Bones Hyland On Playing for the Clippers, His Time With the Nuggets, and Finding Purpose In Tragedy
00:00:00.000 | -Man, welcome to another episode of Curious Mike.
00:00:11.700 | I'm here with my guy, Bones.
00:00:13.180 | -My guy, MPD.
00:00:14.180 | -Appreciate you on the podcast, my boy.
00:00:17.320 | -Yo.
00:00:18.320 | -Man, so I remember when you got drafted, you came in the locker room, said, "What's
00:00:23.960 | up there, everybody?"
00:00:24.960 | And, like, we clicked.
00:00:25.960 | I think I really appreciated, like, your authenticity, and I noticed that just from the jump when
00:00:31.240 | we first met.
00:00:32.240 | -Yeah.
00:00:33.240 | -And then you just proved it over and over, like, no matter what's going on, you're always
00:00:36.840 | gonna be Bones.
00:00:37.840 | -Mm-hmm.
00:00:38.840 | -When you're in the game, it don't matter who's in the game, you're gonna be Bones.
00:00:41.400 | -Mm-hmm.
00:00:42.400 | -And I just feel like we clicked, so I appreciate you hopping on the podcast, my brother.
00:00:46.240 | -Yeah, for sure.
00:00:47.240 | You know, definitely, being drafted by the Nuggets, it was definitely huge for me.
00:00:51.040 | You know, it was a blessing, you know, just overcoming what I overcame.
00:00:55.920 | -Yeah.
00:00:56.920 | -You know, in my life.
00:00:57.920 | -Yeah.
00:00:58.920 | -And then being drafted, 26th pick, you know, by the Nuggets, it was big for me, man.
00:01:00.880 | It was everything.
00:01:01.880 | I didn't really know what to expect, you know, coming to Denver.
00:01:04.560 | I thought it was really cold, but I got on the plane, and it seemed like the sun was
00:01:10.080 | out.
00:01:11.080 | I'm like, "Damn, this is different."
00:01:12.080 | -Yeah.
00:01:13.080 | -It seemed like it's hot out.
00:01:14.080 | -Yeah.
00:01:15.080 | -But, you know, the first time I came to the, you know, the arena, I think the first person
00:01:17.560 | I saw was you when I walked into the -- -It was the pool room, by the way.
00:01:20.400 | -Yeah, the pool room.
00:01:21.400 | And I'm like, "What's up, MP?"
00:01:22.400 | But we definitely just clicked from there.
00:01:24.080 | You know, Genuine Vibes and Genuine Souls always, you know, connect with Genuine Souls,
00:01:27.520 | and ever since then, it's just been like a lock, for sure.
00:01:29.680 | -For sure.
00:01:30.680 | I remember, bro, like, I realized you were a killer, and, like, it was your rookie season,
00:01:34.600 | right?
00:01:35.600 | -Mm-hmm.
00:01:36.600 | -And I think we were in training camp in San Diego, and I'll never forget this.
00:01:38.000 | -Oh, yeah.
00:01:39.000 | -I think I came down and, like, hit, like, a heasy pull-up, and I think you were on the
00:01:42.040 | side, like, waiting for me to pass it.
00:01:43.040 | -Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:01:44.040 | -And you was like, "I hit the shot," but you were like, "Mike, like, I can do that, too.
00:01:47.360 | You can pass the ball."
00:01:48.360 | So, okay, like, he's cold, like, and this is your rookie season, like, and you just
00:01:53.720 | were so confident, bro.
00:01:54.720 | -Yeah.
00:01:55.720 | -And so it was, like, it was a joy to watch you play and, like, be your teammate, you
00:02:01.440 | know?
00:02:02.440 | And then, so, I think I kind of was hurt during the time when you -- when they were talking
00:02:07.480 | about the trade rumors and when you -- That's cool?
00:02:11.480 | That's his phone?
00:02:12.480 | Yeah, I think I was hurt during the time the trade rumors came around, so I really didn't
00:02:18.120 | know what happened.
00:02:19.120 | -Exactly.
00:02:20.120 | -But, man, now you end up going to L.A., and I've been tuned in, obviously, but how has
00:02:23.720 | everything been for you over there?
00:02:25.040 | You enjoying it?
00:02:26.040 | -Yeah, yeah, it's been lovely, man.
00:02:27.040 | It's been dope, obviously, coming from, you know, Denver, a situation where, you know,
00:02:30.960 | I thrived in, you know, I was having fun playing over there, stuff like that, but I just felt
00:02:35.320 | like it was just, you know, needed a change for me, needed different scenery, and, you
00:02:39.840 | know, obviously, over here in L.A., it's -- I think it's a, you know, a beautiful thing
00:02:43.160 | for me.
00:02:44.160 | You know, I'm learning under, you know, four future Hall of Famers, you know, just staying
00:02:48.720 | ready, staying patient.
00:02:49.720 | You know, obviously, you know, last year, I came around February time.
00:02:54.240 | You know, it was kind of hard just to learn, you know.
00:02:58.140 | It wasn't hard learning the plays or learning, you know -- I mean, obviously, you're a hooper,
00:03:02.760 | you know you're going to fit in with whatever, but just having to move from, you know, one
00:03:07.520 | state to another, one team to another, you know, having to learn the new staff, new players,
00:03:14.280 | everybody names, the play calls, it's tough, you know, and obviously, on top of that, you're
00:03:18.720 | still trying to perform and, you know, still trying to, you know, earn that roster spot
00:03:22.640 | as well, too, coming in from another team, but I feel like I did that, and obviously,
00:03:27.640 | this year, you know, just playing well off the bat, and then, you know, a trade happened,
00:03:32.280 | and, you know, you just get bumped down and out of the rotation, but I feel like it's,
00:03:36.120 | you know, even though it may not look like it's a, you know, a good thing for me, I still
00:03:40.040 | look at it as a good thing, because I'm still learning under for future Hall of Famers,
00:03:43.760 | and I know my time will come, so I'm really not, you know, too down on it.
00:03:47.360 | Obviously, I want to play, but I ain't too down, though.
00:03:49.120 | >> Yeah, no, you always smiling.
00:03:50.640 | You always have had a good attitude about everything, even, you know, when things -- like
00:03:55.320 | in Denver, you know, you know how the NBA is.
00:03:58.360 | Even in Denver, when things weren't going good, you always maintained a smile, and so
00:04:01.520 | I've been checking up on you even in L.A. just because even times last year, you weren't
00:04:05.720 | playing as much as you were supposed to or whatever, and now, but you have always just
00:04:10.000 | maintained, like, the attitude, the good attitude, and you're young, bro.
00:04:12.920 | You're going to end up doing your thing, but that leads me to a question, like, you played
00:04:18.240 | so well, you know, obviously, in the offseason, you'd be killing every run, you know, and
00:04:24.400 | you just go, and, you know, you're like the highlight of the summer.
00:04:27.440 | Everybody be looking at the bones pilings, the pro-am videos or whatever.
00:04:31.720 | How do you maintain, like, is the NBA, for people that don't know the NBA, is it as fun
00:04:37.260 | as the summer?
00:04:38.260 | Like, is basketball as fun to you in the NBA when you're playing or not?
00:04:42.040 | Like, is it as fun as when you're doing your thing in the summertime?
00:04:44.680 | >> Yeah, I see what you're saying.
00:04:45.680 | Yeah, that's a great question.
00:04:46.680 | I would say it's kind of different, you know, but at the same time, I feel like if I had,
00:04:53.200 | you know, the keys or if I had to, you know, just go out there and just be yourself and,
00:04:57.680 | you know, with no leash on you, no minute thing going on, I feel like it'd be the same
00:05:03.520 | thing that's going on in the summertime, but the summertime, you're just playing, you're
00:05:07.000 | just playing.
00:05:08.000 | I feel like everybody's so in tune with me, you know, they love seeing me play and just
00:05:11.800 | be free, and, you know, they'd be like, "Man, if he just had, you know, the leash off of
00:05:15.680 | him, if he just go, he'd be..."
00:05:16.680 | >> Everybody knows.
