What's up, y'all? I'm back with another episode of "Carry's Mike." We got a legend in the building, you know what I'm saying? My dude, Dwight Howard. I appreciate you hopping on the show, bro. Yes, sir. Thanks for having me. Yes, sir. I want to start off in the basketball space, then we're going to transition a little bit, but I know, obviously, you were doing your thing overseas for a while, then you did the big three for a little bit.

Where are you at now with the whole basketball thing? Are you still pursuing that, or what's going on with that right now? Oh, yeah, I'm going to play in the big three again. You in there? Yeah, I like to be able to have a little travel time during the summer where I can play some basketball, do some business, travel with the wife and kids, and just enjoy life, you know?

I think that's the best part about it, you know, still be able to be a little competitive, but really, man, just enjoy the fans and enjoy the atmosphere and just life. It's dope that they even created that, because I know when I'm done or whatever, even when I'm done in the NBA, I can see me doing what you did and go overseas, enjoy life over there for a little bit, then do the big three.

This past season, I think Beasley and them won the championship. How would it feel for you to win that? How far did y'all go? I've seen a couple clips of you getting into it with some people, you know what I mean? How was that experience, and how far did your team make it?

The experience was like being a rookie in the NBA. It was like starting all the way over, you know, regardless of the fact that I done played 20 dang years in the NBA, did all these accomplishments. It's like actually starting basketball all over, so it was a real rookie year.

I hit a wall for a second where I'm trying to figure out what's going on, how the game is being repped, how it's being played. And then we made it one game to the finals, so the last game we played, we would have went to the finals. If we would have won that game, we would have went to the finals.

Did y'all have a squad? We did have a squad. Y'all did? Yeah, I think we just, little injuries here and there, knick-knack injuries. We had three rookies, and we was really just trying to learn how to play the game together. And I think sometimes it take a little minute, and I'm hungry for next season.

That's fire. I'm hungry for next season. I ain't going to even front. I'm like ... You're locked? Yeah, I'm locked. I was like, I'm going to take a couple months off, a couple months off to like chill, get my mind right, figure out, and then go hard, get ready for the season.

So like at that point, like if you're playing in the big three, like is that just for the love of the game? Because obviously you made your money, you did your thing, you're not doing it for the bread. Like is that just because you want to hoop and feel that competitiveness, or are these dudes, are the stars in that league getting a little check, or how does that work?

Well, it's for the love of the game. And it's also to spread the game of basketball, not just here in America, but internationally. So many people who play, so many people who hoop, and so many guys who played in the NBA overseas who still want to hoop. And the big three is really the only summertime basketball in the States.

So it's like everybody's watching, everybody wants to come to the games. And the WNBA ends around the end of the time that the big three ends. So that's the only thing everybody's watching. So the guys that play, old NBA players, you got some guys who played in the ball is life, in the Drew league and stuff like that.

And I love it, man. It's fun. Now the refs, it's crazy sometimes, but that's in all sports. I mean, we're all, you got different levels of basketball. Everybody's talking about the refs, but once I started to understand how things is going to work, and it took all the way into the All-Star game, which was the last game for me to understand it, but I'm like, "That's cool.

We played eight games." Rob Markman: So you're good. Yeah, you locked in for next season. Talk about Mike Beasley. They treat him like he's brawn in that league. Obviously, there's a lot of conversation about him and his ability, his one-on-one ability. He's in all these talks of being one of the best pure hoopers that never really made it big in the league.

Do you see the same thing? Do you see that from him? I just love this atmosphere for him. He's had so many ups and downs, and life has been a roller coaster. He's expressed so much to people that he's getting celebrated, and he's the face of a league, and he should be proud to represent, to be the face of something, a league, period, when a lot of people counted him out, so when they look around, they talk about the big three.

Obviously, they mentioned myself playing and stuff like that, but he's here. He's been here for a while in the big three. He's made the big three super popular in his one-on-one games and stuff like that, and then what he did with Lance, it just amped up the big three this summer, because they're like, "Okay, Lance and him playing one-on-one, who's going to win?" Lance has been in the league.

He stayed a little bit longer than B's did, so who's going to win the matchup? B's win, and you just take off. They had the whole summer on lock, as far as the big three and how they played, and I'm proud and happy for him, man. That's real big.

Yeah, it was all over social media. I was happy for him, too, because I've watched a couple of his interviews, like you said. His path, his ups and downs, I'm happy that he gets to experience that stardom. You obviously are still in tip-top shape. We talked about it a little bit yesterday on your podcast, but you leaned up a little bit, but you still feel really good, and right now, where you're at now, if they were to insert you in an NBA game and tell you, "Go guard, Nikola Jokic," how do you feel like right now, that would go?

Just today? Just, not today, but how do you feel like- If you give me some time- How old are you right now? I'm 39. How do you feel physically, if they were to throw you out there in an NBA game, how would that go? If I get some training, I'm on go.

Really? Yeah. You still feel pretty good? Yeah, I do. I'm still out there ducking and doing everything. That's dope. So, I think from training as a kid, and getting those reps in, repetition, my body has that muscle memory, just like a shooter or somebody who do anything else. My body's just used to getting in shape or being in shape, so I can take some time off, but my body know, "Okay, it's time to get back to it." Yeah.

I be telling people in the bubble, like when we played y'all, we talked about it a little bit on your podcast yesterday, but you, cycling you, JaVale, but really you, the way you guarding Nikola was special, and your presence was a big reason for that Lakers championship. Talk about the challenge Nikola presents on the floor, because not a lot of people have firsthand experience guarding him.

And obviously, you're great in your own right, one of the best centers ever, but at that point in your career, guarding him in the bubble, what was your main focus? Talk about the challenges it presents guarding him. It was so much fun playing against him, even at that stage in my career, because that was my only job, was to lock in on defense on him.

