Vince Carter hosts his former coach, Lloyd Pierce, to talk about their time together on the Atlanta Hawks, reacting to JJ Redick’s interview for the Raptors and would Vince ever consider a head coaching job? Plus, former Nets VP, Gary Sussman, reveals how he told Vince he was traded to the Nets, recounts Vince’s iconic dunk on Alonzo Mourning and more!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The VC Show is presented for the people by Caesar Sportsbook,
the greatest sports betting app of all times. Downloaded, but
you must be twenty one or older.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The VC showed Linz go, what's up?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
It's the VC Show presented by Caesar's Sportsbook. You know
who it is. Roz is still out doing what she does.
But I got a special guest, a friend for my
head coach. Guy who's been around. Guy I've had some
battles with guy who's very experiencing this game, coach Lloyd Pierce. Man,
thanks for joining me, Thanks for being on the show.
(00:40):
I know I've had you on other shows before, but man,
thanks for blessing the VC Show today.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Man, how you doing.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
I'm good. I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
First off, Man, I'm flicking the channel one day and
I meant to text you that, but I flicked the
channel one day.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Now turned on TV and I see you well dressed
talking about the game. I'm like, Okay, look who's on
the other side over here. I love it. How's that been? Man?
How'd you enjoy kind of talking the game?
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Obviously you coach the game player development, You've done it all,
but being on that side, kind of talked about the game.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
How has that been? How was that experience?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
You know, I did it I think in nineteen or yeah,
maybe nineteen in twenty twenty one after I got let go,
and I thought it was for me at the time.
It was great. It was great to just be on
the other side, kind of be no pressure, no pressure,
(01:36):
no pressure at all. I was around good company. Sam
Mitchell has always seemingly been around there, Isaiah Thomas, Smitty,
Steve Smith, and so I just had a great time.
I was in Atlanta at the time when I first
did it. So when they called this year, and hey,
you feel good that somebody's calling an abby come back.
(01:57):
But I thought it was great. It was a great
opportunity to talk the game, prepare for the playoffs, and
get around the same folks. So I enjoyed doing it.
I think it's one of those opportunities that you never
thought you'd be talking basketball on TV. It's like, it's
not bad, it's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
And is it something that you could see yourself doing
down the line. I know, like coaching is in your blood.
I know you got a lot of coaching left in you,
But is that maybe something down the line you would
do or is it like kind of like I did,
Like once our season was or my season was over,
wherever I was, I would kind of go into to
TV just to do some work while my season was over.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
That's something maybe you would do until you're done with coaching.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, I think the beauty of basketball for all of
us is once you're in it and you realize all
of the different channels that basketball has, whether it's coaching,
player development, management, ownership, TV, you know, a lot of
basketball without borders. So I'm out of the country right
(03:03):
and teaching and expanding the game. I think once once
you realize that basketball has provided and open so many opportunities,
it's just the next layer. So you know, obviously, right
now I'm a coach and I'll stay at coach, but
I think whenever that ends, I'm going to stay involved
in the game in some capacity. This is a great opportunity.
(03:24):
When I do TV, it's a great opportunity to just
learn a new a new craft, a new skill.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
And it's different, it's a different it's it's a different
learn Like I mean, like you feel like you know
the game, but it's kind of like you're trying to
learn a little more about the player. And you know,
especially when you're doing like a network instead of just
for a team, you kind of got to kind of
play catch up and do some studying.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's a lot of studying involved.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
I mean, because I think people feel like, well, I
say this, it always depends on how good you want
to be as an analyst, because like you can go
up there and you can talk basketball. You're around it
every day, so it's easy to what you see. You
can look at a status sheet and figure out what
just happened in the game without watching it. Like you
can turn the game on now and miss of a
half like, oh man, such such he's gotten you know
(04:09):
because you know him. So but like when you kind
of dive deep into it, like that's when you can
kind of go to the next level.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
So I say that, like, you know, for you, what
was kind of the what was the most difficult thing?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
I've heard people say it's not really talking about it,
it's more so everything kind of goes on in your
earpiece sometime. Yeah, what's what's kind of the weird thing
for you?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, that took a little bit of getting used to.
But I also felt when you come in. You know,
I came in off the street. Basically, you know, you're
joining Sam and you're joining some of the hosts, so
they're used to it. So it's just you know, guide me,
tell me where you guys need me. So their piece
part is very it's comforting because they're telling me, hey,
(04:55):
five seconds last, ten seconds last, So you know, eventually
I need to wrap this up. I may have right, right,
but I need to wrap this up. I think the
biggest the biggest challenge is trying because coaching and commentating
really are the same in terms of you're trying to
educate your audience. When you're coaching, you're trying to educate
your players on game situations, how to execute technique. It's
(05:19):
still about, you know, breaking down something and seeing them
do it right. And so when I'm on when I'm
on the tube and I'm trying to explain what I'm
seeing or what's going on in the game, You're trying
to do it from a coaching perspective, because I think
that's why they have me there. You're trying to give
them a coaching perspective of what you see, what you anticipate,
or what may have gone on in the game. But
(05:41):
the challenge is you got to do it within you
know the framework. Yeah, most that equippers up. You know,
it's like, hey, here goes such and such down the
lane and against the drop, and you can't explain all
of it, but you got to do it in ten seconds.
You got to do it in first and I think
that's the biggest challenge that I have.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Or sometimes when you're on with somebody, you can at
that forty thirty to forty seconds, but it's a lot
of information you want to you want to paint the
picture like you would do your team. Yeah, that that's
when it gets challenging because you can go in depth
with I think sometimes you can explain it to you know,
to the audience and if you were if you had
more time, they'd be like, ah, that makes so much
sense as opposed to thirty seconds worth. It's you don't
(06:19):
really get the painted picture like you want it. So, yeah,
that's that makes sense. Let's move on your time as
a head coach, Like what was when you look back
at it, what was kind of the challenge as a
new coach that you you felt like today like you're like,
(06:40):
I would look at things that and I think I
know some of the answer to that obviously being with
you at when you got the job, and I still
appreciate you giving an opportunity.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I appreciate that, by the way, I appreciate.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
That it's good looking at but as a coach in
your time in Atlanta, I mean, you know, so I
think I asked this question because I'm gonna use coach
Missoula as an example, and you look at the playoffs
and you know that you let's talk about the time
out that they felt like he should have called. And
some coaches would because would call the time about some
(07:10):
wouldn't because they felt like they have their team prepared,
and they're always saying he doesn't have experience in this position.
So my thing is, I'm like, all right, well, doctor
Rivers didn't have the experience, but he had to go
through it such such you know all time with I
mean the laundry lists of people who some of them
Papovich like they had to go through it to get there,
(07:33):
and they're getting like real time experiences like for you
like the same thing, but like your time in Atlanta,
you know, what did you you learn like now, like
as going for if you get that job opportunity again,
like you learn what from coaching.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Well, let's let's let's rewind first and foremost, it was
my honor to have you with me in Atlanta. You
get the job, I get the job, and Travis says, hey,
we got a chance to get events, and I'm like,
let's do it. You always want a veteran, experienced guy
in the locker room and someone of your caliber. To
(08:08):
have there was was was was beyond, you know, beyond
expectations of what you're looking for in your first year.
So I appreciate that, appreciate having you so you know
all of the goods, the bads, the ups, the downs,
all of the stuff that are trying to do. And
then I go back and I say, to anyone that's listening,
(08:30):
or to anyone that's coaching, or to anyone that's been
in the seat of the head coach at any level,
you're not prepared for the job. You're prepared for the opportunity.
And there's a big difference between the two. I was
prepared for the opportunity of building a staff, having a
vision of what I wanted to do offense and defensively,
(08:51):
having a vision of what I wanted to do in
terms of creating the culture. You know, the game the
exes and those aren't the hard part and really are
aren't the big part of the job. You know, you
can input anything you want offensively and defensively, and a
lot of it's based on where you've been before and
how you see the game. But when the game actually
happens and you got to sub in, you got to
(09:14):
make adjustments, and you've got to coach personalities, and you've
got to prepare for situations that you have never been
in before, not only as a head coach, but with
the with the team, with the guys. You don't know
who was ready for the moment. You know, and I'll
give you an example, like who takes the ball out
on a side out of bounds play with three seconds
(09:34):
to go? You know, you think you've got a good passer.
You don't know if that's a nervous passer. You don't
know if he has the right height or size to
see the entire floor. You don't know if he has
the composure to get to four and a half seconds
and then call that time out. So all of those
situations are new for the coaching staff, for the players,
(09:56):
and more than anything. You're prepared for the opportunity, but
you're not prepared for the job because the job requires
much more than any of us would think. You know,
when a player is going through something personally, you now
carry that burden. You're dealing with it. You got to
you got to call him at home, Hey, is everything good?
