This is the FCB podcast network. Great, this is when they try jog bot. Do we don't listen to y'all to the countd on, we don't listen to y'all to the Outdo make a scream out down like us sound dog because a rockets in the crowd like a Tune into the char from the Outdoor. Tune into the char from the Outlaw. Welcome to a special edition of the Outlaws. This is dar Viota King Penmorrow alongside Dante Bryan. Don't forget too Like us on Facebook at Facebook dot com slash the Outlaws Radio. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at the Outlaws Radio. We are at CALVS Media Day twenty twenty three. We are going to be talking to uh Cleveland Cavaliers players. Uh Dante. This is our second Calves media day. Man, Uh, how you feeling. I'm enjoying this. Like like you said, this is our it's our new tradition. Right at the beginning of every Calf season, we're gonna be here and it's it's just been really cool to see how the players interact with us and to see how we've built something right. How how people remember our faces, they remember our names and so that that's that's been something that's really stood out to me, and the Calves really run a real first class organization here, and a lot we got some A one a one individuals on the team. Yeah, man, absolutely, you know. One of the things that I noticed immediately, and you and I've talked about this off air, it's important that players see people not only who look like them, but we're we're older than them, but we're probably the closest in age to them as as anybody else in the media here. So we're we're able to relate to them a little bit more. We're able to have, you know, a different conversation. We get the bro handshake, not the not the business meeting handshake. You know what I'm saying. We give the nod, they give the nod back, all that kind of stuff. And I think we're able to have a different kind of conversation with them because we can relate to them and because we're legitimate basketball fan. Well, you got to speak for yourself when they come to this age, then you don't say there's a couple of times today and I've let us slide off the air, but I'm not gonna let us slide on the air. Listen, it is October, so it is my birthday month. Everybody. We accept donations here at the Outlaws. You can hit the cash app if you want to. But I'm about to turn twenty nine. Okay, I'm not gonna put you out there. But I'm right in the age group. You're older than everybody. I'm right in their age group. So that's first and foremost. I can't let that slot. But no, in all seriousness, though, you're right right the like I said that, the different interactions that that we've had, we can you can just tell us it's different, right, And you can tell that the play. A lot of the players think that there's a bit of a bit of a breath of fresh air, right. We're not asking the same questions. We're not asking you know, we we don't want this to be super formal and very basic. Like one of my friends said, he don't even watch Media Days anymore because he don't want to watch paint dry. I think a lot of times the players understand that too, and they're not They don't want to continue to go from station to station dealing with the same questions, so I think they look at it as a breath of fresh air. And that's why we get the interactions and the reactions that we get. Yeah, and just for the record, ladies and gentlemen, don't let him fool you. He's younger than me and Robbin, but he's older than every player on the Gavelers except for except for Tristan. Times. We looked that up. By the way, I'm right in their age group, like we all in the same the same age group. He's you know, the way that y'all know, the way that he does me right where he'd be calling me og and pops and all of that. That's how the youngest, the youngest player on the Cavaliers team would look at Dante as they But you know what's crazy, It's it's weird because some of these some of these cats was born in like nineteen ninety nine, two thousand and two thousand and one. And I'm like, oh my god, bro, I had never, at any point in my life felt old until you meet somebody in the NBA that was born in two thousand and two. It's like, what what is going on? Right? Like? You you remember you're old enough to remember two thousand. You he was born in two thousand and two. Oh my god. Yeah, so that's that's been crazy. But yeah, in the but in the grand scheme, like so we're talking, but in the grand scheme of things, we are still we're young enough to still be able to speak the language and relate to them. Yep. And that's and that's again, I just I don't think that you would understand unless you were here to really get that right where it's just like, yeah, I mean because in we talked about this all the time. But I mean just some of our gripes with the media, right, whether it's the political media or sports media, right, some of our gripes. And so we just try to get in here and you know, not to be cliche, but to put some season in on things, man, to bring a new flavor, right, like come on, man, I salt and pepper is nice, but can we get some can we get some new flavors? You know. So that's that's what we try to break man. Absolutely, So without any further ado, we are going to get to the interviews right now. All right, all right, we're back at kas media Day. It's back for the second year CALVS player Donovan Mitchell. Welcome back. How you doing certain I'm doing well, man, I'm doing glad to be bad, glad to be here, and excited to get to it. You know what I'm saying, absolutely, man. Before we get into this, I wanna uh say this publicly. Want to give you your flowers, man, because last year was our first year here. Immediate day we were going through the process. Ain't know nothing, nobody we was trying to We wanted to make sure we got got you for an interview. You know, your handlings that put you all over the place, but you made sure that you came back over here and talked to us. Man. So I want to give you your flowers in public. Man, I appreciate that so always, man, I gotta make sure I look out and I appreciate y'all too. I appreciate y'all absolutely, man. So, of course last year didn't end the way you guys wanted it too, but it was valuable experience, especially for you know, some of the players that had never been to the playoffs before. Talk a little bit about what that experience was like and now using that as fuel for the seat, Yeah, you know, I think it fuels you. I think it's something that you know, you sit at home you watch, you listen, you hear, you know, there's always something being said. You know what I think for us, we have a group of guys that really take that into you know, our consideration, take that to heart. You know what I'm saying. I think that you'll you'll see that throughout the season. I think for myself, to have the year I had in the regular season, to then play the way I play in the in the playoffs is something that really keeps me up or kept me up. You know. Right now, I've I've moved on and understand that. You know, I've got to continue to be the player that I am and I will continue to be. But I think it's a group we all feel the same way. But there's a lot of things you can learn from that. There's a lot of things you can take from that. And I think that's the biggest thing is how do we find a way to take the lessons from the heartbreak and not just you know, sit there and let that deter us from our our main goal. Like absolutely, man, And I know that's say I talk about this all the time, like the media pisses me off, and like the way that they talk about y'all and the way that, you know, because the season didn't end