Some stuff of note:
Isiah Thomas (the former Pistons guards) told him when he was traded to Boston: "This is gonna change your career."
First thing Ainge said to him was "I finally got my guy." He talks about how a team finally loved him for him. He also confirmed that Ainge was the first to call him when he was a free agent.
He hasn't met Bob Cousy yet but he would like to.
On Brad Stevens as a coach: Talks about how diligent Stevens is and how much he loves the game. He's always coming up with ideas from tape (even college games) and bringing them up. He takes input from the players and actually incorporates it in games.
"You hear it around the league. A lot of guys that I talk to, they be like 'man, I just love how Brad coaches, the system that he has, it seems like he just kinda lets you guys figure it out on your own and steer you guys in when need be.' He's like that. He's a friendly guy, and it's genuine. I like that."
Talks about meeting with Kobe before the Lakers game last week. He asked him how Kobe stays focused amid all the distractions. Kobe brings up wildlife specials about lions who are hunting, and how they don't let flies and gnats buzzing around them distract them from their prey.
Quoting Kobe: "He said 'right now I'm enjoying the moment, I know I'm playing like Edited. Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.. That's irrelevant. But years ago I didn't let anything distract me. I was that Lion.'"
Talks about how tight the Washington state basketball players are and their mentor relationships: Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Nate Robinson, Doug Christie, Brandon Roy, Zach LaVine, etc.
Talks about taking the train to Portland on weekends to play with Kevin Love's AAU team, staying at Love's parent's house. Says he tried to recruit Love this offseason but "I tried, but I think he had his mind made."
Talks about how he had to leave Sacramento because they kept bringing in guys that he outplayed for his job. He didn't think they believed in him.
Talks about how they realized quickly in Phoenix the three-guard rotation wasn't going to work, that there weren't enough minutes to go around and that they all needed to ball to be effective.
He was surprised to be traded after the Goran trade was already announced.
About his "team-friendly" 4 year/28 million deal: He says he had never been in that situation before to have to negotiate, and coming from his background as a 2nd-round pick he was happy with the deal.
He thinks that if he makes the all-star team, nobody will bring up his height anymore or still consider him more of a bench player.
He thinks Iverson was the best small player of all time. He also thinks his game is most similar to Damon Stoudamire.
Jason Terry's dad was his AAU coach in Seattle, so he's known the Terry family since he was a kid.
He says some guys don't watch film at all, which he doesn't understand.
Says Mike Conley is one of the most underrated PGs.
He watched a lot of Steve Nash tape over the summer to develop a one-foot floater, though he's not perfected it yet.
Topic: Woj -- Vertical Podcast (Update: IT2 on this morning -- Link) (Read 1713 times)