January 9, 2023 • 35 mins
Welcome back to The Big Niang Theory! On Episode 8, Georges Niang and Lauren Rosen go in-depth with De'Anthony Melton and guest co-host Tyrese Maxey as they discuss their quick bond, hard work, moms, and their ongoing education at "The Academy".
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome everybody to the Big Niang Theory. Thanks George. Joel
Embiide is in the building already tells me that I suck.
Think about where you were and like, where are you
right now? Can you run a bike for rude? And yes,
thank you for making time for the Big Niang Theory.
I appreciate you have me bro. Welcome back everybody. This
(00:21):
is season two of The Big Niang Theory. I'm George
Niang with my co host Lauren Rosen, and for this
special episode, we have a second co host, Tyrese Maxie.
But I think we're excited to have this guest. Yes,
we do, but this guest d' anthony Melton. You know,
(00:42):
d'y anthony came from Memphis in a trade this offseason
and we are a little bit more than a quarterway
through the year and we're more than excited to have d'
anthony a part of our team on the basketball court.
But to let you fans get an inside look at
who d' anthony is further adod Anthony Melton, welcome to
the Big Yang Theory. Man. Thank you for having me
(01:05):
so and I ain't gonnaut. I like the name Big
meant theory. It fits especially with the cell big Bang theory.
You know, I mean I like bang bang, so um.
You know, obviously you came from Memphis, d' anthony. I
don't I don't know if you want to get two
in depth about it. But how was that process, you know,
(01:27):
getting traded A lot of fans only see you know
how that goes on, you know through Sports Center or
you know, the internet. How was that process for you?
What were you doing? We all know it was Draft night,
but how did that, you know, go for you? So
the seventy six ers have the twenty third overall selection.
They are trading the twenty third selection and Danny Green
(01:48):
to the Memphis Grizzlies for d' anthony Melton. Well, before
you like, you know what I mean, I do refresh
Twitter and I'm reading that's Memphis. Disis has anything for
the twenty that I'm just like, whoa, yeah, hold on
(02:10):
is that my name? Yeah? That's a big time change though, seriously,
Like going from a Memphis team that's like young and
and and small. Yeah, like I'm walking to going to
a team that's on national TV, a loot with two
you know, future Hall of famers for sure, and Joe
and James, So I mean, how what's your mindset going
(02:30):
into that? Like seriously, like that's that's so big of
a different Like I'm there trying to think about it,
like Memphis, y'all play like you know, y'all play so free,
so differently than than how we do. You know, what
was your what's your thoughts coming in first? Like my
first thought was like I'm ready, Like I'm ready with
a championship, like you know what I mean, It's like
I saw how how dominant you guys could be. Um,
(02:52):
even though it's like you guys haven't gone as far
as you guys probably wanted to. But at the same time,
it's like, I know the pieces is there, um, you know,
even given yeah, you got James, Joe, but also you
got you you know what I mean, you're excited. It's
somebody I know I can get out in transition with boom,
uh get up and down, we could move. Also Tobias
(03:15):
something that's like he's he's a good shooter. He got
great for him, you know, he got his spots that
he can ride, stuff like that. And it's it's the
role players too, that's like, Okay, I know I can
fit in here and we can all get get to it.
You know what I mean. I mean, Darrel's to do
that drafted me, so I felt like it was loved there. Um,
And then every time I played Doc, He's always showed love.
So I was just excited. Um. Doc called me literally
(03:39):
like probably two minutes after that, talked to him, talked
to Zach Kleman Memphis Gym, and then talk to my agent.
I was just ready, like I was ready for whatever. Tyrese,
when you won the Community assist Award, d Anthony said
some really nice things about ya. Tyres Is just like
like he kind of said, he's he's calling militant with
(04:00):
some things, you know what I mean, like getting there early,
Like even when I first met him, Like I'm showing
up at I think it was like a ten A
and workout and I'm showing up like nine fifty, you
know what I mean. He's sitting there, Dad, he's sitting
down ready, our shoes tied, and I'm like, Oh, it's
not like you just getting here and stuff like that,
(04:21):
like how you he said. They said, Noah, it's my
second workout already, And I was just like, oh yeah,
I see, Like you know what I mean. That's type
stuff that you know what I mean, great players doing.
That's when he's striving to be So you know it'd
be making me mad sometimes how early he is. But
you know, like you said, it makes you want to
be better. You know, makes you worried about what time
(04:42):
I'm getting there and now you like, you know what
I mean, what am I doing? So yeah, it definitely
makes you want to be better. D'y Anthony said some
really nice things about you and about your friendship. How
would you describe your friendship with d Anthony because we
haven't heard you talk about it before, Like how did
it come about so quickly? And how did you guys
get so close as quickly as you did? And they
(05:02):
work out every damn I want to say, I think
I think I have to be the first person on
the team. Yeah, yeah, this, I'll just tell y'all this story.
So they tell me milts coming to work out and
like and like, hey, you want it is the cool
milk can work I'm like, yeah, man, I don't care.
I'm cool, So like, all right, cool, So milk walking
in about I don't know about, but let's I'm like,
(05:25):
you know, I'm an early riser. Everybody knows I'm an
early riser. And they're like, what time you want to go? Like, well,
I want to go at six And they're like, no,
I look back it up a little bit. So I'm
all right, what thing win? Like ten to eleven? So
we work out whatever, but it's all cool. Like we
played a little one on one and the one thing
that I would say about both of us, so we're
competitive guys, so like and the one on one, it's
like it's a weird feeling because you don't want to
(05:47):
be overly competitive because you don't know who you're like,
you don't know he's gonna snap, you know what I'm saying,
But like you still want to win because you want
those back. So like we played a little bit of Dad,
you know, we got along from there, but our relationship,
i mean, our fresh we kind of took off from there. Man.
It's just like you know, training camp, we laughs, you know,
play cards and um, you know, work out with spins together. Um.
You know, I think it's just like us being young.
(06:09):
We're like basically the youngest two on the team. I
think the youngest two that played, like in the rotation
so it's like we connect that way. And then just
being like he said, like young, fast, energetic. Uh turn,
Like we are like the turn guys on the team,
Like we try to encourage each other. While I've been out,
I'll have been encourage him to the Bestie Canada to
fit in and shoot, and um, you know he's old.
(06:32):
I was just so just be young. But people don't
understand like your journey, Like we were having this conversation
earlier today, like people don't like I was the fiftieth pick,
but you know, yeah, the Anthony was the forty six pick.
(06:53):
I don't know what year, twenty eighteen and you got
drafted by Houston whatever, it didn't play out, you got
traded to Phoenix, played one year in Phoenix, then got
traded to Memphis. Yeah, we're using Phoenix one nineteen games
that year, That's what I'm saying. So like he's going
from I remember that, but I didn't know us on
that team. His journey has been crazy to them. I
(07:15):
didn't played my first I didn't play my first twenty
five games. I was in a suit tie like my
first twenty five games, just sitting in the g Well,
I said, yeah, thinking like I left college early for this.
Talk about that, like because a lot of people don't
know like that mentality, like it's either do or die
and like, yeah, and you can't pay it because if
you panic, like you're not going to be your true self.
(07:37):
But then you double down on yourself and now look
at you. Yeah. So, like I had sixteen workouts coming
out of yeah, sixteen, I had to I had like
I had to get in front of people, you know
what I mean. So I had to make sure everybody
was seeing what I could do and my ability. Like,
but going into my sophomore year practice, I was killing,
(07:57):
like I was killing, like I felt good about my game,
like I can go to the league, like you know
what I mean. Like once you feel your league games
started coming in, you like that confidence that. Yeah, So
when I play, I was like, damn, I gotta get
in front of everybody. Like my agent was like, we
gotta let people see you. Right up at sixteen teams,
none of them like I worked for all first round
(08:18):
teams and like none of them drafted me. So like
going to the second round, I'm like scared. Yeah, over
because at that point you're thinking, like none of them
likes you. Like you know what I mean, Like no,
but like Boston really wanted me. But Robert Williams kept
slipping in the draft that year, so once he slipped
to thirty, Boston was like, we want them, we need him,
(08:41):
so he he took my pick and then after that
I just kept slipping. Yeah, put that in context, though,
how many workouts is normal? I did not. I did zo.
