but so kind of putting me on the spot. But
(22:10):
I mean, just like I said, I didn't really I
don't know what the conversations were like when, like exactly
when Dirk wasn't winning a championship yet and to that
and then when when he finally won one. Uh, what
I got there was some pressure for him to win one. Uh, well,
(22:32):
maybe I don't know. Maybe it's from I mean to league.
NBA's a league in America and we're coming from a
different country, try to adapt and getting into your league.
So maybe that's why. But like I've seen that, I've
seen the list, and yeah, I hear more pressure talk
(22:54):
being towards American players. So definitely noticed that. But just
I'm not really sure why that's my thinking behind that.
It's crazy because you just gave me a perspective that
I hadn't I thought of, And now that you say that,
I can definitely think back to it, which is dirt.
I remember now that you say that, going back to
(23:16):
two ten, nine, two eleven, where Dirk is still at
that point, Dirk's been in Dallas for what fifteen years,
fourteen years somewhere around there, and you started to hear like, man,
Dirk is a great player. Uh, Dirk is incredible, He's this,
but you can't necessarily win with him. They're not going
to win with him. The guy in Dallas, they were
(23:37):
facing the lot of Miami heats. So now that you
say that, I do remember that. I do remember Dirk
starting to catch flat later in his career, you know,
in year fourteen to fifteen, so I definitely can appreciate
that perspective. Fifth straight year, fifth straight and I mean yeah,
(23:57):
it's it's definitely going to be the fifth straight year
where we where we have an international player winning the MVP. Um,
you know, Jokers right in and B's right into Janni's Luca,
and then probably Jason Tatum is the fifth one will
probably round out that top five. Um, what do you
think it is doing for the game of basketball that
(24:18):
you're having Europeans um winning MVP in the NBA year
after year after year. I think that's I think it's
great for the game of basketball, you know, and it's
global footprint. But what do you think it's doing for
the game? Yeah, obviously it's just more I mean more
they have done. The NBA's growing and it's all over
(24:40):
the world now, just be visiting ton of like basketball
without borders camps. There's so many good players coming from
different continents and that's just great to see. Just obviously
it's known to be a lot of Americans in the league,
but just having those superstar guys coming from different countries,
(25:01):
but a lot of them are from Europe and so
it's it's great to see and I think the games
is going to keep growing and growing, but they're definitely
a big part of it. Just how much basketball has
grown in Finland and I see people wearing Giannasis jerseys
in Finland and stuff like that, so that's just awesome
see and we're really in it together. Obviously, I would
(25:25):
wish they wear my jersey, but I'm just grateful basketball
is just growing and so many more kids are starting
to play basketball because of those superstars. So they're doing
great job too. Well. You've you've gone to the Utah
Jazz and become a star. You're an All Star, which
means you'll have more television games next year, which means
more and more people in Finland and all over Europe
(25:47):
will start wearing your jersey. So I think your wish
will be great, my brother, I definitely think it will.
Luca made a comment some years ago, maybe his first
or second year in the NBA, where he said, scoring
in you're scoring in the NBA, it's way easier than
scoring in Europe. Do you do you carry that same
(26:09):
sentiment partially? Yeah, I think just what I noticed is summer,
for example, in EuroBasket Obviously I didn't play EuroLeague just
like Luca did, but so my experience is coming from
a EuroBasket, but just definitely not getting the same folcohol
(26:30):
that I am in the NBA. Uh No defensive three
seconds obviously, shorter game clock, only forty minute games, so
I think that effects on like points per game average
is already just so yeah, I would probably agree, just
(26:50):
it's a different game, Like you have one superstar on
a European team, and like I was watching what obviously
Yanna as a great player, superstar, and Bob was watching
what Czech Republic was doing to Greece this summer, and
they were literally five guys into paint because there was
no three second rules. So that definitely affects that. And
(27:15):
I don't know if it's I still scored more in
eurobasclar highest scored in the NBA, so I don't be true,
but yeah, definitely he's on something. I definitely can agree
with the defensive three seconds out. You Like when we
went last year, we were playing against France and they
were still playing like two legit centators Rudy Gobert, Mustapha
(27:39):
fall Dusk support. They're playing like legit two centators. We out,
they're like, yo, what is this? Like it's crazy, So
it's definitely a different game. Um, I'm a free agent.
Sell to me to Utah Jazz on you know you're
you're being Utah for a long time now, brother, sell
sell to me a free agent, not literally me, but
(28:00):
just you're selling h someone to come to Utah Jazz.
Join you as a free agent, continue to help boost
this team. You're talking about making the playoffs scen obviously,
then you you you you sniff that you start wanting
to make runs. So sell to me to Utah jass
as a free agent. What would Lurie marking and say
to free agents coming up, because it's gonna be on
(28:23):
you to start recruiting my brother. Yeah, I mean, I'm
really enjoying staying there obviously, just I'm more of a
low key guy. So it's been a great city for
me and my family, being my kids to grow so
off the court, everything's great, just great organization taking care
(28:43):
of us and game wise, I always felt like Utah
was one of the toughest places to play, and fact
that's because of fan base and they always have our backs,
so it's really fun to go play every night and
as we compete, we're trying to win that get that
winning culture, and obviously we have a great coach now.