00:05:17.680 | >> Yeah, everybody know, you know, but, you know, at the same time, I'm just waiting my
00:05:20.200 | turn, waiting patiently, but, man, I ain't lying, the summertime, you know, it'd be so
00:05:24.200 | fun because I could just really just go out there and just be me, you know, even though
00:05:28.320 | I'd be me in the league, too, but it's more in spurt, like, it's like the whole time,
00:05:33.000 | the whole game, I'm just wilding.
00:05:34.000 | >> Going in somebody's head.
00:05:35.000 | >> I'm just wilding.
00:05:36.000 | >> Did you always, like, okay, so, obviously, nowadays, a lot of people grow up with trainers
00:05:43.680 | and they grow up with, you know, they go through drills.
00:05:46.560 | Your game is so unique because the way you grew up, where you grew up hooping, you know,
00:05:51.640 | on the park, how did that, because most, like, hoopers that grow up that way don't make it
00:05:57.400 | to the NBA.
00:05:58.400 | >> Facts.
00:05:59.400 | >> They don't know how to fit into structure and all that.
00:06:00.520 | How did you kind of grow up and how did your game, like, how is it the way it is because
00:06:04.520 | the way you handle the ball is so unique, the way you, you know, the show time, the
00:06:08.680 | flashiness.
00:06:09.680 | >> Facts.
00:06:10.680 | >> Like, is that just the way you grew up or how did you grow up hooping?
00:06:13.240 | >> Yeah, that's definitely the way I grew up.
00:06:15.080 | I grew up on a lot of park basketball, a lot of recreational basketball, recreation basketball,
00:06:21.040 | however you say it.
00:06:22.040 | But, you know, I grew up on a lot of that.
00:06:24.520 | Honestly, just playing, going to gyms, you know, playing one-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-threes,
00:06:29.200 | you know, literally all day, like, sun up, sun down, you know, because at first, like,
00:06:33.480 | it was kind of hard to get on the court, you know, because they're like, you got to wait
00:06:36.840 | your turn, you know, you're younger, you know, and I'm just on the sideline just practicing
00:06:40.800 | my moves, you know, I'm just shooting the ball in the air and stuff like that, but just
00:06:44.480 | watching just live basketball, you know, I've been taking so many notes and stuff, just
00:06:49.000 | young, and I knew, like, once I get on the court, I knew I'd be ready, but, man, just
00:06:53.280 | how it just translated to the NBA, just honestly in the gym and just working, you know, try
00:06:57.720 | to, like, simplify some things, you know, you know, obviously, it's sometimes you can
00:07:01.760 | be a little flashy.
00:07:02.760 | You can show your flashes of, you know, being fancy here and there on a fast break, you
00:07:06.840 | can throw a dime, you can turn around, you know, just get the crowd into it.
00:07:09.720 | That's how I've always been, you know, I never wanted to, like, change that or, you know,
00:07:13.000 | let somebody change that part of me because I'm a very, you know, entertaining player.
00:07:16.480 | A lot of people like seeing me play, they love watching me, so it's like, I never just
00:07:20.000 | changed that because, oh, this doesn't fit the criteria of, you know, a coach like this
00:07:24.920 | or, you know, somebody don't like the way I play, da-da-da, nah, that's never been me
00:07:28.800 | because at the end of the day, it's like, I'm not going to change who I am, you know,
00:07:31.960 | this is what got me here.
00:07:32.960 | I'm not just going to change who I am now, you know, just because I made it to the league,
00:07:36.040 | now I'm going to forever be me, so, you know, that's definitely how I grew up, though, you
00:07:39.240 | know, a lot of park basketball.
00:07:40.240 | >> Yeah, nah.
00:07:41.240 | Like I said, bro, that's one thing I admire, like, can't nobody tell you, like, your confidence
00:07:45.840 | and just the swag you play with, can't nobody tell you you're not the coldest.
00:07:49.160 | For people that don't know, like, me and Bones would have shooting contests after every shoot
00:07:53.000 | around.
00:07:54.000 | >> I'm crying.
00:07:55.000 | >> Every shoot around, we would do our little shooting contest, me and him, sometimes other
00:07:58.520 | people would join, but they never would win, but I could say Bones is one of the only people,
00:08:03.560 | like, I've shot against is you, Steph, and, like, maybe one other person.
00:08:07.880 | >> Yeah.
00:08:08.880 | Probably Trey.
00:08:09.880 | >> Trey, Trey, but, like, that can consistently beat me.
00:08:12.640 | Like, he would beat me most days, I would be so hot, but, like, as flashy as your game
00:08:17.720 | is, like, it's still very, very polished.
00:08:19.760 | >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.
00:08:21.280 | >> Who did you grow up, like, who did you grow up idolizing, who'd you try to model
00:08:24.440 | your game after?
00:08:25.440 | >> You know, that's such a tough question, 'cause I really never try to, like, modelize
00:08:30.640 | my game after nobody, but I love watching Hoop, though, you know?
00:08:34.000 | But, like, I love taking, like, flat, like, game, like, or my moves from different players
00:08:38.720 | and stuff like that, but I never went like, oh, yeah, I just want to be just like him,
00:08:41.920 | like, this is my, you know, my idol, da-da-da, you know?
00:08:44.400 | That never been me, but a guy who, like, I always watch was Hot Sauce.
00:08:47.920 | Hot Sauce was always a guy, you know, I just watch, and that's somebody, like, I come home
00:08:53.080 | from school, you know, I eat a bowl of cereal, you know, I turn him on, on the phone, I pop
00:08:58.000 | the phone up, and after I finish eating my cereal, I grab the basketball and go in the
00:09:01.600 | mirror, and I just practice all his moves and stuff with this big shirt on, you know,
00:09:05.400 | the big shirts he used to wear.
00:09:06.400 | >> He was cold.
00:09:07.400 | He was cold, though.
00:09:08.400 | >> That's, he was cold.
00:09:09.400 | >> So that makes sense, then, why you Hoop the way you do.
00:09:11.320 | >> I used to always just watch him, bro, and I used to go to the gym and try to practice
00:09:14.800 | his moves, and they was working, but, like, I didn't want to be too much, like, you know,
00:09:18.840 | doing way too much.
00:09:19.840 | Yeah, you know, but I still, like, try to, like, try to amplify some of that in my game,
00:09:24.040 | and that gave me, like, my flair, like, my swag, you know, like, you know, it gave me
00:09:28.440 | that, nah, I can't nobody, like, fuck me on the court type shit, you know, that gave me
00:09:31.920 | that vibe, though.
00:09:32.920 | >> It's a video that went viral, a YouTube video, I just seen it, like, like, I didn't
00:09:37.800 | even know about it until I started playing with you, but it's a viral video of you playing
00:09:41.400 | one-on-one.
00:09:42.400 | They was some bums, but you was going at dudes, and I think you were younger, and they was
00:09:44.960 | getting hot.
00:09:45.960 | >> Yeah.
00:09:46.960 | >> Like, it's, yeah, y'all can look it up, Bones Island one-on-one.
00:09:49.400 | >> I definitely know it's one you talking about, for sure.
00:09:51.400 | I just was watching it the other day.
00:09:52.960 | >> But, like, how old were you during that?
00:09:54.760 | Like, was that, like, a normal thing for you to just go to the park and be playing one-on-one
00:09:58.120 | with dudes, and the cameras be out and all that?
00:10:00.200 | >> Yeah, so, like, it's a, it's a big backstory to that, so, you know, for that, for everybody
00:10:04.520 | who don't know, this was a video that went viral.
00:10:07.000 | I was about 17 years old, but it's a league called Czech Rock League.
00:10:10.200 | >> Yeah.
00:10:11.200 | >> It's a league that I played in growing up.
00:10:12.200 | A lot of, you know, kids went from Wilmington Delaware, even, you know, Philadelphia area,
00:10:16.480 | you know, Tri-State area.
00:10:17.480 | A lot of people come down and play in the league, and, you know, it was one game that's
00:10:21.120 | going on, and we were waiting until it was done, and it was, like, me, it was, like,
00:10:26.200 | six other people, and it was the two, the two owners that, you know, made the Czech
00:10:30.360 | Rock League up, you know.
00:10:31.360 | >> Yeah.
00:10:32.360 | >> And, you know, we just conversating about basketball, you know, then they got to the
00:10:35.840 | comparison game, and I'm, like, I'm staying out of it.
