January 6, 2026 • 34 mins
In this special episode, Isaiah Thomas joins C.J. Toledano to answer questions from you, the fans; covering the following topics: his welcome to the NBA moment against Kobe Bryant, important tactics for playing in the league as a smaller player, his toughest cover in the league, pre-and-post game meals, his favorite student-athlete memories from the University of Washington, his most notable All-Star Game memories and more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome to another episode of Point Game with CJ. Toldono
and Isaiah Thomas. Today, we wanted to hear from you,
so we posted on social media. We said drop your
questions and the comments below, and you guys showed out.
We're gonna get to Isaiah and he's gonna answer everything
you guys are asking us. So first question, this is
asked on all these podcasts. I don't think we got
(00:33):
to it. But Carter Folkers on TikTok asked, what was
your welcome to the NBA moment?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I had said this on something I was on, but
my welcome to the NBA moment was my first game.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
In Sacramento.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
My first game of the season was against the Lakers
against my favorite player, Kobe Bryant. So welcome to the NBA.
I get stubbed in the second quarter. Paul west Fall
is rest in peace. Coach Paul west Fall subs me in.
He's telling everybody who they have like He's like Tyry Evans,
you got him, the Marcus, you got him, and nobody said,
(01:13):
he don't say who has Kobe?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So throughout training camp there was a there was a
rule when guys backed me down. Guys can't back me
down anymore because they either take a bad shot or
they turn the ball over. So that was the That
was a rule in training camp. First game of the season,
when he set me in, he telling everybody who they have.
He's like, I'm like, coach, who I got? He like,
I t you got Kobe, and remember, nobody can back
(01:38):
you down. I'm like, I'm like I'm I'm looking at
Him'm like, thanks for putting me in, but you're tripping
like that's Kobe and that's my favorite player. But yeah, okay,
the first so I get subbed in the first three players,
I'm guarding Kobe. They give it to him ISO. He
just he's just looking at me, like why are you
guarding me?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
He posts me up.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
I'm just smiling the whole time. I'm like, this is
fucking crazy. Right, he goes one for three on me.
He hits the first shot on me.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Boom. I'm sprinting down court just smiling like this is crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I just really guarded Kobe my first possession and he
scored on me, Like how dope is that?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Like first time in my life.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I was happy somebody scored on me, So like that
was my That was my welcome to the NBA moment,
and it was like everything I dreamed of playing against
my favorite player, against my favorite team growing up. First
game of the season. So that's a great question. That
was my welcome to the NBA moment.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
I just love that it just speaks to a lot
of who you are is and that you're also such
a fan of the game.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
You know.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
But it is like, come on, like we got to
ease into this thing. You put me in a game another.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
NBA is that's what's crazy. He threw me in and
he's like he said, I got Kobe.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I was like, you're lying right now, But it was
it was super dope because I was just like I
really felt like I was going to stop him anyway. Yeah,
but I was like, man, this is it's crazy. Like
I'm really touching Kobe's jersey, Like that's how crazy it
was for me.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
So that was that was my moment. Did did it?
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Kobe? Have any you guys exchange any words?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Kobe didn't say nothing to me till my third year. Wow,
So like Kobe like looked through my soul the whole time.
I'm trying to in warm up in the game, I'm
trying to get his attention just to look at me.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
He like he looking through my soul. And that's how
he did.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Everybody though, like he wasn't into He like, my third
year and I start killing I average twenty point six assists.
He I remember we played him. He walked by me,
he papted me on the butt and he was like,
I see you, young fella. I was like, oh my goodness.
And then ever since then, that's when we start to
build our little friendship in our relationship. I signed with
(03:46):
Nike after that. It was like all she wrote. So
it was that was the process of the Kobe thing.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So I mean just from being such a fan of
Kobe as well. That's the thing for him was like
you had to earn his like attention everybody that you existed,
you know, Like sure, it reminds me of when like
Jeremy Lynn lin Sanity, which is one of the biggest
things in NBA history, and they interviewed him, you know,
(04:14):
the I think the night before like you're playing the
next what do you think about this Jeremy Lynn guy,
And he's like, who yeah, it's just.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Like not giving nobody they until you.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
You got to show him you got to do it
in from you gotta do it to him for for
for him to give you any type of respect as
it as it should be like that.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Though this actually that story actually leads into this next
question that I thought was really interesting. So this was
from CT from TikTok. Being one of the shorter NBA
players in the league. What were some of the most
important tactics you had or have for defending taller players?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Important tactics It was the low man always wins, Like
any defensive players, he'll tell you that. So I already
had the advantage. The only thing they can do was
shoot over me. And it's not like I can grow
any So like, if you're gonna shoot over for me
or shoot fadeaways, I've done my job. Like I just
got to pray that I can test it good enough
and you missed. But like really being able to guard
(05:10):
bigger players, especially on the perimeter, which is my to
my advantage. The further are the further the further they're
out from the hoop is to my advantage. The closer
they are to the hoop is to their advantage. So
I would just make it tough on them, and I'm
strong enough to guard anybody bigger than me. So they
wasn't gonna overpower me. They were just gonna shoot over me.
(05:31):
And I was living with that.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Yeah, and then going into that because Cam Hobbs on
TikTok also he said who was the most difficult player
to guard in your NBA career?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
The most difficult was was Westbrook with oka see, like
when he was on full goal every possession, when one
of his strengths was the mid range shots, so he'll
go so fast and just stop on a dime, and
then obviously all the other stuff he did, So that
was always a tough cover for me because he was
not only just as fast as me or maybe faster,
(06:04):
he jumped higher than me, and he was bigger than me.
So like it was always a good matchup when I
play when I played Westbrook when he was on the thunder,
but that was always a tough cover for me too.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Were you you know, how do you play a guy
like that? Then? Like do you how do you adjust
your your defensive tactics? Like do you play off a
little bit and try to like compensate for or like
predict his next move? Like you know, what are some
of those tips for a guy like that's so fast and.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
You know someone that was my best defense was my offense.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
So you're gonna have to guard to buddy, So that
was I'm my my thing was you're gonna have to
guard too, So that was my best That was my
best defenses. When we're on the other end, I'm making
you go through screens, I'm making you know that I'm
coming right at you as well. So over the course
of a game, especially with a guy like that then
(06:54):
who has the green light, you just got to make
it tough as possible for them, take away what they're
you know their strengths are. But at the end of
the day, you just hope they miss because the guys
like that that are in position to go at you
every single time, it's hard to stop those guys.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
You just got to contain them.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Yeah, I love this because a lot of these questions too,
and we're gonna get into someone. So a players who
see themselves in the way you played it inspired their game,
built their game, you know, watching you. So this is
kind of just like I think someone who wants to
get like you. But Henry Tilley on YouTube asked what's
your pregame and postgame meals, so like, what are some
of those day in the life, Like, how do you
(07:33):
take care of your body? What?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
What?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
What are you eating to be the elite hooper that
you are?
Speaker 2 (07:37):
So my pregame meal I will always have, like, especially
on the days that I really do my thing, I'm
having the grill salmon, some mashed potatoes and asparagus.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
My wife will always.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Pick that, so like, and I'm the type that I
eat the same thing, especially if I play well. I'm
just going to continue to eat the same thing until
I got a.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Bad shooting night or something.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
But like postgame, I would eat whatever the team is having.
