 Coach Damon Stoddermyre in the building. Clap it up for that. Good. How you feeling, Coach? Man, I'm good. I'm good. Just, uh, you know, adjusting. Adjusting. How you like Atlanta first and foremost? I love it. You love it? I love it. You're staying out of trouble. I'm staying out the way, too. So, look, Tim, it was more, you know, jobs, of course, that probably was arbitrary. What was special about the Georgia Tech job? Three things, Georgia Tech, the ACC in Atlanta. So, I said, I've been in college before, but for those that didn't know, I was with the Boston Celtics, so I had a good job. So the thing was, was that for me, it's quality of life as well. And so, if I'm going back to college, I want to be at a good, you know, a good school, good conference, good city, and take, check all the boxes. Right. Gotcha. Gotcha. Nah, that makes sense. And then at home, y'all, y'all ain't nothing to play with at home. You know what I'm saying? Y'all five on one. So, it's like, you got the home court advantage when you're at home. Nah, we, we, we solid at home, we got to get the role together though. Man, you do got to play role games. Right. True. You know, we're, we're coming. It's early. The results, you know, in a month and a half, two months, you know, I'm happy, but not content and not satisfied. Right. So, you know, it could be better. No doubt. So, look, they be saying most point guards, you know, end up being coaches because, you know, like y'all with floor genitals and stuff like that. But when did you know and realize, you know, I might try this coaching? You know what? It was when I, I was in between playing, I just really was bored. And that's when, you know, I was working kids out, doing some different things. And I was like, I just dove into it. And a couple of coaches had said it, but I was like, I'm not trying to really do that. Right. Because it's time consuming. I don't think people understand the time you got to put it in. It's special on the college level. Yes. Yes. So it's time consuming. So, I volunteered, you know, I was lucky. You know, I, you know, I saved my bread. So, you know, I was living in Houston. At the time. So I volunteered at Wright's University. I did that for about, I don't know, about three months. And then what happened was the Memphis Grizzlies called me. Now, a lot of people don't know I got that job because the owner who since passed away, Michael Highley, I deferred some money. So dude owe me money. So he told the coach, the new coach who got the job, Lionel Hollins. He told Lionel, we'll call Damon because I own some money anyway. Let me just show you how Chief Highley was. Yeah, that's great. He's a good dude though. And so that's how, and honestly, that's kind of, yeah, it helped. And that's kind of how, that's kind of how I got my, I got my feet wet in. Uh-huh. Yeah. Been running with it ever since. Yeah. So it take it back. Like you been, I remember you from being on the trailblazer. A lot of people do. Yeah. So let's just talk about that era of basketball when you played with the trailblazer and how, how was that because it was like, you know, y'all was in the, at the time, the most dominant conference, you know, everybody would say, but it's like y'all had a complete team. Yeah. Yeah. Now it was, you know, the way they put that team together, I mean, it was, it was, it was too deep at every position. You know, we had guys that had been all stars and we kind of all came together. You know, it was, you know, at that time, they, I don't think they were putting those type of teams together at that time. And so we all basically were franchise players and they brought us, they brought us as one. You know, we had probably the highest payroll in the NBA at the time as well. We were getting their results. Obviously, there was two dudes out there in LA that we had to go through. So that was the biggest, that was the biggest challenge. And, you know, I think for, for me, when I look back on it, it was a hell of a time. We had a, we had a heck of a run, but, you know, we didn't get it done. But the one thing I will say about Portland, forget the ball, like we all stay connected. You know what I mean? Still to this day. To this day. So some of the, some of those dudes on, some of those dudes on that team are my best friends. You know, Rishi Wallace, Bonsie Wells, he's on staff with me. Rishi Smith, you know, he lived out here in Atlanta. He came, he came to, he's come to several games. So for me, it's the connection. We've all stayed connected and got brothers for life on that team. Greg Anthony, Stacey Ogman, Pip. So you know, we just, you know, we all stay connected and that's, that was the biggest thing about it, you know, it was just, we left something on the table. I think we all know that. But you know, it is what it is, but you look back on again, just having that connection, having brothers for life. You know, I think that was the biggest thing. Yo, yo, yo, what's up? This your boy, Nav Green from Broken Play here to talk about prize picks. And if you haven't heard about prize picks, clearly you must just got out of jail. So let me speed you up with the process of the real world. Prize picks. Man, you picked six people. Six people. No less. Any sports you could think of, college basketball, NBA, NFL, college football, ball games are coming back. With that being said, all you're doing is more or less six people, 25 times your money. If you put up $100, you can win $2,500. Who else doing something like that? And what's so good about it? If