November 7, 2023 • 34 mins
Former Magic man and Puerto Rican National Team General Manager Carlos Arroyo joins the squad to discuss his time in Orlando, the trade that sent them there from Detroit and the promise made to him by Joe Dumars, the Puerto Rican community in Central Florida and what it meant to him, backing up John Stockton and tons more. Lock in!
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
We've got to go to.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
On this edition of Magic Pod Squad, we catch up
with former Magic player, nine year NBA veteran Carlos Arroyo,
now the general manager of the Puerto Rican national basketball team.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Just one of the many things on his current resume.
He's in the music, he's been in movies, just an
unbelievable professional basketball career, and now he's building something special
with the Puerto Rican national team. Magic fans apport a
Department of Transportation reminds you that fans dorole, that fans
drive drunk. If you've been drinking, don't get behind the wheel. Instead,
find a sober driver or catch a ride service. Remember,
(00:36):
drive sober or get pulled over, have a great night,
and drive safe. Lots to get into with Carlos Arroyo,
including how he got to Orlando, his conversation with Joe Dumars,
then the general manager of the Pistons that ultimately led
to Carlos arriving here in City beautiful, how much he
appreciated the Puerto Rican in the Latin community for completely
(00:58):
embracing him during his three years here in Central Florida,
something that he is eternally grateful for, and what he's
up to now with the Puerto Rican national team. Terrific
stuff with Carlos Arroyo on this edition of Magic Pod
Squad does his.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Fawns long enough to Orlando Magic. This is Cole Anthony,
This is Jennon Suggs, This is Paulo Man Carroll the
Orlando Magic and you're listening to the Pods Squad. Hey, welcome.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Eber went to another edition of Magic Pod Squad Dante Marcatelli,
George Galante, Jake Chapman, and Carlos Arroyo, former Magic player
now the general manager with Team Puerto Rico, doing.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
A fantastic job building that team. Carlos played nine NBA
seasons from two thousand and one to twenty eleven. Three
here in Orlando from two thousand and five to two
thousand and eight, And Carlos, is this right? I knew
you had played, I knew you had a long career overseas,
but I think you stopped playing professionally about six months ago.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
I have good depth.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
I mean, nineteen ninety six to twenty nineteen, that's a heck,
that's a head giver career.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
My friend. It's been a long journey, but you know,
a great one. I mean the Big three, you know
cows as part of my career as a professional.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yes, well, it's always great to see a college. We
appreciate you doing this all over due to catch up,
but kind of let everybody know what you're up to now.
I know, between running team Puerto Rico, between following your
daughters around and their volleyball career, I mean, I don't
know I have time for anything else.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Yeah, I've been fortunate to you know, be able to
uh say on my feet as you can say, I mean,
and then do little things here and there. I like
to have the flexibility of not being at a job,
you know, and committed to a job undred percent. I
like to you know, be with the national team as
well as you know, following my girls around with volleyball
and my oldest other and she's already in college, and
(02:51):
I got the two little ones at the house, and
you know, you know, in the national team itself.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
It's it's a it's.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
A twenty four seven jobs throughout the year, you know,
with qualifiers that we have with FEBA and recruiting and.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
All that stuff.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
So you know, I try to stay pretty busy. I've
done music here and there, and I was able to
you know, be a part of a movie you know
that came with the music. So doors, doors, those doors
open for me. I just try to take advantage of,
you know, the things that I did when I was
playing and the doors that are opening now.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And I've been blessed to be honest with you guys.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
He's being modest. He's being modest. He says music here
and there. He's a music sensation.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
With saying we can't gloss over and like like we
can't get into that a little bit now, we can't
just gloss over the music part of this.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
I mean it was always a passion of mine.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
You know, I never had the time because I was
always traveling when I was in the league and when
I was in Europe. So and you know his producing
music takes a long time. You know, you have to
be in the studio for you know, so many hours.
I mean, you know, I had kids at home and
I had to go to my wife.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Arm the other and you know, when are you coming on?
Why are you going to retired? You should be you know,
so you go through all those ups and downs of
you know, being retired and wanting finding yourself, you know,
you know, seeing what what fits better, uh, once you're
done playing. But you know, for the most part, you know,
my family supports everything I do. So it's been a blessing.
Speaker 6 (04:21):
Now do they get to come on, like because we
were doing this podcast right now and you're you're in
Chile right now. Yeah, Like, do they do they get
to come on some of these excursions with you? I mean,
you're you're riding all over the world. Still not really, Yeah,
we were, you know, we had the World Cup this summer.
We were in Philippines, and we had all those exhibition
games before the World Cup leading to the World Cup.
(04:42):
So we wait to Italy, survey and all these places.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
But not really. You know, my girls they do travel
well in the summer and throughout the year. They do
the clubs.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
You know, they have the club seasons and you know,
now I'm o oldest season and Dane Hyland she got
a scholarship to play volleyball with it. So she's over
there going through her freshman year. And my two little
ones are in school where they have their own activity.
So my wife is always you know, she's the one,
you know, she's ober drive at the house when I'm
not there so but you know, I like, you know,
I love taking my kids to school. You know, I
(05:11):
loved that part of being a father as well. You know,
I miss so much when I was playing and traveling.
You know, I'm just trying to catch up with those
times that I missed.
Speaker 7 (05:20):
Carols, What appealed to you about producing music when you
got started? How how did it sort of take you
away from from the grind of being a pro basketball player.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
You know what pushed me to to do music was
you know, at the time I retired, the music business
was just growing so fast, especially the reggae tall and
Latin urban music. And you know, I decided, I said,
you know what, I have a great relationship with all
these artists. Why do I, you know, try to find
a label that can support the vision that I have
with the project that I wanted.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
To do and and you know, maybe I can make
some money. And it went like that. It wasn't easy, But.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
I thank God for basketball every day because of the
relationship that I build, because of the respect that I
got for the years that I played in the national
team and then the NBA. You know a lot of
those guys, you know, we build religions when I'm friends
with most of these guys. So but it wasn't easy,
you know that the music industry, you know, especially when
you're trying to do a collapse, you have to be
(06:18):
after guys constantly, you know, to jump on the track
or you know, find time to do a video or
you know, because their schedules are so so different than
you know, athletes, and they don't have no time discipline
when it comes to going to studio. You know, they
might tell, you know, I'll be there at eight and
they show up at twelve.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
You know what I'm saying. But you one of the features.
So you have to kind of like you have to
suck it up and you know, and grind.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
George doesn't feel bad because he's been chasing around NBA
players for twenty five years, so he knows exactly what
you're talking.
Speaker 8 (06:52):
Right, I do not feel bad now, you know about
to sit around and wait part of this, right, I
always like to tell each other it's like, oh, we
spent a lot of times sitting around and waiting, you know.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Far athletes, athletes as you know, George and Dante as
you know. You know, if we have practice at ten,
we probably there as nine true.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I see what I'm saying. Actually, you know, and artists
they are not like that. They might not show up.
They might not show up and I'll tell you why
they didn't show up. You know. So their schedule is
just very is it, you know, mixed?
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Is it different on a movie set? Did you enjoy
that experience? I imagine those things have to happen like clockwork.