And so I'm I've been really enjoying this year and
(29:06):
we we play hard, and uh, just having the fan
base and people in Utah. I really love basketball, so
you can see it all around. So I'm really happy
to be a part of it and hopefully we get
some guys coming over to Absolutely, that's incredible. Um, you
just spoke about having a great head coach. Now I
(29:28):
actually have the opportunity to. Um, I actually have the
opportunity to play with Will Hardy coaching. He was one
of our coaches for the for the USA team. Super
cool dude, extremely knowledgeable, very relatable. But just talk to
me about about Will Hardy as a coach. Like, you know,
(29:49):
everyone sees this this new face pop up on the
sidelines of the NBA and with the Utah Jazz, and
you know, people around fans doesn't quite know who it is.
Talk to me about Will Hardy as a coach and
what he's brought to the organization. I think it starts
with just what you said. It's really cool, dude. You
(30:10):
can talk to him off the court, have lunch with
him and just talk other non related, non basketball related stuff,
and just he really helps us on the court with
us having that relationship, so it starts from there. But
just a really smart coach. We've run. He's running place
for me this year that I've never had seen before
(30:31):
and get it. You get a wide open layup off
of it, and so you can just tell he's thinking
on a different level. And so I'm really excited to
be building this relationship with him. And so it's been
a great experience in this whatever six months I've been
in Utah. But yeah, just obviously first time head coach,
(30:54):
young guy, but doesn't really look like is he's He's
had a lot of experience with obviously being with under
like great head coaches as well. So since he has
the experience and he's really taking this thing to another level,
that's incredible, and I think he'll continue to grow. I
(31:16):
think he's one of the bright young coaches in this league,
which I think is absolutely amazing. So it'll be good
there and probably will be there, just like yourself for
a very long time before we get out of here. Man,
you you've mentioned your family three times since since We've
been on here for twenty seven minutes, and I can't
help but notice that as a family man myself, I've
(31:37):
been married now for six seven months, seven months, six
months soon to be seven months, I have three children.
Just speak to me number one, how many children do
you have? And then also, um, what it's like living
his NBA life and being a father at the same time,
going for thirteen days currently right now. Just talk to
(31:57):
me about what it's like being a father and living
the world that we live in. Yeah, so I got
a wife and a five year old boy and a
two year old daughter at home, so I mean it's everything.
It's really helped me to play on this level. At
the same time, like obviously it's tough to be away
(32:18):
from the family and you want to spend the most
time with them, obviously, but just they understand it's my job,
and I respect them for understanding that they requires a
lot of time, just not games and trips, but going
into get treatments and practices and extra work you have
(32:40):
to put in. So but they've really helped me in
a way that I was struggling my first couple of years,
really my first year because our son was born my
halfway through my rookie year, so that that already helped
me that I had a problem with separating my basketball
(33:00):
stuff from basketball. It was basketball is always just game.
I played fun and then now it's my job and
I'm getting paid for it. So I was in a
gray area of kind of you want to enjoy it,
but at the same time you have the pressure to perform.
So just being married and having kids, I think he
(33:21):
really helped me to separate the two. I have a
bad game, it's a bad day of work. I closed
the locker room door and go play hide and seek
with my son whatever. So that really helped me in
my basketball career, kind of enjoying the basketball and whatever happens,
good or bad, I go home and it's it doesn't
(33:41):
matter anymore. So that's really helped me, and I'm really
grateful for that. They walk in the house. They don't
care if you want one. If you want you're no
bigger I was a superstar than if you lost. Yeah,
yeah right, I don't care if miss. All of my
shots are made, all of them. So what's what's what's
(34:01):
it like? So, so I'll tell you one of the
things I struggle and I know we got to get
out of here. I'll tell you one of the things
I struggle with as a parent, and and it's it's
my own head, um, which I can acknowledge. But growing
up in Saginaw, Michigan, you grew up in western Finland,
obviously two totally different places, um, but smaller places in
(34:22):
the grand scheme of the world. I always, um fear
my children not understanding the grind, you know, not understanding
or appreciating things, and not understanding what it's like to
(34:42):
be an underdog. I always fear, uh, you know, my
kids growing up living the life that they're living. Um,
how does how do how does that ultimately play out
when they're adults? For you, it goes even a step
further whereas I'm still in America, although I'm not in
you know, on Michigan, still in America. But for you,
(35:03):
you actually have to teach your kid an entirely different culture.
How do you go about that and balancing that to
make sure that your kids who are growing up here
in America for at least eight months out of the year,
nine months out of the year, that they understand the
Finnish culture, that they speak, the language fluently, like how fluently?
(35:25):
How do you how do you go about making sure
that they get that side of you. Yeah, it's definitely
something you have to think about. And that's pretty much
the reason why I spend most of my off seasons
back home in Finland, just to get my kids over
there and trying to keep Finland important to them as well.
(35:47):
Obviously their grandparents are there and everybody, so trying to
keep it important. Obviously, who knows how long I'm going
to play in the NBA, but they're probably teenagers at
the time, so it's it's going to be a tough
decision at the end, like where we're going to be living.
