Hedo Türkoğlu Sits Down with Q + D | Knuckleheads Podcast | The Players’ Tribune

yo yo yo we live on location we live in Orlando Florida today we got a special guest he's a neighbor of ours a former Orlando Magic then it's the first time taking it overseas we got a turkey legend in the building we got Mr hito Turkey glue El Presidente in the building appreciate it man appreciate it guys sorry I appreciate you man coming on the show man I appreciate you man my first European player manly be on the pie with us yeah a lot of 2005's in here same class presented by DraftKings when you first got to the league who's the first person to bust your ass man I should have brought my list the list is so long I don't know where to start you know I have a couple things there first game I remember [Music] I was embarrassed man big cat Jamal Mossberg ooh Mashburn killed me too oh my God I cried man I swear to God and it was slow it was just like he's doing like bagging you up you know like you coming from the bench you know like you rookie you want to do something yeah and you know like whole team has to change all the defense just for you you know how embarrassing it is one-on-one guys killed you you know like I can't guard I can't do nothing you know I'm saying like so man I went inside and I was crying and like rest in peace Pete carrilled you know like Kochi it's like boy why are you crying I said like coach you know like the guy has killed me I'm embarrassed you know like so like there is 81 more games left you know like you're gonna cry ever after game so it was a big day but also I hate to play YouTube guys man and uh [ __ ] I'm sorry give me curse I used to hate playing you guys with them Clippers boys man you you too and uh core my Getty CM fifth oh my god with the headband with his things on his head you had this thing going on back in the day you know like the uh [Music] I hate playing you guys man I swear to God because I couldn't do nothing man like you guys like flying out there like I'm trying to front you guys trying to love trying to do something man I hate playing against you guys I swear to God man so I can say big cat than you guys man I swear to God Istanbul tell us about Istanbul and growing up in Istanbul I heard you was a soccer player first you know it's a World Cup time right now I was back in the day man uh you know that time basketball it wasn't big as right now yeah so it pretty much you know on the streets you play either you fight you know like yeah or you go to like uh there's a places like you play like uh Street Fighter you know those arcades okay you know like video games you play soccer so I was a great goalkeeper you know I was told that time yeah so they would tell me like stay out there and if the ball comes trying to catch it then when you get start in school you know you know like middle school and all that and one of friend of mine said like why don't you try basketball so I said I never played before she was like that's why you have to try and you're taller than everybody else so then I started like when I was 11. yeah like I started a little late like comparing to these days yeah like they start like four five six years old yeah I started playing like when I was 11. yeah so it was lucky for me if I didn't listen that guy maybe I wasn't gonna be you know where did you go to play like what what was the basketball like because you know basketball is not big soccer is the biggest biggest sport over there so where was the how was it to go transition to that so I went to the school I went to the school the school had that you know like basketball teams okay so I went to there and I tried it out and I was surprised that I had really you know I wasn't talented like when you started growing up and figure out things but like I was really talented that time like I would I got skills not talented but I got skills so it pretty much made me start and look at basketball more than I did in a soccer yeah so like when you start playing you know like you get that feeling yeah oh I can do this you know I got skills yeah let me try a little bit longer let me do this and you start middle school high school yeah then you start professionally you know I started playing professionally when I was 16. oh okay yeah so I'll start really early oh so you right away so you you got it how does it go from from like so at what point do you like go from you start playing at 11 and then at what point between 11 to what do you feel like okay like I'm good and then like you say you start playing professionally at 16 so I started feeling like when I was 14. when I was 14 you know like that time because back in the day we used to practice like twice a day like morning and nights so like three hours three hours like six hours a day yeah you pretty much like all day basketball for you that's right because you're trying to accomplish something you know like you want to be good you want to start making money you know I started making money when I was 14. yeah then you start making like money was like monthly like uh salary you know yeah but still it was 14 years old yes why then he started getting better every time and then you 16 years old you sound professional deal yeah and you know things start to shaping up a little bit more you know like I get Heights I get more I figure out more skills that I have yeah then you figured out like you know like you're a ball player who did you see like who is somebody you seen like all right now now I'm in basketball this is something I want to do but when you in that early age who did you see like yeah I want to be like that like when I get to the like 16 17 18 years old I started looking up two guys Tony Koo coach and Scotty people um not to Scotty on the defensive side but like you know like handling the ball like pointing forward not but like I liked you know like as you remember like I love you know like making plays you know throwing loves making all that stuff so like those two guys were like really in Europe like I started looking up Tony then like when you get to like 17 18 19 years old then your vision started to change like you said okay and I'm becoming a good player in my Turkish League in Europe then you start looking at like okay what's the best out of this then you start looking at like NBA yeah you know like then that time like Tony and uh Scotty was like that who I wanted to be as a player so if that's the position you're a small forward yeah that's why I like I always look at myself like trying to compare myself you know language though too and Scotty you know playing like point forward Tony with point forward yeah yeah I still I play certain times in my career there's a point in my life I was bringing the ball up I want to add when you say at 14 and 16 you say you turned professional at 16 right so what type is that like a lot of money is that like in the planet Turkish League was that like you all right at 16 was you able to be be able to like pay for your own house or car or stuff like that or was it just like not a lot of money in 14 it wasn't that much but like when you start uh getting professionally and then I was able to buy my own car at 16. 16 17. you know like in 19 years old you can look it up also it's not like I'm proud of it but like this how the things because like things shaped up so quick I was shocked as well too you know like because like I'm talking about like in seven eight years maybe like in nine years right the way things you know like blessed up for me like become a player like in eight 19 years old I signed a deal the biggest deal in Turkish basketball history I signed like nine years 12 million dollars plus every three every other three years I used to get like a house cars and all that but like I have to break that up to you know like to come to the NBA yeah like I had to pay 1.5 million yeah you know for my contract buy out right I paid like 1.5 million to my ex about the Turkish deal yeah to terminate my deal so my dad almost had a heart attack like like how are you gonna turn down how did you decide like okay like I'm a I'ma break this crazy deal and I'm gonna go like at what point did you know like you was used on the draft prospect board and you could get taken and all that like how did that process go so like when things come like 18 19 years old you know like you start playing with your national team you start with your club team players in Europe so you pretty much in the market right now like in you know like even you're around you're around everybody knows like even right now they do the same thing you know yeah that time that was NBA you know like Scouts agents you know like everybody will come to the tournaments European championships World Cups and all kinds of stuff so with my agent you know like we were talking like hey man why don't we try see what happens if anybody interesting or not yeah then in 99 we decide like okay it was time for us to make the big step yeah they're coming to the NBA you know like so I had to terminate my deal 1.5 million you know I was in New York that time because they told me like uh lottery picks only come to the uh to the draft so that wasn't going to be a lottery you know like I was going to be 14 up higher yeah so that time Sacramento called and uh it was remember those days like it was me you and uh Desmond Mason yeah yeah it was me either you will go go to uh Sacramento yeah Seattle or Clippers like triples were like we are all right there you were all right there so like Sacramento called my agent I was in New York they asked me like a couple questions are you going to are you willing to pay that much money because they don't want to waste their draft Yeah they want to know if you're going to do that man I already committed you know I'm saying like I'll literally fund the money and everything as long as you guys gonna draft me then I was lucky that I had two European other guys you know like uh bled yeah how much money did you make so far from them before you did about how long was you in that deal was you like two years or yeah two years I was into two years okay so pretty much like they might you're not gonna believe it uh I was the only one who's making money in my family yeah we all like you know I'm saying like started making money and we take care of our family so like it's not like I'm trying to you know like exaggerate certain things but like you can also you know like put money on the line on this everybody's