October 22, 2024 • 31 mins
In this captivating preseason finale, we take you inside the Philadelphia 76ers with two incredible guests: rookie Jared McCain and Head Coach Nick Nurse. First up, we sit down with Jared McCain, who shares his experiences as a fresh face in the NBA. He opens up about his interactions with veteran players, the mental approach he takes to the game, and the pivotal role his family plays in his journey. Jared also reflects on his time at Duke and reveals his favorite Drake albums, giving us a glimpse into what motivates and inspires him off the court.
Next, we catch up with 76ers Head Coach Nick Nurse, who discusses his transition into his second season with the team and shares exciting stories about his musical background, including his experiences playing concerts with Mt. Joy and Arkells. Plus, Coach Nurse gives us the lowdown on Joel Embiid's contract extension and what it means for the future of the franchise.
These interviews were conducted during training camp.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
I'm Tari's Meg Si and you're listening to the seventy
six Ers Insiders podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
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Speaker 2 (01:43):
Jared McCain, Welcome to the seventy six Ers Insiders podcast.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Thank you so much for sitting down today.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Of course, as US duke people do, I did my
research ahead of this interview, and I've noticed that in
every single interview, people ask you about your nails and
about your tiktoks. So I'm challenging myself to do this
whole thing and talk about neither.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Are you ready, Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
At Summer League, you told me that upon getting drafted,
you reached out to some no offense, undersized guards that
reminded you of yourself.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Right, tell me how that started, and tell me how it's.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Going started great and a grade.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
I feel like, oh, it's over. You're not going to
speak to any of them anymore.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
I mean no, I'll definitely speak to them.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Okay, I'll probably ask a lot of them for their
jersey still and we play them. But yeah, just asking
people who I think I want to look up to,
want to model my game after, some in some way
that I've watched them play when I was a kid
or in college, seeing their film where it's defensively offensively,
just finding something some insider advice from a place that
I've never been to to help me in my whole career.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
What's the best piece of advice you got and who
gave it to you?
Speaker 5 (02:43):
I'll probably say Pat Bev.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Really, yeah, I just I mean, I think a lot
of times when they look at me. There's different opinions
you can have, but his main thing was just like
be yourself and have fun, and I think that that's
what I've always tried to live by. So it's kind
of cool to have somebody kind of validated almost who's
been there ten years in the league, and it'll carry
myself a long way.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
I know you reached out to Tyrese Maxey as well.
Of course, how did that go? And how have the
workouts with Tyree.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
Spin It's been great.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Well, he reached out to me right when I got
drafted and then before Summer League I just wanted some advice,
and now being able to work out with him and
just talk to him, meet him, it's I mean, he's
the biggest blessing I think I could have as a rookie,
someone who's considered I guess an undersized guard who's played
as a rookie, had gone through some ups and downs
like and now he's one of the best guards in
(03:29):
the league. It's amazing for me to just learn from him,
and even in the workout, it's just certain things you
see as a rookie that you want to emulate, whether
it's just game speed, the way he goes at how
he talks during his workouts, how he stays so positive,
which is something I really resonate with. I think all
those things I'm going to continue to learn from him,
and it's just great to have a first hand experience
with him.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
In our first interview together, you said that you wanted
to go toe to toe with him for hardest worker.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
This morning, you were the first in the gym.
Speaker 6 (03:55):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I'm not saying I don't know where he's at right now.
He could be working out somewhere else.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
He's working out early as well.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
That's so fair exactly, But yeah, I tried to get
in as early as possible. It feels like I should
be the first one. I think, just for me, it's
like the first win of the day. Sure, and I
think even making your bed in the morning the first
win of the day. Just certain things back up, and
me being the first in the gym is something I
try to do.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I know you've also spent a little bit of time
now with Joel Embiid and with Paul George.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
What were those meetings like.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah, I mean, obviously, for me being a rookie, I'm
always a little nervous, meaning superstars through I've watching I
as a kid, but they're none but great to me,
and I think they're gonna be great vets for me
going forward. Playing with Paul George on the court and
just like seeing how he is, it's pretty insane concerning
how far how long ago I've been watching him, like
literally since I was a little kid on YouTube, watching
(04:41):
his highlights in class like to now playing with him.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
It's literally a surreal feeling.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
And you went on podcast Pee Subscribe make sure you're
following along to all of our player initiatives. When you
went on Paul's podcast, you talked about the fact that
before Duke, you reached out to a psychologist and you
thought that was going to be important for your development.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Why did you do that?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
And let's talk a little bit about how normalized that's become,
because that used to be a big deal and you
said it so just like, of course I did. I
want to keep my mental performance up. Yeah, tell us
about that decision.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Being on social media, there's stuff that's on there that
can really deteriorate your mental health. And I think going
into college, especially at college like Duke with a great
fan base, and a passionate fan base. A lot of
stuff negative can be said about you, and for me,
I just wanted to keep my mental right because if
my mental's not right, I'm not the best player I
can be at all. And I think that's something I
(05:29):
have to keep up with. Even if I work as
hard as I can, if my mental's right, I'm not
going to play my best. And so just reaching out
to a psychologist that I've known for a long time.
My brother has worked with them, and just working with
him throughout the year, I think really was key for
me and my.
Speaker 5 (05:43):
Success at Duke.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
You and your brother are very close, is that correct?
Can you tell us a little bit about your bond
and the shared dream that you're now getting to realize
for both of you.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yeah, I mean, obviously we've been close since a little kid,
but I think throughout my high school years with time,
he got really close. And when he got blood class
when he played in high school, had to stop playing,
was able to come back, but the blood class came back.
Like just a lot of stuff has happened with his
basketball career, and so for me, that's the reason why
I play, is just for us to reach our dream
of making it to the NBA and that's why it
(06:12):
was so special on draft night to achieve that dream.
But yeah, we're I mean, the closest brothers I've ever seen.
It kind of just I reach out him, reach out
to him for anything. He's asked me questions about how
it's going, Like I tell him every detail because it's
like him living it too, So it's really cool to
just share it with him and always have someone.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
To go to.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Is he coming out to Philly with you?
Speaker 1 (06:31):
He's not, Well, he's a duke, he's a duke grad assistant. Love,
so he's working there obviously for the season. If he
can get away and see a game, hopefully he can
after their season, hopefully we will be still playing.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
But yeah, he'll he'll definitely try as much to get
out here.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Your parents, though, are going to be out here a
lot more and Teddy tell us about your mom, your
dad and what type of support they're giving you behind
the scenes, because we got to see them at Summer League.
They're obviously big Jared McCain fans, which makes sense. Yeah,
but what's it like behind closed doors?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
It's amazing, Like, I'm so lucky. I'm so lucky. I
thank God every day, like to have such a great
support system behind me. My mom and dad have raised
me in such a great way. I'm not trying to
be biased here, but I think the best parents I've
ever seen. It's just amazing to have them here with me.
My mom did just you know, cook food from like
simple things, cooked meals that I've had since I was
(07:18):
a kid, just make like make my house feel like
a home. And it's really nice to have them close by.
Obviously have my dog Teddy here. If you see my
dad walk in, there's no way he's not going to
have either a Jared McCain merch or a.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
Seventy six ers hat on.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
So just always supporting me in every way they can,
and it's amazing to have them.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
We're inching closer to your NBA debut and opening night
preseason first then opening night than a full season of
NBA basketball?
Speaker 4 (07:43):
What are you most looking forward to?
