May 4, 2021 • 34 mins
Tyrese Maxey and Klutch Sports Founder & CEO Rich Paul have a heart-to-heart as the 2020 NBA Draft is set to begin. When a breaking article quotes Anthony Edwards as saying he "doesn't like basketball," Anthony and his team have to shift into damage control, and the top of the draft suddenly gets thrown into question. Narrated by Keegan-Michael Key.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Drafted is a production of tree Fort Media, Clutch Sports Group,
and I Heart Radio's list. Hey, this is Draft n
I'm about to get drafted. All right, We're gonna see
NBA tonight and we're still moving Caucus. Welcome back to Drafted.
(00:25):
I'm kidding, Michael Key, and the NBA Draft is finally here.
Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxie will become professional athletes today
November eight, both our first round prospects, and both will
end up making somewhere between ten to forty million dollars
on their rookie contracts. So the thirty four million dollar
(00:46):
question is when and where will they be selected. In
addition to the money, the draft is all about the
right fit for playing time and long term development. With
all this in mind, agent Rich Paul is up early
calling NBA general managers to gather intel about where Tyrese
and Anthony may get picked. Shouts with up, Happy Draft Day,
(01:19):
what's going on? What you're hearing? Hey, Mitch, how's it going?
Just calling? Obviously is draft day? Just to see you
know if if Anthony's dare at three, do you take him?
Happy Draft Day, Troy, The Pistons. The Pistons first draft.
(01:40):
I got one question for you, and I won't I
won't take up too much of your time. But if
Maxi's there when you guys pick, do you take him?
Is he one of three? Is he won of five?
Is he not on your board at all? Gathering information
is only a part of an agent's job. Use that
info to manage your client's expectations and nerves is an
(02:03):
even more important duty. And that means Rich's next phone
call is to Tyrese. Happy Draft day. Rees. I've been
up calling and teams this morning, just checking the traps.
That's all. How you feeling at right now? So we
are you gonna be a little nervous. Everyone starts to
(02:27):
feel at least a little nervous once the draft begins,
especially when the five minute countdown clock for each pick
begins to tick away, which is part of the reason
why Rich wants to prepare Tyrese for whatever happens today.
The other reason he wants to prepare Tyrese is because
NBA Draft Day is notorious for surprises. Last year, fourteen
(02:48):
of the sixty players drafted were Roughly one out of
every five players taken were chosen with picks that were
traded that day, and those fourteen players were swapped through
ten different Draft day trades. This sort of thing happened,
It's almost every year in the NBA. Even some of
the NBA's all time greatest players like Scottie Pippen, Ray Allen,
Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Kawhi Leonard, and Bill Russell all
(03:10):
got traded on Draft Day. Anything is possible, and Rich
wants his client to take a business like approach to
whatever happens. This evening just another day a day office man.
I told you the draft is just to beginning of
what's gonna be a long, successful career for you. Don't
(03:32):
get caught up into who go before, who go behind.
Comparisons are the thief of joy. Enjoy your time with
your family. You work hard to get to this point.
You dreamed about this as a little kid. This is
a dream that your father had and it didn't happen
for him. So to see you make it is an
(03:53):
unbelievable thing for your family and France. And like I said,
there's no negative. A lot of times we get so
caught up into trying to one up the next person
that the joy is stolen from the actual moment, it's
only sixty picks, thirty of them in the first round.
It's only thirty teams. There's only four fifty players in
(04:14):
the world. And I'm not just saying this because because
I'm your agent. I'm saying this as a brother. And
that's somebody who's just been through a lot of life. Man,
you know, enjoy this kick back, get your honor palmer
because you don't drink. Just watch the festivities. But yeah,
(04:35):
you're good, bro, And I told you think about all
the guys. It's fit over pick one. Thing people don't
understand is they look at the numbers. Everybody always look
at how much money somebody making. But if I made
ten million dollars today and no money for the next
(04:57):
twenty years, what good is ten million due to me? Nothing? Right, Yeah,
gotta be consistent. It's hard to stay in the NBA.
And if you put all your eggs in the basket
and getting drafted, we're in trouble because we got work
to do. Because guess what, it's another draft next year.
(05:21):
I got no time. I got to get on my
horse and gallop. And you in Texas, so they got
great horses in Texas. So that's what you need to do.
As soon as you get drafted, go down to the
nearest stable and get your thoroughbred and get on it.
You went to Kentucky, so you know a lot about horses.
(05:44):
We got to ride the horse of life, and we
needed Clydesdale. You can't get no pony. The race starts
right away because most guys barely make it to a
second contract in the NBA. The average career is only
four and a half year, and that's skewed by Hall
of famers like Lebron, Kobe or Vince Carter who played
(06:04):
fifteen to twenty two seasons. That's why Rich wants Tyrese
to already start thinking about what happens after the draft
and after his first rookie deal. Like Rich and the
others keep saying, there are only four and fifty spots
in the NBA, and sixty new players get drafted every year.
Tonight is only the beginning. We'll be right back. Rich
(06:46):
and Tyrese continue their call about Tyrese's draft knight plans
and how many you are expecting over You got to
wrap ad COVID test. Yeah, I got the rappid COVID
because I think it's gonna be like eight downstairs, and
it's gonna be me and my family. Oh, that's a
(07:10):
lot of people. Mum hum, And what's COVID teest you'all
doing the one up the nose? All right? Forty eight
hours forty eight hours or or less before COVID says,
and they get todd rappid COVID do Okay, okay, Denise
ain't playing, no, and they gotta wein a mathshole time
(07:31):
except when they Denise Maxie ain't playing. I like her style.
You're not going on now, you know what you're talking
about that. I know, I know, I know Denise ain't
gonna play. I gotta call her. I gotta get to
a hundred push ups before I called her because I
got to be ready. Yeah. Well, I'm gonna be checking
in with you periodically, bro, I got you, all right,
(07:54):
but it's going I'll get her. Yeah, yeah, you're talking
to me all day, all okay. Inside the Maxi House
in Garland, Texas, Tyse's mom Denise continues orchestrating the family's
draft day preparations. They're not only a few hours from
the drafts eight pm Eastern start time on ESPN Yeah,
(08:21):
they got me moved couches on draft day. Get the
rest of the gere you get that. Please tell me
you got that. You've been trying to hold that in
all day. Yeah, he got that. Get your over here.