the way you wanted it to, they act like the entire season was a failure. How do you guys deal with all of the outside noise all of that stuff, because obviously you try to block it out, but we know it gets in sometimes, so like, how do you how do y'all deal with that? Well? I mean, you know, we live in a world where it's like a one of you done for me lately and too it's like, if you don't have a championship, you ain't doing anything and we can sit here and debate that, or I could find a way that we could find a way to win a championship, Like you know what I mean, I'm not it's it's just the world we live in. It's just the way of it. And honestly, as a competitor, I wouldn't want it any other way. Like, you know, yeah, we did some positive things in the regular season, but ultimately it's like, look, we deserve the criticism, you know, I think sometimes it goes a little overboard, but you know, everybody has their opinion until we shut them up. You know, they feel free to say whatever they want to say. So I can't really, you know, I don't think anybody's can really say anything about that. So ultimately, we got to go out there and put the work in and do what we do, and I think I have no doubt we will. But you know, as far as that stuff goes, man, it's it's noise. It's always gonna be there. It's probably gonna be there every more so this year than than last year. And you know, ultimately, league, you know, the only way to get it to either stop or turn the other ways to win. And I think that's that's you can have the city. I can say and power about it. I can say and do something about it, you know what I mean. I think that's how we all feel. Do you ever find it strange though? How like the same people that will build you up to try to you know, oh, we got Donovan Mitchell this year, right, it is the new season. Everything is on the up and up, and then you hit a little bit of adversity and then it's like, what we got a knocking down now? Right? But it's like it seems like a lot of times we build just to knock down and then when you were did like right, so if you win a championship this year, it's like, oh, look at the redemption story, right, So isn't it crazy? How how how that process is and how do you stay in love with basketball while not liking that well, I mean like it's the it's the Batman line, you have to die heroes, see yourself to come and villain like you know what I'm saying. It's you know, it is what it is, It's part of it. And you know, Dennis Robins said something in the last dance. He said, you I don't agree all the way, but he said, you don't get paid for what you do on the floor. You get here for all the bullshit that comes after it off of it, you know what I mean, Like at the end of the day, like I said I could, it's it's the way, it's the assist the nature of the beast. Like I don't really I've been fortunate enough to be thrust into this light at an early point in my career, my first season, so I'm used to this, like this is my first year. I was I should have been rooking of the year Yatta got or whatever to them going and having a not so great start to the year of the season and now the same people that were you know, you know, I'd bring up Steven Na because I've told him this, Like Steve and A was like, man, he's gonna be great. Same next year he was like, man, this dude is playing like track, Like like you know what I'm saying. But ultimately, like there's a level of consistency, consistency that comes with greatness, and ultimately, like if you're not getting booed, then you know, there's no expectation on you, if you're not getting hate on, there's no expectations. I mean, like it's clearly as an expectation for myself and for us to be at this level. We didn't meet that expectation. So now it's like, how do we find a way to get to that expectation? Not because everybody out there, but it's because of because of us. We want to be that for ourselves and all that show, you know, take care of yourself. I'm sitting all that sorry, but like but I ultimately for myself in this group, Man, we can't sit here. I can't sit here and worry about that. I can't sit here and say like, oh man, you know they're hating on us today, Like you know, what I mean. If I was a fan, I do the same thing. Like you know what I'm saying. Like I'm not you know, I'm not naive to that. Like we have we have an expectation to be this but to be this good, we have to go out there and be this good. That's what comes with greatness, and that's the expectation. All right. And finally, man, I know you gotta wrap here. Last year when we talk to you, you would you had just got here, just got into the city. Have you gotten adjusted? Do you have you know, some favorite hot spots, restaurants or whatever you adjusted to the city. Yeah, you know, I've gotten a few spots spot called. I can't eat there too much because I gotta stay make sure I stay on my diet. But Zanzibar downtown, that place is o d I don't think they know that I beat in there all the time. I kind of come in there with a hood and the hat on, so I don't think no one really. I try to walk around and beyond of the red ar, but I'd be in there a lot like that's my that's my spot. We little sparably went to the other night as a team I think called fahrenheit. I think it just opened up. I spot stop. But obviously I gotta give shout out to Marble Room. I love Marble Room. That's my that's my spot after games and all that. So those are probably my three, my three spots, and then the Chick fil A by my crib too. I won't say where I'm at, but I typicularly by my crib. They take care of me to so I appreciate them as well. All right, Donovan Mitchell, thank you so much. Man. We appreciate it. Man, appreciate all the love did you showed us since you got here. Man. All right, all right, we have Carris the vert once again back. Welcome back. Man. How you doing, sir shading man? Appreciate how you doing? I'm good, man, I'm good. So uh talk about man, what it's like that the the the Cavs invested in you and wanted to make sure that you continue to be a part of this team. Man? What is what is that feeling like? It feels great, man, It feels great because I wanted to be here, you know what I mean. I wanted to continue to build with this team. I feel like we have a super high ceiling and We're ready to compete this year. We're ready to keep going, keep getting better, and do better than we did last year. Obviously, last year didn't end the way you guys wanted it to, but talk about what the experience was like and how that was important for this team, especially you guys had so many players that had never even been to the playoffs before. Yeah, like you said, it's important to feel those things. You know, go do something for the first time. It's not always gonna be pretty. You know, sometimes it is, but a lot of times it's not. You know, you gotta go through adversity and learn from it. And I feel like we did that and we're gonna learn from it this season. So, Karius, the number one thing I thought about when I watched you last year was like, I feel like, my my guys, versatility is a blessing and a curse, because one night we may come in and ask you, like we need you to basically play point guard and distribute. The next night is we gotta have you guard the best wing player on other team, And then some nights is well we need you to be a spot up shooter, you know, So, like, do you feel like your versatility is a blessing and a curse, like you can do a bunch of different things on the court, but that also means we don't have a defined role for you right now. Yeah, it's funny you say that, because it kind of is. And when you're