00:10:38.440 | I ain't saying nothing.
00:10:39.440 | I ain't saying nothing.
00:10:40.440 | I'm staying out of it.
00:10:41.440 | You know, but then I got brought up, and I'm, like, nah, that's, like, hey, nah, y'all
00:10:46.640 | tripping.
00:10:47.640 | I'm not comparing to nobody, and they just kept saying, yeah, you know, I can beat him
00:10:51.600 | one-on-one.
00:10:52.600 | You know, I can beat, you know, Bones one-on-one, and da-da-da, and I'm, like, you tripping.
00:10:55.200 | It's a court right here.
00:10:56.200 | Like, we can go check out right now.
00:10:57.320 | >> Yeah.
00:10:58.320 | >> It's a court literally right here.
00:10:59.320 | We walked on the court, and the first guy, you know, I just feel like, you know, I don't
00:11:04.560 | know.
00:11:05.560 | I think I feel like his pride got in the way.
00:11:06.560 | >> It did.
00:11:07.560 | It did.
00:11:08.560 | >> He got in the way.
00:11:09.560 | >> He was playing way.
00:11:10.560 | Bro.
00:11:11.560 | >> His pride got in the way too much, but the second guy, who was 7-0, like, his pride was
00:11:16.440 | way higher, though.
00:11:17.440 | Like, he knew, like, he just let the, you know, the people where he was from, you know,
00:11:20.680 | he's from Philadelphia, but he let the people, like, get in his ear, yeah, go out there and,
00:11:24.320 | you know, play and stuff.
00:11:25.320 | >> And they was trying to play mad hard.
00:11:26.320 | They was trying to fight.
00:11:27.320 | >> Mad hard.
00:11:28.320 | And I'm like, you know, this is not going to end how you want it to end.
00:11:30.720 | I'm just like, nah.
00:11:31.720 | And I didn't even know that, like, this was going to be a viral video, though, bro.
00:11:35.280 | I was just going up there, just being myself, all the people around that was watching, everybody
00:11:38.880 | just being there.
00:11:39.880 | So, we didn't know that the guy who recorded the video, we didn't know he was going to
00:11:43.320 | drop it or he was actually recording, you know?
00:11:45.880 | But it got so much attention and stuff.
00:11:47.840 | I'm like, nah, he definitely going to drop this.
00:11:49.840 | >> Nah.
00:11:50.840 | >> And ever since then, that joint just blew up, bro.
00:11:51.840 | >> That video is ODI.
00:11:52.840 | >> But, you know, what's crazy, though, bro, a lot of people, like, they like, oh, that's
00:11:56.360 | the guy from the video that went viral.
00:11:58.640 | Like, they look at me now, like, wow, that's the guy from the video, he made it to the
00:12:01.800 | league.
00:12:02.800 | >> That's how viral that video went?
00:12:03.800 | >> Yes, bro.
00:12:04.800 | Like, to this day, like, that's the guy from the video that went viral.
00:12:05.800 | I'm like, damn, they remember that video?
00:12:07.400 | That's crazy, bro.
00:12:08.400 | >> Yeah.
00:12:09.400 | Nah, it's a hilarious video, bro, because it's just like you now, like, the way you're
00:12:12.720 | talking crazy to do it.
00:12:13.720 | And they were so hot.
00:12:14.720 | >> Oh, my God.
00:12:15.720 | >> They were so mad, bro.
00:12:16.720 | >> They definitely was, yeah.
00:12:17.720 | >> But, nah, nah, back to the league, like, I was watching a podcast, I think it was Emmanuel
00:12:25.440 | Moutier on someone's podcast, and he was just talking about he lost his love for the game.
00:12:31.120 | And, like, you've always been, like, you can see in that video, you can see even the way
00:12:34.240 | you hoop now, your love for the game.
00:12:35.640 | He was talking about he lost his love for the game because of how political the league
00:12:40.680 | is.
00:12:41.680 | He was like, I would be killing somebody in practice every day, but the coach tells me
00:12:46.480 | I'm not gonna play right now.
00:12:49.640 | And, like, obviously, we've talked about Tyloo, Tyloo's from Missouri, like, that's my guy.
00:12:53.480 | >> Yeah.
00:12:54.480 | >> And, like, he's from 30 minutes down the street from where I'm from, and he's the most
00:12:58.760 | chillest dude ever.
00:12:59.760 | >> Yeah, he is chill, for sure.
00:13:00.760 | >> But do you feel like, not just in your situation, but now that you've been in the
00:13:04.360 | NBA, how political do you feel like it is?
00:13:07.400 | Like, is it dudes to you, like, every day could be killing in practice that literally
00:13:11.160 | don't play in the game?
00:13:12.160 | Or do you think the best players always play?
00:13:14.440 | >> Yeah, it's definitely a political game, but it's something that you just can't control,
00:13:19.560 | bro.
00:13:20.560 | >> Right.
00:13:21.640 | >> And, like, I can be killing every day in practice, you know, but it's just, like, it's
00:13:24.640 | just gonna go how it go, because maybe somebody's been there, you know, years, or maybe they're
00:13:28.080 | on a contract that's way bigger than yours, and it's just gonna go the way it goes.
00:13:31.360 | But, I mean, it's something that you really just can't control.
00:13:34.000 | Maybe he got a couple years over you, and you just getting in the league, or you're
00:13:37.000 | just your second year, but you're killing, though.
00:13:38.920 | But he on a crazy contract, you know, but he playing over you, playing, you know, mad
00:13:43.760 | minutes.
00:13:44.760 | But it's something that you, excuse me, it's really something that you just can't control,
00:13:47.720 | bro.
00:13:48.720 | >> Right.
00:13:49.720 | >> And it's tough, you know, because it's like, man, I wish I was playing a little bit
00:13:51.200 | more, you know.
00:13:52.200 | You know, I feel like I deserve to play a little bit more, you know, I'm already killing
00:13:55.260 | it with the minutes that I'm getting, why can't I get a little bit, like, ten more,
00:13:58.320 | you know.
00:13:59.320 | >> Yeah.
00:14:00.320 | >> Like, I feel like I deserve it, you know.
00:14:01.320 | But, man, it's definitely a political game, but it's just something that you just can't
00:14:03.400 | get caught up in, man.
00:14:04.400 | You just gotta stay, like, level-headed, you know, just stay out of that, man.
00:14:06.800 | >> And you never let that affect, like, your joy?
00:14:08.720 | >> Yeah.
00:14:09.720 | >> You don't let it affect your joy?
00:14:10.720 | >> No, not at all.
00:14:11.720 | You know me, bro.
00:14:12.720 | Like, I ain't gonna let nothing shake me, bro.
00:14:14.160 | It's just, like, but at the same time, it just be kind of tough, though, it do, because,
00:14:17.320 | like, you know, you just want to play, bro, and that's me, like, I just want to hoot,
00:14:20.600 | you know.
00:14:21.600 | So, it's like, ah, this political game could definitely get tough, but, man, it's something
00:14:24.800 | you just really can't control, bro.
00:14:26.480 | It's really something you can't, facts.
00:14:28.600 | >> Nah, 100%.
00:14:29.600 | Nah, you, I mean, you know, like, you a star, everybody knows, I think I was watching PG's
00:14:34.800 | podcast and he was talking about the way you play, how you are as a star, and you got,
00:14:39.240 | like you said, y'all got four Hall of Famers right now, like.
00:14:41.560 | >> Yeah, bro.
00:14:42.560 | >> So, y'all still figuring it out, but whether it's there or somewhere else, like, you gonna
00:14:46.440 | blossom.
00:14:47.440 | So, it's never any stress in that area.
00:14:50.440 | I want to turn to, like, your faith, because you do have an unshakable joy, which is something
00:14:56.040 | I've always appreciated about you.
00:14:57.440 | >> Yeah.
00:14:58.440 | >> Like, even, like, when you were with us, I'd be down sometimes, you would keep my spirits
00:15:01.520 | lifted if something was wrong.
00:15:02.520 | >> Facts.
00:15:03.520 | >> Even if we, even if you weren't playing, you still were cheering me on in the game.
00:15:06.520 | >> Facts.