you use the Broken Play code, they going to match whatever money you put in on your first deposit. Say if you put in $70, that's mean you got $140 to try to win some money. You can't beat that, man. Get over there with prize picks and tell them that we sent you. It's available in over 30 states. And if it's not available in your state, drive to the state closest to you. There's something you can't beat, man. Christmas time coming. Get these kids the money. You want some good gifts? Prize picks is the way. Now recently, she just went on and talked about the slam heard around the world. Was you in that locker room when it happened? Come on, man. Yeah, I was in the locker room. You know, and this, you know, it was, it was, it was tricky doing that time, I would say. You know what I mean? It was tricky. You know, she'd explained that part, but it was, it was other elements to it. So, you know. Had a ripple effect. Oh, yeah. So, you know, once, you know, once Rube came back, you know, I think, you know, Zebo got suspended, but once Rube came back, like it just, the team was never really the same. You know what I'm saying? Like you can't, you know, that's what happens sometimes, right? And I don't think, I don't think nobody at that time knew the ramifications of it, you know. And they had to stay teammates for a long time after that, right? No, like, we was, like, we was teammates, so, you know, it's, it's, you know, you hit a teammate, like, you know, and it was, it was taken to the streets for a second. But what I will say is, is, is, you know, we got past it, but it didn't help it. But it was, you know, it was, you know, I mean, it was, yeah, it was crazy. It was crazy. It was, it was, it was, it was, it was crazy to say the least, but I was right there. You know, it was just, like I say, you got families, you know, so, you know, Zeebo got a family, you know, Rube got a family, and it just kind of, you know, I mean, you got the family room. I mean, it was, it was, it was a little awkward for a while, you know what I'm saying? But, you know, yeah, it was, yeah, it was a lot. You know, it was a lot. So coach, do you know, like, what you've been, like, a professional NBA player and, you know what I mean, what you did in the league, like, you wouldn't know, you know what I mean? You wouldn't know bomb. Does that help with recruiting? Like when, like, if you go to the parents and they, they, they parents, they remember you, you know what I'm saying? Does that help with recruiting? It helped with the parents, but it don't help with the kids. Yeah. I mean, truth is, like, talking to kids a day, you got to build a relationship with them. You know what I mean? I think, if you think about, like, what's going on now, it seems like we got this friction between the older players and the younger players. Gotcha. You know, and it's like, you know, I think, as with anything, it's what your own kid is, right? You know, they'll trust you once they believe in you, you know, you care. So you got to, man, you really got to highlight these kids. I mean, these kids is different now. You know what I mean? And then you're talking about this NIL money, the different things that come with it. The instant gratification, I mean, we was coming out, we didn't have social media. Right. So it made it a bit different. I was thinking about, when I was coming over here today, I was thinking about this. I was like, man, they ain't come out cell phones until, for real, for real, like 95. I mean, you had to, you know, dope boys had the big phone, you know, you might have knew one person in the hood that had had had a phone in the car. But other than that, like, cell phones for real didn't come out to about 95, 96. Man, I was, I was my rookie year. And even then you had to be having some money because you ain't just calling nobody. Because if the shit ain't free tonight, you know what I'm saying? It feels like everybody had the burner phone. Yeah. Buy a burner phone. It might last for one day or three years. Uh-huh. Nah, for real. Who was some of your favorite players growing up? Watching. Isaiah Thomas, Tim Hardaway, Kenny Anderson. Kenny Anderson. Kenny A. Yeah. Kenny A was, he was, he was that dude, like for me, he was, he was that dude lefty a little bigger than me, but you know, he was, he was that dude. But like, you know, those guys were probably, you know, in the forefront, Chris Jackson, AKA Mike Mood, Abdul Rauf, you know, but uh, you know, those guys are, you know, really, really studied them. Um, but Zeke, you know, Zeke didn't, Zeke drafted me, you know, that was like my idol. Right. So, you know, I'm getting that game every day, you know, on the floor and off the floor. Man, I know you're asking book who questions like on some everything. Everything. Yeah. Everything. I'm soaking up everything. Every day, soaking up everything. So. Yeah. Got you. So look, Jamal, he told us to ask you. He was like, he was like, that thing, the being around Michael George or like being, he was like, it's like a aura around him or something. Like. He different. That's exactly what he said. Like for real, like again, I don't know if it's because, you know, social media platform, but now he was a star. So the best example I could give is like, I went on a Nike tour. We went on. We went on. We went on. We went and did these clinics for Nike. So we went to Japan. So it was, it was Mike. It was Charles. It was myself. It was Jake here. And it was Michael Finley. Yeah. So we did the, we did a clinic in Tokyo. And so we