on the line yeah like your family brother and all the people you know like because like they look like as a person you know like to take care of them so like I said like I have to make this decision so like then I said okay you know like even though they weren't happy about it because like I have to terminate my deal and still pay them another money back you know pay them back you know like in my first year in Sacramento that time I didn't have money so I lived six months in uh Sacramento Kings as a lady called Martina I live in their guest house for six months really six months I didn't have money even for because you send all the money back yeah because like that time I drafted was like 16. so like that time I remember like yesterday like whole money was like total money was like 4.8 or something like that like for four years so like in California after taxes that's a harder you know what I'm saying like it's you lose 50 of it yeah then you have to borrow money from the bank to be able to pay so like all the interests you have to pay back and all that like pretty much I was living in the guest house for six months then in my second year like I will start to make a little bit money and like then thank God I had so that time you know they would take care of me talking about your draft process how was your uh your workout process how many teams did you work out for wow I work out like either 16 or 18 teams see you like me bro he was over here privileged top three Pig you know he eating steak dinners he barely worked out he's just meeting with people Prince of Bel-Air right yeah Fresh Prince over here I get them out here really working forward man I'm saying they still don't believe well we both people ass they still like whatever that was just a good day we still going to pick him down here I remember like like you said like I had to work college with Philly uh uh done yeah the workout then fly to the next city oh my gosh I was there hotels I was dying I had to give me like a guy because at that time I couldn't speak English so I had the guy was like I had a translator yeah translator like flying with me everywhere yeah so like that time like you said like I was killing like a different players like European players and it's like well it was just uh lucky day you know like let's bring him to the Philadelphia I was like bro you just saw me in Chicago why do I have to come to you know let's see if he can do this same [ __ ] you know I'm saying like then I have to fly to other places I have to fly to Boston you know like Seattle that's some of the players that you had to work out against did you have a workout against anybody uh I think I work out with uh against Desmond Mason oh yes sure that was tough boy it was crazy man I used to hate playing oh my God he got so much no time for all that enthusiasm like that's why like I was telling like I used like that time I was skinny so like that time I wasn't you know like aware of players you know like so like Ben I used to hate playing him Ruben Patterson black every time poster post up ducking in post up I said like yo man let's give me a break man [ __ ] you know I'm saying like a rebounds like I have to box them out you know I'm saying man and they crashing every time every time they used to slash every time I used to play you know like hate playing against those kills man like well I just chill man I swear man I didn't like when you guys remind me that those days like I used to like hate playing against those guys man like like slashing like strong Corey like that smell like Cory Montgomery like you take fouls my whole career we always fouls you'll be trying to get out of the way and Corey will catch up tomorrow man like [Laughter] man I used to hate playing those players man tell me how much of a help that was to come to a team that had two guys like that that were you oh my God and to have been you know veterans in the league and probably been through everything that you were gonna go through already yeah and we could see when we used I couldn't I wouldn't survived you know if it wasn't you know like those two guys yeah remember like those days like you guys you guys are killing me yeah at this point but he said he fresh from Turkey English is not well right now no well don't have it so it would be like any time it would be his time to speak Turk would do a whole uh like trackers he trying to figure it out bro [Laughter] [Music] this has to be I can remember because y'all 18 well not 18 we got 19 20 year old kids and it's like is not really funny but it was funny you know what I'm saying I could I could I could remember not really that you remember I wasn't really laughing I was trying to help you out and [ __ ] but I was like yo listen there was you and I remember like Michael Redd me and Mike red they were like come on man like take it easy after this because that time I wasn't understanding yeah so they were like you know we were trying to come Khalid clown you know what I'm saying yeah because it was like it was one of them situations where you like die like all right the first time he says some [ __ ] it was like he didn't get it it was kind of funny but then it's like to see like nah bro he really struggling like this ain't cool like he don't know nobody [ __ ] here like here in a whole nother country and he trying to do this [ __ ] if I was saying I'm like I was just looking and smiling man it was it was crazy it was saying something like turkey to have like I I used to see how vladian and um pays how he was they guy like every time we used to play y'all like how y'all interactions we could tell they really like they got me under their wings you know how they say it they really took care of me like because they saw me from the first day like the struggling I was having yeah like Financial wise like English wise you know what I'm saying like adjusting wise to the states and all that so you know I can never forget it then after that you know like people start to get to know you more and like I start to speak a little bit more English you know like they start to understand me then I start you know like having more and more relationship with other guys as well too yeah like when they found out then they found out he's [ __ ] funny yeah yeah I mean like yeah but Jay will and the Mike Bibi you know like so like I remember like yesterday man I cried that day when C web hooked up my car he did the rookie prank what'd he do no like he really like oh no you talking about he hooked it up and took care of you he did take care of me so what do you do let's hear that like that's what like you know like we always like either we go to Paige's house or vlady's house you know like because I was by myself you know like his wife his parents so like all the food and everything you know like so like see where that time you know like here like I don't know like five or six cars so I was driving those you know like uh Ford dealers you know like you didn't have money so like the sponsorship and I had this big ass excuses right so like see babe came to me so like Turk I need your car I was like my car like six cars now like it was like my family's gonna come I need a big car and I said like I said okay man like you can't say no to that right so after like three weeks or something like that man my car came like he hooked me out with two rims he put my names on the seats you know like you put like PlayStation and all that man I saw that car was crying I was so happy you know like so it was really cold for me man said I'll see where yeah right there showing love yeah he really did to get on a team like that like y'all transition for y'all having Jay will to y'all got Bibby and y'all the winning team and y'all the team that's been that's really going against the Lakers then you're you playing key minutes on them teams like how was the basketball how was that like playing them years how they was teaching you how to play the game and and get used to the NBA game because you had a game like that never was a question we all always knew you was nice and cool and we know it was a reason that he was always playing you but how could Day game make you adjust because all of them can play y'all had a squad only even before that you know the team was special I'm saying like they were winning you know like the passing game was crazy in that team crazy like volada was passing see where was like you know what I'm saying like that yeah so like all you had to do just I hated them splits but like plus you can shoot so like it was really easy in like we have like guys like two big bands who can pass and you're like crazy Jay will you know like you had that Christian all day so like it was pretty much you had to be just ready because you really don't know where to you know like get to ball like you go back door somebody will find you so like you pretty much fit very well in the team that already been together so many years and they know how to play together yeah so like coming from Europe you pretty much kind of yeah so all I have to do just figure it out my teammates whoever play with when I'm gonna play you know what I'm saying like so it was in the beginning it was struggle but after that you know like it was really easy because you had good players around you and like when you have good plays around you it's easy for you especially for like a rookie yeah or like a second year guy yeah so like talk about like because I can remember coming out there and like you say at that time y'all was right on the cusp but you know winning and competing for titles and stuff and like I remember y'all having one of the craziest fan bases like talk about how that Sacramento crowd used to go crazy with the cow bells and all of that stuff out there oh man it was crazy you know like Barco that was the Arco yeah article was like you know it was out of City so like it's pretty much like we must pretty much like middle of nowhere yeah when you ride in it's like where are we going over there yeah you will see it probably like every day you will see cows around you know and then how the thing starts because like it was middle of nowhere like all land nothing else around there you see cows out there so that's how the Lakers started with the you know cowbells and all that but but that time you know like I remember like Jay Will's Jersey was like number one Jersey yeah in 2000 yeah like so that boy was really special man yeah he was a I mean he's still