Speaker 5 (07:47):
So much?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Like the little things for me are the one that's
gonna get me. I think it's just like, first off,
never I haven't been to Wells Fargo yet. Cool, I
haven't been. I've been to the Philly Stadium. I've been
to the Eagle Stadium, like I've been to everywhere except
our actual place. So even just driving up in my car,
like to go in the player's entrance, putting on my jersey,
looking around seeing Joel and b Tires, Maxi, Paul George,
like all these players who I've watched, get.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
This, You're gonna be wearing the same outfit.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Is Yeah, that's that's the crazy, wild insane.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Just walking out, like doing the warm up, like when
the ball gets tipps, just watching the game, like it's
just gonna be so surreal for me. So there's so
many moments I'm gonna remember and try to just keep
as a great visualization tactic.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
What are the cornerstones of your game day routine?
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Major one is I read a part of a book
before every game, part of the inner game of tennis.
There's a little analogy I like to read about the
rose and.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Also say more in.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
This book, it's it talks about just the mental part
of sports in general, but it's through a tennis coach
and he talks about this rose analogy where the rose
is a rose from the time you plant the seed
to the time it grows, and you're going to give
it the same care, the same nourishment it needs to
reach a rose. And that's something that really resonates with me.
I think just I'm going to be myself, no matter
(09:04):
how the media sees me, how players see me, I'm
always going to be myself and no matter what happens,
I'm always me. And I think that that really helps
me just not only lock in, but just know like
I'm out there just going to play and be myself
out there.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
You've been to the Phillies, You've been to the Eagles.
What have you observed about the Philly fan base.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
I was sitting right behind home plate and there were
these fans behind me shout out to those guys, and
they were just screaming at the other team, like every
time they missed the bat or missed missed the swing, whatever,
just screaming at them.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
And that's what I love.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
I love that seeing that part of the passionate fan
base of Philadelphia, and so I'm excited to see it
at our games.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Well, let's bridge the gap between Duke and the Philadelphia
seventy six ers. What were the fans like for you
at Duke, because I know that they will hold you
accountable as well as be your biggest supporters. How do
you think that they might compare to what you're going
to experience on opening night in Philadelphia.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Yeah, I think they're very similar.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
I think obviously being affiliates, it's going to be on
a bigger, bigger stage. But the similarities they have is
just the passionate, the passionate fan base, Like they're going
to tell you they can see if you're not playing hard,
and they're going to let you know if you aren't,
And I think that's they hold you accountable. I'm gonna
do my part in playing hard, doing what I can
to help the team win.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
Control what I can control.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
But yeah, i think the fan bases are very similar,
and I'm excited to get to know this fan base more.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I know you visited Duke since you left. I was
going to say graduated. We're not quite there yet, But
what do you met? What do you appreciate most about
your limited time at Duke.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
I like how Duke is like very It's think going
seven thousand undergrad so you kind of get to know
a lot of people. And I think just when I
go back, I can walk around and just say hi
to people, like the workers at WU, the dining hall,
my teacher familiar think, yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Yeah for them, you know that when I was there.
I'm dating myself.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
That was when the WU opened, was when I was there,
So like my first couple of years it was under construction.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I was their life pre WU.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
That's kind of only know it was there before.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Well, yeah, that's how old I am.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I shouldn't have.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Said that, but all right, continue the things that you
loved included, Yeah, people in the.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Dining hall exactly, exactly, just saying how to people I know? Remember,
Like I went back last time and I got to
see some of my friends who I was in class with.
They run the newspaper, so I went up there and
watch a football game with them. Like just simple things
like that, knowing people and the vibe with Duke. It's
it reminds me of Hogwarts. I've said before, and it's
just a great vibe I get.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Are there ducalums that you've reached out to about the
transition into.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
The NBA koch Shi care well, all the people that
have been there, even we had pro weekend, so even
talking to Mark Williams DJ Stewart, like just people who
have been there done that and just get as much
advice as I can.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
All Right, last topic that we need to cover Drake.
Best Drake album.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
I go back and forth. Give me top three, top three.
So nothing was the same.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
I'm pretty sure as my top Okay, take Care I
was really young, but it's something I come back to
a lot.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Okay, And how old were you when take Care came out?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Was that twenty eleven? I think I'm scar I was
either like I was like seven or eight?
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Continue?
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Yeah, so take Care. Nothing was the same.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
And More Life is considered a playlist, but More Life
is up there for sure.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Scorpions and are rated. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go views.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
You just mentioned six. Narrow it down?
Speaker 1 (12:14):
No, I know, I'm going views, take Care, not in
order views, take Care and nothing was the same.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
If you could only listen to five Drake songs for
the rest of your life crazy on repeat?
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Which five do you keep with you?
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Western?
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Road, Flows Okay, Fire and Desire?
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
He's like, I've thought about this already. That's a crazy question.
But I know my answers.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
I really haven't.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Okay, Well, the first two came off quite que because those.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Are my two fair.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Fair, fair for fair, give me three more over my.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Dead body, Okay, tuscan leather, Okay. I want to say
from time Okay, but I'm really missing a lot of
songs right now, so I don't. It's really like it's
the top five just right in this moment.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
But for those that want, like the Jared McCain playlist,
those five, yeah, okay. And last question, why Drake? Like,
why is Drake so important to you? Because obviously Drake
is topical right now, but it seems that he means
more to you maybe like it feels like and I
know a lot of Drake fans feel that way, right,
Like his music gets you through things, right, tell me
about your personal Drake journey.
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Yeah, I think it.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
I mean it goes back all the way since I was,
like since my brother introduced me to Drake when I
was like six years old, like listening listen to best
I ever had, like him.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
Just just showing me Drake. I think it.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I went to his concert when I would I went
to the take Care concert when Kendrick and Asap opened
up for him, and anyways, but yeah, I think he
has a song for every mood I'm in he's been
there since I was a kid. It's kind of someone
I've grown up with and he's been at the top
for that long. So just a great artist, the best
(13:53):
artist of all time. Michael Jackson of course too. But
Drake is my personal and yeah, it means it means
a lot to me.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Longevity is a theme with you, right, you just talked
about the Rose, You've talked about Drake's longevity. What are
a couple of things And I know I said last question,
but I think we're going to tie it up here.
What are a few things that you're doing right now
to ensure that this first season for you is just
the beginning.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I think asking questions to the people who have literally
been there for ten fifteen years. Taking care of my
body is the main thing they say you can't the
best availability is wait, the best what is it?
Speaker 5 (14:25):
The best?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Best ability is availability?
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Exactly what she said. So, yeah, just taking care of
my body.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Obviously, going to take care of my mental because I
think and nowadays, a lot of stuff happens and people
are stepping away from the game because of their mental
So taking care of that always. But I think one
thing is working hard. It's always going to come back
to that, and then once you take care of your
body and take care of your mental, everything will set
yourself up well.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
You're asking tons of questions. Thank you for a Let
me ask you some questions. Jared McCain. Always a pleasure.
Thanks for sending us.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Welcome back to the seventy six Ers Insiders podcast, joined
today by head coach of the Philadelphia seventy six Ers
in his second year, Nick Nurse.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Matt Murphy.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I'm Lauren Rosen. The two of you were recently Carol,
Iowa together.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
How was it, coach?
Speaker 5 (15:15):
Has not been before?
Speaker 6 (15:16):
Yeah, I love this.
Speaker 7 (15:17):
It is my hometown, Carol, Iowa. Go ahead, what did
you How did you like my hometown?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
It was my first time there, Carol National Golf, best
greens around, best greens in the Midwest. Not sucking up
at all, right now. I also had the chance to
see the first show from the Icons band, which features
Nick Nurse, and they end every set with here Come
the Sixers. So you were doing your thing up there.
