Reggie Jackson inside stories on Jokic and the Russ, KD, Harden Thunder

Ryan talks with 12-year NBA vet and 2023 NBA champion Reggie Jackson about starting his career with the legendary Westbrook, Durant, and James Harden Thunder team that went to the Finals in 2012. The first time he met Russell Westbrook at UCLA, his emotional time with the Clippers, winning a title with his hometown Denver Nuggets and why Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world right now.

NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Hollins is a production of iHeart Media and the NBA

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
How's everybody doing. I want to welcome you into a
very very special episode of NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Hollins.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Man.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
Listen, Man, I might have one of my favorite people
in the world right now. He is a former mister
Colorado first Team All acc and Man, I'm ecstatic. This
is a whole different title. Man, an NBA champion. He
was a twenty fourth pick in the twenty eleven draft.
My dog, mister Reggie Jackson, Reg, what's going on with you?

Speaker 3 (00:29):
Man?

Speaker 4 (00:30):
How much? How you doing doing?

Speaker 3 (00:32):
Good?

Speaker 4 (00:32):
Man?

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Hey, listen first and form we got to air it out.
I can listen, Man, I was late to my own podcast.
I got Reg was here on time. Normally the guest,
I'm about twenty thirty minutes late, Man, but it was
me shout out to you, Reg. But before we go
into that anymore, Man, I gotta say this, Man, I
am so happy for you, Dog. And you know every
time I say you, I tell you because Reggie, I

(00:53):
don't know, I know you remember this. But when you
were coming into the NBA working out for the draft,
we were over there in the valley at three sixty
working out, and I think a lot of people have
respect for you. They knew you, but I don't think
they knew you were like that like that. And I
don't know if I'm sure you remember this, but at
the time, Ricky Rubio was the big deal. Ricky Rubio

(01:16):
was coming in. He was projected to be like the
next big point guard in the league. And shout out
to Ricky, man, one of the most amazing dudes, great
pro We know that. And I remember everybody being in
a pack gym and you tearing Ricky Rubio's behind up
all let's sen raj you Like it was one of
those moments like before we got to the league, before

(01:37):
it happened, you drug Ricky Rubio up and down the court,
Dog Towey. It was like, Okay, that's one, that's two,
that's three, like and I just remember it being like, nah,
Reggie Jackson is like that, y'all gonna find out one day.
So when you got an opportunity you came into your own. Man,
I remember just just the energy going like Dog, we've
seen that before.

Speaker 4 (01:57):
Reg.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
I don't know, Man, I know you remember that, but man,
what was your mindset?

Speaker 5 (02:02):
Dog?

Speaker 1 (02:02):
Because you hadn't even you know, stepped into the league yet.
But I'm looking like, Nah, he different, he different. He
got stepped back, he got float, he got pull up,
Jay bounced, dunk on you everything. Man, do you remember
what was going through your mind back then?

Speaker 6 (02:15):
Man, Probably some of the same sentiments that you had.
Like I knew Ricky had all the buzz. Shout out
to him. He's been an amazing pro. Everything he's done
for the game, for himself, for his family. Definitely not
a slouch. I'm in to have the career that he's had.
He's phenomenal. But coming in at that time, at that age,

(02:37):
knowing all the buzz was around him.

Speaker 4 (02:39):
Definitely take it personal. Like I wanted to go out
here play, wanted to compete against the best one to
find out I get I was, And that's all it
really was, was just competition. I always enjoyed competing, having fun,
And definitely when I knew He's gonna be in the gym,
it was on my list. He was somewhere on my list,
somebody that I wanted to compete against and find out

(03:00):
how good I was amongst my peers at that moment,
those who were in my class, and then just trying.

Speaker 6 (03:05):
To compete against you know, the likes of you and
the older bests as well. And before really getting in
the league, knew the lockout was going to happen. Just
want to try to stamp a stamp the name for
myself a little bit before we actually got to regular
season play and just.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
To kind of sept the scene. Man, Reg, I don't
know if these young boys play, you know, and get
it in still. But a lot of the guys who
were pros we hooped like we played. I don't know
if these dudes hooped. A lot of these guys just
like to work out like we hoop. So if you
think back and you said the scene, you know, Paul
Pierce was a regular coming in there. Big Ticket was
in there. Shout out PG. That's a little bro right there.

(03:43):
Paul George was a regular. Paul George earned the stripes
in there. Shout out of Danny Granger. Danny was in
there every day. So John Wall John was in there
with us for a whole summer. But like you, guys
got to come in and just we would get it
in like we will hoop it one pretty it. This
guy was this guy whatever, and you you came in
and held your own. So I just remember watching like

(04:05):
you know how it is red Like somebody come in.
He's like, oh he not to say he garbage, but
it's like you have to prove yourself. But I think
it was like, nah, it ain't Reggie just had one
good game. He's like that and you know, shout out
to Ricky Rubio. But I think for me seeing you
that day, I was like this dude is like you
amazing dude. Though We're gonna be dog no matter what.
But I was like, man, he's special. So when you

(04:26):
went off, none of that surprised me. So this is
before the draft, this is pre job, So for me
it was fun watching that process. Herege talked to me
about draft day and kind of piggyback off that. What
was your mindset like, because that has to be a
super confidence boost. I can't I forget where Ricky ends
up being drafted. I know he went to Minnesota, But

(04:46):
how did that play with you going into the draft
and kind of where were you projections? Did you get
on the phone with your agent after that and be like, look, dog,
like I just tore a Rubo okay, so they gotta
respect my name? Man? How did that go for you
going on into the draft and talk to me about
that summer man because we were getting it in.

Speaker 4 (05:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (05:04):
No, I didn't really think much about it, like I
just for me, it was always about earning my strips
and respect. So I'm always happy to just go out
here and compete and play against, like I said, the
next upcoming generation and play against the generation before, the
likes of y'all, and being from Colorado, I didn't necessarily
get to play those athletes who were going to be

(05:25):
in the NBA. So for sure, every guy be an
NBA guy, I'm really getting to find out how good
I can be, things that I need to work on
and try to improve.

Speaker 4 (05:36):
I was just excited, like that's all to me, was
really figuring that out.

Speaker 6 (05:41):
And my whole saying was like, once I get in
the league, I'll figure it out from there.

Speaker 4 (05:46):
So I was just happy.

Speaker 6 (05:49):
Like the whole draft process, I was excited once I
was drafted bout Oklahoma City.

Speaker 4 (05:54):
I remember being at home and Carl Springs with friends
and family, and I couldn't be anymore related.

Speaker 6 (06:02):
Once my name was called a twenty fourth pick, and
I knew it was just time to get to work.
Like my whole thing is always just let me get
at the door and then I'll do the rest. So
the way the story's going, I've just been very lucky
and very fortunate to be able to play twelve long
years and be going on.

Speaker 4 (06:17):
My thirteen man.

Speaker 1 (06:19):
DG talked to me about what it was like because
I don't know, for the hoop is Thorians, all the Ogs,
everybody the real Hoopers really know. But you came onto
a team with Westbrook Durrand like backa like these guys
were up next in the NBA. The level of competition

(06:41):
was off the chain, so it was like put up
a shut up, Like it was like can you survive? So,
you know, talk to me about that experience as a
young guy once you get there, like, you know, are
you looking over it because they're relatively young? Also, like
was it like I'm just as good as you? Did
they spur you on to end up being what you were?
Did you have to kind of like hold your weight?
Like where were those things that were? What was it

(07:02):
like being a part of that young OKC team and
kind of like making your presence known because Reggie you
didn't get an opportunity to come in either, So you know,
talk to me about.

Speaker 4 (07:12):
That yeah, No, I was good. I think it was
great for me young my career.

Speaker 6 (07:16):
Definitely going into the NBA life, it was more college
still atmosphere, especially being.