Anything we can do? Player staff, front office, training, strength,
(10:21):
All of those people become your responsibility and you carry
any burden and every burden that they have, and you're
trying to manage all of those things. So I say,
the x's and o's are important, but that's where you
empower your staff, That's where you learn to delegate, That's
where you empower your players. So, you know, getting back
to the other part of the question, is you know,
(10:43):
speaking about a Joe Miszula type or any first year
head coach that's in a pressure field situation and is
being scrutinized. No, he's not prepared for the moment. He's
prepared for the opportunity, and he's done a tremendous job
with the team, but you know he's trying to stick
with some of the things that he went through all year,
and I heard him say it all year. You know,
(11:03):
we played through runs and really trying to empower our guys.
But now it's different. You know, it's different when you're
doing that in eighty two games. Now when you get
into well, this is a game, and this game is
all that matters and we can't afford Now you have
to make those decisions. And he's either trusting his his
his his gut with his players and he's trusting and
(11:27):
empowering his players, or he says, I got to make
the right decision. And I think you know, we saw,
we saw the response the other day. This is what
we do all year. And then the next day he
came out and said, I probably should have called it,
Like he will be better. I will be better the
next time I get an opportunity. Because I have been
a head coach, I was prepared for the opportunity. Now
(11:48):
you know how to prepare for the moment a little
bit better, because you can look back and say, man,
I wish I would have done this. I wish And
if you're not doing that, you're not self aware. You
can easily blame everybody for everything. But I had to
go back and say, probably should have done this a
little bit better. I probably should have spent more time here.
If I get the chance, I will continue to do
(12:10):
this and maybe change that. But when you get that experience,
you have the opportunity to evaluate, and when you can evaluate,
you can always grow.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
And also it's like, you know, the freedom to do
some of those things, like you said, to make those
changes too, because as you know, some first year coaches
get you know, they have the job, but they're not
in control of the job, right, you know what I'm saying. Yeah,
And I've seen I've been obviously playing with younger teams.
I've seen guys in those situations or coaches in those
(12:42):
situations where it's like, you know, they want to do this,
they want to make changes, and it don't get that opportunity.
So it's like, I feel like that's where you're also learning,
because like, oh, if I get the opportunity, I could
probably do this and have more success as opposed to
you know, what they wanted.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Me to do, so on and so forth, so forth.
So I just you know, it's interesting.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Every job is different. I mean said, what you're saying is,
you know, not all jobs are created equal, and not
all players the same thing you tell players you know,
you can treat everybody in the same We're gonna treat
everybody with respect. We're gonna treat everybody, uh, with equal opportunity.
Not everybody's gonna get the same level of leeway. You know,
(13:24):
the guy that's the tenth guy, he makes that one mistake,
you gotta get him out. That's the guy, your top guy.
He's gonna average four or five turnovers, he's gonna make
he's gonna takes a couple of bad shots, but he's
in position to do that. The other guy isn't. So
I'm gonna still treat everybody with respect, but I can't
give you the same opportunity and I can't give you
(13:44):
the same freedom. And so every job is like that.
You know, Missoulas taking over a team that went to
the finals the year before. Nick Nurse took over a
team that acquired a guy that was pretty good. Uh.
And then there are some some of us, myself included,
who take jobs and will continue to take jobs that
(14:05):
are building through the draft and in development mode. And
that's the beauty of the job is you take on
any challenge. If you're a confident coach, you take on
any challenge. And then you figure out how to make
it work, and some people get the support to go
longer and some people want but we all understand that's
part of the business.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Part of the business.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
And I feel like this is a guy who's been
a veteran or a team and I think you will
agree with this, and I think any coach, first year coach,
or younger coach will agree.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It's important.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
It's imperative you GMS owners, you have to have veterans
on your team because I think you will help first
year coaches, younger coaches, or whatever however you choose to
call it. You help them because of those things you
just talked about, because now you can rely on what
not even like what you hear in the locker room.
But we've had conversations about decision things that we've done,
(15:02):
how did it hit, how did it resonate, And we've
going back and forth. You know, they didn't see it
like you know, for me, obviously being older and younger,
is like I could see where you were going with situations.
As opposed to the younger guys. It just was like,
all right, they's looking at face value. I'm like, nah,
I didn't get it, and it didn't see the bigger picture.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
So I feel like that's the importance.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
And I felt a responsibility, you know, as a you know,
a player, like a player coach to to you know,
to relate what what you're trying to deliver sometimes because
you know, as you've been a player, you know, sometimes
your coach is talking like and then the player like, nah,
he just trying to Ah, I got it, I got it,
(15:44):
you know, so and it made you know, it.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Makes your job easier too, because yeah, I think the
beauty of coaching and obviously a lot of my stories
will go back to you like I'll run something. I
would run something by you and say, hey, man, this
is what we're doing or this is what I'm trying
to do, and you're gonna have a different conversation with
the players than I would have. And as long as
(16:07):
you know, well, hey, here's here's where LP is coming
from with it. You may not agree with it, but
here here's what he's trying to do. And I think
coaching is that you're trying to get players to buy
into X, Y and Z. Here's your offensive scheme, your
defensive scheme, here's your rotations, here's the culture in the environment,
we're trying to create. Here's how we're here's how hard
(16:29):
we're going to practice today, and why they're not.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
You're not.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
You're not going to agree with everything. You may not
even understand until two or three years later. And we
can talk about how many guys have come up to
me and say, I get what you were saying. I
didn't get it, then I get it now you know.
And it's the whole challenge is can you get them
to understand it right then and there, buy into it
right then and there, and then apply it right then
(16:54):
and there?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Is it practical? Probably not always, but each step you
can get close to that, the better you are. And
so having a veteran guy like yourself, we had James
Johnson and George Hill here in Indiana this year, being
able to talk to those guys and then them go
and deliver the message in a different way, in a
more appropriate way, and then the way that the players
(17:16):
could understand was huge and beneficial for us. But it'd
be great if we could deliver the message that went
directly to the nineteen twenty twenty one year old but
that I'll be just started out law. It ain't I
just don't speak that language as well anymore.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Why should you bet with Caesar Sportsbook Two words Caesar's rewards.
Every bet brings you closer to the types of benefits
only Caesars can offer hotel stays, VIP experiences, sports and
concert tickets and more. It's not just an app, it's
an empire.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Twenty one and over must be physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Vada,
New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming,
or Washington, d C. Sports betting is void in Georgia, Hawaii,
Utah and other states were prohibited. No one to stop
(18:11):
before you start gambling problem Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia,
West Virginia, Pennsylvania affiliated with Harris Philadelphia. If you were
someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and
referral services can be excess by calling one eight hundred
gambler that's one eight hundred four two six, two five
three seven, or Maryland, visit MD Gamblinghelp Dot Org or
West Virginia visit one eight hundred gambler dot net. Arizona
(18:34):
call one eight hundred next step, Colorado, DC, Nevada, Wyoming,
Kansas affiliated with the Kansas Crossing Casino. Call one eight
hundred five to two two four seven zero zero. Indiana
call one eight hundred and nine with it Iowa call
one eight hundred. Bets off. Louisiana call one eight seven
seven seven seven zero stop licensed to the Horseshoe, Bossier
City and Harris, New Orleans, Massachusetts. If you were a
loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call one
(18:56):
eight hundred three two seven five zero five zero or
is it gambling heelpline MA dot org for twenty four
seven support. Michigan called one eight hundred two seven zero
seven one one seven. New York call eight seven seven
eight Hope and wine or text hope and why the
four six seven three six nine.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
I tell everybody this, I didn't become a I didn't
have an agent until about a month before I got
the job, and I just kind of relied on you know,
this business is there's thirty teen you.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Put your bid in on your own. No, I was.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
I just kind of had a hunch that I should
probably start looking, and sure enough, as I was talking
to different agents, you know the agent I ended up with,
I'm a CSEE out of Atlanta. Bobby my agent, Bobby Heyde.