(15:43):
What was the post mortem on the Icons and the
first concert?
Speaker 7 (15:47):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (15:47):
It was good, it was it was.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
Yeah, I think it turned out okay. I mean it
was our first time together. A couple of the members
had had never even jammed with us before. There was
a kind of a cross section of a few guys
I jammed with in Toronto, a few guys I started
jamming with in Philly, and then a couple all stars
thrown in there from from other other big.
Speaker 6 (16:12):
Performers or big bands.
Speaker 7 (16:15):
I don't know about eleven I was up there on stage,
but it was it was pretty fun.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
It was pretty fun.
Speaker 7 (16:19):
I'm I'm blown away at how talented these people are. Like,
it shocks me that they can say, hey, let's try
the song and.
Speaker 6 (16:28):
Everybody goes one and then one, two, three, boom, and
it sounds amazing. It just blows me away.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Don't sell yourself short. You were part of it. You
also have that skill.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
Yeah, No, not on their level at all.
Speaker 7 (16:44):
I try to fit in where I can and and
bang out a few chords and things on the keys
and stuff like that. But I like jamming, right, I
like jamming probably better than I do performing.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
I like to when we.
Speaker 7 (16:58):
Get together and just jam at my house or jam
at somebody else's house, and that can go on for hours.
And I could probably do that for a lot of
hours in the day, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Or more recently with Matt Quinn and Mountjoy in the
in the Philadelphia area as well.
Speaker 7 (17:14):
Yeah, that was really something that was really something. Why well,
it was the real deal.
Speaker 6 (17:23):
Right, the real deal.
Speaker 7 (17:25):
Usually I've done a couple other of fairly good sized crowds.
One obviously, the first one I ever did was with
the Rcels. I think there was about seventeen thousand fans
at that. That was the first time did one with
the new power generation Toron Trot and jazz bests probably
five thousand. But usually those two I was on guitar.
(17:45):
I just kind of hiding back there by the drummer and.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
You know, playing a little bit and just taking it
all in.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
But this one was the piano that they had was
sitting right there, and the crowd was right there and
twelve thousand people, and.
Speaker 6 (18:02):
Yeah, it was it was awesome. I say this, I'll say.
Speaker 7 (18:05):
It again, is that I take me to a Game
seven in the NBA Playoffs versus doing that. I was
really nervous again, way out of way out of my
normal element for.
Speaker 6 (18:17):
Sure, but it was cool. You know. It always helps
to go.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
In in the afternoon to do a little sound check all again.
That's all like bizarre and foreign feeling to me, you know,
putting ear plugs in, I'm not used to that.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
So you can hear you know, would you like, like, coach,
would you like to hear the drummer better?
Speaker 7 (18:34):
I said, yeah, give me some more drum you know,
like I know, I know what I'm talking about, right,
and you can turn down this and you know whatever.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
But yeah, that was you mentioned being more comfortable in
a game seven that you would be playing on stage
in a concert. Why is it important to you to
get out of your comforts like that.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Well, that's that's one thing that is part of it
for me.
Speaker 7 (18:54):
Like I didn't battle it nearly as much with Mountjoy
the other night as I did with the r Kels.
Speaker 6 (19:01):
I really was like side stage and really had never
done it before, and was like and it was rock.
I mean, the.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
Place was going bananas and I was just like, I'm
going home.
Speaker 6 (19:11):
Man, I like I can Where was it?
Speaker 7 (19:13):
It was in Toronto at the Bud Bud Stage, which
is an outdoor kind of a lot, like a lot
like the Man outdoor. It's on the lake there in Toronto,
and and uh, I didn't live that far away and
there was a six or seven times during the show
that I was like, I think I'm just gonna slide out.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
And go back home, and uh.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
But but kind of kept saying that to your answer
your question. I kind of kept saying that to myself, Mandy,
you got enough guts to get out there and do it,
you know, like really really honestly, like really nervous and
trying to push through and go out there and and
and do it. I don't know, I don't know why
that's important, but I think at least it's part of
the kind of internal battle of I don't know, if
(19:53):
you want.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
To do cool stuff, sometimes you got to take a leap.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
Right that was in the news.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
So was Joel Embiid's contract extension right down here on
the court at the Penn Medicine Philadelphia seventy six ers
training complex. How did it feel for the organization to
first of all get that done, but then to see
him celebrating with his family and had Arthur shooting hoops
and all that, Well, it was great.
Speaker 7 (20:16):
And I think I don't know how much you guys
have talked about it or it's been said, but you know,
in the first couple months of my tenure three four
months of my tenure after getting hired, the Joel gonna
request the trade or going to do whatever, not be
here or whatever was a kind of a thing that
(20:39):
certain media outlets were really trying to make a story
right that if they don't get it together, he's going
to be out of there type of thing. And so
I think it's really nice kind of have that be
gone and this be here and he's gonna be here
and he wants to be here, and give a lot
of people a lot of credit for that. And like
one of one of the people I give a lot
(21:00):
of credit for is Tyrese, right, like being such a
good teammate taking such a big step forward, becoming a
star player like Joel wants to win, and Joel knows
he needs capable stars with him. And I think Tyresee's
total makeup is a is a big thing of that.
And again, ownership obviously got to give them a lot
(21:20):
of credit all of us, all the rest of us
kind of worked did our dinner jobs, you know, but
it's great that for me is almost the most important
thing that we've got a big Joel locked up for
years to.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Come, Yeah, years to come. For him, but also for
Tyrese and for Paul George. But you brought up the
Tyresse Joel relationship, and for some reason, when iconic NBA
duos are discussed, perhaps on national programs, they're usually left out,
perhaps because of Tyree's youth, he's a first time All Star.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
But what have you observed about their.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Relationship that you might not have seen yet and that
the national audience might be missing at this point?
Speaker 7 (21:58):
Yeah, well, I don't know what it is about, first
of all, about what ty Resee and they leave him
out of this stuff are maybe you know, you know, huh,
a lot of stuff, and it's like nobody still believes
that he's like this good or he's he's he ever
gonna be like he's really really really really good, like
you know, and he's not even like none being really
good at a couple more realies on there.
Speaker 6 (22:19):
Yeah, for him to keep.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Left off a lot of list does right.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
Yeah, he does.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Was your question again, what did you observe about the
relationship that Joel and Terry share.
Speaker 7 (22:29):
I think I think Joel did a good job of understanding,
like you know, once other pieces had left and Tyresee
had this ability to bring him along to kind of
to kind of get to him and say, hey, let's
work together, let's do this, and almost like like I
believe in you, Tyresee.
Speaker 6 (22:45):
I also need you, Tyrese. We need each other, you know.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
So I think Joe Well, being the older, older guy
of the group, more experienced guy, did a great job
in bringing bringing him forward. And You're like, like anything,
I think they start working together. It's fun to play with,
you know. The way they're playing together is fun for them.
They pushing each other a little bit. They see Joel
sees Tyrese's growth and knows there's more there to go.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
So I think I think all that's a factor.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Another Joelle question, just because the last time we spoke
with you was that Summer League before the Olympics. He
gets the gold medal with Team USA the dominant close
to the game against Serbia and helped them along. What
did you think about Joel at the Olympics.
Speaker 7 (23:26):
I don't know, looking back, I think it kind of
summarizes what I've experienced. I've never won a gold medal,
right or whatever, and never, but when I've when I've
had championship teams, what they experience is a lot of
ups and downs, and the Olympics is kind of a
short little window, but it still happens, and I think
he went through some of that, right.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
He didn't play that many minutes. He was left off
out of a game.