So I was able to just focus on how could I agitate him, what I needed to do to pressure him the whole game. And I saw when you gave him a lot of space, he's able to attack, get comfortable, go either way, up and unders, get up to his pull-ups, anything, I'm like, "Nah, I can't let him do that." So as soon as I see the coach look down to the end of the bench and say, "Let's go," I'm looking down at the end of the bench too, and I'm like, "Oh, you going in?

Let's go. I'm ready." And that's the whole, my whole mindset is I'm going to mimic him, I'm mirroring him. And that took a lot of mental energy, because he's a tough player, he's super smart, and he played the game, and a lot of people don't see his strength because they don't see the muscles and stuff like that.

He's like one of those heavy guys, and they're just big and stuff like that. They don't have to be super, super muscular, but they got strength in the back downs and stuff like Nurkic. He don't look strong, but he's strong back and down and stuff like that. So, you know, I enjoyed that matchup.

And at that point in my career, I was fighting for my life, so I'm like, "I got to do whatever I can to make sure I can get two, three more years in this league." And if I stop this man and we win the championship, you know, that's all I was thinking about the whole time in the bubble.

We beat them. We beat him. I'm getting another contract. Rob Markman: Yeah. Nah. I mean, you played a huge role in that. That series, watching how y'all went about y'all's rotations, it was special. Rob Markman: I got to give y'all y'all's flowers. I mean, so since you've been in the league, we talked a little bit about the best big men of all time and all that yesterday, but since you've been in the league and seen what there is to see and played against all these bigs, who would you say are the top few guys that you've really matched up against?

Rob Markman: From playing now? Rob Markman: Yeah, just throughout your whole journey, who are some dudes that you would rank as some of those top three, four bigs? Rob Markman: Oh man. Dude, I played a long time. Rob Markman: I know, that's why. I don't want to go all the way back to all time, because you wasn't on the court with them.

Rob Markman: Oh, guys that I was on the court with. Rob Markman: Guys that you were matched up with on the court with. Rob Markman: Okay, Mark Jackson, big Mark Jackson, who played in Philly. Rob Markman: He was like that? Rob Markman: Well, he's a coach in Philly now, well, he does TV in Philly, but he was like that.

Rob Markman: Rasheed Wallace, he was super nice and strong, could turn around, jump shot is up here. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: Centers, Kendrick Perkins for defense, because he was, back then you could do anything to me on defense. Rob Markman: Yeah, they was hacking. Rob Markman: Oh my God.

Rob Markman: But Kendrick was, I've been playing against him since high school, so that was a great battle. Rob Markman: Boogie, because he got the handles and everything, but we went at it and we always got fouls on each other, so that was a crazy matchup, but me and Shaq.

Rob Markman: I gotta go back and watch those matchups with you and Boogie. Rob Markman: It was always me and him getting into it for something and then we on the bench. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: And so I thought that was his tactic, like, all right, I see what he's doing, he's just trying to get me out of my game.

Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: And it did work sometimes. I'm like, man, I'm getting fouled too much and I gotta do something. Rob Markman: But again, that was the game plan. Rob Markman: For me, I struggled against ... Rob Markman: You said Shaq? Rob Markman: Yeah, Shaq was ...

Shaq was tough because he was 395 pounds. Rob Markman: So he was like ... Because obviously at that time, you were one of the strongest dudes to play in the league. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: Was Shaq way stronger than you? Rob Markman: He was just heavy and he's 7'2", 7'3", I'm really 6'9", 6'10", and that's giving up a lot of height, size, and everything and I just tried to make sure I kept him out.

Any time we played, meet him at half court and just keep fighting from half court all the way down. Don't let him get anywhere in the paint 'cause it's over with. Rob Markman: So imagine when he was 25 and he running like a gazelle. Rob Markman: He was actually moving at that.

Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: That's crazy. Rob Markman: So that was a real tough one. Rob Markman: Yao Ming. Rob Markman: Problem? Rob Markman: Yao Ming. Rob Markman: Turnaround jump shot. You could not stop it or block it. Rob Markman: I'm telling you, that was the one 'cause he's 7'5", and he had the elbow jump shot, turn around jump shot, right hand hook, and he's strong.

He's strong. Rob Markman: That's crazy. Rob Markman: You got the perspective, playing as long as you did, you got a crazy perspective on the big man position and how it's transitioned. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: You really seen the traditional back down center go dunk on you to the stretch 5s that can shoot.

Rob Markman: There's nobody in the paint. Rob Markman: You know what I mean? You've seen the Nicola Jokicis and the Joel Embiid with all the skill, but you've also seen the Shaqs. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: And then you got a unique perspective. Rob Markman: Now. Rob Markman: So those are the dudes you would say like ...

Rob Markman: Joel. Rob Markman: There's so many, that's what I'm saying. Rob Markman: Nah, I got to give Embiid his props, like I know I played on his team, and when he played against me, we were both ... when he was super young, but dude, nice. Rob Markman: Yeah.

Rob Markman: And I felt like if he would have stayed healthy, he would probably be the, at that time, the only player who I could see one-on-one, if he was playing Shaq one-on-one, like giving him problems. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: Because he know how to play the game.

Rob Markman: Like, he know how to draw fouls, he know how to do all the euro steps, he got the jump shot, he got the whole package. So 100% healthy Joel is a problem. He top ... he could be top 10. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: And then, obviously, the Joker, you know, I met him during my latter years and his super young years, but watching what he's doing is crazy, and it's like, I be watching, this dude's actually trying to play defense, or is he really just killing these dudes like this.

Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: That's why I got to give you so much flowers, because these dudes really be trying to give him ... they give him no issues. You're probably one of the only dudes that I've seen, actually, somewhat ... Rob Markman: Give him some resistance and all that.

Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: That's why it's so crazy. I see him do whatever he wants. Rob Markman: I've been watching the games, I promise you, and I'll be like, "Okay, are they afraid to foul? What's going on?" But then, I just said, "You know what? He got so many weapons." Rob Markman: And then he actually got better.

Rob Markman: He got better. Rob Markman: He got so much better. Rob Markman: Since even when you seen him in the bubble. Rob Markman: I saw him win his first MVP, but then somehow it was just like, he kept getting better. Rob Markman: I don't know. Rob Markman: I really think when we played them in the bubble, I think that lit a fire in him.

Rob Markman: Like, "Man, no way. I got to win now. I got to go back and get better." Rob Markman: And then, I could tell in his game, I watched him slam down a little bit, you know, I could just see burst when he's playing, he's moving faster, he's getting into actions fast.

I'm watching before the games, he's doing dunks and stuff, so I'm like, I ain't do actually like, he took his game to another level. Rob Markman: Between him, Joel, right now, they're the top two, and then you got Carl, who's obviously been killing. Rob Markman: Yeah, man, you mentioned Shaq earlier, obviously y'all have had y'alls like, you know, battles on the court, and then obviously off the court, y'all have gone back and forth a couple of times, but recently, it seems like y'all have rekindled that a little bit, which is dope to see.

What was the reasoning for like, some of the off-court look, you know, stuff, and then how did y'all kind of like, come back around and be cool? Rob Markman: To be honest, bro, I don't even know where a lot of stuff came from. Rob Markman: I think it was a lot of outside people putting bugs in our ear, making us go against each other.

Because on my end, I never had any issue with him. This is somebody I watched growing up as a kid, you know what I'm saying? Rob Markman: I remember being in 11th grade, watching him beat up on, rest in peace, Dikembe Mutombo. Rob Markman: There's another center I played against, which is crazy that I played against Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourin.

There's so many bigs that I'm just thinking about, I have to mention one name to think about a whole list that I played against, who's legends in their own right. Rob Markman: Man, just thinking about that is just- Rob Markman: Yeah, nah, that's crazy. Rob Markman: Nah, nah. Rob Markman: It's dope to see you and Shaq kind of like, because y'all are both legends.

Talk about the dunk contest because to me, besides your dunk contest and you doing the Superman thing and all that, since then, the only memorable one has been the Aaron Gordon and Zach Levine dunk contest a little bit, there's been a couple other ones, maybe, but in my head, those are the two memorable ones.

How do you think, in terms of the All-Star weekend, they can bring back the excitement surrounding that? Is it even possible? Talk about that a little bit. Rob Markman: I think we done seen everything there is to see, and so everybody's so, they're used to it. Rob Markman: Desensitizing it.

Somebody go behind the back between the- Rob Markman: And they're like, "Oh, somebody did that before." Rob Markman: But then it's like, this is so hard to do. These dunks is crazy. What can we do to help All-Star weekend? I think the one-on-one aspect, if guys play one-on-one, I think it'd be cool and interesting to see how these players are looking in a one-on-one situation in front of the whole world watching and then TV and stuff like that.

I think that'd be cool to see, because players might be good playing one-on-one at the practice facility or at the arena where nobody's there and stuff like that, but now it's an actual one-on-one. Everybody in the whole world watching, and you got money on the line. Rob Markman: Do you think anybody should be able to get into that one-on-one competition, or do you think there should be one for wing players, one for guards, and then one for big men?

Or do you think there should be just one thing? Because you can't put Joel up against a John Morant. You know what I'm saying? Rob Markman: You can't. Yeah. Rob Markman: Because I agree with you. That'd be fine. I think you should have two, probably two different sides, two different winners, like bigs or wings to bigs, and then a certain height, would you say height requirement?

Rob Markman: Yeah, maybe like a 6'8" to a 7'8". Rob Markman: What about a 6'7" and down, since that's a new thing. Rob Markman: Yeah, yeah. Rob Markman: My kids be saying 6'7" make it 6'7" and down, that'd be pretty fine. Rob Markman: Nah, that would be fine. Rob Markman: But the one-on-one contest, I think that'll bring a lot of attention because then you'll get to see who's the best one-on-one player in the world.

Like you can actually, you will know like, "Oh, shoot." Just think about if out of all people, somebody we least expect to go crazy and win the one-on-one battle. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: Or they put, everybody who want to get in, got to put money into the pot, how much they think.

Rob Markman: Bet on themselves. Rob Markman: Yeah, bet on yourself. Rob Markman: That's the only time where you actually could bet on yourself. Rob Markman: That might be fine. Rob Markman: Hey, bet on yourself. How much you putting up? Rob Markman: You can put it all in the pot.

Rob Markman: Yeah, we put it all in the pot. Rob Markman: If you're really that confident, you put an "M" in the pot. Rob Markman: Or like, you know, everybody puts the money in the pot and then, yeah. Rob Markman: And then they all go to something good for charity, something we can all give back to for the world.

Rob Markman: Who do you think would win the guard if, say, players from six foot to six seven? Rob Markman: Who would win? Rob Markman: Who would play? Rob Markman: Who's winning that one-on-one right now in the league? Rob Markman: Oh, oh man. Rob Markman: JT is 6'8", ain't he?

Rob Markman: Yeah, JT is a little taller. Rob Markman: SGA. Rob Markman: SGA. Rob Markman: You got SGA, you got Ant, you got like D-Book, you got who else? Rob Markman: You got Trae Young. Rob Markman: Nah, Trae's too small. Rob Markman: Too small for him? Rob Markman: Defensively.

Rob Markman: That's true. Rob Markman: I'm going to have to go with A-Town legend, Anthony Edwards. Rob Markman: For real? Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: It would be hard to beat him one-on-one. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: Especially one-on-one. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: Because he can shoot.