get to Tokyo, you know, and we get to the clinic. And it's 55,000 people. Tokyo don't sold out. So, you know, Damon Stadamire, you know, Jake here, Mike Finley, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, man, Stan Novation, his levels to it. And that's just one example. I've been, you know, it's, when he walks into the room, I've seen the star of stars like just kind of bow down to do. Yeah. Like he just, he has a persona. He has a persona. He has a persona to him. And so again, that was the first time. So this is my rookie year. And that was the first time I ever had really been around him and he was calling me Mighty Mike. And so they were over there playing the cards on the plane and, you know, I'm like, man, he asked I went up and I don't got that kind of bread, bro. Yeah. I can't do it like you. But I just, I'm listening to him. I'm just kind of, kind of just being around. So he had the bread on the table where they been. Oh man. Mike was talking so bad to those dudes. Mike was listening. Mike was working. Mike was playing cards with the dudes that worked for him, beating them, telling them, well, it's cool. I don't got to pay you that week. That's how he was. That's a cold. That's a cold. They playing, but they lie to me. I'm just telling you, like I've seen a lot. I've been around the star of stars, but I just never been around somebody that can numb the room the way he numb the room. And I don't care, athletes, entertainers, other billionaires, like it don't, it don't matter. I just never, I never, I never seen it like that. I've never seen it like that in my life. But I'm saying for you to come in your rookie year, you around, around this life. I know you like why I can't wait to see it. Man, I, look, barely with cell phones, you couldn't, couldn't call nobody and hear what no tech was going on. Yeah, yeah, nothing. Well, none of that going on. You got to wait till you get out of the plane and tell the story and you're even excited. You know what I'm saying? Like, they can't believe it because you ain't got no picture. I'm telling you, what I'm trying to tell you is I've been around the crime to the crime. I just never seen nothing like it. Never. I've never, I've never seen nothing like it. I've never seen a dude walk in the room and just numb it like that. Talk about, so speaking of, you know, being a rookie, you know, obviously you were the first pick ever of Toronto, right? What was that transition like? Because, you know, I don't know if you had been to Toronto before. I don't know if you had knew anything about Toronto, but obviously it was, you know, it was different. I think you might have had what, it was two or three different cultures your first three years in Toronto. Right, right, right. What was that? Was it like being, you know, the first pick of an expansion for your child like that? You just adapted to that. Man, it was great. I'll be honest with you. Like, I didn't really know what to expect. I had been to Toronto one time and being the first pick, you just, I could do whatever I wanted. I didn't take advantage of it or nothing, but from a basketball standpoint, I mean everything was built around me, you know, off the floor. Everything was built around me. It was the first time, like I didn't even realize it. I didn't realize this until probably the middle of my rookie year or whatnot. Like, you like international because you don't really look at Canada like that, right? So, what I realized is that I had, like I had endorsement deals and things going on up there in Canada that was different from the States. And so, that's when I realized, like, damn, you know, I'm like an international star of these folks. And so, I was able to do so many different things. And even now, when I go back up there, I heard somebody say it. I think LeBron said it like, it can be more draft picks afterwards, but it's only one first. And I was the first ever draft pick and every time I go back to that city, like they treat me as such. It's been nothing but love. And, you know, as the city's grown, you know, and I've grown when I go back, man, it's just the reception is amazing. But it was great. You know, again, Isaiah Thomas, the Bittal family, everybody embraced me, you know, and so we weren't that good. So it was like, you know, I was the one thing that everybody hung their hat on. So it was nice. So look, Coach, with you being, with you being able to give, like, you know, you giving us, you telling us stories, like key stories, do you ever, like, sit with some of the players now and talk to them or like they on the go? I talk to them all the time. You know, they, they, they only really want to know one debate, though. But I don't really debate it, you know, they debate, you know, it's Michael Jordan and LeBron, you know, because this era, they know LeBron like, right, you know, but my thing is, like, I just don't debate it. Because number one, I think they different players. True. You know, number two is I just think it's different. Here's a basketball. And I don't think I, you know, every era changes. You know, it's just like, you know, but could LeBron have survived in y'all era? He could easily. Yeah, LeBron, big as hell. You know, that's number one. LeBron could have survived. I mean, there's a lot of dudes in this era that could have survived. I mean, there's, there's dudes in my area that could have played in that area. In this area, yeah. And now, but with that being said, there's dudes in my area that couldn't have played in this area. Because they