He said, hey, you know Atlanta's interested. You know they're
talking about interviewing you. So it was just like coincidental, divine,
(19:53):
however you want to look at it, that I had
just started to say, Hey, I need an agent, and
so I'm I'm back in that same mind frame where
I'm I do have an agent. I'm not pressing for
the next head job. I feel and I talked to
I talked to RC about this before. I said, Rick,
I came here to assist you and to help you
(20:14):
advance the Pacers organization in the program. You know, in
due time there will be a time where I need
you to help me, or you can, you can amplify
my name, I said, But I don't need you trying
to push for me for any job. And I don't
look at it. I don't think any of us, myself
as a young black coach that's been a head coach
that got an opportunity and then will now look for
(20:36):
another opportunity. I don't think any of us can say
here's a job I'm going to turn down, or I
would right right. I think the beauty of it is
when the timing is right. And I look at it
as when when Indiana Pacers I've really made a jump
and we're one of these teams that are playing right
now and people were talking about what jobs are open
(20:58):
and which coaches deserve that's another opportunity. I feel like
I will feel better about that timing, and I'll also
feel better that maybe I get to make a decision
on a job versus another job at the time that
fits where I am, where they are, and what the
alignment of expectations are, as opposed to just saying hey,
(21:23):
I just come in. You know, you know what are
we doing? Okay, well I can make that work. It
sounds great, it's good. We're all egos. But I think
when you have a shared vision and you have a
shared plan, and you know you have ways that you
want to execute that and you can communicate that with ownership,
with management, with players, I think when you feel comfortable
(21:46):
going into the situation completely, I think that's the right job.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Gotcha.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
And speaking of open jobs, like you know, it's a
couple of days ago wolfh bomb about JJ Reddick potentially
getting the job.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
There.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I found it like rather eye opening, eye wowing. There,
here's another guy with no experience getting that opportunity. What
are your thoughts on that? And do you think just
knowing JJ and seeing him as an analyst, do you
think you know he has a shot?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Well, I think everybody has tried to figure out. And
again I say, there's thirty jobs, and there's thirty different
companies you know running those jobs. It's not like it's
the NBA and it's just here's the protocol for the
next job. Everybody thinks independently of how they want their
organization to be run, how their team should should should play,
(22:40):
you know, style of play, style of player, profile of player,
all of that. And I think that's what happens is
everyone's trying to figure out, like what's the right fit
for today's game, in today's player in terms of intellect,
how they see the game, how they can execute a
game plan. Will the players inspect the coach that's making
(23:02):
those decisions, and so you have to think outside of
the box, you know, I tell people all the time,
I probably skip a step you know, there are a
lot of coaches that were ready and they're still ready
for opportunities, and here comes a guy like myself, here
comes a guy like whomever. It's just how it works,
and I'm not going to be apologetic about it. I
took full advantage of the opportunity again, and I'll jump
(23:24):
in again. But I think for JJ, here's a guy
that's talking the game on TV every day, play the
game at a serious and high level. I coach JJ
and Philly. I know how intense he is. I know
how detail oriented he is. But I'll go back to
my earlier point. No coach will be ready for the
(23:44):
moment or the experience if you haven't been in it,
and the only way to do it is to go
through it. You may be ready for that. Most of
us are ready for the opportunity. None of us are
ready for the management, the moment situation, and so you
have to there. Anyone that gets the job is going
to have to lean on staff, They're gonna have to
(24:06):
lean on veteran players, They're gonna have to lean on
support from ownership and management. So it doesn't make it
easier because he played or anyone has played. They talked
the game. It actually makes it even more challenging of all, right,
where do I start?
Speaker 1 (24:22):
And that's that's for me, you know, when asked all
the time about what I coach and all of that,
and I was like, it's one thing being an armchair coach.
It's one thing being a part, you know what I'm saying.
It's one thing being on a team and helping and
you know, seeing it one thing and one thing being
an assistant coach. But it's another thing sitting in scooting
over one chair and being that head head guy. And
(24:45):
for me, I just you know, kudos to like j
Kidd who went from playing his last basketball game to
being a head coach, to Steve Nash and and and
now possibly a JJ Reddick. I just feel for me,
at some point if I can sider coaching, I need to.
I want to go through the process, at least a
year or two of being an assistant coach and seeing
(25:06):
those things and then kind of taking notes over the
year of how what I would do. And it's not like, oh,
he's doing it wrong, but it's like, Okay, how would
I handle that? And kind of write those notes down
because like you say, it's one thing of giving your
opinion to the head coach and then all of a
sudden he makes a decision. It's another thing when it's
the other side. Now you get these opinions, then you
(25:27):
have to be the one to say this is what
we're doing.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
And so that's why I like, for me as a coach,
I don't think I'm ready for the dynamic of just
coming off the street if you would, and you know, yes,
I know the game, been around the game, and I
think I think the game. I can think the game
as a coach, But there it is. It's easy saying
that on this side, as opposed to trying to think
(25:50):
the game while we're sitting in practice after we just
finished practice, like all right, what are we we're gonna quit?
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Are we gonna keep going here? What are we gonna do?
Or writing out that plan?
Speaker 1 (25:58):
So these are the things, those are the things that
I kind of like, I want to go through first.
So I wanted to ask you that how you thought
about it, because, like I said, all guys, you know,
we know the game. Players like JJ ally, we know
the game. You've been around a game, you were in,
like I said, in Philly for all these years but
it's nothing like being that head guy making that decision.
And that's just something I don't think I'm ready for.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Well, the assistant, I always say, the assistant makes suggestions
on a consistent basis, and the head coach has to
make decisions on a consistent basis. And the suggestions can
go in in everywhere and everybody feels like they got
the right suggestion. But the decision is what you have
to live with. You know whin the sub a guy in,
(26:39):
when to take a guy out, what play to run,
how long practice should go on a Tuesday. You know
what time do you get into the whole. You know
which hotel are you staying at and which city should
you do dinner? You got to make those decisions. Everybody's
giving you suggestions, but you have to make those decisions.
And again I'll keep saying it, you're not prepared follows
(27:00):
because you don't You don't know half of what decisions
you need to make. You don't know what's going to
happen in the news, you don't know what's being said
in the media. You don't know if a player is
going to be suspended five games or twenty five games.
So you got to make decisions from there from the.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
End how to adjust your offense when that happens, and
you know how to how to empower a guy who's struggling,
who's one of your go to guys, like all those things.
Like there's a few things like I feel like, okay,
I feel comfortable doing. But it's the other side of coaching,
like you say, like after a while, I'm like, all right, man, y'all,
just y'all pick a hotel, like dinner, Maro, what's the
best one?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
All right? And we got that.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Ain't the other side that is? That is the job.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
That's what I'm saying. That's I mean, I mean, that's
what side of it is. Like the coach.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Everyone is critiquing and criticizing the coach on the you know,
the final timeout and this and this and that, But
there's so much other things that tie into it that
lead into that, that are that probably are more important.
You're just trying to get to the game. Once you
get to the game, you're usually more relaxed in the game,
in the game atmosphere because you've already you've already done
(28:08):
the work. The coach has already done the work, the
players have already gone through the scenarios and situations. Now
you just want to let them execute that. But decisions
for the other stuff, that's the job.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
All right, all right, Welcome to the VC Show, presented
by Caesar Sportsbook Vince Carter Roz is doing what she does.
She's busy obviously covering the playoffs, so we're holding it
down for Rose. I have a guy. We're gonna get
the story time. But I got a guy here who
behind the scenes. You know, if any of you remember
(28:39):
the Nets when I got to the Nets in O four,
oh five and nine, here's the guy who has and
knows all of the secrets in the behind the scenes
of that team in those years. VP of PR at
the time, Gary Sussman, also the voice for those who
(29:00):
are Nets fans of the VC three created by this
man right here, Gary Sussman. Gary, thank you man, Gee,
I really appreciate you. You know, first.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Of all, I'm incredibly impressed at this is sponsor, which
is tremendous, and also kudos that you know, well, I
knew you wouldn't know my name because I'll tell you
a famous story that.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Sam Cassell.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
I had to take Sam on a community appearance at
Hackensack Medical Center. And Sam didn't know my name. So
so Sam, he just knew me as G Money. He
gave me the name G Money, so he didn't know
my name. So here we are in front of all
(29:47):
these nurses and doctors and I'm presenting Sam. So he's
going to speak to them, and so I present Sam
and he gets up there and he doesn't know my name.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
He doesn't he doesn't know who to think. So he goes,
thank you, G and that was it. So, you know,
he didn't know my name.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
That was it.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
I was G Money. That was all he was to say.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
But he gave you.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
He he gave you that name and forgot like he
just was stuck on G Money and never realized like
the actual name.
Speaker 5 (30:20):
You know, I got to give people a little perspective
on our relationship. So I was the first person from
the nets that you talked to when you got when
you got trade to the nets, and I think I
woke you up in your hotel room. Couldn't couldn't reach you.
Initially the trade. I was in Memphis.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Because I was in sleep. I didn't know it was hell.
Speaker 5 (30:44):
And the first thing you said to me, I said,
you said Vince, welcome to the Nets. You've been traded
to the Nets, And I mentioned three players and you go, that's.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
It, that's who I was traded.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
I was like no, I was like, yeah, that's it,
like just me, Like it's like I'm going by myself
because it was my first time. And I remember there again,
we're already here, so we're gonna tell the storytime, but
I remember, you know, obviously after it all happened, we
had the conversation. I was like, all right, what happens
next with Jalen because it was just like, you know,
you're telling me all the guys because like you said,
you tried to reach me. I was sleep like it
(31:21):
was time getting for the game, so I had no
clue and I didn't know what to do, like, Okay,
do I need to get there? How I'm gonna get there?
Like what happens next? Like that's it. I'm going by myself.