Rob Markman: He's strong. Rob Markman: Now I'm going to tell you who Sleepers is in that group. Rob Markman: Nah, they going to be in the tall group. Rob Markman: But they're Sleepers in the big group. Rob Markman: The A-man, the Thompson, the A-man. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: Because he'll defend and he's actually- Rob Markman: And they both strong and crafty.

Rob Markman: They not like real big, but they like wiry strong and they got bounce. Rob Markman: They can play good defense. Rob Markman: You know what I'm saying? Rob Markman: That's some Sleepers for sure. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: I just don't know if they can- Rob Markman: They can shoot well enough.

Rob Markman: If they can shoot enough. Rob Markman: How far you think you'll get? Rob Markman: One-on-one? Rob Markman: I know you'll go crazy. Rob Markman: There's not a lot of people to me that like, I don't lose that often one-on-one. Rob Markman: Some people might win a spot, but not a lot of people is beating me one-on-one.

Rob Markman: I remember my favorite one-on-one I ever had was me and Jason Tatum were both on a visit to Mizzou. Rob Markman: And there's a picture of us, it was like me, JT, and Tremaine Isabel who was playing at Mizzou at that time. Rob Markman: And it was us three playing King of the Court.

Rob Markman: And he was in college, I think I was like a sophomore, junior in high school. I think JT was a senior in high school. Rob Markman: And we were both on a visit and we were playing King of the Court and it always ended up being just me versus him because we was killing Tremaine who was playing at Mizzou.

But that's probably my favorite one-on-one I ever had. Rob Markman: We both, I think we both split a game. Rob Markman: But it's crazy because JT, he's from Missouri. He actually played on my AAU team growing up. He played a couple of years with me. He was living in St.

Louis. He came down to Indiana to play with my team a couple of times. Rob Markman: Y'all the same age? Rob Markman: He's a year older than me. Rob Markman: A year older than you older. Rob Markman: But yeah, that's probably my favorite one-on-one I ever did. Rob Markman: But yeah, in the summertime when I'm playing Dudes and Ones, normally I win.

Rob Markman: So I don't know. Rob Markman: For you, you're obviously such a lighthearted, good dude. Rob Markman: You love to smile. Rob Markman: You always have good vibes. Rob Markman: But for a lot of people towards the end of their career, they kind of see their role change and all that.

Rob Markman: It's hard for them to accept that and it's hard for them to still maintain that good energy and they still want a bigger role and this and that. Rob Markman: And even for you transitioning out of the NBA to overseas, how did you, were you able to stay motivated and stay kind of just grateful and stay happy?

Rob Markman: Because I feel like that's rare. Rob Markman: You know what I'm saying? Rob Markman: So how was that for you? Rob Markman: I did. Rob Markman: I was super happy about just having the opportunity to play and stuff like that. Rob Markman: But to be honest, man, there were moments where I was pissed off and stuff like that.

Rob Markman: Like, dang, I really want to play. Rob Markman: You know, I'm busting my ass during the summer to get in shape. Rob Markman: I'm staying healthy during the season. Rob Markman: I'm doing whatever is needed. Rob Markman: Man, I just want a couple of minutes out there.

Rob Markman: You know what I'm saying? Rob Markman: I feel like, especially if our team not doing as well, you know, like when I played with the Lakers and it was Russ and Melo and all of us on the team, you know, I tried to find as much joy and passion as I could.

Rob Markman: But I was on the bench and I wasn't playing a lot. Rob Markman: And I'm like, man, I went to the team. Rob Markman: We don't want the championship before. Rob Markman: And I'm back here now. Rob Markman: And I'm not playing like I really there was moments where I was getting depressed.

Rob Markman: But then I started thinking like, man, I'm just grateful to be alive. Rob Markman: I'm going to just play this out the best way I can. Rob Markman: And I'm going to see what's going to happen next. Rob Markman: That's dope. Rob Markman: Well man, congratulations, you in the Hall of Fame.

Rob Markman: Oh man. Rob Markman: You know what I'm saying? Rob Markman: On the way over here, I saw the clip of you actually finding out that you were in the Hall of Fame like that. Rob Markman: You weren't on that show. Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: I think it was the show Inside, right?

Rob Markman: Inside, yeah. Rob Markman: First Ballot Hall of Famer. Rob Markman: Talk about just even that whole thing. Rob Markman: I know you broke down. Rob Markman: It was emotional for you. Rob Markman: Just because I feel like, yeah, just talk about that. Rob Markman: Because a lot of people just forget how dominant and how special you were.

Rob Markman: How special of a person you are and how special of a player you are. Rob Markman: But just that moment being inducted First Ballot Hall of Famer, how was that for you? Rob Markman: It was crazy because I didn't get an opportunity to have my phone before any of this happened.

Rob Markman: So I was in the house filming this show. Rob Markman: And they had told me before I went in that I was going to get a call about something during the week. Rob Markman: So, you know, I didn't really know what it was going to be for.

Rob Markman: So when I got it, they told me that to come out and leave to get the call. Rob Markman: And when I saw Hall of Fame, like on the ID, I was like, "Oh my God." Rob Markman: Yeah. Rob Markman: And so I pick up and he starts, you know, telling me the statistics and the numbers on like how, how many is in the Hall of Fame, how many, like 450 people in the Hall of Fame.

Rob Markman: And he's explaining this to me. Rob Markman: And while he's doing that, I could just see in the back of my head all the moments as a child of me working out, running up hills, doing sprints on the track, all these different moments. Rob Markman: And I just started boohoo crying.

Rob Markman: And I cried for about 45 minutes just thinking about everything. Rob Markman: I'm like, "Man, I'm in." Rob Markman: He's like, "Dwight, you here, man. Rob Markman: We'll see you. Rob Markman: Some month he told me, "When you get back, we're going to do this thing here at San Antonio for you and it's going to be great." Rob Markman: And it was crazy, man.