Speaker 4 (07:22):
Up along the city. Everybody was tighten it. It was closed.

Speaker 6 (07:25):
You only about fifteen to twenty minutes away from each
teammates house at Max. So I remember spending a lot
of time getting to a list from the guys, and
really I think it was great for me because it's
a little bit of both.

Speaker 4 (07:36):
Like I was coming in.

Speaker 6 (07:38):
Amongst guys who were around my age, so that always
kept me believing I could be just as good. It
always kept me angry and wanted to prove myself. But
then also it was great because these guys were emerging
the stars. Being around you know, Russ KD and James,
I'm getting to see the way they handled it handed

(07:58):
to start them getting to be around a young athletic team,
getting you know a lot of things that we can
relate to, so whether it be TV shows, whether to
be video games, you know, like I had, it was
a good group of guys that you can bounce ideas off,
you can relate to with the NBA life.

Speaker 4 (08:14):
But.

Speaker 6 (08:16):
Being in the shadows there their starting and getting to
see how they operate and how they handled it and
how they moved. I think it also molded me and
it kind of prepared me for once I got to Detroit.
But it was great to see their work ethic being
around them, Like I said, how quickly they were emerging
and surging the stars, but getting to see them each

(08:37):
and every day, the work they put in and trying
to steal tid bits here and there. And you know,
we all you always want to stack yourself up against
yourself each and every day. That's the goal is looking
yourself in the mirror, but having great examples around you.

Speaker 4 (08:52):
You got to be happy with that as well.

Speaker 1 (08:54):
Hey, Rage, you got to give me a story now. Now,
I know going against russ practice when you were young,
but you first coming out, well, I know at some
point things either got hated or you know, you had
to hold graduate. You know what, funny you so subtle,
you ain't no punk red. We're gonna all right, man,
all right? Will you get the head of the Roland
talk to me about that?

Speaker 4 (09:15):
Man?

Speaker 1 (09:15):
Well, like that that first I'm sure experience. I'm sure
there's some story where y'all either got into it was
kind of like, hey, like I learned the ropes, or hey,
I made a mistake. Me and Russ compete. He pulled
me to a side. You know, those were some heated practices, man,
Katie and talker Russell talker, Jame's gonna talk and stuff.
So talk to me about maybe a situation where you

(09:35):
know what those practices were like, or maybe a lesson
that you learned through those times because a lot of
people don't know, like you got to put yourself in practice,
Like forgive me rag. I don't want to feel anybody,
but at that time, you had to earn your own
in the NBA. You didn't come in. It was like, well,
Reggie's gonna play ten fifteen minutes tonight.

Speaker 4 (09:53):
You know.

Speaker 1 (09:53):
It was like, nah, Reggie got to earn his minutes
or he gonna sit on the bench, you know what
I'm saying. So, uh, talk to me about the was
practices man.

Speaker 4 (10:01):
That was good.

Speaker 6 (10:02):
Actually, the first time I met Russell was Uh, Like
I said, I came in during the lockouts. The first
time I met Rustle was at UCLA, so we got
a chance to play each other. It was actually my
first time going to ucl and playing. You know, you
hear the rumors of it. All the NBA guys like,
like I said, I'm a kid coming from Colorado, so
I'm like a kid in Candy. I'm like, man, you
hear by La on the training all the NBA guys,

(10:24):
you started hearing about the runs. So as I'm getting healthy,
Nathan coming out of the drafts, I'm getting healthy. More
games are going out before the lockown happens, and I
kind of see Rust Walkers the gym from across the way,
and I'm like.

Speaker 1 (10:38):
And is this hold on? Is this when you're drafted
or before you drafted?

Speaker 4 (10:41):
No, this after I'm drafted, after you draft. Okay, so
but after.

Speaker 6 (10:44):
I was drafted, everybody only got coming in for like
three days and then the lockerp like everybody kind of
knew we were in the midxt of it. So everybody's
still working out. Like I'm seeing y'all around this. I
finally decided to go to U play.

Speaker 4 (10:56):
Well.

Speaker 6 (10:56):
I see him coming in the gym. I like, oh, stay,
that's Rust. I kin't of see him from the way.
Nobody really knows me, but Paul basically helps get me
on the court.

Speaker 4 (11:03):
PG. My man always.

Speaker 6 (11:08):
Is Liken Man, like he in the NBA obviously, like
you know his name, but nobody kind of knows. So
it's like, all right, whatever we're playing, I'm like, oh,
I see Russ. I don't go across to save us
up to him because it's just a lot of people,
everybody shooting everything going. I'm like, all right, I'm gonna
see like, I'm gonna save us up to him. And
I see him. I know I ain't get a chance
to talk to him before and all that, and I'm like,

(11:29):
some people reach out to Immed at least some people don't,
Like we all have lives going on.

Speaker 4 (11:33):
I don't take anything. That's how I feels a young guy.
So I'm like, right, whatever. Then we have to match up.
So I'm like, oh, snap, this is fun.

Speaker 1 (11:40):
So you you you have not talked to Russ by
this time, y'all haven't talked. But you on the team.
You the backup point guard.

Speaker 4 (11:49):
So it's just fun.

Speaker 6 (11:50):
It was like getting a chance to compete against And
I'm like, and my boys, like, so we have homies
who kind of know each other, so he doesn't necessarily
know it. I think our boys played together in college,
so he's with me in l a kind of telling
me before. He's like he's like, oh no, he sees
this man. He's like, what's up. They say something like
he's like, Russ is like, I'm telling you like I've
heard about him. His man telling me like great dude,

(12:11):
but Russ is locked in and killed him on the
court and all I'm like, all right, bro.

Speaker 4 (12:15):
I was like, I'm fun.

Speaker 6 (12:16):
I was like, I look fun of getting but like
when we lace him up, I'm ready to play. I'm like,
I don't think we really say anything to each other,
like what's upthing meat up because he's still say what's
up to people. They kind of checked the ball up before.
It's like hey, Russ, like we're about to play. So
he just get on the court and it's like matchup immediately. Know,
no words really exchange anything. So it's like we're playing.

(12:37):
I think we get like steal. I fouled him, so
it's like, all right, damn calls foul for ball point
Like I'm like, damn, all right, kind of mad, somebody
else calls a foul. We're the young boys, like at
the time, Paul George, I'm playing Paul. I think Jordia
Carl for myself and a few other young cats and
like it's Russ and a few other people, a few
of the bets and they got like smarto Samis who

(12:58):
just came in and shout out to my man Tomato.

Speaker 4 (12:59):
I just seen him. My god.

Speaker 6 (13:02):
Somehow we get like a stop and Paul throws at
not PG throws it ahead and off one bounce I
had like mine, welcome to we like dunk on game
point bucket.

Speaker 4 (13:11):
You see, I'm feeling good.

Speaker 7 (13:14):
So we all kind of hype after just being young
guys because that's the workout career we have been with
and guys are kind of excited and like at the
whole end of the day as like as starn.

Speaker 4 (13:22):
And locked in as he is. He wore he finally
was like, hey man, welcome to the team. And like
once ago we got to old case like it's all love.

Speaker 6 (13:31):
People will think, I don't know what they think of it,
like I think we just both love to compete. But yes,
tell everybody you know you see him like one of
the best dudes in the world.

Speaker 4 (13:41):
I'll vouch for that. I stand on it all the time.

Speaker 6 (13:43):
Like no animosity, it's just once we get in between
the lines, that's how you get to this level, it's
like there is no friendship. The way he was scoring
and going at me, I think he knows who I am,
and he's kind of sitting the message that I wouldn't
have to hurt everything that I'm gonna get coming to
the team.