Most teams have really good healthy meals or they do
like catered restaurant meals. I would get somewhat of a steak,
some mashed potatoes, and some vegetables. So I will always
keep it simple but kind of similar and consistent with
the things that I like. I really wouldn't go outside
(08:21):
of the box on game day. I would try to
eat a good breakfast before I get to the arena,
or I go so early to the arena. Sometimes I
don't eat before I go to the arena. I bring
my meal and then just eat after I do my
do my little pregame warm up. It just depends on
that day and how I feel. But I'm a routine
(08:41):
type of guy, so I'm kind of eating the same thing.
I'm not going outside the box.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Well, so I guess, yeah, how did it work? You
know with some of these arenas, is that, you know,
talking and just listening to interviews from other NBA players,
we'll talk about like, man, playing at this arena, the
food was kind of whack, you know, so like how
did you deal with that? Were there any experiences whereas like, oh,
I mean, I'm coming up to this city, I gotta
make sure I eat somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Nah, I'm eating before I go. Like if I'm on
the road, I'm eating in the hotel, I'm getting my
room service, making sure I'm gonna get a good meal.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Because some.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Arenas don't have good meals. So like, if I eat
before I go, I'm good. Obviously I go so early
so i'd be hungry later. And if and if an
arena has some solid food, I'm gonna get something else
this light before the game. But you know, I'm not
trying to be too fool out there. I gotta move.
I gotta move for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Well, and so we've read these stories too, Like I
remember hearing I'm not going to say the player, but
like this dude, elite player, you uhould just eat just candy,
you know, Like some of these guys who were just
genetically they're like, so, like, how much is that a fact?
Can guys really do that if they're trying to have
a long career just eating junk food anything. Dwight Howard,
(09:59):
you see like Big Max before meals. Did you know
any players like that who was just like, no matter
what they ate, they were gonna burn it off.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I mean some players like that. A lot of young
players are like that. You see them coming in with
chick fil a. Yeah, you see them coming in pregame
meal with some fast food, and I get it.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Like that's what you're used to.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
As you get older, you get more bread, you get
more money, you get to your second deal, you get
a little some good vents around you to you know, game.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
You on things like that.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
You will start to change, You will start to take
care of your body a little more. But the younger guys, yeah,
they're coming in with McDonald's, Chick fil a, whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
You be in Arizona.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
You got Lo Lo chicken and waffle. Shout out to them.
So they're coming with that type of meals and they're
doing their thing, like because they're young, your body really
doesn't need it. You can do that at a young age,
but once you start to become more of a professional,
you start to be about your business, taking care of
your body, getting sleep. You'll start to see guys coming
in with their own meals or having really healthy meals
(11:00):
once they get in the locker room, and then it
translates to having good games as well.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Yeah, I mean it's like eighty two games in the playoff,
like those small things start to matter, because yeah, I
feel like any time of player you hear like Offsea's like,
oh they hired a chef, they drop you know, fifteen pounds,
like they're on a mission.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
That's when you know they're locked in, like they're they're
trying to they're trying to be great.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Okay, going back, because I feel like we haven't talked
about your college career a lot, which was incredible. Someone
on IGS Slow Lafloor asked who was your favorite teammate
while playing at UDB College.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
My favorite teammate most of my teammates were my favorite.
I'm not gonna lie. We got a group text to
this day with about five or six of us. I
got justin holiday. Those were my roommates justin Holiday, Darnelle, Gant, Abdua, Gaddy,
let's see Scott Suggs.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
A man.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
So I got a good Terrence Ross, Quincy Pondex. They're like,
we really we really Quincy. In college, we didn't really
rock with Quincy like that he was he was he
was too locked in like you. Obviously he was trying
to get to the NBA. But Quincy was on his
own little thing as we got older. Was q'sa Quincy's
(12:16):
assistant coach at you dub now, So I see him
when I work out all the time.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
He's one of my good friends.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
But like my college team, I can't say one guy
is my favorite. We really have a group text to
this day, and we're really close and we did everything together.
So shout out to my shout out to my dogs.
In college, my teammates, shout out to all of my teammates.
But we had a close group of guys. They're really
they're really close.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
To this day.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
We heard some story.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Will Cox is a good one.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Oh yeah, okay, do you have any funny like team busts,
like your travel stories, Like that's what people forget, Like
you're a kid, You're a kid playing basketball, but then
the downtime is crazy, you know, because you're on a
team buster in the hotels running around on your board.
Like any any funny stories of some of those teammates.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
It's too many stories we have.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
We have bad like we we we were doing kid
things that will probably get us in so much trouble
if we got ky. But we had like we had
like wars against each other on the team. When I
told you, like we didn't really rock with Quincy outside
of the court, Like we didn't really rock with a
couple guys. We would go to their apartments or their homes,
egged their homes, put put smoke bombs in there in
(13:28):
their apartments, like we were doing the craziest stuff, and
then they would retaliate. I remember one time they put
a smoke bomb in our little apartment to where like
we really had to air it out for days it
was so cold. They really messed up our apartment one day.
It was him justin Demman. Yeah, I'm snitching too right now,
it was it was it was the older guys at
(13:51):
that point. So I remember one time when we retaliated.
We egged their house, we egged their cars. We put
milk in there. In there in their front door. They
had like a little mailbo where you know, like the
the mailbox where you really can put your mail in
and it's like this long on the door.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
They had that. So we put we we done milk
and they and that. Like we did crazy, We did
bad things.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
It was not cool, but like you said, you got
so much time on your hands and you're a kid.
You're away from your parents, you're going to party, you're
doing all of that as you should. We were doing
kid things that were like super fun with the experience
of college. So shout out to all my dogs in college.
I remember Terrence Ross on his little podcast, he said
(14:37):
a dope story that happened in Hawaii. I'm not going
to say it, but if you yeah, yeah, we got
to so he can talk about it because it was hilarious, bro.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It was.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
It was one of them real original college stories where
you're only doing because you're eighteen, nineteen years old, twenty
years old in college just in it for the experience.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Okay, so follow up question this is for me because
let's talk about encore at UW. What's your favorite memory
as a player in college?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
We won three Pac ten championships, so that was that
was my favorite memory. That was our first Pac ten
championship my freshman year. And then Isaiah Thomas, this fabulous
freshman was a fabulous name.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Huskies win the Pac ten regular season title, first time since.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Nineteen fifty three, the outright Pac ten championship. We won
it on our court. They raised, they raised me up
on their shoulders. The crowds stormed the floor. Like it
was everything you dreamed of as a kid going to college.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
It was super dope.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
So winning three PAC ten championships, going to the NCAA tournament,
I went to the sweet sixteen, so like it was,
we had so many dope moments just because we were
winning too.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Did you just make college? So cool?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Okay, going back to the NBA, you were an All
Star and so obviously we see all the coverage on there.
You know, we get a little bit of a peak
in the locker room, the practice, it's the media availability.
But tell us about that experience because not many players
get to do it. I feel like, you know, the
teams that you were on for All Star like that
was crazy, Kobe all that So, like any any stories
(16:11):
or just what was it like that weekend getting honored
and getting to play in the All Star Game?