Speaker 7 (23:52):
You know, there was concerns going, you know, but then
boom you have he has a big, huge moment and
they couldn't have won it without him, right.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (24:00):
He delivers in the game almost that they brought him for,
they needed him for whatever, and then he ends up
coming out, you know, on the on the other end
with the gold medal. So I think in a short
little window, it's a synopsis of being able to handle
up and downs, even even some really you know, deep down,
you know, depths of being down and wondering what's going
to happen, and then coming out the other side and
(24:21):
being able to celebrate with your teammates and your family
and having that forever as a as part of your legacy,
and and something really cool.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
Man, he's got a gold medal.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
A year ago when you got here, you talked about
wanting to set a culture of expecting to win, focusing
on April, May and June in year one, when you
reflect on your one and look ahead to or two,
what are you proudest of in this first year and
where's your focus shifting as you're a second year coach
in this market.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
Without like digging in too deep, I thought would play
really hard. I thought we gave great effort last year,
so I always want that. I think I think you
know I've said this to you before, but I'll say
it again. You know, when people are walking up the
stairs after the game, they should be elbowing each other saying.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Man, did they play hard? I don't even know.
Speaker 7 (25:05):
I don't even know what the score the score ends up,
but that's that's like the first thing I want them
to to be able to notice that the team fights,
the team never quits, the team will come back when
things are going bad, the team will bounce back after
tough losses and just give, you know, just give a
tremendous effort. So now I think we did that on
a decent basis. I got a whole new roster here,
(25:27):
so we're gonna have to, you know, kind of get
back to building that culture, you know, And it's it's
all about, you know, just demand and that they that
they that they do things well, that they practice hard.
They practice with pace, they practice with focus, and when
they don't, we let them know and we correct it,
and we just try to keep pushing. You know that
(25:49):
that energy and focus and learning to win and setting
up drills to win, you know, all those little things
that our coaches are so good at doing to build
that culture is still super important.
Speaker 6 (26:02):
And I think back to the April, May and June.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
It's a little bit weird last year because of the
huge injury to Joel midway through, and then we had
a lot of guys out and stretches too, so we
were really playing, let's do the best we can do
right now and keep figuring things out, and let's let's
try to scratch you know, you heard me, scratch out
a win anyway we can and get to the next
(26:25):
game and then figure the game plan out for that one.
Hopefully we'll have a little bit more of a of
a building, a little bit better health.
Speaker 6 (26:31):
I think we will.
Speaker 7 (26:32):
We got deeper, but yeah, we're going to try to
play our best basketball in April, man and June.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
When you reflect on that first season, are there any
nights that stand out to you memory wise of particularly
good fights where you felt like people really walked out
and said, dang, those guys went for it.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
I thought the playoffs, first of all, even though we
came out on the wrong end of.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
It, those were fights.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
Fights, yeah, you.
Speaker 7 (26:57):
Know, against against the team that that's you know, kind
of what they're going to hang their hat on, right,
And I would say we fought just as hard as
they did. We're close to it, and again like we
were not very healthy to be doing it right. Again,
I'm I don't make any excuses, but even for Joelle,
he was a long ways away from you know, being
(27:21):
being where he could be or where he wished to
be in that series. And I thought he fought through
a lot of stuff too. Either than that, you know,
there was some there was some other cool games. I
thought the game at San Antonio, the double overtime win,
I think you guys can correct me.
Speaker 6 (27:34):
I thought, I think.
Speaker 7 (27:35):
Both uh, well, Joel was out for sure, but Trees
and Ricky Counsel came in, Jeff out and you know
all these you know guys.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
That was a super fun game.
Speaker 7 (27:45):
I thought they were playing at a really high level
and and and uh that kind of that was that
was a good one. I don't know, I'm not really
that great at remember past games, so.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
That's not true, but we'll let you go.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
Matter it's true, I'm not well.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
He might need to use his memory about very early
on in his career towards the end here, but maybe
we'll let him.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
Let him off.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
The home training camp in the Bahamas this year, and
then a series of away games throughout the preseason. As
you look at that slate, what can you accomplish reasonably
with a group that's this new What do you hope
to get out of that week away together? And then
these preseason games.
Speaker 7 (28:20):
Yeah, I mean I think that first of all super exciting.
You know, it's really the first chance you get to
get the whole crew together for for real. You know,
like we do this stuff and a lot of our
guys in in September, but there's always guys here and there,
two or three out here and there doing something, you know,
getting visas or passports or whatever they're doing, you know,
moving whatever. So it's the first shot to get everybody together,
(28:43):
and you're really just trying to get again that tone
set of how we're going to play.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Usually starts defensively.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
Put a huge, huge emphasis on the defensive side of
the ball, just to make sure that all those little
foundational pillars that we like to live by, you know,
they understand them, and they understand how we're going to
do them, and then what the plan is behind them
and all that stuff, and then.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
Start building from there. You know, we'll we'll certainly work on.
Speaker 7 (29:11):
Probably a little bit more advanced in the offense because
I'm so much more used to Joelle and Tyrese. I know,
I know where I kind of got to start with
those guys rather than figuring it out as I go
a little bit. So I think we'll we'll get ahead
with those guys and in the preseason mostly just making
reads and then we got to figure out where the
(29:31):
other guys fit around them.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
I think we should go into the time machine real quick.
Let's try, just because it sort of fits in with
the theme of the beginning of our conversation, playing these
shows and the nerves you feel coaching and playing and
all that. I know in your career in the D
League you talked about what the feelings of nervousness that
you sometimes felt for even those games, and when you
became an NBA head coach October twenty eighteen, what do
(29:54):
you remember about your first opening game of the NBA
regular season as the head coach in Toronto?
Speaker 6 (30:00):
Hardly anything, Yeah, hardly anything. I do remember. I don't know.
I want I can answer this question.
Speaker 7 (30:06):
I mean, obviously I felt like we had a really
good team and we're ready to go. And I do
know that the forty eight minutes that like you had
to ride these waves of a game, and you know,
I wanted to. You want to win your first game
as a head coach in the NBA, right, you want
to win your season opener.
Speaker 6 (30:22):
You know they're both coming to kind of at the
same time. And you did win. Yeah, we did.
Speaker 7 (30:26):
I just remember that it was about like an NBA
game is, you know, like like it was it was difficult, right,
it was we look good, we look bad, we look good,
we looked bad, and then we you know, we started
playing really good towards the end and kind of kind
of got away with a win. And I don't know,
I guess again my first game in the NBA, but
it was was in the thousandth of games I've coached,
(30:47):
so had all that much different thing get ready for
anything else. I do I do remember, like my first
time as an assistant though, like walking in and kind
of looking up, you know, Toronto's arenos like pretty tall,
and like I was just like this is just like
unbelievable that, like this is what we're playing in tonight.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
You know, I do remember that, but I'm used to
that stuff now too.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Starting lineups might be too specific from the Cleveland Toronto
game in twenty eighteen, but do you remember.
Speaker 6 (31:12):
I know I can give it a shot.
Speaker 7 (31:14):
I want to say Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard.
Speaker 6 (31:20):
This is where it gets a little tricky. I'm gonna say.
Speaker 7 (31:24):
Serge of Baka and Jonna's Valentiunas or was it Pascal?
Speaker 3 (31:28):
It was Pascal and Valentias. Do you remember among those
five who had a really really great game and who
may happen to play for you in Philadelphia?
Speaker 6 (31:37):
Now?
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Lowry twenty seven points eight assists, five for six from
three in your first game as an NBA head go
what was that again? Twenty seven points eight assists, five
for six from three against the Calves at twelve point win.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Helpful when that happens.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
He's a good player, Coach, good.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
Memory, Coach Nurse, thank you so much for joining us.