Yeah he can't kid, yeah, but I did. I mean
that's when you dropped. Damn, I slipped. I mean I
(09:03):
slipped because I shot twenty nine percent from the three
in college, but only shot I didn't shoot like because
you wouldn't supposed to three that it's because we finally,
you know, started shooting together. That's really it. But no,
that's crazy though. I mean I'm just sitting here thinking,
like sixteen workouts, Like I hear people talk about the
work workouts all the time, and I mean, I know
(09:26):
you going into those workouts with a mentality of I'm
guarding and I'm scoring. Man, if you go into that,
you know in the game, you know, and chopping. I mean,
I don't know if I'm interrupted, But I want to
ask you a question about now, because like we talk
about like I always messed with you before games or
who you got the guard or you know, and uh,
your role has changed so much from the mythis which
is great. This is good. So like over here every
(09:48):
night you're probably gotten the best player. I know you
probably didn't live it over there, but now you are
like primary defender on our team. So it's like always
best with you about guarding guys like Jordan Poole and
guards like Paul George Org and then T. D. McCullum.
So like what is your mentality going into that? Like
I know you like I got to stop them and
I want to do my best I can, but you
also got to go on offensive and make sure that
(10:10):
a big big part of your role too. I mean
I just try to I just try to play a
confidence like and just be aggressive, like honestly, that's this
is this is how I've played since I started playing basketball,
which is crazy. Like before like when I was really
little and stuff like that, I used to boom playing
and passing lands and stuff like that, and I used
(10:31):
to have to run down, jump stop you know what
I mean, make the layup and stuff. So uh, real
specific with you sound like me over there, man, I
used to be late. But like my biggest thing was
just I had to work on my shot a lot,
you know what I mean. I had to work on
being on the catching shoot because I understand of like
(10:52):
I'm not gonna have a ball at the time, Like
I'm not an offensive first type player. So like once
I got to a point where it's I cast stop
playing better offensive players. Was like I gotta be able
to play off the ball, cut, move, score without having
to do all the dribbles and stuff like that and
still be effective because on the defensive end, it's like,
(11:12):
I know, I just gotta make it tough, Like I
gotta make it tough, Like no matter what, you just
can't get to the same shots that you want to
like shots you shooting your workouts. Now you gotta shoot
something else because you don't realize how much people don't
like those shots now, Like they just like I want
to get to this spot, but now it's like they
can't get there. They start thinking, yeah, yeah you got
(11:33):
once you got an offensive guy. I'm you know, I'm
moving an offensive guy, but join the club. Yeah, But
but I know what you mean though, Like once you
have them thinking and they know that you're you're chasing.
They know that you're going to be defending all night.
That's when they start turning the ball over. That's when
they started. People don't want to play exactly like people
would just be out there exactly. But he's messing up
(11:55):
offensive players rhythm. Like there was one time we were playing.
I'm not gonna get into a specific expense. I was
guarding in someone and he was like, let me guard
them for a possession. I'm like, are you sure? Like
they're like bigger than He looked at me, like come on.
So this person was trying to say, like I got
it all right, you know what I mean. So this
person that we were, you know, playing against, was able
(12:15):
to just dribble the ball, get the rebound, dribble the ball,
and he literally made them literally pick up their dribble
as soon as he like pressured them. And I was like,
I thought he was gonna get me in trouble for
switching my match up on them. He literally did a
better job than I was doing on them. And that
dude was like six nine, you know what I mean.
And it's just I guess it's a similar fact where
like you know who you are where being like self
(12:37):
aware in the NBA is the biggest thing because at
the end of the day, like I'm sure there's more
skilled people than all of us, but if they don't, yeah,
if they don't know what their job is, they're out
here shooting in the dark and doing the wrong things.
And that's when you look super foot half the time. Like, bro,
just a lot of people don't understand. Like, Bro, you
get to the league. Bro, you got a job, and
do your job until you get a bigger job, until
you get a bigger role, and just keep moving up. Bro,
(12:58):
just keep It's too much money out here, Like like, bro,
are you trying to once you get that first contract
to take a breath? Yeah? Bro, yo, game could change
your life, you know what I mean. It's just you
could take a breath. And it's like you got dudes
like Tyrestas about to come up on who knows man
(13:19):
a lot of a lot of chicken. But you know
what I mean. But he stay, He stayed, what he
put into work, he did his job, and it was
just like now you see, it pays off. It may
take a little bit longer, but it pays off. And
you say, it's not about being the most skilled necessarily,
and all three of you, separately prior to this conversation
have talked about not necessarily being the most talented or
(13:41):
most skilled or flashiest, but you've all worked into the
roles that you have now despite whatever your limitations might
have been or might be. So how proud of How
proud are you guys, of yourselves and of each other,
knowing that you've all taken that similar path. You know,
I'll start off of that, And I think the biggest
thing I think we all share that is like I
(14:03):
think we all believed in ourselves and the hard work
like never wavered, Like there was never a moment where
we felt like anything was going to be given to us.
And I've only been around these dudes like a year
to two years, But when you see someone that knows
how to like grind, how to like work hard and
had to like go through some things to get to
what they want, that's kind of like something that brings
you all together. And I think that's one commonality that
(14:25):
we share. Like, sure, if Tyrese isn't a six seven guard,
but he plays like he's six seven. You know, Anthony
may not be the most athletic guard, but he's guarded
the most athletic dudes, And I think it just shared
commonality where it's like, yeah, people have may not believed
in us, but you know, like you were saying, you
just double down, like continue to work and eventually it's
going to pay off. And I think the hard work
(14:47):
just never wavers. We talk about it a lot though,
right because most people that listen to this type of
podcast aren't in the NBA. Right, But what are the
transferable lessons that you guys have learned that people that
listen can understand? And at least for me in my
line of w work, Like I'm not the most talented person.
I'm not the tallest, longest legged girl out there, right,
but I work. You think you're the most talented. Yeah,
(15:08):
thank you, George. But I had to work really hard
to get to where I am too. And so when
I hear you guys talk about that stuff, I can
take that into my life and I can give the
same advice to someone who doesn'tthing totally different. And so
when I hear you guys talk about that, I find
it very inspirational. Thank you, No, that's facts, because I mean, like,
especially you can see other people like working hard and
that can motivates you. Like when I first got around
(15:30):
this dude, I'm like, man, he up early, you know
what I mean, triple So like it's just you see
other people like and you see when they hard work payoff,
It's like, yeah, you know what I mean, make you
want to go even harder. It's like you see he
shot this many and then he's shooting this in again anywhere.
(15:50):
He doing this and then he do that, you know
what I mean. So like that type stuff is just
it's just motivating. And then I think one thing I'll
said about this group that we have right here in
this is, um, we motivate each other really really well. Like, um,
we we get hype off of each other's success. Like
I think, maybe I don't remember a couple of games ago.
(16:11):
It's a slow game. I remember slow game. Stars aren't
playing as great as you know, they don't be played. Um,
you know, the bench unit didn't play great coming in
and when their little spurt came, but when they came
back around, Um, George goes in the game and I
always tell George, George, what are you here to do?
Like we had this conversation like when I was hurt
We had this conversation to the bench before what are
(16:32):
you here to do? And I'm here to shoot? And
he missed. Yeah, he missed the shot, and the next
shot he kind of pumped aaked and got scared. Then
the time I came and yeah, this is serious. Has
been like a team man, all three of us. I
came to George and I said, George, what are you doing?