just could. There's dudes in this area that couldn't have played in that area. So I mean, it goes both ways. But, you know, I talked to the dudes, you know, whether it's basketball, whether it's about life, it's about bumping your head, you know, it's like. Watching out for female and all that type of just give them real game. The thing about I think the thing about me coming back to college this second time around is I told myself I was going to teach and I was going to give them all the free game they needed. So, you know, all you got to do is Google now. So it's just like it's an open book. And so when I tell them sometimes, you know, I think that they look at me in amazement like, nah, you can look that up. I'm not, you know, I'm not running from it because I can't because it's right there. But if you look that up, like it's real. So, you know, we had to lose money back in the day to get our knowledge. These dudes, all they got to do is listen to Google. You don't got because they can first hand veteran leadership before they get it. You know what I mean? You know, if somebody who played in the league at a high level, I ain't telling you nothing, telling you none. I think I know exactly. But you'll be surprised sometimes. And it's not just I'm not just saying my players. But just in general, just in general. Like if you talk to probably your nephew, talk to younger cousins, it'd be like the same thing. Sometimes we got to learn on our own. Listen, family don't never listen. Yeah. Family don't listen. Your kids don't never listen. They always want to bump their head first. You got to be there to pick them up. Yeah. Yeah, that was real. What was what was it like playing with a young T-Mac and a young Vince? And and did you see what did you see T-Mac? You know, being a player that he became now, I didn't play with Vince. So I got traded. So it was a lockout. I got Matt was first. Yeah, Matt was first. So first, so we so we're we used to go on trips as a team. So we went to Barbados. And so that was Mac rookie year. So it was the summer. So he we planned so we will work out. So he so we're playing. And man, he dunked on Chiron right now. I was like, damn, I just. Mac was good. He was he just he just needed to figure out the NBA. That's all he just he you can see it. It was just a matter of him figuring out. Yeah, it was just it was just a matter of him figuring out the NBA. You know, he came from high school, I mean, to the NBA. So it was, you know, it was just the adjustment. Once once he adjusted, you knew he was going to take off and go, you know, but man, like he was I mean, long. He was athletic. He could shoot it versatile. So you pretty much knew he was going to be one of those dudes. You just didn't know how fast he's going to be one of them dudes. So like when you said he went straight to high school, do you do you like that they, you know, make you wait a year now? And do you what do you think about the landscape of college? Like, I think it was me personally, I think you should allow you don't you should allow high school players to go straight to pro. Like, we'd only sport. You know, football don't do it now from a physical standpoint. I don't know if you actually can. Yeah. But in the NBA, like. There's 18 year olds that could play if they play with pros in the summer. Why can't they play with them for 82 games? That's how I look at it. And I think like what it would do is it cut out all the BS of college. I think like, you know, there has to be some protection, you know, of the kid I understand that. And so there has to be some type of middle ground where I think, like at some point it would be nice if the NCA and the NBA work together. And when you say yes in college, what what you speak of? I mean, if you can just like if you had ability, if you had ability to give real information, meaning I just don't think I think I think that sometimes there's a disconnect. You know, there's a disconnect. And so when you touch to your point, when you talk into a when you talk into a kid, when you talk into their family, when you talk into their handlers, but you're trying to recruit them all at the same time, it's almost like in they mind, they're not looking at Damon Stardemire as, you know, somebody to play in the NBA, somebody that did X, Y, and Z. You know, that they got a lot of information. They looking at me as coach. So is it is he talking from a gender standpoint or is he talking real? You know what I mean? So what happens is what will happen for me when I look at it is there's probably a handful of guys that probably got the capability that they can just go straight from high school to the pros. You got the you got the G League. You might as well use the G League as a minor league is funded by the NBA. So why not? Why not just make it all one big one, you know, one big minor league, a real minor league that really helps dudes? Because if you're developing on that level and then they just going up then, you know, you keeping it in the house, you always going to protect your model and you're going to protect your protect your brand. So you're not just going, you're going to make sure that dudes are successful. Got it. So and I think that that now when guys come to college, they really want to be in college. Just dudes in college just buying their time. Then it's dudes in college just buying their time. It ain't good enough that they're not they're not going to figure it out. And then when it's all said done, they don't have no options. I just think I just think