But I just want them to learn and appreciate both
(36:08):
sides of it. Obviously you never know what's going to
happen in the future, but so we speak finish at home,
so that automatically get kind of stays with us. So
just spending time both places and learning, learning the different
cultures and make them really appreciate both of them how
(36:29):
different they are. And that's the main thing. And before
we get out of here World Championships this summer, Olympics
next summer, what can we expect from feeling with these
two events coming up, expect us to make some noise.
I think we're getting better as a basketball country and
(36:50):
we're all confident going in and just the first time
we actually qualified through the through the Games to the
World Cup, So everybody's excited. We're gonna bring a ton
of fans over there, and uh, hopefully we get to
play you guys, well, I hope so too, brother, I
(37:11):
definitely hope so too. I I enjoy um and when
I'm playing international competition, watching you guys go back home
like you go back home and now you've become that
player in the NBA as well. But like watching how
good and Evan Fournier is at basketball when he goes
(37:31):
and plays for French, Watching how Patty Mills, who's probably
the greatest people player ever, how good he is at
basketball when he goes and plays for Australia. You know,
you go into it with like this mindset, or we're
going play Australia and Matisse thybul is walking into threes
like you go and watch guys like play with like
(37:52):
their countries, man, And it's the most incredible thing. It's
the most incredible experience. Louri Mike Low Marketing my brother.
I can't thank you enough for coming on the show. Man.
You're welcome back anytime. You know. I try to go
by this thing, man, And yeah, I don't want to
alienate anybody because we're always appreciative of all guests. But
(38:14):
I always say, man, you gotta have a little resume
to come on the Draymond Green Show. You know, you
can't can't just be some guys out here talking and
you know, getting interviews and stuff like. You gotta have
a resume. You can't be Dealing Brooks or some man.
So I appreciate you coming on the show. My brother
appreciate you having me man, no doubt. Brother, thank you
The volume The Draymond Green Show presented by FanDuel. The
sports calendar is packed. No better place to get in
on the action than fanduels. So many sports right now,
NBA College Hoops, March Madness, PGA two. Ur app is safe, secure,
easy to use, that got exclusive offers, boosts, all that
(00:23):
stuff this month on FanDuel, and when you win, you
get paid fast. So jump into the action. They have
live betting. You can combine multiple bets same game and
the same game parlay. Tryout Same Game Parlay plus today,
Start making every moment more and download the FanDuel app
today twenty one plus and select states. Fanduels offering online
(00:44):
sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas dar
Casino LLC. Gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler or
visit FanDuel dot com, slash rg Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee,
Virginia eight hundred, next step or text next step to
five three three four two, Arizona one eight at eight
(01:05):
seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG
dot org slash chat Connecticut one eight hundred and nine
with it Indiana one eight hundred five two two forty
seven hundred. Visit KS gambling heelp dot com Kansas one
eight seven seven seven seven oh stop Louisiana called one
eight hundred and three to two seven fifty fifty or
visit WWWMA Underscore Helpline dot org. Slash problem Gambling visit
(01:28):
www dot MD gambling help dot org. Maryland one eight
seven seven eight Hope, New York or text Hope New
York four six seven three six nine New York one
eight hundred and five two two forty seven hundred Wyoming,
or visit www dot one eight hundred gambler dot net,
West Virginia. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond
(01:50):
Green Show. I'm excited to have this next guest an
All Star, but the role wasn't quite pretty to an
All star game. You know, you're talking to a a guy
who was the seventh pick in the NBA draft, been
traded a couple of times, and a lot of guys
started or a lot of people not guys. A lot
(02:12):
of people started to count out, started to say he
wasn't what they thought he were gonna be coming out
of college. When he played one year at Arizona, was
first team Alpac twelve. I was drafted by the Minnesota
timber was and traded to Chicago. Absolutely incredible players started
(02:34):
Utah Jazz. Laurie marketing For y'all that don't know how
to pronounce his name, I just got to tutorial Mike Lowry,
just like the Bad Boys, Laurie marketing. What's up, my brother?
Welcome to the show. Thanks man, happy being absolutely man.
We've been trying to do this episode. We had it.
We had a schedule earlier this week, and I all
(02:56):
of a sudden, my podcast bag didn't make it on
the role with me. We just rescheduled for today. My
internet didn't want to work, so I'm actually filming this
on my phone because I refused to make Laurie wait
again and I refuse to miss this opportunity. But first off, Man,
how are you just? How are you doing? First time
All Star? How is life? My brother? Life's great? Man?
(03:21):
Just trying to fight for this playoff spot, trying to
focus on each game like it's our last. I mean
I can't. We're on a like we just talked about,
We're on a thirteen day trip, so you know, how
to a grind it is, So I'm as well as
you can be, absolutely And speaking of that, you know,
(03:42):
I like to let the interview flow, and just speaking
of fighting for a playoff spot, I think it's absolutely
incredible what you guys have done this year. Danny Ainge
comes in as the president of the Utah Jazz. He
starts shaking a bunch of things up. Everyone looks at
the team when all the trades go down and say,
(04:02):
this team is going to be the worst team in
the NBA, and yet you guys are right there fighting
for a playoff spot. Just just what's that been like
when y'all came into the season. Did y'all did y'all
expect to be this good? Or was it just like
a thing that started coming together those first I think
y'all started seven or eight and oh or something like that. Yeah.