Rob Markman: All the hard work and dedication that I had for the sport, you know, that was the only thing that I was happy about. Rob Markman: I didn't care about, like people say, "What do you think about the naysayers?" Rob Markman: And people was worried about this. Rob Markman: I'm like, "Man, I wasn't even thinking about that." Rob Markman: Because the only thing at that moment was I had put in so much work and I could see it.

Rob Markman: And so now it's like I'm validated. Rob Markman: Now I can go anywhere and tell people, "If you want to get to the top, I got the recipe. Rob Markman: I know how to get there, man. Rob Markman: And I got proof. Rob Markman: I got proof." Rob Markman: So, you know, it's just such an honor and a blessing.

Rob Markman: And I'm so thankful that, you know, God just gave me life to be able to be able to inspire people to just go do anything and believe that they can. 100%. Rob Markman: That's fire, man. Yeah, I mean, you were every hooper. I mean, people dream of being in the NBA, you know?

But once you're in the NBA, people dream of being an all-star. But then, like, if you were an all-star, people dream about being in the Hall of Fame. Rob Markman: Yes, that is true. Rob Markman: So, for you, where does that accomplishment rank? Like, there's been moments in your career where you've, you know, won a championship or been given, you know, your first all-star appearance or this or that.

Like, where does that rank in terms of just the moment that happened? Where does that stack in terms of accomplishments for you? 100%. Rob Markman: I feel like it's, as far as with sports and everything I've done, it's the greatest. It has to be the greatest because it kind of, like, sums up all the things that I did because it validates it as well.

But it's like, okay, championship, all-stars, all these, that comes from hard work. And all that hard work, the dedication, the sacrifice, it led to this orange jacket and getting into heaven. That's what it felt like. You know, as a Christian, it felt like hearing, you know, passing away and waking up at the pearly gates and hearing God say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Like, that's how it felt.

Like, I'm like, dang, man, I'm really in the pearly gates forever. Like, my name is forever. Like, that was the only thing I could think of, like, every time people see Howard is going to be associated with Hall of Fame. You know what I'm saying? And that's the greatest honor you could have as a hooper, like, to know you represent basketball forever.

That's elite, man. You, on the court, solidify a legend forever. But you also, like, off of the court, you know, personality-wise, you're into all these different things. You're doing your thing right now. You found out about the Hall of Fame on that show. Talk about, you know, we talked about a couple of the experiences you've done the past couple of years off the court.

But talk about that show and what you got out of that and how that went. The show was actually, I think all these shows I do, I find the best in it. And that's why I have so much fun. That's why we come out these shows having newfound friendships and newfound love for these different things in life.

Because I go in with the intent to grow in all areas, grow in relationships with these people, get out of my comfort zone, all these different things. So getting in this show was like, I'm going to be around a lot of young people. Like, it's going to be crazy.

Like, how am I going to handle this? But it was exactly what, you know, I needed at that point in my life. So I was grateful that God put me in that position to be there. It's like everything always happens how it's supposed to happen. So being on that show, meeting the people that we met, being a part of Netflix, it was like all a part of something that I dreamed about in my head.

Because I'm like, man, I'm telling my partner, Mu, yo, man, I want to do some stuff with Netflix. I see us doing some movies and stuff with Netflix. The next thing you know, we're on Netflix. I'm like, this is wild. You got to really watch what you say, because whatever you speak, man, it's powerful.

Yeah. Yeah. That's a fact. A lot of people, I feel like, post-NBA career, post-athletic career, they kind of view their life now as they just get to chill, get fat, lay back, relax. You talked yesterday about just how you really still continue to try to challenge your mind. You went in the dark room for three days, no phone, you know what I'm saying?

You're doing the shows, you're challenging yourself. You say you got lit on fire just so that mentally you're continuing to evolve. And I feel like that's very rare for someone post-career. Even me, I know I'm always going to be seeking to grow, but to really challenge myself mentally, that's very unique, I feel like.

I've seen a lot of NBA players retire, they be chilling, getting fat. What about you, what is making you want to continue to grow so much? Oh man. You know what I'm saying? That's a good question. Because I swear what I said, I said when I was playing, when I'm done playing, I'm just going to sleep.

Yeah. Every day. But then I realized, man, life is so beautiful and there's so much out here to do. Why would I waste it? Yes, I played basketball and yes, I was able to do such a great job that I was a master in what I did, which allowed me to have an honor like the Hall of Fame.

So let me take this same recipe that I did and put it into this, which is my foundation. Put it into my, obviously my wife and my kids and my home, my business, all these different things. And let's see how far I can take all this stuff. If I can do this with myself, let's see what I can do with everybody that's on my team.

So that's where I'm at now. Yeah. I mean, you got a big reach. Like we talked a little bit about like passion over purpose and I feel like you tapping into just the reach you can have. I mean, you had reach when you hooped, but now it's the social media era where it's like you can reach a lot of people in different ways.

So I feel like you doing your thing. You mentioned your wife. That was a thing on the internet. Everybody thought you got divorced or whatever. Where did that come from? And I'm glad to hear you in a happy marriage, man. Is that just the internet taking some things and running with it?

I feel like you always get caught up in some stuff on the internet that like just be taking wings of its own. I really just feel like a lot of times when it is things that involves gossip and a lot of stuff, negativity, I feel like it's things that's trying to destroy my testimony.

And, you know, obviously people have seen in the past that I've had, you know, five kids and, you know, five different women and stuff like that. So they could probably try to make it seem like, well, he's a Christian. Why is he doing A, B, C, or D? He's done this, that, and the third.

But, you know, I was 18 when I came into the league. I didn't know nothing about nothing. And I'm sitting here from 18 looking for love in all these different areas and looking for this woman or this woman to, you know, be the person. And I wasn't even ready for any of these different things.