Speaker 1 (13:59):
So he never so to give the context, he never
you're the new point guard. You there's no dap up,
there's no welcome to the team. He walks on the
court and he's at your head, no conversation ass and
then y'all was boys after at all.

Speaker 6 (14:14):
Man, it's like at the top of you know, you
see how he runs. It was like, well, you got
the three what was it about? Three four courts going, yes,
fifteen people playing.

Speaker 7 (14:22):
You got people waiting, you got people chirp from the
side like it's it's busy, So you ain't really And
like I had to learn it too once I got
in and I was like, oh, you ain't really getting
a chance of walking.

Speaker 6 (14:32):
The gym relaxed. It's like it's a spectacle. And especially
when we used to play there, I don't know how
it is now. It was like for me it was
out open. It was like it was respectable to be
able to walk into that gym and be able to
get on the court, and you see to love everybody's
getting from people that they probably know him since they
were kids. So yeah, like as much as people might
take him like, there was really no time first interact.

(14:54):
I worked like a kid in candy store wide. I
seen what's going on, See if I get on court?
Happy I got on the court, and then like he's
walking around saying what's up to everybody? Kind of everybody's
rousing him. And then it was lace sometime and I
was like once we played kind of met man at
the end of the day, you know, I was like,
hey man, what was the team?

Speaker 4 (15:13):
All that? It's cool?

Speaker 1 (15:16):
All right, stay tuned. We're gonna find out about about
a young Kevin Durant Man. There's something that Reggie Jackson
knew he saw about KD that was just different. A
lot of players don't do this as a superstar, mega
star talent. So find out stay tuned. Cool stuff coming
up next. Let's get to my favorite funk show, the

(15:43):
NBA Rookie Life Film. Mom, let's get to the NBA
Rookie Life Film.

Speaker 4 (15:46):
Move.

Speaker 1 (15:46):
We're gonna pick your brain. I need I don't need
Reggie Jackson. I need rags, I need coach Radge for this,
and we're gonna break down some moments. Peter, let me
know if you can pull up pull up some some
ok C KD because I think people they know Warriors KD,
they know next KD. I want OKC KD and I
want you to let me know. What were your first

(16:09):
impressions of KD, Like when did you realize, like, this
dude is on another planet because it's different, rad Y,
I'll been there before, like playing with these guys, but
like when you play with a superstar not an all star,
there's a difference. There's levels to this one of the
greatest to ever do it. In KD. You see different
things when you get up close to him. So let

(16:30):
me know about KD. What made him different? Was there
a story when you kind of remember like yo, like
he's unguardable, bro, Like this is like this is not fair,
Like talk to me about talk to me. I need
I need a good KD story, man.

Speaker 4 (16:44):
No, mom'd be like an accumulation.

Speaker 6 (16:46):
So during that same time, I think, Shoot, we had
worked on a year that we ended up.

Speaker 4 (16:53):
Losing in the finals.

Speaker 6 (16:55):
We did three or four summer camps as a team,
he was already killing. We've seen a couple other pros
at the time I get to I get to meet
Tim Duncan play against him, and we went to Texas.

Speaker 4 (17:06):
I think we went to Kentucky. He seen a few
like you can see a d before ads in the league,
So we're playing talent.

Speaker 6 (17:13):
I always knew he was great, but when we came
back and it was his work ethic, like being.

Speaker 4 (17:19):
Seven foot could do it all.

Speaker 6 (17:22):
And he does his workout, then he wants to jump
in my workout. Then he's trying to jump in like
James workout. Then he wants to play ones after you're like,
you know, you're really addicted to this game. So it
was crazy to see that and his talent. And then
like there was a few games. I remember probably the
big shot everybody's seen. I think we're playing Dallas and

(17:45):
he's running out and it's like the fade almost a
couple of feet, like in between three point line and
a half court.

Speaker 4 (17:51):
I just remember being hype as original, Hey man, you're
gonna win the game for us, You gonna win the game,
not understanding I played like now playing around greats like
they really are built for this. They believe it.

Speaker 6 (18:02):
Like once he hit the shot, I'm running up all hype,
like if you see me, I'm yelling at like if
you see the stone cold like killer look in his face.
That's when I was like, after trying to commend him
and then stepping back and realizing, like all of us
around him and everybody still hyping him, and I'm just
looking at his face, I'm like, yo, he never I

(18:25):
didn't even to say anything to him, like you almost
sometimes want to be like feel like you part of moment.
Like he's killer, Like he's a bucket. He's built for it.
He's done it over and over. So like when we
were young, that was amazing.

Speaker 1 (18:40):
We'll flow in.

Speaker 3 (18:54):
What a sensational way and shock by Kevin. He knew
he had time to catch score up Dom de Vinci
the big man on the ball, to take away to
pass into the deep corner. They tore back toward the
top of the circle. That is not an easy shot.
It's well behind the three point line. But when you're

(19:16):
six tens with long runs and you've got that elevation
and you're a big time player like he is, that's
how you win games.

Speaker 6 (19:24):
That's the buzz up and then I think we were
in practice. We were up seven one time. And this
is before maybe after James level. We're playing the second team. Yeah,
I guess you started chirping a little bit, so we're
talking a little trash.

Speaker 4 (19:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (19:38):
It's like a minute and thirty. I'm like, man, we won,
this is over. I know I'm gonna hit free throws.
I cash out free throws. You don't have to foul me.
I make sure we get a great shot. Yes, it
comes down. We double them. Hits the three in practice,
like all right, we have nine.

Speaker 4 (19:52):
Whatever we come down, they had they found so I
hit two free throws.

Speaker 6 (19:59):
Now six comes down. Coach is like just drawing the
plays out of bounce. He catches it. It's a fading
three point overs. I'm like, man again, so like we
come down to turn it over. I think it's like
six seconds. It was like look at two point three seconds,
like I ain't nothing. There's no way y'all gonna win.
Like it's over, man, I like I'm fourth fallon forced

(20:20):
them all the way up to half court. He catches it,
you know, Like the rule is he catches it in
front of half court. So it's the worst thing I've
ever seen off one leg.

Speaker 7 (20:28):
He turned and when I say, he pulled it like right,
Nika Tessini hit nothing but net and Scottie Brooks just
ended practice like he knew everybody was.

Speaker 3 (20:36):
Man.

Speaker 4 (20:36):
I was like, bro, this is this is the best
score we ever seen.

Speaker 1 (20:40):
You guys were up nine.

Speaker 4 (20:42):
Oh it was quick with the ball.

Speaker 6 (20:44):
But like good minute and thirty in practice. It was
just answer. He answered everything by himself. It's a big
shot for big shot. We hitting like a two because
we're making a great backpit. We feel good. He just
walks up visit three. I'm like, we're playing basketball. He's
working out as Wow, that's different.

Speaker 4 (21:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (21:04):
Man, shout out to KD, like, I don't think reg
you not Like I pride myself as a defender. As
the five. You played the back line. So I have
to know the scouting report for everybody that I'm playing against.
You know what I'm saying. So as I would devise
the scouting report or how I'm gonna play guys, Kd's
one of the rare guys that I was like, we

(21:24):
just have to hope he misses because you get physical
with him, he got stronger. You jam him up. He
can drive around you. You switch a big guy on to him.
He got right to left crossover. He like going left,
he like going right.

Speaker 7 (21:36):
He go right.

Speaker 1 (21:36):
He'll bang on you. He long enough to bang on you.
So there were different things that KDI would do that
from a strategic standpoint, he was really impossible to guard.
Or you would just hope he'd have an off night,
or I'm just gonna.

Speaker 4 (21:49):
Keep a buck.