it'll help everybody involved, you know, because it's not a lot of time wasted. We all get time back. Right. No, that's real. You don't, you don't. So when you being in the ACC, coaching the ACC, you know what I'm saying? You know about the rivalry and, you know what I mean? The teams in the ACC that go. I was like, you know, being, you know, going against schools like Duke and North Carolina, like how was the, you know, when I said what I want to ask is like, do you see how like they been talking about how ACC basketball is? Like now that you're a part of the show, you know, we played Duke on Saturday a couple of Saturdays ago, you felt it, you felt the energy. You know, and it's crazy because. I felt like so when I was in Boston, these last couple of years, like being being somebody that never liked Boston, you know, I wasn't rooting for Boston growing up. I wasn't watching Boston. You know, like that I was always rooting against them. But being actually being with Boston, what I realized I like, damn, people really love Boston, you know, with the game being so early, you know, and then us, you know, being right there in the game. You felt that energy in the crowd. And I remember when, you know, there was a moment where, you know, Duke was coming back and then you can hear the fans chatting. You know, you heard their fans and then our fans just drained it out. I was saying, I was like, OK, yeah, OK. I'm in a real ACC game right now. You know, this is real, you know what I mean? So you can definitely feel that energy. It's only been one, you know, we only had one conference game. But, you know, I'm looking forward to being in this conference. But that being the first one, I know it was like, man, it was it was come out like, you know, victorious. Like I know that was like that. Right. No, it was great. It was it was a lot of energy in the building. It was exciting. We won. They stormed the court, you know, and from the from the, you know, all the all the little, you know, people talking after the game and the text I was getting. And, you know, just, you know, every was it was that I'm I'm here a moment type for you if you could say that, you know, what? Not that you know, I'm saying, but it was show. I mean, it. It was it was good for those kids. You know, for me, I'm just like, you know, I play. So I felt that energy as a player before, but as a coach, I never really I've never really like cared about all the extras as a coach. I'm really just doing it for them kids. That's why I be when I get mad at them, I don't get mad at them because they not doing what I say or they not doing this. I'm like, man, just just hear me because I can help you. Like don't fight me. I ain't trying to look. You don't got to fight me. I'm giving it all to you. You know, and I'm going to give it to you in the right way. So I think what happens a lot of times, a lot of kids is getting lied to. They getting lied to and sometimes like you got you want to be that difference in it. I got to tell them what time it is. Yeah. And if if that means I got to be a bad the bad guy for a second, but it's going to make you better long term. I don't don't be the kid to turn 25 26 and be like, Coach, I should have listened to you. That's all. It's like, I understand. I'm seeing something a little bit bigger than what you're seeing right now because to be told, it's like, forget basketball. Everybody's not going to be a pro. OK, are you going to be a better person that you leave from my coach and you at Georgia Tech? Yes, let me let me let me let me connect you with some of these people up in Midtown Atlanta so they can help you. Because Georgia Tech ain't no Georgia Tech, a smart ass school. Yeah, it's like it's a lot of you better leave. Yeah, they might go to the league, but they might don't build a new stadium. And so that but that's but that's what I'm talking about. So I just went again, going back to the beginning of our conversation, like nobody was doing that for us when when when I was coming out. And I love my I love my college coach, but it was all basketball. I'm trying to get these dudes. The resources that help them stay in contact with the people that they need to be in contact with because it's bigger than hoops. Right. I mean, but then you knowing the lingo and like you knowing the culture, you you are able to talk. Right. A certain way that, you know, I mean, when you know, I mean, you was in school, like you think about it. We look at the coaches from the 90s and 80s. Like it was a old white coaches. Most of most of the like 90 percent. But it's like now somebody like you who done played in the league. Like, you know, I mean, you know what's going on. You might you know them, you like so it's different. You know what I'm saying? Well, definitely, definitely, definitely things have changed. And the one thing I will say about these kids, you know, they hear what I'm saying. Because they they they they I love on I love on the right way. Let me say that I love them the right way. But then I come right behind them and and and I got to let them know what time it is. Like I said, but, you know, the biggest thing is they know what I've been through. You do get a lot of sweat equity when with that being a pro. And I look like and so they can vibe with that. Since you've been here, what's your favorite food spot? Man, you don't got hip to the wings. You write down a street from. Yeah, I know you had no limit. Yeah, man, I've been the cream. No, I've been the cream. Hey, I was going to I was going