00:15:07.520 | >> And you tweet, or you put on Instagram very boldly, like, about your faith, like,
00:15:12.880 | in God, and just how important that is to you.
00:15:17.200 | Has that always been, like, an important part of your life, and is that kind of what keeps
00:15:19.680 | you kind of, like, level-headed through everything?
00:15:21.480 | >> Man, yeah, man, that's the biggest part of my life, honestly, man, 'cause I done been
00:15:24.960 | through so much, but, you know, Jesus has never, you know, forsaken me at all, like,
00:15:29.600 | he always been there for me, like, regardless, like, how, you know, impossible something
00:15:33.800 | may seem, how, like, un-extraordinary something may seem, it's, like, he's just always there
00:15:38.400 | for me, and it's, like, I could never, like, you know, turn on him, no matter if, like,
00:15:41.920 | things get, you know, worse for me, or maybe I don't like how something's going, you know,
00:15:47.440 | or maybe some life problems that I'm going through, I just know, like, I'm always be,
00:15:51.400 | you know, straight, because I got, you know, God on my side, and it's never gonna make
00:15:54.640 | me, like, turn away from, you know, him, because something not going my way, you know, I feel
00:15:57.920 | like a lot of people nowadays, like, they quick to, like, you know, why me, or, you
00:16:03.240 | know, why am I going through this, you know, but not even knowing, like, maybe this can,
00:16:07.360 | you know, help you, you know, on your path going forward, and that's something--
00:16:10.840 | - Diversity can, like, shape you.
00:16:11.840 | - Yeah, exactly, you know, and I feel like that's what something I'm going through right
00:16:14.160 | now, like, this right now, it's shaping me right now, you know, it's building resilience
00:16:17.920 | in me, you know, it's building patience in me, you know, and it's building, like, just
00:16:21.160 | even more high character, you know, so it's something that I definitely, you know, appreciate
00:16:24.880 | right now, even though I wanna play, but at the same time, I know God is, you know, strengthening
00:16:28.000 | me, you know, getting stronger off the floor, you know, and stuff like that, so it's, I
00:16:31.960 | feel like it's really, it has helped me, but I think definitely never shake, though, at
00:16:35.680 | all.
00:16:36.680 | - Never, nah.
00:16:37.680 | You, we were talking about this before the podcast started, just about how, like, the
00:16:42.360 | fans, even in Denver, how people can be so for you, in life in general, any NBA player
00:16:48.760 | deals with this, that people can be so for you, but as soon as you do one thing they
00:16:54.160 | don't like, or they perceive something that's not even how it was, they turn on you, and
00:16:57.880 | I think we've talked about it a little bit, even the Denver fans, 'cause you were a fan
00:17:01.160 | favorite, like, every time you hop on the floor, you're going crazy, and just the fact
00:17:05.680 | that, you know, you receive backlash for any negativity, I asked AG this in my podcast
00:17:11.560 | the other day, how do you deal with, like, the positivity and negativity, 'cause, like,
00:17:14.640 | there's been so much positivity surrounding you, but then, like, one thing goes wrong
00:17:18.840 | and now there's some negativity, do you, how do you deal with all that?
00:17:22.560 | - So, honestly, man, I just be taking it like, alright, they just showing love because I'm
00:17:27.280 | killing, you know, or they, you know, at this moment they showing me love, but I don't let
00:17:31.880 | it, like, get too, you know, head over heels, or like, ah, I'm so in, you know, with the,
00:17:36.720 | you know, how they treating me and stuff like that, like, obviously I love it, but you,
00:17:40.560 | it always, like, you know, something go wrong, they just gonna turn on you, it's just like,
00:17:45.080 | it's just what happens, bro, it happens to literally, like, you know, Hall of Famers
00:17:48.520 | who played and stuff like that, the best players, bro, so it's like, of course it can happen
00:17:52.080 | to me, so I don't be too, like, locked in on it, of course, like, I appreciate, you
00:17:55.880 | know, fan bases that, you know, take me in and, like, really cheer me on, they appreciate
00:17:59.840 | my game, they appreciate how fun I have on the floor, you know, speaking of Denver fans,
00:18:03.880 | you know, when I was over there, you know, I checked in and they, they were, like, rowdy
00:18:07.000 | every time, like, they love watching me play, but, obviously, the trade went down, it happened,
00:18:11.480 | now it's everybody just, like, hating me, like, you know, but, I, I feel like they don't
00:18:16.200 | really, I feel like they don't really hate me, they still got love for me, but it's just
00:18:18.760 | the fact that I'm just not there anymore is making them kinda like, damn, like, we just
00:18:22.920 | gonna go at it, we just gonna keep, you know, going at it, even stuff like that, but I still
00:18:26.880 | got love for Denver, bro, like, it took me in with open arms, like, I never just say,
00:18:30.080 | like, F Denver, like, that's, that's never, you know, me, that, that won't ever come out
00:18:33.960 | my mouth, they took me in with open arms, every time I checked on the floor, I had fun,
00:18:37.160 | you know, so, yeah, I don't know, it's, it's something that, like, you just gotta, you
00:18:41.920 | just gotta just hoop, bro, you can't really get into the whole fan thing and all that,
00:18:45.400 | you know, you just can't get into that, bro.
00:18:47.560 | Facts.
00:18:48.560 | You talked before, you was, like, talking about what has shaped you into this person
00:18:52.480 | is the things you've gone through, I remember, yeah, back in San Diego, when we was just
00:18:58.480 | chopping it up on the training table, I'll never forget this conversation, like, I don't
00:19:02.200 | know how it came up, but you talked about what you went through, and you was telling
00:19:04.800 | me, like, this is what, this is why I am, this is how I am, this is why I smile so much,
00:19:12.120 | can you talk a little bit to people, because I think, like, more than just a basketball
00:19:16.120 | player, like, you inspire so many people, because, and people don't even know your story
00:19:20.000 | like that, but I do, and I, and to see you smile through that, to see the way you take
00:19:23.640 | care of your, your mom and your, your nephew, like, people don't even know where all that
00:19:30.040 | comes from, can you a little bit talk about, you know, the incident through high school?