What are you here to do? Yeah, and stop, yeah,
(16:52):
stop stop wasting our time. And he goes back out
there and he hits what three four threes in the
in the second half and breaks the game open in
the same way Melt. Melt had a rough shooting night
one of these games and made like zero going into
the fourth. Coming to the fourth hits I'll say, keep shooting, dude,
like it doesn't matter, Like it's what you do. Like
he hits three big ones in the fourth and we
win the game. So it's like to build a lean
(17:14):
on your brothers to be able to, you know, motivate
each other. I think that's one of the biggest things
that that we've brought in that you've also brought coming
into this team. And you know, we can really just
say we appreciate you four, honestly, yeah, And I think
Danny does a good job of doing it in a
lighthearted world. Like me and Terrise always have this thing,
you know where we talk about, you know, we're forty
percent from three and I remember in practice early on,
I missed the three and d Anny was like, dang,
(17:37):
it'd be nice to have a forty percent three point shooter,
you know, Just funny stuff like that where you're like, yeah,
you know what I do need to step but he's
still gonna pass you the ball. And you know, every
time I believe in you, And I think that that
goes a long way when you have you know, you
when you're in the game and you're realizing you're not
just letting yourself down, but you know you're letting the
(17:57):
people around you down, and that makes you want to
go even harder, work even harder, continue to be great.
And I think that's a commentati that you know us
three share and you know this, this whole team shares
in this locker room. What was it like to play
on Christmas? Was it anyone's first? It was mine? Ye
didn't look like it. Tyreses Man, He's like a missed
(18:20):
I had these sentiment tost crunch shoes last year, Right,
we didn't play on Christmas last year? What about you
before that? And that's sick, I mean really that crazy. Anyways,
what man that was? That was the most jumping, jumping
(18:41):
environment that I've been in. And do it on Christmas
and then when you get back to your phone in
your life facts, I mean, just like when you wake
up and you see like NBA on you see Christmas
games and stuff like that, you know what I mean,
you see the whole production and all that stuff you said,
a commercials and advertisements, so to finally play in it
(19:05):
and like like what Doc said, it's like you could
play on here like it shows, like you know what
I mean, you deserve to be here and you can
show your skill and stuff like that. People want to
see it on Christmas, the biggest day of the year,
and it's like, damn, that's crazy, Like you know what
I mean, that big putting respect like that. I want
to Philadelphia seventy six is playing dude Madison Square guarding
(19:26):
them back like they want me to, like they trust
me to win a game and stuff like that too.
So it's it's just crazy, like two kids and stuff
watching too. Just because this is an audio only, I
have to describe the face that Terrese was making while
we're talking about so sad. Well, you know what, though,
I want to say this though I didn't make a
lot of trips because I was hurt, but being able
(19:48):
to be there and just like be a part of
it was was the best, you know for me. Honestly,
I know I wouldn't able to play, but just be
able to see how like y'all being happy, y'all being
turned like, you know, how sad I would have been
at home, like just watching Watchink y'all, I've hagically won,
there's been a turn up with y'all, Like that's like
the best feeling. But because you were sad, I'm gonna
(20:09):
give d Anthony an opportunity to fill your cup a
little bit because you were when you were out, you
were off the road for a large chunk of time.
And for those that don't know, and people like to
hear about this stuff, I know everyone he already knows,
but people like to hear about the fact that, for example,
d Anthony and Terry shoot together after practice, after shoot around,
every game and d Anthony the whole time Terries was out.
It's going over to the basket by himself, kind of
(20:30):
looking around. But what because he was sad just a
second ago? How much did you miss him? And how
good is it tappened back? Man? They took my dog.
I was like, man and ain't the same. And you
know they adopted me into the academy too. What's the academy?
(20:52):
Tell people it's the it's the head haunch right here.
So he's so I don't even know why we so
my rookie year, I wasn't playing as much at the
beginning and spent what it is my player development guy,
and like I was, I was making jokes because he
would have me running and playing one on one and
trying to basically just trying to kill me in the
workout to keep my condition up. And I was like
(21:14):
one day I was walking out like, man, I'm tired
of coming to the cab. Man, I'm playing the real game,
and so like everything. Then we just started calling at
the academy and then I study. He was like that,
so now so now it's like so now as soon
as we drafted, I promised you atonely drafted milk. You know,
because I'm still working out. You know, the next day,
(21:34):
I'm coming into the gym six yo, I'm talking to Spend.
He said, we gotta get melted in that. I'm like,
I'm like, you're right, I like we do gotta give
him milk with me. He's like, yeah, we're gonna start
working on off the drib with three. So as he
gets here and we got there, started working on off
with three. But I mean to have somebody like, you know,
who can just flow right in like that like milk,
(21:55):
and you know, even sometimes g kind of comes in
there like you know, too many dribbles for Georgia Academy
is like when you just like come together and we
start working at like we do shooting drails, we play.
We played a shooting game, um before like before after shooting.
I mean, and I ain't gonna lie the record. The
(22:17):
record ain't too good right now. Who's being who tres
We don't need to talk about winning. And let me
tell you this, when Tyrese gets rolling when he's shooting,
he does make like a bunch in a row. And
even I'm like, hen like I can't it's wild. Was Toronto?
What was your reaction to watching him in Toronto? Oh
(22:38):
that was that was immaculus, Yeah, Berserd, And I think
the part was he was just popping off two years
it was too like Yeah, and then there's one where
he got a stealing you know, Tyrese running around, bump
into someone, shooters lay pulls up for a man like
you know this games like that, like we lose to them,
(23:02):
and uh, you know we played them in the playoffs.
You know, we played in the plaoffs. And when you
played a team, you know about this, y'all playing at
the War's son, like when you yeah, when you play
a team so many times, you play a team so
many times, like you really like it's it's a part
in your heart that you don't like them, Like it's
not it's not because that you don't like them as
people are, just because you're tired of seeing them so
(23:23):
like to see them get a hype and you know,
get so excited about them beating us in a you know,
which was a cruiser part It was one and four.
So like we needed to be we need to win
the game for our team and for our like morale
of the team and to be able to go out
there and all of us to win a big game.
Like that without the big fella was you know, it
was amazing and then you know, we was all happy
(23:45):
about it. Yeah, I remember that game really well, and
I remember Terrise you did media following the We were
out there for two games, right, and Terrise you did
media after the first one. Or you spoke to reporters
in between games and you talked about how badly you
wanted to be able to help flip a switch. And
then it was so cool to see you do it, really,
just flip the switch and be that guy that you
(24:05):
guys are now describing. And George just said it. You
were running your mouth more than I personally have ever
seen you do so in that game, and I'm just curious.
I know you can hold your own, but has George
taught you anything in the talk department? He's his own man. Yeah,
he was trash talking before he knew me. And I
(24:26):
think the funniest thing is, I don't want to say
like I've brought it out of him, but like getting him,
getting him going the way when he starts to talk.
He knows how to talk. Trash should have nothing to
do with me. You're known for it, and you're known
for It's different though. It's different though, because during that
time of the year, Like think about what we are now,
you were rolling, We're bawling right during that time of
(24:48):
the year, everybody's kind of us out, like we have
no room to talk to what I'm saying, we're playing
five played five games, and we got we added people
like Dmail, we added mind trains, we had the house.
We got it tough. That's four guy in a rotation,
so it's not going to be easy to add. Just
bring those guys there, don't matter how much talent you have.
So at the time, my mindset and my mind frame
was like, I know, we need to win this game.
(25:09):
And I was trying to do whatever I could in
my power to excite my team and excite you know,
us as a group, to get them morale back where
they needed to be. And because at the end of
the day, the NBA is extremely hard and you only
have you only have each other because like we see
each other every day. Uh, we like we can, we
(25:30):
can fight, but the next day we right back with
each other. You know what I'm saying, Like we could lose,
but we gotta we got to lead on each other.