living in the same neighborhood yeah you know like sometimes like when he plays ghost like Dirk you here what's up bubs what's up bubs what's up bubs just howl at me and just move on you know like so it was special for me then the Rivalry with the with the Lakers man it was unbelievable yeah how was that the B M series with the Lakers and going down to the wire and playing them back and forth oh it was special man that's why for me you know rest in peace you know like it's Club is always for me the and like I always put MJ on the side but like for me Kobe is always yeah you know like it's always been favorite for him you know like because that guy was really special man unreal you know like so it was Unstoppable you know like he killed us every time you play you know like so it was fun man like when you played that high level basketball you know like you're always in the Conference Finals with the Lakers you know like that's how you shine you know like so I was able to be part of it and uh it's sad that the incident came up you know after that the referee situation yeah yeah team Donovan situation you know what I'm saying like so that kind of hurts him more yeah because you could have won at least one ring you know yeah so if you look at it back in the day but it was special for me so you believe y'all posed to beat them we could have I mean we bought I mean like besides that uh I'm not gonna say lucky shot Robert mate because like it was his job you know like it was you know like big shot but like my thing was like the ball how the hell the [ __ ] ball lent on his hand you know I'm saying like right and he all has to do just set his feet and just you know I'm seeing like make that shot and after that game seven we had like 26 Miss free throws in our Corina yeah so Kim it was sad man yeah that was that that's a tough period of swallow this is what I want to know because me and me and black talk about this all the time how we start whenever we think about y'all on those teams like we always get that picture you vladian page in the black suits looking like some some European assassins or or disguised as models or something who whose idea like I know somebody had to say was it vladell page who who's saying this how we bring that who who was setting up the swag uh I think Persia set it up exactly was doing one of the worst dressers that's what they got that time I didn't have money that I couldn't buy things you know what I'm saying like my blood money but like man he used to dress like a bum man I swear to God like he had his leather jacket you know saying like yeah jeans with the sweats all the time so like peja used to like uh you know getting dressed looking you're a pink eye you know like so we all started with you know with Faja so like that time whatever they bought it for me you know I had to wear it I don't know if I look good or not so they made me wear all kind of stuff they made me do that kind of stuff man in Sacramento rookie time oh yeah I used to maybe do like Krispy Kreme Donuts all kind of stuff man I used to hate that tell us about Pages man like a lot of people don't speak on how nice and how how good page it was just tell us about like just how good it Paige it was how he prepared hey you know what I'm saying to go against some of the top two goals in the league man he was I remember one day we're practicing he shot 50 out of 52. three point I was like damn yeah because that time I couldn't I didn't play against him in Europe but I was hearing like and I was following him yeah so like in practice like he shot it like 50 out of 52 and it was like damn you know like he's weird that shot like from the side yeah you know it was hard to block it but dude was really special man like he would really prepare himself like true professional and you know he make the All-Stars and he had a great career man yeah he was he was tough he was tough you're like that's why how we learned this uh the fade away shot yeah like that's you know pretty much all Europeans you know like use your right shoulder yeah a little bit push off step back and you know that's I'll be trying to copy going to San Antonio and playing for pop you leaving you know a franchise with Webb and all them and having that chemistry and going to a coach like pop and San Antonio oh man I was that trans now you don't have it wasn't easy pop I mean no more taking it easy you don't have page in them but like you're running into a pop and you're by yourself now oh my God it wasn't easy at all man oh my God I remember like how many I don't know like how many games I don't remember numbers like you know like 80 games you know like coming from Sacramento like you pretty much play like freelance I'm not saying we wouldn't play defense but like it wasn't strict as San Antonio so you pretty much you get the you still have that slappiness from the Sacramento times like you get to San Antonio like like all defensive rules clean up who you know like you have to do whatever pop says like number one rules you cannot break the rules yeah so I was like what's up what's up I'm gonna do now all right I was like practice like you know like they had like this no middle rule like no matter what don't let him drive middle don't drive middle so like that time you're just playing like the guy just like [ __ ] one dribble middle I heard like table Manu let's see like what's up get Turk what the [ __ ] happened I say like Mike now Milwaukee [Music] there's no you know like middle but it wasn't like a straight middle right so like he pretty much he was middle but he wasn't like one dribble middle so like okay my bad and cop will become like ask him did he get it or not I got it man okay go back here after like three four minutes I [ __ ] up again right I never said nothing I saw you know at the table I just started running to the I just started in bench and I was just like [ __ ] it man it's my fault it was like three months it was really hard for me man because like that time like we had like Russian nestrovich in uh Tim Duncan yeah and he was like Turk no middle because like we have to send the guy to the Baseline and the Biggs has to come yeah it's not your responsibility from the Baseline I used to hate the Baseline yeah that was a rule you know like you have to you know like like okay okay I'll try like it's not like I'm a great you know I'm saying like I've never been a great defender you know I'm saying like so I need the time to adjust but like in in a few months you know like I was really hurting I remember like one game so I was like pretty much like a spot up guy over there so like Tony and Manu was doing all the in the TD all do like passing and I remember like one game like in Cleveland so we lost the game right so at that time I was shooting like 40 something on 3.9 so like one game I was like like on the corner and the edge of the line like like you have to either out of bounds you know I'm saying like there's no you cannot go further so Manu like oh you don't remember Mountain like do all kind of crazy stuff like he throw the ball out of bounds like I tried to catch it like the ball went this way and we lost the game and man came to the locker room what's that my bad guys blah blah blah you know what I'm saying like and okay like middle of nowhere pop was like he took his shirt which is White Tank top which is you know like pants like half down and he's trying to pull it back up you [ __ ] to me you know what I'm saying like he said he just said it like it's my fault like no no then you complain about like you're not playing and all that I was like okay man like and everybody was like tabbing me like don't worry about it the [ __ ] like where am I you know what I'm saying like what's going on am I in the right place you know I'm saying like oh man it was crazy for me but shout out to that organization man that really for my career I still keep touch with those guys you know like so they were true family man they still keep that you know like family environment together it was really special for me that year was uh that was my news rookie year right I think his second year remember like day one in 2003 [Music] um so I get there in 2004. we couldn't win we lost to the remember like uh Derek Fisher had that uh throwing shots we lost to them yeah so like I gotta deal with the magic in 2005. [ __ ] won again I was in between him he was in between yeah you know like something crazy I'm not gonna win [ __ ] in 15 years man and I hate these Lakers man I swear to God man Kobe kill us man so how was it to get you get get a money deal and go to Orlando actually that time I was like with two uh disperse so I had to really pretty much this in years you know like shooting like 40 something with the three-point line and it was okay here for me yeah so uh my agent that time I was in Phoenix that time Phoenix was interesting and we had this conversation with the guy called John wasbro was like whenever I couldn't pronounce his last name when he lined up some stupid names for the magic it was like does he really know basketball you know what I'm saying like because like he was telling my agent like he was thinking to bring me in as a four Al Harrington is a five I was like you know I played three L play like three and four you know what I'm saying like but he was saying like no I want to bring because like they were trying to uh draft Dwight that year so now you want to bring back up as the center as like Al Harrington I was like that really doesn't make sense well I said to my agent and [ __ ] how much they're paying I don't care if you play me three four five it seem like and uh it was a good start for me uh uh for My Career because if you look at it I can't I had this in years in Sacramento in Spurs but like if you look at it s my as a player the biggest impact I had was like in Orlando yeah so that's why it was really you know like uh lucky that we had this time that I able to sign it to you know with the magic even that time it was different combination to like Stan came and like they were trying I was dead how was it when you first we're here Johnny Davis oh you had Johnny Davis first yeah we had Johnny today was then we had this Brian Hill okay Coach Hill coach Hill in my second year it was fine I mean it was different like Johnny he was a great person man like like yeah yeah like I have to give shout out and credit to all the people that I worked with like they were all good persons you know