We're excited about this season.
Speaker 6 (32:00):
When you're having fun, is quick.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
Glad to hear that you did. Thank you so much,
Thanks much,
I'm Tari's Meg Si and you're listening to the seventy
six Ers Insiders podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
This podcast is part of the seventy six Ers podcast network,
presented by Stern and Cohen Law.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
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Speaker 2 (01:43):
Jared McCain, Welcome to the seventy six Ers Insiders podcast.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Thank you so much for sitting down today.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Of course, as US duke people do, I did my
research ahead of this interview, and I've noticed that in
every single interview, people ask you about your nails and
about your tiktoks. So I'm challenging myself to do this
whole thing and talk about neither.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Are you ready, Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
At Summer League, you told me that upon getting drafted,
you reached out to some no offense, undersized guards that
reminded you of yourself.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Right, tell me how that started, and tell me how it's.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Going started great and a grade.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
I feel like, oh, it's over. You're not going to
speak to any of them anymore.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
I mean no, I'll definitely speak to them.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Okay, I'll probably ask a lot of them for their
jersey still and we play them. But yeah, just asking
people who I think I want to look up to,
want to model my game after, some in some way
that I've watched them play when I was a kid
or in college, seeing their film where it's defensively offensively,
just finding something some insider advice from a place that
I've never been to to help me in my whole career.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
What's the best piece of advice you got and who
gave it to you?
Speaker 5 (02:43):
I'll probably say Pat Bev.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Really, yeah, I just I mean, I think a lot
of times when they look at me. There's different opinions
you can have, but his main thing was just like
be yourself and have fun, and I think that that's
what I've always tried to live by. So it's kind
of cool to have somebody kind of validated almost who's
been there ten years in the league, and it'll carry
myself a long way.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
I know you reached out to Tyrese Maxey as well.
Of course, how did that go? And how have the
workouts with Tyree.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
Spin It's been great.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Well, he reached out to me right when I got
drafted and then before Summer League I just wanted some advice,
and now being able to work out with him and
just talk to him, meet him, it's I mean, he's
the biggest blessing I think I could have as a rookie,
someone who's considered I guess an undersized guard who's played
as a rookie, had gone through some ups and downs
like and now he's one of the best guards in
(03:29):
the league. It's amazing for me to just learn from him,
and even in the workout, it's just certain things you
see as a rookie that you want to emulate, whether
it's just game speed, the way he goes at how
he talks during his workouts, how he stays so positive,
which is something I really resonate with. I think all
those things I'm going to continue to learn from him,
and it's just great to have a first hand experience
with him.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
In our first interview together, you said that you wanted
to go toe to toe with him for hardest worker.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
This morning, you were the first in the gym.
Speaker 6 (03:55):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I'm not saying I don't know where he's at right now.
He could be working out somewhere else.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
He's working out early as well.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
That's so fair exactly, But yeah, I tried to get
in as early as possible. It feels like I should
be the first one. I think, just for me, it's
like the first win of the day. Sure, and I
think even making your bed in the morning the first
win of the day. Just certain things back up, and
me being the first in the gym is something I
try to do.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I know you've also spent a little bit of time
now with Joel Embiid and with Paul George.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
What were those meetings like.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah, I mean, obviously, for me being a rookie, I'm
always a little nervous, meaning superstars through I've watching I
as a kid, but they're none but great to me,
and I think they're gonna be great vets for me
going forward. Playing with Paul George on the court and
just like seeing how he is, it's pretty insane concerning
how far how long ago I've been watching him, like
literally since I was a little kid on YouTube, watching
(04:41):
his highlights in class like to now playing with him.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
It's literally a surreal feeling.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
And you went on podcast Pee Subscribe make sure you're
following along to all of our player initiatives. When you
went on Paul's podcast, you talked about the fact that
before Duke, you reached out to a psychologist and you
thought that was going to be important for your development.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Why did you do that?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
And let's talk a little bit about how normalized that's become,
because that used to be a big deal and you
said it so just like, of course I did. I
want to keep my mental performance up. Yeah, tell us
about that decision.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Being on social media, there's stuff that's on there that
can really deteriorate your mental health. And I think going
into college, especially at college like Duke with a great
fan base, and a passionate fan base. A lot of
stuff negative can be said about you, and for me,
I just wanted to keep my mental right because if
my mental's not right, I'm not the best player I
can be at all. And I think that's something I
(05:29):
have to keep up with. Even if I work as
hard as I can, if my mental's right, I'm not
going to play my best. And so just reaching out
to a psychologist that I've known for a long time.
My brother has worked with them, and just working with
him throughout the year, I think really was key for
me and my.
Speaker 5 (05:43):
Success at Duke.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
You and your brother are very close, is that correct?
Can you tell us a little bit about your bond
and the shared dream that you're now getting to realize
for both of you.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Yeah, I mean, obviously we've been close since a little kid,
but I think throughout my high school years with time,
he got really close. And when he got blood class
when he played in high school, had to stop playing,
was able to come back, but the blood class came back.
Like just a lot of stuff has happened with his
basketball career, and so for me, that's the reason why
I play, is just for us to reach our dream
of making it to the NBA and that's why it
(06:12):
was so special on draft night to achieve that dream.
But yeah, we're I mean, the closest brothers I've ever seen.
It kind of just I reach out him, reach out
to him for anything. He's asked me questions about how
it's going, Like I tell him every detail because it's
like him living it too, So it's really cool to
just share it with him and always have someone.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
To go to.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Is he coming out to Philly with you?
Speaker 1 (06:31):
He's not, Well, he's a duke, he's a duke grad assistant. Love,
so he's working there obviously for the season. If he
can get away and see a game, hopefully he can
after their season, hopefully we will be still playing.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
But yeah, he'll he'll definitely try as much to get
out here.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Your parents, though, are going to be out here a
lot more and Teddy tell us about your mom, your
dad and what type of support they're giving you behind
the scenes, because we got to see them at Summer League.
They're obviously big Jared McCain fans, which makes sense. Yeah,
but what's it like behind closed doors?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
It's amazing, Like, I'm so lucky. I'm so lucky. I
thank God every day, like to have such a great
support system behind me. My mom and dad have raised
me in such a great way. I'm not trying to
be biased here, but I think the best parents I've
ever seen. It's just amazing to have them here with me.
My mom did just you know, cook food from like
simple things, cooked meals that I've had since I was
(07:18):
a kid, just make like make my house feel like
a home. And it's really nice to have them close by.
Obviously have my dog Teddy here. If you see my
dad walk in, there's no way he's not going to
have either a Jared McCain merch or a.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
Seventy six ers hat on.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
So just always supporting me in every way they can,
and it's amazing to have them.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
We're inching closer to your NBA debut and opening night
preseason first then opening night than a full season of
NBA basketball?
Speaker 4 (07:43):
What are you most looking forward to?
Speaker 5 (07:47):
So much?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Like the little things for me are the one that's
gonna get me. I think it's just like, first off,
never I haven't been to Wells Fargo yet. Cool, I
haven't been. I've been to the Philly Stadium. I've been
to the Eagle Stadium, like I've been to everywhere except
our actual place. So even just driving up in my car,
like to go in the player's entrance, putting on my jersey,
looking around seeing Joel and b Tires, Maxi, Paul George,
like all these players who I've watched, get.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
This, You're gonna be wearing the same outfit.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Is Yeah, that's that's the crazy, wild insane.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Just walking out, like doing the warm up, like when
the ball gets tipps, just watching the game, like it's
just gonna be so surreal for me. So there's so
many moments I'm gonna remember and try to just keep
as a great visualization tactic.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
What are the cornerstones of your game day routine?