Speaker 1 (21:50):
I would hope that you guys were so young at
that time, and you know, Reggie, I'll be talking trash
from another team that you guys would just be inexperience of,
like not know how to put it together together. I
believe if that group just rage, I'm sorry. I don't
want to make you mad. Now I know this, this
might be a little tender. If that group just stayed together, man,
it's gonna be championships for days. But because there was

(22:10):
just so much talent. But going into Oka, See, I
tell a lot of people that they were like, well,
where's some of the hardest places that you ever played?
Okay see at Okay See, y'all played different. Talk to
me about that radge, Like what what what y'all ran
harder y'all were physical like that crowd. Oh my gosh,
I got to show respected in that crowd. Man, it

(22:31):
was it was just different radgs like y'all just walk
around like some goons at home.

Speaker 4 (22:36):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (22:37):
No, I think we were just young. Honestly, we were young.
The team was young, like they finally had their own team,
Like I know they had had the horn show up
and everything after the hurricane, but like having their own team,

(22:57):
it was packed that every night you felt like the playoffs.
And then like I said, I just showed up at
the at like the pinnacle of everything, like the perfect timing.
The guys that put time in they had really kind
of earned the battle scars and wounds and earned their respect.
And the belief was I believe. And the guys like
they knew it was time to take off. And at

(23:19):
that time.

Speaker 4 (23:21):
We felt like nothing can stop us.

Speaker 6 (23:22):
And then once you had like the right vets around,
like you got Nick Collinson, og, you got the lagooning
and perk, you got a steady head even in like
Royal Ivy, whether he you know, he's letting us know
we need to do each and every night, and like
you find out, having like good vets, it was just

(23:42):
a great mixture of young talent, having great leaders, having
hungry young guys who were emerging coming to their own
won the lead. And yeah, I think we definitely played
with chip on our shoulder. Like practice sometimes was way
more vetter than the games, and I think that was
a scary thing. Everybody has something to prove, and at

(24:05):
times we were trying to we were trying to prove
it to each other that we were coming. So there
was nights like our families sometimes talking to me like
they could tell us like, yeah, I don't think they
played the team that they played today.

Speaker 4 (24:17):
It was like, no, we're playing the proof to beside.

Speaker 6 (24:21):
You Like.

Speaker 4 (24:23):
I'm like that, like.

Speaker 6 (24:26):
I deserve to definitely be known as well, Like I'm
no hating, no shade on any year, what you're going
on and what everybody was merging as in anybody starting,
but everybody I think was chasing their own own love
and like everybody was trying to chase just being the
best that they could be at the time, which with
all those players with three MVPs.

Speaker 4 (24:51):
Like.

Speaker 6 (24:54):
I think when you have a locker room in the
building filled with that much talent and you kind of
raised guys the way we were raising the environment.

Speaker 4 (25:04):
We had it gets scared. It was fun.

Speaker 1 (25:08):
You talked about a chip on your shoulders, so Regg,
we saw the show off. I knew you were like that.
I don't think the league knew that you were like that.
And people don't understand, like when your numbers called, it's
called Reggie and what you did. I don't know if
there's some history numbers behind it, I don't know what
has been. You just put the league on notice.

Speaker 4 (25:26):
Dog.

Speaker 1 (25:27):
At this moment, Memphis was one of the top defenses physical,
grit and grind. I mean you went off, Reggie, and
I think everybody knew from then, like, oh, no, Reggie
Jackson is a guy. Because you weren't really in the rotation.
You weren't getting strong minutes. But it was like, no,
we can put the ball in Reggie's hands. What don't
we know about your takeover? Talk to me about your

(25:47):
mindset going in because this is not normal, Reggie. But
I remember, all of a sudden, just like I said,
the league was on notice.

Speaker 8 (25:54):
Man, sit up to Jackson and Jackson really finding this
group here offensively in Game four and Jackson back the
other way with one thirty four to go in the
period Aggie Jackson, Action Jackson, I.

Speaker 6 (26:10):
Had played with stars, Like honestly, I knew I was
playing with stars, and unfortunately at the time Russ and
Katie wasn't having the best games. They weren't having their
greatest game. We had lost James. Like I said, you
knew that they were drawing all attention, whether it be
the best guy like Tony Allen. They're getting quartery leaves,

(26:30):
they're getting double in trouble Team, and I just didn't
want to go home, like in my mind, like there's
no way I'm going home. There's no way we're going home.
I knew all the work I put in over those
last few summers since I've been in the NBA. First
it took me to feel confidence that I could be
like in the India and I could be playing for real.
I've always truly believed it, but then have to go
out and have the experience, and then after kind of

(26:54):
dissecting it, being critical of myself analytical each summer, I
try to go back and get better at something.

Speaker 4 (27:01):
So I had to put too many hours like in
the gym for.

Speaker 6 (27:05):
Till to not try anything and to just go home
and say what if or if I would have got
the ball, I wish I could have helped. I just
would be like, hey, man, be aggressive, tonight's not there
night and all they need is a little help, because
I was like, we find a way to get a win.
Those two guys being who they are, then they can

(27:29):
close the series out for us.

Speaker 8 (27:30):
So Jackson with the poor and we're not in at
eighty with thirty points six seconds ago, playoff.

Speaker 4 (27:38):
Career high for Regie Jackson, who has been a problem
all night long for the Memphis Critchers. I just, like
I said, I just want to do my partner.

Speaker 6 (27:47):
I felt like I had put the hours in, not
only to prove it to myself, but I felt like
even though if my teammates an't known at that moment,
as everything started to unravel and shots started going, I
think it's almost like reminding them and waking their mind up.
Even himself, like, oh yeah, we've seen this, dude, put
in the time. We've seen what's done in the gym

(28:07):
with us.

Speaker 4 (28:08):
Like you said, like some of our best, some of
the best competing is not necessarily even the games that
the fans get to see. I guess some of the
matchups that's happened in practice. I'm like, I believe myself.
I had some pretty good matchups and y'all know what
I'm capable of. I just got to remind you and
I gotta wake all up to it.

Speaker 1 (28:25):
And it's over. This series is tied that to a piece.

Speaker 8 (28:29):
Going back to Oklahoma City on Monday Night, a Juberland
Russell Westbrook and a grateful Kevin Durant for the performance
of Reggie Jackson.

Speaker 7 (28:40):
Look at the love Kevin Durant is giving his teammate.

Speaker 5 (28:44):
Reggie knows he bailed him out.

Speaker 4 (28:45):
I was waking myself up, and yeah, I was just blessed,
very blessed to have a great game. And once we
won that, yeah, I think that was like all the emotions.

Speaker 6 (28:54):
Why you've seen like tears coming around and all everybody
seeing them, like all the work, all the nights.

Speaker 4 (28:59):
I had to trust that at times you don't go
in like you said, you don't know your nerve's gonna
be called. But you.

Speaker 6 (29:06):
Man, what they always said, success is when preparation or
opportunities preparation. So I was like, the preparation is one
hundred that's controllable, and the opportunities Underson, luck and that
was my lucky moment.

Speaker 4 (29:20):
And yeah, that day I sank to level of my training.

Speaker 1 (29:24):
Reg, you had another moment. Man, I don't want to
touch you. I don't want to get to all emotional,
but we got we got to touch on it. Man,
since we're there. When you, uh you went to Detroit,
you did your thing and then you know that just
part of the league. Man, you end up with the
Clippers and you talked about confidence. Man, I remember you
had you had an interview and I remember you just
kind of thinking the Clippers, PG and all them just

(29:46):
like yo, like, thank you for reminding me of what
I was like, thank you for that moment. Like it
got emotional, but REGI I know you, so I felt that. Like, Man,
I'm glad my guys playing, but I know the way
you love and appreciate this game. Talk to me about
that interview.