Like it was just all these different emotions and like
just trying to figure it out, like I got traded,
but it's just me, so it's not like I can
lean on somebody else. Obviously Jalen was there who had
(31:43):
been through it before. But man, it was just.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
But you said, these are the guys I was traded for.
This is it? There was There wasn't like anybody else.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
There was, you know, what's going on?
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Yeah, because like prior to my nap, Yeah, prior to
my nap, I was just like, you know, they said,
you know, it's not gonna you know, there was nothing there,
you know, whatever, whatever, and then all of a sudden
it happened. So that's why I'm just like, wait a minute,
that's it, Like, okay, all right, But yeah, I was hurt,
so I was getting my nap early, so I had
(32:15):
to go.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
I usually go.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
I was going over early to get my treatment, get
my shots, to get myself back. So that's what people
didn't understand. Well something do know. I was, I was injured,
I was hurt. I was out trying to get back.
And then I come over to the nets and shout
out to Timmy. Yeah, because Timmy he you know with
the nets, he got he got me right, and he
one thing he said, he said, son, welcome to the team,
(32:36):
but we're gonna take our time to do this the
right way so you don't ever have to deal with
this again. And that was kind of the best you know,
coming to a new team, that's what I wanted to
play immediately. But that was kind of the best information
ever given to me, you know, especially particularly going through
this this situation, and obviously what happens. Who was the
first team after being traded that you're playing against? It
(32:56):
was the Net the Raptors, and you guys were coming
to Toronto. So I remember you telling me we'll meet
you there and I was advised obviously not to go
to the game.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Blah blah blah, just you know, but.
Speaker 5 (33:09):
You know what, I always thought that, you know, people
talked about, you know, Lebron going back to Cleveland and
the response and this and that. I always thought maybe
it was because of the Nets, but I always thought
that your return to Toronto was way way underplayed in
terms of what you had to go through. And that
(33:32):
was the lasting impression. If you remember, we had shoot around.
There were fourteen cameras. Fact, did you know that it
looked like the playoffs and it was like the playoffs.
And then when you came out and every time you
touched the ball in warm ups, the booze and that
crowd just listen, they're insane fans up there. But every
(33:58):
time you touched the ball, and if you remember, I'm
sure you do, the first shot you took was from
the left side.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
And you over the rim. Yes, I did. He ducked,
he did. I remember.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
I wanted to make that shot so bad to where
it was like a line drive.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
I was just trying to just pinpoint that thing. And
I just remember like, oh.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
Yeah, but that was And then probably I don't know
if he ever told you this or this was public knowledge,
but Jason had said to me that that.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Game there showed him what you were made of. How
about that.
Speaker 5 (34:38):
That game showed him what you were made of, and
that you he could go into Foxhole with you?
Speaker 3 (34:44):
How about that? Man?
Speaker 1 (34:47):
That's all right because I tell you, man, it was
just something. Yeah, I guess what I'm saying. And for me,
it's like, you know, new team, this situation kind of
dealing with both sides. You want to go out here
and play well, obviously because of your former team and
all the atmosphere and everything that's going on, but staying
in the moment, not doing too much but play the game.
And you know, I tell people all the time about Jason.
(35:08):
He was he was a fearless leader, but he didn't
say much. He didn't say much. He led by example.
Jay led by the example. And you can just see
like when he was locked in, you know, when he
got laser focused. You know the j Kid vision that
everybody talked about. That's a real thing. And that's when
you knew like it was.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
It was.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
It was go timing. I mean, his his knowledge of
the game. It was just it was just amazing, like
being you know, I was a go to player, but
it was like a different dynamic. And I used to hear, oh,
how convinced didn't when he played for for the for
the Rafters, and it was just a different me because
I was like, Jason Kidd is the point guard? Do
you understand that? Like there's great point guards? And I
(35:47):
played with some very good point guards with his Jason Kidd,
and he could see things before and it's like getting
used to that was just amazing. He was like he
would just draw it up. He's like, no, when you'd
run down the court, just look for lips. He's like,
I see you, you're open. It was like he's there,
He's like, no, I'm gonna throw you open. Like it
was just it was just amazing. So we're doing story time.
So I got one last story and I'm gonna tell
(36:07):
my version, and I know you you remember all the players,
and I could never remember this player's name. But when
I tell this story, you're gonna laugh and you're gonna
recall it, and you know the history of it. To
this day, we're playing. We have this rookie and I
cannot remember his name. But and it's not Jabari Smith,
(36:30):
who was probably one of the who is nearly one
of the funniest guys you know, I've ever played with.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
I love Jabari. You know his son now is playing
with the Houston Rockets.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
But yeah, all right, and so yeah, so he comes
to this young guy comes in and we're you know,
I think this is after no, this is during j
Kid time. But this young, young rookie comes in. Young
kid comes in. He didn't make the team, but he
always will come in. I'm gonna tell you he was
on our team with at the time Jeff McGinnis. So
(37:00):
it's around those times. So this is when the this
is when the dunk happened, the year the dunk happened
on in Miami. Okay, We're playing and the kid used
to come in to practice and he was telling us
how he was. He was at the club and he
was you know, I was in the club and I
was dancing, dancing, dancing, and he got cut from the team. Gosh,
I was Chocker River's name, you're probably remember. And all
(37:21):
of a sudden, we did a tribute to this kid,
our teammate who was cut. And I said, when I
dunked the ball, my tribute to him was going to
be his dance move, which in essence became, yes, they're
rev it up. And it was, And a lot of
people don't understand, like I was always asked like like
it was something like some great story. Like the great
(37:43):
story was the kid would come every day just happy,
go lucky, dancing talking about, you know, dancing in the club,
having a good time. All of a sudden, one day
he gets cut from the team, and I'm like, man,
all right, well we're going to show him some love.
Hopefully he's watching the game by dunk, I'm gonna do this.
Well that game, I had like Ford dunkste game. So
(38:05):
I was just reving it up all over the place.
And that's kind of how that became. And we just
did it like that week, and it kind of stuck
and the next thing, you know, you dunking. Ever you
see everybody on the team kind of doing it, and
it became what it was. It kind of went from
a just a dance, so just to rev it up.
And obviously many many years later, so I know a
lot of people didn't know where that story came from.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
You recall that, right, yeah, well can.
Speaker 5 (38:29):
You can you just talk about the dunk in Miami though,
don't just gloss over that dunk on al that what
you just took it from the right side.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
After I dunked the ball, RJA player two later, he
goes and dunks the ball. And we played the first half,
you know, going back and forth. And I remember at halftime,
we're sitting in there and I literally said to r
J said, man, and everybody else who was listening. I
said to r just said, man, we won't be able
to dunk on Zoo again. I said, the only way,
(39:00):
you know, he's gonna jump at us, you know, and
just make the contact first. I said, the only way
we'll be able to pull that office if we take
the hit and hopefully we're up high enough we could
throw it in. Literally what I said to him at
halftime and he was like yeah, yeah, or whatever, and
then the play happens. The shot goes, it gets tipped out.
(39:21):
I remember jay Will White Chocolate trying to reach it,
go behind the back, and I just remember one dribble,
two dribble, like but first, as I turn around, I'm
looking and it's like the lane is wide open, and
I see Zoe and Twin Jason Collins fighting and Twin
was so good at clutching guys under the post and
(39:41):
then letting them go at the last minute. So he's
holding Zoe under the basket. And I took the first dribble,
take the second dribble, and as I'm going up now,
Zoe is kind of lunging at me, and I see it.
And if you notice when I jump up there, that's
why I kind of turned my body to protect myself.
I'm thinking the hard foul. You know, back at that time,
that's still the days of guys still taking heart. You know,
they're putting you on the ground. So I take the hit,
(40:03):
but I was already in the air first, so as
he's lunching, he hits me and propels me a little higher.
So I take the hit, but I'm like wait a minute,
the rim is right there. So I just I just
turned like don't miss this and dunk it through and
I just see him fall back and instead like I
didn't stand there.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
I just kind of just dunked it and kind of
ran down the court like real cool.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
And if you ever look at the bench, look at
Jeff McGinnis on the bench, he's doing the dance. He's
reving it up like Letting Johnson. Guys are going insane crazy.
And I remember Dwayne Wade running down the court beside me.
He was like, damn, it was one of the funniest
things ever. Like he was like yeah, And I just
(40:46):
tried to play it all, you know, serious, but like
inside I was like a kid. I wanted to be
like those guys on the bench because I knew after
that zone was going to really take you out. That's
just the way it was. But man, it was just
great times and you know, great memories. Like I said,
like playing with that that group of guys coming in
there when turmoil that turned into like unbelievable season funny stories.
(41:08):
But sus Man, I really appreciate you taking some time
taking a trip down memory lane telling some stories.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
Man, It's always great to see you, great to have you. Man,
listen to anything for you.
Speaker 5 (41:18):
Number one guy and better, better man than.