to Crick is when I wasn't living in Atlanta. Yeah, but yeah, no, J. J. R. Crick is here, you know, I mean, to me, like, honestly, and I know his favorite hubs around the city and all that. But you really can't get no bad meal here. You know, I mean, you know what I'm saying? It don't really matter. You can be you can be in the city. You can you can be by there. It don't even matter how skirts. Yeah, you really you really you really you. And I think that was wrong with that. Let him like even they done turned the vegan food up like. Like, man, come on, man. Like I'm trying to. But limit pepper. Toe move. Hey, I'm telling you. Yeah, man. No, this is this food, boy. Yeah, yeah, man. I got a question. So, you know, you spent, you know, two years with the Celtics. What's the difference between E-Mai and Missoula in their coaching styles and approaches? I mean, you know, he may go. He may he may more like this, you know. And I think Joe, you know, Joe is. Joe is he's like that. But, you know, he's more strategic with with the pen. You know, I think that E-Mai is more strategic with with the mindset and I think like it's funny, man. So. So the first meeting we had, the first meeting we had in Boston when we came together. So, y'all remember that you get y'all had to go back and check it out. Y'all remember the Adrian Bronner? Adrian Bronner, the can, the Mexican African, yeah. That's what he may play. He may play that. Anybody can. And he was like, anybody can get it up in here. You don't do your job. That's fine. I, you not exempt to it. And so, whether it was JT, JB, you know. Marcus Martin, yeah. It didn't matter, like, yeah, you know. So I think that like that was his energy every day. And dudes rocked with him for that. And then with Joe, with Joe, it was more, you know, he couldn't be like that on the initial. You know, the way he, the way he has circumstances, the way things happen so fast, like it was on the run. So, you know, E-Mai, he had played, he been in league, played, you know, so he had a little more cache from that standpoint. But Joe, he went about it by showing him. He knew what he was doing. And so that was, and that was the difference because, you know, we did the same thing. We started off, you know, we started off slow that first year. And then the second year, you know, we did as we continued what we actually did, you know, as the season went on. And so, you know, different styles. But I think, again, like E-Mai, it was more, you know, that mindset, you know, giving guys the mindset to, you know, defensive end and all the different things. But with Joe, I think that he wanted to show those guys in his way, he knew what the hell he was doing and he was capable of doing that job and he did a great job, you know what I mean? So, that was the difference. You know, I think that was pretty much the difference. What's up? This holiday season, you might be looking for nutritious, convenient meals that keep you energized on jam packed days. Factor, that's the only one. 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And I just think that approach for that team, for our team at that time, we needed that. You know what I'm saying? They were young, coming in the game, getting them to start them at the point. So it was like, hey, don't fall into that. You know, the thing about it, I always say this, because, you know, and I wasn't there, I wasn't there with Brad Stevens. You know, he was the president of the team when I got there. And I was like, and I truly believe this in the pros. It's not necessarily the same in college, but in the pros, I was like, Brad Stevens didn't forget how to coach. Like Brad Stevens know what the hell he doing. Like, you know, he's proven, his track record says he knows what the hell he's doing. But, you know, maybe some things went on a deaf voice and you gotta actually give him kudos for stepping aside, running things from the top and bringing in a guy because he knew that whole team. So he knew exactly what that team needed at that time. He couldn't give them, yeah. And so he brought in exactly what the team needed and the team moved forward, you know, and I think, and I think like, you know, that's the, that, you know, Boston has that now, you know, and so now it's just a continuation because I do think they're gonna eventually win one anyway because they got the squad, they're gonna eventually give one. What you think about when you saw him and LeBron going at it? I mean. You like that as an M.A. I mean, if you know, he made us, you know what I'm saying? Like most people don't know him like that. You know, he kind of boxed up, but you know, man, I know, I'm known dude forever and ever, you know, we both from Portland. So, you know, that, that didn't surprise me. That's who he is, that's who we, and he just, like I said, this is the same dude that played that Adrian Roner video, you know. Yeah, so he got that, it ain't no fake. I'm just saying, like this, that's who he is. So look, what you been around all these coaches and you know, coaches getting you to game and you just, you know what I mean? You taking the like, what's your approach? Did you, you know what I mean? Take a little sprinkle from everybody or you just came in with a different mindset with coaching? Nah, I take that same approach. I just do a little different, you know. I'm big, you know, I'm big on that, but I'm big on the customer service part. I'm big on making everybody feel good in the building and then, then I hit them, you know what I mean? I'm a little sugar