When you set up to shoot a movie that was great.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Uh, you know, that was one of those experiences where
you know, you try to you're in a situation where
you've never been you know music. Yeah, I've been doing
music since Ide with a kid, you know, and you know,
with my friends back home in Puerto Rico.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
But you know, being at a.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
Movie set, you know, everything is by the clock, and
everything is very disciplined structure, you know, you know, call
up at five in the morning, you have somebody there
for thirty already waiting on you to get, you know,
to the studio that can do makeup and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
And or they say, you know, action is action, you know,
whatever time they tell you. It's more structure than the
music business.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I want to get into this car. We know it
because We had you here for three years, and it
was a fun three years here in Central Florida. It
was fun for us to get to know you, and
I know it was fun for the fans and a
lot of Puerto Rican fans here in Central Florida, so
I know they'd love to have you here, and I
know you enjoyed your time here as well. But let
everybody know your basketball journey. Ultimately you get to the NBA,
but your story and to make it, and you know,
(08:25):
to be an NBA player to have the career you
had is fascinating and it's it's a credit to the
hard work that you put in.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Thank you, Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
I think most of Latino's not my journey, but you
know I was one to raise in Puerto Rico turn
pro when I was sixteen.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
My father wanted me to turn pro when I was sixteen.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Back then, you can still play in your college and
you know, I could still play in the NCAA and
go back home and make some money and you know,
be a pro and be a part of Division one basketball,
which it was my dream.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
That wasn't drafted.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
You know, I had pretty solid senior year and I
got invited to some vetcams. We decided to go with
the Toronto Raptors. That opened the doors for me that
first year. So I went to vetcamp them having fifteen
guarantee contracts, which I told my agent, I don't know
what I'm doing here, because you know, there's no way
I can make a team. I did well enough for
them to open a spot for me and give me
(09:21):
a non guaranteed contract. So I was with them to
like half of the season, and then I went to
Spain that first year, played a month there, and finished
the season with Denver. They got me a ten day
card again. After that, I signed with Utah and then
I was I think from Utah, I went to Detroit
and then and then that's where I ended up in Orlando.
(09:42):
But I mean, my journey's been one of you know,
of those journeys that you'd say, you know, where's even
gonna end up next? But I really learned that appreciated
every coach that I had, every teammate that I had.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
I played with some great players. I was fortunate enough
when I was in a land.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
I know, my first year with Grant you know, and
Stakesy Argument and all those guys, you know, uh, the
white and his speak.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
So I was blessed. I was blessed my whole career.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
I learned a lot from every organization that I was
a part of, and even when I went to Europe.
It was a moment where in Europe where I was like,
can I do this because it's just different culture wise.
You know, it hits you when you go to Europe.
It's not for everyone. So I had to adapt. Even
though I was playing in the.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
National team and I had just FHEBA rules and the
way they played. It was totally different from the NBA.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
But I playing with the national team and helped me
at that better. But I still had to get adjusted
with you know, the food and the language and the culture.
It was just, you know, it was just difficult times.
Speaker 9 (10:45):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I was there by myself most of the times. My family,
you know, went with me.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
My first year in Europe was in Israel, so I
told my wife that's when I had my first daughter,
and I told him I'm going to go first to
see how it is and everything gets settled, and then
I'll bring you guys over the same when I went
went to Turkey, and my last year was with the
Barcelona in Spain. But you know, the treatment and the
care that you know they gave me was was amazing,
(11:11):
was first class at all times.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
You know, I always felt that I was in a
situation where I was going to be successful and and
I have an opportunity to play my game, which I missed.
You know, I feel like one of the years in
the NBA that I really felt like I was playing
my game and I was really happy on getting ready
for games and traveling, and so was with Orlando. To
be honest with you, you know, I got to play minutes. Uh.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Brian gave me an opportunity from from the start when
I got to to Orlando, and you know, and I
was able to you know, showcase Uh you know part
of my game that I was unable to showcase.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
When I was with the other teams. Aside from you know,
I felt like I was in Puerto Rico when I played.
And as you guys remember this is all of flags.
It was. It was just an amazing experience, you know. Uh.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
And I felt that every time I went to Orlando
with the teams, you know, every time I quote, you know,
I felt like I was a Puerto Rico people coming
and supporting you know that, you guys know the Porto
Rican community and Orland Lose amazing and growing. So you know,
my journey's been a special one and I truly miss it.
Uh sometimes I miss it. I don't miss the grind
(12:17):
of it, you know, waking up and training and all
that stuff. But I missed the locker room, you know,
and the group people I met throughout my journey and
basketball in general. Just giving me a light that I
can't complain and truly blessed.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Carlos, Carlos.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Before we get in, they saw some of your Orlando
teamates because you were here right when some of those
guys were just starting to pick you know, the Dwights
and the Jamiers. You played with John Stockton for the
last year of his career, last two years of his career.
But what was it like playing with the guy? I mean,
because I went back and looked just to see, Oh,
let me see how many games he played in his
John Stockton and he started all eighty two of late
(12:55):
thirty one minutes.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
The last year while you were there.
Speaker 6 (12:58):
I mean, what was it like to I mean, that
was one of your first stops in the NBA ended
up being with one of the arguably greatest point guards
ever to play it in.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
You know, and you know it was funny. John was
the starter and the backup was Mark Mark Jackson, So
I was behind the number one and number two assist
leaders in the history of the game. So that he's hand.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
You know, that year for me was a clinic the
whole year. You know, it's just watching them, how they
prepare for games, how they saw the game. I was
asking a lot of questions, but that truly helped my
game mature and a professional level. But John was very quiet,
you know, I was just I would just watch them,
and you know, at the times I was asking him
(13:41):
questions why he saw pick and roll situations, how to
manage you know, the time when he was in the game,
when the game was on the line, fourth quarters, you know,
decision making and stuff like that. It was just a
true master man.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
He was. It is my and then it doesn't matter.
You could never pressure it. It's like kind of like
watching you got You can have a guy brush him
ninety feet, but he's gotta go to his own speed,
you know. So that's what I like about John and
every drill.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
You know, he took it personal. If we were running seventeens,
he will make sure he was the first one, you know,
just to prove that he's not old. But he was
a tube professional man.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I can honestly say I was a last substitution.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
For John Stopton, you know, and Sacramento. I was a
big guy that brought about axcepting out coach flow. So
you know, I asked me this t a wow that
he came out. I think it was the playoffs in Sacramento,
But that moment in itself I would take with me
forever because you know, me going in there and give
him high five and you know, give him kind of
(14:45):
like a little earlier after he walked out the last
time he walked out of the court, that was a
truly special moment for me.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Well, the guy had replaced the other guy that replaced George.
That's an answer to a trivia question. After nineteen years
of starting point guard, the guy that replaced him as
the starting point guard the next year was this man,
Carlos the Royal. Right, and and maybe probably the best
statistical year of your NBA career that that year starting
in Utah.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Absolutely absolutely, I remember, you know, I had a lot
of pressure from from the media back.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Then because they were you know, are you're the.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Next one, You're ready to you know, take on, you know,
that responsibility. And I said, look, I'm only here to
take advantage of the opportunity, just like John did when
he was given that opportunity.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
So, but you know, it's a lot of pressure, you know.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
I can honestly say that, you know, mentally, I was
trying to prepare myself to not mess it up.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And but I had a structure team, you know, with
Jerry Swam. You know, he was very determined with doing
things right, very disciplined with his structure and how he
wanted us to play. And as you guys know, you know,
Jerry doesn't mess around, you know, and he's the same
at practice I shoot around in games. You know, he's
the same way. So and and it helped my game
(16:07):
to be honest withy, I don't, you know, just stay
in line with what I needed to do as a
point guard and as a young point guard too, trying
to find myself. I knew that you did that first
year that he gave me the ball, I said, you know,
run the team. I knew that, you know, I needed
to be focused and my best season.