they're like and I'm gonna take any credits of their personality but like as a coaching wise you know like he was working with Doug that time you know like so it didn't work out because he had a crazy group of guys with him yeah [Music] uh Calvin Kano Steve Francis yeah yeah okay yeah Katina Mobley you know like so it wasn't easy for that guy either yeah [Music] different personalities you know like so your voice Don't Rain Over the locker room so it wasn't easy for that guy then they try be healed you know like he kind of worked out you know like but still it wasn't matching it but something was missing then they brought this all the Smith guy and they brought stem and Gandhi you know like whole thing to change for like for the organization because that time you were making the playoffs you were barely making eight seats and then when the stain came like like as soon as he came like next year we made it to the finals you know what I'm saying like so it wasn't easy working with Stan either man how was he working oh my God oh you know like that time uh I hate mornings you know like if he still kills me on TV and I'm saying like he still kills me on TV and he still texts me because you went shot to the second day yeah it's hard for me to waking up you know like I swear to God like I never had a good game like early games like noon games like one o'clock games because like you know remember like you remember Stan like the guy was [ __ ] bring us out there like three hours before the game so like bro like you go to bed like what midnight one o'clock you gotta do it like so it wasn't working for me you're like let's put it that way so uh one day in the practice it was like 10 o'clock or 10 30 practice so I'm just just trying to get my sweating AKA going through the motions and Sam was like he had this [ __ ] drinks I didn't like Pepsi or something he would put it right in the middle of the Court I don't give a [ __ ] I got nothing else to do I'm here all day I'm here all day as long as [ __ ] lazy Turk starts moving and I'm saying like we start practicing when I start cursing my man [ __ ] you man I'm not running like bomb it's like 30 minutes you know what I'm saying like we're still running like dummy stuff like [Music] so it was funny man but I give credit to you man like he figured out things have to match all these players to play together and that's how people get successful man like otherwise I don't think I will be able to you know like show my skills well I don't think your whole team will be you know like this good you know because he had like I remember like training day remember those like he would come in training he would like demonstrate like this and this and this methodical like the wind will play the most Rashad Jamir Turk blah blah blah they would take monster shots you know I'm saying like he like he he can't like man that was what I appreciated about him there was no he wasn't no bullshiter he came in and he was gonna let everybody know exactly what he what his vision was I don't know what you think so to everybody down in the Locking room and go around the circle like this is what I expect so that's why everybody bought in that time you know like it was easy for all of us you know like I mean in the like last years you know things get worse because Big Fellas trying to do different things you know I'm saying like in the organization get caught up with that BS you know I'm saying like and they messed it up since then you know I'm saying like they shouldn't get [ __ ] together since then you know like well because it was special that time yeah was you believing off the rip when he was putting you and Rashad at the four like y'all gonna play the three and the four we're gonna go small have the white clean everything up yeah that's why he set it up in the beginning yeah he used to like keep he used me as like a point forward you know I'm saying like small forward so like it was pretty much it was a perfect perfect storm perfect for me too yeah because I was able to play Pick and rolls and do all kind of crazy stuff you know I'm saying like so Rashad in the beginning he struggled a little bit because like he'd been playing small forward all his life but like things open up you know like better for him as well too because like with the big fella playing pick and roll we had guys who can [ __ ] pass yeah so and knocked down honest he was gonna get left and he was gonna be wide open for jumpers and stuff yeah I like like MP was there yeah he wouldn't uh yeah even he was making sure okay bugs I love you man so like MP both like then JJ came in and like everybody was just I was buying in the system you know like so that's why how do you get successful but it wasn't easy in the beginning because like well yeah trying to figure out to playing time who's going to take the shots who's go-to guy and all that like so then lost was there for a minute Carlos Arroyo cookies he was the one of the funniest guy I would play hilarious I remember one game he did in Boston or in uh Philadelphia so like loss is a you know like a ball hog so like he wants to bring it up Stan was like Carlos like you don't pass the ball like I'm running somebody else like Santa will take it up you know what I'm saying I pass it to like replay and like loss was like yo man I'm gonna tell you right now that's like did you just do that sounds like man we came to the time while like lost man come on man just chill just play like you know I'm saying like let us play pass the ball like then you'll get in the gameplay because he wants to play pick and roll though kind of it's like so like staying like two to three I was like Carlos Man passed the [ __ ] ball and loss was like Stan just chill man enjoy the show I swear to God bro like lost it he [ __ ] it up like he turned the ball over or something I heard the noise so sup and Stan I that guy was funny too oh yeah and he was like let's enjoy shop together next to me so he still be mad and said like Carlos let's enjoy the show together you know what I'm saying like I'm gonna put him back in the game again yeah so it was funny man what did you learn from San Antonio and Sacramento that you made it work in Orlando I mean we grow up that way anyway like coming from Europe playing overseas you know professionally but like you've been in a different environment like NBA the best organization in the world you know like so you pretty much learn have to be a really good teammate you know I'm saying like that really because like two different teams so many different personalities you know I'm saying like coaches organization-wise so like I always wanted to be like good teammate no matter what you know we had good times bad times like winning wise you know what I'm saying but I always enjoy playing with my teammates you know like and everybody enjoy playing with me too so like it pretty much you know like how I learned to be a really good teammate in like because you play 82 games with like a pre-season and all like 90 games you pretty much see those guys more than your family you know what I'm saying like so I really enjoy being around all my teammates you know saying like so of course basketball wise is different because like system was different compared to Sacramento and Spurs you know like you come in to the team that has already won the championship you have one of the greatest player ever Tim Duncan things built around him you know I'm saying like so that how do how to manage it as a personality you know like that really helped because like that's gonna come up in your next team as well too you know because you're gonna have new teammates new coaching staff I'm saying like so you would have to instead of being outspoken guy you will just wait kind of like a lay back time to figure it out who is who what kind of personalities you know I'm saying like so it pretty much really helped me to grow as a in like a person as a man more and more you know like when you get in to the different teams like after you play with Sacramento and uh Spurs because like that time you will sign your contract you know like because there's a new life for you you know after rookie year yeah second year third year now you start making money like the team start to looking you different than you know like first two years things start to build around you getting higher and higher you know like so you're pretty much trying to like keep yourself ready for any kind of situation and that's how really kind of trying to carry on all my you know like 15 years career in 0.708 tell me what was like that's like a third year third year with the magic like at that point I feel like was third or fourth year when you win the most improved and you average your highest points like man I get cheated on that one man they stole my All-Star man they still they stole your eyes they did man talk about it tell me what happened I mean like you said I was averaging 19.55 yeah you know what I'm saying so like you're pretty much having your best and your team was good we were renting I'm saying like so I was taking shots Mr four quarter blah blah blah you know I'm saying like making all kind of crazy stuff so that's why like that's how you get upset about certain things because I think that's how they trying to make it up after they gave it to me because I was the oldest [ __ ] guy who was the most most improved player and I'm saying like usually the guys will get it after second or third year you know what I'm saying like I was already in the league like what seven eight years or maybe nine years you know like so I swear to God because like I almost I had this argument with other people as well to listen man like after that I look at The Players the numbers they put up you know I'm saying like raw Hibbert you know I'm saying like all them guys you know what I'm saying like it was stupid like 11 points 12 points 10 rebounds they were making All-Stars and I was so you'd have benefited from the way they do it now there's no more centers it's just forging so like you look at it like how like maybe like that time I wasn't maybe I was gonna die next year you know what I'm saying like I'm you know I'm saying like how the hell are you gonna know what's going to happen maybe I'm gonna turn my ACL you know no you don't want to be like he's got plenty of time you shouldn't be looking at it like oh it's just his first year blah blah blah you know what I'm saying like if the guy have it not