July 1, 2020 • 31 mins
The name Jerry Stackhouse is synonymous with basketball. One of the greatest players to ever wear the North Carolina Tar Heels jersey, he went on to play 18 seasons in the NBA - yes, 18! With a resume that’s parallel to none, it's easy to see why he was recently chosen to be the head coach of the Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball team. Coach Stackhouse talks to Jensen about leading an impressive young roster during these challenging times and what recruiting is like in a socially distanced world. They also talk about the possible racial bias he saw against teammate Allen Iverson, the difference between LeBron James and Michael Jordan’s leadership approach, and why the De La Soul music video for “Stakes Is High” was the real sign he “made it”. This episode and series supports FeedingAmerica.org. For more of The Sports Bubble, visit treefort.fm/the-sports-bubble
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to the Sports Bubble, a production of I Heart
Radio Entree Fork Media. My name is Jensen Carp and
I'm a sports fan and an amateur website refresher. I've
never pressed F five more than I have over the
past week. I'm hungry for updates as leads get ready
for their comeback or fail miserably in the process. Someone
(00:25):
on Twitter whispered the words Newton and the Patriots, and
I was trying to get a verified confirmation of that
miracle for the next hour. Seems like the Denver Nuggets
of closed their practice facilities as coronavirus numbers are on
the rise, and players like Ian Desmon are becoming vocal
social activists with Instagram posts that will forever change our lives.
For a time where there's very little sports being played,
it sure feels like a lot is happening. So I
(00:47):
continue to talk to athletes and sports industry professionals about
what they're doing during this very weird time. Someone has
to keep track. This is the Sports Bubble with Jensen
cart The name Jerry Stackhouse is synonymous with basketball. He's
considered to be one of the greatest players to everwhere
in the North Carolina tar Heels Jersey, leading the team
(01:08):
to the Final four in a season when he was
named the National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated
and was a first team All American. And then well,
he played eighteen seasons in the NBA. A first round
draft pick by the Philadelphia seventies sixers, the hype around
a player commonly referred to at the time as the
next Jordan was deafening, and yet he somehow was able
to deliver. With more than fifteen thousand career points, he
(01:30):
was one of the decades premier offensive threats, averaging almost
seventeen points a game in his career, and keep in
mind that average is over almost twenty years, including a
two thousand season in Detroit where he averaged twenty nine
point eight and scored fifty seven against the Bulls. That's
still a franchise record. He's a two time All Star
who has now taken his career to the next step
as the head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores, an SEC
(01:52):
basketball team with more attention than ever thanks to an
impressive young roster and a high profile coach. On this episode,
I talked to Jerry Stackhouse about recruiting in a pandemic,
the possible racial bias he saw against teammate Alan Iverson,
the difference between Michael Jordan and Lebron's leadership approach, and
the video for de Las Souls stakes as high. It's
a conversation with one of my favorite players of all
(02:13):
time in the sports bubble, from Jerry Stackhouse, Headman's basketball
coach at Vanderbill University, to accept press one Well, I
wanted to start off by saying, I know some states
(02:35):
have been loosening up, so I'm still asking people where
you've been quarantined and with who I've been quarantined, mostly
in Nashville. I've recently come to Atlanta as a home there,
so I've been spending a little time they're trying to
do a little spring cleaning, but other than that, I've
been between those two places, Nashville and Atlanta. It is crazy, too,
because when I started this podcast like three and a
(02:56):
half months ago, it was such an easy question to
ask where you quarantine, who you with, And now it
feels like, even though every day we're learning that the
numbers are higher and higher, we're all sort of just
tiptoeing around. Is that how it feels in Atlanta as well. Yeah,
it feels them, Yeah, in all those places. And man,
just think we we almost feel like we live in
a bubble that it's not really around us, and we're
(03:17):
kind of moving our own space, feeling like, Okay, the
COVID is over there, it's not where I'm at. We're
seeing that the numbers are saying that that's not accurate,
and we all probably need to be a little more
careful than than what we are. But again, in the
stake of trying to get things back to some normalcy
that we all are trying probably trying to force this
(03:38):
is you a little more than we should. I agree.
It does feel like we're all sort of creating our
own bubbles and trying to decide. You know, it's almost
like we know the experts, we know the things that
are happening, but also like every fifteen twenty minutes we're
getting new information or being told certain things weren't right
in the first place. And it's it's very hard to follow,
no doubt. I mean, it's hard to figure out what's
(04:00):
what's true and what's real. I mean, like I said,
I gave us some, you know, some pretty standard things
to do with the social distancing and you know, staying
six feet I mean that really accurate. Should we should we?
Should we be ten? Or are we safe to to
be at three? So I just think it's, uh, you know,
so much information coming in on a daily basis, but
(04:21):
hopefully we all stay in tune and make sure that
we And I like listening to Dr Faucci and the CDC,
the folks that spent their whole life, you know, committed
to these types of issues. So I think they're they're
the experts, and hopefully everyone start trying to listen to
them a little bit more. I'm in the same boat
as you are. I wanted to know how you've been
(04:43):
passing time. And there's a reason because considering since you
were even before a teenager preteen, I'm not sure you've
went longer than a few weeks your entire life off
of a basketball court or something not related to basketball.
Even when you were announcing what are you doing with
out basketball in your life? Well, it still revolves around
basketball for me. Now it's recruiting, being able to get
(05:05):
on zoom calls and you know, with potential prospects and
recruits as well as uh, communicating with our own guys,
our current current guys, make sure that they're in a
healthy mind state because it's so much going on like that.
The COVID is one piece of it, but you know,
with the social injustice things that are going on, things
(05:26):
that are playing out, you know, right in front of
our eyes. You know, it has everybody a little more
conscious and a little more awake about, you know, things
and what's going on. So I mean I've been I've
been dealing with that, trying to figure out a way
that I could you be impactful, you know. You know,
I felt like I've always tried to use my platform
to to give back and to be able to create
(05:48):
opportunities for for people coming forward, you know, whether that's
you know, African American, different different minorities, for women. You know,
when you look across the my my roster of my staff,
you see all you know, all ignis seas and I
think that's the that's important. You know, people are just
trying to make it a sexy thing to do right now,
but you know, I think we all have to dig
(06:09):
a little deeper and try to have an impact. And
it's tough because I mean, with everything going on, it's
just like I'm almost numb, like what what can I
do to really have an impact. I'm looking for much
of my mentors to say, Okay, this is the way
that you know, we should you should try to proach things.
And at the same time, I know that people who
that look to me for some of that same leadership
(06:31):
and making sure that I'm giving them something to be
able to grow with as well. So it's just just
just challenging times right now. But at the end of
the day, we hope that we will get back to
basketball and get back to some normalcy and making sure
that um mentally that we're you know, we're prepared to
do so and talk to our guys, you know, trying
to make sure that they're eating right and they're still
(06:53):
working out, because okay, one day we're gonna come out
of this is let's make sure that we're still ready
to pick up and and you know from where we
left off in the spring. Yeah, and and you you
say that, but you know, it's difficult to keep NBA
players in shape, fit and focused. I mean it's a
little more difficult with students not being paid for their job.