younger, they kind of try to put you in a box and tell you to do a certain thing. But for me, I just never did. It was always to be versatile, kind of be like a Swiss army knife. And because of that, you know, you get criticism that you're inconsistent and things like that. But in reality, I'm not called on the score twenty points a game here, you know what I mean, That's not necessarily my role. Sometimes some games it is, but a lot of games it is not. But for me, I just try to impact winning. That's the most important thing for me. Try to win as mini games as possible and contribute to that. So how do you block out stuff? Like you mentioned, you go on social media after a game where you have five points and it's like, well, Karen's had like six assists and he was guarding somebody and nobody knows that, but it's like he only had five points and he was two of seven So how do you deal with that, like on a night to night basis. For me, it's it's like I wouldn't necessarily take criticism for someone who I wouldn't take advice from, you know what I mean. So a lot of times I I don't even know who's saying this stuff. I don't pay attention to it. But it's like a lot of times I wouldn't even take advice from these people. So why would I feel some type of way. You know, my teammates know what I bring to the table, my coaches know what I bring to the table, the organization knows. So for me, it's just about getting better each and every day and like I said, impact and winning. All Right, brother, I know you're on a short time man. I appreciate you stepping by, no doubt, no doubt. Good to see you all again, all right, Absolutely appreciate, appreciate. All Right. We are here at Calv's Media day and we have a repeat guest that was here last year, Iasa a Quarrel. Welcome back, and I am going to pass the mike to Dante for the first question. So do you feel yourself becoming more more and more confident on offense? As like as time goes along. Yeah, I mean I do feel like I'm a confident player. You know, when I'm on the court, I'm just playing my role. I mean, I could do more than what I'm doing, but you know, each everybody on the team has their own role. So I'm gonna play my role. I'm gonna do the best that I can't do it my role to help us win games. So I mean, I've always been a confident player. I've been confident in my shots, so I'm continue to do that. Can you talk about what it's like to try to carve out that role, right, because i mean, ay, you high school, college, right, You've been a man. So but then you come to the league and it's like, well everybody was like that, so you gotta kind of find that role. You got a car Is that what has that adjustment been like? And then is that is that a difficult adjustment? Do you think? Uh? Yes, definitely was a difficult adjustment. But you know what I mean, I'm just a guy that wants to win. You know, winning makes me happy, makes everybody's happy, you know, so I had to put my private side. I'd be like, Okay, I gotta be the guy that defensive you know, the best player each and every night, you know, fight through the ball screens, pinned downs, you know, be the hustle guy because not a lot of people want to be that type of guy, you know, and every every team needs that type of guy to win, you know. Champihips, so I put my private side and do those things. So another thing that we were that we had talked to some of the players about as well as the extra scrutiny that that comes on you guys, especially you know with going to the playoffs and and and I d and up the way that you wanted to. How do you guys deal with that? How do you block out the noise? Because it was a lot of people talking crazy, got a lot of things to say. How do you deal with that? How do you block that out? Uh? I mean I've I've never been a person to let what other people say get into my head and you know make me feel bad. You know, people will have their opinions. The negota say they're gonna say, but like, if you're not in the gym with us twenty four seven on the court with us, then you really have no idea what we go through and what we're we're doing, you know, so I can't really worry about what other people are saying. You know, we just gotta stay together as a team and you know, just block out the outside noise and so dealing with the expectations. Obviously, you guys are very good team. Everybody knows you're a very good team. How do you deal with the expectations, make sure that you're not putting too much pressure on yourself or anything like that. How do you do it? Uh? I mean, we just take a game by game, you know, we don't just because we know we're a good team. We're not just looking ahead to April, looking ahead to the playoffs. We have to take it by a Brooklyn first game and uh okay, see next game after that. So I mean we have to take a game by game, play every team as hard as we can play, take no nights off, and you know, continue to do that. All right, man, thanks for stopping back by man. We appreciate it. All right, brother, real talk, real conversations. We got. This is the y'a lost radio show. All right. We're here at CALVS Media day A talking to some of the Cleveland Cavaliers players, and right now, we have Tod Jeron. Welcome to the show. How are you doing? Sorry, I'm good man. How are you I'm good I'm good man. So, uh, you're here now. Obviously in this situation, they went to the playoffs last year, they plan on going further this year. Talk a little bit about what it's like to come into a team that has those sort of aspirations. It's exciting, you know what I mean? In minds a little bit of last year. I joined Golden State last year and obviously expectations for the last you know, however many years over there have been super high. But this is similar in a way that you know, they were a top four seed last year here, or we were a top four seed here last year. So it's exciting that. You know, that's how you want to play basketball. You want to be in those situations where you have expectations and you have pressure and it makes every night fun and exciting, It makes every practice fun and exciting. You know what I mean. It's it's it's it's the process you want to be And as a as a competitor, talk a little bit about your experienced as a player, right, so, like you've been high as of high as lowest of lows, right, like national champion in college, come to the come to the NBA. What is your your journey been liking trying to carve out your role and at this level. Yeah, a lot of ups and downs. My rookie year, a lot of injuries. Then got traded after my rookie year, started season two with another injury that kept me out for the first three months. Responding to world to that, but I was in the ok se and you know we were losing a lot, half of them on purpose, if I can say that. You know, then next year I went to Golden State, so just four team. This is will be my fourth team in five years. You know, I've seen a business side very fast. But you just get taught a lot of lessons. You grow up fast, and I think as long as you keep working, those opportunities come and you gotta just be ready and take advantage of them. You were on a high profile team in college, too, right, number one seed, high pro always on national TV. Do you think that sort of helped prepare you for levels of adversity? I don't remember. I know you're on a national championship team. Were you there the year before? When you lost in the first Star Yeah, so like, like you've been at the top of the mind number one seed, to be the first number one seed to lose to a sixteen seed, and then the very next year win the national championship, So like, has that sort of