So I was on here like the preseason pickup game
(04:26):
period of time because I was overseas playing. So I
got here right before a training camp and just saw
the first practice. I was on sidelines because like, we
got a lot of dudes who I think think that
they have been counted out and have a chip on
their shoulders. So just we had to get on the
same page. We had eight or nine guys come from
different teams too, so we knew it's going to take
(04:49):
a lot of time and a lot of work. But
then we got off to a hot start, and obviously
that's just that feeds your confidence and you just want
to keep going. So I think that was our motivation,
kind of people counting us out, and like myself, there's
a lot of players that maybe thought that their career
was going in the wrong direction, and we wanted to
(05:10):
prove ourselves. So that was a big thing for us.
And again, speaking of making the playoffs, recently at the
trade deadline, you guys just traded too well what really
more than two, but two in particular to the Lakers,
and Malik Beasley and Jared Vanderbilt, who are big parts
(05:31):
of your rotation. Obviously also Mike Kindley leave him. But
with those two guys going to the Lakers might kind
of getting traded and you're right in that battle trying
to fight for a playoff spot. What's the mindset like
for yourself and for guys on the team when you
traded big pieces like that, who's been contributing at a
high level all year for you guys. I mean, yeah,
(05:53):
it's tough. Obviously the relationship part, and we had a
good thing going on and so that part sucks. But
the conversation we had with front officers and everybody was
just like, just need to trust us. And I think
the players are never going to give up, so we
just try to find new ways to stay on top
of top of the surfers and just keep going. And
(06:16):
I think it's an opportunity for other guys to step up.
And I'm trying to myself trying to take that leadership
part as well, just trying to see you where I
can lead the team. And also speaking of trades, like
I said, you've been a part of a couple of
big trades, one with Minnesota with Jimmy Butler, this this
(06:36):
this particular trade with with Donovan Mitchell going to the
Utah Jazz. A lot of like I said at the beginning,
a lot of people have counted you out as if
you weren't the player that everyone I hope for. Yet
you're getting traded for all star guys like Jimmy Butler.
You're getting traded for all star guys like Donovan Mitchell.
When you get traded in a situation like that, whereas
(06:59):
four guys like that, do you somewhere in the back
of your mind feel like, well, I can't necessarily be
what they're saying I am, because yet these big trades
are still happening. I am the marquee guy from my
side of the deal that's going in these trades. Were
these all star players at the time before you're an
all star. Yeah, the Jimmy Butler trade, I didn't really
(07:21):
even take good it most because obviously at the draft
and you're a young kid, everything's just happening so fast.
I'm trying to come in and play as well as
I can. So I didn't really think that much of
that trade. But then by this Donovan Mitchell trade happened,
I think just I understood the business side of basketball already.
Like I loved being in Cleveland. I had a great year,
(07:42):
great relationships throughout the whatever eight months I stayed there,
and I love all the guys there. But I understood that,
I mean, you have a chance to get player like
Donovan like you probably can pull the trigger on it,
So I understood it. So I mean, that's all wayself,
especially with the family. It's just trying to surviving a
(08:04):
new environment again. But I mean as I mean, I
can tell it was a blessing now for myself in
my career getting in the right system and environment. So
ironically and watching Cleveland season, I think they're having a
really good season. A lot of teams have a really
good season, and I look at that team now and
(08:26):
you're the missing piece, and it's just funny how it
all works out. It's like, you get traded for Donovan Mitchell,
and like you said, if you're the Cleveland Cavaliers, you
have to make the trade you get. You have the
opportunity to get a guy like Donovan Mitchell. I understand it,
but you hadn't looking back on it. I just think
it's funny that I watched that team and I'm like, hmm,
they're really like if they had a three man with
(08:48):
some great size knocked the shot down that you could
actually like put the ball in his hands. They played
Carros Laverte at the three, but in my opinion, Karros
Laverta is the two you know, and so it's a
little different. So I think that's interesting. But speak to me.
Growing up in Western Finland, at what point in your
(09:09):
journey does it Does it come to you that the
NBA is a realistic goal? Yeah? I mean I wasn't
able to watch like live NBA games growing up, and
it was just all highlights, and so it doesn't really
seem realistic. Gets just so far away. And my goal
(09:29):
is to be a professional player and get to the
national team level in Finland. That was my main goal.
And then the college sport opened for me. And once
I got to Arizona, I still wasn't on I don't
think I was on any mock drafts or anything. I don't.
I don't know if that matters a lot, but I
mean I didn't. I wasn't seeing my name anywhere. So
(09:50):
just first couple of months at Arizona just started playing
pretty well and then my name starts pup man. This
might be a real possible. That was around January, maybe
like crazy. Really, I was going for college. A lot
of guys say that they knew I'm a one and done,
but in my mind, I was going there to get
(10:12):
better and I thought I'm going to be there multiple years.