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Man, it's everything.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
It's different from doing all the other festivities like the
Rookie Sophomore Game, three Point Shootout, the Skills Challenge, the
Dunk Contest, because I was able to do those things,
like I got invited to the Rookie Sophomore Challenge, I
did the Skills Challenge a couple of years, so I
was able to see those things before I was became.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
An All Star, and those things are super dope.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Like, those things are amazing accomplishments for a young player.
So to be able to be around those guys early
on was super cool. But to be an All Star
is like a different level, a different level of respect.
They treat you different, the vibe is different, the energy
is different. And my first All Star game happened to
be Kobe's last All Star game, So it was just
(17:01):
an amazing moment to be in that atmosphere, to be
around that energy, to be around greatness Toronto. That was Toronto,
which was the coldest time of my life, Like I'd
never been that cold in my life. So everything around
All Star is just when you're selected to be an
All Star is amazing. The locker room interaction, the love
(17:23):
to all the other All Stars show you, especially when
you're a first time All Star, to interact with Kobe,
for him to hug me and show me love. There's
a clip I remember my guy TJ got on one
of our book of Isaiah's where I'm walking in and
Kobe just smiles like he's like a like a big brother,
like proud of me, gives me a hug, and it
(17:44):
was just like he was like welcome.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
It was like super dope.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
So it was it was it was everything you dreamed
of to media day, to practice in front of the fans,
like I took all of that in. I remember getting
the seat in the locker room signed by everybody. I
got Lebron, I got Kobe, I got basketball signed by everybody,
(18:07):
like I'm one of those guys that did did collects everything.
So it was it was like, man, it was the
dopest moment of my of my career to be able
to be in those moments with twenty four of the
best players.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
And even that, not even only that year.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
The next year, when you're a multiple time All Star,
they even treat you different then, Like it's just like
the second year was like I was one of like
the top five guys in the world and they and
everybody felt that way. I'm walking in everybody's coming to
dat me up. And it was just super dope. Like
you just see, there's levels to it each and every year.
(18:45):
Once you're in those when once you're in that space,
it's like it's a space you never want to get
out of us. So it's that that All Star space
is amazing.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
You had what kicks do you get? We're special kicks
for those games.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Yeah, I have some special which I had some green Kobe's.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
There was my coaches there, yes, yes, Oh my goodness,
Oh my goodness. I remember go walking in the locker
room and they were just there in my locker.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
I had a.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Headband I had. It was just it's the top of
the top for show.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Yeah, man, I remember because it went Toronto, then it
went to New Orleans.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Then when New Orleans, everyone to New Orleans, Like New
Orleans is amazing city.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
It was just too much going on. They had Mardi
grasge during that weekend.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
It was you couldn't go anywhere, so it was it
was tough to get around.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I'm not trying to be critical, but honestly, All Star
as a fan, and I've even heard some players was
better back then. I don't know why. It was, just like,
it feels like it's got to get in a better place,
but I don't know another.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
That's another thing we can talk about in another episode.
The All Star the energy there, nobody wants to be there.
We gotta find a way to change that, Like because
it's a it's a blessing to be a able to
be in the All Star space. We gotta find ways
for players to be excited about that.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Again, let's do a non basketball question because people are
interested in this. So what what are This is from
Abdullah MK forty seven on IG What are your top
three TV shows of all time? I know you say
you don't really watch TV or movies.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
But but nah, I got some of my my top
three TV shows. Dang, I'm gonna go with Power any
other powers. I'm a fan of all the powers. Breaking Bad, Breaking.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Bad is is incredible and this is not one, two
or three. This is just three.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Breaking Bad is like one of my favorites. Then I'm
gonna go with dang, what is that scandal?
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Scandal?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Oh, Kerry Washington, Yes, yes, that's like I watched that
back in the day, and me and my wife watch
that like every now and then we a binge watching
just because it was it was it was like and
like you said, I don't watch a lot, So that's
why my my things are like that. But if I'm
if i'm if I need to, if I'm on a
long flight, I tap into some Breaking Bad and watch
(21:14):
them hour episodes and be and be locked in.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Nothing has ever and I watched TV and movies like
that's like my second like most passionate like hobby. Nothing
is ever compared to being into Breaking Bad because I
remember I watched the season late, so I caught up
and then it was like every Sunday night and the
twists and turns on that show were so And.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
The thing with me is like I don't watch.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I gotta wait till this seasons done or I got
because of the like even with Power or or Breaking Bad,
they're so good.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
I can't wait a week.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
I'm not waiting a week, so I like, even with
Power or any of those, I wait till it's like
six or seven episodes in so I can at least
watch two three in a row, back to back to back.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
And there's another one that I like, Yellowstone.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Yellowstone is a man, Yellowstone Great, Yellowstone is dope.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Yeah, So I got to tap into shows more though,
like especially with what I got more.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Time on my hands.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
I'm just man, I be on the go, so I
don't even be having time to watch anything.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I'll try to come through with some recommendations, honestly, Please
do please do it well, you said, because you said
when we were talking about movies the last episode, you
were like basketball movies, And it's been like one of
my life goals to make. I don't feel like we
don't have a good basketball show.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
We've had a lot of like.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Football shows, but like no one's captured basketball like accurately
or like realistically. I don't know. I just feel like
it'd be dope to credit a cool basketball.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Show, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
And my best my favorite TV show, yeah ever is
Line Order.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Oh you could pick up any you can watch any.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
You know, I'm on a Line Order episode which one
you don't even know.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Look, Line Order is my favorite ever so when I
when that was my one of my dreams as a
kid to be on line in Order.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Also like to thank Isaiah Thomas for being with us
here today.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Like all of us.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
I remember the picture of Emma and her Cavaliers jersey.
I bring the strength of this family on the court.
Every game that I play, we play and we pray
for you. This jersey is the honor of your homecoming.
And remember to always believe.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Okay, who was the case? What was the case? Who
was on the episode?
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Look the I think the episode is called complicated.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
It's maybe season twenty or maybe season seventeen. Look, look,
you gotta do your research. I'm not even gonna get
because we could talk about that on another.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
I'm gonna go offn order.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Fam I'm under do you want to?
Speaker 2 (23:57):
I got reading lines in everything, in everything.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
That's crazy, okay, Okay, I didn't even know. Yeah, I
gotta look that up. I felt like I did my research.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yeah, that's some that's some nobody knows about like that.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
It's funny because somebody be watching Law and Order and
they'll be on social media like they're seeing me that.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
They were like, there's no way you're on line order.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I'm like, yeah, I'm I'm everywhere, baby, I'm everywhere.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Time. For our Draft Kings segment, SG is a plus
one ten favorite to win the MVP again this season.
Do you think he'll do it? And if not, who
do you think could dethrone him?
Speaker 2 (24:36):
I think if the thunder continue to be the best
team in the league, you got to give him the MVP.
So yeah, right now he's the favorite, and if they
continue on, it's a no brainer.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
It goes to SGA at.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
One thousand percent agree And if not, it might be Yo, Kichen,
might be Luca. But yeah, it's looking like SGA again.