Speaker 7 (16:24):
So if that was your best year, your second best year,
I would think statistically was at six oh seven season
here you mentioned some of your teammates. That was my
intern year, so quick personel story. I had to hold.
I was the radio intern. I had to hold the
my gap to practice after in the newt rounds. And
you guys were such a great group. I don't know
if I'm still doing this all these years later if
not for people like you, Jamiir, Tony Batigue, he I'm dueling,
(16:47):
and of course grand Hill. He's the first NBA player
who ever called me my name back to me, which
I will never forget. Can you just talk about that
group a little bit and and what you learned from
guys like Jamir and specifically Grant, just as far as
being a teammate now the leadership lessons that I'm sure
you brought into heading up the Puerto Rican national team.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
You know, speaking of our Grant, I saw him and
uh uh you were able to set up a game
with UFA and Vegas this summer, so I saw him there.
You know, he's part of the us USA basketball now
and it was great. CM. He was always just a
great leader. Always very positive, very soft spoken all the time.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
You know.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Uh, he knew it'll calm you down at moments of adversity,
which I like. But it was just a fun group.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
I think, you know, Dwight in itself, he kept him
and Jamie, he kept the group always laughing and doing little.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Jokes here today, you know how they were.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Kean was kind of like a jokes too, but he
was serious when we needed to be serious.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
But t was our o G. You know, Stacey Augman
was our o G.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
So we had a great balance on that team, you know. Uh,
and me coming in, I was just trying to fit in.
I think when I came in, I played one game
with see Press. That was the only game I think
it was in Cleveland that.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
We play together. And then I think orlanda kind of
a wake them or something.
Speaker 8 (18:05):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
But I know I had to.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
I know we were trying to fight, you know, we
were finally trying to you know, stay afloat and trying
to make the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
That we missed a couple.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
Of games that year, but we had we had to
run that uh that last part of the year.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
But I enjoyed it. I was just happy to be
in Orlando. To be honest with you, Uh, well, there
was rumors about me being traded.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
You know.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
I met right away with Joe Dumars and Detroit and
I told him, look, I don't want to leave, but
if if you're going to trade me anywhere, please.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Let it be on that Is that right?
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (18:34):
You asked for this? Yeah? Cool? Oh yes, yeah, there
was too. There were rumors because remember dark old Minischik.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Yes, he wasn't he wasn't happy you know, you know
in Detroit, and they weren't happy with him either, so
they were trying to move them. And uh, there was
a period of like two weeks where it was you know, strongly,
you know, there was they were considering trading him, and
and there was rumors that I was part of that
past page with with darkle so and I had a
(19:02):
great relationship with Joe, and I said, Joe, you know, uh,
can we talk for a second.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
So we went to his office. I said, look, because
I didn't want it to sound like I wanted to leave,
you know, I had or Detroit was a great group too,
you know, and we had just down to the finalist
too the year before. And I told him there's a
lot of rumors. I don't want to leave, but and
I hear that I'm being you know, chopped around with
with Darko. I said, all I asked is that if
(19:28):
you trade me, please trade me to a life. I
want to be close to home. I feel like I'm
home there. You know, oh the Flags, this is that community.
And he took his glasses off and his right. I remember,
it's like yesterday. He took an answers. He answered right away.
So he's quiet. He looks at me and he said,
and he said look at me. I'm like, okay, And
(19:50):
he's like, I give me my word. If you're not
here with me, you're gonna be in Orlando. Is that
is that if that deal goes through.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
I was like okay, And then uh, I think we
went to we went to Ohsta weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
That's when we got treated. Remember and uh he called
me and so Carlos, I always spoke a week ago.
Fortunately had to make the trade. Blah blah blah. But
I give you my word, you're going with all lad
So I was kind of like, so as soon as
I hung up, I started like I was scaring and
out until my wife we going on that so were
(20:28):
we were truly excited. Man, it was an opportunity that
I really.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
Wanted to to be a part of that. You know,
that club and Orland that's always been you know home
for me. You know, we go there to take the
kitchen Didney.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
It's two hours from the I mean four hours from
the house. Uh. So you know, I felt like I
could fit in it. And you know with the guys
and and uh the teams that the team that you
guys had back then, so and I could welcome to
uh you know, we had a mix up open veterans
and young guys as well. So I felt comfortable right away.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
I think was there too, Yeah, yes he was. He
came here your last year. He had Rashard, you had Turkey,
had Dwight Jamire. I mean you had the.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Start of Shaun Stevens. Stevens. Yes he was, yes, he was, Yes,
he was. He was fun.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah he was you know he keep you inddressed. Uh
but what George, we played together, that's right. You There
was a lot asked of Carlos with that because there
was a lot of there was a lot of there's
a big Puerto Rican community here which fully embraced you,
as you mentioned, but you made time. I always marveled
at that because you could have filled your entire day
(21:35):
with with with go and visit this person, visit this
person in this autograph. But he did it, didn't he He
he wanted to be a part of that cause you
I always marvel at how much you embraced that part
of it, Carlos, with that with that community, I was.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I was just grateful.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
I was grateful for the love and I was thank
for for people coming, you know, night in and night out,
supported and brought the flags out. You know, it was
just we started having Latin night.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
I don't know if you guys had that for.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
We did not.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
I think Joey was a big part of that as well,
uh through n Carlos Velis too.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
They were a great group.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
You guys had up a great group that you know,
really supported me and make sure that I was out
there in the community showing love too. And I think
that was a great part of uh, of that energy
that that I brought when I went to to you know,
to Orlando, because of the community that was behind you know,
our team. So I was just grateful, man, I was,
I was, uh in a place where I always wanted
(22:32):
to be, so you know.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
And I expected that and it happened and it came through.
So I was just I wasn't all with everything.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
Well, I re level when we got when we traded
for Carlos, we had you know, we I knew we
had a big Latin community in central Florida, but you know,
it didn't really touch us until we got VI you
and I remember, I remember immediately when the trade came,
Linda Lamb and Gonzalez was on our staff and Joey Cologne,
and they immediately came to Joel and Tricia and I
(23:01):
and just said listen, like this is going to open
up the whole new world for you guys. We're kind
of we're kind of looking at her and like, come on, like.
Speaker 9 (23:10):
You can't be like we we we had Shaquille and
Neo Penny like we're good, like yeah, and then it
but it was it was like this whole and even
now we have a we have a Hispanic media list
that we now we still use to this day to
twenty twenty three that.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
We didn't have before.
Speaker 6 (23:27):
We really didn't And I kind of trace it all
back to you coming close to to to Orlando.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
That was beautiful, man, that was beautiful.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
I mean, I was in shock, but I was expecting
people to support our team. But I was in shock
with the magnitude of the energy of everybody. Just We're
having Regguatory.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Knights concerts right after the game. Yeah, And it was
not like there was like one hundred people two hundred.
It was like five thousand people, aren't there? Oh, we
were producing postgame radio shows during those concerts. I'm not spot.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
You're exactly right. You mentioned Brian Hill. Brian Hill was
a big fan of yours. He was a big fan
of Darko's too. It was something special with that group.
But I know Darko struggled in Detroit and and and
you know, I know he wasn't as happy being there.
But but he was a talented individual. Carlos Darko was
a guy that he accepted his role here. He did
what Brian asked of him, and you know, blocking shots,
(24:23):
protecting the rim. What do you remember? But it was
a hard The NBA life was hard on Darko. Well,
what what is your take on on his on his
NBA portion of his journey.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
I think he was very misunderstood, right, you know, Darko
was extremely talented, could task you know, the fat and
he could score, and he could do anything, you know,
he wanted to. And at the same time, I don't
know if he was as passionate for the game as
other guys. So it kind of made me rough the
league the wrong way because it ain't show it, you know.