And so I was just grateful that God, throughout all these different things, he still blessed me with the woman that I always prayed for. And, you know, I'm just so happy about that. And I'm happy that throughout whatever was said and the media, the divorce rumors and all those different things, none of it was true.

You know, we went through whatever we went through at home together. While everyone is talking about us, we in the same house, you know? So I'm just grateful that we got past that and, you know, we're able to move forward and grow. Man, that's good to hear. I feel like for you, like, knowing you now and just being around you, like, and the energy you bring to the room and everything, it's such a light.

But I feel like, and I feel like this happens to a lot of God's, like, chosen people. Everybody makes mistakes and things like that and we as Christians need to take accountability. But I feel like your name on the internet, people have often tried to, like, tarnish the name of, like, Dwight Howard for whatever reason.

And I feel like, personally, it's like, you can look at it and be like, man, I don't care what anybody's saying. I'm ignoring it. If it's a rumor, it's a rumor. But there's also, like, a place and time where us as Christians need to take accountability, but we're also being judged by the world and we don't even want to deal with it.

So some of those things that, like, the world sees or the world hears these rumors, how do you navigate some of that stuff, like, as a Christian who wants to have a testimony? Like, how do you deal with that? Do you feel like you need to try to, like, stand up for things that people say or is some of it true and you feel like you need to take accountability?

Or, like, how do you deal with any of that stuff? Being me. Being authentically me throughout the whole whatever it is that's going on. A lot of people, when there's situations that happen with me, a lot of people want to see me stop smiling. They want to see me down.

They want to see me upset. But I'm like, for what? I know who I am. I know how I carry myself on camera, off camera, around people when nobody's around. I don't have to worry about what the world is trying to say or do to me. But there was some times where I did get upset.

There were times where I did feel hurt and cry about the things that were being said. But I handled that just like I did with anything else that I had going on in my personal, in my private space with God. God says take it to everything to your closet.

Where is your closet? Your heart. That's your secret place. You go to Him. And so, you know, when I have those issues, I just say, God, man, take care of this for me, please. And I just keep doing what I do. That's dope. I recently did a podcast with Andy Mineo, man.

Oh, yeah. He had the song "MPJ Freestyle" and we was both in the same bar. You know what I'm saying? It was early on in my career and I think the lyrics was like, "Lord, keep your hands on MPJ." That he keeps his pants on and behave. He said something about me.

Yeah, then he was like, "I don't want to see him turning out like Dwight." Yeah. Said that he'd do all things through Christ, ended up doing all... Yeah. I remember on the podcast, he had told me that you had ended up... Because even when that song came out, I was like, "Ah, I don't know." Because as a Christian, I know I'm not perfect.

I know I've done a lot of stuff that if it was to get exposed to the world, they're going to look at me crazy and look at me as a hypocrite. So when people, when they're dirty laundry or anything that anyone does gets aired out, I always have an issue with that, true or not, because I know nobody's perfect.

There's pastors and the people that are supposed to be the holiest of holy that are doing wild stuff over here. So when people... So Andy kind of knew, I was like, "Yo, are you sure you want to say that about my boy Dwight or whatever?" But in the podcast, he said that you ended up reaching out to him and just kind of explained like, "Man, believer to believer that hurt a little bit." I just told him it wasn't cool.

Yeah, I told him it wasn't cool only because he don't know... These people don't know what really be going on in our lives. Dwight have made it to a place in life where at that point it's always gossip. If you're famous, you deal with this. You deal with this.

Everyone who has some type of fame, we have to deal with people saying bad and crazy things about us. So I'm like, "Dude, why are you making a whole song telling people don't be like Dwight? Do you know Dwight? Do you know Dwight? Do you actually... Have you ever sat down and had any conversation with Dwight?

How could you ever possibly tell somebody don't be like Dwight when I got five kids and they look up to me and they want to be just like me?" He definitely regretted it. I know y'all had that. How did that conversation look like between y'all two? When he said something about it, I was just like, "I forgive you." I didn't even like...

So a lot of times if I have a feeling, I'm a person where let's say I'm talking to my homie or if I'm talking to you, I could let my feelings out and be like, "Man, yo." Like I'm saying now about Andy Mineo and him saying what he's saying.

I could say all these things to you, but I'm not holding it in my heart as something against him. I'm just letting you know, "Man, this is how this is making me feel in this moment. It's not going to be forever. It's not I'm taking this against him. I don't want to hurt him or do anything like that." It's just, "Dang, this dude, why would you say that?" I can say with my words instead of wanting to get mad and fight or go out into public and mishandle anybody.

Like there's been so many times where people have said so many things about me and I'm just like, "I still love you. I still respect you because you are a child of God now." It pissed me off, but I'm not going to take it too far because I'm going to have to end up dealing with it with God.

So I have to let it go out of my heart. I think it's remarkable how you're able to ... because a lot of people, when people say things about them, it makes them retreat. It makes them not want to deal with everybody and be like, "Man, F everybody. I'm retreating into my hole.

I don't want to smile no more. I don't want to go out in public no more." And you've almost like, somehow, that's what I'm saying, like just meeting you and just how you are and smiling and you're nice to everybody. It's remarkable to me the way that the world can try to beat somebody up, but then they still just ...

I think that shows a lot of strength. A lot of strength. Because they know ... these people know who I am at the core. I'm authentic with ... I don't ... I've never been different. I've been the same way my whole life. People have met me and said, "Man, you ain't changed.

You still doing this?" I've been doing this since I was a baby. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, "No, I'm not going to change who I am." And I think the fact that I am this way, by them talking about me and saying these different things, they want me to be a different way and change up and say, "See?

This is how he is for real. This is him." And since I'm not doing it, it's another story, another this, another that, another something to try to knock me off of who I am. So it's like, "Man, no, I'm not going to do that. I am going to be me." Like, I tell ...