I mean, have you found it easy to keep tabs
on your players. I mean, our guys are hungry, and
(07:15):
I think that's the pro players and some of them,
you know, they can take a stance of being more
you know, drawing the line of being a little more
I wouldn't call it militant, but just being more proactive
to the social issues that that are president right now,
you know, more so than you know, the college kids can.
(07:36):
I mean, they still have aspirations of obtaining that type
of status of being able to play at that next level.
So I think they're a little bit more you know,
eager to play a little bit more eager to get
back into the gym. But I think still just being
smart with it and making sure that we're giving them
all the information and more so than just the physical stuff,
just to emotional support, just the mental support. And our
(08:00):
guys have been in a good space. They've been doing
a good job with our staff with player development sessions
and making sure that they're able to divorce their opinion.
And you know, we got our guys are eager. They're
eager to get back to campus. They're eager to get
back and have an impact to do whatever or protests
and really smart kids. But now it's just about making shooting.
(08:21):
They channel all of that energy and the passion that
they have in the right direction. Yeah, and you brought
up recruitment. I wanted to know with you head coaching
at Vanderbilt. You guys announced a big signing with a
four star prospect, Peyton Daniels last week, and I wonder
how difficult recruiting has been for you during this completely
new pandemic world. We have no real house visits, probably
less scouting reports. You're depending on YouTube more. Do you
(08:42):
feel fully equipped to do this as much as anybody else?
You know, solid in charge at orders, unprecedented across the boards,
So I think, you know, we have. You know, we've
been really proactive and getting guys on on zoom calls
and FaceTime, just making sure that we're connecting. Maybe even
more so then we would if you know, everybody had
a crack out of them. You know, Well, maybe it
(09:04):
has a little bit of advantage because some of the
guys that we've been on that we followed through the
high school season, you know, a lot of other coaches
hadn't been able to you know, really see these guys
all spring. You know, most of these guys going into
that senior year. You know, they kind of blow up
guys that hadn't really been on the radar, you know,
because they played all summer and that gained that momentum
(09:25):
going into that senior year. And so I think there's
some guys that are you know, floating under the radar,
and hopefully, you know, that could kind of be an
advantage for for us, because you know, we had to
look at two components who don't just look at the
you know, the athletic piece of it. The academic piece
has to be important too. So we've identified guys that
that fit the deal for us for what we want
(09:45):
to have on the court. But even more important, you know,
how are they're going to be able to function in
a competitive environment, you know, academic as well. Yeah, and
you know the way the NBA works nowadays, you can
go for one season in of college, you can go overseas.
And I'm wondering how much it comes up with these
you know, high school seniors about expressing concern about the
(10:06):
tournament being canceled again or not having the full college
experience and looking to overseas and just get it done
and get into the NBA. Are are you kind of
fighting it a little harder than you used to because
of the pandemic. Well, I think for some of these kids,
and I think you have to be kind of in tune,
you know, and just kind of here, not only just
from them and their parents, but from from their support
(10:28):
system and a you coach a different people around and
you can get a feel of the ones that you
feel that are trending into war possibly you know, skipping
college completely. You know, the G League has offered a
different opportunity for prospects to be able to maximize financially
from revenue standpoint, right out of high school. So I think,
(10:50):
you know, it's it's important that we figure out this name,
image and likeness in a situation sooner rather than later.
So it's not that you know, we lose and you know,
top talent to to the G League or or any
other overseas. Other guys have been going overseas recently. But
I think that that was kind of the the idea
(11:10):
of the G League to make sure that there was
an opportunity or where our talent you know, here in
the US does not have to go abroad to still
be able to continue to improve from the standpoint of
the basketball skills, and and and and have an alternative,
you know, other than college. I mean, and I'm cool
with it, but I think that there's still enough student
athletes and parents who want to college experience, who want
(11:33):
an opportunity to you know, receive a you know, first
class education as well as you know, compete at a
high level, you know, like playing playing the power Fier,
playing in then SEC. So there's always gonna be challenges,
But I think at the same time, we've been trying
to battan as well as we can. Yeah, and you
brought it up a little there during the pandemic. Some
news did get a little buried that the n C
(11:54):
double A looks like it's making you know, head room
for college athletes to get paid for their likeness as
someone who had their U and see jersey everywhere. Would you,
I mean, what do you think of that? Is that
an ability you wish you had back when you saw
it all over the place? Yeah? I won that. Can
we go back, you know, get some more, uh, you
know some of those royalties off of some of those
(12:16):
for two jerseys that that was rolling around. But I
just think it's we have to find a way to
you know include players. I mean we're seeing it more
and more. I mean, we're are kids, and whether football
or basketball, at the end of the day, most of
the student body is not back. But those you know,
these guys are back because they understand the importance of
(12:39):
sport and how a lot of you know, colleges and
universities you know, rely on on that revenue. So I
think we you know now, but up until this point
has always been okay, it's the universities, the coaches that
everybody else. Now it's it's some talk about how do
we include the kids, how do we include the product?
(12:59):
And it's a lot of smart people that if they
really wanted to figure it out, I'm pretty sure we're
getting to figure it out. Agreed. Yeah, I mean, I
as a forty year old man who's still obsessed with
NBA jerseys, yours was the first I own, the first
professional jersey, and you had a wildly popular jersey, not
only just because you were who you were, but I
think the timing of rappers starting to wear jerseys and
it becoming more of like a fashion trend happened at
(13:21):
the same time you were drafted. Was that insane for
you to see them everywhere is basically coming out of college.
Well yeah, and again it's like it's almost like that
you expected somewhat because of the success of like you
saw those nor tail anew jersey when you know, you
walk in the foot locker and it's like, oh, that's
my jersey the four too, but you know, and and actuality,
(13:42):
there's really was no name on the back of it.
So I think that's the kind of what you what
you see and and but but for me, I'm just
hoping that that let's figure out a way too to
do it, because it's it's not hard, and I think
it's just a matter of a lot of old rules
that have been in place so long it's just time
for them the change. I think we were seeing that
(14:03):
with you know, just social injustice across the board and
and believe me, a lot of the underlying issues we
see there, you know, all started a long time ago
with some of the same racial and social issues that
we were dealing with back then and we're still facing
right now. I want to ask about that, with the
country focusing on the racial divide and racism and the
(14:25):
murder of George Floyd, do you have a plan as
a head coach with your athletes to talk about how
they would protest or have their voice heard in college sports. Well, yeah,
I mean we're really listening to UH players and some
of the things. I mean, I actually had an exercise
where I've had them write a paragraph for as much
as they wanted to about how they feel that they
could be impactful. And we had some really good ideas
(14:47):
from our kids and wanted to promote some grouts on
the jumbo trying for games. Some wanted to talk about,
you know, actually staging a protest or some sort. And
I think that's where we helped them as adults. We
allow them to be creative because they're really smart. But
at the same time, they still need some guidance and
they still need the belts to be able to help
them set the table. But we have to listen to
(15:09):
them and kind of left them, you know, steer the
ship a little bits as we moved forward, because I
just don't know if we change people who have been
and just kind of ingraining them for most of their life.