(24:56):
But he loved basketball, but he was just not pas
shouldn't like to go out and get extra you know,
training and you know, get to a city and find
a high school gym and go shoot. You know. He
wasn't like that. He wasn't as dedicated as as you
should be when you're in the NBA, and that might
have were up guys and teams the wrong way. And
(25:18):
at times it showed in the games at times you
see him playing and he was just this interest. He
looked dis interest. But I think that was part of
his personality as well. He was just like that. He
was European. He come from a place where, you know,
his family probably had to go through war situations in
the past and tough situations, you know, and you know,
(25:39):
going into a culture where everybody's dedicated and loved and
very passionate about the game, it's just different. You know,
cultural wives. He was just built different, you know, but
he was very missing. I loved dark Girl, you know,
I love dark Girl, you know. And and guys on
the team could tell you, you know, we loved dark He
was funny and all. Wait, ye feel overwhelming.
Speaker 7 (26:01):
The the amount of the amount of pressure on you
from the Puerto Rican community just kind of and and
even still, I mean, you are you're mister Puerto Rican
basketball essentially, and there are a lot of people who
kind of tie tie their hopes to you.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Is it Does it ever make you sort of want
to hide for a day and get a breather? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (26:21):
And if you had to pay for a meal since
you beat Team USA and O four and the Olympics,
have you have you had to have you had to
pay for anything into Rico?
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Yes, yes, yes I do. I mean I've got share
with my my premio here and there. You know. But no,
I'm learning young. You know that. You know I embraced it.
I embraced it.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
You know my parents, you know, they they taught me
from a young age. You know, I was national team
was a religion.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
You know a lot of what growing up. You know,
I watched the national.
Speaker 5 (26:56):
Team since I was a young kid and it was
always a dream of mind to be a part of
that team. But you know, I think, uh, you know,
once I made it to the league, you know, I
started getting you know, recognition, and then once that those
two thousand and four Olympics, you know, after that, just
I think my life changed completely from a from a
marketing standpoint, you know, and and try to move my
(27:19):
name with brands in Puerto Rico and internationally that I
could you know, benefit.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
From and grow and grow my brand. You know, it
helped me a lot. But after those two thousand and
four Olympics, you know, and then you know, doing well
in the NBA helped my name as well to be
able to open doors and internationally with the national team
open the doors for me in Europe as well. So
I've always embraced that, the love and the uh it's
(27:46):
a huge responsibility obviously, you know, you have to kind
of like have your your mirror plan.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
You know, You've always I'm always kind of inspiring the
next generation where I was when I was a player
and now as and toory general manager for the national
team and instructuring this the federation moving forward for years
to come. You know, I always constantly have to deal
with new players coming in and now, recruiting and staying
(28:11):
in touch with the guys that are a part of
the national team now and just try to build a
structured team and a culture within our federation, federation where
guys that are were not born and raised in Puerto
Rico can understand what it means to represent Puerto Rico
and still feel proud of what you were in the uniform.
So uh, but you know, I've embraced it since I
(28:34):
was a kid, and I learned to end. I've grown
understanding the business part of it and then the human
part of it, which is the love from the community
and the people. Every time they see and they want
to take a picture, they want you to, you know,
speak about it all the years in the NBA and
what it means to represent Puerto Rico here and there.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Uh, I've learned how to maneuver. I've always had a
good solid team around me, you know, you know, uh,
my family and my pr people that keep me grounded
as well, I think, which I think is very important.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
So I've never thought that I'm bigger than the national
team or bigger than Puerto Rico. Bigger than you know,
always kind of like you know, moving. So I'm grateful
for the opportunity that the game gave me and just
try to embrace it and carry myself with respect as
much as I can.
Speaker 6 (29:22):
I know we're getting close to the end here, but
by the time this drops, we're going to be in
Mexico City playing against the Hawks. And we're very excited
because you're going to be there. Is it What does
it mean? You know, as as an international kid, what
does it mean to see have an NBA game in
a place like Mexico City or or somewhere abroad.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Man, I wish you were cold to play the Puerto
Rico man. I like that happened me too. I know
we were able to carry on a concert at the game.
That we can't bring a game to Puerto Rico, you.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Know against the Pelicans. You don't have magic Pelicans with
Jose Alvarado.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
And Porto, you know, we can't make that happen. Say
it's one of the guys that ever recoup a They
saw our national team as well, so hopefully we get
made something happen. Uh, But I'm excited. I think globally
the game is growing continues to grow.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
And you know at Lanta America, you know, Hispanics are
very passionate about the game. Uh, just and beautiful to see,
you know, especially Orlando, you know, being that it's in
a in.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
A in a state where you know it's a Hispanic community.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
I think having that game in Mexico will help a lot,
will continue to build, uh, the NBA brand worldwide, and
and I just think it's great, you know, to have
those types of games in other countries.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Are you doing the postgame concert, Carlos? At least? How
about a good answer. What are you telling hey, Carlos?
Last thing?
Speaker 1 (30:54):
You know as well as we're getting ready for this,
we're looking back on your career and you're seeing Vince Carter,
roll on, John Stockton, Dwight Howard, Mark Jackson. Right, you
look at it, people aren't fortunate enough to play with
that caliber player throughout their entire career. And also success.
You went to an NBA finals, conference finals, You've won
championships overseas. When you think about all of that interaction, right,
(31:16):
and all the greats that you've played with, all the
success that you've had, how does that help you in
your role?
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Now?
Speaker 1 (31:21):
What are some of the biggest takeaways that you have
from that experience, because he can.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
Walk into a meeting and take his resume and just
drop it on his ton and just go, damn, let go.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Let's here's the picture. Here's a picture of me supping
out on John Stockton for the last time.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yeah, why don't you here's It takes two hours to
read my resume and I'll be back.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yeah, right, man, I can't complaint. I've been extremely blessed
and grateful for you know, I continue to say that
because as you mentioned, you know, my last two years
was in my last year the NBA and Boston where
I had Shack and I have you know, uh Paul
and KG and Ray Allen, right Miami was with those guys.
(32:02):
So I think the.
Speaker 10 (32:04):
Game has really shown me to be professional at all times,
be humble with every everyone you meet, the new generation,
be a mentor, you know, and uh.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
With everything that I've learned outside of the of the
the court and on the court, you know, I think
that's helped me grow with to see the game from
a different perspective, from a business perspective as well, and
you know, it's just has opened the doors for me
worldwide at which my son would love and be as
fascionate as I was when I was a kid playing
(32:39):
back when he really hates it, you know, yeah, and
you know and you know, so that he can actually
live and go through the experiences that I went through,
as you know, as a basketball player loving this game.
But I think overall everything from it, from different aspects
of the game, I've learned and I still appreciate the
(33:01):
life that I have now being retired.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
You know, I can look back and say, look, I
did this that. Wow, I can't. I can't believe it.
You know, I'm just truly honored and blessed. We'll be exacted.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Well, we're so appreciative of your time, and we're proud
of your Carlos, with all you've done and you continue
to do. And we can't wait to see you in
in Mexico City and Georgia back up on the post
game concert. He'll be ready, he'll be.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Ready to get.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Yeah, and best of guys, keep keep up the great
work with Team Puerto Rico. We'll be cheering, y'all, and
that's fantastic. Carlos, take care, Thank you, thank you. I
appreciate you that you got it. That'll do it for
this addition of Magic Pod Squad. We'll see you next time.
