Miami's Victor Oladipo Talks Injury Comeback, Jimmy Butler & Playing the Celtics

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Ahead of Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami Guard, Victor Oladipo, joins The Pivot to talk about his storied comeback from injury and his journey that landed him on the Miami Heat. From #2 Draft Pick to five different teams to an injury that most thought he may never play again... Oladipo beat the odds to work his way back into the lineup in time for Miami to be heating up in the playoffs. Victor explains the pain and frustrations behind his quad injury and the recovery process mentally and physically sharing the struggles but accepting the challenge to be better everyday. Fred shares his own challenges on rebounding from injuries and the emotions that come with it while Ryan discusses some specifics about the illness when he was on the Steelers to recovering and playing a year later in the Super Bowl. The guys ask about the locker room and who the leaders are while wondering what playing with Jimmy Butler is like and the mindset the Heat have heading into the finals. Oladipo explains what makes the team so special is that they don't care about opinions of others and embrace being the underdog. When everyone counts us out, we just focus on winning and the leadership of Butler is the glue to the team right now. Ryan talks through the match up against the Celtics and the similarities the teams share but Oladipo recognizes it's going to be a fight but that his team is prepared for the fight. Channing asks about the rumors of Vic turning down 45million from Houston and Vic sets the record straight about those comments and then goes on to say how he is thankful for all the obstacles because they have landed him where he belongs now. Closing out the show, Channing mentions to Oladipo how his wife is a big fan of Oladipo's music and asks if singing is his way of picking up girls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:01Speaker 00

  This episode is brought to you by Michelob Ultra. Good times mean competitions between you and your friends. Like seeing who can throw some pigskin the farthest, or rush the field the fastest. Winner gets an Ultra. Because it's not just a superior light beer, it's also giving fans superior access to their favorite sporting events. Superior is worth playing for. Visit michelobultra.com/superioraccess to enter. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser Busch InBev Michelob Ultra Beer, St. Louis, Missouri.

• 0:28Ryan Clark?

  Hey man, it's down to the nitty gritty now, dawg. It's the Eastern Conference Finals, Western Conference Finals. We got Vio on the show, Victor Oladipo. But let's really get down to what it matters. It's about the prize picks, right? It's about being able to use our promo code PIVOT, get up to $100 free. Also, about the fact that I just keep winning, and that I am so much better than all of y'all.

• 0:51Fred Taylor?

  But it's really, it's not about you, though. It's about the picks. It's not about you versus us. It's about the picks.

• 0:58Channing Crowder?

  Oh, I'm versus him.

• 0:59Ryan Clark?

  Versus him.

• 1:00Channing Crowder?

  I'm about to wear his ass out this week, Freddie.

• 1:02Ryan Clark?

  Hey.

• 1:03Channing Crowder?

  I don't care about it. 75% of states. California, Texas, Florida, we all there. And it's fun, you picking players, man. I'm telling you, we love playing prize picks. For the trash talk, and you can win some money.

• 1:13Ryan Clark?

  And listen, and we know one thing Freaky Freddie is about, is that money. So y'all get on PrizePicks, download the app, check our, check our picks later on today on social media. You can beat them, but you ain't gonna never beat me.

• 1:27Fred Taylor?

  Don't forget, promo code PIVOT, whatever you put in, they're gonna match it up to $100. Free money, get it in. Hey, what's happening?

• 1:38Speaker 04

  Hey, how are you?

• 1:39Fred Taylor?

  It's good, boss lady. Hey, we got a special gift for you over here.

• 1:42Speaker 04

  Oh yeah? Let me see.

• 1:44Fred Taylor?

  Your boy.

• 1:45Speaker 04

  Hi, Vic.

• 1:46Fred Taylor?

  What's up, Chef?

• 1:48Speaker 04

  How are you, champ? I'm good, champion, how are you? I'm good, you doing great.

• 1:53Fred Taylor?

  Great, I love watching you. Thank you. Show the world who you are. Yes ma'am. That's right, that's what we gonna do too. We miss you over here. I'll be back soon, I have to come visit my family really quick. How soon?

• 2:06Fred Taylor?

  Tomorrow. You gonna come pivot with us? Of course. Alright, we love you. I love you.

• 2:11Ryan Clark?

  Bye, chef.

• 2:13Fred Taylor?

  Later, peace, she's the best.

• 2:38Ryan Clark?

  It's playoff time, man, it's like the real now, right? It's down to four. Victor Oladipo is here, Miami Heat. You want me to try it?

• 2:46Channing Crowder?

  You can try.

• 2:46Ryan Clark?

  Kehinde Babatunde, Victor Oladipo.

• 2:50Speaker 04

  That's perfect.

• 2:51Channing Crowder?

  Perfect. I'm a professional. I'm a freaking professional. Why didn't you go by Babatunde? I would like that.

• 2:58Speaker 04

  Nah, I don't know.

• 2:59Channing Crowder?

  I be at the game, come on Babatunde.

• 3:02Speaker 04

  You might be chuffed for some other people.