So that was really my biggest thing. I just wanted
to get, you know, the guy's hype and the guys
back together. I think we went on a little three
game winning streak and I think that that kind of
helped us in the long run. So now you know
we're here and nobody's talking about it starting winning for me,
So I forgot we did exactly well. I'm glad we
(25:52):
could forget about those days, thank thank goodness. Those were
something that was dark. It got dark. I got dark.
It was talking foul on our names. Watch that, but
they was talking filthy. Before we wrap up, I want
to talk about one more topic. Um. Before we started rolling,
you guys were all talking about your mom's and I
(26:14):
know how close you are all with each of your moms,
and a lot of moms listen to this podcast, so
I was thinking maybe we'd have a moment for moms.
Your mom's were all at the Christmas game and the Anthony.
You've talked a ton about the supporter she's been for you.
So moms, I love my mom. Yeah, started starting off, started,
I mean I could do that, you know, I said
(26:37):
it right then? My mom willna get on me. So
my mom like my mom, like she says, she's still
twenty five. Like you know what I mean, So my
mom always gonna be she always gonna be turned like
my mom up. She loves sports, you know what I mean,
Like Christmas, she can she ready to sit there on
the couch all day and just have some wine and
just watch basketball. Like that's her ideal day, you know
(27:00):
what I mean. So just the fact that I've made
it this far and done this far, like man, she
there too, like she she ready, She loves it. She's
she go hard for all her kids. So it's like, um,
she's ready for whatever, and she she loves all this.
She loves it. Um, she loves seeing you know, other people.
She love seeing other people's parents and everything they got
(27:20):
going on, just seeing the players, and so you know,
she's super supportive and whatever I want to do, she's
right there with me. No. I think the commonality with
that is, you know, alter it from you know what
I've known about you know, the Anthony's mom and Terrison,
well you know my mom is that you know, it
seems like all of them were willing to give up
everything that they had to make sure that we achieved
(27:42):
our dreams. And I think that's why you know, we
cherish and take everything that we have so seriously because
so many people, you know, including our moms, you know,
have supported us to get to this point, and how
would it would be tragic, you know, for us to
to let them down. So I think I don't think
any of us take our days, you know, for granted
and try to give everything that we have to maximize
(28:04):
our potential an opportunity because you know, they sacrifice so
much just for us to get here. And you know,
my mom has been a spearhead of you know, my
development as a man, and that helped me get to
where I am today. So thank you, mom. If you're
listening to Mama, yeah, talk about Denise Tyree's come on. Yeah,
(28:26):
you know I appreciate my mom for the same reason
that y'all you know, both things said. Both of you
guys said, Um, I will talk about this though. UM
My mom wasn't as she loves me for sure, but
my mom was no, no, seriously, but my mom was
was tough. You know. My mom was tough for me
and when I was, when when I was young and
still this today. And I think that's that's one of
(28:46):
the reasons why, Um, I worked so hard and one
of the reasons why I don't need any how do
you say this, I don't need any motivation, outside motivation
or anybody to to to like give me any pity
about it. I just feel like my mom made me
so tough. Like with mom and my dad, honestly, both
of them, they you know, they expected greatest out of me,
(29:07):
and they expected me to do a good things. So, like,
you know, George always makes this joke my mom and
dad they were sitting like cour side in LA and uh,
it was just one of those games where like I
had like ten straight and George's up on a bitch hype.
And after the game he was like, bro, I looked
over at your mom and dad and like your dad
was like just sitting there with an arms cost He
wasn't like screaming une of your mom was just doing
(29:29):
this little clap, no excitement. Locked in how they are.
I was like, that's just how they are, man, That's
how they been, and like they you know, they expect
great things and you just have to really appreciate. The
one thing I would say before I've done like what
George said, is my mom and my dad didn't have
a lot of money to do what they did. They
they scrapped up money. They sacrifice a lot of different things.
(29:50):
All I remember is I drove from Dallas, Texas to
Vegas in a car filled with nine people that sat
eight people to afford me to play basketball, and uh,
you know, my mom says it was times that uh
you know, we had to sleep in the car. They said,
we just slept in the car for for um not
I mean on the road show, we slept in the
(30:10):
car instead of getting the hotel because hotel costs money,
you know what I mean. So like, I just really
appreciate them for that. And you know, they sacrificed everything,
and they worked extreamly horror for their kids and myself included.
I've had the pleasure of seeing your mom's from Afar
watch you guys, and I know what you mean about
Terris's parents. They're a little less like demonstrative, but all
three of your moms are very proud of you, and
(30:31):
it's very clear. I just saw that Christmas special. Uh
who was it last year? Was this year? Last year? Yeah?
I was watching that. I'm like, oh, I look a
little tires family, you know what I mean? Two years
old Anyways, moving on. Yeah, Hi, Lauren's mom, that is true.
(31:00):
But yeah, yeah, you better give a shout out. That's
missus Rosen, Missus Rosen. Yeah, I apologize. Um, okay, should
we do our last our finals our final segment? Last
year it was, um, we would ask our guests, you know,
if you had advice for your younger self, what would
(31:23):
you tell yourself? But we're not doing that this year.
This year we have a question. You know, what moment
in your life slash slash career, what's something that you're
that you're proud of, Like for example, my my my
something that I would be proud of would be, um
that I was in the league and got to be
(31:45):
able to to buy my mom a car. It doesn't,
it doesn't, it doesn't have to be about basketball. I
would prefer that it isn't about pas uh. I mean
I'm proud of by my mom my house. Like my
mom got her own house, My mom got her own cars,
like my sisters they both got their own cars. Like
(32:08):
I mean, I'm happy for whatever I can do, you
know what I mean? For my family, Like I know
they'll always be straight. Like basketball stop today, I'll be
straight for the rest of my life, you know what
I mean. So I'm just happy for all this, all
this stuff I've done. But there's so many people that
are way older than twenty four that'll never know what
that feels like. Yeah, what does it feel like to
know that that what you just said, they're set because
(32:31):
of what you did. I mean, it feel good, I mean,
if well, it feel better than good. But at the
same time, it's like I knew this is what I
wanted to do, Like you know what I mean, I
knew early and as you know what I mean, as
a kid that like I made up my mind that
like I just want to provide for my family, Like
I just want to get paid to provide for my family.
So basketball, football, it didn't matter what I did. It
(32:53):
was like, I know that's why I wanted to do.
And buy my mama's house was one of them, you
know what I mean, So on one of the first
things I wanted to do. So once I got to
do that early, you know what I mean. Uh, I
was like probably after my bought mind and bought right
after that about her. So I was like, let me
just knock this out, you know what I mean, get
what you on and just boom, you can handle it.
So that's probably one of my most best consequints. Neighborhood hero.
(33:18):
Neighborhood hero, what's something you're proud of? You? You're a
repeat customer, so last year you did your younger self.
Now you have to do what you're proud of. Um.
I'm proud of I'm proud of how my family has handled.
(33:40):
Um a lot of different life changes that make sense,
like they're just because my life has changed me, their
life has changed as well. Like my little sister, I'm
proud of her because, um, she has created her own
her own name for herself and growing up it's i mean,
not trying to my own home, but it's it's it's
hard for her to go through the same district, school
(34:03):
district and someone who her brothers played in the NBA.
So I'm proud of her. She made her own her
own route. My oldest sister, same thing, UM she has.
You know, she's a single mom. Super proud of her.
She takes care of both of her kids, her twin daughters.
I'm proud of that, My mom, my father, I'm proud
of all of them, just how they've handled this entire situation.
I really just appreciate them for it. And just to
(34:25):
pick you back off with Danny said, to be able
to provide for them on Christmas, to see all their
happy faces, get them you know what they want to know.
Christmas not about giving, but for them to be around
and provide meals and provide a roof over their head
and in safety for them. That is the one thing
that I'm extremely proud of. Guys. That was beautiful. Terry,
(34:45):
thanks for coming back, Thanks for showing up, do Anthony,
thank you for stopping by. Terse. You have a future
and podcasting, my man, and appreciate you coming by to
be a co host. And with that being said, you
know the first episode of season two of The Big
Niang Theory. That's a rap. Thank you guys for joining us.