just for myself you know I'm saying like I'm talking about in general if the guy is having like a a year like all-star year it should be awarded I think this only thing for me they [ __ ] it up and they trying to make it up for like and giving me like because it didn't make sense you know I'm saying like almost like 30 almost like 28 29 years old how the hell are you gonna give me most improved player I'm older than the league like eight years nine years yeah I'm saying like but they couldn't admit it or come out you know what I'm saying like so they trying to okay we [ __ ] we gotta get you something yeah you know what I'm saying yeah I seen you home with something let me ask you about this like uh when y'all play the Cavs in the in the in the Conference Finals you seeing that LeBron James and and Kobe Bryant like commercials and and all that stuff so they kind of already had them kind of beating y'all and y'all playing this here tell us about that series and man y'all coming in there and getting game one and then he hitting that half court shot to yeah I was there thanks for reminding though no the funny part is like because Cavs was like they had the best record in the league that time yeah so like you know like you're on the dog you just want to go out there and try and do your best and like we stole the first game it was crazy like nobody understood like time like they came and beat us you know what I'm saying like and but we were so like into it you know I'm saying like we were just enjoying just just doing what we're doing all year long the way was killing they couldn't stop him so like second game when he had that crazy shot over me I sold like whole Arena and whole bench silver Java humble like remember that like they celebrated like they won the championship right yeah so like then we went to lock room and we said to ourselves like we got them you know saying that because we are in their head because like if you aren't that good team you play great whole year long you know what I'm saying like you shouldn't be celebrating like that that you know I'm saying like after the game and like went crazy yeah shot over LeBron you know what I'm saying like you shouldn't be that kind of happy happy you know what I'm saying like then rest of it was just easy for us but it wasn't like we were so mad about it you know like because like media was hyping up like oh the greatest matchup ever Kobe LeBron blah blah blah you know what I'm saying like the TV race and I was like thanks for guessing us you don't seem like that really how locked in and crazily prepared did Stan have y'all for that series this is the right place right man I used to hate his walkthroughs like he was prepare us from the books the things we have to watch and in his you know his walkthroughs like it will take two hours like in the hotel it will be a little bit bigger than this room like I used to hate this [ __ ] man well he used to be walking around there like man but this is this I would tell him like we would go through let's say like Cavs at like 50 place look this is the part I was about to say we will go like 50 place so I said yo man like they basically play like this much you know what I'm saying like we're not gonna tell me if I'm telling the truth when I say this is where he when I first got here this is like you remember my first year when I used to be like before you figure him out you understand Stan your first initial thing is you're gonna be like [ __ ] you're gonna be frustrated with them like at every like why are we practicing this month so like before you figure that out he just said that they'll have 53 plays d will go through all 53 of them but in the midst of going through them he's the mad scientist that he'll think of A Wrinkle of his own off their play and say well they should try that why wouldn't they do that well let's just walk through it because I think they might this is something they should do out there you like hold on bro you just made up a wrinkle off that [ __ ] and now we going through this because you like this is something that could happen I don't know like you know he like a basketball genius like that that he like I would try this like so we should like what if they do it like and we asked like coaches like steam.com Clifford Bob yo man do they really play this play you know what I'm saying bro like we never seen in this [ __ ] play this playing you know I'm saying like why the [ __ ] we have to go through this [ __ ] like we have to pretty much like bump you know deny you want all of that like all of that come on man like not gonna play this what happened if they do I was like [ __ ] time out this is the best right here all right we being walked through shoot around or something what JJ gonna do say they're gonna blow back your ass when you walking slap him remember he got so mad bro I said walk through man God damn it you can't call anybody attack was like we're walking he didn't I was like and I remember about Monday like we were playing like five on five so like jihi was in that team too but right before uh Stan King so I had the same difference with JJ so like you know I was he was guarding me you know like so he you know like he used to grab and slap and all that I said Leo JJ and stop doing this [ __ ] man I'm just gonna [ __ ] pass the ball man like I don't wanna you know what I'm saying like I'm just chilling in my heart I'm just chilling I'm just I swear to God like in the you know like our DV the old the old low prices all depression I said like yo JJ man like I'm just just chilling man I'm just gonna [ __ ] he will just like slap you know like then you look bad because you turn the ball over so I said JJ man I'm gonna [ __ ] you up like you can ask this so like I got a ball I was passing up right I don't even look at this [ __ ] like this crap boom bro Brian was coach you're a [ __ ] you dirty bastard blah blah get the [ __ ] out of this I should kicked you out of practice [Music] that's something I warned you I did stop [ __ ] like when I'm not like instead like bro like it's walkthrough man don't make me look bad you know what I'm saying like we just going through the motion like don't leave me like no hey JJ I don't like that he bass I'm gonna be bass will get you too what he will do is pump fake pump fake MP MP guilty till he got me a time so I'm looking like yo bro like this this don't help nobody in here as a whole this is [ __ ] everybody up stop bullshitting Turk I sound like yo man ah man this is gonna happen in the game you're gonna see blah blah blah so like we have to do like we have to go through again come on man like nobody wants to be here like another like 20 30 minutes because of your [ __ ] stupidness take me back to when he was talking about that when you beat LeBron in the go to the finals again because like how was it when y'all actually won the Eastern Conference Finals y'all standing there with the trophy and y'all celebrating they're like what was that like in the locker room and for all y'all on the team because like we said it was that whole backdrop of the world thinking it was going to be Cleveland yeah Kobe you know LeBron Kobe in the finals like how was that feeling for y'all as a team man it was really weird in the beginning though because like you were like you were Underdog and nobody was expecting and I'm saying like by the time you get there and you're pretty like LeBron and they're like your best team that time in the league you know like so but the thing it's happens so quick the way we played and it didn't change anything the way we play you know I'm saying like so that's how really you know like help our motivation you know like the focus and by the time we won after sixth game you know I'm saying like we were kind of like a accepting who we are I'm saying like then okay you know like we are who we are you know I'm saying like but in the beginning you know like starting to the games it wasn't you know because like nobody was expecting so like but like when you want it and the way you play it you know I'm saying like it pretty much we weren't like they were celebrating you know I'm saying like after the second year yeah you know I'm saying like because we pretty much came with the with that mentality like okay we are better than them like we deserve to be here I'm saying like and we have a chance yeah to beat you know I'm saying La Yeah I broke a lot of people hard yeah we did you know like how is the like the the finals experience with uh you know how the finals change the finals is the playoffs is one animal but the finals is a whole another animal within itself like just two teams left Kobe Bryant in the legendary Lakers I mean it was like as an NBA player you know like I think for me as a player you want to be awarded as an All-Star or like having a great year or Etc but also you know playing in the NBA Finals playing in the finals you know I'm saying like not just being in the finals you know I'm saying like because we all grow up you know I'm saying like because I got offers so many times you know like when I close to retiring from different teams you know I'm saying like but like how do you grow up if I wasn't gonna be able to play like play or contribute something okay I don't want to travel you know I'm saying like half of the year for because I saw that in my last two years with the Clippers my last year with the Clippers with the dog you know like shout out to dark and I'm seeing like he really like helped me out in the wanted to be part of the Clippers and all that but like he is a player when you don't play you know like I don't want to go through that you know I'm saying that so being in that NBA Finals you know like you're pretty much one of the famous guy in the whole world you know like everybody's everybody's looking for you yeah you know like you're playing with the Lakers Kobe you know like pow you know like those guys that's even more yeah interesting yeah the other part is like you beat the Cavs with the LeBron you know what I'm saying like so they make you look even more you know pay attention like who is this team like who's this guys you know what I'm saying like you pretty much like you would see celebrities like when you go to the games like New York and L.A you know like during the season but like now it's vinyls you'll get like Star Trek you know I'm saying like you'll see everybody like you'll be like yeah I swear to God like you know like so like