• 3:05Channing Crowder?

  You sound like an old fan though, dawg. Let's go, big fella.

• 3:10Channing Crowder?

  I'm one of them old dudes screaming fruitless at you, bruh.

• 3:12Ryan Clark?

  Yeah. So man, when people look at your career and you look at it in its entirety, All-Star, All-Defensive Team, you've been an All-NBA player, but it's been a fight to come back, to get to where you are now. How many times did you rupture your quadricep?

• 3:28Speaker 04

  Technically, I only did it once. But then, you know, the second year coming back, I had some other technical difficulties, I guess you would call them, in my knee, which made me further look into my quadricep tear. And then I realized that I had to get it redone because it wasn't done correctly the first time. So then, that's when I got it re-repaired. And then, now I'm here today. That was a year ago, since my last surgery, so. And now I'm standing on two feet, so.

• 3:55Ryan Clark?

  How hard was it to, to deal with that? To be at, at a level where you considered one of the best in the game? And then to have to fight back, not just to be a, a good, a good hooper again, but to just be out there, you know what I'm saying? We, we're all athletes. We've all dealt with injuries and surgeries. But to have in the prime of your career, something like this happen and set you back? How difficult was that for you to deal with?

• 4:21Speaker 04

  It was hard. Like, uh, you know, my whole career has honestly been, been hard. If you really look back at it like. First came in, in 2013, I got drafted to the Orlando Magic. Played there for three years and we were like terrible. It was, just wasn't. I had some great games there, but we just couldn't figure it out. I guess you would say. Now granted, I had four coaches in three years and, you know, we, but you know, again, they not gonna, we not gonna talk about that, you know? It's not really, it's really out of my power. Then, you know, I get traded to OKC, play with Russ. Matter of fact, when I got traded, I was on a plane. Didn't even know I was getting traded. No one told me, no warning, nothing. On a plane, where?

• 5:04Speaker 04

  I think I was on my way to Chris Paul's camp to help him with the camp. And then I landed, I think I had a layover in Dallas. Then it was, cause I remember there was a whole bunch of thunderstorms. And I called my mom, she was like, what's going on? And I said, uh, I think I just got traded to OKC. She was like, did you know about this? I said, I had no idea. So then went there, played for a year, you know, Russ won MVP. So, you know, if you watch basketball, you watch the game of basketball, a lot was demanded of him. You know, I kinda had to play my role and kinda sit back and watch, which was beneficial for me, I think, in the long run. And then the next year, I got traded again on a plane, again, and didn't know. And then when I, like two years. A year later, a year later.

• 5:49Ryan Clark?

  He gotta have PTSD every time he get on the plane.

• 5:51Speaker 04

  Man, I gotta make sure I have Wi-Fi every time I get on the plane. It's insane, but literally the next year later, I'm on my way to DC. I think I'm going home and get traded to Indy. Uh, man, you know, I, I felt so disrespected. I don't know why, or partly because people say, you know, it was like. They got away with highway robbery. I think that was one of the articles. I still got some of them, matter of fact. And I just felt insulted because, you know, people don't really know my game. In Orlando, people didn't really get to see it. You know, in OKC, you only saw a little bit of it because, you know, I had to kind of play my role. I kind of had to play the backseat. But then in Indy, you know, I showed face.

• 6:36Speaker 04

  Everyone realized that I was capable of a lot more. And then you work your entire life for that. I've been playing basketball since I was four years old. Four. And I've been dreaming of being that guy. They call your name last, the whole crowd. You know, they know who they're coming to watch. They know who they're coming to see. And then boom. It's gone. The injury. The injury, boom, gone. Now, there was things leading up to that that transpired that we could talk about. You know, it'll be an in-depth conversation. But the point of it all is I tore my quad. And then unfortunately, the people I had around me,

• 7:19Speaker 04

  you know, you entrust them to make the right decisions for you, to help you, to guide you. Unfortunately, you know, as a man, all you can do is look back and be like, man, you got to take this one on the chin. As a man, you should have made the proper decision and had the right people around you. You should have vetted them. But look back and then again, you did. I guess you didn't vet them enough. And then, you know, things transpired. I was playing a whole, probably like a year and a half, two years on one leg. Came back, came back because it was COVID. COVID hit around that time, remember? Came back, the whole world shut down. Remember, we had our bubble in Orlando? I came back, I had one leg playing in that bubble. I had one leg, definitely shouldn't have been playing. Played then and in the following year,

• 8:04Speaker 04

  I had like two months to rehab because we had a shortened summer and the season started early. Came back the following year, I was on a leg and a half and played the rest of the year. Then get traded from Indy to Houston to Miami. Then finally, I get to Miami and I'm playing and playing. It probably was my best game in a Miami Heat uniform. Boom, something happens again.

• 8:30Speaker 04

  At that point, I walk off the court. And I remember thinking to myself, well, at least you walked off. Because the first time, they had to bring a stretcher out.

• 8:39Channing Crowder?

  Damn.

• 8:39Speaker 04

  That's what was going through my head.