prepared you a little bit for some of the adversity you think you saw in the league so far? Yeah, for sure, And I think that, you know, our coaching staff at Virginia did a great job of that too. Tony Bennetty's he's as solid as they come as a guy and as a coach, you know what I mean. So he's he kind of told us from from day one when everything was going great, everything was going bad, you just stay levelheaded, you keep working you can, you keep the main thing the main thing, and you know, everything else will take care of itself. So obviously, like we said, you know this team has aspirations. You come from a team that had those aspirations as well. For people who may not be familiar with your game, what are you looking what are you looking forward to bring to the table that can help the Cavaliers get over that humble There's another versatility off the bench and another guard being able to you know, shoot, make quick decisions, guard multiple positions, run the offense one night if that's what's needed. Just being able to do whatever the team needs adding. I mean, I just want to be a winner, you know what I mean? And that's that's why I think my my biggest trait, my best skill is And so you talked a little bit earlier about some of the adversity that you had to go through. How did you keep yourself mentally strong to be able to go through that and to get to where you're at. Oh, I think you just keep going. It's not never every day is not perfect. There some days where you might be super upset or just like damn, how this happened? And maybe some weeks are like that. But you just keep going. You show up and you work out and you and you work on your game. You try to get better whether you're feeling great, whether you're feeling you see my language, or you know, however you're feeling in between. Like, you just show up every day and you keep you keep following the process and when you look up, results take care of themselves. Absolutely. Thanks so much man for coming to spending the time with us. We appreciate it. Or appreciate you having me. All Right, we're here at Cavs Media Day. We're back with Isaiah Mowbley back on the show. Welcome back. How you doing? God good good, Happy to be here all right? Man? So, first of all, like my guy Chase said, Summer League, Chaps, what was that like? Man? Uh? In the Summer League and going all the way and winning that champions it was wonderful. You know, I've been playing with some familiar faces with the Charge, you know, Salmon and Sharif and the new guys as well, and Monty, Craig Pete and all those guys. It was it was really fun and I was just happy we were able to go out and get a championship. Yeah, man, I mean it was. It was cool to watching it on TV like it was rings and ceremony, the whole thing. Right, No, definitely, you know, I'm glad they incorporated a lot just a little experancative to go and win it all and I think it makes it a lot more excited and I hope they keep doing that. Right. So, uh So, like I said, we interviewed you last year, what have what have you learned from last year to this year? What have you added to your game, all that kind of stuff, the experience, you know, your first year down in the NBA. What what what's been the biggest difference from last year to this year? Just knowing what you're you're going into, you know, like I like, like you said, this is my second media day, so like just even knowing, like, Okay, I know how this is gonna go. I have an idea how training campus is gonna go, like in terms of the practices, so you're able to prepare yourself and set yourself up for success going into this season. So now understanding all of that, just applying it and uh and making the right plays, making the right decisions. When I do get my opportunities, you know, you still don't know when they're gonna come, but when they do come, you know what you're looking at and you know what you're dealing with and you know what you're facing. So just be ready to attack those and be decisive. What what has the transition been like for you? Because you know every NBA player, right you start in high school, elite player in college. So then you you gotta fight for minutes, you gotta fight for your role, You gotta figure your role out right, but when before you know you at USC, right, I'm Isaiah Mobli, right, I'm the best player on the team. Your brother get there were the best player on the team, right, So what what is that? What has that been like for you? What has that transition been like to to now? Like you gotta carve it out, it's different, But I think I'm grateful for it. Honestly, I think it's made me a better player, a better human just dealing with it. Like I was actually talking about this in a previous interview, Like you know, I, like you said, I've been playing forever. I never really sat on the bench, and so until last year, that first game, it was like like you're probably not getting in today, like and so it was like what you're gonna do. You're gonna sit and pout or you're gonna go and you just make the most of this. And so that's just that's what it is. Like I just every night I try to make the most of it. And then like now I don't put any pressure on myself, you know, Like I feel like pressure is made up, you know what I'm saying, Like the play or not, you know, they still pay, so so like you know, it's not like you know, this is for my next meal. It's just you know, taking advantage of that opportunity and just being grateful for it and and showing that gratitude and then taking that and attacking it. And so that's I plan on doing again this year. And so on that note, man, how do you stay mentally ready? Because, like you said, you don't know when your opportunities are coming, but you know you're going to get your opportunities and you could get called. You'll number could get called at any moment, So how do you how do you stay mentally prepared for that? It's funny one of our vets last year this kind of told me, like you learn how to like like you give a f what you don't at the same time because if you get too emostly invested, you know, on things you can't control, then you're gonna go in for a world win emotionally and then you won't be ready. So you learned or just like yo, you know what I'm saying, Like it didn't go my way, I didn't get to go in today or whatever it is, that's fine. But like with when my my workout time when I was on the court, or when I was lifting that day, or when I was in the game, you know, watching and all that stuff, I was really watching. So when it did, when it does come, yo, you're ready, Like I tell all the newer and younger guys coming in like my my first real minutes come to a game eighty one. So you know, it really comes at any moment, you know what I'm saying. If I didn't have been ready or checked out, I'll probably would have when when to handle my business. And so yeah, just learned to just you know what I'm saying, Like, if it's out of your control, you don't have to invest in that emotionally, But what's in your control, go all out and just give it everything you got. All right, Thanks Man for coming back with us second year Man, we appreciate it. All right. We are here at Calves Media Day and we are with Emani Bakes new Cleveland Cavaliers draft deed. First of all, welcome to the city. Second of all, Man, every anytime you hear anything about you, it's always that you were the steal of the draft, you know what I'm saying. Talk a little bit about what that process was like, Man, going through all of that and then ended up in a great situation for me, Like just going there like the training camp, not training camp pre draft, and