it was different man like it was really different because like you see like you know like you grow up watching those guys you know I'm saying like those movies and the shows and all that like listening music and all that yeah and everybody coming up and now you're shaking hands and doing like fist bumps and all that like yeah because like guys like us like coming overseas you know I'm seeing like like we're not from here we're not born and raised you know what I'm saying like so we're not from this culture yeah so like it even makes more special to us because like you pretty much grow up you know I'm saying like you're watching and seeing watching and seeing maybe running to the people those people you know I'm saying like yeah us you know I'm saying like after that year like you're playing the best like two teams in the world competing each other and seeing like yeah and it was real different tell me it is so like you say you feel like you one of the most strange people in the world right like we all did it we went whether it was whenever after we had a great season and you know like how was it for you returning back home to Turkey or just going back to Europe and being around you know your peers people other players and everybody like after coming off like you winning most improved you had that huge and then you go to the finals and you play well you have Jay team in the finals it ain't like you went out there and later you bald that like was you walking around like I'm a man over here I was walking that uh if I find the name uh uh I was walking I feel like I was walking on the water right dude float you know like you know like Jim Carrey and the guy used to play Oh Evan Almighty yeah you know what I'm saying like I feel like I was walking on the ball right because like even this time like when I go back they still remember the block I made for Kobe so like think about it right after like 13 12 years they still remember last year I'm saying like so think about it like this what I'm saying right now is like maybe like a thousand or a million times right bigger than you know I'm saying like because like a Turkish guy playing in the finals right and he's doing okay you know I'm saying like putting up numbers yeah and you had a chance like to be going to beat Kobe you know and block him block his shot you know what I'm saying like so let me let me ask you and I'll explain to people like they will ask him like how do you block Kobe like I said listen man it's not meant to be like that you know I'm saying like the guy just Spin and fade back I just put my hand in just a he's just having it it just happened to you it's not like I try a team I'm saying I'm still trying to explain to people you know I'm saying like listen man the guy blew by me don't you see like he just blew by me you know what I'm saying like yeah so tell me this right what's the craziest reaction you've gotten from like when you back home like people being in awe of you being you know an NBA player that did so well in the league like what's the craziest thing somebody's done like whether it's like trying to give you a crazy gift or just their reaction or doing something crazy when they meet you what's the craziest thing that's happened for you yep even that time like when we were playing like whole country you know like I was calling you like the president calling you Minister calling you prime minister is calling you that's crazy pretty much like you are the most talking guy everybody's just you know I'm saying like because like it didn't happen to that time you know like yeah because like occur you know like he played he wanted in 2004. but like his time after his time then after my time Islam was like five years you know I'm saying like so yeah as a guy like making that kind of impact playing in the game you know I'm saying like after that a year I had the game I grown more it was more yeah people even right now anymore they start to see more because like that time they would just see on TVs I'm saying like like one game every other two three weeks you know I'm saying like so coming to the 2009 it was out every week every day yeah you know what I'm saying like so people start I mean like following you more like get to know you about the more and yeah and you're putting up these numbers and you're winning and losing you know I'm saying like so when you went there I mean like it was just like you want to be part of every commercial I swear to God like they wanted to put you on every commercial and any TV any any podcast you know I'm saying like they just want to be like so uh thank God I I was married that time ask you this I would be crazy [ __ ] man I'm telling you [Laughter] think about me that wildness will be [ __ ] Unstoppable [Laughter] what you think about the NBA now you see in the NBA like uh when you came in uh it was still winning a lot of European guys in the league but now not only is a lot more European guys in the league they're like top five top ten they all over them with some of them MVP back-to-back MVPs to see how 20 years from now 20 years since you got drafted how it switched uh what you think about that he was unbelievable the growth of European basketball the impact having in the NBA is unbelievable like if you look at it back in the day it was just like few a few you know like that time Dirk was the best still for me the best European player ever yes in like then you had Powell you had Manu even though Manu is not the you know European but like he grew up in Europe he played in Italian came here like Tony Parker you know what I'm saying like so if you look at it like page avalade you know like you had players they had like been All-Stars and had good impacts in the teams yeah but like if you look at it like last four years European players being MP yeah and winning the game NBA Finals you know what I'm saying like they say the top five NBA players is I'm like you have the jokic Giannis Luca you know what I'm saying like so it's it's changed Joe and beat yeah he cheats he's he's also special as well too you know I'm saying like so if you look at it those guys you're like how they changed the look after you know like NBA basketball I mean European basketball it's it's crazy it's also growed in helped growth basketball in Europe as well too you know like the kids start to you know trying to improve themselves more and more trying to come to the NBA more and more trying to be part of this organization you know like so because they can see right now in the players like we mentioned it right now they can be best player in the team you know like dominating the league you know what I'm saying like so uh it's it's really huge how cool was it to come back to Orlando after you you know the little the brief since in Toronto and and Phoenix and Phoenix how cool was it to uh end back up here in the trade I mean you know I mean I've been straight forward to everybody you know I'm saying like I'll be honest to everybody in the beginning I didn't want to leave right what I'm saying like I never wanted to leave here and I'm saying that because bro you feed the [ __ ] NBA Finals like why would you leave you know I'm saying like the things works perfect for you the fit is the way you want it you know I'm saying like but that time that management who was running it you know I'm saying like they want to go in a different direction yeah I'm saying like but the funny part is like the money they didn't want to pay me that time they made the trade they brought me back and I'm saying I assume that contract so like I pretty much had to go through a lot of them cities and for a few months for to Phoenix and I'm saying like I could be here then he came back in this boy I was waiting on you when you got back yeah you know it was always special like I I like that's why like my kids will grow up here they still live here you know I'm saying like I always tell this Orlando is always like second home for me yeah and like even though I play in different cities and all that but like I built a great Foundation here I know so many great people around here but that time you know like the business they wanted to take you know like they want to bring uh you know like shout out to the you know like Hall of Famer for me Vince Carr you know what I'm saying they want to bring him and try it that way I'm saying that but I always put it this way they knew in that time you know because he had the example like 2000 eight Boston Celtics yeah I'm saying like when you have those uh big tree right that thing up you're like Paul King G you know what I'm saying that gray Raja you know I'm seeing like so like you could see that that worked you know what I'm saying like I don't know that time maybe me and you know what I'm saying like BC could have work either too but at that time the managements wanted to you know like try different things you know what I'm saying like I respect that you know like but like it just didn't make sense for me for everybody like if you look around in Orlando like like nobody understands you know I'm saying like why would you not sign the guy the money he asked for you know what I'm saying like and you're trying to after a year you know I'm saying like you brought it back the same money yeah I mean Justin Bieber just stupid how is it being the president of the Turkish basketball association Big Boss big boss man you guys should tell them you guys should come you guys should come you can't bring the Knuckleheads a turkey man you guys should come I'm serious yeah man come on I'm serious man I mean it's different because now you are in a professional life like you know like right now if you're chilling you're having a good time you know so now you're kicking it now the expectation is different the approach is different you know like it's pretty much now people look at you different way than you know like ex basketball player that play in the NBA you know what I'm saying like so like he had good things in uh you know like in uh bad things not bad things like tough times because like in Europe it's different than here you know like everything depends on results you know like so like if you're winning you're good if you lose they have to blame somebody yeah somebody got to take the plan you know what I'm saying like so in this point right now we always get this every weekend you know like every weekend we have like a super league then the team underneath man and women's so like