Speaker 7 (30:00):
Man, first thing I told this guys to Stafty for
saving me. I appreciate it. I appreciate every guy in
the locker room, and I appreciate it. Paul for getting
on my phone last year at the end of the
season when I was talking to do a bio with
Detroit to thank for everything I've experience being here, this city,

(30:22):
making me feel home, this organization, walking home, my quirks,
my strengths, my weakness systems. I'm not here to David
out this team. I'm not still playing without this team.

Speaker 6 (30:38):
So yeah, it was funny, like I really had waned
to quit the year before I was done. We had,
unfortunately the Bubble year. I hadn't been healthy for a
few years in Detroit and it was tough. So after
everything happened in Bubble, I was ready to wrap it up.

Speaker 1 (30:55):
And were you ready to wrap it? When you say
wrap it up, what do you mean wrap it up?

Speaker 4 (30:59):
Read?

Speaker 6 (30:59):
Oh man. I had made generational wealth. I had been
very thankful, very blessed with everything. But I hadn't found
drawing basketball anymore. And there was more the experience. I
didn't get to go on the court and experience, and
I was sitting there. I felt like every day was rehab.
As soon as you get healthy enough to come back,
I had another injury. So it was like I just

(31:20):
got tired of it, got tired of hearing the chatter,
got tired of taking the ridicule.

Speaker 4 (31:23):
When I feel like on the court, I can I
can take it.

Speaker 6 (31:29):
Everything like I don't mind people calling me out, critiquing me, criticism,
whatever you call it. But it got hard to and
I'm sure people feel this in like like when you
feel like you can't fight for yourself, you can't do anything,
and just get it down. So I had got to
that point. I was like, man, I'm cool. I don't
want to do it no more. And my brother just

(31:50):
got me thinking about it. Especially he was like, yo, mall,
like you've done it so long, Like you got to
try at least get your ten, like get year ten,
go back and in the bubble. Like he based on me,
like think about all the fun that I had, like
instead of all the bad. I started so soaking for myself,
always focused on bad. He's like, what's the good.

Speaker 4 (32:09):
Things that.

Speaker 6 (32:11):
Just for the season, And I was like, I ain't
going on, Like it was fun for me working with
the young guys at the time, my guy working with parents, man,
you know, working with a mere coffee, getting a chance
to play.

Speaker 4 (32:27):
Games at the time, joke king knowing just being around
the guys.

Speaker 6 (32:31):
But really is about teaching the young guys and like
trying to help them because there's been people who gave
to me so like I I said, always the name
who resonates, whether it's not necessarily with fans, your average fan,
but for me, it was Ivey, like everything that he
poured in me.

Speaker 4 (32:47):
Everything young and good days. On my bad days.

Speaker 6 (32:51):
Luckily he was right above me, so he poured so
much to me. I was like, I gotta pour it
back into the next guy. So I just wanted to
be right by the game and be around it and
then doing right just being lucky.

Speaker 4 (33:02):
I ended up being blessed, like I have to play
a lot of roles that season. We made it the
first we ever had. We made the West Conence finals.

Speaker 6 (33:09):
And when like you know, was all said and done,
like all my motions poured out, I was like, yo,
if if it wasn't for my brother, if it wasn't
for the time, like Paul called me, just don't quit.
I'm like yeo, man, he didn't force me, but like, yeah,
you got a lock still to give. I'm like, yeah,
I'm done. I'm cool. Whi's been a fun journey together.

(33:31):
He's like, no, man, like, just just.

Speaker 4 (33:35):
Take the time. We can pick up the ball. So
those guys and like having the team trust me in
different roles, embraced me for myself like things that I
whether it be my awkward states or how I am
at times, I'm like they really truly embraced me. The
city embraced me.

Speaker 6 (33:52):
I was just so thankful, like everybody who was on
me with that journey for that year, I was like, man,
if y'all only understood like I was, I was done,
Like I was cool home and wrapping them up and
just watching or even not watching.

Speaker 4 (34:07):
But I I had.

Speaker 6 (34:09):
Accomplished a lot league for myself at already, and I
was just like I said, it was cool being domb.
But I'm just thankful that I had a great circle,
a great team that convinced me I had a little
more of me and never still here.

Speaker 1 (34:23):
Talk to me about that relationship with PG Man. Shout
out PG Man. It's a little bro too.

Speaker 4 (34:27):
Man.

Speaker 1 (34:27):
He was one of the dogs in the gym, and
I remember watching PG just get better and better, Like
it's crazy, you know what they say, like the greats
just get something every summer, like PG has added something
to his game every summer. So talk to me about
PG Man and that relationship with him, man, And people
don't know how forgetting anything that Paul does on the court.
What he does off the court. So talk to me
about PG man. What don't we know about him?

Speaker 4 (34:49):
Man?

Speaker 1 (34:49):
Because he's a that's a thorough dude right there. Man
shout out to his podcast doing a great job over there.

Speaker 4 (34:54):
Also, Yeah, no people.

Speaker 6 (34:57):
One of the most humble guys, one of the most
giving guys, most like loving guys, loyal. So during that
whole lockout when we went to December, you know, not
getting money yet, you got to take out the loan
young guy first year. I'm like, I'm not spending them money.
I'm trying to be as simple as possible. My boys

(35:21):
came out with me early, but then they all got
to go back home. I think it came out for
like the first two weeks of my workouts after being
drafted and all really basically helping move to LA being cool,
like you know, there's gonna be new experience, and everybody
slowly had to go back. So as I'm out there
by myself, a few of the guys, you know, we
worked out, but as we worked that longer. As the

(35:41):
lockouts going on, guys are taking vacations. Of course, you
got families. A few guys are taken off. Now as
I'm getting older, you realize like you can't go as
long as a young guy, like we're always trying to
get better, but sometimes getting better for an older guys
getting the rest. So as became more so people falling out,
some people working out. I'm going back home one of
different cities. PG just remained in the gym and it

(36:04):
was myself a lot and then I remember I didn't
say anything. I think one of the home he's just like
asking me randomly and probably work is how I'm like, yeah,
I ain't.

Speaker 4 (36:14):
I'm not going home for a Thanksgiving, like none of
the holidays. I'm just gonna be out here. I got
a grind because once once they call us like it
was time to go for the lock, there ain't no
days to get ready. Once they called you, basically you
pack up and we all, you know, we take off
the next day and we get back to work. So
my mindset's like I'm gonna get as much work as

(36:34):
I can and with the trainers, I'm gonna do everything
I can and I'm gonna stay really sharp.

Speaker 6 (36:39):
So staying out in LA he just randomly as through
one after one of workout, was just like, yo, what
you're doing for Nexsgeme. I'm like, oh, I'm cool, bro.
I'm like watch the games, like figure it out. I
ain't trying to let him know I'm good. He's like,
you know, just coming with me into the house, like
come back to my house with his family. He's like,

(36:59):
I'm like, oh, like, I'll come pull up on the
homies for a little bit and I'm gonna go back
to my apartment.

Speaker 4 (37:03):
It's like, I'm going home, come with me home. I'm
all right.

Speaker 6 (37:07):
Bet So pulled up showed love for a couple of
days there, and then we just kind of hit it
off like we were real cool.

Speaker 4 (37:16):
So I was working out playing. He's a gamer, I'm
a gamer. We'll kick it.

Speaker 6 (37:19):
We're doing running together, like we start figuring out we
were more into the same thing. And then the next season,
it was funny after the season and I was like, man,
like you got a great year. People forget like you.

Speaker 4 (37:30):
For him because my first year is the second year
and it was unfortunately Danny Granger injury.

Speaker 6 (37:35):
But he like he put him on the back. He
starts taking off and I'm like, oh, shoot, like I
don't I ain't mad, Like we don't hang out and
like I understand you're about to start sending I don't
know what it's gonna be like for you.

Speaker 4 (37:50):
Just all new to me. Like I'm just learning everything.