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Speaker 1 (25:41):
All right, this is from uh In gene on Ig.
I'd love to get in this topic. So this is
the question any advice as a father? I know that's
super general, but like do you have like three pillars
to being a good father? Are things that you know?
For speaking from my experience, like I'm discovering something every
day and I got two little ones, but like I'm
trying to figure out, like what are my three pillars
(26:02):
and things I can rest on? So like, what are
three big things that you sort of subscribe to as
being a good father?
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Man? Your time is one? Your time?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Like that's I think that's that's huge. Man, that's a
tough question. Your time, I think leading by the example, Yes,
because they watch everything.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Kids watch everything you do, whether you see it or not.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
They listen to everything you say, so being able to
lead by example, man man, and then just teaching them
everything you know and more like like like wanting them.
I think I've seen something that said your parents are
two people. Whether you have a mom or dad or
(26:46):
whatever the case may be, those are the only people
in the world that want you to be better than them.
So it's like if you instill that in your kids
at an early age, like I'm just here to make
sure you know things are just better for you, put
you in position to be successful.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
But knowing life is going to.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Be super hard, it's going to be so difficult, but
like if you're okay with that, like that's half the battle.
So like your time is most important leading by example
and then just giving them the gyms and giving them
the tools that they need to succeed at every level,
whether they be five years old, or they be ten
years old, or they're fifteen going into high school. It's
(27:26):
like every level needs an example of how to accomplish
whatever they're trying to accomplish. Like I don't know it all,
so I still learn from my parents of things to do,
but like your experience is going to show them, you
know the rights, the right way to do things in
the wrong way. So like I said, I don't know
it all, but i'd be just I'd be going off
(27:47):
each and every day. I take it day by day
to be the best dad I can be the best
friend I can be to them, especially as your kids
get older. Like, I'm not trying to be their friend,
but I'm trying to put myself in their shoes because
I was in their shoes and I know what they're thinking,
I know what they're going through. So I just try
to make things a little easier for them to accomplish
(28:08):
whatever they're trying to accomplish.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
That's great because I guess, like my fallo up because
I want my kid to play basketball or I want them,
but of course I'm not going to force them. So
I guess, like what was even going way back when
your kids first started playing sports? What was sort of
your mentality because you want them to be good, but
you also got to give them space to learn the
(28:31):
game themselves fall in love of the game. Like, what
was sort of your mentality? What sort of worked as
a sports parent for you?
Speaker 2 (28:39):
I mean for me, like it's a work in progress. Yeah,
I want them to be super cold at hoop. I
want them to be, but I think early on, they've
been around the game since they was born, so they
take they they've taken a liking in the game like
they they liked it since they were a kid, obviously
because they were forced into it, because that's that was
my job. But as they gotten older, I just go
(29:04):
with how they want, Like, yeah, I'm gonna put tools,
I'm gonna put I'm gonna put it in their ear
to go work out every now and then. I'm gonna
put it in their ear to go to the gym.
But this is gonna be something you want. I've already
done it, Like I've already done that at the highest
level in every level of high school, college or the pros.
So I'm not forcing that on them. My son Jayden
likes basketball. I don't think he loves it right now.
(29:26):
He likes it, and that's dope because he likes everything else.
He likes making music, he makes beats, he does, he
plays soccer, he plays football. My oldest I think loves
it because he only wants to play basketball and he's
kind of always been like that, and I've always been like, man,
put don't put your.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
All in one thing.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
But I remember my parents telling me that, and I'm like, man,
this is what I love. So I think if you
find something you love, yeah, put it. Put your all
into that, like, put your everything into that. But if
you only like it, that's fine too. Like, you can
like a lot of things. So I'm not putting the
pressure on these guys, but I always tell them, if
(30:08):
you want to do this though, and be really good
at it, I'm gonna be on your ass, like, let's
do it, like I got the formula to be really good.
But if you're only doing this for fun, that's fine too,
Like then let's not put that pressure on yourself to
try to be really good if you're only doing this
for fun, and that's and I just try to tell
them it's fine to have fun with this. Yeah, it's
(30:30):
fine to take this serious too, And whatever it is
you want to choose to do, whether that be basketball,
whether that be making beats and loving music, it's like,
once you find something you love, let's put her all
into that, because you never know what can come out
of that.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Yeah, No, it's it's true. Because you know, when it
starts feeling like you're being forced to do something, and
like the journey is so long, you know what I mean,
Like you got to make sure you're in love with
it first, you know, and so like even when you said,
like have fun with it. Some a lot of great
players that we know who weren't necessarily these high school
phenoms or even like you know, on the cover of
(31:07):
Sports Illustrated as teenagers or whatever. They were just they
were grinding and playing and just playing pick up and
the why, playing outside, playing it, and then all of
a sudden, like they hit their peak early in their career.
Nobody knew about it because they still had that love
for the game, you know, early on, and none of
the cameras point out or whatever. So it's interesting. That's
that's like one piece of advice that I've heard from
(31:27):
so many sports parents. It's like you can't force it,
like they will let you know, like hey dad, hey mom,
Like I want to lock in, Like can you know
how do I continue to get good at this cause
I love it.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
It's a fine line.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
It's tough, Like it's tough, but you got to do
what they want to do at the end of the
day and then just be that bridge to help them,
like I tell them to this day, Like I got
the answers to the test you're going to take throughout
this journey like any other journey I don't know too
much about, but I get you in position to to
take advantage of an oppertunity.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
But yeah, it's it's a fine line. But they need
a little push to them, but you just can't force it.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah, Okay, last question we talked about Kobe earlier year.
Welcome to the NBA moment. What was your is your
favorite General Kobe moment her memory from playing playing with
him in the league.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
My favorite moment was I got his last game in
the TV Garden the year he retired. I got to
sit with him for a couple of hours before the game,
me and him in the locker room and chop it
up so like that was that was one of my
first times being able to sit one on one and
chop it up with him. And it was the dopest
(32:40):
thing ever. Like he answered every one of my questions
with with detailed answers. He was like really receptive to
everything that I was saying. It was it was like
I was a kid in a candy store. I was
just like, this is crazy. I'm really with Kobe Bryant
chopping it up with him. And then even after the game,
(33:01):
you know, throughout that that season, everybody's hounding them for things,
everybody's handing them. He signed a pair of shoes for me.
He brought a pair of shoes signed for me. So
I didn't have the shoes. He brought them, signed them
for me, gave them to me after the game. My
dad was in town, my homies was in town, my
my obviously, my kids was in town. He took pictures
with my dad, my two of my best friends. He
(33:26):
just it was the like the like obviously on the
court is dope playing against them, but you don't see
that side of Kobe ever when you're competing. So that
was like I remember that to this day, like I
remember that forever. Him being able to really sit down
and chop it up with me and just be as
authentic as possible.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
With no cameras around, with nobody around.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I think there was a trainer or two in the
locker room while we was talking, and it was just
it was just that that made my mind, that turned
me into like a whoever I was after that that
turned me into that like being able to talk to
my favorite player of all time and really just listen
to everything he was saying and just take it all in.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
All right, this has been another episode of Point Game
with myself and Isaiah Thomas. We hope you guys have
a happy new year, Stay safe and as always, subscribe, follow, like,
and comment to all of our socials and shout out
to all of our production partners at iHeartMedia, DraftKings, Slow grind,
and follow through. Take care, Peace,
Welcome to another episode of Point Game with CJ. Toldono
and Isaiah Thomas. Today, we wanted to hear from you,
so we posted on social media. We said drop your
questions and the comments below, and you guys showed out.