like just working out with every teams was it was hard, Like you know, we find up and down one day going to another city another city. So for me, it was just like the whole process. I enjoyed all of it though you know, you only get that one time. So me being able to work out on everything and so coaches what I could do was real fun for me. But that's like going through this process that I got drafted. It was the best feeling, every best night for me. Like me and my family, we celebrated. It was fun. I had everybody there that was been when me since I was young, So it meant a lot, man, for real, And you know, you're in a in a unique situation because of your skill set. You're on a team that has playoff aspirations and you're gonna get some playing time on this team. So talk about what that's like, man, to be in this situation with the team with these expectations and the fact that you're gonna you're definitely gonna see some plans For me, like just being on the same pages as my teammates and coach, Like, that's really my main thing because like they know what they're doing. You know, they've been here, so like I'm just trying to go in and do what they need me to do to help us win games. So if that's catching is shooting ball, I'm gonna catching shoot the balls. That playing defense, getting, stop getting, stop rebounding, whatever it is to win, I'm gonna give it one hundred percent for sure. Uh do you you gotta chip on your shoulder because of how the draft played? Do you think you gotta people might have forgotten how good you you really are? Yeah? I definitely got you with my shoulder, for sure. I wouldn't even I couldn't even see the parent of said I can't like I got out a big two of my shoulder because I know they ain't sixty players in the draft. That's better than me forty eight forty eight to be alone for sure. Yeah. And the crazy thing is is how people build you up your whole time in high school or he the next KD he you know this boy special and those of us that follow recruiting, we know that. But then you go to Memphis and then they don't work out and then you go, you know, to the MAC and people like I don't know, like they people trying to build you up just to tear you down. So it's like, how how have you dealt with that, especially with like social media and stuff like that. Yeah, I mean for me staying myself like can't change me, know what I'm saying. People can switch. I ain't gonna change on myself though. So it's like if I got myself mentally, I'm straight and basketball's basketball, that's that's gonna be the end of the day. Like, no matter where you're at, basketball is always go on be basketball. So for me, you always kept grinding and just keeping the same thing and the main thing, the main thing, you know, And does that does that keep you confident? Because it's not a gym that you walked into in your life where you wasn't the man right, So like you you high school AU tournaments use the best player on the floor always, and then even in college it was never oh he can't play. It was always some outside stuff where people trying to bring you down. So does that keep you confident? Because I'm sure when you when you step on the floor in the league, you're gonna step on the floor with guys that was in your recruiting class, guys that you played against in college, that you I'm better than him. So it's like, does that does that keep you kind? Because you when I watch you play, I'm like, oh, he know, he he know he's the best player. Right. Really, No, my confidence is always gonna be there because, like I mean, I've been doing I've been playing all these players there, like even once I got drafted last year, like Polo, Like shit, I'm playing against all of them. You know what I'm saying, I held my own Like it's not like I did o my own self. For me, this is another opportunity. I just I need an opportunity, and you know what I'm saying, I'm gonna take full advantage of it. And that that's like saying, well, whatever coach need me to do help win my teammates, I'm gonna do it for sure. Up. So obviously we're familiar with your game and we know how good you are. But for people who aren't familiar with your game, man, tell him a little bit about what you bring to the type. Really, for me, like I feel like I could shoot the ball. I feel like I can score a ball on all three levels. Real, I feel like passing a lot of people sleep on my ability to get my teammates better. Rebound it something I'm big at. I did that a lot of Summer League, just rebound it. That was something I focused on, so really rebounding, you know, making shots for my teammates, and that's something big. That's something that my strength is is for shure and making shots, for knock it down shots. Absolutely, and finally, Man, I noticed on your tattoos says for forever with me. Wanna give a quick moment man, for you to give a shout out to the person that you got on your tap. Oh yeah, this is my granddad, my mom father. I never got to meet him. But it's about twin. Like look just exactly like im. If you see a clear picture, you'll see it exactly what. That's exactly my twin man like for real, but that's my granddad. Man always win me any time about hoop. I just looked down. You always win me for sure. That's what's up. Man, Hey man, thanks for coming over and spending some time. We appreciate it, brother, appreciate you. Though. This is the Outlaws Radio Show, all right, we had Calves media day talking to Cleveland Cavaliers players and we're here with Sharif Cooper. Welcome. How you doing certain good? I'm good. I'm good. So Dante as soon as you walked in, Dante was like, Hey, we gotta talk deal. So what I would do. I'm gonna pass it on to you first, so you can ask first couple of questions because I know you you chomping at the bit right now. It was just it was just dope for me because I follow recruiting. So I remember, you know, when you was in high school. I remember the Debron Corner League game. I remember that. Yeah, so you know, it was just it was that guy in high school for high school basketball, right, and we you know the name travel because I'm from Cleveland and you know you're from the South. So it's like, you know, so mainly what's the process been like? Right? Because it was number basically number one player in high school and then you immediately when you got to to Arburn, it's like it's questions like can you even play right? Eligibility questions, So like how you've been battling through through adversity. Basically you go from on top to immediately people trying to knock you up. It's been it's been tough. I'd be lying if it said it wasn't. It wasn't a lot of tough days, but I put I put so much work into the game, and you know, I feel like I believe in my skill, in my and myself wholeheartedly. So so I feel like that's what kind of keeps me balanced and keep me confident when you know everybody is saying whatever they say. For one, I know it's not true. And for two, like you know, I feel like I've I've I've proven it to myself to an extent. You know, I still haven't necessarily done in an A level, but now I feel like every other level I've been able to be successful. And and that's kind of where my confidence grows. Especially you know, all the workout put in behind the scenes that people don't know about, you know, against NBA players in NBA competition. So that kind of makes me, you know, believe in myself, you know, outside of you know, everybody nay saying and doubt. Do you when you are that, do you notice people take playing you harder when you because you were five star recruit came in with the pedigree. So like when you got to college and