We've got to go to.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
On this edition of Magic Pod Squad, we catch up
with former Magic player, nine year NBA veteran Carlos Arroyo,
now the general manager of the Puerto Rican national basketball team.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Just one of the many things on his current resume.
He's in the music, he's been in movies, just an
unbelievable professional basketball career, and now he's building something special
with the Puerto Rican national team. Magic fans apport a
Department of Transportation reminds you that fans dorole, that fans
drive drunk. If you've been drinking, don't get behind the wheel. Instead,
find a sober driver or catch a ride service. Remember,
(00:36):
drive sober or get pulled over, have a great night,
and drive safe. Lots to get into with Carlos Arroyo,
including how he got to Orlando, his conversation with Joe Dumars,
then the general manager of the Pistons that ultimately led
to Carlos arriving here in City beautiful, how much he
appreciated the Puerto Rican in the Latin community for completely
(00:58):
embracing him during his three years here in Central Florida,
something that he is eternally grateful for, and what he's
up to now with the Puerto Rican national team. Terrific
stuff with Carlos Arroyo on this edition of Magic Pod
Squad does his.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Fawns long enough to Orlando Magic. This is Cole Anthony,
This is Jennon Suggs, This is Paulo Man Carroll the
Orlando Magic and you're listening to the Pods Squad. Hey, welcome.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Eber went to another edition of Magic Pod Squad Dante Marcatelli,
George Galante, Jake Chapman, and Carlos Arroyo, former Magic player
now the general manager with Team Puerto Rico, doing.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
A fantastic job building that team. Carlos played nine NBA
seasons from two thousand and one to twenty eleven. Three
here in Orlando from two thousand and five to two
thousand and eight, And Carlos, is this right? I knew
you had played, I knew you had a long career overseas,
but I think you stopped playing professionally about six months ago.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
I have good depth.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
I mean, nineteen ninety six to twenty nineteen, that's a heck,
that's a head giver career.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
My friend. It's been a long journey, but you know,
a great one. I mean the Big three, you know
cows as part of my career as a professional.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yes, well, it's always great to see a college. We
appreciate you doing this all over due to catch up,
but kind of let everybody know what you're up to now.
I know, between running team Puerto Rico, between following your
daughters around and their volleyball career, I mean, I don't
know I have time for anything else.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Yeah, I've been fortunate to you know, be able to
uh say on my feet as you can say, I mean,
and then do little things here and there. I like
to have the flexibility of not being at a job,
you know, and committed to a job undred percent. I
like to you know, be with the national team as
well as you know, following my girls around with volleyball
and my oldest other and she's already in college, and
(02:51):
I got the two little ones at the house, and
you know, you know, in the national team itself.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
It's it's a it's.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
A twenty four seven jobs throughout the year, you know,
with qualifiers that we have with FEBA and recruiting and.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
All that stuff.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
So you know, I try to stay pretty busy. I've
done music here and there, and I was able to
you know, be a part of a movie you know
that came with the music. So doors, doors, those doors
open for me. I just try to take advantage of,
you know, the things that I did when I was
playing and the doors that are opening now.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And I've been blessed to be honest with you guys.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
He's being modest. He's being modest. He says music here
and there. He's a music sensation.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
With saying we can't gloss over and like like we
can't get into that a little bit now, we can't
just gloss over the music part of this.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
I mean it was always a passion of mine.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
You know, I never had the time because I was
always traveling when I was in the league and when
I was in Europe. So and you know his producing
music takes a long time. You know, you have to
be in the studio for you know, so many hours.
I mean, you know, I had kids at home and
I had to go to my wife.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Arm the other and you know, when are you coming on?
Why are you going to retired? You should be you know,
so you go through all those ups and downs of
you know, being retired and wanting finding yourself, you know,
you know, seeing what what fits better, uh, once you're
done playing. But you know, for the most part, you know,
my family supports everything I do. So it's been a blessing.
Speaker 6 (04:21):
Now do they get to come on, like because we
were doing this podcast right now and you're you're in
Chile right now. Yeah, Like, do they do they get
to come on some of these excursions with you? I mean,
you're you're riding all over the world. Still not really, Yeah,
we were, you know, we had the World Cup this summer.
We were in Philippines, and we had all those exhibition
games before the World Cup leading to the World Cup.
(04:42):
So we wait to Italy, survey and all these places.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
But not really. You know, my girls they do travel
well in the summer and throughout the year. They do
the clubs.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
You know, they have the club seasons and you know,
now I'm o oldest season and Dane Hyland she got
a scholarship to play volleyball with it. So she's over
there going through her freshman year. And my two little
ones are in school where they have their own activity.
So my wife is always you know, she's the one,
you know, she's ober drive at the house when I'm
not there so but you know, I like, you know,
I love taking my kids to school. You know, I
(05:11):
loved that part of being a father as well. You know,
I miss so much when I was playing and traveling.
You know, I'm just trying to catch up with those
times that I missed.
Speaker 7 (05:20):
Carols, What appealed to you about producing music when you
got started? How how did it sort of take you
away from from the grind of being a pro basketball player.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
You know what pushed me to to do music was
you know, at the time I retired, the music business
was just growing so fast, especially the reggae tall and
Latin urban music. And you know, I decided, I said,
you know what, I have a great relationship with all
these artists. Why do I, you know, try to find
a label that can support the vision that I have
with the project that I wanted.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
To do and and you know, maybe I can make
some money. And it went like that. It wasn't easy, But.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
I thank God for basketball every day because of the
relationship that I build, because of the respect that I
got for the years that I played in the national
team and then the NBA. You know a lot of
those guys, you know, we build religions when I'm friends
with most of these guys. So but it wasn't easy,
you know that the music industry, you know, especially when
you're trying to do a collapse, you have to be
(06:18):
after guys constantly, you know, to jump on the track
or you know, find time to do a video or
you know, because their schedules are so so different than
you know, athletes, and they don't have no time discipline
when it comes to going to studio. You know, they
might tell, you know, I'll be there at eight and
they show up at twelve.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
You know what I'm saying. But you one of the features.
So you have to kind of like you have to
suck it up and you know, and grind.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
George doesn't feel bad because he's been chasing around NBA
players for twenty five years, so he knows exactly what
you're talking.
Speaker 8 (06:52):
Right, I do not feel bad now, you know about
to sit around and wait part of this, right, I
always like to tell each other it's like, oh, we
spent a lot of times sitting around and waiting, you know.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Far athletes, athletes as you know, George and Dante as
you know. You know, if we have practice at ten,
we probably there as nine true.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I see what I'm saying. Actually, you know, and artists
they are not like that. They might not show up.
They might not show up and I'll tell you why
they didn't show up. You know. So their schedule is
just very is it, you know, mixed?
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Is it different on a movie set? Did you enjoy
that experience? I imagine those things have to happen like clockwork.