We're gonna get to Isaiah and he's gonna answer everything
you guys are asking us. So first question, this is
asked on all these podcasts. I don't think we got
(00:33):
to it. But Carter Folkers on TikTok asked, what was
your welcome to the NBA moment?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I had said this on something I was on, but
my welcome to the NBA moment was my first game.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
In Sacramento.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
My first game of the season was against the Lakers
against my favorite player, Kobe Bryant. So welcome to the NBA.
I get stubbed in the second quarter. Paul west Fall
is rest in peace. Coach Paul west Fall subs me in.
He's telling everybody who they have like He's like Tyry Evans,
you got him, the Marcus, you got him, and nobody said,
(01:13):
he don't say who has Kobe?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So throughout training camp there was a there was a
rule when guys backed me down. Guys can't back me
down anymore because they either take a bad shot or
they turn the ball over. So that was the That
was a rule in training camp. First game of the season,
when he set me in, he telling everybody who they have.
He's like, I'm like, coach, who I got? He like,
I t you got Kobe, and remember, nobody can back
(01:38):
you down. I'm like, I'm like I'm I'm looking at
Him'm like, thanks for putting me in, but you're tripping
like that's Kobe and that's my favorite player. But yeah, okay,
the first so I get subbed in the first three players,
I'm guarding Kobe. They give it to him ISO. He
just he's just looking at me, like why are you
guarding me?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
He posts me up.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
I'm just smiling the whole time. I'm like, this is
fucking crazy. Right, he goes one for three on me.
He hits the first shot on me.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Boom. I'm sprinting down court just smiling like this is crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I just really guarded Kobe my first possession and he
scored on me, Like how dope is that?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Like first time in my life.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I was happy somebody scored on me, So like that
was my That was my welcome to the NBA moment,
and it was like everything I dreamed of playing against
my favorite player, against my favorite team growing up. First
game of the season. So that's a great question. That
was my welcome to the NBA moment.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
I just love that it just speaks to a lot
of who you are is and that you're also such
a fan of the game.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
You know.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
But it is like, come on, like we got to
ease into this thing. You put me in a game another.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
NBA is that's what's crazy. He threw me in and
he's like he said, I got Kobe.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
I was like, you're lying right now, But it was
it was super dope because I was just like I
really felt like I was going to stop him anyway. Yeah,
but I was like, man, this is it's crazy. Like
I'm really touching Kobe's jersey, Like that's how crazy it
was for me.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
So that was that was my moment. Did did it?
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Kobe? Have any you guys exchange any words?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Kobe didn't say nothing to me till my third year. Wow,
So like Kobe like looked through my soul the whole time.
I'm trying to in warm up in the game, I'm
trying to get his attention just to look at me.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
He like he looking through my soul. And that's how
he did.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Everybody though, like he wasn't into He like, my third
year and I start killing I average twenty point six assists.
He I remember we played him. He walked by me,
he papted me on the butt and he was like,
I see you, young fella. I was like, oh my goodness.
And then ever since then, that's when we start to
build our little friendship in our relationship. I signed with
(03:46):
Nike after that. It was like all she wrote. So
it was that was the process of the Kobe thing.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So I mean just from being such a fan of
Kobe as well. That's the thing for him was like
you had to earn his like attention everybody that you existed,
you know, Like sure, it reminds me of when like
Jeremy Lynn lin Sanity, which is one of the biggest
things in NBA history, and they interviewed him, you know,
(04:14):
the I think the night before like you're playing the
next what do you think about this Jeremy Lynn guy,
And he's like, who yeah, it's just.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Like not giving nobody they until you.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
You got to show him you got to do it
in from you gotta do it to him for for
for him to give you any type of respect as
it as it should be like that.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Though this actually that story actually leads into this next
question that I thought was really interesting. So this was
from CT from TikTok. Being one of the shorter NBA
players in the league. What were some of the most
important tactics you had or have for defending taller players?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Important tactics It was the low man always wins, Like
any defensive players, he'll tell you that. So I already
had the advantage. The only thing they can do was
shoot over me. And it's not like I can grow
any So like, if you're gonna shoot over for me
or shoot fadeaways, I've done my job. Like I just
got to pray that I can test it good enough
and you missed. But like really being able to guard
(05:10):
bigger players, especially on the perimeter, which is my to
my advantage. The further are the further the further they're
out from the hoop is to my advantage. The closer
they are to the hoop is to their advantage. So
I would just make it tough on them, and I'm
strong enough to guard anybody bigger than me. So they
wasn't gonna overpower me. They were just gonna shoot over me.
(05:31):
And I was living with that.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Yeah, and then going into that because Cam Hobbs on
TikTok also he said who was the most difficult player
to guard in your NBA career?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
The most difficult was was Westbrook with oka see, like
when he was on full goal every possession, when one
of his strengths was the mid range shots, so he'll
go so fast and just stop on a dime, and
then obviously all the other stuff he did, So that
was always a tough cover for me because he was
not only just as fast as me or maybe faster,
(06:04):
he jumped higher than me, and he was bigger than me.
So like it was always a good matchup when I
play when I played Westbrook when he was on the thunder,
but that was always a tough cover for me too.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Were you you know, how do you play a guy
like that? Then? Like do you how do you adjust
your your defensive tactics? Like do you play off a
little bit and try to like compensate for or like
predict his next move? Like you know, what are some
of those tips for a guy like that's so fast and.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
You know someone that was my best defense was my offense.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
So you're gonna have to guard to buddy, So that
was I'm my my thing was you're gonna have to
guard too, So that was my best That was my
best defenses. When we're on the other end, I'm making
you go through screens, I'm making you know that I'm
coming right at you as well. So over the course
of a game, especially with a guy like that then
(06:54):
who has the green light, you just got to make
it tough as possible for them, take away what they're
you know their strengths are. But at the end of
the day, you just hope they miss because the guys
like that that are in position to go at you
every single time, it's hard to stop those guys.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
You just got to contain them.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Yeah, I love this because a lot of these questions too,
and we're gonna get into someone. So a players who
see themselves in the way you played it inspired their game,
built their game, you know, watching you. So this is
kind of just like I think someone who wants to
get like you. But Henry Tilley on YouTube asked what's
your pregame and postgame meals, so like, what are some
of those day in the life, Like, how do you
(07:33):
take care of your body? What?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
What?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
What are you eating to be the elite hooper that
you are?
Speaker 2 (07:37):
So my pregame meal I will always have, like, especially
on the days that I really do my thing, I'm
having the grill salmon, some mashed potatoes and asparagus.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
My wife will always.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Pick that, so like, and I'm the type that I
eat the same thing, especially if I play well. I'm
just going to continue to eat the same thing until
I got a.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Bad shooting night or something.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
But like postgame, I would eat whatever the team is having.