So I didn't think I was that close yet. But
then season progressed and I thought I had to take
the leap when you have the opportunity, So it really
happened quickly in my mind. You just keep worrying about
every day and grinding it out, and then two months
(10:33):
before the draft here like, oh I can do this,
and you just said and growing up in western Finland,
you couldn't watch the games live. Explain that to me,
because number one, I think it goes to show how
far the NBA has come. I think Adam Silber does
an incredible job. But explain that to me. Why you
(10:54):
couldn't watch the game lies. Was it a TV capability
thing or compatibility thing, or was that the time difference
was so dramatic that you just weren't able to stay
up and watch the games. Yeah, just as a kid,
the game's come at three or four am, so I
just wasn't able to stay up. And I can't remember
exactly Like if I really wanted to wake up, I'm
(11:16):
sure there would have been a way to some stream
just get online and see the games. But I think
it's easier now. And that's just so what you just said.
Just availability of the league. Just it's all over the
world now and like I know, my friends and family
are easily watching my games, they can watch it on
League Pass whatever. So just I didn't have the opportunity,
(11:40):
and I think it was mostly the time difference. Obviously,
it's just can't. Can't be waking up at three or
four am and going to school at eight am. So
absolutely okay. And you just spoke about like my goal
was to be on the national team, and I think
(12:02):
it's I want to dive into that a bit. And
so just number one, how beneficial you getting traded to
this to the Utah Jazz opened up a space where
you know you're coming in and it's like you said,
it's a bunch of good players on the team, but
not anyone that's become a superstar until you know you
(12:25):
now you you coming all Star. But coming into this season,
no one's a superstar. Everybody you know, y'all got a
bunch of good players, but no one's a superstar. You
come out of euro Championships, European Championships where you're with
your your national team, and you are superstar. You are
(12:45):
the star you are to go to. Guy, How did
coming out coming immediately from there right into the NBA
season in a position to where you could actually jump
into that role? How much. Did that help you blossom
into who you've grown into it this year in the
Utah Jazz as in you know who you will be
now in the future as the NBA continues to go,
as your career continues to go. Yeah, I think it's
(13:07):
just about everything really clicking. Obviously, my confidence was super
high going to the eurobas and being the guy and
seeing all different coverages and trying to lead the team
over there. But then just getting into Utah and like
you said, no real superstars every time, everybody trying to
figure it out and just got I always give a
(13:28):
lot of credit to coaching staff and teammates obviously, but
the first thing Coach Hardy was like, yeah, we just
need the same version that you were playing over there.
We need to hear And I think that that was
a really big thing for me, just being the guy
in Cleveland who I took the challenge to guard the
(13:48):
best players on the team and really try to do
whatever a team needed meet to do and they still
traded me, so that that that was just the business
of basketball, that kind of which my mindset to that
I got the confidence back up and in the EuroBasket
and just coming in with that and just try to
keep that going. So that was a big mental switch
(14:10):
for me too. It seems to me. It seems to
me in watching basketball. I've had the opportunity to compete
in two Olympics, so I've gotten pretty familiar with the
international game, and it seems to me Olympics, World Championships,
and euro Basket Championships, it seems to me for the
(14:32):
Europeans or really any country outside of America, that winning
those three is a much higher priority than necessarily winning
the NBA Championship. Is that the case and if so,
why is that? Well, yeah, I'm not the ones who
(14:53):
said anything about NBA champion I haven't been close to
that yet, so you can probably compare that a little
bit more. But I mean, I always take a lot
of pride representing the national team. Obviously that's where we're from,
and trying to I'm the only finished guy in the NBA.
I'm trying to kind of carry that torch over here
(15:13):
as well, And obviously my ultimate goal is to win
the NBA Championship. But I haven't been to playoffs yet,
so I still got some ways to go. But I think,
I mean, they are very important goals from both, but
just maybe the I've always represented Finland my whole life,
(15:34):
so maybe that's why it could be a bigger deal
that it's been a longer, long term goal for myself
since like NBA's really the last couple of years. But
obviously the I want to experience both, yeah now for sure.
And I think, you know, it's the way you just
(15:55):
put it, like it's been a long term thing. You guys.
You you grew up in Finland. You been that your
whole life. You know, these guys grow up in front
of the whole time. Yeah. Yeah, So I think it's
like that prop for your country, because here's the thing
I've over the last few years, I've become more of
a football fan, and you know, and that's huge in Europe,
(16:19):
and it's like a religion, you know, like like like
football in Europe, it's like a religion. National team in Europe,
you guys almost do national team every summer, whereas for us,
we usually get a team together. Uh and and maybe
that particular team is together for two years and and
so I think it's it's kids in America they grow
(16:41):
up wanted to play in the NBA, you know, and
you grow up like man, I want to win an
NBA championship. Once you get to the NBA, then it's like, wow,
I want to play for Team USA, you know, like
I want to I want to compete. I want to
win a gold medal. But that's once you get to
a certain point of year NBA career, you know, it's
not necessarily like I grew up saying, man, I want
(17:04):
to play on a national team. Now I grew up saying, man,
I want to play for the Detroit Pistons. So I
want to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. So to me,
that's just been an interesting thing to watch as as
I've Yeah, maybe it's more of a realistic goal as
a kid too, for myself coming in from a smaller
country to it's much more realistic that I play and
(17:26):
then on the national team than I actually make it
to the NBA and play for a certain team here.