Speaker 6 (37:53):
Like like I said, I don't never been to like, hey,
you camp, so none of that, so I don't know
how it even works.

Speaker 4 (37:57):
I'm just like, naturally, when we become a bigger star,
you got more to do. So I'm like, I just
try to hit him up, man, like, hey, rose the apartments.

Speaker 6 (38:04):
That you stayed at the last year before, because I'm
just trying to upgrade a little bit, move to a
different like instead of from the hills of the city,
I wanted to move over there, like a little bit
near your Hollywood. He's like, all right, what's up. He's like,
oh yeah, I got fun apartment.

Speaker 4 (38:16):
I'm like, all right, whatever.

Speaker 6 (38:17):
He's like, get back to me a couple of days
and next time and he's like, yeah, bro, you're trying
to just move together.

Speaker 4 (38:21):
I'm like what. And I'm like, yeah, all right, man,
Like I don't really do nothing in La I'm by myself.
So after that, going to my second year, going to
his third, were living together. We probably did that for
like the six seven summers.

Speaker 6 (38:35):
And we just get locked in like that's my brother.
Now family like anything you need his kids or like
my nieces and nephew. I'm like, man, anything his family
ever needs, anything he ever needs.

Speaker 4 (38:48):
Drop over dime. That's because like that's my brother. So
that's my guy.

Speaker 6 (38:51):
And really it was just him, like it was him
reaching out and he showed up.

Speaker 4 (38:56):
So I was like he's always showed love.

Speaker 6 (38:58):
So anything like first All Star game, bringing me along
like all those little things on. Man, I can't help,
but like you need it and I ever got it.
I can't help but help you out.

Speaker 1 (39:11):
Get no shout out, shout out PG man, walk me
through this game winner. Man, you had a night, you
had yourself a nice little game winner. Let's show you
some love with with with the clippers and walk me
through this moment. Man, what don't we know about it?

Speaker 6 (39:25):
Man?

Speaker 1 (39:25):
You Reggie had a few of these in your time.
But let's go. Let's hit this game winner real quick
and then we're gonna talk about with this show what
everybody's been waiting for. You know, you know that let
the cat out the back, But let's talk about this
game winner. First, man, what don't we know about this?

Speaker 4 (39:38):
Reggie?

Speaker 1 (39:39):
What's going on this plane. What's going through your head?
We talked earlier. You are not afraid of these moments,
my man. But Reggie, I also want to ask you,
do you work on these moves? Are these reads? Or
you just go out and just like hoop bro, because
I feel like like you start moving like a video game.
Sometimes cutting the other way.

Speaker 5 (39:58):
One spin up that time, run up to clocks to
move Clippers by one, no turnouts, gears do this the
other way into dreading put it goes, ticks over and
that Clippers have survived in a thriller.

Speaker 2 (40:22):
Wow, what a game that came absolutely down to the
last possession.

Speaker 4 (40:30):
Russell Westbrook.

Speaker 1 (40:32):
They've been running this all night long.

Speaker 5 (40:36):
Reggie Jackson and the Clippers.

Speaker 1 (40:38):
They got the switch they wanted.

Speaker 7 (40:40):
With Reeds and Reggie Jackson's.

Speaker 4 (40:45):
Man, this is just being a kid. He's definitely working.

Speaker 6 (40:48):
But hoofing that one is funny because I think brushes
through the lob for him to go up.

Speaker 4 (40:55):
I'm mad. I'm like, man, how did we see They've
run the same play.

Speaker 6 (40:58):
They'll clear out the backslide, A d sets upscreen live
on the backside, so ad gets it done. I'm mad,
here we go. I'm right there. I'm mad about that.
So I'm like, all I'm thinking is, I'm like, we
gotta get the ball out quick. We coached had already
talked about who were attacking. Oh yo, everybody, and this
is just years of playing and I'm like, you you

(41:20):
get better at it. I'm like, man, just move on
to the next play.

Speaker 4 (41:22):
Move on. My mind start clicking, like for a second.

Speaker 6 (41:25):
After the love I'm mad and the I'm like, hurry,
move on, like I know, get the ball out, serving
amount of time, and I'm looking for the matchup while
I'm hopping is I'm looking, I'm like, yo, where's the matchup?
And I'm trying to tell Terrence I'm buying him time
if you realize. I'm like, come, set the screen. Set
the screen at half court, like I don't care. We
want to go out, like we know. Austin's definitely got better,

(41:46):
but at the time, Austin's young. So I'm like, yo,
we're going at Austin. Like I know, I remember what
it feels like being a young guy. You probably don't
want a foul, you don't want to do anything. So
I'm like, that's the matchup. Hurry upset the screen and
once I see him about to set it. That's why
I with attack and I knew I had to spend
before Russ was coming over. Then on the I'm actually
looking for the past. But I was like, oh snap,
my mind is going off. I was looking off the

(42:08):
drop off pass with the spin. But when Month I
realized it's Month, I'm like, oh, I got a good
chance of it's only it's not too much size. But
really that's why I'm spinning. I was looking for a
D and I realized what is a low man? So
I was like, all right, it's my shot. But yeah,
the lot's going through my mind and I ain't gonna lie.
One of the biggest things probably is we had a

(42:29):
lot of respect. We'll see how they if they keep
it going. But in that locker room, was like, Yo,
we're not losing to this team. Like we got got
a hold of the series right now. I think it's
like ten in a row, Like, Yo, we're gonna keep
this rolling. We ain't trying to lose to the Lakers.
We already know we're a little brother in the city.

Speaker 4 (42:46):
So we got it weekend.

Speaker 1 (42:50):
Yeah, man, No, I'm already knowing. Man, I'm already knowing
because listen, when I played for the Clippers, I don't
know if I lost to the Lakers either. I think
we might have won all those. It's just a little
sweeter when it's across rival. Man, you're sharing. You know,
you know your little brother in the city, trut me.
I know it, Rich.

Speaker 4 (43:05):
I'm just trying to respect.

Speaker 1 (43:08):
All right, rag Let let's get to it. Let's talk
about this championship. Man, you won the NBA Championship this year.
You've had a long journey long everything was going on.
You look up and you fall into I mean the
lap of luxury in Denver. Man, you are part of
something special this year. Talk to me first and foremost

(43:29):
about the championship. Man, What was that feel? What was
it like? What was going on in the locker room?
What was different? And I played for Mike Malone, but
it looks like Michael Malone done leveled up a few times. Man,
wa gonna want to play out? It's over last the
long wait.

Speaker 2 (43:44):
It's over after forty seven years, that Denver Nuggets can
finally call themselves NBA championship.

Speaker 1 (43:53):
What was going through your head winning the NBA Championship
this year?

Speaker 4 (43:57):
What didn't we know, man, I set out to do it.

Speaker 6 (44:00):
It was a Clippers to start the season, but being
a hometown kid, being fortunate enough to come to the
team destined to win it all come back, I was
just blessed. I was thankful to be part of it.
I was thankful at the locker room. Didn't make me
feel like an outsider. They welcomed me open arms. And
it was great just to see how everybody pull for

(44:20):
each other. Everybody's everybody's biggest pan. They root for each other,
and yeah, it was special to see. I can't imagine
it was like being there from day one, but the
maturation throughout the whole process, like even seeing this guy
right now, Jamal got to see his maturation, even from
February to at the time that we won it all
and all the perseverance. Getting to see Yolk work each

(44:43):
and every day. I know his body may not sure,
but man, the work he puts in. I haven't seen
too many individuals.

Speaker 1 (44:51):
Wow, what does his routine look like? What does Yolk do?

Speaker 4 (44:55):
Man? I don't know.