So where we have to do is try to educate
this current group and the group that's coming after them.
And I think that's what we want really see the
significant change. And I was thinking from your perspective as well.
(15:31):
You played with Alan Iverson on the Sixers, and I
constantly think about him and how the NBA treated him
in the prime of his career, whether it was the
dress code that was thinly veiled attack on him, or
photoshopping out his tattoos on media kits and just really
like categorizing him as a thug. Did you guys all
notice that when it was happening. Was that something that
you guys were sort of cognitive of. Yeah, I think
(15:52):
we were all cognitive of it, but I think there
was at the same time we were cognitive who was
the major sponsors of our league? And I think, you know,
David Stern or I think he did a unbelievable job
of marketing in the league. And I mean at the time,
it felt like the best way to market our league
and our players was to be able to you know,
(16:13):
present as as professional Little did we know that that
black culture, or the culture of hip hop was even
more just does you know prevailing to to to a
lot of kids as um, you know, seeing somebody you
know walk up in a suit, I mean as a kid,
I mean I enjoyed watching knowing that once I have
(16:34):
become a professional and I could be like Michael Jordan
and where for a suit to work. You know, not
all kids had that same assurrations. Some guys, you know,
some kids we want to do were baggae jeans and
white T shirts with bandon in the corn rolls. That
wasn't necessarily me. You know, I grew up in the
same neighborhoods as these kids. You know, we all just
(16:55):
are different. And I think that that's what you know,
Adam has embraced that, you know, tremenduster. Then guys be
individual and you see where the Russell Westbrooks and the
different guys not really taking it. You know, it's taking
on a life of its own just from standpoint of
a fashion, um to, where's something now that you know
we're all proud of as opposed to years back that
(17:17):
we just didn't feel like that was going to, you know,
move the needle. As far as marketing, I playing, So
I have no fault with with David cern and his
thought process. At that time, um it felt a little yeah.
I mean you're looking at it in now where where
everything that's going on. You could almost say it just
felt somewhere in racial but at that time being a
(17:39):
part of it. And I was like, Okay, we were
coming from a bad place in a late seventies early
eighties where we were was thought of as a drug
league and you know with you know, cocaine, you know,
running the rampid within our league. So there was had
to be some some efforts to clean that up. And
I think, uh, we cleaned that up and came one
(18:00):
of the eight to tame billion dollar industry. So you've
got to get credit whereas due. But at the same time,
I think it's we're seeing now that that could have
been a little bit more balanced there. Yeah. And I
also want to go on record, I'm not proud of
all of Westbrooks outfits. I'm proud of some of them. Okay,
all right, just as long as we're on the same page. Uh,
you left U n C early for the draft, but
you promised your mom and Dean Smith you would graduate
(18:21):
what you did. You had a degree in African American studies.
I think one of the things that a lot of
Americans are surprised by, especially white America, is just the
like the whitewashing of our mainstream history books. Most people
had never heard of Juneteenth until an episode of Atlanta
or this past week, or the Tulsa massacre until they
saw it on Watchman on HBO. With your education and
(18:42):
with your background in in sort of this subject, how
could this be changed? Is this Is this the time
that we finally get a middle school with Juneteenth in
their history book? Is that possible now? I hope? So,
I hope that's the next phase of bringing together one
history book. I think there's been a push for pop
to try to promote, you know, more African American history books,
(19:03):
and I pushed against that. I'd rather be a combination
of our history, you know, and to the point that
we're it's all combined. I mean, if we really tell
the true story, I mean, we know the story that
we were at about sixteen twenty Christopher Columbus coming over
on the mayfly and all that, but they need to
talk about what, you know, what really happened, you know
(19:25):
what I'm saying, How when they came over on and
make ship, what did they do? Who did they take
it away from? So I think when we, you know,
stop trying to hide behind all of that and really
tell tell the truth, and we'll be able to really
embrace the history from both sides. When you were in
college and you were learning that stuff, did you have
these eye opening moments the kind of the rest of
America's having now with Juneteenth and these sort of terms
(19:46):
and things that you guys have faced as a race man,
I never heard of Juneteenth until about, you know, two
weeks ago, I mean honestly, and I just never something
that was wasn't in the history books that I read.
And I think that's the it, that's the problem. You know.
I can, you know, I can. I can sing the
gingue right now in my head the year sixteen twenty,
(20:07):
the fields came over the good ship made flower brought
them across the seat. That was the thing that they
were being brandon In my head, that was, you know
not it should not be a proud part of our history.
More with former NBA star and current Vanderbilt men's basketball
head coach Jerry Stackhouse after this right now, Feeding America
(20:30):
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students who are out of school, the elderly individuals whose
jobs are impacted, and low income families continue to have
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(20:52):
This podcast is committed to donating a portion of the
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COVID nineteen. Now back to my chat with the Great
Jerry Stackhouse. You've got some headlines this past month about
(21:15):
playing with with Michael Jordan's during his Wizard come back,
and I know you you've got a much older version
of him, but but I wanted to know, as someone
who played with m j and Lebron, what were the
biggest differences in their abilities to lead when you compare them. Well,
I think it's I mean, it's just different leadership style
and it's no one way. And I think that you know,
Michael was just you know, he was driven them and
(21:37):
he pushed them alope, pushed it hard and it was
just like it was almost manic at highly approached things.
And I think Lebrone was the same way, but he
just decided to have a little more fun, you know.
I mean he was and I played played with him
and just you know, seeing him in practice and he
was just he was jovial. I mean when when the
lights came home, did he lock in and he gets
(21:59):
series a losie. But I mean he wanted to enjoy
his teammates. You want to enjoy his experience. And I
think that, you know, it shows that both ways can work.
Obviously has tremendous success and probably you know, Argaly one
of the greatest players in the history of the game.
But I think Michael, you know, his his fans is like, okay,
(22:19):
you know you want to be starching and everything that
you do, you just want to be driven and and
and he showed that to the point of um sometimes
alien ag and some teammates or you know, even in
some ways maybe abuses them. So the teammates. But I
think depending on your perspective or who you're a fan of,
your kind of side on one way at the other,
(22:40):
would you say you were friends with Lebron and would
you say you were friends with Jordan when you played
with him? Yes, yeah, I was friends with both. I
mean I think I spent time spent you know, I
had dinners with Lebron and his his crew, uh and
and you know, Michael and kind of this his entourage,
the guys that I was there with him. You know,
we went to Benner and we've you know, we've enjoyed
(23:01):
each other and enjoy company and our time together, you know,
on the court. And I think people tend to think
that that goes together just because you don't have and
that's a great chemistry on the court, doesn't mean that
you you know, we're are arrivals and just couldn't couldn't
get along and have dinner and have last or you know,
go up to his room and play cards or whatever.