So maybe that's part of it too. But yeah, always
take a lot of pride, try to play every time
I can, and I think I've played my best basketball
in the NBA after having the summer with the national team,
(17:46):
just being in good shape, coming back right ready for training,
get off the bench, bet the NBA with FanDuel, America's
number one sports book. Right now, FanDuel's given new customers
ten times your first bet in bonus bets doesn't matter
if your first bet is an airball, You'll get up
to two hundred dollars in bonus bets win or loose, okay,
(18:08):
all on a top rated sportsbook app at FanDuel that's safe, secure,
easy to use. Don't miss out. Just visit FanDuel dot
com slash coolin FanDuel dot com slash colin. Then place
your first bet two hundred dollars in bonus bets guaranteed,
make every moment more with FanDuel, the official sports book
partner of the NBA twenty one plus in select states.
FanDuel's offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement
(18:32):
with Kansas dar Casino LLC. Gambling Problem Call one eight
hundred Gambler or visit FanDuel dot com slash RG Colorado, Iowa, Michigan,
New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia one eight hundred,
next step or text next step to five three three
four two, Arizona one eight at eight seven eight nine
seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org, slash
(18:56):
chat Connecticut one eight hundred and nine with it Indiana
one eight hundred and five to two forty seven hundred.
Visit ks gambling heelp dot com Kansas one eight seven
seven seven seven l Stop Louisiana called one eight hundred
and three two seven fifty fifty or visit WWWMA underscore
helpline dot org slash problem gambling visit www dot MD
gambling help dot org Maryland one eight seven seven eight Hope,
(19:18):
New York or text Hope, New York for six seven
three six nine New York one eight hundred and five
to two forty seven hundred Wyoming, or visit www dot
one eight hundred gambler dot net West Virginia. I agree
with two one hundred percent. I actually played in the Olympics.
The last time I played in the Olympics. I really
wanted to play because I was coming off really too
(19:40):
shitty and probably two of my worst NBA seasons, and
I'm like, yo, I need to like come into tiptop.
I need to do Olympics so I could come into
the season in tiptop shape so I could get back
to Austar level, and it actually ended up working out
that way. But I always tell people when you're coming
off that Olympic, when you're coming off dout Olympic Summer
(20:01):
or eurold Championships or World championships, like you come in
and shape, you hit the ground running. It sets you
up for the rest of the year. So I think
that's I think that's been a huge thing. But I
asked the question on this podcast a couple of weeks
ago to Gilbert Arenas, and I would love your take
on the being that you are European. Um, I would
(20:22):
just love your your view on it. It's actually come
up on television once last week or earlier this week
with Kendrick Perkins and JJ Redditt. Now I think Kendrick
Perkins start talking white and black or or something white
and black. My question was more so, UM, do you
(20:43):
think or why is it that I have saw this
list Stephen. They put a list out and it said
top five players with the most pressure to win an
NBA Championship. It's like James Harden, someone else, someone else. Oh,
Jason Taylor was number two or three and Joker was
(21:03):
number four. And so when I when I saw that
I said, that's interesting to me because Jason is younger
than Joker number one. Jason is also not an MVP
and NBA yet Jokers a two time possibly soon to
be three time MVP. How is he higher up on
(21:25):
that list? And it brought me to a place where
I'm like, I feel like Europeans or American born players
catch more flat and it kind of goes into the
same thing or what I was just saying about championships
and how European players may feel American players catch more
flat for winning a championship than European stars. Do do
(21:48):
you think that's the case. That's just what I've noticed,
and that that list really put it at the forefront
of me. So I would love European just as a
European player. Huh yeah, they might get away with it
a little bit more. I haven't really thought of it,
but so kind of putting me on the spot. But
(22:10):
I mean, just like I said, I didn't really I
don't know what the conversations were like when, like exactly
when Dirk wasn't winning a championship yet and to that
and then when when he finally won one. Uh, what
I got there was some pressure for him to win one. Uh, well,
(22:32):
maybe I don't know. Maybe it's from I mean to league.
NBA's a league in America and we're coming from a
different country, try to adapt and getting into your league.
So maybe that's why. But like I've seen that, I've
seen the list, and yeah, I hear more pressure talk
(22:54):
being towards American players. So definitely noticed that. But just
I'm not really sure why that's my thinking behind that.
It's crazy because you just gave me a perspective that
I hadn't I thought of, And now that you say that,
I can definitely think back to it, which is dirt.