and hot sauce, what I like to call it. That makes sense. I give them all that sugar. Man, I love you to death, but here come the hot sauce. Sprinkle it on them. And then you just, I found that in college that approach is way better and the pros is totally different. I just think when you coaching in the pros, you gotta be relationship-driven, but you gotta know how to manage egos. And you gotta manage different personalities. And whether it's the pros or whether it's college, you got 12 dudes on the team and got 12 different ways of doing the same thing. So you gotta be able to relate to that dude in that moment each and every day, and it don't matter. So that's, what does that mean? That mean you might have to go down there while they're shooting free throws. And I think a lot of times we get locked into the X's and O's, it's the customer service. You don't know what went on with dude. Right. Well, he could be going through something that they have. Maybe you got some stuff going on at home. Bad news, all type of stuff. You know, whatever that looks like. So you gotta really be in tune and then you gotta have assistants. You gotta have people that's on your staff that's really in tune with it as well. Like you just can't, you can't get lost in the basketball. You gotta get lost in the process of building a relationship with these dudes the same way. Coach, you still hooping with them? Like you'll still get out? I'm good. I'm good, man. My little knees. Like you might take a shot or two, but ain't no. I turned 50 this past year and my little knees just don't agree with it. And this Atlanta weather just got cold. So I don't know what. Yeah, well I'll tell you what. I knew it was getting cold cause my knees was telling me when that weather get cold, I know exactly what's going on outside. It getting to the point where you gotta start warming their car. Yes, sir. See, the college kids, they might not know about warming their car. They didn't jump in there and let the ice drift off. You be warming your car, I agree. Yes, sir, of course. So look, are you exceeding expectations right now? Like what was your goal coming in at the Georgia Tech job? Like what? Cause I'm saying, I ain't gonna be honest. Being an underdog going against Duke and to get a win out of that, like I know it all right. It's a big chick. Man, it's a big chick. Well, you know. But I know you coaching to win and coaching to develop and you can't go off one end of this win. But it's like, I know you got to be thinking like, I'm on the right track. The guys are learning. Well, coming in, right, I didn't want to put no expectation on it because I got to learn my team. For sure. I know what change look like. Kids don't know what change look like. I'm play, I played for like five, six coaches in the NBA. So I know what that look like. And I just wanted to make sure that I taught them what I needed them to know. And so as we're moving forward now, I think we're exceeding expectation only from the standpoint of I didn't see it this early. I would be lying if I said I didn't see it this early. Now with that being said, have they paid the price to win? Yeah, they've paid the price. But how does that translate? You don't know how quick or how fast. And so what happens is, is like I told them, unfortunately, see y'all moved the needle already. So we got to get better, right? So it's not going to get no easier. So I'm leaning on them a little bit more now, you know, because we don't have the same, to your point, we don't have the same leeway because antennas is going up and we coming in the gym. And so that's what they got to understand. Yeah, so you got to see y'all on the schedule now, say no, we might got to play this one for real. Yes, but you got a team, but you got a team that collectively hasn't won enough together. So they don't know what that look like. They don't know what that look like. And so we got to speed them up. Me and the staff got to speed them up so they understand what that look like, you know, because you're not the underdog. You know, you people expect to have an expectation of you when you come out. And that's the whole thing. For me, it's the presentation of it. What do my team look like when we walk on the foot? Do we look like we know what we're doing? Can you watch us and be like, I know a coach down in my trying to do here at Tech. Like that's the biggest thing for me. Got you. So when you say that, I'm gonna ask you this, who are some underdogs in the league that you felt like didn't get enough credit when you played with them or somebody was like, no, but it was a dog. Like somebody, you know, like if you mentioned, like you don't hear their name or nothing. Yeah, Bonsy was, yeah. He was on his team. Bonsy was like that. Like he probably played against him. Like he might have played against him, but like, damn, I don't want to watch. You know what, I'm a, you know, injuries have cost some guys, but I think people forgot about Baron Davis. Hell yeah. People forgot about Baron Davis. Nah, well I can't call him that nickname anymore, but you know what I mean? We used to say, B Diddy? B Diddy was a bad boy. Now I'm saying we ain't gonna call him that nickname anymore. I'll beat you up. Yeah, but Baron Davis, like that was the only nickname we knew of him, but it was like, boy, it was cash. Dunk on you, crush you up. I think that for whatever reason, you know, people forgot about Steph. They forgot about Steph on Marbury. They forgot about him. Starbury. I think, you love point guard. Yeah, I