00:19:34.440 | Yeah, facts, so, back in 2018, you know, I had, I had went through a house fire tragedy,
00:19:39.400 | you know what happened, and, you know, I was watching March Madness, and, in my room, and
00:19:45.040 | I was on the phone with one of my friends, and, you know, I'm just literally just chilling,
00:19:48.560 | just laying back, and it's like a, I forget what day it was, you know, it was like a Saturday
00:19:53.440 | or not, I forget which one of those days it was, but, you know, I'm just, just chilling
00:19:56.560 | back, and it's one of those days where everybody just be, you know, chilling in the crib, like,
00:20:00.360 | nobody bothering each other, you know, everybody just resting and stuff like that, and, you
00:20:04.480 | know, I'm watching the game and stuff, and, just chilling, and, and I just, just get up
00:20:10.320 | out my, get up out my bed, because I start smelling, like, you know, smoke just surrounding
00:20:13.960 | just, like, my, like, just outside, like, and I'm, like, damn, like, what's that smell,
00:20:19.200 | but, you know, like, that type of smell is normal for, you know, where I grew up, you
00:20:22.720 | know, in the hood, it's normal, people think it's a barbecue, you know, or it's a cookout
00:20:25.800 | going on, so I'm, like, yeah, it's normal, so I just sat back in my bed, and, it started
00:20:29.480 | getting more intense, intense, intense, I'm, like, damn, what's that smell, like, that's
00:20:33.080 | not, like, a barbecue, it smells like something burning, like, something on fire, so, you
00:20:36.680 | know, I get out of my bed, and I had, you know, went to my door, and I hope, I had opened
00:20:40.560 | my door, and I just see all these flames just bursting, and I'm, like, oh, shit, what the
00:20:44.760 | hell going on, so I instantly had to close the door, and I had, went to my room, and
00:20:49.160 | I had to just sit there, and just, like, think, like, damn, what the fuck am I supposed to
00:20:52.640 | do, and mind you, what's already clicking in my head is my grandma, and my two baby
00:20:56.640 | cousins is in the other room, and I'm, like, damn, like, how can I get over there to the
00:21:00.940 | room, and see, you know, try to save them, or, you know, see what I can do, what plan
00:21:04.360 | I can do, but, you know, in movies, you can just think so, you know, they got all this
00:21:07.920 | time to think, you know, they, they go from one scene, you know, of the fire, or something,
00:21:13.240 | and I'm trying to, you know, escape that, and they go to another scene, and they come
00:21:15.720 | back to the fire, and it don't work like that, you know, that was something that, like, man,
00:21:19.720 | I really had to, like, think fast, you know, with such little time, and, you know, I'm
00:21:24.920 | just sitting down, I'm trying to, I'm trying to really figure out how I'm going to do this,
00:21:27.840 | but I live in an old house, so I'm, like, the windows ain't going to open, like, them,
00:21:32.000 | them windows never open, so I'm, like, yeah, this, it might be over with for me, so I went
00:21:36.360 | to one of the windows to try to open, but, like, it didn't open, and now, the, the smoke
00:21:40.040 | and everything is really getting, like, inside the room, flames is starting to come in, the
00:21:44.740 | walls is getting hot, as I'm touching the windows, it's a little hot, so I'm, like,
00:21:48.480 | ah, like, you know, I touched the first window, it didn't open, now I'm really, like, cloudy,
00:21:52.760 | I can't really see, you know, and now I'm trying to touch the second one, it's hot,
00:21:56.400 | I'm trying to open it, I'm, like, nah, I'm just going to go, like, it's really not opening
00:22:00.080 | for me, I dropped to my knees, I'm, like, God, like, I really don't understand why this
00:22:04.200 | is happening to me, like, I feel, like, I did everything I was, you know, supposed to
00:22:07.400 | do, I feel, like, I'm a great person to people, you know, I always, you know, give, you know,
00:22:11.520 | I never really, you know, I don't ask to receive from anybody, you know, I always want to do
00:22:15.560 | my deeds, you know, in your, in your honor, so I'll just be, like, dang, man, this is,
00:22:19.920 | you know, crazy to happen to me, and, you know, as I'm just sitting down, I'm just praying,
00:22:24.800 | I'm, like, man, if it's my time to go, I'm just going to go, you know, but I just hear
00:22:27.880 | that voice in my head, like, get up, like, I got you, get up, and it's, like, it's not
00:22:31.960 | your time to go yet, and he's, like, you know, that window is going to open to you, the third
00:22:36.200 | one, so I'm, like, it's no way, bro, it's no way, so I get up, I get up, I go to the
00:22:40.000 | window, and I just try to just open it, and it's open, I'm, like, wow, this is crazy,
00:22:44.120 | so I open up, I see somebody outside, I'm, like, my house is on fire, my house is on
00:22:47.480 | fire, come save me, he's, like, you got to jump, you got to jump, I'm, like, I can't
00:22:50.680 | jump, it's too high, it's a three-story-floor house, I'm, like, I cannot jump, you got to
00:22:54.840 | jump, we need you, you're our last hope, when I heard that, I'm, like, damn, bro, like,
00:22:59.640 | I really am the last hope from Wilmington, Delaware, it's so small, everybody depending
00:23:03.280 | on me to make it and stuff like that, so I'm, just, like, all right, fuck it, but I, after
00:23:08.080 | he said that, though, lie to you not, I went back in the room, got on, you know, on my
00:23:13.800 | knees, I'm, like, man, I'm just going to go, I can't jump, it's too high, just hear a voice
00:23:17.320 | in my head, God, just get up, just get up, just get up, I just said, fuck it, went out
00:23:20.520 | the window, I just jumped head first, I had to turn my patella tenon, I hit my knees on
00:23:24.040 | the bricks, I tried to get up and crawl, I couldn't walk, I tried to call to the car,
00:23:28.720 | you know, to the lady who had a phone, I'm, like, call my mom, call my mom, my mom was
00:23:32.800 | at a place called Main Event, and, you know, she was there with, like, a couple of my other
00:23:37.840 | family members, cousins and stuff, just having, like, a fun day, I forgot my mom's phone number,
00:23:42.400 | so I'm, like, I don't know what's going on, my head's spinning, you know, I can't walk,
00:23:46.080 | I can't do anything, you know, so I'm, like, damn, I forgot my mom's phone number, anybody
00:23:50.000 | know my mom's number, it just clicked in my head, I called my mom, you know, the number
00:23:53.400 | literally just clicked in my head, it was so crazy, I called my mom, the house on fire,
00:23:57.120 | she drove so fast back to the crib, I just seen my mom just come, what's going on, house
00:24:01.880 | on fire, da, da, da, my mom in there with the baby, with the baby cousin, stuff like
00:24:05.560 | that, you know, her nephews, and that shit was just so crazy, bro, and then their mom,
00:24:10.480 | she came from McDonald's, 'cause they had got food for them, and she came from McDonald's,
00:24:14.160 | she seen the house on fire, she dropped the McDonald's to the floor, I just seen her try
00:24:16.960 | to run in there to try to save her mom, or her sons, it's, like, damn, that shit is crazy,
00:24:22.200 | then once it all, like, probably 10 minutes go past, I had seen my grandmother and my
00:24:25.800 | baby brother walk out, not walk out, but get carried out in the ambulance thing, I mean,
00:24:30.920 | the little walker thing, the stretcher thing, I just seen, you know, just all of them just
00:24:35.560 | covered up in just charcoal, I'm like, damn, like, this is, like, crazy, but it was such
00:24:39.600 | just a, like, a tough thing for me, man, even to this day, like, it's really been, like,
00:24:44.120 | hard, you know, sometimes I can't speak about it, sometimes I can't, some, every time I
00:24:48.320 | speak about it, it's so hard, like, it just still be, like, flashbacks in the back of
00:24:51.520 | my head, it's so hard to get my words out, you know, it be tough, man, but, you know,
00:24:55.640 | I never, like, like, just to this day, like, that's why I'm so big on, you know, speaking
00:25:01.340 | on, you know, God and, you know, having that faith in God, 'cause that, like, I'm really
00:25:04.760 | not supposed to be here, so, you know, I know, you know, my calling is, you know, bringing
00:25:09.840 | people back home to Jesus and believing in Him and believing that, you know, whatever
00:25:13.640 | you're going through, you know, it's always a brighter side, He always can pull you through,
00:25:17.280 | so that's something that, you know, I know it's my calling, but I do that through basketball.
00:25:21.800 | Bro, like, every time I hear that story, like, it just, it touches my heart, not just because
00:25:29.800 | of what you've been through, but how you turn that around, bro, like, I don't know too many
00:25:34.800 | people that would take that and turn it around into what you've turned it around to and become
00:25:38.760 | the person through it that you've become, and, like, just giving people back at the
00:25:42.800 | crib, like, just hope and people just how bold you are about your faith, like, I forget
00:25:50.520 | what game it was, and you had the whole hood there, bro, like, and they was all behind
00:25:55.200 | you, bro, it's like 50, how many people was in the crowd?
00:25:58.200 | Bro, I was all whooped in there.
00:26:00.200 | Bro, and I was like, the fact that this dude, like, overcame what he came, I just, bro,
00:26:05.200 | that's...
00:26:06.200 | Five fighters was there, too.
00:26:07.200 | That story is, like, man, people, that's like a story from a movie, like, is it, is that,
00:26:14.200 | like, part of the reason you and just your mom and your nephews are so close?
00:26:18.200 | Yeah, bro, like, we just all best friends, bro, we, like, closer than close, bro, like,
00:26:24.400 | I really...
00:26:25.400 | My mom is my best friend, bro, but, like, you know, people see me with my little nephew,
00:26:29.560 | you know, I call him my baby brother, he's really my cousin, but I call him my nephew,
00:26:32.760 | my baby brother, like, he's just everything and one, bro, but I really call him my angel
00:26:35.880 | on earth because he survived the house fire.
00:26:37.680 | He has the burn, right?