pretty much we play like Channel like 50 games or something like that overall so like somebody has to win right so like whoever's wins thumbs up whoever loses [Music] my organizations yo somebody has to win or you know I'm saying like somebody gonna win somewhere and lose you know what I'm saying like so this is the hardest part because like in overseas this is the hardest part you know trying to not educate but like uh help the people out yeah the sports is winning and losing is just a winner and a loser but like you know overseas like if you lose you know like it's [ __ ] Stark's fault you know how the [ __ ] is my fault you know what I'm saying like I don't play you build a team like this you know what I'm saying like it's so funny like like they have teams playing Euro league and you have decent teams like we have budget teams like 30 million dollars right and we have budgets like three million dollars so like you pretty much it's unbalanced already like the the qualities like players so like when this team beats this team you know I'm saying like it's normal right if you look at the player-wise right like it shouldn't be surprising to anybody you know what I'm saying that even this some teams they blame like yeah the Federation helped this team to beat us I was like how the hell is going to you know I'm saying like they have one player he makes three million a dollar and your whole budget is like three million dollars so how do you make all the money you know what I'm saying like he make as much as their whole team and now you're trying to blame like uh is your ref your organization so this is the only hardest part other than that you know like you're trying to do something new to your country you know like your experience what you learn here and he's trying to bring that to your like a young generation and like so but sometimes it's really get hard you know like so that's why you know when the death time comes I come here yeah stay a few weeks here yeah I'm saying like relax clean my mind you know I'm saying like chill out and go back you know back to that war again so you know I had a system works so what made you want to be a part of that because you can you cannot deal with the headache because you know they don't know the things that goes with sports in the system of like man it's a winner or loser this is just how I go but that's how you build a legacy for organization or something you're trying to build so what made you knowing that it's like that get into it like yeah no I want to be I want to take this job as being the president I want to show y'all something different that I want to build off that for the kids that's coming uh I mean like you said you have to be stupid right you're like knowing that you know like this is how it's gonna be you know like but like you don't I don't look at it that way you know I'm saying like I just don't didn't look at it for results of the games you know I'm saying like I want to change something that that would happen in the basketball Federation like I'm building something that never been done in like in whole Turkish basketball history yes you know I'm saying like so uh those kind of things it's pretty kind of gives more passion about it you know what I'm saying look that's why plus you have your friends that you grow up with you know I'm saying like I'll build a good team around me that's going to help me out you know I'm saying like bring a great Foundation in the things that never done before like bringing building facilities you know what I'm saying like helping the kids like education wise connecting the kids with the schools yeah that's what it wasn't just for me like if you look at it like you said just for the results it's a no-brainer you shouldn't be doing this you know because it comes for years and it's not going to change even I can't change that yeah and I know I'm not going to be able to change it but like you're still trying to teach them and show them listen man we're trying to do our best you know I'm saying like we are helping our officiating to be in a better system we're trying to get them paid so they can only focus in this job before you know like it was mandatory jobs for the refs now you know I'm saying we put them on the salaries you know so like they can come and work 24 7. yeah I'm saying and you're trying to do some education stuff with the young kids yeah so you can put them in the high school and the college yeah like so if you look at it overall you know that's how you want it to be bring the you know like a legacy I know I know it was probably something bigger I know that was just one side of you saying it but I knew it was something even bigger than like you're saying bigger than that of bringing these kids educating them getting them something that they never had before it's an easier route to get you to where you're trying to go if you're trying to go this basketball route you know because when my wife says sometimes like like why do they have to go to this you know what I'm saying yeah yeah like I swear to God like it's so funny like you go to the games in Turkey like 10 000 people you know I'm saying like that's why like I really love coming here because like I really have to clear my mind because like the people like who were loving you what you did here now you the top of the organization yeah so the things come ahead of everything like winning and losing so like when the things go bad like 10 000 people is like booing for you you know what I'm saying like a Philly fan huh yeah you know what I'm saying like crazy like I said like like it's you know like I can't do nothing about it like somebody has to lose somebody asks you to win but like the craziness about it so like I come to the game here I'm saying like people go crazy even my daughter goes crazy like she's 14 years old like we went to the game the other day you know like people give me like a standing narration and I'm saying that so like you go back home to your own country 10 000 people you come here to Orlando today 20 000 people cheers for you yeah so I was like this is different than men the different mentality that's why like uh I try to balance it you know like the both sides you know like I still have things to accomplish over there but I also love coming here you know like hanging out to people that you know like have been around here my families my friends and all that so but like you said it's not going to change in life look it's not going to change at all yeah but like doing other things you can show people that you weren't just yeah people's like you made this much money you know you shouldn't be just chilling and smoking drinking and all that I still don't do those stuff you know what I'm saying like I still drink I still you know smoke my cigar you know what I'm saying that but also trying to build something that hasn't done yeah it kind of keeps me happy you have the Next Generation yeah that's what I do my classic for I try to just have the Next Generation just help the Next Generation and see if I can give them an easier route than what I had to take because we all went through like difficult times man yeah and like I said like I told you before in the beginning I had to live in like uh 600 square foot Guest House you know what I'm saying that and if you look at it back in the day you are 16 pick NBA you know I'm saying yeah but like if you look at in the background bro I live in the guest house you know what I'm saying like so we all have to go through things yeah so like the financial advices we give to the kids you know I'm saying like what to do with your money and all that you know I'm saying that we all did crazy stuff yeah we lost so much money with stupidness you know saying like but that's how you feel me like makes me you know like uh happy about it it's like even if I can't help to one kid yeah I know you guys did so many things so many you know I'm saying like when you grow up yeah you know I'm saying like you guys have so many players you know saying like to help with their money the way they to be a real person yeah like to reel to everybody that's why you know like we always have you know we never played together but like we had you know play with you like we were always like Q always was just like straight up to everybody's face yeah so like you want people around that's gonna be honest and truthful because I that's the thing I look at it right now in these NBA teams you know I'm saying like let's just think I feel upset about it not all of them some of them does you know I'm saying like I give credit to the Miami Spurs I'm saying like they have all these X players uh you know I'm saying like they're part of the organization yeah but you look at the other organizations you know I'm saying like they don't have those players so who's going to have these young kids yeah yeah you know what I'm saying like how they're gonna grow I'm saying like you look at the coaching staffs they are more rookie than the goddamn players you know I'm saying like it doesn't oh like for me it doesn't match certain things like you need guys like you know I'm saying like who can be walking you know I'm saying like help because things not going to be easier throughout the season but you look at the guys like you're looking you're looking at it like a coaching staff probing in the high school you know I'm saying like never been to the NBA [ __ ] games forget it right to the arena in the arena now he's uh behind the bench trying to help to the kids you know I'm saying like have to play what to do you know I'm saying like yeah that's fine look at those organizations they're not successful I'm trying to work their way to try to get plans huh that's why you look at it they are like worse right now you know what I'm saying like but you look at those teams no matter what I'm saying that they're always in the top yeah because they keep building it you know I'm saying like they have to keep adding new guys who can help you guys to get it right tell me that you was here basically for you know when Dwight was a rookie and you watched his growth in his his you know his this his Ascent to Dominus and all that how do you feel when you see that he didn't make the top 75 like we play we know like like no matter what that was your opinion of him or whatever personal issues like in my opinion his who his basketball it speaks for itself like you I want to hear your take on it from your perspective because