(08:45):
That's why you're supposed to have are your mom on
nice kimoodos, Mamas shoes, real quick mamas shoes right there?
You know, like we had a cleaning crew, we had
(09:06):
a moving crew, and we had an actual crew. We
had a family. Going to the NBA doesn't excuse Tyrese
from Denise's orders or chores, not even on the day
of his draft. But Clutch agent Mark Murray arrives early
to help Tyrese with some of the set up. Let up. Yeah,
so this is where when you get picked and you
(09:27):
start doing the NBA media, like you'll be in front
of this. This will be like the background. They just
set that up. You did it? Yeah, bro, I told
him that you can't send They sent it to you
like I can't even blew your mind. Uh yeah, I
mean yeah, we brought it up there, like who wouldn't
know how to It wasn't that it wasn't that bad.
(09:49):
But I told the crew to set up and they
said okay, and I walked in. I saw that. I
was like, okay, they set it up. I was like, wait,
that's not it sitting there in the box. So there's
a lot of confusion over the audio your video set up.
Since this is the first and hopefully only virtual NBA draft,
no one has done any of this before. Here's Mark
on some of the challenges. As the draft got closer
(10:14):
and closer. There was a lot of little things that
we had to do, you know, making sure the ESPN
audio set up, the other technical equipment, making sure our
our stream and our visual is good, to the TV truck,
and they had a few hiccups that, you know, we
were able to get through. While Mark helps Tyras and
Brandon set up in Garland, Rich continues working the phones
(10:35):
from l A. His next call is one of the
most important of the day, so he used his face
time to talk with this V I p oh, there
it is. Uh huh, I knew it. I got to
call Granny because I know her hair pop today. That's
(10:57):
Tyrese's grandma. I'd oh the niece because I thought you
got it done yesterday. I said, Grain has slept standing
up last night because she dashed. Ain't about to lay
on that hair. I know it's not about to happen.
You got to get it together. Yeah, did you see
did you see ty Teresa's suit? That boy, That boy's
(11:22):
gonna be cleaning the Board of Health. O. I said
it's gonna be cleans the board of health tonight. Granny
know what's happening. Yeah, I listen. I'm I'm waiting on
him to wear it because I told him I'm going
back to get it myself. It looks so good on him.
(11:42):
We're gonna be danger bet on sports and Nigger Twins.
Where the twins at? Where the twins at the draft?
Don't have nothing in this story for the twins. They
don't know what's going on. Rich keeps things light because
he knows the emotional toll draft it can take on
a family, and that's under normal conditions. On top of
(12:03):
the usual stress, the Maxis have the work of hosting
a virtual event at their home during a pandemic, and
that makes it easy to see why they would be
stressed out. To help with the nerves, Rich makes one
last call to the president and CEO of the Maxi
Draft party. Tyrese's mom Denise. Have the draft day, Denise,
(12:24):
how you feeling. I don't know. I've been crying all day,
have you? Yeah? I thought he will be ready anymore?
You know, yes he will. Yeah, it's hard to let go.
You'll see You've got you know, three owners. You know, yes,
(12:46):
he will be a man and that in many ways,
tonight's draft is like Tiras's graduation. He had his college
experience and now he'll be moving to a new city
to become a full time working professional with a lot
of responsibility. His new life is an adult, starts tomorrow.
I had a good conversation with him this morning and
(13:07):
I told him, I said, Tyreese, I want you to
enjoy this day. Man. Your mom and dad work hard,
your family gonna be there, your friends kicked back having
on a palmer, and when your name get called, you
will be an NBA. And now in the real work start.
I really think his rain starts right around twelve twelve.
(13:32):
Right now, we're like twelve to twenty four, So just relax.
Let the people get their chicken and biscuits and their
bellies spaghetti fish. You and Tyron I want you all
to put on a song to night Frankie, Beverly and
Mays and kick it. I want you all to kick
(13:55):
it tonight. And I don't know it's gonna be all good.
And I'm trying to relax because not relaxed, dense, relaxed.
You're gonna cry. Listen, You're gonna cry. Did did? Did?
Did Felicia call you? Oh? Yeah? All theb A moms,
I'm say yeah. Chris Paul's mom called twice. You got
(14:19):
his morning? Hey, how are you robbing? How argued? What
are you doing? That was about cleaning? Right, Yeah, you know,
I'm good. I feel fine, Just nervous thing. He's leaving,
you know, Okay, he's leaving. It's excitement. Today is about
(14:41):
proud mom. I told Tyreees you were the one I
was worried about. Well, in most cases, I would be
a little bit more. I get pulled together, but at
this point I'm just like, Okay, it's here. I have
no control, but I know that I have had to.
But just in God, man and letting God do you woman,
and You're going to do it. As the hours wind
(15:04):
down and the draft approaches, the Maxi's arranged everything in
it's perfect place. Couches audio video equipment, food and drinks.
Every detail is addressed, every question is answered, and for
possibly the first time in Tyrese's basketball career, there's nothing
else he and his family can do to prepare. Denise
had truly the full draft. You felt like you were
(15:27):
almost in New York. She had a red carpet, she
had the big stage, catered chefs, COVID testing to get
through the door. They had a bunch of family over.
You know, maybe you know people safely spaced out. I mean,
they did a really good job and making it a
special night, and they did it the right way, which
is no shocker. If he knows Denise, she does everything
(15:49):
above and beyond and goes all out. Then as the
draft comes around, it's a unique situation because we've put
in all this work, and Tyrese has put in all
this work, and you're at a point where there's no
and left you can do. You have to sit back
and truly watch and just see what happens. You can't
do another workout, you can't do another interview, another conversation,
another zoom. You've already done it all. All the work
(16:12):
has been put in. So Tyrese is someone not maybe
necessarily being able to control your own destiny is hard
for someone like him, who normally does. Tyrese's approach has
been three workouts before noon, writing down his goals every
morning since middle school, and a lifetime of practicing before practice.