00:26:38.680 | Yeah, on his face, yeah, on his skin, too, he was the one that survived the house fire,
00:26:42.760 | my grandmother was covering him, but the other one had passed away, you know, his brother,
00:26:47.280 | he passed away, but, you know, by the grace of God, you know, Izzy has survived, he got
00:26:51.680 | a big, like, scar on the side of his face, but, yeah, he survived, and he was only three
00:26:54.960 | weeks old, bro, so, like, can't nobody tell me that, you know, God ain't real at all,
00:26:58.520 | can't nobody tell me that, and I'm just like, damn, like, to this day, he just like me,
00:27:02.440 | bro, like, smiling, you know, he gives so many people joy, like, you would never know
00:27:06.960 | what he been through, you would never know what he overcame, you know, and it's like,
00:27:10.680 | damn, he just like me, bro, but that's another reason why, like, man, like, we really so
00:27:14.400 | close, and when people see it through, you know, the media, or people see it in person,
00:27:17.880 | like, yeah, he really doesn't play about them, like, they all so close.
00:27:22.160 | So what's, so what's, through all of this, like, now, like, through basketball, you just
00:27:26.240 | use basketball as, like, a vessel for, to inspire, is that what you would say, or, you
00:27:31.400 | know?
00:27:32.400 | Yeah, yeah, literally, you know, just to get my story, you know, heard to just different
00:27:36.320 | people across the, just the nation, bro, like, just trying to reel in people to, you know,
00:27:40.920 | Jesus Christ, man, you know, like, it's, we in end times, bro, so I know, you know, it's
00:27:45.400 | almost, you know, rallying up, so.
00:27:46.880 | It's almost a wrap.
00:27:47.880 | Yeah, so I'm just trying to use my, you know, my story, you know, with my gift, and just
00:27:52.600 | try to, you know, tally in as much people as I can to, you know, home to Christ, so
00:27:56.600 | that's something that I'm really just, you know, taking pride in.
00:27:59.120 | Well, you inspire me, bro, like, 'cause you right, I agree with you, that this, the time
00:28:03.440 | and the age that we're in, and the fact that nowadays, good is pretty much looked at as
00:28:08.120 | bad, and bad is looked at as good.
00:28:09.960 | But it's insane.
00:28:10.960 | Bro, I could get on social media, and the things that people are, like, glorifying as
00:28:14.880 | good are literally evil, and evil is good, and, like, that's what it talks about in the
00:28:19.560 | Bible is end times, so, like, even just talking right now, like, you inspire me to want to,
00:28:25.520 | like, help bring people in, and that's why, like, this podcast, to me, is important, because,
00:28:30.960 | like, I could have a bad basketball game and not feel like doing a podcast, but if people
00:28:36.120 | listen to this podcast and they hear our stories, because we're two people that have been through
00:28:40.280 | a lot of adversity, like, I should not, like, for me, in my story, I should not even be
00:28:44.320 | in the NBA, either, like, yeah, I was the number one player in high school, but after
00:28:48.520 | the three back surgeries, and now, you know, coming back from that, like, there's guys
00:28:53.660 | that are done after one, and there's guys, you know, the brace that I'm wearing, like,
00:28:58.040 | no one in the history of NBA has even attempted to play in a brace like that, and I'm trying
00:29:01.880 | to hoop, and it's painful, it's hard, like, adversity's hard, but the fact that it inspires,
00:29:06.080 | like, someone, like, I feel like our purpose should be to get, like, our story out there
00:29:11.800 | to get people to keep going, but like you said, the main thing is bringing people towards
00:29:15.960 | Christ, so, like, I think the fact that you shared your story, and people get to know
00:29:22.080 | you, like, that's the most important thing.
00:29:25.680 | It's hard to keep that perspective, though, like, it's hard to keep that perspective.
00:29:28.840 | - It really is, but, you know, it's something that I just take pride in, bro, like, I really
00:29:33.520 | take pride in just trying to, you know, reel people in, man, just with my story, but, you
00:29:37.760 | know, I know this is a podcast where you ask me questions, but I know you've just been
00:29:40.120 | through a lot, too, bro, like, just everything that you've been through, you know, even when
00:29:43.040 | I was over there in Denver, I had seen you, you know, recovering and stuff, you know,
00:29:46.600 | before, you know, you had signed your big deal and stuff like that, I'm like, you know,
00:29:50.560 | Mike is in here trying to, you know, get himself going and get back, but, you know, how was
00:29:54.080 | that, you know, for you as far as, like, just trying to, you know, your back injury, but
00:29:57.680 | on top of that, still, like, you know, wearing a brace, you know, right before you're about
00:30:01.160 | to go to training camp and trying to, like, 'cause you didn't play a season, you know,
00:30:04.800 | or you didn't play, like, the whole season 'cause the season just started, then it happened,
00:30:07.840 | you know, and then just trying to get back out there.
00:30:09.520 | Yeah, nobody could tell me that God isn't real either, but, like, when people ask me
00:30:13.200 | for, like, a story on why, I say, like, the contract thing because, yeah, like, I've hooped
00:30:20.600 | in this brace or whatever, like, I've hooped and I've done, like, well, like, obviously
00:30:25.440 | I'm still trying to grow, still trying to get better, still trying to heal my body,
00:30:28.640 | but I signed that contract right before I had another injury, like, and you know in
00:30:34.920 | the NBA, like, if that injury had come, 'cause I didn't play the whole season right after
00:30:38.040 | I signed the contract, and everybody's talking about, oh, it's the worst contract in NBA
00:30:41.680 | history, you know, people talking crazy, but if I had gotten hurt maybe three weeks prior,
00:30:47.560 | then, boom, that big contract, and I think the reason God allowed me to have that contract,
00:30:52.200 | and sometimes it's annoying because sometimes I never even cared to have money like that.
00:30:57.040 | I always wanted to hoop, but now, like, once you sign a big contract, people want you to
00:31:02.240 | live up to it and they expect you to be, like, consistent every game, not knowing what you're
00:31:08.040 | going through off the court, not knowing what you're, so that has been kind of hard, because
00:31:11.960 | people don't know, like, how everything I've gone through, how much, but, like, I think
00:31:19.280 | no one could tell me that God not real because he allowed me to get that contract because
00:31:22.240 | he knew, for me, you have your gifts, one of my gifts is, like, being generous, so I've
00:31:28.640 | been able to use my money, and I'm still trying to think of more ways to use it, like, in
00:31:33.840 | a way that God would be happy with, I've been able to help my family, been able to do this,
00:31:37.080 | and I never was trying to hold it onto myself, but the hard part is, like, man, people just,
00:31:41.600 | it's the people that don't understand, we understand it, bro, and it just, it's annoying
00:31:48.240 | when people, they be, like, yo, you signed a big contract, you supposed to do this, that,
00:31:54.120 | this, that, but it's, like, bro, you don't even, like, I didn't even ask for this, but
00:31:57.160 | I would've hooped for free, you could've given me a, you didn't even have to give me any
00:32:01.760 | millions of dollars, and I still would've hooped.
00:32:03.160 | Still would've hooped, bro, but this is something that they just don't see and don't understand,
00:32:08.000 | bro, you know, they looking from the outside in and not really looking at, you know, the
00:32:11.920 | inside and really what, you know, we go through on a daily basis, you know, what we're really
00:32:15.320 | dealing with, you know, and trying to overcome still to this day, like, nobody know how painful
00:32:19.560 | this, you know, still to this day, how that's feeling, you know, your back and your foot,
00:32:23.480 | they just care about, oh, he need to go out there and perform, he need to da-da-da, which
00:32:26.800 | they not even understanding, you're going out there, you're sacrificing your body, you
00:32:29.440 | know, which, you know, some people don't even like to do, they sit out the whole season
00:32:33.000 | 'til they right, you know, 'til they feeling perfect, bro, so I'm saying, but, like, I
00:32:37.480 | salute you for that, just going out there and just, you know, trying to sacrifice your
00:32:40.320 | body because I know what you're going through, but, you know, fans that's not paying attention
00:32:43.640 | to the game, or not paying attention to you, you know, as a person, they just looking through
00:32:47.040 | the TV, oh, he missed all these shots, he da-da-da, but then when you making all these
00:32:51.760 | shots, they ain't nowhere near to be found, so it's like, what you gonna say now?
00:32:55.680 | - Then you the next best, you, it's crazy.
00:32:58.680 | - Bro, it's pathetic, bro, that's why, like, I don't get into all that, bro, I just let
00:33:03.240 | people just be them, bro, I don't care, bro, I could care less, bro, they fans for a reason,
00:33:08.840 | bro, that's why they called fans, bro.