then even at this level, do you notice people trying to give you go harder at you just because it's like, Oh, I'm I'm playing against Sharifa. Do you notice that? Yeah, especially like in high school and in college, you know for sure in a league, you know, I feel like you know a little bit. You know, people like trying to try to talk trash and you know, little things like that. So it's it doesn't bother. Yeah, I've been dealing with it for so long, so it just makes make the game more fun for me. The other thing that I'm always interested in is like when you technically an amateur right high school and college? How many what's it like when people pulling on you from so many different you know, stay in college because you can do X y Z or come to this school or or you know all that type, Like what is what is that liking? In the second part of that is did you miss the nil situation? You missed that? So like what do you do you kind of wish you could have got a part of that when you was when he was in college or when he was in high school. For the first question, you know, it's it's not necessarily pulling on you. Now. I feel like, you know, teams are recruiting and and doing their job, and you know, I feel like it's it's it's actually a fun experience kind of seeing what everybody got. It's like if you was in the league and you went to every different team and every team wanted you, and you know, they were showing you the arenas and buildings and fan bases. So it's actually a fun experience for me as far as NIL. You know, I wish the NIL was there When I was there, I auto made a lot of money. So but you know, I I love my journey. You know, I fully embraced it, so I wouldn't rather be nowhere else. Yeah, man, So, uh, you mentioned earlier about the naysayers and stuff like that, and one of the things that you know, Dante and I talked about a lot is, you know a lot of the stuff that y'all have to deal with dealing with the media and all that kind of stuff, and you know, you know, people saying trying to tear you down and all that, and you know people who are you know, comment don't even know the game, don't know the culture, all that kind of stuff. How how do you deal with that? How did you deal with you know, all the naysayers and all this kind of stuff trying to tear your game down and almost making people forget how good you really are? How did you deal with it? I feel like in college that was my first real experience for like people doubting and saying negative things, and to a point where it was like, you know, I almost kind of let it creep into my head and then you know, the following year and kind of just putting all that the rest being in the gym and kind of regaining who I am. I feel like I just learned how to like to cope with it because a lot of times, like you read stuff and it makes zero sense, like and people don't understand the game of basketball. You wouldn't know, like how the NBA is until you there, Like it's it's a true business. So like people saying certain things and it's it's it's almost funny, but you kind of just controlled. You control. You know who you are, You know the work you put in. So that's what makes me comfortable and who I am. You know what, no matter if I'm scoring thirty points or five points, Like I know, and I'm comfortable with the work I put in, and and and I'm satisfied with that all right. Lastly, obviously everybody knows what aspirations, uh, this team has, was in the playoffs last year and want to go further this year. Talk a little bit, Talk a bit a little bit about what it's like to be in that situation with this team that has those sort of aspirations. I feel like it's it's fun because you know, it's a team that that wants to win. They're also still young, so it's like a young energy and it's like, you know, guys are growing together within you know, the NBA, and it's a group for the good people. Like the the energy in the locker room is great. You know, the staff, the coaches, the the food, everything is like, you know, all great people, all great energy to be around. So when you come to work, it's just it's just fun to be here. So being that we all trying to you know, we all have our personal individual goals, but I feel like we're all you know, unselfish people in and looking to help each other. So it's a good environment. It's a good you know energy and smmer you want to be so absolutely, thanks man for coming over and spend some time with us. We appreciate it. All Right, we are here at CALVS media day talking to Cleveland Cavaliers players, and right now we are with Pete Nance. Welcome. How you doing, sir, I'm good. How are you? Thanks for I'm good, I'm good. Man. First of all, what is it like to be uh here in Cleveland playing for the Cavaliers. Obviously with the history uh connected to the team in your family? What is that like? Yeah, I mean, it's very cool. It's a dream come true. Obviously, I grew up here about thirty minutes down the road, so I'm a lifelong cast fan, regardless of any of my family members. So it really is just a dream come true. And I'm just you know, I'm excited for this opportunity. Yeah, man, So talk about what it's like you're you're here on this team. Obviously, this team has playoff aspirations that we're in the playoffs last year. They want to go further, talk about the situation that you're in being on this team and the fact that it's your your hometown team, and the fact that your dad's name is in the rafters, right. Yeah, I think, you know, obviously, I think they did a great job of making a lot of you know, offseason moves. I think coming off at last year, I think you know, Kobe and and everybody did exactly what they needed to do, you know, and fill the holes that they needed moving forward into this year. And for me, it'll be a probably a lot you know with the charge, which I'm really excited about and be able to you know, get some valuable experience under my belt at the NBA level and that'll just be big for me in my development. So I'm just really excited for you know, for myself personally. But as for the team, I think, you know, I think they made the necessary moves to take that next step. What have you been in terms of your game, Like, what have you been working on, I would say, like this summer to to really go to the to the next level, what have you been putting the time in on. Yeah, I think for me it's been you know, at the NBA level, I feel like it's kind of honing in on like specific skills and trying to you know, as much as I can master a few things because we all are used to being you know, the best player on the team growing up and having the ball in our hands all the time. But at this level, you know they're not going to take the ball out of Darius and Donovan's hands and Evan's hands to give it to you know, to give it to me or any of us. So just really working on shooting, obviously, being able to space the floor, really focusing in defensively and being able to move my feet and becoming more athletic in that way, and then just being being in really good shape and being able to run the floor and just you know, provide anything I can provide outside of you know, constantly having the ball in my hands and just being being effective in that way. What is that transition? Like? Is that is that difficult to go? Like you said, because everybody here if you got a uniform or like you was a star in high school, right, you could score right. And I don't think a lot of people understand how good you guys actually are when it comes to like just shooting around or you know, local anybody. You could go to any rexit or in Ohio and give anybody fifty. So like, what