Speaker 6 (44:55):
Routines definitely really relaxed, like when people talking about that
horse ration and watching before game. He definitely knows how
to get himself relaxed. But I don't think people see
like you don't get to see as soon as the
game's over, him hitting the weight room and back on
the court, putting the reps right back in. I'm like,
his touch isn't as great as it is just because
he was born with it. It's countless hours. The way

(45:19):
he sees the game, it was amazing. But like I said,
the way that the team pulled for each other, whether
it was Bruce's Knight game one, Aaron Gordon's night, and
then how well he played and how he was immediately
himself wanting to jump back into his role where he
felt was like he was ready to defend. Like you've
seen some special guys come on, you get like twenty

(45:41):
plus points as easy. Well, the way he was doing it,
ducking in and all some people, that's what allows championship
teams to happen, you know, is he came back and
he's ready to do all the dirty work again rather
than harping on what he had just done and necessarily
won the ball KCP. The way he battled through him injuries,

(46:01):
big shot at the big shot, him believing himself.

Speaker 4 (46:03):
He talked about a guy who can miss eight nine straight.
He literally comes to bench, He's telling us like, yo,
I'm about hit. These two called it hit big shots.
Christian Brown where he stepped up, believed Jeff's.

Speaker 6 (46:15):
Leadership on the court for us, just his demeanor, DJ
even not playing is i'one like I could name the
whole roster. It was great to see how everybody's pulling
for each other and everybody was respectful of everybody, everybody's
role and happy for everybody being a star in their role.
Niggroes my man CB running up and down the street.

(46:37):
I think that's the big thing is a lot of
people don't realize. I could probably say, like the way
he was treated, yok even realizes guy seventeen did his
role what he needed to do on the team this year.
Being a part of organization that realized that was amazing.
The way there was nobody too small, nobody too big.

Speaker 4 (46:59):
Everybody did it. That's the only thing is they realized
everybody did what they had to do for this once
in a lifetime moment happened.

Speaker 1 (47:07):
All Right, guys, Hank, we're gonna get the We're gonna
get the juicy details of your boy. Nicola Jokic him
and his horse racing and the shots that he hit
and all the We're gonna figure out what Nicola yok
Reggie Jackson is gonna tell us. Coming up next on
The NBA Rookie Life.

Speaker 4 (47:20):
With Ryan Hollins.

Speaker 1 (47:24):
M M, talk to me about Jokics man were watching.
We know, I think he's the greatest passing big man
in history easily arguably. I think he's just one of

(47:47):
the greatest passers that the game has ever seen. Like
forget position. When you got into the locker room with Yokic,
What is he like? Is he in your face? Is
he chill? I remember playing with Dirk. Dirk is hilarious,
but it was time to turn it on. He turned
it on. What what what is Jokic like behind the scenes?
And you talked a little bit about him lifting weights

(48:08):
after the game, you know, putting into work that a
lot of people don't see.

Speaker 4 (48:11):
No, he's just he's a hard worker.

Speaker 6 (48:13):
Now, I think you like the comments you here is funny,
especially you know, us being Americans and how we think
of the game A lot of times, like we.

Speaker 4 (48:23):
It it's all the time, has to be everything you
give it to. It takes us.

Speaker 6 (48:29):
Normally being in the lead for a while and takes
some time to find out that we have other interest
outside of basketball, and it's okay to have a good
work life balance, but that's exactly what he has and
what he puts into work is. It messed me up
for a while because I had to realize the way
we treat passions and like our passion, the way that
we wanted a lot of guys to work at their craft.

(48:52):
That's how he respects his what he calls it his job,
That's how he respects work for him. So he never
cheats the game. Like I said, he gives it everything
he can. He's he's locked in, he's on time, he
gives extra hours, he doesn't cheat himself, reps, he studies

(49:15):
countless hours and when it becomes time and play and
be loosing the room as soon as it's almost like
he literally just like work. I think of them nineteen
fifties like workers, you punch.

Speaker 4 (49:29):
In your ticket. Yeah, And that's how I feel like
when I CEO.

Speaker 6 (49:34):
He definitely has times where he's having fun at work,
but it's because it's he's punched out for a second,
he's on break and when he punches back in, he's
all business. There's nothing he can't do. I think if
he wanted to, I think he could score fifty at night.
He's specially doing everything he does. If you look about
the points that he counts for guys, he can score

(49:57):
fifty a night.

Speaker 1 (50:00):
When was the moment where you, guys knew we're going
to win the NBA Championship? When did that? I'm sure
you always believe what there is a moment or a
game or a shot where you're like, oh, we're gonna
win the NBA champion Like it's sometimes you can feel it,
Sometimes you don't know. Sometimes you know.

Speaker 4 (50:17):
Yeah, when you're older. I looked at it. I think
if you must look at each other.

Speaker 6 (50:20):
But DJ, he said at the front of bench, I said,
at the end when Yo hit the one, probably showing
a few times when AD's all over me and he
has a little one legged step back on the right
right after they had just made a great play, I
think the yeh been six and he is that shot
that end the quarter. I was like, I looked at
DJ just kind of last I was like, hey, man,

(50:40):
we're all healthy, we win in the championship.

Speaker 4 (50:45):
What this guy's doing.

Speaker 1 (50:48):
You just catch it off the time it's up.

Speaker 2 (50:50):
Oh it's god. Of course it comes in. Yon'll catch
from town Town. Anthony Davis just stares out of him.

Speaker 6 (50:58):
Just see it you flake against a like when Lebron
turns up and we could turn up. I'm like, he's
turned it to another level. There's still nothing you can
do with this boy. Like there's nothing you can do
with Yoke. He was just on a whole different just
in a different atmosphere, but this one right here. That's
when I was like, yeah, all right, man, we wanted
I literally looked at DJ.

Speaker 4 (51:18):
He tried to tell me so calm down, like, hey,
I'm not gonna get too hype, but hey man, we
won a championship. What he's doing, he's on another planet?

Speaker 1 (51:29):
And what was it?

Speaker 4 (51:30):
Like?

Speaker 1 (51:30):
What was his confidence? Like? Did it was he in
the zone? Is it almost just he's feeling you make
a read but like he just seems like his flow
is just crazy, like I know from playing, like you
can't speed him up. His flow is crazy. What did
you see there? Or is he saying like, well, he
tell you guys, hey, if I go middle cut behind you,

(51:50):
Like what are the things he would say to you
when you play with him?

Speaker 4 (51:53):
Oh no, it's all done. Like you know me, I'm
pick a role player. But like that, teachers like yo,
just get it to him, like cut all this. I'm like,
all right, I gotta make reads from different spots. But
he'll tell you what he sees. He's definitely he's a
timing person. Like he's really he stands timing. He understands
the pitch.

Speaker 6 (52:11):
Like I love watching watching him play because he really
understands the heart of the game. Like there's it's almost
like watching a great quarterback, like when they got you.

Speaker 4 (52:22):
There's nothing you can do.

Speaker 6 (52:23):
He's gonna make the right pass every time and then
it's just on us to make the shots.

Speaker 4 (52:28):
So any teammates.

Speaker 6 (52:29):
But what him and Jamal were doing in two man games,
just watching those guys, yeah, you knew there was They
were into another. They were locked in in a way
different atmosphere, and like I said, there was nothing you
could do. So when Yoga was doing what he was
doing and Jamal was a nothing like.

Speaker 4 (52:47):
Thirty. I don't know he has thirty and whatever, But
on a fifty forty ninety split in the conference finals, guys,
these boys, how was there out of this world?

Speaker 1 (52:59):
Let me ask you still sorry? How was that for you?
Because you know you're always ever since I've seen you
play every every spot in college and the NBA, you're
a primary or combo or ball in your hands, guard,
go mix, and now it's like cut play off the ball.
You know I'm gonna get Like, how was that adjustment
for you?

Speaker 4 (53:18):
Like?