The prospect of sitting still and watching his fate unfold
(16:33):
in someone else's hands goes against who he is, but
that's exactly what's going to happen tonight as Tyrese waits
to find out his NBA future. Well, Tyrese worked out
(16:55):
in Garland this morning. Draft Day was also getting started
bright and early in Atlanta. Here's Auton Holland, Anthony's friend Trey,
and Uncle Drew as they arrived at Anthony's apartment. Hello,
what he's drafting? Mean he's drafty? You see that smoke?
(17:15):
Abas may What Anthony is still starting this morning and
isn't quite as fired up as just in this early Babies? Hello, babies,
dram date dram nates when it's like, damn, I don't drive?
(17:36):
Do got working a third? And probably are you on it? Jee?
Oh yeah, okay, I don't basics. That's Uncle Drew complaining
about Anthony not being ready to go and about not
(17:57):
having jelly or ketchup for his biscuit. They have an
eight thirty a m workout plan, and he doesn't care
if it's draft day or not. There's still work to
do even today. As they head to the gym, Justin
calls coach Rob Allen, who was texting him earlier in
the morning. Hey Man, Hey Man, don't don't text me. Man,
it don't be texting me man like anybody else. Oh Man,
(18:24):
don't don't don't take me like like we got one
of them, one of them SURFINGCE level relationships. Man, don't
do that. Okay. I'm Justin plays around with coach Rob
because if anyone has free rein to interrupt him on
draft day, it's Robbed. He's been an integral part of
Anthony's journey and their family at the god be Rod
Gym for years. No bro, no bro. Like, Hey man,
(18:48):
I'm proud. I'm proud of us. Man, we find look
this this to day we've been working for man, like
for real, for real. I know the mann't care like
the out on one. Man, I'm happy for that, and
no matter what we go, I don't even care. I'm
just I'm that proud that that we here man that
we've made it before, so you know we're bled. Hey, man, bless,
(19:14):
bless more than we know, brother, more than we know.
I would say, it's a wind regardless. Man. The kids
get to change their life. You know, they look they
stayed true to who they are, even even just keeping
keeping us around halfway. Shoot, you know that boy, we
can say for up for a lot of people. So yeah,
there's a testament, testament to the work. Man. I want
(19:35):
you know, I'm say, definitely gone, y'all. Definitely gonna see
ya all later to night. Justin heads into the gym
for Anthony's morning workout. Meanwhile, at the house in Atlanta,
where they'll be hosting Anthony's virtual draft, Clutch head of
basketball Omar Wilkes worries about a much bigger issue and
setting up cameras and microphones. I don't know if you
(19:56):
guys have been paying attention to the news today about
his quote basically saying that he didn't uh, he wasn't
in the basketball. It's been on ESPN and everything all today.
That's what they've been talking about all day on the shows.
Have you been seeing it? Yeah, here's Omar. We had
that curveball of the ESPN article saying that he didn't
(20:17):
love basketball. The actual clickbait or SoundBite that everyone used
came out the day of the draft, so people start
coming out of the woodworks with their conspiracy theories and thoughts,
which you know how that goes. A breaking article on
ESPN quotes Anthony Is saying he's not really that into basketball.
This is understandably concerning because NBA teams are considering paying
(20:40):
him tens of millions of dollars to play that exact sport,
and in about two hours they have to decide whether
or not to draft him. So if team executives consider
this a red flag, or if it raises new doubts,
especially for the team's picking in the top five, then
this quote might have just turned the entire draft upside down.
(21:10):
We'll be right back. Omar calls Rich Paul to talk
about the potential fallout from the ESPN article. Up RP
(21:35):
heads up that you're being recorded, so don't say anything. Fine,
foul um, there's been a quote that said doesn't love basketball,
doesn't care about basketball. Don't stress. None of the teams
are tripping on it. And I look, you wanted to
call Alex Scarborough and big, what do you come on, bro?
Like you took that out of contract the headline though
we know what he was saying. He was saying, it
(21:57):
doesn't define him. Yeah, you know, it's not like I'm
spending every day of my day watching basketball, right right.
But he was like, I love once I've seen the
ball book, that's all I needed. I think you hit
it on the head. So uh yeah, but that's my approach.
You're not gonna do no statement or anything before hands.
It just makes it bigger than it needs to be.
(22:18):
But nothing to worry about. Okay, al right, everything else,
good your way, any new news, no nothing? Know you
know Ti Rees, you know he's one of three and
like fourteen fifteen sixteen, good good, okay, all good, man,
appreciate you. Here's Omar on his attempt at damage control.
(22:42):
So basically a few calls ESPN just picking their brains
on how to best handle this, how this came out,
when it did, how it did, and how was misinterpreted.
I was just on the phone with you know, the Warriors,
the Wolves, and the Hornets all day. I know thatly
the people that mattered in that situation, with the teams
(23:03):
drafting him and they had been around him and know
him and know his fervor for the game and his
kind of appetite to get better. You know, I also
kind of want to manage perception, but sometimes study of control.
Anthony seems to be taking the surprise headline and stride,
and after talking with team executives, Omar believes everyone in
the league knows the truth. But do the timber Wolves
(23:23):
truly know and the Warriors and the Hornets. There's obviously
at least some small concern that this could cost Anthony
and move him out of the top of the draft,
especially when ESPN confirms Minnesota is considering trading the top pick.
Even as the draft is about to begin, What are
(23:45):
you hearing about the timber Wolves, who shortly will be
on the clock at number one race. The timber Wolves
are still on the phones fielding calls, talking to teams
about potential trades out of that number one spot. This
wouldn't be unprecedented. The team with the number one pick
has traded it seven times in draft history, often on
(24:06):
the day of the draft. Fortunately, there isn't much time
left to stress about the situation because after all the
build up and late breaking headlines and all the phone
calls and preparation. The draft is only thirty minutes away.