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Major one is I read a part of a book
before every game, part of the inner game of tennis.
There's a little analogy I like to read about the
rose and.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Also say more in.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
This book, it's it talks about just the mental part
of sports in general, but it's through a tennis coach
and he talks about this rose analogy where the rose
is a rose from the time you plant the seed
to the time it grows, and you're going to give
it the same care, the same nourishment it needs to
reach a rose. And that's something that really resonates with me.
I think just I'm going to be myself, no matter
(09:04):
how the media sees me, how players see me, I'm
always going to be myself and no matter what happens,
I'm always me. And I think that that really helps
me just not only lock in, but just know like
I'm out there just going to play and be myself
out there.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
You've been to the Phillies, You've been to the Eagles.
What have you observed about the Philly fan base.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
I was sitting right behind home plate and there were
these fans behind me shout out to those guys, and
they were just screaming at the other team, like every
time they missed the bat or missed missed the swing, whatever,
just screaming at them.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
And that's what I love.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
I love that seeing that part of the passionate fan
base of Philadelphia, and so I'm excited to see it
at our games.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Well, let's bridge the gap between Duke and the Philadelphia
seventy six ers. What were the fans like for you
at Duke, because I know that they will hold you
accountable as well as be your biggest supporters. How do
you think that they might compare to what you're going
to experience on opening night in Philadelphia.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Yeah, I think they're very similar.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
I think obviously being affiliates, it's going to be on
a bigger, bigger stage. But the similarities they have is
just the passionate, the passionate fan base, Like they're going
to tell you they can see if you're not playing hard,
and they're going to let you know if you aren't,
And I think that's they hold you accountable. I'm gonna
do my part in playing hard, doing what I can
to help the team win.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
Control what I can control.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
But yeah, i think the fan bases are very similar,
and I'm excited to get to know this fan base more.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I know you visited Duke since you left. I was
going to say graduated. We're not quite there yet, But
what do you met? What do you appreciate most about
your limited time at Duke.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
I like how Duke is like very It's think going
seven thousand undergrad so you kind of get to know
a lot of people. And I think just when I
go back, I can walk around and just say hi
to people, like the workers at WU, the dining hall,
my teacher familiar think, yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Yeah for them, you know that when I was there.
I'm dating myself.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
That was when the WU opened, was when I was there,
So like my first couple of years it was under construction.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I was their life pre WU.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
That's kind of only know it was there before.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Well, yeah, that's how old I am.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I shouldn't have.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Said that, but all right, continue the things that you
loved included, Yeah, people in the.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Dining hall exactly, exactly, just saying how to people I know? Remember,
Like I went back last time and I got to
see some of my friends who I was in class with.
They run the newspaper, so I went up there and
watch a football game with them. Like just simple things
like that, knowing people and the vibe with Duke. It's
it reminds me of Hogwarts. I've said before, and it's
just a great vibe I get.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Are there ducalums that you've reached out to about the
transition into.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
The NBA koch Shi care well, all the people that
have been there, even we had pro weekend, so even
talking to Mark Williams DJ Stewart, like just people who
have been there done that and just get as much
advice as I can.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
All Right, last topic that we need to cover Drake.
Best Drake album.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
I go back and forth. Give me top three, top three.
So nothing was the same.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
I'm pretty sure as my top Okay, take Care I
was really young, but it's something I come back to
a lot.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Okay, And how old were you when take Care came out?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Was that twenty eleven? I think I'm scar I was
either like I was like seven or eight?
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Continue?
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Yeah, so take Care. Nothing was the same.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
And More Life is considered a playlist, but More Life
is up there for sure.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Scorpions and are rated. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go views.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
You just mentioned six. Narrow it down?
Speaker 1 (12:14):
No, I know, I'm going views, take Care, not in
order views, take Care and nothing was the same.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
If you could only listen to five Drake songs for
the rest of your life crazy on repeat?
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Which five do you keep with you?
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Western?
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Road, Flows Okay, Fire and Desire?
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
He's like, I've thought about this already. That's a crazy question.
But I know my answers.
Speaker 5 (12:37):
I really haven't.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Okay, Well, the first two came off quite que because those.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Are my two fair.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Fair, fair for fair, give me three more over my.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Dead body, Okay, tuscan leather, Okay. I want to say
from time Okay, but I'm really missing a lot of
songs right now, so I don't. It's really like it's
the top five just right in this moment.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
But for those that want, like the Jared McCain playlist,
those five, yeah, okay. And last question, why Drake? Like,
why is Drake so important to you? Because obviously Drake
is topical right now, but it seems that he means
more to you maybe like it feels like and I
know a lot of Drake fans feel that way, right,
Like his music gets you through things, right, tell me
about your personal Drake journey.
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Yeah, I think it.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
I mean it goes back all the way since I was,
like since my brother introduced me to Drake when I
was like six years old, like listening listen to best
I ever had, like him.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
Just just showing me Drake. I think it.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I went to his concert when I would I went
to the take Care concert when Kendrick and Asap opened
up for him, and anyways, but yeah, I think he
has a song for every mood I'm in he's been
there since I was a kid. It's kind of someone
I've grown up with and he's been at the top
for that long. So just a great artist, the best
(13:53):
artist of all time. Michael Jackson of course too. But
Drake is my personal and yeah, it means it means
a lot to me.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Longevity is a theme with you, right, you just talked
about the Rose, You've talked about Drake's longevity. What are
a couple of things And I know I said last question,
but I think we're going to tie it up here.
What are a few things that you're doing right now
to ensure that this first season for you is just
the beginning.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I think asking questions to the people who have literally
been there for ten fifteen years. Taking care of my
body is the main thing they say you can't the
best availability is wait, the best what is it?
Speaker 5 (14:25):
The best?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Best ability is availability?
Speaker 5 (14:27):
Exactly what she said. So, yeah, just taking care of
my body.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Obviously, going to take care of my mental because I
think and nowadays, a lot of stuff happens and people
are stepping away from the game because of their mental
So taking care of that always. But I think one
thing is working hard. It's always going to come back
to that, and then once you take care of your
body and take care of your mental, everything will set
yourself up well.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
You're asking tons of questions. Thank you for a Let
me ask you some questions. Jared McCain. Always a pleasure.
Thanks for sending us.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Welcome back to the seventy six Ers Insiders podcast, joined
today by head coach of the Philadelphia seventy six Ers
in his second year, Nick Nurse.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Matt Murphy.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
I'm Lauren Rosen. The two of you were recently Carol,
Iowa together.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
How was it, coach?
Speaker 5 (15:15):
Has not been before?
Speaker 6 (15:16):
Yeah, I love this.
Speaker 7 (15:17):
It is my hometown, Carol, Iowa. Go ahead, what did
you How did you like my hometown?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
It was my first time there, Carol National Golf, best
greens around, best greens in the Midwest. Not sucking up
at all, right now. I also had the chance to
see the first show from the Icons band, which features
Nick Nurse, and they end every set with here Come
the Sixers. So you were doing your thing up there.
(15:43):
What was the post mortem on the Icons and the
first concert?
Speaker 7 (15:47):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (15:47):
It was good, it was it was.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
Yeah, I think it turned out okay. I mean it
was our first time together. A couple of the members
had had never even jammed with us before. There was
a kind of a cross section of a few guys
I jammed with in Toronto, a few guys I started
jamming with in Philly, and then a couple all stars
thrown in there from from other other big.