00:33:10.640 | - And, like, you made the point earlier, like, you could be the best player in the world,
00:33:13.880 | you could literally be, well, I don't really see people talking too crazy about Nikola
00:33:18.440 | 'cause he just, well, he don't even be on social media, but, like, I see people talk
00:33:21.880 | crazy about every player, Giannis, Bron, KD, any player can get talked crazy about, so
00:33:27.800 | it really is just about, um, just taking it in stride and dealing with the highs and the
00:33:32.400 | lows, like, we, at the end of the day, we're blessed, like, who cares what this person
00:33:36.360 | is doing, is in their crib, typing on the phone, like, who really is worried about what
00:33:41.040 | that's saying?
00:33:42.040 | - I don't get into all that, I'm not gonna lie, all that just be for clickbait, bro,
00:33:44.680 | I don't get into all that, I just stay in my lane, bro, they got it, they got it, bro.
00:33:51.800 | - Well, man, I think this has been, like, super inspiring, like, I don't like to keep
00:33:57.400 | people on the podcast too long, I just, when I get people on here, I have specific questions
00:34:01.320 | that I want to ask.
00:34:02.320 | - Yeah, yeah, for sure.
00:34:03.320 | - But I think, for me and you, we bond over the fact that we've both been through adversity
00:34:07.000 | and come out the other side, we're really both not supposed to be here, like, after
00:34:10.080 | things that we've been through, and you inspire me to continue to put my message out there,
00:34:16.800 | you're very bold with yours, like, on social media, and I feel like that's something that
00:34:21.320 | you rarely see now, 'cause people are so worried about being canceled, or they come off too
00:34:26.360 | strong, or, you know, the day and age we live in, people are so, like, uh, man, people are
00:34:32.160 | out there now, bro.
00:34:33.160 | - Oh, it's bad.
00:34:34.160 | - So if you are one way, like, they, you can just, and you've never been someone who cared
00:34:38.440 | about this, so I'm the same way, that's why I do this podcast, I wanna say what I feel
00:34:43.480 | without, I'm not worried about stepping on anybody's toes, 'cause we never gonna change,
00:34:47.760 | like, our opinions, so I appreciate you getting on here and saying what you need to say, bro.
00:34:51.640 | - Yeah, I like this podcast, bro, great job, man, I'm glad you're doing this, man, it's
00:34:53.720 | something that, you know, 'cause a lot of people don't even know, like, they just think,
00:34:57.600 | oh, we just supposed to just do basketball, it's basketball, basketball, basketball, basketball,
00:35:01.480 | that's not how it goes, because we made it to the league, that's not how it goes, like.
00:35:04.440 | - Shut up and dribble, nigga.
00:35:05.440 | - Yeah, like that.
00:35:06.440 | - You know what the comment said?
00:35:07.440 | Like, "Shut up and dribble."
00:35:08.440 | - I don't want you to say nothing.
00:35:09.440 | - We put the, me and AG put the parlay clip on there, put the parlay clip about, like,
00:35:16.880 | man, like, I asked him, like, bro, do you ever trip about the comments of people talking
00:35:22.760 | about the parlay, and people talking about, oh, you messed up their parlay and you lost
00:35:26.520 | the money, and we put that on Instagram, and I'm expecting people to be like, man, like,
00:35:33.760 | people shouldn't be on that, whatever, I seen the comments, shut up and dribble, nigga.
00:35:38.400 | I was like, yo, are you kidding me, these people are--
00:35:41.120 | - Bro, they ruthless, bro, they don't care, bro, they really don't care.
00:35:45.440 | But I just think we're supposed to just literally just play basketball, like, we have voices
00:35:49.280 | too, like, we have things that, other than basketball, that we're into, you know, for
00:35:53.120 | you, it's podcasts, for me, you know, it's making music and stuff like that, and just
00:35:56.920 | trying to just, you know, let people hear my message through my music, but, you know,
00:36:01.480 | that's something that, you know, I salute you on too, man, just starting a podcast and
00:36:04.880 | just getting people on here, and, like, you know, letting them, you know, you using your
00:36:08.280 | platform to, you know, help me get my story out there, that's something that I appreciate
00:36:11.480 | too, bro, thank you for having me.
00:36:12.800 | - For real, bro, now, real quick, because I did want to touch on the music real quick
00:36:15.520 | before you dip, so, you hoo, but you also do the music on the side, is that something
00:36:20.360 | like therapeutic to you, are you trying to get a message out there, what is the whole
00:36:24.400 | music thing about, 'cause you're actually nice, remember I was singing a song that one?
00:36:30.200 | So what's the whole music about?
00:36:31.400 | - Oh, man, so, like, you know, back, you know, in 2018, you know, with the tragedy thing
00:36:35.160 | that I was telling you about, you know, what happened to me, you know, my family, I was
00:36:38.520 | on, like, house-rest, like, bed-rest, basically, like, I couldn't, like, leave the house, you
00:36:42.920 | know, I was recovering, you know, with my patella tendon, I was down for, like, six,
00:36:46.120 | seven months, bro, and I really couldn't do nothing, but I was in a crib with all my
00:36:49.580 | boys and shit, so I was just chillin', but I always had, like, a voice where I can, like,
00:36:53.440 | you know, sing and, like, harmonize beats and stuff like that, and so I'm like, man,
00:36:58.000 | maybe I can give it a shot, but, like, my homeboys, they could, like, they really know
00:37:00.780 | how to rap, so I'm like, ah, let me try this hook thing, I'ma just make the hook, and y'all
00:37:05.000 | make the verses, and we gon' see where we go from there, so, you know, I just start
00:37:08.680 | writing hooks down, and it just went from there, and a lot of people like, man, like,
00:37:12.800 | this John Hart, like, we rockin' with this, y'all was flowin', bro, but this was, like,
00:37:17.800 | 2018, 2019, we started doin' shows, bro, like, gettin' paid for shows.
00:37:22.180 | - Like, back at the crib?
00:37:24.620 | - Yes, bro, we was goin' around the whole Wilmington, bro, gettin' paid for shows, bro,
00:37:27.480 | we was turnin' it up, bro, like, yes, bro, we was havin' the ball.
00:37:30.440 | I'm in there with the brace on, with the crutches, performin'.
00:37:34.300 | Bro, I was goin', I ain't gonna lie, I had a lot of fun, even though, like, that was
00:37:39.400 | a very low moment of my life, like, I really had a lot of fun, though, like, 2018, 2019,
00:37:44.700 | but that really got me into the music, though, bro, then I dropped a single, and it went
00:37:48.200 | crazy in the hook, bro.
00:37:49.200 | - Which one is that again?
00:37:50.200 | - It's called "We Gon' Shine."
00:37:51.200 | - What's the one I was singin' that one, though?
00:37:53.120 | - It might be, is it the new one?
00:37:55.560 | - Nah, it's the older one, I think, I gotta look it up, but where do you wanna take the
00:38:00.040 | music?
00:38:01.040 | You wanna, like, actually, like, this is, like, a real thing you do?
00:38:04.840 | - Yeah, 'cause, like, the message that I put in my songs, bro, they're so inspiring to
00:38:09.360 | other people, like, you know, what they're goin' through, and they can relate to me
00:38:12.920 | through my music, so it's like, damn, like, I feel what he's sayin', I, you know, just
00:38:17.000 | the background, how I came up and stuff, you know, what I've been through in my life, you
00:38:20.200 | know, just puttin' that all in a song, they like, yeah, like, that's somethin' I can listen
00:38:24.160 | to, you know, 'cause I really don't sound like, you know, I sound like a real rapper,
00:38:28.440 | bro, and they like, damn.
00:38:29.440 | - She do, that's right.
00:38:30.440 | - Like, damn, this music is really gold, bro, so, I'm like, damn, I'ma just keep puttin'
00:38:34.560 | music out.
00:38:35.560 | I haven't dropped an album for, like, a year, they was on my ass about droppin' an album,
00:38:38.920 | so many people.
00:38:39.920 | - I saw on Instagram, the little clip, and people was goin' crazy.