Tyrese takes his seat on the couch in Garland, Texas. Well,
(24:27):
Anthony settles onto his couch in Atlanta, surrounded by his
family Justin Omar, Uncle Drew, coach Rob Trey, and others.
Anthony tries to stay calmy baby in the first thing
(25:01):
in the two D draft belongs to the Minnesota Temperwolf,
where five minutes to make their selection. Now the nerves
kick into high gear. Were working at a little sweet Yeah.
(25:41):
As someone said in the room, five minutes is a
long time under these circumstances. Here's justin talking about the
excruciating final moments. I wasn't nervous the entire draft process.
I wasn't nervous the week leading up to the draft.
I wasn't nervous the day of the draft. But I
was nervous five minutes when the broadcast came on. I
(26:02):
think Adam Silver came on and and I'm thinking he's
about to call the number one pick, and I am nervous.
So I kind of looked over and Anthony and he's
like his leg is bouncing, and he's like I might cry.
And the whole time he's like, I don't think I'm
gonna cry, but he's like, I might cry, you know,
And I'm looking over and his eyes are kind of
welling up with tears, and I'm sure he just had
so many emotions going into that day, the pictures of
(26:25):
his mom and his grandma and everything, and these worked
so hard for and and at that moment, I think
everything is hitting you at one time, and you got
your nervousness, Am I gonna be number one? Then you
you have the other piece of I've just worked so
hard for this moment to be right here, and then
it's just one of those things. But he yeah, he
definitely was nervous. I think we both were, Like my
stomach was in a not And then he says, we'll
be back in five minutes for the number one draft.
(26:46):
So everybody in the room like, oh uh, you know,
so that was like the longest five minutes of my life.
In addition to his friends and family who have joined him,
Anthony is also surrounded by two massive paintings portraits of
his mom and his grandmother he had made just for
this moment. He sits on the couch in between both
wearing a custom designed shirt with their names printed on it.
(27:09):
They're physically and figuratively with him now, and they all
wait in this room together, agonizing for the pick to
be announced. All right, we had a little thing in control.
We handled everything in control. We gotta live with it,
live it all on the court. I can live with anything,
(27:30):
live with anything. What a commission? What a comissioner? Won't here?
What a commission? And let shine if I am designed? Sigh?
I can't get right? No one sign every side? He
(28:01):
just go ahead, We're good, We're good. I had had
a grind for everything. I had a grind for everything.
(28:23):
Business select grade of what ye the Minnesota Timberwolves select
(28:57):
Anthony Edwards number one. Overall, his has actually come true.
The promise to his mom and grandmother, all of his
goals and aspirations, it all happens here in this moment.
He gets on a video call with the broadcast. Hey
do you have it? Thank you so much. It's an
(29:20):
undescribable feeling. I mean, I can't even describe it. My
family is emotional. I feel like when I get off here,
I'm gonna get emotional. And I'm just blessed beyond measures
to be in this situation. And you said that your
mother and grandmother have built you to be who you are,
and you wouldn't be who you are today without them.
How are you honoring their legacy today? As you can see,
(29:44):
my grandmother's my grandmother's right here, and my mother is
right here. And the shirt that uh, with the collaboration
I had, I got my grandmother's name and my mother's
name and my shirts. It wouldn't me at all times.
Alcony steps into another room to continue his media appearance,
while the gravity of what they've all accomplished finally starts
to sink in. For Justin and everyone else. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn,
(30:17):
very why it is overcome? Justin embraces his wife Janine.
Come a long way, It works a hard man. Thank him.
(30:39):
He worked like damn we did. Did sacrifice who well,
I don't know. All those sacrifices, the thousands of hours,
the missed dinners, the late nights, the travel to and
from games, it all paid off. Anthony returns from the
(30:59):
interview and he inged, embrace what we worked for. You deserve.
I ain't wanna never put us in the campill, No, Hey, man,
We've worked for every fucking everything, and what guy he
worked for everything? He everything, he got it to us
everything he too. Ship. Here's Anthony's friend, Trey, and how
(31:23):
much this moment means to all of them. Anthony told
me one time, a long time before, he hasn't cried
since his mom and grandmother died, so and then he
said he's never gonna cry again. But Justin cried, and
I looked back at Drew and he just Drew just bawling,
(31:46):
because it's like, if anybody has seen it the most,
it's been Drew, and it's seen been with him since
he was eight years old. I mean, he's, like he said,
Miss Evet, his mother was the one that told him, like,
look after my kid, take care of my kid. Makes
in my case straight, I trusting you, So I know
that all that stuff was going through Drew's head, like
damn man, number one pick. Anthony alwards like the number
(32:10):
one pick. He's the number one pick. As everyone celebrates
Anthony's surreal, impossible journey to the top of the NBA Draft,
the broadcast continues with the second pick, and then the third, fourth,
and fifth into picks ten, fourteen, and sixteen. And back
in Garland, Texas, is Tyrese watches these other names get called.
(32:34):
He's forced to do the one thing he's never practiced,
waiting for someone else to make his dreams come true.
Next undrafted another number one pick. I got one more
(33:02):
down the boards with the one pick in two thousand
twenty NBA draft the Philadelphia seventy six or select Tyres Maxie.
Now I just say, you're crying on the thing. I
was like, really about to call You's just a great
I'm so happy you went there, man, I'm so happy
you did. They wanted us in Minnesota the next day,
so they were sitting us a jet at four pm
(33:24):
when we landed. You know, it was a photographer capturing
photos and he was getting off the plane. The entire
Minnesota Timberwolves organization is outside clapping and waiting on us
to get off the bus. I was about to say,
is this is this really happening? Is this really happening?
(33:45):
Drafted as a production of tree Fort Media, Clutch Sports Group,
and I Heart Radio. The executive producers are Kelly Garner,
Lisa Ammerman, Eric s A loot Seawan to Tone Lki
and me Keecking, Michael Key. The series is produced and
written by Eric Winer. Jared Brom is our coordinating producer.
Trey McCain is our associate producer. Tom Monaghan is our
senior audio engineer. Mixed and edited by Steven Johnson, additional
(34:09):
production help from Tim Shower, June Rosen, and Hailey Mandelberg.