Speaker 3 (41:22):
You are a player, So thank you. Man.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Always a pleasure, always a player, Man pleasure
The VC Show is presented for the people by Caesar Sportsbook,
the greatest sports betting app of all times. Downloaded, but
you must be twenty one or older.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The VC showed Linz go, what's up?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
It's the VC Show presented by Caesar's Sportsbook. You know
who it is. Roz is still out doing what she does.
But I got a special guest, a friend for my
head coach. Guy who's been around. Guy I've had some
battles with guy who's very experiencing this game, coach Lloyd Pierce. Man,
thanks for joining me, Thanks for being on the show.
(00:40):
I know I've had you on other shows before, but man,
thanks for blessing the VC Show today.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Man, how you doing.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
I'm good. I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
First off, Man, I'm flicking the channel one day and
I meant to text you that, but I flicked the
channel one day.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Now turned on TV and I see you well dressed
talking about the game. I'm like, Okay, look who's on
the other side over here. I love it. How's that been? Man?
How'd you enjoy kind of talking the game?
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Obviously you coach the game player development, You've done it all,
but being on that side, kind of talked about the game.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
How has that been? How was that experience?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
You know, I did it I think in nineteen or yeah,
maybe nineteen in twenty twenty one after I got let go,
and I thought it was for me at the time.
It was great. It was great to just be on
the other side, kind of be no pressure, no pressure,
(01:36):
no pressure at all. I was around good company. Sam
Mitchell has always seemingly been around there, Isaiah Thomas, Smitty,
Steve Smith, and so I just had a great time.
I was in Atlanta at the time when I first
did it. So when they called this year, and hey,
you feel good that somebody's calling an abby come back.
(01:57):
But I thought it was great. It was a great
opportunity to talk the game, prepare for the playoffs, and
get around the same folks. So I enjoyed doing it.
I think it's one of those opportunities that you never
thought you'd be talking basketball on TV. It's like, it's
not bad, it's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
And is it something that you could see yourself doing
down the line. I know, like coaching is in your blood.
I know you got a lot of coaching left in you,
But is that maybe something down the line you would
do or is it like kind of like I did,
Like once our season was or my season was over,
wherever I was, I would kind of go into to
TV just to do some work while my season was over.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
That's something maybe you would do until you're done with coaching.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, I think the beauty of basketball for all of
us is once you're in it and you realize all
of the different channels that basketball has, whether it's coaching,
player development, management, ownership, TV, you know, a lot of
basketball without borders. So I'm out of the country right
(03:03):
and teaching and expanding the game. I think once once
you realize that basketball has provided and open so many opportunities,
it's just the next layer. So you know, obviously, right
now I'm a coach and I'll stay at coach, but
I think whenever that ends, I'm going to stay involved
in the game in some capacity. This is a great opportunity.
(03:24):
When I do TV, it's a great opportunity to just
learn a new a new craft, a new skill.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
And it's different, it's a different it's it's a different
learn Like I mean, like you feel like you know
the game, but it's kind of like you're trying to
learn a little more about the player. And you know,
especially when you're doing like a network instead of just
for a team, you kind of got to kind of
play catch up and do some studying.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's a lot of studying involved.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
I mean, because I think people feel like, well, I
say this, it always depends on how good you want
to be as an analyst, because like you can go
up there and you can talk basketball. You're around it
every day, so it's easy to what you see. You
can look at a status sheet and figure out what
just happened in the game without watching it. Like you
can turn the game on now and miss of a
half like, oh man, such such he's gotten you know
(04:09):
because you know him. So but like when you kind
of dive deep into it, like that's when you can
kind of go to the next level.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
So I say that, like, you know, for you, what
was kind of the what was the most difficult thing?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
I've heard people say it's not really talking about it,
it's more so everything kind of goes on in your
earpiece sometime. Yeah, what's what's kind of the weird thing
for you?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, that took a little bit of getting used to.
But I also felt when you come in. You know,
I came in off the street. Basically, you know, you're
joining Sam and you're joining some of the hosts, so
they're used to it. So it's just you know, guide me,
tell me where you guys need me. So their piece
part is very it's comforting because they're telling me, hey,
(04:55):
five seconds last, ten seconds last, So you know, eventually
I need to wrap this up. I may have right, right,
but I need to wrap this up. I think the
biggest the biggest challenge is trying because coaching and commentating
really are the same in terms of you're trying to
educate your audience. When you're coaching, you're trying to educate
your players on game situations, how to execute technique. It's
(05:19):
still about, you know, breaking down something and seeing them
do it right. And so when I'm on when I'm
on the tube and I'm trying to explain what I'm
seeing or what's going on in the game, You're trying
to do it from a coaching perspective, because I think
that's why they have me there. You're trying to give
them a coaching perspective of what you see, what you anticipate,
or what may have gone on in the game. But
(05:41):
the challenge is you got to do it within you
know the framework. Yeah, most that equippers up. You know,
it's like, hey, here goes such and such down the
lane and against the drop, and you can't explain all
of it, but you got to do it in ten seconds.
You got to do it in first and I think
that's the biggest challenge that I have.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Or sometimes when you're on with somebody, you can at
that forty thirty to forty seconds, but it's a lot
of information you want to you want to paint the
picture like you would do your team. Yeah, that that's
when it gets challenging because you can go in depth
with I think sometimes you can explain it to you know,
to the audience and if you were if you had
more time, they'd be like, ah, that makes so much
sense as opposed to thirty seconds worth. It's you don't
(06:19):
really get the painted picture like you want it. So, yeah,
that's that makes sense. Let's move on your time as
a head coach, Like what was when you look back
at it, what was kind of the challenge as a
new coach that you you felt like today like you're like,
(06:40):
I would look at things that and I think I
know some of the answer to that obviously being with
you at when you got the job, and I still
appreciate you giving an opportunity.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I appreciate that, by the way, I appreciate.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
That it's good looking at but as a coach in
your time in Atlanta, I mean, you know, so I
think I asked this question because I'm gonna use coach
Missoula as an example, and you look at the playoffs
and you know that you let's talk about the time
out that they felt like he should have called. And
some coaches would because would call the time about some
(07:10):
wouldn't because they felt like they have their team prepared,
and they're always saying he doesn't have experience in this position.
So my thing is, I'm like, all right, well, doctor
Rivers didn't have the experience, but he had to go
through it such such you know all time with I
mean the laundry lists of people who some of them
Papovich like they had to go through it to get there,
(07:33):
and they're getting like real time experiences like for you
like the same thing, but like your time in Atlanta,
you know, what did you you learn like now, like
as going for if you get that job opportunity again,
like you learn what from coaching.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Well, let's let's let's rewind first and foremost, it was
my honor to have you with me in Atlanta. You
get the job, I get the job, and Travis says, hey,
we got a chance to get events, and I'm like,
let's do it. You always want a veteran, experienced guy
in the locker room and someone of your caliber. To
(08:08):
have there was was was was beyond, you know, beyond
expectations of what you're looking for in your first year.
So I appreciate that, appreciate having you so you know
all of the goods, the bads, the ups, the downs,
all of the stuff that are trying to do. And
then I go back and I say, to anyone that's listening,
(08:30):
or to anyone that's coaching, or to anyone that's been
in the seat of the head coach at any level,
you're not prepared for the job. You're prepared for the opportunity.
And there's a big difference between the two. I was
prepared for the opportunity of building a staff, having a
vision of what I wanted to do offense and defensively,
(08:51):
having a vision of what I wanted to do in
terms of creating the culture. You know, the game the
exes and those aren't the hard part and really are
aren't the big part of the job. You know, you
can input anything you want offensively and defensively, and a
lot of it's based on where you've been before and
how you see the game. But when the game actually
happens and you got to sub in, you got to
(09:14):
make adjustments, and you've got to coach personalities, and you've
got to prepare for situations that you have never been
in before, not only as a head coach, but with
the with the team, with the guys. You don't know
who was ready for the moment. You know, and I'll
give you an example, like who takes the ball out
on a side out of bounds play with three seconds
(09:34):
to go? You know, you think you've got a good passer.
You don't know if that's a nervous passer. You don't
know if he has the right height or size to
see the entire floor. You don't know if he has
the composure to get to four and a half seconds
and then call that time out. So all of those
situations are new for the coaching staff, for the players,
(09:56):
and more than anything. You're prepared for the opportunity, but
you're not prepared for the job because the job requires
much more than any of us would think. You know,
when a player is going through something personally, you now
carry that burden. You're dealing with it. You got to
you got to call him at home, Hey, is everything good?