I stopped telling people this story because I don't know how my mom felt about keeping hearing how she lost so many kids. But my mom lost seven kids. I was supposed to be the number eight one that died. So I have a chance to see this place. So every moment I'm alive, I'm going to live it to the fullest.

Because when it's over, it's over. So I'm going to enjoy it. My mom went through a couple of miscarriages as well. I read that about you and your story and kind of that story you just mentioned. Because my mom ... There's eight of us. There's supposed to be 10 of us.

I remember holding my little sister at the hospital. She was stillborn. Yeah, that's tough to deal with. I mean, I probably was five, six years old. That's still like a core memory, like holding my little sister at the hospital. For you, coming into the league at 18 and being given access to everything.

Being given millions of dollars. Number one pick. Superstar. The team is yours. The city is yours. And people try to point to your shortcomings or the children out of wedlock or this or that as a hit at your character. Talk a little bit about that and that ... Because I said it yesterday.

Nobody is ... It don't matter if you think you're the most solid dude in the world. Closest to God. Pray 12 hours a day. If you're given that at 18 years old and you've never seen any of these things. Anybody is going to ... Anybody is going to have shortcomings.

So talk about that experience. Because you said you lost your virginity at 18. You were going to the same school for so many years. Graduated with 16 kids or whatever. And then you get to the league. You're given all this. Talk about the challenges that presented for you. Well, it was just the temptation of everything.

When you have money, you're tempted to buy whatever you want. Do whatever you want. And it's really just a choice. That's why God give you free will. And I think my parents just did an amazing job of raising me the right way to where if I got out of line a little bit, I never went too far from my mom.

Which is God. That's the mother. They always tell us never leave the mother. The mother is God. That's where it all started from. Don't leave. So, you know, obviously, we're going to have our shortcomings. Obviously, we're going to fail. But what do you do when you get up after you fall?

Are you going to turn away? Are you going to be the same? Now, obviously, there were some times where I had the same thing happen. Like people say, I had some kids out of wedlock. I had to learn a lesson. And until I learned the lesson, things had to happen.

Now, obviously, these kids aren't, they're not bad lessons. They're blessings. But I had to learn in other ways because of what I did by having these kids out of wedlock. IE child support, having to deal with, you know, co-parenting and stuff like that. Which can be very difficult when you have to deal with multiples.

You know what I'm saying? So that's the things that I have to take accountable to. Like I messed up and did this, that, and the third. And nobody else can judge me but God. And the only thing I can do is make sure by saying to God, "Hey, God, I know I did this the wrong way.

But this is how I'm going to make it up. I want to make sure I'm the best father I could be to these children." And that's what I am every single day. So no matter what is being said, this is what matters. Hey, I didn't make it right with these women.

But I'll make it right for my wife. So thank you, God, for giving me these blessings. I'm going to take care of these. I probably didn't do it right with all these different things. With my money, with this, that, and the third. But I'm going to make sure I do this.

For a lot of people that start off as very strong Christians, or whatever, and then they, whatever, stray or do certain things. And then it's the people that are supposed to be lifting you up and praying for you that end up beating you up, which Christians do a lot of.

And I'm sure you got your fair share of that. That can lead them away from the faith and lead them away from God. Because they're like, "Man, these people that are supposed to be your people, they're the most judgmental. They're the most hypocritical. They're the most unforgiving, ungraceful people." How were you able, was there a period of time where you kind of like, I read in your story, in your Sports Illustrated story, that there was a period of time where you kind of like drifted away.

How did you kind of come full circle and come back to where you're at now, where it seems like you're in a great place? Traveling the world. Having so many different experiences. reading, understanding more about different religions, seeing how people live in different countries, it gave me a deeper understanding of what I believed in.

You know, going to these different temples, reading about the nation of Islam, Muslims in Mecca, Dubai, hanging around people that, you know, who are Muslims, understanding their faiths, understanding my faith. Like, okay, we the same. They might say a word different. Let me find out what this actually means.

I'm not going to judge none of these people, because Jesus did judge nobody. You know what I'm saying? He didn't just, "Oh, this person look like this." He never did that. He told us not to do that. So why am I going to do that? Because this person doesn't believe what I believe.

So, you know, I just feel like you treat everybody with love. And that's what I do. That's a similar story for me. And I feel like everybody should get to that point in their life where they kind of, no matter how you were raised, you decide for yourself, you think for yourself, you do your own research and figure out what you want to believe for yourself.

So I did the same thing. I studied Buddhism. I studied Islam a little bit. I tried to figure out what I wanted to, which route I wanted to go. But I feel like you got a lot of wisdom that you can impart on young people that's trying to be successful and things like that, but also lessons for them to learn from.

You talk about, in some of your stories, about how you have been stolen from and how people close to you have stabbed you in the back and betrayed you. That's what I'm saying. The fact that you come out of all of this, the world beating you up, friends stealing from you, and this and that, people you're supposed to trust.

The fact that you're still here, you're still Dwight, and it didn't taint you, and you're still doing stuff like this. To me, that's fire. But talk about that stuff and people stealing from you financially. I've dealt with something similar, and it's changed me a little bit, but how is that for you?

It's hurt. All the stuff that's happened to me has totally hurt me. Like, everything. It has made me want to shoot up people. It has made me want to beat everybody up. It has made me want to blow everybody up. It has made me cry. It has made me punch stuff.

It has made me mad. It has made me do all that stuff away from everybody, though. I did it in my mind. I went to my own space. I got all of it out. So when I come back to everybody else, I'm free. There's nothing that can happen that they're going to say that's going to make me get to that space because I done already released it.

So that's how I take care of it. Like, that stuff hurt. Getting stole from. Like, when I done worked hard for it, like, I put blood, sweat, and tears into that $8 million that was stole from me. And I can't get it back that way. But what has kept me through all of this is my faith.