(35:07):
You already know what it is lang Lang Niang Nia
Welcome everybody to the Big Niang Theory. Thanks George. Joel
Embiide is in the building already tells me that I suck.
Think about where you were and like, where are you
right now? Can you run a bike for rude? And yes,
thank you for making time for the Big Niang Theory.
I appreciate you have me bro. Welcome back everybody. This
(00:21):
is season two of The Big Niang Theory. I'm George
Niang with my co host Lauren Rosen, and for this
special episode, we have a second co host, Tyrese Maxie.
But I think we're excited to have this guest. Yes,
we do, but this guest d' anthony Melton. You know,
(00:42):
d'y anthony came from Memphis in a trade this offseason
and we are a little bit more than a quarterway
through the year and we're more than excited to have d'
anthony a part of our team on the basketball court.
But to let you fans get an inside look at
who d' anthony is further adod Anthony Melton, welcome to
the Big Yang Theory. Man. Thank you for having me
(01:05):
so and I ain't gonnaut. I like the name Big
meant theory. It fits especially with the cell big Bang theory.
You know, I mean I like bang bang, so um.
You know, obviously you came from Memphis, d' anthony. I
don't I don't know if you want to get two
in depth about it. But how was that process, you know,
(01:27):
getting traded A lot of fans only see you know
how that goes on, you know through Sports Center or
you know, the internet. How was that process for you?
What were you doing? We all know it was Draft night,
but how did that, you know, go for you? So
the seventy six ers have the twenty third overall selection.
They are trading the twenty third selection and Danny Green
(01:48):
to the Memphis Grizzlies for d' anthony Melton. Well, before
you like, you know what I mean, I do refresh
Twitter and I'm reading that's Memphis. Disis has anything for
the twenty that I'm just like, whoa, yeah, hold on
(02:10):
is that my name? Yeah? That's a big time change though, seriously,
Like going from a Memphis team that's like young and
and and small. Yeah, like I'm walking to going to
a team that's on national TV, a loot with two
you know, future Hall of famers for sure, and Joe
and James, So I mean, how what's your mindset going
(02:30):
into that? Like seriously, like that's that's so big of
a different Like I'm there trying to think about it,
like Memphis, y'all play like you know, y'all play so free,
so differently than than how we do. You know, what
was your what's your thoughts coming in first? Like my
first thought was like I'm ready, Like I'm ready with
a championship, like you know what I mean, It's like
I saw how how dominant you guys could be. Um,
(02:52):
even though it's like you guys haven't gone as far
as you guys probably wanted to. But at the same time,
it's like, I know the pieces is there, um, you know,
even given yeah, you got James, Joe, but also you
got you you know what I mean, you're excited. It's
somebody I know I can get out in transition with boom,
uh get up and down, we could move. Also Tobias
(03:15):
something that's like he's he's a good shooter. He got
great for him, you know, he got his spots that
he can ride, stuff like that. And it's it's the
role players too, that's like, Okay, I know I can
fit in here and we can all get get to it.
You know what I mean. I mean, Darrel's to do
that drafted me, so I felt like it was loved there. Um,
And then every time I played Doc, He's always showed love.
So I was just excited. Um. Doc called me literally
(03:39):
like probably two minutes after that, talked to him, talked
to Zach Kleman Memphis Gym, and then talk to my agent.
I was just ready, like I was ready for whatever. Tyrese,
when you won the Community assist Award, d Anthony said
some really nice things about ya. Tyres Is just like
like he kind of said, he's he's calling militant with
(04:00):
some things, you know what I mean, like getting there early,
Like even when I first met him, Like I'm showing
up at I think it was like a ten A
and workout and I'm showing up like nine fifty, you
know what I mean. He's sitting there, Dad, he's sitting
down ready, our shoes tied, and I'm like, Oh, it's
not like you just getting here and stuff like that,
(04:21):
like how you he said. They said, Noah, it's my
second workout already, And I was just like, oh yeah,
I see, Like you know what I mean. That's type
stuff that you know what I mean, great players doing.
That's when he's striving to be So you know it'd
be making me mad sometimes how early he is. But
you know, like you said, it makes you want to
be better. You know, makes you worried about what time
(04:42):
I'm getting there and now you like, you know what
I mean, what am I doing? So yeah, it definitely
makes you want to be better. D'y Anthony said some
really nice things about you and about your friendship. How
would you describe your friendship with d Anthony because we
haven't heard you talk about it before, Like how did
it come about so quickly? And how did you guys
get so close as quickly as you did? And they
(05:02):
work out every damn I want to say, I think
I think I have to be the first person on
the team. Yeah, yeah, this, I'll just tell y'all this story.
So they tell me milts coming to work out and
like and like, hey, you want it is the cool
milk can work I'm like, yeah, man, I don't care.
I'm cool, So like, all right, cool, So milk walking
in about I don't know about, but let's I'm like,
(05:25):
you know, I'm an early riser. Everybody knows I'm an
early riser. And they're like, what time you want to go? Like, well,
I want to go at six And they're like, no,
I look back it up a little bit. So I'm
all right, what thing win? Like ten to eleven? So
we work out whatever, but it's all cool. Like we
played a little one on one and the one thing
that I would say about both of us, so we're
competitive guys, so like and the one on one, it's
like it's a weird feeling because you don't want to
(05:47):
be overly competitive because you don't know who you're like,
you don't know he's gonna snap, you know what I'm saying,
But like you still want to win because you want
those back. So like we played a little bit of Dad,
you know, we got along from there, but our relationship,
i mean, our fresh we kind of took off from there. Man.
It's just like you know, training camp, we laughs, you know,
play cards and um, you know, work out with spins together. Um.
You know, I think it's just like us being young.
(06:09):
We're like basically the youngest two on the team. I
think the youngest two that played, like in the rotation
so it's like we connect that way. And then just
being like he said, like young, fast, energetic. Uh turn,
Like we are like the turn guys on the team,
Like we try to encourage each other. While I've been out,
I'll have been encourage him to the Bestie Canada to
fit in and shoot, and um, you know he's old.
(06:32):
I was just so just be young. But people don't
understand like your journey, Like we were having this conversation
earlier today, like people don't like I was the fiftieth pick,
but you know, yeah, the Anthony was the forty six pick.
(06:53):
I don't know what year, twenty eighteen and you got
drafted by Houston whatever, it didn't play out, you got
traded to Phoenix, played one year in Phoenix, then got
traded to Memphis. Yeah, we're using Phoenix one nineteen games
that year, That's what I'm saying. So like he's going
from I remember that, but I didn't know us on
that team. His journey has been crazy to them. I
(07:15):
didn't played my first I didn't play my first twenty
five games. I was in a suit tie like my
first twenty five games, just sitting in the g Well,
I said, yeah, thinking like I left college early for this.
Talk about that, like because a lot of people don't
know like that mentality, like it's either do or die
and like, yeah, and you can't pay it because if
you panic, like you're not going to be your true self.
(07:37):
But then you double down on yourself and now look
at you. Yeah. So, like I had sixteen workouts coming
out of yeah, sixteen, I had to I had like
I had to get in front of people, you know
what I mean. So I had to make sure everybody
was seeing what I could do and my ability. Like,
but going into my sophomore year practice, I was killing,
(07:57):
like I was killing, like I felt good about my game,
like I can go to the league, like you know
what I mean. Like once you feel your league games
started coming in, you like that confidence that. Yeah, So
when I play, I was like, damn, I gotta get
in front of everybody. Like my agent was like, we
gotta let people see you. Right up at sixteen teams,
none of them like I worked for all first round
(08:18):
teams and like none of them drafted me. So like
going to the second round, I'm like scared. Yeah, over
because at that point you're thinking, like none of them
likes you. Like you know what I mean, Like no,
but like Boston really wanted me. But Robert Williams kept
slipping in the draft that year, so once he slipped
to thirty, Boston was like, we want them, we need him,
(08:41):
so he he took my pick and then after that
I just kept slipping. Yeah, put that in context, though,
how many workouts is normal? I did not. I did zo.