Anything we can do? Player staff, front office, training, strength,
(10:21):
All of those people become your responsibility and you carry
any burden and every burden that they have, and you're
trying to manage all of those things. So I say,
the x's and o's are important, but that's where you
empower your staff, That's where you learn to delegate, That's
where you empower your players. So, you know, getting back
to the other part of the question, is you know,
(10:43):
speaking about a Joe Miszula type or any first year
head coach that's in a pressure field situation and is
being scrutinized. No, he's not prepared for the moment. He's
prepared for the opportunity, and he's done a tremendous job
with the team, but you know he's trying to stick
with some of the things that he went through all year,
and I heard him say it all year. You know,
(11:03):
we played through runs and really trying to empower our guys.
But now it's different. You know, it's different when you're
doing that in eighty two games. Now when you get
into well, this is a game, and this game is
all that matters and we can't afford Now you have
to make those decisions. And he's either trusting his his
his his gut with his players and he's trusting and
(11:27):
empowering his players, or he says, I got to make
the right decision. And I think you know, we saw,
we saw the response the other day. This is what
we do all year. And then the next day he
came out and said, I probably should have called it,
Like he will be better. I will be better the
next time I get an opportunity. Because I have been
a head coach, I was prepared for the opportunity. Now
(11:48):
you know how to prepare for the moment a little
bit better, because you can look back and say, man,
I wish I would have done this. I wish And
if you're not doing that, you're not self aware. You
can easily blame everybody for everything. But I had to
go back and say, probably should have done this a
little bit better. I probably should have spent more time here.
If I get the chance, I will continue to do
(12:10):
this and maybe change that. But when you get that experience,
you have the opportunity to evaluate, and when you can evaluate,
you can always grow.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
And also it's like, you know, the freedom to do
some of those things, like you said, to make those
changes too, because as you know, some first year coaches
get you know, they have the job, but they're not
in control of the job, right, you know what I'm saying. Yeah,
And I've seen I've been obviously playing with younger teams.
I've seen guys in those situations or coaches in those
(12:42):
situations where it's like, you know, they want to do this,
they want to make changes, and it don't get that opportunity.
So it's like, I feel like that's where you're also learning,
because like, oh, if I get the opportunity, I could
probably do this and have more success as opposed to
you know, what they wanted.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Me to do, so on and so forth, so forth.
So I just you know, it's interesting.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Every job is different. I mean said, what you're saying is,
you know, not all jobs are created equal, and not
all players the same thing you tell players you know,
you can treat everybody in the same We're gonna treat
everybody with respect. We're gonna treat everybody, uh, with equal opportunity.
Not everybody's gonna get the same level of leeway. You know,
(13:24):
the guy that's the tenth guy, he makes that one mistake,
you gotta get him out. That's the guy, your top guy.
He's gonna average four or five turnovers, he's gonna make
he's gonna takes a couple of bad shots, but he's
in position to do that. The other guy isn't. So
I'm gonna still treat everybody with respect, but I can't
give you the same opportunity and I can't give you
(13:44):
the same freedom. And so every job is like that.
You know, Missoulas taking over a team that went to
the finals the year before. Nick Nurse took over a
team that acquired a guy that was pretty good. Uh.
And then there are some some of us, myself included,
who take jobs and will continue to take jobs that
(14:05):
are building through the draft and in development mode. And
that's the beauty of the job is you take on
any challenge. If you're a confident coach, you take on
any challenge. And then you figure out how to make
it work, and some people get the support to go
longer and some people want but we all understand that's
part of the business.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Part of the business.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
And I feel like this is a guy who's been
a veteran or a team and I think you will
agree with this, and I think any coach, first year coach,
or younger coach will agree.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
It's important.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
It's imperative you GMS owners, you have to have veterans
on your team because I think you will help first
year coaches, younger coaches, or whatever however you choose to
call it. You help them because of those things you
just talked about, because now you can rely on what
not even like what you hear in the locker room.
But we've had conversations about decision things that we've done,
(15:02):
how did it hit, how did it resonate, And we've
going back and forth. You know, they didn't see it
like you know, for me, obviously being older and younger,
is like I could see where you were going with situations.
As opposed to the younger guys. It just was like,
all right, they's looking at face value. I'm like, nah,
I didn't get it, and it didn't see the bigger picture.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
So I feel like that's the importance.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
And I felt a responsibility, you know, as a you know,
a player, like a player coach to to you know,
to relate what what you're trying to deliver sometimes because
you know, as you've been a player, you know, sometimes
your coach is talking like and then the player like, nah,
he just trying to Ah, I got it, I got it,
(15:44):
you know, so and it made you know, it.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Makes your job easier too, because yeah, I think the
beauty of coaching and obviously a lot of my stories
will go back to you like I'll run something. I
would run something by you and say, hey, man, this
is what we're doing or this is what I'm trying
to do, and you're gonna have a different conversation with
the players than I would have. And as long as
(16:07):
you know, well, hey, here's here's where LP is coming
from with it. You may not agree with it, but
here here's what he's trying to do. And I think
coaching is that you're trying to get players to buy
into X, Y and Z. Here's your offensive scheme, your
defensive scheme, here's your rotations, here's the culture in the environment,
we're trying to create. Here's how we're here's how hard
(16:29):
we're going to practice today, and why they're not.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
You're not.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
You're not going to agree with everything. You may not
even understand until two or three years later. And we
can talk about how many guys have come up to
me and say, I get what you were saying. I
didn't get it, then I get it now you know.
And it's the whole challenge is can you get them
to understand it right then and there, buy into it
right then and there, and then apply it right then
(16:54):
and there?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Is it practical? Probably not always, but each step you
can get close to that, the better you are. And
so having a veteran guy like yourself, we had James
Johnson and George Hill here in Indiana this year, being
able to talk to those guys and then them go
and deliver the message in a different way, in a
more appropriate way, and then the way that the players
(17:16):
could understand was huge and beneficial for us. But it'd
be great if we could deliver the message that went
directly to the nineteen twenty twenty one year old but
that I'll be just started out law. It ain't I
just don't speak that language as well anymore.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
Why should you bet with Caesar Sportsbook Two words Caesar's rewards.
Every bet brings you closer to the types of benefits
only Caesars can offer hotel stays, VIP experiences, sports and
concert tickets and more. It's not just an app, it's
an empire.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Twenty one and over must be physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Vada,
New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming,
or Washington, d C. Sports betting is void in Georgia, Hawaii,
Utah and other states were prohibited. No one to stop
(18:11):
before you start gambling problem Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia,
West Virginia, Pennsylvania affiliated with Harris Philadelphia. If you were
someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and
referral services can be excess by calling one eight hundred
gambler that's one eight hundred four two six, two five
three seven, or Maryland, visit MD Gamblinghelp Dot Org or
West Virginia visit one eight hundred gambler dot net. Arizona
(18:34):
call one eight hundred next step, Colorado, DC, Nevada, Wyoming,
Kansas affiliated with the Kansas Crossing Casino. Call one eight
hundred five to two two four seven zero zero. Indiana
call one eight hundred and nine with it Iowa call
one eight hundred. Bets off. Louisiana call one eight seven
seven seven seven zero stop licensed to the Horseshoe, Bossier
City and Harris, New Orleans, Massachusetts. If you were a
loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call one
(18:56):
eight hundred three two seven five zero five zero or
is it gambling heelpline MA dot org for twenty four
seven support. Michigan called one eight hundred two seven zero
seven one one seven. New York call eight seven seven
eight Hope and wine or text hope and why the
four six seven three six nine.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
I tell everybody this, I didn't become a I didn't
have an agent until about a month before I got
the job, and I just kind of relied on you know,
this business is there's thirty teen you.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Put your bid in on your own. No, I was.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
I just kind of had a hunch that I should
probably start looking, and sure enough, as I was talking
to different agents, you know the agent I ended up with,
I'm a CSEE out of Atlanta. Bobby my agent, Bobby Heyde.