I remember now that you say that, going back to
(23:16):
two ten, nine, two eleven, where Dirk is still at
that point, Dirk's been in Dallas for what fifteen years,
fourteen years somewhere around there, and you started to hear like, man,
Dirk is a great player. Uh, Dirk is incredible, He's this,
but you can't necessarily win with him. They're not going
to win with him. The guy in Dallas, they were
(23:37):
facing the lot of Miami heats. So now that you
say that, I do remember that. I do remember Dirk
starting to catch flat later in his career, you know,
in year fourteen to fifteen, so I definitely can appreciate
that perspective. Fifth straight year, fifth straight and I mean yeah,
(23:57):
it's it's definitely going to be the fifth straight year
where we where we have an international player winning the MVP. Um,
you know, Jokers right in and B's right into Janni's Luca,
and then probably Jason Tatum is the fifth one will
probably round out that top five. Um, what do you
think it is doing for the game of basketball that
(24:18):
you're having Europeans um winning MVP in the NBA year
after year after year. I think that's I think it's
great for the game of basketball, you know, and it's
global footprint. But what do you think it's doing for
the game? Yeah, obviously it's just more I mean more
they have done. The NBA's growing and it's all over
(24:40):
the world now, just be visiting ton of like basketball
without borders camps. There's so many good players coming from
different continents and that's just great to see. Just obviously
it's known to be a lot of Americans in the league,
but just having those superstar guys coming from different countries,
(25:01):
but a lot of them are from Europe and so
it's it's great to see and I think the games
is going to keep growing and growing, but they're definitely
a big part of it. Just how much basketball has
grown in Finland and I see people wearing Giannasis jerseys
in Finland and stuff like that, so that's just awesome
see and we're really in it together. Obviously, I would
(25:25):
wish they wear my jersey, but I'm just grateful basketball
is just growing and so many more kids are starting
to play basketball because of those superstars. So they're doing
great job too. Well. You've you've gone to the Utah
Jazz and become a star. You're an All Star, which
means you'll have more television games next year, which means
more and more people in Finland and all over Europe
(25:47):
will start wearing your jersey. So I think your wish
will be great, my brother, I definitely think it will.
Luca made a comment some years ago, maybe his first
or second year in the NBA, where he said, scoring
in you're scoring in the NBA, it's way easier than
scoring in Europe. Do you do you carry that same
(26:09):
sentiment partially? Yeah, I think just what I noticed is summer,
for example, in EuroBasket Obviously I didn't play EuroLeague just
like Luca did, but so my experience is coming from
a EuroBasket, but just definitely not getting the same folcohol
(26:30):
that I am in the NBA. Uh No defensive three
seconds obviously, shorter game clock, only forty minute games, so
I think that effects on like points per game average
is already just so yeah, I would probably agree, just
(26:50):
it's a different game, Like you have one superstar on
a European team, and like I was watching what obviously
Yanna as a great player, superstar, and Bob was watching
what Czech Republic was doing to Greece this summer, and
they were literally five guys into paint because there was
no three second rules. So that definitely affects that. And
(27:15):
I don't know if it's I still scored more in
eurobasclar highest scored in the NBA, so I don't be true,
but yeah, definitely he's on something. I definitely can agree
with the defensive three seconds out. You Like when we
went last year, we were playing against France and they
were still playing like two legit centators Rudy Gobert, Mustapha
(27:39):
fall Dusk support. They're playing like legit two centators. We out,
they're like, yo, what is this? Like it's crazy, So
it's definitely a different game. Um, I'm a free agent.
Sell to me to Utah Jazz on you know you're
you're being Utah for a long time now, brother, sell
sell to me a free agent, not literally me, but
(28:00):
just you're selling h someone to come to Utah Jazz.
Join you as a free agent, continue to help boost
this team. You're talking about making the playoffs scen obviously,
then you you you you sniff that you start wanting
to make runs. So sell to me to Utah jass
as a free agent. What would Lurie marking and say
to free agents coming up, because it's gonna be on
(28:23):
you to start recruiting my brother. Yeah, I mean, I'm
really enjoying staying there obviously, just I'm more of a
low key guy. So it's been a great city for
me and my family, being my kids to grow so
off the court, everything's great, just great organization taking care
(28:43):
of us and game wise, I always felt like Utah
was one of the toughest places to play, and fact
that's because of fan base and they always have our backs,
so it's really fun to go play every night and
as we compete, we're trying to win that get that
winning culture, and obviously we have a great coach now.
And so I'm I've been really enjoying this year and
(29:06):
we we play hard, and uh, just having the fan
base and people in Utah. I really love basketball, so
you can see it all around. So I'm really happy
to be a part of it and hopefully we get
some guys coming over to Absolutely, that's incredible. Um, you
just spoke about having a great head coach. Now I
(29:28):
actually have the opportunity to. Um, I actually have the
opportunity to play with Will Hardy coaching. He was one
of our coaches for the for the USA team. Super
cool dude, extremely knowledgeable, very relatable. But just talk to
me about about Will Hardy as a coach. Like, you know,
(29:49):
everyone sees this this new face pop up on the
sidelines of the NBA and with the Utah Jazz, and
you know, people around fans doesn't quite know who it is.
Talk to me about Will Hardy as a coach and
what he's brought to the organization. I think it starts
with just what you said. It's really cool, dude. You
(30:10):
can talk to him off the court, have lunch with
him and just talk other non related, non basketball related stuff,
and just he really helps us on the court with
us having that relationship, so it starts from there. But
just a really smart coach. We've run. He's running place
for me this year that I've never had seen before
(30:31):
and get it. You get a wide open layup off
of it, and so you can just tell he's thinking
on a different level. And so I'm really excited to
be building this relationship with him. And so it's been
a great experience in this whatever six months I've been
in Utah. But yeah, just obviously first time head coach,
(30:54):
young guy, but doesn't really look like is he's He's
had a lot of experience with obviously being with under
like great head coaches as well. So since he has
the experience and he's really taking this thing to another level,
that's incredible, and I think he'll continue to grow. I
(31:16):
think he's one of the bright young coaches in this league,
which I think is absolutely amazing. So it'll be good
there and probably will be there, just like yourself for
a very long time before we get out of here. Man,
you you've mentioned your family three times since since We've
been on here for twenty seven minutes, and I can't
help but notice that as a family man myself, I've
(31:37):
been married now for six seven months, seven months, six
months soon to be seven months, I have three children.