Speaker 6 (16:12):
Performers or big bands.
Speaker 7 (16:15):
I don't know about eleven I was up there on stage,
but it was it was pretty fun.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
It was pretty fun.
Speaker 7 (16:19):
I'm I'm blown away at how talented these people are. Like,
it shocks me that they can say, hey, let's try
the song and.
Speaker 6 (16:28):
Everybody goes one and then one, two, three, boom, and
it sounds amazing. It just blows me away.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Don't sell yourself short. You were part of it. You
also have that skill.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
Yeah, No, not on their level at all.
Speaker 7 (16:44):
I try to fit in where I can and and
bang out a few chords and things on the keys
and stuff like that. But I like jamming, right, I
like jamming probably better than I do performing.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
I like to when we.
Speaker 7 (16:58):
Get together and just jam at my house or jam
at somebody else's house, and that can go on for hours.
And I could probably do that for a lot of
hours in the day, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Or more recently with Matt Quinn and Mountjoy in the
in the Philadelphia area as well.
Speaker 7 (17:14):
Yeah, that was really something that was really something. Why well,
it was the real deal.
Speaker 6 (17:23):
Right, the real deal.
Speaker 7 (17:25):
Usually I've done a couple other of fairly good sized crowds.
One obviously, the first one I ever did was with
the Rcels. I think there was about seventeen thousand fans
at that. That was the first time did one with
the new power generation Toron Trot and jazz bests probably
five thousand. But usually those two I was on guitar.
(17:45):
I just kind of hiding back there by the drummer and.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
You know, playing a little bit and just taking it
all in.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
But this one was the piano that they had was
sitting right there, and the crowd was right there and
twelve thousand people, and.
Speaker 6 (18:02):
Yeah, it was it was awesome. I say this, I'll say.
Speaker 7 (18:05):
It again, is that I take me to a Game
seven in the NBA Playoffs versus doing that. I was
really nervous again, way out of way out of my
normal element for.
Speaker 6 (18:17):
Sure, but it was cool. You know. It always helps
to go.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
In in the afternoon to do a little sound check all again.
That's all like bizarre and foreign feeling to me, you know,
putting ear plugs in, I'm not used to that.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
So you can hear you know, would you like, like, coach,
would you like to hear the drummer better?
Speaker 7 (18:34):
I said, yeah, give me some more drum you know,
like I know, I know what I'm talking about, right,
and you can turn down this and you know whatever.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
But yeah, that was you mentioned being more comfortable in
a game seven that you would be playing on stage
in a concert. Why is it important to you to
get out of your comforts like that.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Well, that's that's one thing that is part of it
for me.
Speaker 7 (18:54):
Like I didn't battle it nearly as much with Mountjoy
the other night as I did with the r Kels.
Speaker 6 (19:01):
I really was like side stage and really had never
done it before, and was like and it was rock.
I mean, the.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
Place was going bananas and I was just like, I'm
going home.
Speaker 6 (19:11):
Man, I like I can Where was it?
Speaker 7 (19:13):
It was in Toronto at the Bud Bud Stage, which
is an outdoor kind of a lot, like a lot
like the Man outdoor. It's on the lake there in Toronto,
and and uh, I didn't live that far away and
there was a six or seven times during the show
that I was like, I think I'm just gonna slide out.
Speaker 6 (19:28):
And go back home, and uh.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
But but kind of kept saying that to your answer
your question. I kind of kept saying that to myself, Mandy,
you got enough guts to get out there and do it,
you know, like really really honestly, like really nervous and
trying to push through and go out there and and
and do it. I don't know, I don't know why
that's important, but I think at least it's part of
the kind of internal battle of I don't know, if
(19:53):
you want.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
To do cool stuff, sometimes you got to take a leap.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
Right that was in the news.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
So was Joel Embiid's contract extension right down here on
the court at the Penn Medicine Philadelphia seventy six ers
training complex. How did it feel for the organization to
first of all get that done, but then to see
him celebrating with his family and had Arthur shooting hoops
and all that, Well, it was great.
Speaker 7 (20:16):
And I think I don't know how much you guys
have talked about it or it's been said, but you know,
in the first couple months of my tenure three four
months of my tenure after getting hired, the Joel gonna
request the trade or going to do whatever, not be
here or whatever was a kind of a thing that
(20:39):
certain media outlets were really trying to make a story
right that if they don't get it together, he's going
to be out of there type of thing. And so
I think it's really nice kind of have that be
gone and this be here and he's gonna be here
and he wants to be here, and give a lot
of people a lot of credit for that. And like
one of one of the people I give a lot
(21:00):
of credit for is Tyrese, right, like being such a
good teammate taking such a big step forward, becoming a
star player like Joel wants to win, and Joel knows
he needs capable stars with him. And I think Tyresee's
total makeup is a is a big thing of that.
And again, ownership obviously got to give them a lot
(21:20):
of credit all of us, all the rest of us
kind of worked did our dinner jobs, you know, but
it's great that for me is almost the most important
thing that we've got a big Joel locked up for
years to.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Come, Yeah, years to come. For him, but also for
Tyrese and for Paul George. But you brought up the
Tyresse Joel relationship, and for some reason, when iconic NBA
duos are discussed, perhaps on national programs, they're usually left out,
perhaps because of Tyree's youth, he's a first time All Star.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
But what have you observed about their.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Relationship that you might not have seen yet and that
the national audience might be missing at this point?
Speaker 7 (21:58):
Yeah, well, I don't know what it is about, first
of all, about what ty Resee and they leave him
out of this stuff are maybe you know, you know, huh,
a lot of stuff, and it's like nobody still believes
that he's like this good or he's he's he ever
gonna be like he's really really really really good, like
you know, and he's not even like none being really
good at a couple more realies on there.
Speaker 6 (22:19):
Yeah, for him to keep.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Left off a lot of list does right.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
Yeah, he does.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Was your question again, what did you observe about the
relationship that Joel and Terry share.
Speaker 7 (22:29):
I think I think Joel did a good job of understanding,
like you know, once other pieces had left and Tyresee
had this ability to bring him along to kind of
to kind of get to him and say, hey, let's
work together, let's do this, and almost like like I
believe in you, Tyresee.
Speaker 6 (22:45):
I also need you, Tyrese. We need each other, you know.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
So I think Joe Well, being the older, older guy
of the group, more experienced guy, did a great job
in bringing bringing him forward. And You're like, like anything,
I think they start working together. It's fun to play with,
you know. The way they're playing together is fun for them.
They pushing each other a little bit. They see Joel
sees Tyrese's growth and knows there's more there to go.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
So I think I think all that's a factor.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Another Joelle question, just because the last time we spoke
with you was that Summer League before the Olympics. He
gets the gold medal with Team USA the dominant close
to the game against Serbia and helped them along. What
did you think about Joel at the Olympics.
Speaker 7 (23:26):
I don't know, looking back, I think it kind of
summarizes what I've experienced. I've never won a gold medal,
right or whatever, and never, but when I've when I've
had championship teams, what they experience is a lot of
ups and downs, and the Olympics is kind of a
short little window, but it still happens, and I think
he went through some of that, right.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
He didn't play that many minutes. He was left off
out of a game.
Speaker 7 (23:52):
You know, there was concerns going, you know, but then
boom you have he has a big, huge moment and
they couldn't have won it without him, right.