When you set up to shoot a movie that was great.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Uh, you know, that was one of those experiences where
you know, you try to you're in a situation where
you've never been you know music. Yeah, I've been doing
music since Ide with a kid, you know, and you know,
with my friends back home in Puerto Rico.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
But you know, being at a.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
Movie set, you know, everything is by the clock, and
everything is very disciplined structure, you know, you know, call
up at five in the morning, you have somebody there
for thirty already waiting on you to get, you know,
to the studio that can do makeup and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
And or they say, you know, action is action, you know,
whatever time they tell you. It's more structure than the
music business.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I want to get into this car. We know it
because We had you here for three years, and it
was a fun three years here in Central Florida. It
was fun for us to get to know you, and
I know it was fun for the fans and a
lot of Puerto Rican fans here in Central Florida, so
I know they'd love to have you here, and I
know you enjoyed your time here as well. But let
everybody know your basketball journey. Ultimately you get to the NBA,
but your story and to make it, and you know,
(08:25):
to be an NBA player to have the career you
had is fascinating and it's it's a credit to the
hard work that you put in.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Thank you, Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
I think most of Latino's not my journey, but you
know I was one to raise in Puerto Rico turn
pro when I was sixteen.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
My father wanted me to turn pro when I was sixteen.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Back then, you can still play in your college and
you know, I could still play in the NCAA and
go back home and make some money and you know,
be a pro and be a part of Division one basketball,
which it was my dream.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
That wasn't drafted.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
You know, I had pretty solid senior year and I
got invited to some vetcams. We decided to go with
the Toronto Raptors. That opened the doors for me that
first year. So I went to vetcamp them having fifteen
guarantee contracts, which I told my agent, I don't know
what I'm doing here, because you know, there's no way
I can make a team. I did well enough for
them to open a spot for me and give me
(09:21):
a non guaranteed contract. So I was with them to
like half of the season, and then I went to
Spain that first year, played a month there, and finished
the season with Denver. They got me a ten day
card again. After that, I signed with Utah and then
I was I think from Utah, I went to Detroit
and then and then that's where I ended up in Orlando.
(09:42):
But I mean, my journey's been one of you know,
of those journeys that you'd say, you know, where's even
gonna end up next? But I really learned that appreciated
every coach that I had, every teammate that I had.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
I played with some great players. I was fortunate enough
when I was in a land.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
I know, my first year with Grant you know, and
Stakesy Argument and all those guys, you know, uh, the
white and his speak.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
So I was blessed. I was blessed my whole career.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
I learned a lot from every organization that I was
a part of, and even when I went to Europe.
It was a moment where in Europe where I was like,
can I do this because it's just different culture wise.
You know, it hits you when you go to Europe.
It's not for everyone. So I had to adapt. Even
though I was playing in the.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
National team and I had just FHEBA rules and the
way they played. It was totally different from the NBA.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
But I playing with the national team and helped me
at that better. But I still had to get adjusted
with you know, the food and the language and the culture.
It was just, you know, it was just difficult times.
Speaker 9 (10:45):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I was there by myself most of the times. My family,
you know, went with me.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
My first year in Europe was in Israel, so I
told my wife that's when I had my first daughter,
and I told him I'm going to go first to
see how it is and everything gets settled, and then
I'll bring you guys over the same when I went
went to Turkey, and my last year was with the
Barcelona in Spain. But you know, the treatment and the
care that you know they gave me was was amazing,
(11:11):
was first class at all times.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
You know, I always felt that I was in a
situation where I was going to be successful and and
I have an opportunity to play my game, which I missed.
You know, I feel like one of the years in
the NBA that I really felt like I was playing
my game and I was really happy on getting ready
for games and traveling, and so was with Orlando. To
be honest with you, you know, I got to play minutes. Uh.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Brian gave me an opportunity from from the start when
I got to to Orlando, and you know, and I
was able to you know, showcase Uh you know part
of my game that I was unable to showcase.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
When I was with the other teams. Aside from you know,
I felt like I was in Puerto Rico when I played.
And as you guys remember this is all of flags.
It was. It was just an amazing experience, you know. Uh.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
And I felt that every time I went to Orlando
with the teams, you know, every time I quote, you know,
I felt like I was a Puerto Rico people coming
and supporting you know that, you guys know the Porto
Rican community and Orland Lose amazing and growing. So you know,
my journey's been a special one and I truly miss it.
Uh sometimes I miss it. I don't miss the grind
(12:17):
of it, you know, waking up and training and all
that stuff. But I missed the locker room, you know,
and the group people I met throughout my journey and
basketball in general. Just giving me a light that I
can't complain and truly blessed.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Carlos, Carlos.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Before we get in, they saw some of your Orlando
teamates because you were here right when some of those
guys were just starting to pick you know, the Dwights
and the Jamiers. You played with John Stockton for the
last year of his career, last two years of his career.
But what was it like playing with the guy? I mean,
because I went back and looked just to see, Oh,
let me see how many games he played in his
John Stockton and he started all eighty two of late
(12:55):
thirty one minutes.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
The last year while you were there.
Speaker 6 (12:58):
I mean, what was it like to I mean, that
was one of your first stops in the NBA ended
up being with one of the arguably greatest point guards
ever to play it in.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
You know, and you know it was funny. John was
the starter and the backup was Mark Mark Jackson, So
I was behind the number one and number two assist
leaders in the history of the game. So that he's hand.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
You know, that year for me was a clinic the
whole year. You know, it's just watching them, how they
prepare for games, how they saw the game. I was
asking a lot of questions, but that truly helped my
game mature and a professional level. But John was very quiet,
you know, I was just I would just watch them,
and you know, at the times I was asking him
(13:41):
questions why he saw pick and roll situations, how to
manage you know, the time when he was in the game,
when the game was on the line, fourth quarters, you know,
decision making and stuff like that. It was just a
true master man.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
He was. It is my and then it doesn't matter.
You could never pressure it. It's like kind of like
watching you got You can have a guy brush him
ninety feet, but he's gotta go to his own speed,
you know. So that's what I like about John and
every drill.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
You know, he took it personal. If we were running seventeens,
he will make sure he was the first one, you know,
just to prove that he's not old. But he was
a tube professional man.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I can honestly say I was a last substitution.
Speaker 5 (14:23):
For John Stopton, you know, and Sacramento. I was a
big guy that brought about axcepting out coach flow. So
you know, I asked me this t a wow that
he came out. I think it was the playoffs in Sacramento,
But that moment in itself I would take with me
forever because you know, me going in there and give
him high five and you know, give him kind of
(14:45):
like a little earlier after he walked out the last
time he walked out of the court, that was a
truly special moment for me.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Well, the guy had replaced the other guy that replaced George.
That's an answer to a trivia question. After nineteen years
of starting point guard, the guy that replaced him as
the starting point guard the next year was this man,
Carlos the Royal. Right, and and maybe probably the best
statistical year of your NBA career that that year starting
in Utah.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Absolutely absolutely, I remember, you know, I had a lot
of pressure from from the media back.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Then because they were you know, are you're the.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Next one, You're ready to you know, take on, you know,
that responsibility. And I said, look, I'm only here to
take advantage of the opportunity, just like John did when
he was given that opportunity.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
So, but you know, it's a lot of pressure, you know.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
I can honestly say that, you know, mentally, I was
trying to prepare myself to not mess it up.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And but I had a structure team, you know, with
Jerry Swam. You know, he was very determined with doing
things right, very disciplined with his structure and how he
wanted us to play. And as you guys know, you know,
Jerry doesn't mess around, you know, and he's the same
at practice I shoot around in games. You know, he's
the same way. So and and it helped my game
(16:07):
to be honest withy, I don't, you know, just stay
in line with what I needed to do as a
point guard and as a young point guard too, trying
to find myself. I knew that you did that first
year that he gave me the ball, I said, you know,
run the team. I knew that, you know, I needed
to be focused and my best season.
Speaker 7 (16:24):
So if that was your best year, your second best year,
I would think statistically was at six oh seven season
here you mentioned some of your teammates. That was my
intern year, so quick personel story. I had to hold.