Just speak to me number one, how many children do
you have? And then also, um, what it's like living
his NBA life and being a father at the same time,
going for thirteen days currently right now. Just talk to
(31:57):
me about what it's like being a father and living
the world that we live in. Yeah, so I got
a wife and a five year old boy and a
two year old daughter at home, so I mean it's everything.
It's really helped me to play on this level. At
the same time, like obviously it's tough to be away
(32:18):
from the family and you want to spend the most
time with them, obviously, but just they understand it's my job,
and I respect them for understanding that they requires a
lot of time, just not games and trips, but going
into get treatments and practices and extra work you have
(32:40):
to put in. So but they've really helped me in
a way that I was struggling my first couple of years,
really my first year because our son was born my
halfway through my rookie year, so that that already helped
me that I had a problem with separating my basketball
(33:00):
stuff from basketball. It was basketball is always just game.
I played fun and then now it's my job and
I'm getting paid for it. So I was in a
gray area of kind of you want to enjoy it,
but at the same time you have the pressure to perform.
So just being married and having kids, I think he
(33:21):
really helped me to separate the two. I have a
bad game, it's a bad day of work. I closed
the locker room door and go play hide and seek
with my son whatever. So that really helped me in
my basketball career, kind of enjoying the basketball and whatever happens,
good or bad, I go home and it's it doesn't
(33:41):
matter anymore. So that's really helped me, and I'm really
grateful for that. They walk in the house. They don't
care if you want one. If you want you're no
bigger I was a superstar than if you lost. Yeah,
yeah right, I don't care if miss. All of my
shots are made, all of them. So what's what's what's
(34:01):
it like? So, so I'll tell you one of the
things I struggle and I know we got to get
out of here. I'll tell you one of the things
I struggle with as a parent, and and it's it's
my own head, um, which I can acknowledge. But growing
up in Saginaw, Michigan, you grew up in western Finland,
obviously two totally different places, um, but smaller places in
(34:22):
the grand scheme of the world. I always, um fear
my children not understanding the grind, you know, not understanding
or appreciating things, and not understanding what it's like to
(34:42):
be an underdog. I always fear, uh, you know, my
kids growing up living the life that they're living. Um,
how does how do how does that ultimately play out
when they're adults? For you, it goes even a step
further whereas I'm still in America, although I'm not in
you know, on Michigan, still in America. But for you,
(35:03):
you actually have to teach your kid an entirely different culture.
How do you go about that and balancing that to
make sure that your kids who are growing up here
in America for at least eight months out of the year,
nine months out of the year, that they understand the
Finnish culture, that they speak, the language fluently, like how fluently?
(35:25):
How do you how do you go about making sure
that they get that side of you. Yeah, it's definitely
something you have to think about. And that's pretty much
the reason why I spend most of my off seasons
back home in Finland, just to get my kids over
there and trying to keep Finland important to them as well.
(35:47):
Obviously their grandparents are there and everybody, so trying to
keep it important. Obviously, who knows how long I'm going
to play in the NBA, but they're probably teenagers at
the time, so it's it's going to be a tough
decision at the end, like where we're going to be living.
But I just want them to learn and appreciate both
(36:08):
sides of it. Obviously you never know what's going to
happen in the future, but so we speak finish at home,
so that automatically get kind of stays with us. So
just spending time both places and learning, learning the different
cultures and make them really appreciate both of them how
(36:29):
different they are. And that's the main thing. And before
we get out of here World Championships this summer, Olympics
next summer, what can we expect from feeling with these
two events coming up, expect us to make some noise.
I think we're getting better as a basketball country and
(36:50):
we're all confident going in and just the first time
we actually qualified through the through the Games to the
World Cup, So everybody's excited. We're gonna bring a ton
of fans over there, and uh, hopefully we get to
play you guys, well, I hope so too, brother, I
(37:11):
definitely hope so too. I I enjoy um and when
I'm playing international competition, watching you guys go back home
like you go back home and now you've become that
player in the NBA as well. But like watching how
good and Evan Fournier is at basketball when he goes
(37:31):
and plays for French, Watching how Patty Mills, who's probably
the greatest people player ever, how good he is at
basketball when he goes and plays for Australia. You know,
you go into it with like this mindset, or we're
going play Australia and Matisse thybul is walking into threes
like you go and watch guys like play with like
(37:52):
their countries, man, And it's the most incredible thing. It's
the most incredible experience. Louri Mike Low Marketing my brother.
I can't thank you enough for coming on the show. Man.
You're welcome back anytime. You know. I try to go
by this thing, man, And yeah, I don't want to
alienate anybody because we're always appreciative of all guests. But
(38:14):
I always say, man, you gotta have a little resume
to come on the Draymond Green Show. You know, you
can't can't just be some guys out here talking and
you know, getting interviews and stuff like. You gotta have
a resume. You can't be Dealing Brooks or some man.
So I appreciate you coming on the show. My brother
appreciate you having me man, no doubt. Brother, thank you
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.