Most teams have really good healthy meals or they do
like catered restaurant meals. I would get somewhat of a steak,
some mashed potatoes, and some vegetables. So I will always
keep it simple but kind of similar and consistent with
the things that I like. I really wouldn't go outside
(08:21):
of the box on game day. I would try to
eat a good breakfast before I get to the arena,
or I go so early to the arena. Sometimes I
don't eat before I go to the arena. I bring
my meal and then just eat after I do my
do my little pregame warm up. It just depends on
that day and how I feel. But I'm a routine
(08:41):
type of guy, so I'm kind of eating the same thing.
I'm not going outside the box.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Well, so I guess, yeah, how did it work? You
know with some of these arenas, is that, you know,
talking and just listening to interviews from other NBA players,
we'll talk about like, man, playing at this arena, the
food was kind of whack, you know, so like how
did you deal with that? Were there any experiences whereas like, oh,
I mean, I'm coming up to this city, I gotta
make sure I eat somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Nah, I'm eating before I go. Like if I'm on
the road, I'm eating in the hotel, I'm getting my
room service, making sure I'm gonna get a good meal.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Because some.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Arenas don't have good meals. So like, if I eat
before I go, I'm good. Obviously I go so early
so i'd be hungry later. And if and if an
arena has some solid food, I'm gonna get something else
this light before the game. But you know, I'm not
trying to be too fool out there. I gotta move.
I gotta move for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Well, and so we've read these stories too, Like I
remember hearing I'm not going to say the player, but
like this dude, elite player, you uhould just eat just candy,
you know, Like some of these guys who were just
genetically they're like, so, like, how much is that a fact?
Can guys really do that if they're trying to have
a long career just eating junk food anything. Dwight Howard,
(09:59):
you see like Big Max before meals. Did you know
any players like that who was just like, no matter
what they ate, they were gonna burn it off.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I mean some players like that. A lot of young
players are like that. You see them coming in with
chick fil a. Yeah, you see them coming in pregame
meal with some fast food, and I get it.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Like that's what you're used to.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
As you get older, you get more bread, you get
more money, you get to your second deal, you get
a little some good vents around you to you know, game.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
You on things like that.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
You will start to change, You will start to take
care of your body a little more. But the younger guys, yeah,
they're coming in with McDonald's, Chick fil a, whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
You be in Arizona.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
You got Lo Lo chicken and waffle. Shout out to them.
So they're coming with that type of meals and they're
doing their thing, like because they're young, your body really
doesn't need it. You can do that at a young age,
but once you start to become more of a professional,
you start to be about your business, taking care of
your body, getting sleep. You'll start to see guys coming
in with their own meals or having really healthy meals
(11:00):
once they get in the locker room, and then it
translates to having good games as well.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Yeah, I mean it's like eighty two games in the playoff,
like those small things start to matter, because yeah, I
feel like any time of player you hear like Offsea's like,
oh they hired a chef, they drop you know, fifteen pounds,
like they're on a mission.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
That's when you know they're locked in, like they're they're
trying to they're trying to be great.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Okay, going back, because I feel like we haven't talked
about your college career a lot, which was incredible. Someone
on IGS Slow Lafloor asked who was your favorite teammate
while playing at UDB College.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
My favorite teammate most of my teammates were my favorite.
I'm not gonna lie. We got a group text to
this day with about five or six of us. I
got justin holiday. Those were my roommates justin Holiday, Darnelle, Gant, Abdua, Gaddy,
let's see Scott Suggs.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
A man.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
So I got a good Terrence Ross, Quincy Pondex. They're like,
we really we really Quincy. In college, we didn't really
rock with Quincy like that he was he was he
was too locked in like you. Obviously he was trying
to get to the NBA. But Quincy was on his
own little thing as we got older. Was q'sa Quincy's
(12:16):
assistant coach at you dub now, So I see him
when I work out all the time.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
He's one of my good friends.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
But like my college team, I can't say one guy
is my favorite. We really have a group text to
this day, and we're really close and we did everything together.
So shout out to my shout out to my dogs.
In college, my teammates, shout out to all of my teammates.
But we had a close group of guys. They're really
they're really close.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
To this day.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
We heard some story.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Will Cox is a good one.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Oh yeah, okay, do you have any funny like team busts,
like your travel stories, Like that's what people forget, Like
you're a kid, You're a kid playing basketball, but then
the downtime is crazy, you know, because you're on a
team buster in the hotels running around on your board.
Like any any funny stories of some of those teammates.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
It's too many stories we have.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
We have bad like we we we were doing kid
things that will probably get us in so much trouble
if we got ky. But we had like we had
like wars against each other on the team. When I
told you, like we didn't really rock with Quincy outside
of the court, Like we didn't really rock with a
couple guys. We would go to their apartments or their homes,
egged their homes, put put smoke bombs in there in
(13:28):
their apartments, like we were doing the craziest stuff, and
then they would retaliate. I remember one time they put
a smoke bomb in our little apartment to where like
we really had to air it out for days it
was so cold. They really messed up our apartment one day.
It was him justin Demman. Yeah, I'm snitching too right now,
it was it was it was the older guys at
(13:51):
that point. So I remember one time when we retaliated.
We egged their house, we egged their cars. We put
milk in there. In there in their front door. They
had like a little mailbo where you know, like the
the mailbox where you really can put your mail in
and it's like this long on the door.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
They had that. So we put we we done milk
and they and that. Like we did crazy, We did
bad things.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
It was not cool, but like you said, you got
so much time on your hands and you're a kid.
You're away from your parents, you're going to party, you're
doing all of that as you should. We were doing
kid things that were like super fun with the experience
of college. So shout out to all my dogs in college.
I remember Terrence Ross on his little podcast, he said
(14:37):
a dope story that happened in Hawaii. I'm not going
to say it, but if you yeah, yeah, we got
to so he can talk about it because it was hilarious, bro.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It was.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
It was one of them real original college stories where
you're only doing because you're eighteen, nineteen years old, twenty
years old in college just in it for the experience.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Okay, so follow up question this is for me because
let's talk about encore at UW. What's your favorite memory
as a player in college?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
We won three Pac ten championships, so that was that
was my favorite memory. That was our first Pac ten
championship my freshman year. And then Isaiah Thomas, this fabulous
freshman was a fabulous name.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Huskies win the Pac ten regular season title, first time since.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Nineteen fifty three, the outright Pac ten championship. We won
it on our court. They raised, they raised me up
on their shoulders. The crowds stormed the floor. Like it
was everything you dreamed of as a kid going to college.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
It was super dope.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
So winning three PAC ten championships, going to the NCAA tournament,
I went to the sweet sixteen, so like it was,
we had so many dope moments just because we were
winning too.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Did you just make college? So cool?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Okay, going back to the NBA, you were an All
Star and so obviously we see all the coverage on there.
You know, we get a little bit of a peak
in the locker room, the practice, it's the media availability.
But tell us about that experience because not many players
get to do it. I feel like, you know, the
teams that you were on for All Star like that
was crazy, Kobe all that So, like any any stories
(16:11):
or just what was it like that weekend getting honored
and getting to play in the All Star Game?