(23:23):
You know. I just think when you speak honestly, I mean,
most people just try to lie because of players, you know,
great players and icon and plays, and they just want
to make sure that they don't go against the narrative
of what they think that those icons want to hear.
But I can only speak my truth and what I saw,
my perspective, what happened, and that's the truth I'm gonna
(23:44):
always tell. Sure, Well, you're now coaching Scottie Pippen Jr.
And I figured that has to be an honor for
Scotty Senior to respect your game enough to encourage his
son to attend the school and learn under you. Is
that is that something you kind of took as a
as an honor? You know, Scotty has always been a
big stand man. I mean, you know when he was
on the ESPN and I was up for him, you
know from NBA job Scott he was always really pushing
(24:06):
because he did see me work, It's seen my my
path and kind of grinded to get to that point.
And then all of a sudden I get the jobs
and the building was going to find out that this
sun that committed. So I was like, obviously he could
have laughed and went anywhere that he wanted to because
it was a coaching change. But you know, it was like, uh,
this was you know perfect for my son. And then
(24:27):
for him to come in and have the year that
he had last year, um when you know, not being
on anybody really radar, you know, but I think he
was you know, three started, Maybe he wasn't on any
preseason you know, NCC freshman team, and all of a
sudden he comes in and make all freshman team and
he learned so much and I just I think he's
gonna be really, really good. I'm hoping he gets those
side inches in between his freshman and sophomore year like
(24:49):
scott He did. And if that happens, then it's a
rap because he's a mean he has pro talent, and
I just think that's what once his body catches up
with the You know, you see Scottie Jr. Playing the
pose as well. I love it. I've loved watching him
on YouTube. You had a Vanderbilt player Aaron Nay Smith
who declared for the NBA. He's likely a lottery pick, uh,
(25:12):
And you hope for guys like him that these late
leagues get back into shape after COVID. We are talking
a day, a couple of hours after DeAndre Jordan has
come out as positive to COVID. Spencer Dinwiddle as well,
these they're dropping pretty much a couple of day out
of the league because of it. When you read these
Disney World plans and positive tests, would you feel comfortable
(25:33):
if you were still playing in the NBA to to
to join this season, Well, I just know the importance
of um playing the season. I think that's what these
guys have to understand not only just the emotion and
everything that goes on. It was just as a clause
is in the contract that collected collectively bargain contract that
(25:53):
that they don't play the season, and as an opportunity
FORLIDA to really open up everything and could change the
same es and everything as far as how do you've
got to go moving forward? So you know, it's just
more the Yeah, there's some risks here, and I think
that on the league. You know Adam, you know, he's
working on some of the foremost scientists and doctors to
make sure that they're trying to cover as many basis
(26:16):
as they can. I mean, you hear these you know, one,
two off, maybe even three cases of COVIE. I mean
that that's expected. We understand that, and it's just about
how do we navigate around it. And it's just I mean,
the reality of it is, you know, in the finals,
if Lebon James gets to COVID, you know more, he's
not gonna He's not gonna finish the finals. But I
(26:37):
think it's it's still worth getting back out there and
trying to do it because the whole as much greater
than the parts. Yeah, that that contract is something that
comes up and has to be thought of, obviously beyond
a lot of just the sickness questions. But I guess
we usually end with something a little more serious and
something very stupid. But my stupid one this week, I
(26:58):
feel like it might be pretty important. But I want
to know when when you're coaching these these kids, they
have the rare opportunity to play with one of the
best players, in my opinion of all time incredible basketball
player in Jerry Stackhouse. What is the question they ask
you the most about your NBA experience? What is what
is it from your life that you're questioned, uh the
most about by the players? Um no, man, I think
(27:20):
it's you know, it's different. Kids have different questions, and
the guys actually want to understand, you know, how I
played so long. You know, I think that's one of
the things I talked about. You know, it was because
I was able to you know, reinvent myself. I came
in as a high draft pick, you know, as a
young star in the league, became an All Star and
then doing even doing the next phase in my career.
(27:42):
I been you know, came off the bench, you know,
had different roles as of a locker room guy, even
though I still played, you know, my final year, but
I was really brought in to be a more of
a mentor for for younger guys. So I think that's
the way you have longevity and to continue to reinvent
yourself and not get so locked in and as I'm this,
(28:02):
so I'm that you could be this, so you could
be that right now, but I know that you know
that that can change. Unfortunately, in basketball and professional sports,
they all fungible assects. You know that the new ones
are coming eventually, so no matter how long you go.
And I was able to play eighteen years, then it's just,
you know, set the record of playing twenty two, but
(28:24):
at the end of the day, the twenty two is over.
That's not that's not fair to compare. He's not a
human being, that's a that's an actual robot that you're
comparing yourself to her. Man, it's eighteen and a whole
lot long way from twenty two, not at all, not
at all. And then I think it's just as a mindset,
I was ready to go on to the next stage.
I feel like I probably could have played four more
years and in a similar role that he he did,
(28:47):
but it was more about probably trying to win him.
He really embraced us, you know, and I don't know
if I would have had as much interest playing for
the Atlanta Hawks at that stage in my career, specially
the fact that neither one of us was able to
win a championship. You know, it got close, but still
I would have been trying to still strive to to
(29:07):
get a ring. But to each his own. I think
what he did and how he mentored those young guys
is admirable and obviously doesn't do anything to tarnishes you know,
Hall of Fame career by standpoint. Sure. Well. Lastly, as
a hip hop head, I wanted to ask you about
something that I think about all the time, which is
one of the greatest rap songs of all time, day
Law Soul Stakes. As high you show up in the
(29:29):
video you played basketball against day Law. What what do
you remember from that day of shooting? What's a classic
music video? Man? I just remember it was fun just
being able to note that I kind of arrived here.
I come from, you know, a country boy from North
Carolina to now I'm in a Dayline Soul video and
(29:50):
it was cool. Man. I got a chance to meet
those guys and you know, I met Common. He was
just he was a young guy in the rap game
at the time and we just started ying and you
see how his ca real is taken off and the
note that you you know, for relationships with guys, there's
so many different Basketball has brought a lot of people together.
But it was definitely fun. Man. I can look back
(30:12):
and see myself with it with a little bit of hair.
It's always cool to look back and reflect them. Well,
we were all watching it. We're in your jersey, Jerry.
Thanks so much for talking to me, and stay safe
and uh look forward to seeing your team back out
on the court. Thank you, man, I really enjoyed it.
(30:34):
The Sports Bubble is produced and distributed by tree Fort Media.