00:38:42.920 | - Yes, bro, the scar video that I had dropped, but, yeah, they was goin' crazy over the music,
00:38:47.120 | bro, they love it, bro, so I'ma definitely just keep goin' with it.
00:38:49.400 | I feel like it's gonna be great worldwide, I can't wait 'til so many more people hear
00:38:52.840 | my music, bro.
00:38:53.840 | - Especially when you get back, and you're killin' on the court, like you're goin' to
00:38:57.000 | very soon.
00:38:58.000 | - Yeah, facts.
00:38:59.000 | - And then you're doin' the music on top, bro, keep sharin' your message, like, even
00:39:02.280 | though your story is so painful, like, that is an inspiring story, bro, and it's a testimony
00:39:08.160 | to God.
00:39:09.160 | - Exactly.
00:39:10.160 | - God says, like, your testimony will bring, people's testimony will bring other people
00:39:14.520 | to him.
00:39:15.520 | - Exactly.
00:39:16.520 | - So that is, you know, you can really do that, bro, but I appreciate you for bein'
00:39:19.880 | you, dog, and I appreciate you, I know you was scared to hop on the podcast, but I hope
00:39:25.160 | I didn't ask you too many crazy questions, bro, but I appreciate you.
00:39:27.880 | - Nah, it was perfect, bro, it was perfect, man, I had a dope time here, bro, for sure,
00:39:30.440 | thank you for that, bro, for sure.
00:39:32.280 | - Curious Mike out.
00:39:33.280 | Yes, sir.
00:39:34.280 | Yes, sir.
00:39:35.280 | - My guy, dog, it's a great job, dog, for sure, man, you my guy, I ain't gonna lie,
00:39:44.400 | I really don't be doin' the podcast, bro.
00:39:47.400 | But it just always blow up, bro, and you know, everybody does everything for clickbait, bro.
00:39:52.080 | - Everything, you know, I'm not finna put, oh, Bones Highlands talks about, you know,
00:39:57.200 | like, nah.
00:39:58.200 | - Oh my God.
00:39:59.200 | - I really wanted to get you on here, the main thing was, like, your story, bro, 'cause
00:40:02.280 | I know it's not something you really talk about a lot, but it is, it is, like, bro,
00:40:07.640 | you can change people's lives with your story, bro.
00:40:09.560 | - Yeah, thanks.
00:40:10.560 | I feel like once a lot of people, like, were over here, they gon' be like, damn, like,
00:40:13.000 | a lot of people, to this day, like, damn, that shit's fuckin' crazy, like, what really
00:40:17.000 | made it, like, viral when we played in Philly, bro, and all the people came, and you know,
00:40:21.320 | I had, you know, explained my story, but I had dropped, you know, tears, you know, in
00:40:24.680 | the press conference.
00:40:25.680 | You know, I couldn't hold it in, bro, I just dropped tears, bro, and that really, like,
00:40:30.040 | blew up, man.
00:40:31.040 | People had caught up to my story, and, like, damn, this kid is, like, inspiring, like,
00:40:35.000 | it's no way he's still going, and still smiling, he's just a joyful kid, and shit like that.
00:40:38.800 | - I can't believe that, bro, like, you literally just, you literally just was in your room
00:40:42.880 | chilling, and then you look out the door, and the flames are just going crazy.
00:40:45.720 | - Watch, man, I never seen nothing like it in my life, bro.
00:40:48.040 | Just imagine you open a door, bro, it's like, it, are you seeing this orange, blue, and,
00:40:52.400 | like, red?
00:40:53.400 | - Isn't that the craziest thing?
00:40:54.400 | - That's, yeah.
00:40:55.400 | - That's, that was really, like, some movie shit, 'cause I watch movies, bro, it's like,
00:40:58.560 | they got all the time in the world, bro, to, like, just do all this fucking thinking, and
00:41:02.760 | it's, like, you don't have that time, bro, I probably was in that room for, like, three
00:41:06.320 | minutes, bro.
00:41:07.320 | - And then you just was ready to give up, and just--
00:41:09.160 | - Yeah, bro, I was gonna go, bro, I'm not gonna lie.
00:41:11.160 | - I can't believe that, bro.
00:41:12.160 | - I was gonna go, like, the whole room was just cloudy, and just full of, like, just
00:41:16.480 | black smoke just coming in, and I'm like, nah, but, you know, God's voice is so powerful,
00:41:21.240 | bro, like--
00:41:22.240 | - But you heard it, you heard it.
00:41:23.240 | - Yes, bro, I swear, I was sitting there on, on my knees, bro, just ready just to go, bro,
00:41:27.000 | I just, I was like, damn, like, all right, if it's my time, it's my time, like, you know,
00:41:30.800 | I ain't, I feel like, you know, when God gives his time to people, it's like, you know, he's
00:41:33.400 | calling them home, so I'm like, all right, it is what it is, like, I'm just gonna go,
00:41:36.720 | but, bro, his voice so powerful, bro, I just heard it in my, in my head, bro, just get
00:41:40.640 | up, I got you, like, just get up.
00:41:42.080 | - And then the reason your little nephew survived was because your grandma--
00:41:45.360 | - My grandma was hovering over him.
00:41:46.360 | - Hovered over him, and she was burnt, charcoal, and then he survived.
00:41:49.720 | - Yep, mm-hmm, right over top, bro.
00:41:51.560 | - Yeah, bro, he was, he said he was three weeks old.
00:41:53.600 | - Three weeks, yeah.
00:41:54.600 | - I just can't believe, like, the smoke inflation.
00:41:56.760 | - It's the grace of God, it was so crazy, like, literally went to the hospital that night,
00:42:00.960 | like, my grandma, she didn't, like, say she passed away yet, I think it, like, got to
00:42:06.960 | her, like, almost the next day, like, the middle of the night, it said she passed, but, like,
00:42:11.040 | I just kept hearing my, like, my nephew, he's, like, he has a chance to make it, like, he's
00:42:15.760 | alive, like, I'm like, I'm like, wow, this is fucking crazy, bro, like, but they sent
00:42:20.400 | up my other baby cousin that passed, but we literally had one more, just, like, just here,
00:42:25.040 | and it's just the grace of God, bro, like, it's just crazy.
00:42:27.840 | - Wait, who ran in, was it the ambulance that ran in there and got them, or who was it?
00:42:30.800 | - Yeah, yeah, the ambulance ran in there and got them, but it, like, the, I live, like,
00:42:35.600 | literally down the street from the fire station, they took so long to get there, I'm like,
00:42:41.040 | bro, like, I swear to God, I can walk down there, like, I'm like, bro, it's literally
00:42:45.360 | two blocks away, I don't understand what the fuck is taking so long, but they took forever
00:42:49.760 | to get there, but, yeah, when they had walked out and walked them out on the stretcher thing,
00:42:53.280 | man, that shit was, like, really scary to see, dog, but I'm just glad, like, I have,
00:42:58.400 | like, you know, you know, Lil Izzy here to, like, 'cause he don't really know, but, like,
00:43:03.680 | he asked me, like, you know, we survived the fire, da-da, like, and he don't really know
00:43:08.560 | what he really overcame, though, it's just, like, kind of--
00:43:10.560 | - He's five now?
00:43:11.200 | - Yeah, he's five now, yeah, yeah, he don't really know, though, I'm just, like, damn,
00:43:14.160 | like, he's starting to catch on a little bit, so I know eventually, though, he gonna ask
00:43:17.840 | me, like, you know, what happened, and, you know, 'cause he be, like, oh, I survived the
00:43:23.280 | house fire, da-da-da, and I'm, like, damn, how the fuck do you know this, like, he catch
00:43:28.480 | on, though, but I know eventually, though, he gonna, like, yeah, he, bro, everybody loves
00:43:33.440 | him, bro, he still, oh, my God, he remembers your name, bro, yes, bro, he don't forget
00:43:38.000 | nobody name, bro, he dead-ass remembers your name, bro, he is crazy, dog, like, everybody
00:43:43.680 | on the team, he don't forget nobody name, bro.
00:43:45.440 | - Nah, he cool.
00:43:46.720 | - He, like, you know, shine your O-team, the Debra Nuggets, you play with the new team,
00:43:51.920 | the Clippers.