is that to know that, like I'm actually a great player. But like you said, at this level, I got to find a role. So how is that difficult for you at all? Or? I think for me it's been. It's really simplified a thing things a lot for me. You know. I think you go into a game in high school and college knowing that like you've got to do like everything, and I'm gonna have to do like majority of everything to win this game. But I think in the NBA it's such more of like a team game and you need everybody a lot more, I feel like, because if you if there's kind of like a weak link out on the floor, they'll find it then they'll you know, expose it. But I think it's been a pretty just as far as Summer League goes, it's been a pretty easy transition for me, just really honing in on what is my role and what am I doing to help this team and help us win. So the fact that obviously you've you have people close to you that have been in the league, has that helped with the transition to to the NBA, to this to this level at all? Does it help to be able to to you know, call your brother, call your father or anything like that. Has that helped you with the transition. Definitely, it's been you know, it's been huge for me. I think I'm at a big advantage for people in our you know, in our position, I have two people that you know, walked this exact path, So being able to take advice from them and take any you know, little nuggets from them that I can to help me through this through through this experience, it's it's been super helpful. So I'm definitely grateful for that. And lastly, for people who are who may not have seen you enough familiar with your game, Uh, tell them what they can expect, what's your you know, tell them a little bit about your game and and and what what you bring to the table. Yeah. I think just a very mobile big man that can guard multiple positions, really run the floor, can space the floor, can can shoot the three, and just just be a versatile player. I think, you know, I think Biggs can Yeah. I think at my size, I think I can do I think I can do a lot of different things. Well, so I'm just just just versatility. I would say, all right, man, thank you so much man for coming over and spending some time with us. We appreciate it. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. All Right, we are here at CALVS Media Day talking to players on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and so we have a new player to the squad and we got a lot of questions for him. But first tell everybody introduce yourself. For people who may not know, tell me a little bit about your game and what you look to bring to the Cavalier. My name is Justin Powell from Louisville, Kentucky, and what I bring to the game is just a shooter to space the floor. So you know, it's been my big thing is being a movement shooter and stuff. So that's kind of my game. So you're in a team, you're you're with a team now that has playoff aspirations. Obviously they went to the playoffs before and one of the critical that this team had was more shooting to be able to help space the floor. So talk about what it's like to be in in this situation and to specifically have a skill set that this team really needs. It's been great, honestly. Just my big thing was learning after guys like Max and Sam, you know, to two elite shooters that have been proven and can shoot the shoot the mess out of it. So uh to come in and learn from him every single day and work and see how they work and see how they just take, you know, go through their days. It's been great. But this team, you know, got a lot of talent on it and added shooting like those two guys and me learning from them, it's just been it's been a blessing. I've always been interested when it comes to shooters, is like routines. So do you have like a special routine, a certain amount of shots you get up, any sort of quirks that you like. I just I gotta get up a thousand shots or I gotta get up six sixty five quarter three. Do you know what I'm like? Do you have any sort of routines like that? Yeah? I think the big thing with shooters is routine and just you know, repitition. So I know I got I know JJ Reddick had a little off day routine kind of going on. But I think a lot of shooters got that. I've got one where I make three hundred. It's just a bunch of different things and it's broken up, but it depends on the day. I'll switch it up a little bit here and there. But it's all routines, starting in close stuff like that and making sure forms good and everything, and then moving it out further. So obviously you know you've been playing forever and being in this situation here, how do you I'm always, like Dante asked the shooter question, I'm always fascinated as well. Like a lot of times, because you're a shooter, you get called on in critical moments in the game. How do you, you know, block everything out and have ice water in your veins and knock down that shot for your team at the moment that your team really needs that shot. It's funny you say that because you know you gotta be able to come in. Maybe it might be at the end of the game and team needs a three and knock down to three, and they don't care if you come in and you're not ready, you're not warm, you just sat three quarters, like it doesn't matter. You got to knock it down. So I think it just goes back to repetitions and being in the gym, Like you know in that moment that you shot that corner three a thousand times in practice and after and before practice, So when you go in there, it's kind of just like it's what you're supposed to do and you're used to doing it. But yeah, it's one of those things like you might only get one shot at it, so you better make it so all those repetitions and stuff like that, it helps absolutely. Man, Thanks so much for coming over and spend some time with us. We appreciate it. I appreciate you, guys. Thank you. All right, we are here at Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day. We are with Zaire Smith. Welcome to the show. How you're doing a certain great How about you? I'm good, I'm good man. So uh, tell people, for people who may not be familiar with your game, tell people a little bit about your game and what you're looking to bring to the Cavaliers. My game pretty simple. You know how play hard, being through it versy, so play with it. Something on my shoulder and I just played hard, athletic. So you said you you you've you've been through adversity. Talk a little bit about your journey and what you've had to, you know, deal with to get to get here. Just a lot of minor setbacks, so afoot allergy reaction, losing up to sixty pounds and dealing with need problems for about a year and a half. So just coming through that, it's just you know, blessings. So how did you How did you keep yourself mentally right? Because you gotta you gotta be mentally tough to be able to get through all of that kind of stuff. How did you keep yourself strong mentally? Almost definitely because it wasn't easier at first, But I got close to guy and I understood my Bible, so that helped much a lot, absolutely so just getting in them. More about like adversity, because you came out with with pedigree, right, I remember you from that Texas Tech team right, all defense, big twelve like and then just too so your trajectory is going up and then you hit snags along the way like and I don't think people understand how difficult that is when you got expectations, even for yourself, I'm sure, So like how dark does that get? But how do you pull yourself out of that to where it's like, no, I'm still gonna fight Because I'm sure you know a lot of great players