The show was executive produced by Kelly Garner, Lisa Ammerman,
Matthew Coogler, and me Jensen Carr. Tom Monahan is our
senior audio engineer and sound supervisor, with production and editing
by Jasper Leek additional production help from Tim Shower, June Rosen,
and Hayley Mandelberg. Our theme music is composed by spilkis.
(30:56):
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(31:18):
to tree Fort dot fm. Be safe and be Well.
The Sports Bubble is a production of I Heart Radio
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visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever
you listen to your favorite shows.
Welcome to the Sports Bubble, a production of I Heart
Radio Entree Fork Media. My name is Jensen Carp and
I'm a sports fan and an amateur website refresher. I've
never pressed F five more than I have over the
past week. I'm hungry for updates as leads get ready
for their comeback or fail miserably in the process. Someone
(00:25):
on Twitter whispered the words Newton and the Patriots, and
I was trying to get a verified confirmation of that
miracle for the next hour. Seems like the Denver Nuggets
of closed their practice facilities as coronavirus numbers are on
the rise, and players like Ian Desmon are becoming vocal
social activists with Instagram posts that will forever change our lives.
For a time where there's very little sports being played,
it sure feels like a lot is happening. So I
(00:47):
continue to talk to athletes and sports industry professionals about
what they're doing during this very weird time. Someone has
to keep track. This is the Sports Bubble with Jensen
cart The name Jerry Stackhouse is synonymous with basketball. He's
considered to be one of the greatest players to everwhere
in the North Carolina tar Heels Jersey, leading the team
(01:08):
to the Final four in a season when he was
named the National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated
and was a first team All American. And then well,
he played eighteen seasons in the NBA. A first round
draft pick by the Philadelphia seventies sixers, the hype around
a player commonly referred to at the time as the
next Jordan was deafening, and yet he somehow was able
to deliver. With more than fifteen thousand career points, he
(01:30):
was one of the decades premier offensive threats, averaging almost
seventeen points a game in his career, and keep in
mind that average is over almost twenty years, including a
two thousand season in Detroit where he averaged twenty nine
point eight and scored fifty seven against the Bulls. That's
still a franchise record. He's a two time All Star
who has now taken his career to the next step
as the head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores, an SEC
(01:52):
basketball team with more attention than ever thanks to an
impressive young roster and a high profile coach. On this episode,
I talked to Jerry Stackhouse about recruiting in a pandemic,
the possible racial bias he saw against teammate Alan Iverson,
the difference between Michael Jordan and Lebron's leadership approach, and
the video for de Las Souls stakes as high. It's
a conversation with one of my favorite players of all
(02:13):
time in the sports bubble, from Jerry Stackhouse, Headman's basketball
coach at Vanderbill University, to accept press one Well, I
wanted to start off by saying, I know some states
(02:35):
have been loosening up, so I'm still asking people where
you've been quarantined and with who I've been quarantined, mostly
in Nashville. I've recently come to Atlanta as a home there,
so I've been spending a little time they're trying to
do a little spring cleaning, but other than that, I've
been between those two places, Nashville and Atlanta. It is crazy, too,
because when I started this podcast like three and a
(02:56):
half months ago, it was such an easy question to
ask where you quarantine, who you with, And now it
feels like, even though every day we're learning that the
numbers are higher and higher, we're all sort of just
tiptoeing around. Is that how it feels in Atlanta as well. Yeah,
it feels them, Yeah, in all those places. And man,
just think we we almost feel like we live in
a bubble that it's not really around us, and we're
(03:17):
kind of moving our own space, feeling like, Okay, the
COVID is over there, it's not where I'm at. We're
seeing that the numbers are saying that that's not accurate,
and we all probably need to be a little more
careful than than what we are. But again, in the
stake of trying to get things back to some normalcy
that we all are trying probably trying to force this
(03:38):
is you a little more than we should. I agree.
It does feel like we're all sort of creating our
own bubbles and trying to decide. You know, it's almost
like we know the experts, we know the things that
are happening, but also like every fifteen twenty minutes we're
getting new information or being told certain things weren't right
in the first place. And it's it's very hard to follow,
no doubt. I mean, it's hard to figure out what's
(04:00):
what's true and what's real. I mean, like I said,
I gave us some, you know, some pretty standard things
to do with the social distancing and you know, staying
six feet I mean that really accurate. Should we should we?
Should we be ten? Or are we safe to to
be at three? So I just think it's, uh, you know,
so much information coming in on a daily basis, but
(04:21):
hopefully we all stay in tune and make sure that
we And I like listening to Dr Faucci and the CDC,
the folks that spent their whole life, you know, committed
to these types of issues. So I think they're they're
the experts, and hopefully everyone start trying to listen to
them a little bit more. I'm in the same boat
as you are. I wanted to know how you've been
(04:43):
passing time. And there's a reason because considering since you
were even before a teenager preteen, I'm not sure you've
went longer than a few weeks your entire life off
of a basketball court or something not related to basketball.
Even when you were announcing what are you doing with
out basketball in your life? Well, it still revolves around
basketball for me. Now it's recruiting, being able to get
(05:05):
on zoom calls and you know, with potential prospects and
recruits as well as uh, communicating with our own guys,
our current current guys, make sure that they're in a
healthy mind state because it's so much going on like that.
The COVID is one piece of it, but you know,
with the social injustice things that are going on, things
(05:26):
that are playing out, you know, right in front of
our eyes. You know, it has everybody a little more
conscious and a little more awake about, you know, things
and what's going on. So I mean I've been I've
been dealing with that, trying to figure out a way
that I could you be impactful, you know. You know,
I felt like I've always tried to use my platform
to to give back and to be able to create
(05:48):
opportunities for for people coming forward, you know, whether that's
you know, African American, different different minorities, for women. You know,
when you look across the my my roster of my staff,
you see all you know, all ignis seas and I
think that's the that's important. You know, people are just
trying to make it a sexy thing to do right now,
but you know, I think we all have to dig
(06:09):
a little deeper and try to have an impact. And
it's tough because I mean, with everything going on, it's
just like I'm almost numb, like what what can I
do to really have an impact. I'm looking for much
of my mentors to say, Okay, this is the way
that you know, we should you should try to proach things.
And at the same time, I know that people who
that look to me for some of that same leadership
(06:31):
and making sure that I'm giving them something to be
able to grow with as well. So it's just just
just challenging times right now. But at the end of
the day, we hope that we will get back to
basketball and get back to some normalcy and making sure
that um mentally that we're you know, we're prepared to
do so and talk to our guys, you know, trying
to make sure that they're eating right and they're still
(06:53):
working out, because okay, one day we're gonna come out
of this is let's make sure that we're still ready
to pick up and and you know from where we
left off in the spring. Yeah, and and you you
say that, but you know, it's difficult to keep NBA
players in shape, fit and focused. I mean it's a
little more difficult with students not being paid for their job.