Everything. From day one till now. From the time I was born till now. It's faith. So because of my faith, I believe that, okay, they stole this money. I'm going to triple it doing this. I'm going to do this. We're going to get it back. I'm going to do this.

We're going to get it back. But I'm not always thinking about doing it like saying, I got to make this money. It's just, you know what? God got me. I'm trusting in Him. I got my total faith that He is going to supply all of my needs no matter what.

I'm not going to focus on what no man can do or say to try to take it away because I got to hold myself accountable to it too. I could have did a better job at looking at the contracts, looking at all the paperwork, making sure everything was right before I put over my $8 million.

So God telling me that too. Hey man, you got to take some accountability in it too. Now they did you wrong. They going to pay for theirs now. But God damn it. You should have looked at the stuff you were supposed to look at Dwight. So hold yourself accountable to that.

Yeah. But keep trusting Him. Make sure you straight. So that's how I take it. That's super dope. Man, I got a couple more questions for you and that's it. You have been a dude that the world has idolized and put on a pedestal. And you've also been a dude that the world has thrown shade at and done all these things.

But in terms of having the money, having the fame, being number one draft pick, now being in the Hall of Fame, but also still being a man of faith, I feel like a lot of people in that position that pretty much have everything, they don't give any of the glory or any of the praise back to God the way you do.

And I feel like that's very unique. Talk about how fulfilling these earthly accomplishments are in and of themselves. And then talk about why you maintain that faith in God and that relationship with God. Because I feel like a lot of people get these things and they'll sacrifice everything for it.

They'll sacrifice their relationship with God. They'll sacrifice their morals. They'll sign a contract that says don't say the name of Jesus or things like that just to get some of these things. You've had it all and you still give the glory to Jesus. Why is that? And how fulfilling is everything to you that you've had?

Like you've had everything there is to have in this world. Like, you know what I mean? How fulfilling is that? It's really like if you could understand how powerful this force is that's inside of us, that's inside of everybody, that's around everybody, you would smile like me. Smile like me.

I feel it. So I can't help but smile. And give the glory back to God. Yeah. How did you, but like what practices did you do to get to that place? Like, how did you get to the place where you, because some people think it's impossible. I was born.

You really just be waking up happy, huh? Bruh, I wake up smiling. I go to sleep smiling. I shit smiling. I cry smiling. Like, and it's not just because it's always funny. Bruh, I know what it's like to be in the dark and not have no light. That's basically like being dead.

What is there not to be happy about? The world does so much to try to make you mad and sad and cry. For what? Like we could, bro, we could be anywhere else. You traveled. You done seen what's out there. We could have any life, but we chose this.

We dreamed it. We worked for it. Just think about it. When you was little, you going hard in the gym. What would you think about being the greatest? That's right. And so now, that's all I thought about. So now that I'm here, it's like, oh my God. I can do everything.

Yeah. Because I did it. 50 years from now, when you, actually you probably won't be past, let's say 75 years from now, Dwight Howard passed away, you know, and besides remembering you as Dwight Howard, the amazing basketball player, he's in the Hall of Fame. What else do you want to like, we talk about passion versus purpose.

What do you want to leave like your mark on the world? What is like your goal and your purpose and what are you trying to give to the world and leave behind? The Midas touch. But not with gold. With a smile. See everybody smile. Smile brings back so much peace.

So you smile, you're wild. That's what they say about that. You know. That's a little joke. That's what they used to tell us. If they smile, they'll wild. But no. On a serious tip. This tip. You can't help yourself. I had to make a joke. But no, seriously, like, there's so much disbelief.

There's so much pain and trauma and, you know, hurt that people have been dealing with that we all need to let it go. Smile and be free. And I want to free people. And I want to free people. Help free people of just the trauma and the stuff that they, whatever they've had in their life.

Whenever they're around me, whenever they get that moment, like, man, they forget it. It's like it's gone. And for it to stay with them would be great. But that's what I want to be. You know, I want to be remembered. One of the greatest people to ever be on this place.

But I want to be here when this place transitions. So that's my faith. My faith is so strong that all of us is going to be alive. I agree. I agree with that, actually. And I, no lie, I've seen, I've seen something my whole life. I have too. I've been telling about that.

I don't know what it is. I've seen something. I just don't see none of us leaving this place. Like, dying. I don't either. And I told my parents this too. I said, this is the generation that is going to experience the transition of this place. I told them since I was younger.

I see it. I keep seeing something like us moving somewhere. I just keep seeing it. And sometimes I have to keep stuff in because I, for it to happen. I keep it in because I'd have seen a lot of things like I was telling you about that room I did.

Yeah. And I just seen this thing about you ain't eating no cheeseburgers. And I'm trying to, I'm tripping out, bro. How you ain't never had no cheeseburgers, man? What in the world? I don't know why that's so random, but I just thought about it. Like, you ain't no, before we go see Jesus, man, you got to have a cheeseburger, man.

Like, what's up? What's up? Man, I'm going to have my first cheeseburger. We going to pull up. There got to be a good cheeseburger out here in New York City. There's tons of cheeseburgers out here in two cheeseburger spots in New York City. I know you was in Denver.

It was probably one or two, but bro. You ain't never had no cheeseburger, man. I'm going to go get my first cheeseburger this week and I'm going to tap in with you. Let me know. You're lost. Let you know. You eat steak. It's different. Cheeseburgers always just seem nasty to me.

I grew up vegetarian. You ain't grew up vegetarian. You was eating snacks and Cheetos. You was not no vegetarian, man. Y'all was cheating, man. Stop. Hey, man. Well, it has been a pleasure having you on here. Like I said, I was really looking forward to this episode and kind of picking your brain on some things and I'm glad you opened up a little bit.

But yeah, we're going to stay locked for life now. You know what I mean? And yeah, I appreciate you helping on Curious Mike, man. What's up, man? Curious Mike signing out. Yes, sir. Hey.