Yeah he can't kid, yeah, but I did. I mean
that's when you dropped. Damn, I slipped. I mean I
(09:03):
slipped because I shot twenty nine percent from the three
in college, but only shot I didn't shoot like because
you wouldn't supposed to three that it's because we finally,
you know, started shooting together. That's really it. But no,
that's crazy though. I mean I'm just sitting here thinking,
like sixteen workouts, Like I hear people talk about the
work workouts all the time, and I mean, I know
(09:26):
you going into those workouts with a mentality of I'm
guarding and I'm scoring. Man, if you go into that,
you know in the game, you know, and chopping. I mean,
I don't know if I'm interrupted, But I want to
ask you a question about now, because like we talk
about like I always messed with you before games or
who you got the guard or you know, and uh,
your role has changed so much from the mythis which
is great. This is good. So like over here every
(09:48):
night you're probably gotten the best player. I know you
probably didn't live it over there, but now you are
like primary defender on our team. So it's like always
best with you about guarding guys like Jordan Poole and
guards like Paul George Org and then T. D. McCullum.
So like what is your mentality going into that? Like
I know you like I got to stop them and
I want to do my best I can, but you
also got to go on offensive and make sure that
(10:10):
a big big part of your role too. I mean
I just try to I just try to play a
confidence like and just be aggressive, like honestly, that's this
is this is how I've played since I started playing basketball,
which is crazy. Like before like when I was really
little and stuff like that, I used to boom playing
and passing lands and stuff like that, and I used
(10:31):
to have to run down, jump stop you know what
I mean, make the layup and stuff. So uh, real
specific with you sound like me over there, man, I
used to be late. But like my biggest thing was
just I had to work on my shot a lot,
you know what I mean. I had to work on
being on the catching shoot because I understand of like
(10:52):
I'm not gonna have a ball at the time, Like
I'm not an offensive first type player. So like once
I got to a point where it's I cast stop
playing better offensive players. Was like I gotta be able
to play off the ball, cut, move, score without having
to do all the dribbles and stuff like that and
still be effective because on the defensive end, it's like,
(11:12):
I know, I just gotta make it tough, Like I
gotta make it tough, Like no matter what, you just
can't get to the same shots that you want to
like shots you shooting your workouts. Now you gotta shoot
something else because you don't realize how much people don't
like those shots now, Like they just like I want
to get to this spot, but now it's like they
can't get there. They start thinking, yeah, yeah you got
(11:33):
once you got an offensive guy. I'm you know, I'm
moving an offensive guy, but join the club. Yeah, But
but I know what you mean though, Like once you
have them thinking and they know that you're you're chasing.
They know that you're going to be defending all night.
That's when they start turning the ball over. That's when
they started. People don't want to play exactly like people
would just be out there exactly. But he's messing up
(11:55):
offensive players rhythm. Like there was one time we were playing.
I'm not gonna get into a specific expense. I was
guarding in someone and he was like, let me guard
them for a possession. I'm like, are you sure? Like
they're like bigger than He looked at me, like come on.
So this person was trying to say, like I got
it all right, you know what I mean. So this
person that we were, you know, playing against, was able
(12:15):
to just dribble the ball, get the rebound, dribble the ball,
and he literally made them literally pick up their dribble
as soon as he like pressured them. And I was like,
I thought he was gonna get me in trouble for
switching my match up on them. He literally did a
better job than I was doing on them. And that
dude was like six nine, you know what I mean.
And it's just I guess it's a similar fact where
like you know who you are where being like self
(12:37):
aware in the NBA is the biggest thing because at
the end of the day, like I'm sure there's more
skilled people than all of us, but if they don't, yeah,
if they don't know what their job is, they're out
here shooting in the dark and doing the wrong things.
And that's when you look super foot half the time. Like, bro,
just a lot of people don't understand. Like, Bro, you
get to the league. Bro, you got a job, and
do your job until you get a bigger job, until
you get a bigger role, and just keep moving up. Bro,
(12:58):
just keep It's too much money out here, Like like, bro,
are you trying to once you get that first contract
to take a breath? Yeah? Bro, yo, game could change
your life, you know what I mean. It's just you
could take a breath. And it's like you got dudes
like Tyrestas about to come up on who knows man
(13:19):
a lot of a lot of chicken. But you know
what I mean. But he stay, He stayed, what he
put into work, he did his job, and it was
just like now you see, it pays off. It may
take a little bit longer, but it pays off. And
you say, it's not about being the most skilled necessarily,
and all three of you, separately prior to this conversation
have talked about not necessarily being the most talented or
(13:41):
most skilled or flashiest, but you've all worked into the
roles that you have now despite whatever your limitations might
have been or might be. So how proud of How
proud are you guys, of yourselves and of each other,
knowing that you've all taken that similar path. You know,
I'll start off of that, And I think the biggest
thing I think we all share that is like I
(14:03):
think we all believed in ourselves and the hard work
like never wavered, Like there was never a moment where
we felt like anything was going to be given to us.
And I've only been around these dudes like a year
to two years, But when you see someone that knows
how to like grind, how to like work hard and
had to like go through some things to get to
what they want, that's kind of like something that brings
you all together. And I think that's one commonality that
(14:25):
we share. Like, sure, if Tyrese isn't a six seven guard,
but he plays like he's six seven. You know, Anthony
may not be the most athletic guard, but he's guarded
the most athletic dudes, And I think it just shared
commonality where it's like, yeah, people have may not believed
in us, but you know, like you were saying, you
just double down, like continue to work and eventually it's
going to pay off. And I think the hard work
(14:47):
just never wavers. We talk about it a lot though,
right because most people that listen to this type of
podcast aren't in the NBA. Right, But what are the
transferable lessons that you guys have learned that people that
listen can understand? And at least for me in my
line of w work, Like I'm not the most talented person.
I'm not the tallest, longest legged girl out there, right,
but I work. You think you're the most talented. Yeah,
(15:08):
thank you, George. But I had to work really hard
to get to where I am too. And so when
I hear you guys talk about that stuff, I can
take that into my life and I can give the
same advice to someone who doesn'tthing totally different. And so
when I hear you guys talk about that, I find
it very inspirational. Thank you, No, that's facts, because I mean, like,
especially you can see other people like working hard and
that can motivates you. Like when I first got around
(15:30):
this dude, I'm like, man, he up early, you know
what I mean, triple So like it's just you see
other people like and you see when they hard work payoff,
It's like, yeah, you know what I mean, make you
want to go even harder. It's like you see he
shot this many and then he's shooting this in again anywhere.
(15:50):
He doing this and then he do that, you know
what I mean. So like that type stuff is just
it's just motivating. And then I think one thing I'll
said about this group that we have right here in
this is, um, we motivate each other really really well. Like, um,
we we get hype off of each other's success. Like
I think, maybe I don't remember a couple of games ago.
(16:11):
It's a slow game. I remember slow game. Stars aren't
playing as great as you know, they don't be played. Um,
you know, the bench unit didn't play great coming in
and when their little spurt came, but when they came
back around, Um, George goes in the game and I
always tell George, George, what are you here to do?
Like we had this conversation like when I was hurt
We had this conversation to the bench before what are
(16:32):
you here to do? And I'm here to shoot? And
he missed. Yeah, he missed the shot, and the next
shot he kind of pumped aaked and got scared. Then
the time I came and yeah, this is serious. Has
been like a team man, all three of us. I
came to George and I said, George, what are you doing?