For transcripts of the show and more information on Drafted,
go to tree Fork dot fm. For more podcasts. For
my heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Drafted is a production of tree Fort Media, Clutch Sports Group,
and I Heart Radio's list. Hey, this is Draft n
I'm about to get drafted. All right, We're gonna see
NBA tonight and we're still moving Caucus. Welcome back to Drafted.
(00:25):
I'm kidding, Michael Key, and the NBA Draft is finally here.
Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxie will become professional athletes today
November eight, both our first round prospects, and both will
end up making somewhere between ten to forty million dollars
on their rookie contracts. So the thirty four million dollar
(00:46):
question is when and where will they be selected. In
addition to the money, the draft is all about the
right fit for playing time and long term development. With
all this in mind, agent Rich Paul is up early
calling NBA general managers to gather intel about where Tyrese
and Anthony may get picked. Shouts with up, Happy Draft Day,
(01:19):
what's going on? What you're hearing? Hey, Mitch, how's it going?
Just calling? Obviously is draft day? Just to see you
know if if Anthony's dare at three, do you take him?
Happy Draft Day, Troy, The Pistons. The Pistons first draft.
(01:40):
I got one question for you, and I won't I
won't take up too much of your time. But if
Maxi's there when you guys pick, do you take him?
Is he one of three? Is he won of five?
Is he not on your board at all? Gathering information
is only a part of an agent's job. Use that
info to manage your client's expectations and nerves is an
(02:03):
even more important duty. And that means Rich's next phone
call is to Tyrese. Happy Draft day. Rees. I've been
up calling and teams this morning, just checking the traps.
That's all. How you feeling at right now? So we
are you gonna be a little nervous. Everyone starts to
(02:27):
feel at least a little nervous once the draft begins,
especially when the five minute countdown clock for each pick
begins to tick away, which is part of the reason
why Rich wants to prepare Tyrese for whatever happens today.
The other reason he wants to prepare Tyrese is because
NBA Draft Day is notorious for surprises. Last year, fourteen
(02:48):
of the sixty players drafted were Roughly one out of
every five players taken were chosen with picks that were
traded that day, and those fourteen players were swapped through
ten different Draft day trades. This sort of thing happened,
It's almost every year in the NBA. Even some of
the NBA's all time greatest players like Scottie Pippen, Ray Allen,
Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Kawhi Leonard, and Bill Russell all
(03:10):
got traded on Draft Day. Anything is possible, and Rich
wants his client to take a business like approach to
whatever happens. This evening just another day a day office man.
I told you the draft is just to beginning of
what's gonna be a long, successful career for you. Don't
(03:32):
get caught up into who go before, who go behind.
Comparisons are the thief of joy. Enjoy your time with
your family. You work hard to get to this point.
You dreamed about this as a little kid. This is
a dream that your father had and it didn't happen
for him. So to see you make it is an
(03:53):
unbelievable thing for your family and France. And like I said,
there's no negative. A lot of times we get so
caught up into trying to one up the next person
that the joy is stolen from the actual moment, it's
only sixty picks, thirty of them in the first round.
It's only thirty teams. There's only four fifty players in
(04:14):
the world. And I'm not just saying this because because
I'm your agent. I'm saying this as a brother. And
that's somebody who's just been through a lot of life. Man,
you know, enjoy this kick back, get your honor palmer
because you don't drink. Just watch the festivities. But yeah,
(04:35):
you're good, bro, And I told you think about all
the guys. It's fit over pick one. Thing people don't
understand is they look at the numbers. Everybody always look
at how much money somebody making. But if I made
ten million dollars today and no money for the next
(04:57):
twenty years, what good is ten million due to me? Nothing? Right, Yeah,
gotta be consistent. It's hard to stay in the NBA.
And if you put all your eggs in the basket
and getting drafted, we're in trouble because we got work
to do. Because guess what, it's another draft next year.
(05:21):
I got no time. I got to get on my
horse and gallop. And you in Texas, so they got
great horses in Texas. So that's what you need to do.
As soon as you get drafted, go down to the
nearest stable and get your thoroughbred and get on it.
You went to Kentucky, so you know a lot about horses.
(05:44):
We got to ride the horse of life, and we
needed Clydesdale. You can't get no pony. The race starts
right away because most guys barely make it to a
second contract in the NBA. The average career is only
four and a half year, and that's skewed by Hall
of famers like Lebron, Kobe or Vince Carter who played
(06:04):
fifteen to twenty two seasons. That's why Rich wants Tyrese
to already start thinking about what happens after the draft
and after his first rookie deal. Like Rich and the
others keep saying, there are only four and fifty spots
in the NBA, and sixty new players get drafted every year.
Tonight is only the beginning. We'll be right back. Rich
(06:46):
and Tyrese continue their call about Tyrese's draft knight plans
and how many you are expecting over You got to
wrap ad COVID test. Yeah, I got the rappid COVID
because I think it's gonna be like eight downstairs, and
it's gonna be me and my family. Oh, that's a
(07:10):
lot of people. Mum hum, And what's COVID teest you'all
doing the one up the nose? All right? Forty eight
hours forty eight hours or or less before COVID says,
and they get todd rappid COVID do Okay, okay, Denise
ain't playing, no, and they gotta wein a mathshole time
(07:31):
except when they Denise Maxie ain't playing. I like her style.
You're not going on now, you know what you're talking
about that. I know, I know, I know Denise ain't
gonna play. I gotta call her. I gotta get to
a hundred push ups before I called her because I
got to be ready. Yeah. Well, I'm gonna be checking
in with you periodically, bro, I got you, all right,
(07:54):
but it's going I'll get her. Yeah, yeah, you're talking
to me all day, all okay. Inside the Maxi House
in Garland, Texas, Tyse's mom Denise continues orchestrating the family's
draft day preparations. They're not only a few hours from
the drafts eight pm Eastern start time on ESPN Yeah,
(08:21):
they got me moved couches on draft day. Get the
rest of the gere you get that. Please tell me
you got that. You've been trying to hold that in
all day. Yeah, he got that. Get your over here.