I was the radio intern. I had to hold the
my gap to practice after in the newt rounds. And
you guys were such a great group. I don't know
if I'm still doing this all these years later if
not for people like you, Jamiir, Tony Batigue, he I'm dueling,
(16:47):
and of course grand Hill. He's the first NBA player
who ever called me my name back to me, which
I will never forget. Can you just talk about that
group a little bit and and what you learned from
guys like Jamir and specifically Grant, just as far as
being a teammate now the leadership lessons that I'm sure
you brought into heading up the Puerto Rican national team.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
You know, speaking of our Grant, I saw him and
uh uh you were able to set up a game
with UFA and Vegas this summer, so I saw him there.
You know, he's part of the us USA basketball now
and it was great. CM. He was always just a
great leader. Always very positive, very soft spoken all the time.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
You know.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Uh, he knew it'll calm you down at moments of adversity,
which I like. But it was just a fun group.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
I think, you know, Dwight in itself, he kept him
and Jamie, he kept the group always laughing and doing little.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Jokes here today, you know how they were.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Kean was kind of like a jokes too, but he
was serious when we needed to be serious.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
But t was our o G. You know, Stacey Augman
was our o G.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
So we had a great balance on that team, you know. Uh,
and me coming in, I was just trying to fit in.
I think when I came in, I played one game
with see Press. That was the only game I think
it was in Cleveland that.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
We play together. And then I think orlanda kind of
a wake them or something.
Speaker 8 (18:05):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
But I know I had to.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
I know we were trying to fight, you know, we
were finally trying to you know, stay afloat and trying
to make the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
That we missed a couple.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
Of games that year, but we had we had to
run that uh that last part of the year.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
But I enjoyed it. I was just happy to be
in Orlando. To be honest with you, Uh, well, there
was rumors about me being traded.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
You know.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
I met right away with Joe Dumars and Detroit and
I told him, look, I don't want to leave, but
if if you're going to trade me anywhere, please.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Let it be on that Is that right?
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (18:34):
You asked for this? Yeah? Cool? Oh yes, yeah, there
was too. There were rumors because remember dark old Minischik.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Yes, he wasn't he wasn't happy you know, you know
in Detroit, and they weren't happy with him either, so
they were trying to move them. And uh, there was
a period of like two weeks where it was you know, strongly,
you know, there was they were considering trading him, and
and there was rumors that I was part of that
past page with with darkle so and I had a
(19:02):
great relationship with Joe, and I said, Joe, you know, uh,
can we talk for a second.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
So we went to his office. I said, look, because
I didn't want it to sound like I wanted to leave,
you know, I had or Detroit was a great group too,
you know, and we had just down to the finalist
too the year before. And I told him there's a
lot of rumors. I don't want to leave, but and
I hear that I'm being you know, chopped around with
with Darko. I said, all I asked is that if
(19:28):
you trade me, please trade me to a life. I
want to be close to home. I feel like I'm
home there. You know, oh the Flags, this is that community.
And he took his glasses off and his right. I remember,
it's like yesterday. He took an answers. He answered right away.
So he's quiet. He looks at me and he said,
and he said look at me. I'm like, okay, And
(19:50):
he's like, I give me my word. If you're not
here with me, you're gonna be in Orlando. Is that
is that if that deal goes through.
Speaker 5 (20:00):
I was like okay, And then uh, I think we
went to we went to Ohsta weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
That's when we got treated. Remember and uh he called
me and so Carlos, I always spoke a week ago.
Fortunately had to make the trade. Blah blah blah. But
I give you my word, you're going with all lad
So I was kind of like, so as soon as
I hung up, I started like I was scaring and
out until my wife we going on that so were
(20:28):
we were truly excited. Man, it was an opportunity that
I really.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
Wanted to to be a part of that. You know,
that club and Orland that's always been you know home
for me. You know, we go there to take the
kitchen Didney.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
It's two hours from the I mean four hours from
the house. Uh. So you know, I felt like I
could fit in it. And you know with the guys
and and uh the teams that the team that you
guys had back then, so and I could welcome to
uh you know, we had a mix up open veterans
and young guys as well. So I felt comfortable right away.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
I think was there too, Yeah, yes he was. He
came here your last year. He had Rashard, you had Turkey,
had Dwight Jamire. I mean you had the.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Start of Shaun Stevens. Stevens. Yes he was, yes, he was, Yes,
he was. He was fun.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah he was you know he keep you inddressed. Uh
but what George, we played together, that's right. You There
was a lot asked of Carlos with that because there
was a lot of there was a lot of there's
a big Puerto Rican community here which fully embraced you,
as you mentioned, but you made time. I always marveled
at that because you could have filled your entire day
(21:35):
with with with go and visit this person, visit this
person in this autograph. But he did it, didn't he He
he wanted to be a part of that cause you
I always marvel at how much you embraced that part
of it, Carlos, with that with that community, I was.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I was just grateful.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
I was grateful for the love and I was thank
for for people coming, you know, night in and night out,
supported and brought the flags out. You know, it was
just we started having Latin night.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
I don't know if you guys had that for.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
We did not.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
I think Joey was a big part of that as well,
uh through n Carlos Velis too.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
They were a great group.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
You guys had up a great group that you know,
really supported me and make sure that I was out
there in the community showing love too. And I think
that was a great part of uh, of that energy
that that I brought when I went to to you know,
to Orlando, because of the community that was behind you know,
our team. So I was just grateful, man, I was,
I was, uh in a place where I always wanted
(22:32):
to be, so you know.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
And I expected that and it happened and it came through.
So I was just I wasn't all with everything.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
Well, I re level when we got when we traded
for Carlos, we had you know, we I knew we
had a big Latin community in central Florida, but you know,
it didn't really touch us until we got VI you
and I remember, I remember immediately when the trade came,
Linda Lamb and Gonzalez was on our staff and Joey Cologne,
and they immediately came to Joel and Tricia and I
(23:01):
and just said listen, like this is going to open
up the whole new world for you guys. We're kind
of we're kind of looking at her and like, come on, like.
Speaker 9 (23:10):
You can't be like we we we had Shaquille and
Neo Penny like we're good, like yeah, and then it
but it was it was like this whole and even
now we have a we have a Hispanic media list
that we now we still use to this day to
twenty twenty three that.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
We didn't have before.
Speaker 6 (23:27):
We really didn't And I kind of trace it all
back to you coming close to to to Orlando.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
That was beautiful, man, that was beautiful.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
I mean, I was in shock, but I was expecting
people to support our team. But I was in shock
with the magnitude of the energy of everybody. Just We're
having Regguatory.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Knights concerts right after the game. Yeah, And it was
not like there was like one hundred people two hundred.
It was like five thousand people, aren't there? Oh, we
were producing postgame radio shows during those concerts. I'm not spot.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
You're exactly right. You mentioned Brian Hill. Brian Hill was
a big fan of yours. He was a big fan
of Darko's too. It was something special with that group.
But I know Darko struggled in Detroit and and and
you know, I know he wasn't as happy being there.
But but he was a talented individual. Carlos Darko was
a guy that he accepted his role here. He did
what Brian asked of him, and you know, blocking shots,
(24:23):
protecting the rim. What do you remember? But it was
a hard The NBA life was hard on Darko. Well,
what what is your take on on his on his
NBA portion of his journey.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
I think he was very misunderstood, right, you know, Darko
was extremely talented, could task you know, the fat and
he could score, and he could do anything, you know,
he wanted to. And at the same time, I don't
know if he was as passionate for the game as
other guys. So it kind of made me rough the
league the wrong way because it ain't show it, you know.