What are you here to do? Yeah, and stop, yeah,
(16:52):
stop stop wasting our time. And he goes back out
there and he hits what three four threes in the
in the second half and breaks the game open in
the same way Melt. Melt had a rough shooting night
one of these games and made like zero going into
the fourth. Coming to the fourth hits I'll say, keep shooting, dude,
like it doesn't matter, Like it's what you do. Like
he hits three big ones in the fourth and we
win the game. So it's like to build a lean
(17:14):
on your brothers to be able to, you know, motivate
each other. I think that's one of the biggest things
that that we've brought in that you've also brought coming
into this team. And you know, we can really just
say we appreciate you four, honestly, yeah, And I think
Danny does a good job of doing it in a
lighthearted world. Like me and Terrise always have this thing,
you know where we talk about, you know, we're forty
percent from three and I remember in practice early on,
I missed the three and d Anny was like, dang,
(17:37):
it'd be nice to have a forty percent three point shooter,
you know, Just funny stuff like that where you're like, yeah,
you know what I do need to step but he's
still gonna pass you the ball. And you know, every
time I believe in you, And I think that that
goes a long way when you have you know, you
when you're in the game and you're realizing you're not
just letting yourself down, but you know you're letting the
(17:57):
people around you down, and that makes you want to
go even harder, work even harder, continue to be great.
And I think that's a commentati that you know us
three share and you know this, this whole team shares
in this locker room. What was it like to play
on Christmas? Was it anyone's first? It was mine? Ye
didn't look like it. Tyreses Man, He's like a missed
(18:20):
I had these sentiment tost crunch shoes last year, Right,
we didn't play on Christmas last year? What about you
before that? And that's sick, I mean really that crazy. Anyways,
what man that was? That was the most jumping, jumping
(18:41):
environment that I've been in. And do it on Christmas
and then when you get back to your phone in
your life facts, I mean, just like when you wake
up and you see like NBA on you see Christmas
games and stuff like that, you know what I mean,
you see the whole production and all that stuff you said,
a commercials and advertisements, so to finally play in it
(19:05):
and like like what Doc said, it's like you could
play on here like it shows, like you know what
I mean, you deserve to be here and you can
show your skill and stuff like that. People want to
see it on Christmas, the biggest day of the year,
and it's like, damn, that's crazy, Like you know what
I mean, that big putting respect like that. I want
to Philadelphia seventy six is playing dude Madison Square guarding
(19:26):
them back like they want me to, like they trust
me to win a game and stuff like that too.
So it's it's just crazy, like two kids and stuff
watching too. Just because this is an audio only, I
have to describe the face that Terrese was making while
we're talking about so sad. Well, you know what, though,
I want to say this though I didn't make a
lot of trips because I was hurt, but being able
(19:48):
to be there and just like be a part of
it was was the best, you know for me. Honestly,
I know I wouldn't able to play, but just be
able to see how like y'all being happy, y'all being
turned like, you know, how sad I would have been
at home, like just watching Watchink y'all, I've hagically won,
there's been a turn up with y'all, Like that's like
the best feeling. But because you were sad, I'm gonna
(20:09):
give d Anthony an opportunity to fill your cup a
little bit because you were when you were out, you
were off the road for a large chunk of time.
And for those that don't know, and people like to
hear about this stuff, I know everyone he already knows,
but people like to hear about the fact that, for example,
d Anthony and Terry shoot together after practice, after shoot around,
every game and d Anthony the whole time Terries was out.
It's going over to the basket by himself, kind of
(20:30):
looking around. But what because he was sad just a
second ago? How much did you miss him? And how
good is it tappened back? Man? They took my dog.
I was like, man and ain't the same. And you
know they adopted me into the academy too. What's the academy?
(20:52):
Tell people it's the it's the head haunch right here.
So he's so I don't even know why we so
my rookie year, I wasn't playing as much at the
beginning and spent what it is my player development guy,
and like I was, I was making jokes because he
would have me running and playing one on one and
trying to basically just trying to kill me in the
workout to keep my condition up. And I was like
(21:14):
one day I was walking out like, man, I'm tired
of coming to the cab. Man, I'm playing the real game,
and so like everything. Then we just started calling at
the academy and then I study. He was like that,
so now so now it's like so now as soon
as we drafted, I promised you atonely drafted milk. You know,
because I'm still working out. You know, the next day,
(21:34):
I'm coming into the gym six yo, I'm talking to Spend.
He said, we gotta get melted in that. I'm like,
I'm like, you're right, I like we do gotta give
him milk with me. He's like, yeah, we're gonna start
working on off the drib with three. So as he
gets here and we got there, started working on off
with three. But I mean to have somebody like, you know,
who can just flow right in like that like milk,
(21:55):
and you know, even sometimes g kind of comes in
there like you know, too many dribbles for Georgia Academy
is like when you just like come together and we
start working at like we do shooting drails, we play.
We played a shooting game, um before like before after shooting.
I mean, and I ain't gonna lie the record. The
(22:17):
record ain't too good right now. Who's being who tres
We don't need to talk about winning. And let me
tell you this, when Tyrese gets rolling when he's shooting,
he does make like a bunch in a row. And
even I'm like, hen like I can't it's wild. Was Toronto?
What was your reaction to watching him in Toronto? Oh
(22:38):
that was that was immaculus, Yeah, Berserd, And I think
the part was he was just popping off two years
it was too like Yeah, and then there's one where
he got a stealing you know, Tyrese running around, bump
into someone, shooters lay pulls up for a man like
you know this games like that, like we lose to them,
(23:02):
and uh, you know we played them in the playoffs.
You know, we played in the plaoffs. And when you
played a team, you know about this, y'all playing at
the War's son, like when you yeah, when you play
a team so many times, you play a team so
many times, like you really like it's it's a part
in your heart that you don't like them, Like it's
not it's not because that you don't like them as
people are, just because you're tired of seeing them so
(23:23):
like to see them get a hype and you know,
get so excited about them beating us in a you know,
which was a cruiser part It was one and four.
So like we needed to be we need to win
the game for our team and for our like morale
of the team and to be able to go out
there and all of us to win a big game.
Like that without the big fella was you know, it
was amazing and then you know, we was all happy
(23:45):
about it. Yeah, I remember that game really well, and
I remember Terrise you did media following the We were
out there for two games, right, and Terrise you did
media after the first one. Or you spoke to reporters
in between games and you talked about how badly you
wanted to be able to help flip a switch. And
then it was so cool to see you do it, really,
just flip the switch and be that guy that you
(24:05):
guys are now describing. And George just said it. You
were running your mouth more than I personally have ever
seen you do so in that game, and I'm just curious.
I know you can hold your own, but has George
taught you anything in the talk department? He's his own man. Yeah,
he was trash talking before he knew me. And I
(24:26):
think the funniest thing is, I don't want to say
like I've brought it out of him, but like getting him,
getting him going the way when he starts to talk.
He knows how to talk. Trash should have nothing to
do with me. You're known for it, and you're known
for It's different though. It's different though, because during that
time of the year, Like think about what we are now,
you were rolling, We're bawling right during that time of
(24:48):
the year, everybody's kind of us out, like we have
no room to talk to what I'm saying, we're playing
five played five games, and we got we added people
like Dmail, we added mind trains, we had the house.
We got it tough. That's four guy in a rotation,
so it's not going to be easy to add. Just
bring those guys there, don't matter how much talent you have.
So at the time, my mindset and my mind frame
was like, I know, we need to win this game.
(25:09):
And I was trying to do whatever I could in
my power to excite my team and excite you know,
us as a group, to get them morale back where
they needed to be. And because at the end of
the day, the NBA is extremely hard and you only
have you only have each other because like we see
each other every day. Uh, we like we can, we
(25:30):
can fight, but the next day we right back with
each other. You know what I'm saying, Like we could lose,
but we gotta we got to lead on each other.
So that was really my biggest thing. I just wanted
to get, you know, the guy's hype and the guys
back together. I think we went on a little three
game winning streak and I think that that kind of
helped us in the long run. So now you know
we're here and nobody's talking about it starting winning for me,
So I forgot we did exactly well. I'm glad we
(25:52):
could forget about those days, thank thank goodness. Those were
something that was dark. It got dark. I got dark.