(08:45):
That's why you're supposed to have are your mom on
nice kimoodos, Mamas shoes, real quick mamas shoes right there?
You know, like we had a cleaning crew, we had
(09:06):
a moving crew, and we had an actual crew. We
had a family. Going to the NBA doesn't excuse Tyrese
from Denise's orders or chores, not even on the day
of his draft. But Clutch agent Mark Murray arrives early
to help Tyrese with some of the set up. Let up. Yeah,
so this is where when you get picked and you
(09:27):
start doing the NBA media, like you'll be in front
of this. This will be like the background. They just
set that up. You did it? Yeah, bro, I told
him that you can't send They sent it to you
like I can't even blew your mind. Uh yeah, I
mean yeah, we brought it up there, like who wouldn't
know how to It wasn't that it wasn't that bad.
(09:49):
But I told the crew to set up and they
said okay, and I walked in. I saw that. I
was like, okay, they set it up. I was like, wait,
that's not it sitting there in the box. So there's
a lot of confusion over the audio your video set up.
Since this is the first and hopefully only virtual NBA draft,
no one has done any of this before. Here's Mark
on some of the challenges. As the draft got closer
(10:14):
and closer. There was a lot of little things that
we had to do, you know, making sure the ESPN
audio set up, the other technical equipment, making sure our
our stream and our visual is good, to the TV truck,
and they had a few hiccups that, you know, we
were able to get through. While Mark helps Tyras and
Brandon set up in Garland, Rich continues working the phones
(10:35):
from l A. His next call is one of the
most important of the day, so he used his face
time to talk with this V I p oh, there
it is. Uh huh, I knew it. I got to
call Granny because I know her hair pop today. That's
(10:57):
Tyrese's grandma. I'd oh the niece because I thought you
got it done yesterday. I said, Grain has slept standing
up last night because she dashed. Ain't about to lay
on that hair. I know it's not about to happen.
You got to get it together. Yeah, did you see
did you see ty Teresa's suit? That boy, That boy's
(11:22):
gonna be cleaning the Board of Health. O. I said
it's gonna be cleans the board of health tonight. Granny
know what's happening. Yeah, I listen. I'm I'm waiting on
him to wear it because I told him I'm going
back to get it myself. It looks so good on him.
(11:42):
We're gonna be danger bet on sports and Nigger Twins.
Where the twins at? Where the twins at the draft?
Don't have nothing in this story for the twins. They
don't know what's going on. Rich keeps things light because
he knows the emotional toll draft it can take on
a family, and that's under normal conditions. On top of
(12:03):
the usual stress, the Maxis have the work of hosting
a virtual event at their home during a pandemic, and
that makes it easy to see why they would be
stressed out. To help with the nerves, Rich makes one
last call to the president and CEO of the Maxi
Draft party. Tyrese's mom Denise. Have the draft day, Denise,
(12:24):
how you feeling. I don't know. I've been crying all day,
have you? Yeah? I thought he will be ready anymore?
You know, yes he will. Yeah, it's hard to let go.
You'll see You've got you know, three owners. You know, yes,
(12:46):
he will be a man and that in many ways,
tonight's draft is like Tiras's graduation. He had his college
experience and now he'll be moving to a new city
to become a full time working professional with a lot
of responsibility. His new life is an adult, starts tomorrow.
I had a good conversation with him this morning and
(13:07):
I told him, I said, Tyreese, I want you to
enjoy this day. Man. Your mom and dad work hard,
your family gonna be there, your friends kicked back having
on a palmer, and when your name get called, you
will be an NBA. And now in the real work start.
I really think his rain starts right around twelve twelve.
(13:32):
Right now, we're like twelve to twenty four, So just relax.
Let the people get their chicken and biscuits and their
bellies spaghetti fish. You and Tyron I want you all
to put on a song to night Frankie, Beverly and
Mays and kick it. I want you all to kick
(13:55):
it tonight. And I don't know it's gonna be all good.
And I'm trying to relax because not relaxed, dense, relaxed.
You're gonna cry. Listen, You're gonna cry. Did did? Did?
Did Felicia call you? Oh? Yeah? All theb A moms,
I'm say yeah. Chris Paul's mom called twice. You got
(14:19):
his morning? Hey, how are you robbing? How argued? What
are you doing? That was about cleaning? Right, Yeah, you know,
I'm good. I feel fine, Just nervous thing. He's leaving,
you know, Okay, he's leaving. It's excitement. Today is about
(14:41):
proud mom. I told Tyreees you were the one I
was worried about. Well, in most cases, I would be
a little bit more. I get pulled together, but at
this point I'm just like, Okay, it's here. I have
no control, but I know that I have had to.
But just in God, man and letting God do you woman,
and You're going to do it. As the hours wind
(15:04):
down and the draft approaches, the Maxi's arranged everything in
it's perfect place. Couches audio video equipment, food and drinks.
Every detail is addressed, every question is answered, and for
possibly the first time in Tyrese's basketball career, there's nothing
else he and his family can do to prepare. Denise
had truly the full draft. You felt like you were
(15:27):
almost in New York. She had a red carpet, she
had the big stage, catered chefs, COVID testing to get
through the door. They had a bunch of family over.
You know, maybe you know people safely spaced out. I mean,
they did a really good job and making it a
special night, and they did it the right way, which
is no shocker. If he knows Denise, she does everything
(15:49):
above and beyond and goes all out. Then as the
draft comes around, it's a unique situation because we've put
in all this work, and Tyrese has put in all
this work, and you're at a point where there's no
and left you can do. You have to sit back
and truly watch and just see what happens. You can't
do another workout, you can't do another interview, another conversation,
another zoom. You've already done it all. All the work
(16:12):
has been put in. So Tyrese is someone not maybe
necessarily being able to control your own destiny is hard
for someone like him, who normally does. Tyrese's approach has
been three workouts before noon, writing down his goals every
morning since middle school, and a lifetime of practicing before practice.