I mean, have you found it easy to keep tabs
on your players. I mean, our guys are hungry, and
(07:15):
I think that's the pro players and some of them,
you know, they can take a stance of being more
you know, drawing the line of being a little more
I wouldn't call it militant, but just being more proactive
to the social issues that that are president right now,
you know, more so than you know, the college kids can.
(07:36):
I mean, they still have aspirations of obtaining that type
of status of being able to play at that next level.
So I think they're a little bit more you know,
eager to play a little bit more eager to get
back into the gym. But I think still just being
smart with it and making sure that we're giving them
all the information and more so than just the physical stuff,
just to emotional support, just the mental support. And our
(08:00):
guys have been in a good space. They've been doing
a good job with our staff with player development sessions
and making sure that they're able to divorce their opinion.
And you know, we got our guys are eager. They're
eager to get back to campus. They're eager to get
back and have an impact to do whatever or protests
and really smart kids. But now it's just about making shooting.
(08:21):
They channel all of that energy and the passion that
they have in the right direction. Yeah, and you brought
up recruitment. I wanted to know with you head coaching
at Vanderbilt. You guys announced a big signing with a
four star prospect, Peyton Daniels last week, and I wonder
how difficult recruiting has been for you during this completely
new pandemic world. We have no real house visits, probably
less scouting reports. You're depending on YouTube more. Do you
(08:42):
feel fully equipped to do this as much as anybody else?
You know, solid in charge at orders, unprecedented across the boards,
So I think, you know, we have. You know, we've
been really proactive and getting guys on on zoom calls
and FaceTime, just making sure that we're connecting. Maybe even
more so then we would if you know, everybody had
a crack out of them. You know, Well, maybe it
(09:04):
has a little bit of advantage because some of the
guys that we've been on that we followed through the
high school season, you know, a lot of other coaches
hadn't been able to you know, really see these guys
all spring. You know, most of these guys going into
that senior year. You know, they kind of blow up
guys that hadn't really been on the radar, you know,
because they played all summer and that gained that momentum
(09:25):
going into that senior year. And so I think there's
some guys that are you know, floating under the radar,
and hopefully, you know, that could kind of be an
advantage for for us, because you know, we had to
look at two components who don't just look at the
you know, the athletic piece of it. The academic piece
has to be important too. So we've identified guys that
that fit the deal for us for what we want
(09:45):
to have on the court. But even more important, you know,
how are they're going to be able to function in
a competitive environment, you know, academic as well. Yeah, and
you know the way the NBA works nowadays, you can
go for one season in of college, you can go overseas.
And I'm wondering how much it comes up with these
you know, high school seniors about expressing concern about the
(10:06):
tournament being canceled again or not having the full college
experience and looking to overseas and just get it done
and get into the NBA. Are are you kind of
fighting it a little harder than you used to because
of the pandemic. Well, I think for some of these kids,
and I think you have to be kind of in tune,
you know, and just kind of here, not only just
from them and their parents, but from from their support
(10:28):
system and a you coach a different people around and
you can get a feel of the ones that you
feel that are trending into war possibly you know, skipping
college completely. You know, the G League has offered a
different opportunity for prospects to be able to maximize financially
from revenue standpoint, right out of high school. So I think,
(10:50):
you know, it's it's important that we figure out this name,
image and likeness in a situation sooner rather than later.
So it's not that you know, we lose and you know,
top talent to to the G League or or any
other overseas. Other guys have been going overseas recently. But
I think that that was kind of the the idea
(11:10):
of the G League to make sure that there was
an opportunity or where our talent you know, here in
the US does not have to go abroad to still
be able to continue to improve from the standpoint of
the basketball skills, and and and and have an alternative,
you know, other than college. I mean, and I'm cool
with it, but I think that there's still enough student
athletes and parents who want to college experience, who want
(11:33):
an opportunity to you know, receive a you know, first
class education as well as you know, compete at a
high level, you know, like playing playing the power Fier,
playing in then SEC. So there's always gonna be challenges,
But I think at the same time, we've been trying
to battan as well as we can. Yeah, and you
brought it up a little there during the pandemic. Some
news did get a little buried that the n C
(11:54):
double A looks like it's making you know, head room
for college athletes to get paid for their likeness as
someone who had their U and see jersey everywhere. Would you,
I mean, what do you think of that? Is that
an ability you wish you had back when you saw
it all over the place? Yeah? I won that. Can
we go back, you know, get some more, uh, you
know some of those royalties off of some of those
(12:16):
for two jerseys that that was rolling around. But I
just think it's we have to find a way to
you know include players. I mean we're seeing it more
and more. I mean, we're are kids, and whether football
or basketball, at the end of the day, most of
the student body is not back. But those you know,
these guys are back because they understand the importance of
(12:39):
sport and how a lot of you know, colleges and
universities you know, rely on on that revenue. So I
think we you know now, but up until this point
has always been okay, it's the universities, the coaches that
everybody else. Now it's it's some talk about how do
we include the kids, how do we include the product?
(12:59):
And it's a lot of smart people that if they
really wanted to figure it out, I'm pretty sure we're
getting to figure it out. Agreed. Yeah, I mean, I
as a forty year old man who's still obsessed with
NBA jerseys, yours was the first I own, the first
professional jersey, and you had a wildly popular jersey, not
only just because you were who you were, but I
think the timing of rappers starting to wear jerseys and
it becoming more of like a fashion trend happened at
(13:21):
the same time you were drafted. Was that insane for
you to see them everywhere is basically coming out of college.
Well yeah, and again it's like it's almost like that
you expected somewhat because of the success of like you
saw those nor tail anew jersey when you know, you
walk in the foot locker and it's like, oh, that's
my jersey the four too, but you know, and and actuality,
(13:42):
there's really was no name on the back of it.
So I think that's the kind of what you what
you see and and but but for me, I'm just
hoping that that let's figure out a way too to
do it, because it's it's not hard, and I think
it's just a matter of a lot of old rules
that have been in place so long it's just time
for them the change. I think we were seeing that
(14:03):
with you know, just social injustice across the board and
and believe me, a lot of the underlying issues we
see there, you know, all started a long time ago
with some of the same racial and social issues that
we were dealing with back then and we're still facing
right now. I want to ask about that, with the
country focusing on the racial divide and racism and the
(14:25):
murder of George Floyd, do you have a plan as
a head coach with your athletes to talk about how
they would protest or have their voice heard in college sports. Well, yeah,
I mean we're really listening to UH players and some
of the things. I mean, I actually had an exercise
where I've had them write a paragraph for as much
as they wanted to about how they feel that they
could be impactful. And we had some really good ideas
(14:47):
from our kids and wanted to promote some grouts on
the jumbo trying for games. Some wanted to talk about,
you know, actually staging a protest or some sort. And
I think that's where we helped them as adults. We
allow them to be creative because they're really smart. But
at the same time, they still need some guidance and
they still need the belts to be able to help
them set the table. But we have to listen to
(15:09):
them and kind of left them, you know, steer the
ship a little bits as we moved forward, because I
just don't know if we change people who have been
and just kind of ingraining them for most of their life.