It was talking foul on our names. Watch that, but
they was talking filthy. Before we wrap up, I want
to talk about one more topic. Um. Before we started rolling,
you guys were all talking about your mom's and I
(26:14):
know how close you are all with each of your moms,
and a lot of moms listen to this podcast, so
I was thinking maybe we'd have a moment for moms.
Your mom's were all at the Christmas game and the Anthony.
You've talked a ton about the supporter she's been for you.
So moms, I love my mom. Yeah, started starting off, started,
I mean I could do that, you know, I said
(26:37):
it right then? My mom willna get on me. So
my mom like my mom, like she says, she's still
twenty five. Like you know what I mean, So my
mom always gonna be she always gonna be turned like
my mom up. She loves sports, you know what I mean,
Like Christmas, she can she ready to sit there on
the couch all day and just have some wine and
just watch basketball. Like that's her ideal day, you know
(27:00):
what I mean. So just the fact that I've made
it this far and done this far, like man, she
there too, like she she ready, She loves it. She's
she go hard for all her kids. So it's like, um,
she's ready for whatever, and she she loves all this.
She loves it. Um, she loves seeing you know, other people.
She love seeing other people's parents and everything they got
(27:20):
going on, just seeing the players, and so you know,
she's super supportive and whatever I want to do, she's
right there with me. No. I think the commonality with
that is, you know, alter it from you know what
I've known about you know, the Anthony's mom and Terrison,
well you know my mom is that you know, it
seems like all of them were willing to give up
everything that they had to make sure that we achieved
(27:42):
our dreams. And I think that's why you know, we
cherish and take everything that we have so seriously because
so many people, you know, including our moms, you know,
have supported us to get to this point, and how
would it would be tragic, you know, for us to
to let them down. So I think I don't think
any of us take our days, you know, for granted
and try to give everything that we have to maximize
(28:04):
our potential an opportunity because you know, they sacrifice so
much just for us to get here. And you know,
my mom has been a spearhead of you know, my
development as a man, and that helped me get to
where I am today. So thank you, mom. If you're
listening to Mama, yeah, talk about Denise Tyree's come on. Yeah,
(28:26):
you know I appreciate my mom for the same reason
that y'all you know, both things said. Both of you
guys said, Um, I will talk about this though. UM
My mom wasn't as she loves me for sure, but
my mom was no, no, seriously, but my mom was
was tough. You know. My mom was tough for me
and when I was, when when I was young and
still this today. And I think that's that's one of
(28:46):
the reasons why, Um, I worked so hard and one
of the reasons why I don't need any how do
you say this, I don't need any motivation, outside motivation
or anybody to to to like give me any pity
about it. I just feel like my mom made me
so tough. Like with mom and my dad, honestly, both
of them, they you know, they expected greatest out of me,
(29:07):
and they expected me to do a good things. So, like,
you know, George always makes this joke my mom and
dad they were sitting like cour side in LA and uh,
it was just one of those games where like I
had like ten straight and George's up on a bitch hype.
And after the game he was like, bro, I looked
over at your mom and dad and like your dad
was like just sitting there with an arms cost He
wasn't like screaming une of your mom was just doing
(29:29):
this little clap, no excitement. Locked in how they are.
I was like, that's just how they are, man, That's
how they been, and like they you know, they expect
great things and you just have to really appreciate. The
one thing I would say before I've done like what
George said, is my mom and my dad didn't have
a lot of money to do what they did. They
they scrapped up money. They sacrifice a lot of different things.
(29:50):
All I remember is I drove from Dallas, Texas to
Vegas in a car filled with nine people that sat
eight people to afford me to play basketball, and uh,
you know, my mom says it was times that uh
you know, we had to sleep in the car. They said,
we just slept in the car for for um not
I mean on the road show, we slept in the
(30:10):
car instead of getting the hotel because hotel costs money,
you know what I mean. So like, I just really
appreciate them for that. And you know, they sacrificed everything,
and they worked extreamly horror for their kids and myself included.
I've had the pleasure of seeing your mom's from Afar
watch you guys, and I know what you mean about
Terris's parents. They're a little less like demonstrative, but all
three of your moms are very proud of you, and
(30:31):
it's very clear. I just saw that Christmas special. Uh
who was it last year? Was this year? Last year? Yeah?
I was watching that. I'm like, oh, I look a
little tires family, you know what I mean? Two years
old Anyways, moving on. Yeah, Hi, Lauren's mom, that is true.
(31:00):
But yeah, yeah, you better give a shout out. That's
missus Rosen, Missus Rosen. Yeah, I apologize. Um, okay, should
we do our last our finals our final segment? Last
year it was, um, we would ask our guests, you know,
if you had advice for your younger self, what would
(31:23):
you tell yourself? But we're not doing that this year.
This year we have a question. You know, what moment
in your life slash slash career, what's something that you're
that you're proud of, Like for example, my my my
something that I would be proud of would be, um
that I was in the league and got to be
(31:45):
able to to buy my mom a car. It doesn't,
it doesn't, it doesn't have to be about basketball. I
would prefer that it isn't about pas uh. I mean
I'm proud of by my mom my house. Like my
mom got her own house, My mom got her own cars,
like my sisters they both got their own cars. Like
(32:08):
I mean, I'm happy for whatever I can do, you
know what I mean? For my family, Like I know
they'll always be straight. Like basketball stop today, I'll be
straight for the rest of my life, you know what
I mean. So I'm just happy for all this, all
this stuff I've done. But there's so many people that
are way older than twenty four that'll never know what
that feels like. Yeah, what does it feel like to
know that that what you just said, they're set because
(32:31):
of what you did. I mean, it feel good, I mean,
if well, it feel better than good. But at the
same time, it's like I knew this is what I
wanted to do, Like you know what I mean, I
knew early and as you know what I mean, as
a kid that like I made up my mind that
like I just want to provide for my family, Like
I just want to get paid to provide for my family.
So basketball, football, it didn't matter what I did. It
(32:53):
was like, I know that's why I wanted to do.
And buy my mama's house was one of them, you
know what I mean, So on one of the first
things I wanted to do. So once I got to
do that early, you know what I mean. Uh, I
was like probably after my bought mind and bought right
after that about her. So I was like, let me
just knock this out, you know what I mean, get
what you on and just boom, you can handle it.
So that's probably one of my most best consequints. Neighborhood hero.
(33:18):
Neighborhood hero, what's something you're proud of? You? You're a
repeat customer, so last year you did your younger self.
Now you have to do what you're proud of. Um.
I'm proud of I'm proud of how my family has handled.
(33:40):
Um a lot of different life changes that make sense,
like they're just because my life has changed me, their
life has changed as well. Like my little sister, I'm
proud of her because, um, she has created her own
her own name for herself and growing up it's i mean,
not trying to my own home, but it's it's it's
hard for her to go through the same district, school
(34:03):
district and someone who her brothers played in the NBA.
So I'm proud of her. She made her own her
own route. My oldest sister, same thing, UM she has.
You know, she's a single mom. Super proud of her.
She takes care of both of her kids, her twin daughters.
I'm proud of that, My mom, my father, I'm proud
of all of them, just how they've handled this entire situation.
I really just appreciate them for it. And just to
(34:25):
pick you back off with Danny said, to be able
to provide for them on Christmas, to see all their
happy faces, get them you know what they want to know.
Christmas not about giving, but for them to be around
and provide meals and provide a roof over their head
and in safety for them. That is the one thing
that I'm extremely proud of. Guys. That was beautiful. Terry,
(34:45):
thanks for coming back, Thanks for showing up, do Anthony,
thank you for stopping by. Terse. You have a future
and podcasting, my man, and appreciate you coming by to
be a co host. And with that being said, you
know the first episode of season two of The Big
Niang Theory. That's a rap. Thank you guys for joining us.
(35:07):
You already know what it is lang Lang Niang Nia
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