The prospect of sitting still and watching his fate unfold
(16:33):
in someone else's hands goes against who he is, but
that's exactly what's going to happen tonight as Tyrese waits
to find out his NBA future. Well, Tyrese worked out
(16:55):
in Garland this morning. Draft Day was also getting started
bright and early in Atlanta. Here's Auton Holland, Anthony's friend Trey,
and Uncle Drew as they arrived at Anthony's apartment. Hello,
what he's drafting? Mean he's drafty? You see that smoke?
(17:15):
Abas may What Anthony is still starting this morning and
isn't quite as fired up as just in this early Babies? Hello, babies,
dram date dram nates when it's like, damn, I don't drive?
(17:36):
Do got working a third? And probably are you on it? Jee?
Oh yeah, okay, I don't basics. That's Uncle Drew complaining
about Anthony not being ready to go and about not
(17:57):
having jelly or ketchup for his biscuit. They have an
eight thirty a m workout plan, and he doesn't care
if it's draft day or not. There's still work to
do even today. As they head to the gym, Justin
calls coach Rob Allen, who was texting him earlier in
the morning. Hey Man, Hey Man, don't don't text me. Man,
it don't be texting me man like anybody else. Oh Man,
(18:24):
don't don't don't take me like like we got one
of them, one of them SURFINGCE level relationships. Man, don't
do that. Okay. I'm Justin plays around with coach Rob
because if anyone has free rein to interrupt him on
draft day, it's Robbed. He's been an integral part of
Anthony's journey and their family at the god be Rod
Gym for years. No bro, no bro. Like, Hey man,
(18:48):
I'm proud. I'm proud of us. Man, we find look
this this to day we've been working for man, like
for real, for real. I know the mann't care like
the out on one. Man, I'm happy for that, and
no matter what we go, I don't even care. I'm
just I'm that proud that that we here man that
we've made it before, so you know we're bled. Hey, man, bless,
(19:14):
bless more than we know, brother, more than we know.
I would say, it's a wind regardless. Man. The kids
get to change their life. You know, they look they
stayed true to who they are, even even just keeping
keeping us around halfway. Shoot, you know that boy, we
can say for up for a lot of people. So yeah,
there's a testament, testament to the work. Man. I want
(19:35):
you know, I'm say, definitely gone, y'all. Definitely gonna see
ya all later to night. Justin heads into the gym
for Anthony's morning workout. Meanwhile, at the house in Atlanta,
where they'll be hosting Anthony's virtual draft, Clutch head of
basketball Omar Wilkes worries about a much bigger issue and
setting up cameras and microphones. I don't know if you
(19:56):
guys have been paying attention to the news today about
his quote basically saying that he didn't uh, he wasn't
in the basketball. It's been on ESPN and everything all today.
That's what they've been talking about all day on the shows.
Have you been seeing it? Yeah, here's Omar. We had
that curveball of the ESPN article saying that he didn't
(20:17):
love basketball. The actual clickbait or SoundBite that everyone used
came out the day of the draft, so people start
coming out of the woodworks with their conspiracy theories and thoughts,
which you know how that goes. A breaking article on
ESPN quotes Anthony Is saying he's not really that into basketball.
This is understandably concerning because NBA teams are considering paying
(20:40):
him tens of millions of dollars to play that exact sport,
and in about two hours they have to decide whether
or not to draft him. So if team executives consider
this a red flag, or if it raises new doubts,
especially for the team's picking in the top five, then
this quote might have just turned the entire draft upside down.
(21:10):
We'll be right back. Omar calls Rich Paul to talk
about the potential fallout from the ESPN article. Up RP
(21:35):
heads up that you're being recorded, so don't say anything. Fine,
foul um, there's been a quote that said doesn't love basketball,
doesn't care about basketball. Don't stress. None of the teams
are tripping on it. And I look, you wanted to
call Alex Scarborough and big, what do you come on, bro?
Like you took that out of contract the headline though
we know what he was saying. He was saying, it
(21:57):
doesn't define him. Yeah, you know, it's not like I'm
spending every day of my day watching basketball, right right.
But he was like, I love once I've seen the
ball book, that's all I needed. I think you hit
it on the head. So uh yeah, but that's my approach.
You're not gonna do no statement or anything before hands.
It just makes it bigger than it needs to be.
(22:18):
But nothing to worry about. Okay, al right, everything else,
good your way, any new news, no nothing? Know you
know Ti Rees, you know he's one of three and
like fourteen fifteen sixteen, good good, okay, all good, man,
appreciate you. Here's Omar on his attempt at damage control.
(22:42):
So basically a few calls ESPN just picking their brains
on how to best handle this, how this came out,
when it did, how it did, and how was misinterpreted.
I was just on the phone with you know, the Warriors,
the Wolves, and the Hornets all day. I know thatly
the people that mattered in that situation, with the teams
(23:03):
drafting him and they had been around him and know
him and know his fervor for the game and his
kind of appetite to get better. You know, I also
kind of want to manage perception, but sometimes study of control.
Anthony seems to be taking the surprise headline and stride,
and after talking with team executives, Omar believes everyone in
the league knows the truth. But do the timber Wolves
(23:23):
truly know and the Warriors and the Hornets. There's obviously
at least some small concern that this could cost Anthony
and move him out of the top of the draft,
especially when ESPN confirms Minnesota is considering trading the top pick.
Even as the draft is about to begin, What are
(23:45):
you hearing about the timber Wolves, who shortly will be
on the clock at number one race. The timber Wolves
are still on the phones fielding calls, talking to teams
about potential trades out of that number one spot. This
wouldn't be unprecedented. The team with the number one pick
has traded it seven times in draft history, often on
(24:06):
the day of the draft. Fortunately, there isn't much time
left to stress about the situation because after all the
build up and late breaking headlines and all the phone
calls and preparation. The draft is only thirty minutes away.
Tyrese takes his seat on the couch in Garland, Texas. Well,
(24:27):
Anthony settles onto his couch in Atlanta, surrounded by his
family Justin Omar, Uncle Drew, coach Rob Trey, and others.