Speaker 1 (53:18):
Was there a second? You're like, all right, let me
see her? Like did it snap real quick? Because you
know I play with Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, so those
guys would they're gonna hit you on the head with
the ball if you ain't ready for it. What was
it making that adjustment? Trusting a big man to facilitate
and run the offense? How different was that?

Speaker 4 (53:35):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (53:36):
No for me, I like, I'm used to pick that roll.
I'm used to being the one running to paper roll.
So it was set like it took me a while.
And that's towards the end, like a coach, I don't
know if I can play in the unit yet, like
if I'm ready.

Speaker 4 (53:52):
I think he was talking to me.

Speaker 6 (53:53):
He's like ye, like I'm gonna have to sit you
down for I'm like, oh, that's fine because it's all
about winning it all.

Speaker 4 (53:57):
But I'm like, I started playing a few men.

Speaker 6 (54:00):
I play here and there, or even if we're in practice,
they're like, yeah, you're starting to figure it out. I
was like, that's what we told even a few of
the assistant coach of drug bar like it takes a
while to figure out how to play this style because
a lot of times it's it's backward skin to what
everybody's been doing.

Speaker 4 (54:16):
But you just playing.

Speaker 6 (54:18):
Trust in it. It's real fun brand of basketball moving
all the time.

Speaker 4 (54:24):
Yeah, you got a guy who find you he can
get fifty at any point, but he's.

Speaker 6 (54:29):
About playing and making the right plays. It just makes
a game that much more fun. Like he shoot, I
look right there. He wanted to pass it. Shoot guys.
He wants to make the right play. So you got
a guy who's like that, your best player in the
court wants to make the right play every time.

Speaker 4 (54:45):
It just makes it fun.

Speaker 1 (54:46):
All right, last one before I get you out of here.
You talk about him punching his ticket, being ready to
work and then going to play one of his famous things.
He's saying. He's like, oh man, do I have to
go to parade? I'm gonna miss my horse racing? What's up?
With him in this horse racing thing.

Speaker 4 (55:01):
Man.

Speaker 1 (55:01):
You know, some of our European brothers just built a
little different, you know, talking to me about this horse racing.
Is he in there, you know, setting up his races
and horses and all that in the locker rooms. What's
going on with that man?

Speaker 6 (55:13):
I ain't been around him enough long enough to really
know that part, but I've seen him definitely watching races.
He's mentioned like he bought a new horse. He'll chat
with you every now and then. I think he told
me he had bought a new horse, and I could
just see how excited he was. It's the same way
like even though for us we made our passion our job.

Speaker 4 (55:31):
He has a passion. So yeah, you want to matter
if we were. For a lot of people in this
world like what they do. True, somebody they have their
nine to five, but they know all that NBA news
that's dropping and I'm like the thang way for him,
he locks in of course he comes to the ticket,
which is crazy to say he's one of the best
at the world. Well, he is the best in the world,

(55:52):
or for some people one of the best at just
something that is his. Maybe they see it the way
he comments might be his job. He's very fastial. You know,
there's nothing wrong with it. I definitely enjoy it.

Speaker 6 (56:04):
It actually keeps us a little loose, and it's always
fun to hear about him when he has his new
horses or.

Speaker 4 (56:08):
What's going on.

Speaker 1 (56:10):
I put you on the spot, Ridge, I didn't mean
to do this is Yoki is the best player in
the planet right now.

Speaker 6 (56:15):
Man, we've just seen last We've just seen let's go.
We just seen this last season. Man, it's always it's
up for argument. People want to debate. Of course, that's
my teammates, so that's I'm wrong way. But the things
that he does, why he makes a game so easy,
the way he's improved defensively, people thinking that being a

(56:36):
knock on him. Yeah, he's got my vote. But man,
you already know this camp. There's a lot of greats
and it's always fun. It's fun. It's hard to even
knock it down to the top ten. But those top
tier players, they're special to see in the top of
the top. Man, Like when I first got here, it

(56:56):
was funny that guys were when I say he's special.

Speaker 4 (57:01):
I've been in the league twelve years at the time
I got over here and when he about three games
in a row, he had trouble double in the first
quarter and I'm looking at it. I'm like, guys, do
you see this? And they're looking at me. Yeah. But
like when I could tell he's normal for him, it's
like yes, I basically I was thinking this is special.

Speaker 6 (57:19):
I was like, hey, that is undreal that he can
do that, something that is special, and y'all have made
it now normal.

Speaker 1 (57:31):
Look, man, I listen. My only question with him was
can he score? Can he take off? I know the
passing the field was there, and for me this last season,
there's no question he's the best player on the planet
right now the way that I don't know if I've
seen a player manipulate the game the way that he
does since like like prime Lebron obviously, because Lebron gonna

(57:53):
eat you with pass him, but he's just it's in
a different way. So I think we can I agree
with I'm gonna go and say it. If you don't
want to say teammate or not, I agree right now
he's the best player on the planet with especially this
last season, there's no there's no question there to manipulate
the game from the five spot. That's that's ridiculous. And
then today where you can't switch with him, so it

(58:15):
like messes everything up because game plan, you know, you
want to switch and then battle and all, and he
literally punishes you. He got layups like at the cup
like all serious workouts.

Speaker 4 (58:26):
Literally it's like a workout, like as a big it
shoot me and you together and messed that up. I'm like,
do I hedge? Am I switching? Are you going over?
You're going under?

Speaker 6 (58:36):
You can step back and shoot it like he can
handle it and I can't necessarily if I gamble and
I missed. And now the guards back cutting because now
you're on the ball.

Speaker 1 (58:45):
And that's Jamal Murray back cutting. That's you and Jamal Murray.
That's you and Jamal Murray. Ain't just anybody you and
Jamal Murray back.

Speaker 7 (58:52):
I can't wait as a guard. It took me a
while to start realizing that's all. I was like, why
y'all want Like I'm a guard, why do y'all want
any back cutting? I'm like, I'm back cutting to a
center and it's like, no, the center is out at
the threefold.

Speaker 4 (59:02):
I'm like, facts, Oh, I'm cool back at don't we man?

Speaker 6 (59:06):
The next guy is six ' nine, and I'm like,
now that you can, there's a lot more finishing room
you can body, guys.

Speaker 4 (59:13):
It makes the game so much easier.

Speaker 6 (59:15):
It's been like, I can't wait to now be in
a training camp together, being able to play with these
guys because I first got here. Guys, this is this
is whole. This is fully backwards from what I'm used to.

Speaker 1 (59:28):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, well shoe braids. Like I said, honest,
all right, I'm gonna get you out of here now.
But I appreciate you, brother, thirteen year pro. I could
not be cannot be happier. I watched you put your
head down and work and grind and love this game,
and this game has been good back to you and
you were rewarded with an NBA championship. Could not be
happy for you. And like you said, man did it
at the crib, so I know that's always pretty cool.

(59:50):
But rad J also you took the time to bless
the NBA Regular Podcast. Where can we find you? Where
can we support you? Ig? Any charitable foundations you want
to be a part of Twitter or I guess the
X now whatever it's called. But where can we support you?

Speaker 4 (01:00:06):
Man?

Speaker 1 (01:00:06):
Thank you for coming out.

Speaker 4 (01:00:07):
Man.

Speaker 6 (01:00:08):
No, man, I can get back to you on that,
but I think the biggest thing is just continue to
spread love. That's my biggest message is spread love, see
yourself and somebody else, and man, just do you best,
be happy and enjoy.

Speaker 1 (01:00:21):
Jason James, thank you guys for coming out again. We
cannot do this without you. Take one moment, take five seconds,
man like follow, subscribe, shout us out man. We need
more love so we can do some cool stuff. And guys,
let me know who would you guys like to see
come up next on NBA Rookie Life for Ryan Hollins.
Appreciate you and see you next week.