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Man, it's everything.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
It's different from doing all the other festivities like the
Rookie Sophomore Game, three Point Shootout, the Skills Challenge, the
Dunk Contest, because I was able to do those things,
like I got invited to the Rookie Sophomore Challenge, I
did the Skills Challenge a couple of years, so I
was able to see those things before I was became.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
An All Star, and those things are super dope.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Like, those things are amazing accomplishments for a young player.
So to be able to be around those guys early
on was super cool. But to be an All Star
is like a different level, a different level of respect.
They treat you different, the vibe is different, the energy
is different. And my first All Star game happened to
be Kobe's last All Star game, So it was just
(17:01):
an amazing moment to be in that atmosphere, to be
around that energy, to be around greatness Toronto. That was Toronto,
which was the coldest time of my life, Like I'd
never been that cold in my life. So everything around
All Star is just when you're selected to be an
All Star is amazing. The locker room interaction, the love
(17:23):
to all the other All Stars show you, especially when
you're a first time All Star, to interact with Kobe,
for him to hug me and show me love. There's
a clip I remember my guy TJ got on one
of our book of Isaiah's where I'm walking in and
Kobe just smiles like he's like a like a big brother,
like proud of me, gives me a hug, and it
(17:44):
was just like he was like welcome.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
It was like super dope.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
So it was it was it was everything you dreamed
of to media day, to practice in front of the fans,
like I took all of that in. I remember getting
the seat in the locker room signed by everybody. I
got Lebron, I got Kobe, I got basketball signed by everybody,
(18:07):
like I'm one of those guys that did did collects everything.
So it was it was like, man, it was the
dopest moment of my of my career to be able
to be in those moments with twenty four of the
best players.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
And even that, not even only that year.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
The next year, when you're a multiple time All Star,
they even treat you different then, Like it's just like
the second year was like I was one of like
the top five guys in the world and they and
everybody felt that way. I'm walking in everybody's coming to
dat me up. And it was just super dope. Like
you just see, there's levels to it each and every year.
(18:45):
Once you're in those when once you're in that space,
it's like it's a space you never want to get
out of us. So it's that that All Star space
is amazing.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
You had what kicks do you get? We're special kicks
for those games.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Yeah, I have some special which I had some green Kobe's.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
There was my coaches there, yes, yes, Oh my goodness,
Oh my goodness. I remember go walking in the locker
room and they were just there in my locker.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
I had a.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Headband I had. It was just it's the top of
the top for show.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Yeah, man, I remember because it went Toronto, then it
went to New Orleans.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Then when New Orleans, everyone to New Orleans, Like New
Orleans is amazing city.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
It was just too much going on. They had Mardi
grasge during that weekend.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
It was you couldn't go anywhere, so it was it
was tough to get around.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I'm not trying to be critical, but honestly, All Star
as a fan, and I've even heard some players was
better back then. I don't know why. It was, just like,
it feels like it's got to get in a better place,
but I don't know another.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
That's another thing we can talk about in another episode.
The All Star the energy there, nobody wants to be there.
We gotta find a way to change that, Like because
it's a it's a blessing to be a able to
be in the All Star space. We gotta find ways
for players to be excited about that.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Again, let's do a non basketball question because people are
interested in this. So what what are This is from
Abdullah MK forty seven on IG What are your top
three TV shows of all time? I know you say
you don't really watch TV or movies.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
But but nah, I got some of my my top
three TV shows. Dang, I'm gonna go with Power any
other powers. I'm a fan of all the powers. Breaking Bad, Breaking.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Bad is is incredible and this is not one, two
or three. This is just three.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Breaking Bad is like one of my favorites. Then I'm
gonna go with dang, what is that scandal?
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Scandal?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Oh, Kerry Washington, Yes, yes, that's like I watched that
back in the day, and me and my wife watch
that like every now and then we a binge watching
just because it was it was it was like and
like you said, I don't watch a lot, So that's
why my my things are like that. But if I'm
if i'm if I need to, if I'm on a
long flight, I tap into some Breaking Bad and watch
(21:14):
them hour episodes and be and be locked in.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Nothing has ever and I watched TV and movies like
that's like my second like most passionate like hobby. Nothing
is ever compared to being into Breaking Bad because I
remember I watched the season late, so I caught up
and then it was like every Sunday night and the
twists and turns on that show were so And.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
The thing with me is like I don't watch.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I gotta wait till this seasons done or I got
because of the like even with Power or or Breaking Bad,
they're so good.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
I can't wait a week.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
I'm not waiting a week, so I like, even with
Power or any of those, I wait till it's like
six or seven episodes in so I can at least
watch two three in a row, back to back to back.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
And there's another one that I like, Yellowstone.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Yellowstone is a man, Yellowstone Great, Yellowstone is dope.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Yeah, So I got to tap into shows more though,
like especially with what I got more.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Time on my hands.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
I'm just man, I be on the go, so I
don't even be having time to watch anything.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I'll try to come through with some recommendations, honestly, Please
do please do it well, you said, because you said
when we were talking about movies the last episode, you
were like basketball movies, And it's been like one of
my life goals to make. I don't feel like we
don't have a good basketball show.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
We've had a lot of like.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Football shows, but like no one's captured basketball like accurately
or like realistically. I don't know. I just feel like
it'd be dope to credit a cool basketball.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Show, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
And my best my favorite TV show, yeah ever is
Line Order.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Oh you could pick up any you can watch any.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
You know, I'm on a Line Order episode which one
you don't even know.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Look, Line Order is my favorite ever so when I
when that was my one of my dreams as a
kid to be on line in Order.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Also like to thank Isaiah Thomas for being with us
here today.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Like all of us.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
I remember the picture of Emma and her Cavaliers jersey.
I bring the strength of this family on the court.
Every game that I play, we play and we pray
for you. This jersey is the honor of your homecoming.
And remember to always believe.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Okay, who was the case? What was the case? Who
was on the episode?
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Look the I think the episode is called complicated.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
It's maybe season twenty or maybe season seventeen. Look, look,
you gotta do your research. I'm not even gonna get
because we could talk about that on another.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
I'm gonna go offn order.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Fam I'm under do you want to?
Speaker 2 (23:57):
I got reading lines in everything, in everything.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
That's crazy, okay, Okay, I didn't even know. Yeah, I
gotta look that up. I felt like I did my research.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yeah, that's some that's some nobody knows about like that.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
It's funny because somebody be watching Law and Order and
they'll be on social media like they're seeing me that.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
They were like, there's no way you're on line order.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I'm like, yeah, I'm I'm everywhere, baby, I'm everywhere.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Time. For our Draft Kings segment, SG is a plus
one ten favorite to win the MVP again this season.
Do you think he'll do it? And if not, who
do you think could dethrone him?
Speaker 2 (24:36):
I think if the thunder continue to be the best
team in the league, you got to give him the MVP.
So yeah, right now he's the favorite, and if they
continue on, it's a no brainer.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
It goes to SGA at.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
One thousand percent agree And if not, it might be Yo, Kichen,
might be Luca. But yeah, it's looking like SGA again.
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Speaker 1 (25:41):
All right, this is from uh In gene on Ig.
I'd love to get in this topic. So this is
the question any advice as a father? I know that's
super general, but like do you have like three pillars
to being a good father? Are things that you know?