you played more years with him than I did but we both know the dominance that he exhibited for for how many years it was and he should have been part of that list what's your take that's the thing I always try to explain to people man like if you put personalities problems you're playing Etc in the same bucket you know I'm seeing lab that's how you've [ __ ] up things you know I'm saying that's hard for me NBA really [ __ ] it up in this one I'm saying like because I know I did some stupid stuff some crazy stuff and I'm saying like but still you can't trash his [ __ ] dick you can't you know I'm saying like he was I'm not saying that I was his teammate it was obvious he was it was the best that time you know I'm saying like what he was doing you know I'm saying like so if you're trying to put out his personality this is what he did you know I'm saying like then you have to look everybody's from the past like nobody perfect nobody was perfect and I'm saying like so you can't be like oh he's more he's less you know I'm saying like you can't that's why like that's why I always tell like NBA really messed it up on that one right you have to give the guy the credit man you know what I'm saying like so he really deserve it well you remember when I first started playing I told her I said I ain't never play with nobody like this this boy he made me change the whole way I was defending and everything he shut down the entire Lane big fella crazy defensively like man please that alone should have put him in there like it was that was that was nothing but I don't like him right now that's all it was to me that's why I don't improve my uh defense it was the only reason he was out there waiting for it you know what I'm saying nobody like still man like what he did you know I'm saying like oh Javi you know like uh approach to the even I didn't like it that time you know I'm saying like when I was playing because like and like he had bad people around him especially like in after we went to the finals you know I'm saying like even coming to the finals he always had his in mind like like he was trying to be focusing on different things then you know I'm saying like focusing on the basketball and I said like so on the end you know saying like he [ __ ] it up because like you start to talking behind Stan you want to change and all that you know what I'm saying that that's how things for me went when he had it perfect right here it was perfect it was perfect between him like he could have built like a great legacy here yeah but I gave him a statue if you finish there I'm serious like people that and he could have still you know like uh pull up that kind of numbers I know he still was he still was it was it was just a [ __ ] up combination no because like bro like he had like people around him you know I'm saying like he they were just gassing up like oh you need to take more shots you need to do this you know what I'm saying like because like oh Carmelo was doing this in Lebron doing this and he's doing this he's averaging this in that and I said like guy was just averaging like without doing nothing he was averaging like 23-24 a game like you're not doing nothing but not post pools or nothing and not only that not only that he was out voting everybody in All-Star Kobe LeBron named him it didn't matter it didn't matter they couldn't touch big fella for that three to four year stretch he was Numero Uno but like they think he didn't realize for me you know like he was trying to put up numbers you know like he was trying to like get to 50 25 and 26 as well bro you shoot him 40 on [ __ ] free throws you make 70 on your free throw time you will be 25 a game you know what I'm saying because I used to get foul like I remember like one game how many times like 15 20 a game you know what I'm saying like and you missed half of it and you look at it overall during the season you know like but like he had those you know like his I don't want to throw everybody under the bus but like some of them I remember they were just like oh you're the best place Stan is against you stand you're standing oh man like that's the people you know like it's really [ __ ] you up but still no matter what you know like what he did for himself and because what he did for himself he still should have been a top 75 man because I look into some names out there no no disrespect what they did but like the guy did as good as they did man if you had to name four teammates like that you play with out of Indian teams you play with four other teammates to play with you who would be the other four teammates are you going against whoever out of any team you play so me another four yeah the only other four from Sacramento San Antonio Orlando four [Music] now I want to know if the white or vladi which one oh boy am I in the five yeah yeah you got a name four more because I'm gonna get I want to take me out of this that's fine uh uh wow let me tell you the bigs I'll play with TD we forgot about it Tim Duncan Tim Chris belbert and the white so like yeah five one is a four so you kind of cool there it's all about TD player Tim Duncan that's if he want to go I mean TDC if you want to play that let's see if he want to play the four or the three what do you want we don't like so you had you got a problem here what you gonna do I know this one of the top teams though we're gonna do a bracket we're gonna have everybody live five you're gonna have a tough ass five either way you go I'm thinking about his point guards baby Tony Parker yeah TP boy he got Pages that's what I'm saying I don't want to put myself in it go ahead you the sixth man go with yourself because you got to be part of it because it's your group so I'll put Tim Duncan okay at 405. Chris Webber oh Tim and Chris that's that's killer already that's killer I put myself as a tree okay I'll pitch Ginobili with two a two damn I need to point guard I need to point guard I got a shout out to the white chocolate I knew he's gonna go with bugs Bob's my guy man over TP so we all marked that down OTP or Mike oh that's why I said baby at first oh that's right serious though and you're gonna you're gonna take TP away from Noble I'll take Ginobili man with me as a tree you know what I'm saying like yeah so like that's why I'll take money at any time all right so Mandu white chocolate you TDC and whatever man that's a nice phone like so you have Dwight in the back up you know like dang yeah a timeout let me ask you this though this is one of the questions I like that like you talked about how like your first couple years you you know you was sending money back to the crib putting things away and taking care of the family but Toronto did what this question ain't got nothing to do with that I just want to know you said you did a lot of stupid things I want to hear one of the crazy things you did like when you felt like man I got that bag I got a little family let me let me treat Turk one time like what did what did my boy do like what did you do I don't what was it car I like your earring you know what what what was it what did you do no I was this close I was this close I was this close to buy a plane [Music] how much was it though it was like five million it wasn't that much he said that was small he said it wasn't that much like five million that's a lot of money but you were just saying it was like 20 million like right like if you look at like the big ass you know like the private judge you know I'm saying like right I was just trying to do like you know 21 19. okay so yeah you you way under that so because I was looking for like flying in in Turkey like back and forth back and forth to Europe well that was this close no I'm not saying the car you got money the boats I had you know I'm saying like oh look wait what you said a boat cars in but you said boats with an S you said BLT b-o-a-t-s you said both so plural how many boats you had uh at some point I had uh three now what's the biggest yeah the biggest boats yeah was it a yeah 10 feet beautiful beaches you know like you can go chill but you said beaches beaches ladies and gentlemen go ahead yeah like you know I don't want to go to language and people know like you said [ __ ] or something he said beaches everybody peaches yeah like I don't want to get cut up on that one yeah I got you I got you my boy I'm gonna make sure you safe but like I dropped it right now like that time I was shooting like going crazy so like right now I just have we gotta get out the turkey I have like two right now before like I was I had three and I have two so right now so like my wife pulled up the turkey why not everybody I have one small in the boss for us in Istanbul and I'm saying like like two continental divide by water like European and Asian side so like summer time it's beautiful and you have the south side of the turkey like you go to with your family with your friends you hang out [Music] like so I got a little bit bigger over there so man I'm gonna have to Hey listen man we're gonna have to pull up the turkey man my main man lay it out you know what I'm saying I'm trying to yeah we have beautiful beaches we do my wife like beaches beautiful man for the kids like you don't have to worry about uh sharks and all that you know like so it's hard to nothing on them can I tell turkey that the knuckleheads could be coming soon yeah listen man summertime you guys more than welcome anytime June July you guys more than welcome you know I take people up on offers so listen you can't take my offer on that one for sure he already said he the man in them out there I'm I'm I'm feeling The Vibes you giving off I feel like you're gonna be like when when Jackie Chan brought Chris Tucker to run oh boy it's gonna be on We gonna be hanging out not on the other stuff but on the good stuff good stuff for sure all right that's a wrap man we live on location from right here in Orlando this is our first time going to Europe we out here in Turkey man in breaking news I might be we might be going to coming to Turkey soon is it a go Turk definitely my God it's a go man we man we appreciate my man Turk for pulling up man the international sensation the legend from Turkey hito Turkey glue everybody it's Dan Bull appreciate it man appreciate it good [Music] [Music]

Channel: The Players' Tribune

Views: 365,061

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Id: TgsNBWM9Hq8

Length: 103min 12sec (6192 seconds)

Published: Thu Mar 02 2023