So where we have to do is try to educate
this current group and the group that's coming after them.
And I think that's what we want really see the
significant change. And I was thinking from your perspective as well.
(15:31):
You played with Alan Iverson on the Sixers, and I
constantly think about him and how the NBA treated him
in the prime of his career, whether it was the
dress code that was thinly veiled attack on him, or
photoshopping out his tattoos on media kits and just really
like categorizing him as a thug. Did you guys all
notice that when it was happening. Was that something that
you guys were sort of cognitive of. Yeah, I think
(15:52):
we were all cognitive of it, but I think there
was at the same time we were cognitive who was
the major sponsors of our league? And I think, you know,
David Stern or I think he did a unbelievable job
of marketing in the league. And I mean at the time,
it felt like the best way to market our league
and our players was to be able to you know,
(16:13):
present as as professional Little did we know that that
black culture, or the culture of hip hop was even
more just does you know prevailing to to to a
lot of kids as um, you know, seeing somebody you
know walk up in a suit, I mean as a kid,
I mean I enjoyed watching knowing that once I have
(16:34):
become a professional and I could be like Michael Jordan
and where for a suit to work. You know, not
all kids had that same assurrations. Some guys, you know,
some kids we want to do were baggae jeans and
white T shirts with bandon in the corn rolls. That
wasn't necessarily me. You know, I grew up in the
same neighborhoods as these kids. You know, we all just
(16:55):
are different. And I think that that's what you know,
Adam has embraced that, you know, tremenduster. Then guys be
individual and you see where the Russell Westbrooks and the
different guys not really taking it. You know, it's taking
on a life of its own just from standpoint of
a fashion, um to, where's something now that you know
we're all proud of as opposed to years back that
(17:17):
we just didn't feel like that was going to, you know,
move the needle. As far as marketing, I playing, So
I have no fault with with David cern and his
thought process. At that time, um it felt a little yeah.
I mean you're looking at it in now where where
everything that's going on. You could almost say it just
felt somewhere in racial but at that time being a
(17:39):
part of it. And I was like, Okay, we were
coming from a bad place in a late seventies early
eighties where we were was thought of as a drug
league and you know with you know, cocaine, you know,
running the rampid within our league. So there was had
to be some some efforts to clean that up. And
I think, uh, we cleaned that up and came one
(18:00):
of the eight to tame billion dollar industry. So you've
got to get credit whereas due. But at the same time,
I think it's we're seeing now that that could have
been a little bit more balanced there. Yeah. And I
also want to go on record, I'm not proud of
all of Westbrooks outfits. I'm proud of some of them. Okay,
all right, just as long as we're on the same page. Uh,
you left U n C early for the draft, but
you promised your mom and Dean Smith you would graduate
(18:21):
what you did. You had a degree in African American studies.
I think one of the things that a lot of
Americans are surprised by, especially white America, is just the
like the whitewashing of our mainstream history books. Most people
had never heard of Juneteenth until an episode of Atlanta
or this past week, or the Tulsa massacre until they
saw it on Watchman on HBO. With your education and
(18:42):
with your background in in sort of this subject, how
could this be changed? Is this Is this the time
that we finally get a middle school with Juneteenth in
their history book? Is that possible now? I hope? So,
I hope that's the next phase of bringing together one
history book. I think there's been a push for pop
to try to promote, you know, more African American history books,
(19:03):
and I pushed against that. I'd rather be a combination
of our history, you know, and to the point that
we're it's all combined. I mean, if we really tell
the true story, I mean, we know the story that
we were at about sixteen twenty Christopher Columbus coming over
on the mayfly and all that, but they need to
talk about what, you know, what really happened, you know
(19:25):
what I'm saying, How when they came over on and
make ship, what did they do? Who did they take
it away from? So I think when we, you know,
stop trying to hide behind all of that and really
tell tell the truth, and we'll be able to really
embrace the history from both sides. When you were in
college and you were learning that stuff, did you have
these eye opening moments the kind of the rest of
America's having now with Juneteenth and these sort of terms
(19:46):
and things that you guys have faced as a race man,
I never heard of Juneteenth until about, you know, two
weeks ago, I mean honestly, and I just never something
that was wasn't in the history books that I read.
And I think that's the it, that's the problem. You know.
I can, you know, I can. I can sing the
gingue right now in my head the year sixteen twenty,
(20:07):
the fields came over the good ship made flower brought
them across the seat. That was the thing that they
were being brandon In my head, that was, you know
not it should not be a proud part of our history.
More with former NBA star and current Vanderbilt men's basketball
head coach Jerry Stackhouse after this right now, Feeding America
(20:30):
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This podcast is committed to donating a portion of the
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COVID nineteen. Now back to my chat with the Great
Jerry Stackhouse. You've got some headlines this past month about
(21:15):
playing with with Michael Jordan's during his Wizard come back,
and I know you you've got a much older version
of him, but but I wanted to know, as someone
who played with m j and Lebron, what were the
biggest differences in their abilities to lead when you compare them. Well,
I think it's I mean, it's just different leadership style
and it's no one way. And I think that you know,
Michael was just you know, he was driven them and
(21:37):
he pushed them alope, pushed it hard and it was
just like it was almost manic at highly approached things.
And I think Lebrone was the same way, but he
just decided to have a little more fun, you know.
I mean he was and I played played with him
and just you know, seeing him in practice and he
was just he was jovial. I mean when when the
lights came home, did he lock in and he gets
(21:59):
series a losie. But I mean he wanted to enjoy
his teammates. You want to enjoy his experience. And I
think that, you know, it shows that both ways can work.
Obviously has tremendous success and probably you know, Argaly one
of the greatest players in the history of the game.
But I think Michael, you know, his his fans is like, okay,
(22:19):
you know you want to be starching and everything that
you do, you just want to be driven and and
and he showed that to the point of um sometimes
alien ag and some teammates or you know, even in
some ways maybe abuses them. So the teammates. But I
think depending on your perspective or who you're a fan of,
your kind of side on one way at the other,
(22:40):
would you say you were friends with Lebron and would
you say you were friends with Jordan when you played
with him? Yes, yeah, I was friends with both. I
mean I think I spent time spent you know, I
had dinners with Lebron and his his crew, uh and
and you know, Michael and kind of this his entourage,
the guys that I was there with him. You know,
we went to Benner and we've you know, we've enjoyed
(23:01):
each other and enjoy company and our time together, you know,
on the court. And I think people tend to think
that that goes together just because you don't have and
that's a great chemistry on the court, doesn't mean that
you you know, we're are arrivals and just couldn't couldn't
get along and have dinner and have last or you know,
go up to his room and play cards or whatever.