hit adversity and they don't come back, right, They end up overseas somewhere or in the G League, Right, So how do you continue to fight back, to continue to push through because this is what I love to do. I love a game. So once that game got sick away from me, I just learned to cherish every moment, just the little stuff I miss. I'm like, man, I wish I was running suicides right now because I wasn't able to do it. Like I said, I got close to the guy, so that helps a lot. Where are you physically now? Are you are you? Do you feel like you're back or how do you feel physically now? I feel like I'm back one percent? So so what is it like, man? To come into this situation with a team that was in the playoffs obviously have playoff aspirations again this year, and to go even further talk about what it's like to come into this situation. It's a great situation. You know a lot of athletic. We're gonna play fast, so it's great. We're a young team, so we understand, so we know what it takes in we're hungry to get there, all right, Man, thanks so much, uh for coming to spending time with us. Man, And on a personal note, with everything that you've been through, Man, I just want to tell you congratulations man for making it through and and and holding on to God and getting back here. I appreciate it. Fuck up all right, welcome back, Welcome back. It has been a another great day, another successful uh day here in Calves media day and the love that we've gotten from from the team, man, we really we really appreciate it. Man. Uh Dante, talk a little bit about your experience today. We got some some A one brothers on the Calves man, like just some some some guys that you can just tell our solid, solid individuals. And so that's that was my big takeaway from it out. I wanted to, like we talked about in an intro, where we just you know, try to add add our own flavor. And I think that's a breath of fresh air for a lot of the players man. Like you said earlier, man, just guys that not only look like you, but speak the same language, can feel your vibe, can match it and uh and and where you can be yourself right, you don't have to you know this, don't have to just be all business right and that that was that was my my main takeaway. It was overall our media day too. I think this was a success. Yeah, you could tell man that they would let the guard down a little bit when they came over here, you know what I'm saying, And that was that was really cool to see that they wasn't you know, they weren't all you know, buttoned up and everything. They could just talk, they could just relax. I Like I said earlier, you know, they gave us the bro the bro handshake and instead of the business handshake and all of that, you know, we you know, and I think that's important, man. I think it's important because we're we're talking about who controls the narrative, right and when you have players, whether it's in the NBA or in the NFL, who are always dealing with people who can't relate to them, you know, it makes it very difficult. It makes it very difficult, and a lot of times things get lost, get lost in translation because you just don't speak the language. So you know, I'm grateful to the Cavaliers forgiving us this access because it is important. It's important for the players to be able to see that there's, you know, somebody in the room who relates to them, who understands them, who speaks their language, and who knows the game. That's that's the most important thing, right, And you know, talking to a few of the players just about how they deal with criticism and all that type of stuff. It's just something that that you can tell they appreciate about us. And that's that's all we want to do, right. We want to be that outlet, not the not the softball question outlet, right, because I think that's a fine line too, Like you're not gonna get softball questions. We're not gonna make this easy, but we also not playing gotcha either, And you also ain't gonna go on social media and see as trash and you after you show love. So I think that's something where you know, we we commend the players for being a one, but we also can take a you know, we can pat ourselves on the back for being the same way. Yeah, even though you know, there are some people who feel some type of way about the way that we conduct our shows, but uh, as I'm sure long time listeners of this show, No, we don't give a damn. We we do this the way that we do this, and it's on it's on purpose we do. We'll we'll ask you questions, we ask the players questions about you know, how they felt about the way that the season went and how it didn't go the way they wanted it to. We ask them about criticism, not about the criticism, but about how they respond to it and how they react to it, because we think that that's a more interesting question. They already know all the criticism, they get it, they hear it every day, so we think it's a more interesting question to ask, well, how do you respond to it, how do you deal with it? So on and so forth. So that's what we try to do. We were We're not out here trying to just dog them and blast them and stuff like that. We're trying to have a conversation, and we think it's important for us to be able to ask the questions that you all want to hear the answers too, and then let them answer the question. That's the that's the most important thing. Man and Dante. I think they you know, you could tell, you could tell that they really responded, responded to that. And I mean, obviously, you know, some of the ones that we interviewed last year, they remembered us, They remembered who we were. Some of the the people who worked for the organization remembered who we were and and last year was our was just our first year. This is only our second media day, so that says something right there, everybody, Yeah, we left that, we left an impression last year, and I think going forward, we've started to build some of those relationships to where we you know, we took precedent over some some some stations, so you know where certain players were like, no, I I gotta talk to them, right, I want to talk to them, And they made us a priority so they felt to love just like we did. And I appreciate that. And just to kind of shift a conversation to the season, it's it's low key around here. It's real low key around here, and I think that's a good place to be. Like last year, we had made the big trade for Donovan, and expectations were through the roof and nobody would sleep on us. Right. This year we made we upgraded it team in free agency, but it's more of a reserve but quiet confidence about our team this year. Like, I think the expectations are still there, but I think you know, we got a little bit of doulse. We got you know, we lived up to some expectations and we got adult reality in the playoffs, and so I think we're better for it coming into this season. It's it's a quiet confidence, which I appreciate, and I like, yeah, you know, I think they just want to get down the business, you know what I mean, That's that's what I think the case is. I think they just want to get down the business. You can tell they have a bad taste in their mouths from how that, how that ended and everything, and they just want to get down the business. So I'm looking forward to it, man, I'm looking forward to this upcoming season. Once again, thank you to the cludand Cavaliers for all of your hospitality. We hope all We hope all of you have enjoyed this episode. We are out of here. We'll see you next time. Peace. This has been a presentation of the FCB podcast Network, where real talk lifts. Visit us online at FCB podcasts dot com.