He said, hey, you know Atlanta's interested. You know they're
talking about interviewing you. So it was just like coincidental, divine,
(19:53):
however you want to look at it, that I had
just started to say, Hey, I need an agent, and
so I'm I'm back in that same mind frame where
I'm I do have an agent. I'm not pressing for
the next head job. I feel and I talked to
I talked to RC about this before. I said, Rick,
I came here to assist you and to help you
(20:14):
advance the Pacers organization in the program. You know, in
due time there will be a time where I need
you to help me, or you can, you can amplify
my name, I said, But I don't need you trying
to push for me for any job. And I don't
look at it. I don't think any of us, myself
as a young black coach that's been a head coach
that got an opportunity and then will now look for
(20:36):
another opportunity. I don't think any of us can say
here's a job I'm going to turn down, or I
would right right. I think the beauty of it is
when the timing is right. And I look at it
as when when Indiana Pacers I've really made a jump
and we're one of these teams that are playing right
now and people were talking about what jobs are open
(20:58):
and which coaches deserve that's another opportunity. I feel like
I will feel better about that timing, and I'll also
feel better that maybe I get to make a decision
on a job versus another job at the time that
fits where I am, where they are, and what the
alignment of expectations are, as opposed to just saying hey,
(21:23):
I just come in. You know, you know what are
we doing? Okay, well I can make that work. It
sounds great, it's good. We're all egos. But I think
when you have a shared vision and you have a
shared plan, and you know you have ways that you
want to execute that and you can communicate that with ownership,
with management, with players, I think when you feel comfortable
(21:46):
going into the situation completely, I think that's the right job.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Gotcha.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
And speaking of open jobs, like you know, it's a
couple of days ago wolfh bomb about JJ Reddick potentially
getting the job.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
There.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I found it like rather eye opening, eye wowing. There,
here's another guy with no experience getting that opportunity. What
are your thoughts on that? And do you think just
knowing JJ and seeing him as an analyst, do you
think you know he has a shot?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Well, I think everybody has tried to figure out. And
again I say, there's thirty jobs, and there's thirty different
companies you know running those jobs. It's not like it's
the NBA and it's just here's the protocol for the
next job. Everybody thinks independently of how they want their
organization to be run, how their team should should should play,
(22:40):
you know, style of play, style of player, profile of player,
all of that. And I think that's what happens is
everyone's trying to figure out, like what's the right fit
for today's game, in today's player in terms of intellect,
how they see the game, how they can execute a
game plan. Will the players inspect the coach that's making
(23:02):
those decisions, and so you have to think outside of
the box, you know, I tell people all the time,
I probably skip a step you know, there are a
lot of coaches that were ready and they're still ready
for opportunities, and here comes a guy like myself, here
comes a guy like whomever. It's just how it works,
and I'm not going to be apologetic about it. I
took full advantage of the opportunity again, and I'll jump
(23:24):
in again. But I think for JJ, here's a guy
that's talking the game on TV every day, play the
game at a serious and high level. I coach JJ
and Philly. I know how intense he is. I know
how detail oriented he is. But I'll go back to
my earlier point. No coach will be ready for the
(23:44):
moment or the experience if you haven't been in it,
and the only way to do it is to go
through it. You may be ready for that. Most of
us are ready for the opportunity. None of us are
ready for the management, the moment situation, and so you
have to there. Anyone that gets the job is going
to have to lean on staff, They're gonna have to
(24:06):
lean on veteran players, They're gonna have to lean on
support from ownership and management. So it doesn't make it
easier because he played or anyone has played. They talked
the game. It actually makes it even more challenging of all, right,
where do I start?
Speaker 1 (24:22):
And that's that's for me, you know, when asked all
the time about what I coach and all of that,
and I was like, it's one thing being an armchair coach.
It's one thing being a part, you know what I'm saying.
It's one thing being on a team and helping and
you know, seeing it one thing and one thing being
an assistant coach. But it's another thing sitting in scooting
over one chair and being that head head guy. And
(24:45):
for me, I just you know, kudos to like j
Kidd who went from playing his last basketball game to
being a head coach, to Steve Nash and and and
now possibly a JJ Reddick. I just feel for me,
at some point if I can sider coaching, I need to.
I want to go through the process, at least a
year or two of being an assistant coach and seeing
(25:06):
those things and then kind of taking notes over the
year of how what I would do. And it's not like, oh,
he's doing it wrong, but it's like, Okay, how would
I handle that? And kind of write those notes down
because like you say, it's one thing of giving your
opinion to the head coach and then all of a
sudden he makes a decision. It's another thing when it's
the other side. Now you get these opinions, then you
(25:27):
have to be the one to say this is what
we're doing.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
And so that's why I like, for me as a coach,
I don't think I'm ready for the dynamic of just
coming off the street if you would, and you know, yes,
I know the game, been around the game, and I
think I think the game. I can think the game
as a coach, But there it is. It's easy saying
that on this side, as opposed to trying to think
(25:50):
the game while we're sitting in practice after we just
finished practice, like all right, what are we we're gonna quit?
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Are we gonna keep going here? What are we gonna do?
Or writing out that plan?
Speaker 1 (25:58):
So these are the things, those are the things that
I kind of like, I want to go through first.
So I wanted to ask you that how you thought
about it, because, like I said, all guys, you know,
we know the game. Players like JJ ally, we know
the game. You've been around a game, you were in,
like I said, in Philly for all these years but
it's nothing like being that head guy making that decision.
And that's just something I don't think I'm ready for.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Well, the assistant, I always say, the assistant makes suggestions
on a consistent basis, and the head coach has to
make decisions on a consistent basis. And the suggestions can
go in in everywhere and everybody feels like they got
the right suggestion. But the decision is what you have
to live with. You know whin the sub a guy in,
(26:39):
when to take a guy out, what play to run,
how long practice should go on a Tuesday. You know
what time do you get into the whole. You know
which hotel are you staying at and which city should
you do dinner? You got to make those decisions. Everybody's
giving you suggestions, but you have to make those decisions.
And again I'll keep saying it, you're not prepared follows
(27:00):
because you don't You don't know half of what decisions
you need to make. You don't know what's going to
happen in the news, you don't know what's being said
in the media. You don't know if a player is
going to be suspended five games or twenty five games.
So you got to make decisions from there from the.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
End how to adjust your offense when that happens, and
you know how to how to empower a guy who's struggling,
who's one of your go to guys, like all those things.
Like there's a few things like I feel like, okay,
I feel comfortable doing. But it's the other side of coaching,
like you say, like after a while, I'm like, all right, man, y'all,
just y'all pick a hotel, like dinner, Maro, what's the
best one?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
All right? And we got that.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Ain't the other side that is? That is the job.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
That's what I'm saying. That's I mean, I mean, that's
what side of it is. Like the coach.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Everyone is critiquing and criticizing the coach on the you know,
the final timeout and this and this and that, But
there's so much other things that tie into it that
lead into that, that are that probably are more important.
You're just trying to get to the game. Once you
get to the game, you're usually more relaxed in the game,
in the game atmosphere because you've already you've already done
(28:08):
the work. The coach has already done the work, the
players have already gone through the scenarios and situations. Now
you just want to let them execute that. But decisions
for the other stuff, that's the job.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
All right, all right, Welcome to the VC Show, presented
by Caesar Sportsbook Vince Carter Roz is doing what she does.
She's busy obviously covering the playoffs, so we're holding it
down for Rose. I have a guy. We're gonna get
the story time. But I got a guy here who
behind the scenes. You know, if any of you remember
(28:39):
the Nets when I got to the Nets in O four,
oh five and nine, here's the guy who has and
knows all of the secrets in the behind the scenes
of that team in those years. VP of PR at
the time, Gary Sussman, also the voice for those who
(29:00):
are Nets fans of the VC three created by this
man right here, Gary Sussman. Gary, thank you man, Gee,
I really appreciate you. You know, first.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Of all, I'm incredibly impressed at this is sponsor, which
is tremendous, and also kudos that you know, well, I
knew you wouldn't know my name because I'll tell you
a famous story that.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Sam Cassell.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
I had to take Sam on a community appearance at
Hackensack Medical Center. And Sam didn't know my name. So
so Sam, he just knew me as G Money. He
gave me the name G Money, so he didn't know
my name. So here we are in front of all
(29:47):
these nurses and doctors and I'm presenting Sam. So he's
going to speak to them, and so I present Sam
and he gets up there and he doesn't know my name.
Speaker 3 (29:57):
He doesn't he doesn't know who to think. So he goes,
thank you, G and that was it. So, you know,
he didn't know my name.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
That was it.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
I was G Money. That was all he was to say.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
But he gave you.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
He he gave you that name and forgot like he
just was stuck on G Money and never realized like
the actual name.
Speaker 5 (30:20):
You know, I got to give people a little perspective
on our relationship. So I was the first person from
the nets that you talked to when you got when
you got trade to the nets, and I think I
woke you up in your hotel room. Couldn't couldn't reach you.
Initially the trade. I was in Memphis.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Because I was in sleep. I didn't know it was hell.
Speaker 5 (30:44):
And the first thing you said to me, I said,
you said Vince, welcome to the Nets. You've been traded
to the Nets, And I mentioned three players and you go, that's.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
It, that's who I was traded.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
I was like no, I was like, yeah, that's it,
like just me, Like it's like I'm going by myself
because it was my first time. And I remember there again,
we're already here, so we're gonna tell the storytime, but
I remember, you know, obviously after it all happened, we
had the conversation. I was like, all right, what happens
next with Jalen because it was just like, you know,
you're telling me all the guys because like you said,
you tried to reach me. I was sleep like it
(31:21):
was time getting for the game, so I had no
clue and I didn't know what to do, like, Okay,
do I need to get there? How I'm gonna get there?
Like what happens next? Like that's it. I'm going by myself.
Like it was just all these different emotions and like
just trying to figure it out, like I got traded,
but it's just me, so it's not like I can
lean on somebody else. Obviously Jalen was there who had
(31:43):
been through it before. But man, it was just.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
But you said, these are the guys I was traded for.