(24:56):
But he loved basketball, but he was just not pas
shouldn't like to go out and get extra you know,
training and you know, get to a city and find
a high school gym and go shoot. You know. He
wasn't like that. He wasn't as dedicated as as you
should be when you're in the NBA, and that might
have were up guys and teams the wrong way. And
(25:18):
at times it showed in the games at times you
see him playing and he was just this interest. He
looked dis interest. But I think that was part of
his personality as well. He was just like that. He
was European. He come from a place where, you know,
his family probably had to go through war situations in
the past and tough situations, you know, and you know,
(25:39):
going into a culture where everybody's dedicated and loved and
very passionate about the game, it's just different. You know,
cultural wives. He was just built different, you know, but
he was very missing. I loved dark Girl, you know,
I love dark Girl, you know. And and guys on
the team could tell you, you know, we loved dark He
was funny and all. Wait, ye feel overwhelming.
Speaker 7 (26:01):
The the amount of the amount of pressure on you
from the Puerto Rican community just kind of and and
even still, I mean, you are you're mister Puerto Rican
basketball essentially, and there are a lot of people who
kind of tie tie their hopes to you.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Is it Does it ever make you sort of want
to hide for a day and get a breather? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (26:21):
And if you had to pay for a meal since
you beat Team USA and O four and the Olympics,
have you have you had to have you had to
pay for anything into Rico?
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Yes, yes, yes I do. I mean I've got share
with my my premio here and there. You know. But no,
I'm learning young. You know that. You know I embraced it.
I embraced it.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
You know my parents, you know, they they taught me
from a young age. You know, I was national team
was a religion.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
You know a lot of what growing up. You know,
I watched the national.
Speaker 5 (26:56):
Team since I was a young kid and it was
always a dream of mind to be a part of
that team. But you know, I think, uh, you know,
once I made it to the league, you know, I
started getting you know, recognition, and then once that those
two thousand and four Olympics, you know, after that, just
I think my life changed completely from a from a
marketing standpoint, you know, and and try to move my
(27:19):
name with brands in Puerto Rico and internationally that I
could you know, benefit.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
From and grow and grow my brand. You know, it
helped me a lot. But after those two thousand and
four Olympics, you know, and then you know, doing well
in the NBA helped my name as well to be
able to open doors and internationally with the national team
open the doors for me in Europe as well. So
I've always embraced that, the love and the uh it's
(27:46):
a huge responsibility obviously, you know, you have to kind
of like have your your mirror plan.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
You know, You've always I'm always kind of inspiring the
next generation where I was when I was a player
and now as and toory general manager for the national
team and instructuring this the federation moving forward for years
to come. You know, I always constantly have to deal
with new players coming in and now, recruiting and staying
(28:11):
in touch with the guys that are a part of
the national team now and just try to build a
structured team and a culture within our federation, federation where
guys that are were not born and raised in Puerto
Rico can understand what it means to represent Puerto Rico
and still feel proud of what you were in the uniform.
So uh, but you know, I've embraced it since I
(28:34):
was a kid, and I learned to end. I've grown
understanding the business part of it and then the human
part of it, which is the love from the community
and the people. Every time they see and they want
to take a picture, they want you to, you know,
speak about it all the years in the NBA and
what it means to represent Puerto Rico here and there.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Uh, I've learned how to maneuver. I've always had a
good solid team around me, you know, you know, uh,
my family and my pr people that keep me grounded
as well, I think, which I think is very important.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
So I've never thought that I'm bigger than the national
team or bigger than Puerto Rico. Bigger than you know,
always kind of like you know, moving. So I'm grateful
for the opportunity that the game gave me and just
try to embrace it and carry myself with respect as
much as I can.
Speaker 6 (29:22):
I know we're getting close to the end here, but
by the time this drops, we're going to be in
Mexico City playing against the Hawks. And we're very excited
because you're going to be there. Is it What does
it mean? You know, as as an international kid, what
does it mean to see have an NBA game in
a place like Mexico City or or somewhere abroad.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Man, I wish you were cold to play the Puerto
Rico man. I like that happened me too. I know
we were able to carry on a concert at the game.
That we can't bring a game to Puerto Rico, you.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Know against the Pelicans. You don't have magic Pelicans with
Jose Alvarado.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
And Porto, you know, we can't make that happen. Say
it's one of the guys that ever recoup a They
saw our national team as well, so hopefully we get
made something happen. Uh, But I'm excited. I think globally
the game is growing continues to grow.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
And you know at Lanta America, you know, Hispanics are
very passionate about the game. Uh, just and beautiful to see,
you know, especially Orlando, you know, being that it's in
a in.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
A in a state where you know it's a Hispanic community.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
I think having that game in Mexico will help a lot,
will continue to build, uh, the NBA brand worldwide, and
and I just think it's great, you know, to have
those types of games in other countries.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Are you doing the postgame concert, Carlos? At least? How
about a good answer. What are you telling hey, Carlos?
Last thing?
Speaker 1 (30:54):
You know as well as we're getting ready for this,
we're looking back on your career and you're seeing Vince Carter,
roll on, John Stockton, Dwight Howard, Mark Jackson. Right, you
look at it, people aren't fortunate enough to play with
that caliber player throughout their entire career. And also success.
You went to an NBA finals, conference finals, You've won
championships overseas. When you think about all of that interaction, right,
(31:16):
and all the greats that you've played with, all the
success that you've had, how does that help you in
your role?
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Now?
Speaker 1 (31:21):
What are some of the biggest takeaways that you have
from that experience, because he can.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
Walk into a meeting and take his resume and just
drop it on his ton and just go, damn, let go.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Let's here's the picture. Here's a picture of me supping
out on John Stockton for the last time.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yeah, why don't you here's It takes two hours to
read my resume and I'll be back.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yeah, right, man, I can't complaint. I've been extremely blessed
and grateful for you know, I continue to say that
because as you mentioned, you know, my last two years
was in my last year the NBA and Boston where
I had Shack and I have you know, uh Paul
and KG and Ray Allen, right Miami was with those guys.
(32:02):
So I think the.
Speaker 10 (32:04):
Game has really shown me to be professional at all times,
be humble with every everyone you meet, the new generation,
be a mentor, you know, and uh.
Speaker 5 (32:17):
With everything that I've learned outside of the of the
the court and on the court, you know, I think
that's helped me grow with to see the game from
a different perspective, from a business perspective as well, and
you know, it's just has opened the doors for me
worldwide at which my son would love and be as
fascionate as I was when I was a kid playing
(32:39):
back when he really hates it, you know, yeah, and
you know and you know, so that he can actually
live and go through the experiences that I went through,
as you know, as a basketball player loving this game.
But I think overall everything from it, from different aspects
of the game, I've learned and I still appreciate the
(33:01):
life that I have now being retired.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
You know, I can look back and say, look, I
did this that. Wow, I can't. I can't believe it.
You know, I'm just truly honored and blessed. We'll be exacted.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Well, we're so appreciative of your time, and we're proud
of your Carlos, with all you've done and you continue
to do. And we can't wait to see you in
in Mexico City and Georgia back up on the post
game concert. He'll be ready, he'll be.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Ready to get.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Yeah, and best of guys, keep keep up the great
work with Team Puerto Rico. We'll be cheering, y'all, and
that's fantastic. Carlos, take care, Thank you, thank you. I
appreciate you that you got it. That'll do it for
this addition of Magic Pod Squad. We'll see you next time.
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