Anthony tries to stay calmy baby in the first thing
(25:01):
in the two D draft belongs to the Minnesota Temperwolf,
where five minutes to make their selection. Now the nerves
kick into high gear. Were working at a little sweet Yeah.
(25:41):
As someone said in the room, five minutes is a
long time under these circumstances. Here's justin talking about the
excruciating final moments. I wasn't nervous the entire draft process.
I wasn't nervous the week leading up to the draft.
I wasn't nervous the day of the draft. But I
was nervous five minutes when the broadcast came on. I
(26:02):
think Adam Silver came on and and I'm thinking he's
about to call the number one pick, and I am nervous.
So I kind of looked over and Anthony and he's
like his leg is bouncing, and he's like I might cry.
And the whole time he's like, I don't think I'm
gonna cry, but he's like, I might cry, you know,
And I'm looking over and his eyes are kind of
welling up with tears, and I'm sure he just had
so many emotions going into that day, the pictures of
(26:25):
his mom and his grandma and everything, and these worked
so hard for and and at that moment, I think
everything is hitting you at one time, and you got
your nervousness, Am I gonna be number one? Then you
you have the other piece of I've just worked so
hard for this moment to be right here, and then
it's just one of those things. But he yeah, he
definitely was nervous. I think we both were, Like my
stomach was in a not And then he says, we'll
be back in five minutes for the number one draft.
(26:46):
So everybody in the room like, oh uh, you know,
so that was like the longest five minutes of my life.
In addition to his friends and family who have joined him,
Anthony is also surrounded by two massive paintings portraits of
his mom and his grandmother he had made just for
this moment. He sits on the couch in between both
wearing a custom designed shirt with their names printed on it.
(27:09):
They're physically and figuratively with him now, and they all
wait in this room together, agonizing for the pick to
be announced. All right, we had a little thing in control.
We handled everything in control. We gotta live with it,
live it all on the court. I can live with anything,
(27:30):
live with anything. What a commission? What a comissioner? Won't here?
What a commission? And let shine if I am designed? Sigh?
I can't get right? No one sign every side? He
(28:01):
just go ahead, We're good, We're good. I had had
a grind for everything. I had a grind for everything.
(28:23):
Business select grade of what ye the Minnesota Timberwolves select
(28:57):
Anthony Edwards number one. Overall, his has actually come true.
The promise to his mom and grandmother, all of his
goals and aspirations, it all happens here in this moment.
He gets on a video call with the broadcast. Hey
do you have it? Thank you so much. It's an
(29:20):
undescribable feeling. I mean, I can't even describe it. My
family is emotional. I feel like when I get off here,
I'm gonna get emotional. And I'm just blessed beyond measures
to be in this situation. And you said that your
mother and grandmother have built you to be who you are,
and you wouldn't be who you are today without them.
How are you honoring their legacy today? As you can see,
(29:44):
my grandmother's my grandmother's right here, and my mother is
right here. And the shirt that uh, with the collaboration
I had, I got my grandmother's name and my mother's
name and my shirts. It wouldn't me at all times.
Alcony steps into another room to continue his media appearance,
while the gravity of what they've all accomplished finally starts
to sink in. For Justin and everyone else. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn,
(30:17):
very why it is overcome? Justin embraces his wife Janine.
Come a long way, It works a hard man. Thank him.
(30:39):
He worked like damn we did. Did sacrifice who well,
I don't know. All those sacrifices, the thousands of hours,
the missed dinners, the late nights, the travel to and
from games, it all paid off. Anthony returns from the
(30:59):
interview and he inged, embrace what we worked for. You deserve.
I ain't wanna never put us in the campill, No, Hey, man,
We've worked for every fucking everything, and what guy he
worked for everything? He everything, he got it to us
everything he too. Ship. Here's Anthony's friend, Trey, and how
(31:23):
much this moment means to all of them. Anthony told
me one time, a long time before, he hasn't cried
since his mom and grandmother died, so and then he
said he's never gonna cry again. But Justin cried, and
I looked back at Drew and he just Drew just bawling,
(31:46):
because it's like, if anybody has seen it the most,
it's been Drew, and it's seen been with him since
he was eight years old. I mean, he's, like he said,
Miss Evet, his mother was the one that told him, like,
look after my kid, take care of my kid. Makes
in my case straight, I trusting you, So I know
that all that stuff was going through Drew's head, like
damn man, number one pick. Anthony alwards like the number
(32:10):
one pick. He's the number one pick. As everyone celebrates
Anthony's surreal, impossible journey to the top of the NBA Draft,
the broadcast continues with the second pick, and then the third, fourth,
and fifth into picks ten, fourteen, and sixteen. And back
in Garland, Texas, is Tyrese watches these other names get called.
(32:34):
He's forced to do the one thing he's never practiced,
waiting for someone else to make his dreams come true.
Next undrafted another number one pick. I got one more
(33:02):
down the boards with the one pick in two thousand
twenty NBA draft the Philadelphia seventy six or select Tyres Maxie.
Now I just say, you're crying on the thing. I
was like, really about to call You's just a great
I'm so happy you went there, man, I'm so happy
you did. They wanted us in Minnesota the next day,
so they were sitting us a jet at four pm
(33:24):
when we landed. You know, it was a photographer capturing
photos and he was getting off the plane. The entire
Minnesota Timberwolves organization is outside clapping and waiting on us
to get off the bus. I was about to say,
is this is this really happening? Is this really happening?
(33:45):
Drafted as a production of tree Fort Media, Clutch Sports Group,
and I Heart Radio. The executive producers are Kelly Garner,
Lisa Ammerman, Eric s A loot Seawan to Tone Lki
and me Keecking, Michael Key. The series is produced and
written by Eric Winer. Jared Brom is our coordinating producer.
Trey McCain is our associate producer. Tom Monaghan is our
senior audio engineer. Mixed and edited by Steven Johnson, additional
(34:09):
production help from Tim Shower, June Rosen, and Hailey Mandelberg.
For transcripts of the show and more information on Drafted,
go to tree Fork dot fm. For more podcasts. For
my heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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