mean, I'm, most of the dudes that I played against, you know what I mean? Like who I had to bump. You have to go against and stuff like that, yeah. You know, like, I would say like, people haven't, it's funny because with the NBA, like as time goes on, like new people emerge and so you forget about the old guard, right? And I'm gonna say, like somebody I played against it, like he still don't, he don't get enough credits. The streets talk about him in this way, but they need to talk about him this way in NBA history. Like nobody really give Allen a lot of the credit that I think he deserves. Like, let's just be, let's call it what it is. Like what he was doing. Pound for pound. What he was doing and everything that came with it. And y'all went too far when y'all came into the NBA. Nah, we were a year apart. Yeah, that was just part of us. So I'm just saying like what he was doing, how he was doing it, you know, it wasn't easy. Like, he just don't get the credit. He did it for a long time. Yeah, like when they talking NBA legends and stuff like on the, you know what I mean? On the new way, y'all, all that goes and say, like if we in barber shops, yeah, we gonna bring up AI. We just talking, yeah, we bring up AI, but they don't. Nah, and the thing, and that's politics. And the thing about it, you start, we start, we start moving the needle for different people. Whether, ah, man, his numbers is there, but the shooting percentage, man, forget the shooting percentage. He took shots that he thought he could make because that's what his team needed him to take during the game, you know what I mean? So he wasn't, when the shot clock was going out, he was holding the ball to save his percentage. He thought he could make every shot. Coach, startleman, how you feel when you see like players you played with and players you played against, now they key is in the league. Like you got people like Sabonin's son is in the league. Man, it's crazy. I mean, you know, I remember, so in our locker room in Portland, you had Doma Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Cole Anthony, Greg was with us. You had, you know, Pip's son, that was with the Lakers. Lil Scotty, I feel like I'm missing one. I think it might have been one more. And now it's one locker room. I can't remember who the other one was, but it's, nah, it's crazy. It's crazy, it seems good. It's crazy for me, it's crazy for me. I played against LeBron. See him doing what he doing. I coached Mike Connelly, played with Mike Connelly. I coached Kyle Lowry, I played with Kyle Lowry. I played against Al Horford. I coached Al Horford. But to see what LeBron doing at his age now, that's unheard of, man. Man, dude is amazing. Yeah. I mean. He just won MVP, you know, the end season tournament that they started with like to win MVP at that age. Yeah, dude's amazing. The way he keep his body. Right. Forget the basketball. I mean, to me, like the way he's been able to stay in shape, the way he hasn't had no slippage with that. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, he look like he can play another, he look like he got another five, six years and I'm gonna be under with you. He do. You know what I mean? He do. Hey, before this year, he was like, maybe, you know, one or two more years. Man, that man gonna play the E-50, man. Facts. Like, you know what I'm saying? But at a high level, at least four years. Yeah, facts. Man, cause we appreciate you pushing up on us, man. You know, good luck this season. We, I felt like, you know, the timing was right that you came, you know what I'm saying? When you did. Cause we believe in Georgia Tech right now. Yeah, that's what I like to hear. We believe in Georgia Tech. Cause you know, like a lot of people in, if you get, if you go around the city, you'll know like Georgia could win, but it ain't the same of Tech win. Because like. Cause Georgia ain't the city. Yeah, Georgia ain't the city. Georgia Tech in the city, right by that varsity. So it's like, you know, I hate when you put food places aside, I know what I'm saying. But now it's like, you know what I'm saying? You bringing the feel to the city. And plus, like, if you know basketball and don't watch basketball, you know who Damon Stathamar is. And now to find out who Coach Stathamar is, who won't, you know, the kids to do better. It's bigger than basketball. So it's like. It's a new era. It's a new era. You know, to Tech is legendary. Cause a lot of players not came from Georgia, Tech to go to the league, but now it's like something to look forward to. And legendary coaches too. You joined that rank. No doubt. We wish you number of success. Appreciate that. Appreciate that. We got a basketball, if you could sign it. We got a permanent marker somewhere around here, we'll get it. I'm gonna have to bring y'all Adidas basketball, man. Oh, please do. Please do. Yeah. I'm gonna bring a personal Adidas basketball over here so y'all have on the set. Hey man, I know you off with that. I don't want to ask too much. If you can't, any kind of memorabilia you got. If you got an old jersey, you don't want to sign it. We're gonna put it on the wall. We ain't started buying frames yet, but we're gonna get out of frame. We got about two or three jerseys, but now, cause we appreciate you pushing up on us and, you know what I mean? Just kicking and talking. You know what I mean? Yes, yes. They're being player, man. Being you, or until they translate with how you handle your team. So good luck this season, man. Thank you. Appreciate it. All right.