Speaker 6 (23:59):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (24:00):
He delivers in the game almost that they brought him for,
they needed him for whatever, and then he ends up
coming out, you know, on the on the other end
with the gold medal. So I think in a short
little window, it's a synopsis of being able to handle
up and downs, even even some really you know, deep down,
you know, depths of being down and wondering what's going
to happen, and then coming out the other side and
(24:21):
being able to celebrate with your teammates and your family
and having that forever as a as part of your legacy,
and and something really cool.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
Man, he's got a gold medal.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
A year ago when you got here, you talked about
wanting to set a culture of expecting to win, focusing
on April, May and June in year one, when you
reflect on your one and look ahead to or two,
what are you proudest of in this first year and
where's your focus shifting as you're a second year coach
in this market.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
Without like digging in too deep, I thought would play
really hard. I thought we gave great effort last year,
so I always want that. I think I think you
know I've said this to you before, but I'll say
it again. You know, when people are walking up the
stairs after the game, they should be elbowing each other saying.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Man, did they play hard? I don't even know.
Speaker 7 (25:05):
I don't even know what the score the score ends up,
but that's that's like the first thing I want them
to to be able to notice that the team fights,
the team never quits, the team will come back when
things are going bad, the team will bounce back after
tough losses and just give, you know, just give a
tremendous effort. So now I think we did that on
a decent basis. I got a whole new roster here,
(25:27):
so we're gonna have to, you know, kind of get
back to building that culture, you know, And it's it's
all about, you know, just demand and that they that
they that they do things well, that they practice hard.
They practice with pace, they practice with focus, and when
they don't, we let them know and we correct it,
and we just try to keep pushing. You know that
(25:49):
that energy and focus and learning to win and setting
up drills to win, you know, all those little things
that our coaches are so good at doing to build
that culture is still super important.
Speaker 6 (26:02):
And I think back to the April, May and June.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
It's a little bit weird last year because of the
huge injury to Joel midway through, and then we had
a lot of guys out and stretches too, so we
were really playing, let's do the best we can do
right now and keep figuring things out, and let's let's
try to scratch you know, you heard me, scratch out
a win anyway we can and get to the next
(26:25):
game and then figure the game plan out for that one.
Hopefully we'll have a little bit more of a of
a building, a little bit better health.
Speaker 6 (26:31):
I think we will.
Speaker 7 (26:32):
We got deeper, but yeah, we're going to try to
play our best basketball in April, man and June.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
When you reflect on that first season, are there any
nights that stand out to you memory wise of particularly
good fights where you felt like people really walked out
and said, dang, those guys went for it.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
I thought the playoffs, first of all, even though we
came out on the wrong end of.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
It, those were fights.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
Fights, yeah, you.
Speaker 7 (26:57):
Know, against against the team that that's you know, kind
of what they're going to hang their hat on, right,
And I would say we fought just as hard as
they did. We're close to it, and again like we
were not very healthy to be doing it right. Again,
I'm I don't make any excuses, but even for Joelle,
he was a long ways away from you know, being
(27:21):
being where he could be or where he wished to
be in that series. And I thought he fought through
a lot of stuff too. Either than that, you know,
there was some there was some other cool games. I
thought the game at San Antonio, the double overtime win,
I think you guys can correct me.
Speaker 6 (27:34):
I thought, I think.
Speaker 7 (27:35):
Both uh, well, Joel was out for sure, but Trees
and Ricky Counsel came in, Jeff out and you know
all these you know guys.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
That was a super fun game.
Speaker 7 (27:45):
I thought they were playing at a really high level
and and and uh that kind of that was that
was a good one. I don't know, I'm not really
that great at remember past games, so.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
That's not true, but we'll let you go.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
Matter it's true, I'm not well.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
He might need to use his memory about very early
on in his career towards the end here, but maybe
we'll let him.
Speaker 5 (28:04):
Let him off.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
The home training camp in the Bahamas this year, and
then a series of away games throughout the preseason. As
you look at that slate, what can you accomplish reasonably
with a group that's this new What do you hope
to get out of that week away together? And then
these preseason games.
Speaker 7 (28:20):
Yeah, I mean I think that first of all super exciting.
You know, it's really the first chance you get to
get the whole crew together for for real. You know,
like we do this stuff and a lot of our
guys in in September, but there's always guys here and there,
two or three out here and there doing something, you know,
getting visas or passports or whatever they're doing, you know,
moving whatever. So it's the first shot to get everybody together,
(28:43):
and you're really just trying to get again that tone
set of how we're going to play.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Usually starts defensively.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
Put a huge, huge emphasis on the defensive side of
the ball, just to make sure that all those little
foundational pillars that we like to live by, you know,
they understand them, and they understand how we're going to
do them, and then what the plan is behind them
and all that stuff, and then.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
Start building from there. You know, we'll we'll certainly work on.
Speaker 7 (29:11):
Probably a little bit more advanced in the offense because
I'm so much more used to Joelle and Tyrese. I know,
I know where I kind of got to start with
those guys rather than figuring it out as I go
a little bit. So I think we'll we'll get ahead
with those guys and in the preseason mostly just making
reads and then we got to figure out where the
(29:31):
other guys fit around them.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
I think we should go into the time machine real quick.
Let's try, just because it sort of fits in with
the theme of the beginning of our conversation, playing these
shows and the nerves you feel coaching and playing and
all that. I know in your career in the D
League you talked about what the feelings of nervousness that
you sometimes felt for even those games, and when you
became an NBA head coach October twenty eighteen, what do
(29:54):
you remember about your first opening game of the NBA
regular season as the head coach in Toronto?
Speaker 6 (30:00):
Hardly anything, Yeah, hardly anything. I do remember. I don't know.
I want I can answer this question.
Speaker 7 (30:06):
I mean, obviously I felt like we had a really
good team and we're ready to go. And I do
know that the forty eight minutes that like you had
to ride these waves of a game, and you know,
I wanted to. You want to win your first game
as a head coach in the NBA, right, you want
to win your season opener.
Speaker 6 (30:22):
You know they're both coming to kind of at the
same time. And you did win. Yeah, we did.
Speaker 7 (30:26):
I just remember that it was about like an NBA
game is, you know, like like it was it was difficult, right,
it was we look good, we look bad, we look good,
we looked bad, and then we you know, we started
playing really good towards the end and kind of kind
of got away with a win. And I don't know,
I guess again my first game in the NBA, but
it was was in the thousandth of games I've coached,
(30:47):
so had all that much different thing get ready for
anything else. I do I do remember, like my first
time as an assistant though, like walking in and kind
of looking up, you know, Toronto's arenos like pretty tall,
and like I was just like this is just like
unbelievable that, like this is what we're playing in tonight.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
You know, I do remember that, but I'm used to
that stuff now too.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Starting lineups might be too specific from the Cleveland Toronto
game in twenty eighteen, but do you remember.
Speaker 6 (31:12):
I know I can give it a shot.
Speaker 7 (31:14):
I want to say Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard.
Speaker 6 (31:20):
This is where it gets a little tricky. I'm gonna say.
Speaker 7 (31:24):
Serge of Baka and Jonna's Valentiunas or was it Pascal?
Speaker 3 (31:28):
It was Pascal and Valentias. Do you remember among those
five who had a really really great game and who
may happen to play for you in Philadelphia?
Speaker 6 (31:37):
Now?
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Lowry twenty seven points eight assists, five for six from
three in your first game as an NBA head go
what was that again? Twenty seven points eight assists, five
for six from three against the Calves at twelve point win.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Helpful when that happens.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
He's a good player, Coach, good.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
Memory, Coach Nurse, thank you so much for joining us.
We're excited about this season.
Speaker 6 (32:00):
When you're having fun, is quick.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
Glad to hear that you did. Thank you so much,
Thanks much,
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.