This is it? There was There wasn't like anybody else.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
There was, you know, what's going on?
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Yeah, because like prior to my nap, Yeah, prior to
my nap, I was just like, you know, they said,
you know, it's not gonna you know, there was nothing there,
you know, whatever, whatever, and then all of a sudden
it happened. So that's why I'm just like, wait a minute,
that's it, Like, okay, all right, But yeah, I was hurt,
so I was getting my nap early, so I had
(32:15):
to go.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
I usually go.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
I was going over early to get my treatment, get
my shots, to get myself back. So that's what people
didn't understand. Well something do know. I was, I was injured,
I was hurt. I was out trying to get back.
And then I come over to the nets and shout
out to Timmy. Yeah, because Timmy he you know with
the nets, he got he got me right, and he
one thing he said, he said, son, welcome to the team,
(32:36):
but we're gonna take our time to do this the
right way so you don't ever have to deal with
this again. And that was kind of the best you know,
coming to a new team, that's what I wanted to
play immediately. But that was kind of the best information
ever given to me, you know, especially particularly going through
this this situation, and obviously what happens. Who was the
first team after being traded that you're playing against? It
(32:56):
was the Net the Raptors, and you guys were coming
to Toronto. So I remember you telling me we'll meet
you there and I was advised obviously not to go
to the game.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Blah blah blah, just you know, but.
Speaker 5 (33:09):
You know what, I always thought that, you know, people
talked about, you know, Lebron going back to Cleveland and
the response and this and that. I always thought maybe
it was because of the Nets, but I always thought
that your return to Toronto was way way underplayed in
terms of what you had to go through. And that
(33:32):
was the lasting impression. If you remember, we had shoot around.
There were fourteen cameras. Fact, did you know that it
looked like the playoffs and it was like the playoffs.
And then when you came out and every time you
touched the ball in warm ups, the booze and that
crowd just listen, they're insane fans up there. But every
(33:58):
time you touched the ball, and if you remember, I'm
sure you do, the first shot you took was from
the left side.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
And you over the rim. Yes, I did. He ducked,
he did. I remember.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
I wanted to make that shot so bad to where
it was like a line drive.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
I was just trying to just pinpoint that thing. And
I just remember like, oh.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
Yeah, but that was And then probably I don't know
if he ever told you this or this was public knowledge,
but Jason had said to me that that.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Game there showed him what you were made of. How
about that.
Speaker 5 (34:38):
That game showed him what you were made of, and
that you he could go into Foxhole with you?
Speaker 3 (34:44):
How about that? Man?
Speaker 1 (34:47):
That's all right because I tell you, man, it was
just something. Yeah, I guess what I'm saying. And for me,
it's like, you know, new team, this situation kind of
dealing with both sides. You want to go out here
and play well, obviously because of your former team and
all the atmosphere and everything that's going on, but staying
in the moment, not doing too much but play the game.
And you know, I tell people all the time about Jason.
(35:08):
He was he was a fearless leader, but he didn't
say much. He didn't say much. He led by example.
Jay led by the example. And you can just see
like when he was locked in, you know, when he
got laser focused. You know the j Kid vision that
everybody talked about. That's a real thing. And that's when
you knew like it was.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
It was.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
It was go timing. I mean, his his knowledge of
the game. It was just it was just amazing, like
being you know, I was a go to player, but
it was like a different dynamic. And I used to hear, oh,
how convinced didn't when he played for for the for
the Rafters, and it was just a different me because
I was like, Jason Kidd is the point guard? Do
you understand that? Like there's great point guards? And I
(35:47):
played with some very good point guards with his Jason Kidd,
and he could see things before and it's like getting
used to that was just amazing. He was like he
would just draw it up. He's like, no, when you'd
run down the court, just look for lips. He's like,
I see you, you're open. It was like he's there,
He's like, no, I'm gonna throw you open. Like it
was just it was just amazing. So we're doing story time.
So I got one last story and I'm gonna tell
(36:07):
my version, and I know you you remember all the players,
and I could never remember this player's name. But when
I tell this story, you're gonna laugh and you're gonna
recall it, and you know the history of it. To
this day, we're playing. We have this rookie and I
cannot remember his name. But and it's not Jabari Smith,
(36:30):
who was probably one of the who is nearly one
of the funniest guys you know, I've ever played with.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
I love Jabari. You know his son now is playing
with the Houston Rockets.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
But yeah, all right, and so yeah, so he comes
to this young guy comes in and we're you know,
I think this is after no, this is during j
Kid time. But this young, young rookie comes in. Young
kid comes in. He didn't make the team, but he
always will come in. I'm gonna tell you he was
on our team with at the time Jeff McGinnis. So
(37:00):
it's around those times. So this is when the this
is when the dunk happened, the year the dunk happened
on in Miami. Okay, We're playing and the kid used
to come in to practice and he was telling us
how he was. He was at the club and he
was you know, I was in the club and I
was dancing, dancing, dancing, and he got cut from the team. Gosh,
I was Chocker River's name, you're probably remember. And all
(37:21):
of a sudden, we did a tribute to this kid,
our teammate who was cut. And I said, when I
dunked the ball, my tribute to him was going to
be his dance move, which in essence became, yes, they're
rev it up. And it was, And a lot of
people don't understand, like I was always asked like like
it was something like some great story. Like the great
(37:43):
story was the kid would come every day just happy,
go lucky, dancing talking about, you know, dancing in the club,
having a good time. All of a sudden, one day
he gets cut from the team, and I'm like, man,
all right, well we're going to show him some love.
Hopefully he's watching the game by dunk, I'm gonna do this.
Well that game, I had like Ford dunkste game. So
(38:05):
I was just reving it up all over the place.
And that's kind of how that became. And we just
did it like that week, and it kind of stuck
and the next thing, you know, you dunking. Ever you
see everybody on the team kind of doing it, and
it became what it was. It kind of went from
a just a dance, so just to rev it up.
And obviously many many years later, so I know a
lot of people didn't know where that story came from.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
You recall that, right, yeah, well can.
Speaker 5 (38:29):
You can you just talk about the dunk in Miami though,
don't just gloss over that dunk on al that what
you just took it from the right side.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
After I dunked the ball, RJA player two later, he
goes and dunks the ball. And we played the first half,
you know, going back and forth. And I remember at halftime,
we're sitting in there and I literally said to r
J said, man, and everybody else who was listening. I
said to r just said, man, we won't be able
to dunk on Zoo again. I said, the only way,
(39:00):
you know, he's gonna jump at us, you know, and
just make the contact first. I said, the only way
we'll be able to pull that office if we take
the hit and hopefully we're up high enough we could
throw it in. Literally what I said to him at
halftime and he was like yeah, yeah, or whatever, and
then the play happens. The shot goes, it gets tipped out.
(39:21):
I remember jay Will White Chocolate trying to reach it,
go behind the back, and I just remember one dribble,
two dribble, like but first, as I turn around, I'm
looking and it's like the lane is wide open, and
I see Zoe and Twin Jason Collins fighting and Twin
was so good at clutching guys under the post and
(39:41):
then letting them go at the last minute. So he's
holding Zoe under the basket. And I took the first dribble,
take the second dribble, and as I'm going up now,
Zoe is kind of lunging at me, and I see it.
And if you notice when I jump up there, that's
why I kind of turned my body to protect myself.
I'm thinking the hard foul. You know, back at that time,
that's still the days of guys still taking heart. You know,
they're putting you on the ground. So I take the hit,
(40:03):
but I was already in the air first, so as
he's lunching, he hits me and propels me a little higher.
So I take the hit, but I'm like wait a minute,
the rim is right there. So I just I just
turned like don't miss this and dunk it through and
I just see him fall back and instead like I
didn't stand there.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
I just kind of just dunked it and kind of
ran down the court like real cool.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
And if you ever look at the bench, look at
Jeff McGinnis on the bench, he's doing the dance. He's
reving it up like Letting Johnson. Guys are going insane crazy.
And I remember Dwayne Wade running down the court beside me.
He was like, damn, it was one of the funniest
things ever. Like he was like yeah, And I just
(40:46):
tried to play it all, you know, serious, but like
inside I was like a kid. I wanted to be
like those guys on the bench because I knew after
that zone was going to really take you out. That's
just the way it was. But man, it was just
great times and you know, great memories. Like I said,
like playing with that that group of guys coming in
there when turmoil that turned into like unbelievable season funny stories.
(41:08):
But sus Man, I really appreciate you taking some time
taking a trip down memory lane telling some stories.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
Man, It's always great to see you, great to have you. Man,
listen to anything for you.
Speaker 5 (41:18):
Number one guy and better, better man than.
Speaker 3 (41:22):
You are a player, So thank you. Man.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
Always a pleasure, always a player, Man pleasure
Popular Podcasts
1. Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
2. Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
3. Crime Junkie
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.