(23:23):
You know. I just think when you speak honestly, I mean,
most people just try to lie because of players, you know,
great players and icon and plays, and they just want
to make sure that they don't go against the narrative
of what they think that those icons want to hear.
But I can only speak my truth and what I saw,
my perspective, what happened, and that's the truth I'm gonna
(23:44):
always tell. Sure, Well, you're now coaching Scottie Pippen Jr.
And I figured that has to be an honor for
Scotty Senior to respect your game enough to encourage his
son to attend the school and learn under you. Is
that is that something you kind of took as a
as an honor? You know, Scotty has always been a
big stand man. I mean, you know when he was
on the ESPN and I was up for him, you
know from NBA job Scott he was always really pushing
(24:06):
because he did see me work, It's seen my my
path and kind of grinded to get to that point.
And then all of a sudden I get the jobs
and the building was going to find out that this
sun that committed. So I was like, obviously he could
have laughed and went anywhere that he wanted to because
it was a coaching change. But you know, it was like, uh,
this was you know perfect for my son. And then
(24:27):
for him to come in and have the year that
he had last year, um when you know, not being
on anybody really radar, you know, but I think he
was you know, three started, Maybe he wasn't on any
preseason you know, NCC freshman team, and all of a
sudden he comes in and make all freshman team and
he learned so much and I just I think he's
gonna be really, really good. I'm hoping he gets those
side inches in between his freshman and sophomore year like
(24:49):
scott He did. And if that happens, then it's a
rap because he's a mean he has pro talent, and
I just think that's what once his body catches up
with the You know, you see Scottie Jr. Playing the
pose as well. I love it. I've loved watching him
on YouTube. You had a Vanderbilt player Aaron Nay Smith
who declared for the NBA. He's likely a lottery pick, uh,
(25:12):
And you hope for guys like him that these late
leagues get back into shape after COVID. We are talking
a day, a couple of hours after DeAndre Jordan has
come out as positive to COVID. Spencer Dinwiddle as well,
these they're dropping pretty much a couple of day out
of the league because of it. When you read these
Disney World plans and positive tests, would you feel comfortable
(25:33):
if you were still playing in the NBA to to
to join this season, Well, I just know the importance
of um playing the season. I think that's what these
guys have to understand not only just the emotion and
everything that goes on. It was just as a clause
is in the contract that collected collectively bargain contract that
(25:53):
that they don't play the season, and as an opportunity
FORLIDA to really open up everything and could change the
same es and everything as far as how do you've
got to go moving forward? So you know, it's just
more the Yeah, there's some risks here, and I think
that on the league. You know Adam, you know, he's
working on some of the foremost scientists and doctors to
make sure that they're trying to cover as many basis
(26:16):
as they can. I mean, you hear these you know, one,
two off, maybe even three cases of COVIE. I mean
that that's expected. We understand that, and it's just about
how do we navigate around it. And it's just I mean,
the reality of it is, you know, in the finals,
if Lebon James gets to COVID, you know more, he's
not gonna He's not gonna finish the finals. But I
(26:37):
think it's it's still worth getting back out there and
trying to do it because the whole as much greater
than the parts. Yeah, that that contract is something that
comes up and has to be thought of, obviously beyond
a lot of just the sickness questions. But I guess
we usually end with something a little more serious and
something very stupid. But my stupid one this week, I
(26:58):
feel like it might be pretty important. But I want
to know when when you're coaching these these kids, they
have the rare opportunity to play with one of the
best players, in my opinion of all time incredible basketball
player in Jerry Stackhouse. What is the question they ask
you the most about your NBA experience? What is what
is it from your life that you're questioned, uh the
most about by the players? Um no, man, I think
(27:20):
it's you know, it's different. Kids have different questions, and
the guys actually want to understand, you know, how I
played so long. You know, I think that's one of
the things I talked about. You know, it was because
I was able to you know, reinvent myself. I came
in as a high draft pick, you know, as a
young star in the league, became an All Star and
then doing even doing the next phase in my career.
(27:42):
I been you know, came off the bench, you know,
had different roles as of a locker room guy, even
though I still played, you know, my final year, but
I was really brought in to be a more of
a mentor for for younger guys. So I think that's
the way you have longevity and to continue to reinvent
yourself and not get so locked in and as I'm this,
(28:02):
so I'm that you could be this, so you could
be that right now, but I know that you know
that that can change. Unfortunately, in basketball and professional sports,
they all fungible assects. You know that the new ones
are coming eventually, so no matter how long you go.
And I was able to play eighteen years, then it's just,
you know, set the record of playing twenty two, but
(28:24):
at the end of the day, the twenty two is over.
That's not that's not fair to compare. He's not a
human being, that's a that's an actual robot that you're
comparing yourself to her. Man, it's eighteen and a whole
lot long way from twenty two, not at all, not
at all. And then I think it's just as a mindset,
I was ready to go on to the next stage.
I feel like I probably could have played four more
years and in a similar role that he he did,
(28:47):
but it was more about probably trying to win him.
He really embraced us, you know, and I don't know
if I would have had as much interest playing for
the Atlanta Hawks at that stage in my career, specially
the fact that neither one of us was able to
win a championship. You know, it got close, but still
I would have been trying to still strive to to
(29:07):
get a ring. But to each his own. I think
what he did and how he mentored those young guys
is admirable and obviously doesn't do anything to tarnishes you know,
Hall of Fame career by standpoint. Sure. Well. Lastly, as
a hip hop head, I wanted to ask you about
something that I think about all the time, which is
one of the greatest rap songs of all time, day
Law Soul Stakes. As high you show up in the
(29:29):
video you played basketball against day Law. What what do
you remember from that day of shooting? What's a classic
music video? Man? I just remember it was fun just
being able to note that I kind of arrived here.
I come from, you know, a country boy from North
Carolina to now I'm in a Dayline Soul video and
(29:50):
it was cool. Man. I got a chance to meet
those guys and you know, I met Common. He was
just he was a young guy in the rap game
at the time and we just started ying and you
see how his ca real is taken off and the
note that you you know, for relationships with guys, there's
so many different Basketball has brought a lot of people together.
But it was definitely fun. Man. I can look back
(30:12):
and see myself with it with a little bit of hair.
It's always cool to look back and reflect them. Well,
we were all watching it. We're in your jersey, Jerry.
Thanks so much for talking to me, and stay safe
and uh look forward to seeing your team back out
on the court. Thank you, man, I really enjoyed it.
(30:34):
The Sports Bubble is produced and distributed by tree Fort Media.
The show was executive produced by Kelly Garner, Lisa Ammerman,
Matthew Coogler, and me Jensen Carr. Tom Monahan is our
senior audio engineer and sound supervisor, with production and editing
by Jasper Leek additional production help from Tim Shower, June Rosen,
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(30:56):
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(31:18):
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