For speaking from my experience, like I'm discovering something every
day and I got two little ones, but like I'm
trying to figure out, like what are my three pillars
(26:02):
and things I can rest on? So like, what are
three big things that you sort of subscribe to as
being a good father?
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Man? Your time is one? Your time?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Like that's I think that's that's huge. Man, that's a
tough question. Your time, I think leading by the example, Yes,
because they watch everything.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Kids watch everything you do, whether you see it or not.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
They listen to everything you say, so being able to
lead by example, man man, and then just teaching them
everything you know and more like like like wanting them.
I think I've seen something that said your parents are
two people. Whether you have a mom or dad or
(26:46):
whatever the case may be, those are the only people
in the world that want you to be better than them.
So it's like if you instill that in your kids
at an early age, like I'm just here to make
sure you know things are just better for you, put
you in position to be successful.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
But knowing life is going to.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Be super hard, it's going to be so difficult, but
like if you're okay with that, like that's half the battle.
So like your time is most important leading by example
and then just giving them the gyms and giving them
the tools that they need to succeed at every level,
whether they be five years old, or they be ten
years old, or they're fifteen going into high school. It's
(27:26):
like every level needs an example of how to accomplish
whatever they're trying to accomplish. Like I don't know it all,
so I still learn from my parents of things to do,
but like your experience is going to show them, you
know the rights, the right way to do things in
the wrong way. So like I said, I don't know
it all, but i'd be just I'd be going off
(27:47):
each and every day. I take it day by day
to be the best dad I can be the best
friend I can be to them, especially as your kids
get older. Like, I'm not trying to be their friend,
but I'm trying to put myself in their shoes because
I was in their shoes and I know what they're thinking,
I know what they're going through. So I just try
to make things a little easier for them to accomplish
(28:08):
whatever they're trying to accomplish.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
That's great because I guess, like my fallo up because
I want my kid to play basketball or I want them,
but of course I'm not going to force them. So
I guess, like what was even going way back when
your kids first started playing sports? What was sort of
your mentality because you want them to be good, but
you also got to give them space to learn the
(28:31):
game themselves fall in love of the game. Like, what
was sort of your mentality? What sort of worked as
a sports parent for you?
Speaker 2 (28:39):
I mean for me, like it's a work in progress. Yeah,
I want them to be super cold at hoop. I
want them to be, but I think early on, they've
been around the game since they was born, so they
take they they've taken a liking in the game like
they they liked it since they were a kid, obviously
because they were forced into it, because that's that was
my job. But as they gotten older, I just go
(29:04):
with how they want, Like, yeah, I'm gonna put tools,
I'm gonna put I'm gonna put it in their ear
to go work out every now and then. I'm gonna
put it in their ear to go to the gym.
But this is gonna be something you want. I've already
done it, Like I've already done that at the highest
level in every level of high school, college or the pros.
So I'm not forcing that on them. My son Jayden
likes basketball. I don't think he loves it right now.
(29:26):
He likes it, and that's dope because he likes everything else.
He likes making music, he makes beats, he does, he
plays soccer, he plays football. My oldest I think loves
it because he only wants to play basketball and he's
kind of always been like that, and I've always been like, man,
put don't put your.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
All in one thing.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
But I remember my parents telling me that, and I'm like, man,
this is what I love. So I think if you
find something you love, yeah, put it. Put your all
into that, like, put your everything into that. But if
you only like it, that's fine too. Like, you can
like a lot of things. So I'm not putting the
pressure on these guys, but I always tell them, if
(30:08):
you want to do this though, and be really good
at it, I'm gonna be on your ass, like, let's
do it, like I got the formula to be really good.
But if you're only doing this for fun, that's fine too,
Like then let's not put that pressure on yourself to
try to be really good if you're only doing this
for fun, and that's and I just try to tell
them it's fine to have fun with this. Yeah, it's
(30:30):
fine to take this serious too, And whatever it is
you want to choose to do, whether that be basketball,
whether that be making beats and loving music, it's like,
once you find something you love, let's put her all
into that, because you never know what can come out
of that.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Yeah, No, it's it's true. Because you know, when it
starts feeling like you're being forced to do something, and
like the journey is so long, you know what I mean,
Like you got to make sure you're in love with
it first, you know, and so like even when you said,
like have fun with it. Some a lot of great
players that we know who weren't necessarily these high school
phenoms or even like you know, on the cover of
(31:07):
Sports Illustrated as teenagers or whatever. They were just they
were grinding and playing and just playing pick up and
the why, playing outside, playing it, and then all of
a sudden, like they hit their peak early in their career.
Nobody knew about it because they still had that love
for the game, you know, early on, and none of
the cameras point out or whatever. So it's interesting. That's
that's like one piece of advice that I've heard from
(31:27):
so many sports parents. It's like you can't force it,
like they will let you know, like hey dad, hey mom,
Like I want to lock in, Like can you know
how do I continue to get good at this cause
I love it.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
It's a fine line.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
It's tough, Like it's tough, but you got to do
what they want to do at the end of the
day and then just be that bridge to help them,
like I tell them to this day, Like I got
the answers to the test you're going to take throughout
this journey like any other journey I don't know too
much about, but I get you in position to to
take advantage of an oppertunity.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
But yeah, it's it's a fine line. But they need
a little push to them, but you just can't force it.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah, Okay, last question we talked about Kobe earlier year.
Welcome to the NBA moment. What was your is your
favorite General Kobe moment her memory from playing playing with
him in the league.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
My favorite moment was I got his last game in
the TV Garden the year he retired. I got to
sit with him for a couple of hours before the game,
me and him in the locker room and chop it
up so like that was that was one of my
first times being able to sit one on one and
chop it up with him. And it was the dopest
(32:40):
thing ever. Like he answered every one of my questions
with with detailed answers. He was like really receptive to
everything that I was saying. It was it was like
I was a kid in a candy store. I was
just like, this is crazy. I'm really with Kobe Bryant
chopping it up with him. And then even after the game,
(33:01):
you know, throughout that that season, everybody's hounding them for things,
everybody's handing them. He signed a pair of shoes for me.
He brought a pair of shoes signed for me. So
I didn't have the shoes. He brought them, signed them
for me, gave them to me after the game. My
dad was in town, my homies was in town, my
my obviously, my kids was in town. He took pictures
with my dad, my two of my best friends. He
(33:26):
just it was the like the like obviously on the
court is dope playing against them, but you don't see
that side of Kobe ever when you're competing. So that
was like I remember that to this day, like I
remember that forever. Him being able to really sit down
and chop it up with me and just be as
authentic as possible.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
With no cameras around, with nobody around.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I think there was a trainer or two in the
locker room while we was talking, and it was just
it was just that that made my mind, that turned
me into like a whoever I was after that that
turned me into that like being able to talk to
my favorite player of all time and really just listen
to everything he was saying and just take it all in.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
All right, this has been another episode of Point Game
with myself and Isaiah Thomas. We hope you guys have
a happy new year, Stay safe and as always, subscribe, follow, like,
and comment to all of our socials and shout out
to all of our production partners at iHeartMedia, DraftKings, Slow grind,
and follow through. Take care, Peace,
Elvis Duran and the Morning Show ON DEMAND News
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