• 8:41Channing Crowder?

  Made some progress.

• 8:42Speaker 04

  Think about that. I don't know what was going on. I knew I couldn't continue playing. But in my head, I said, well, at least you walked off.

• 8:48Channing Crowder?

  Yeah.

• 8:49Speaker 04

  And they ain't see you come off with no stretcher. Because I remember when I, my first time getting injured and I came off the stretcher. I remember when I fell, I'm sitting, like, I could see my mother. My mother was in the crowd. I could see her face. And she looking at me. And I'm like, she just walked down. I never forget it. She walked down. They put me on a stretcher. If you watch the video of me going to the back in the stretcher. My mom reach out for my hand. The lady don't even know it's my mom. She pulled my mom's hand away. Can you imagine?

• 9:19Channing Crowder?

  Wow.

• 9:19Speaker 04

  My mom reaching out for me, a lady pulling her hand away.

• 9:22Channing Crowder?

  Security, security lady.

• 9:24Speaker 04

  Right. It's emotional because, like, people don't understand what that feeling is like. To be sitting there and it's 20,000 people who came to see you. And they crying, people has tears in their face.

• 9:41Speaker 04

  Everyone is dead quiet. You could see, I remember seeing the coach's face and the guy who, the trainer runs over and just puts the towel over my knee. Put the towel over my knee. I'm like, you ain't tell me what's wrong or nothing. I don't know what's wrong. I just know when he put the towel over my knee, usually when that happen, it's like, oh, now I get the stretcher. It's a traumatic feeling. Like, I don't, I don't know if, a lot of people don't get injured. You know what I'm saying? Unfortunately. There's a lot of people who do, though. And I have a newfound respect for anyone who's been through what I've been through. Even remotely close to what I've been through. Because it tests you mentally, physically, emotionally.

• 10:25Speaker 04

  It makes you go through a whirlwind of emotions. Literally, you can, you start thinking about if you're good enough. If I should keep playing. There was one point that I was sitting in, I said this before. I said, I was sitting in a dark room and I just broke down. In tears by myself because I didn't know where to go. I didn't know what to turn to. I didn't know what to do. I was trying to look for answers. And it was like right there at that point when I reached that point, it was like answer after answer after answer after answer after answer after answer after that. And you know, luckily for me, I realized through this process who was really with me. Cause they showed up and that's who's helped me get to this point today. You know what I'm saying?

• 11:10Speaker 04

  And it's been a learning lesson for sure. It's been tough. I don't want to continue to, you know, to ramble, but it's made me stronger in ways that I probably wouldn't have been as strong if, if it didn't happen. You know what I'm saying? Now granted, shoot, I'm not no fool. If I would have, if I could go back and change it, I would get hurt. I don't want to get hurt, but.

• 11:35Fred Taylor?

  We've been there, obviously the sport that we play. I can speak to your story. I don't want to minimize it. Obviously I have empathy and definitely respect, you know, the work that you're putting in to stay in the game. And try and get back, you know, to the best, to that number two pick status and let the whole entire world know and feel you. Hell, I've, I've been through just as much in front of 80, 90,000 people. And to the point where they had given me a nickname, Fragile Fred. Well, the average career in the NFL is three years. I churned out 13, right?

• 12:15Fred Taylor?

  As you mentioned, you have to find ways to tune those outsiders out, you know, and figure out who's rocking with you. Who's fully in your corner, your support system and keep a tight circle. And then it also forces you to try things that you might not necessarily be comfortable with. For me, it was a sports psychiatrist who eventually became my best, one of my very good friends. And Trevor Moawad, he recently passed away. He's worked with a lot of NFL guys and he was the toughest.

• 12:48Fred Taylor?

  Person I know mentally, you know, he had his own battles. But he taught me a lot, you know, in terms of taking these negatives and making positives. Always some positives in negative situations. People see me on the show, they see us, and they, they, they don't think I flinch. I, I go through stuff too, we all do, right? But it's all how you handle it, you know, because I don't want it to spill over to everybody else.

• 13:11Speaker 04

  My first time coming back, I did that. My first surgery, like, I'm going through it now. This quad, quad, quad tendon tears are rare in my sport, like, you won't see them often. So during that time, I'm, I'm as an athlete, I'm, what was I, 27, 26 at the time? I'm, I'm putting my trust in the people who they're telling me are supposed to be the best, or one of the best, or whatever the case may be at, in the medical field, honestly. And it's a point now where I feel like it's me holding me back from maximizing my strength, or maximizing whatever it is I need to do in order to get back to the athlete I'm at.

• 13:55Speaker 04

  So I'm seeing a psychologist, I'm, I'm talking to priests, I'm talking to preachers, I'm talking to everybody, trying to, I'm, I'm, I'm more mad at myself, like, why am I stopping myself from, from, from getting over the hump? From, from, it, it was two years, really, it was, it was two years before I really got my, my, my, my tendon right. And it was like, is it me, is it me, is it me? And then finally, after all that time, after all that time, all that hard work, all that fighting, all that sweating, all that, that blood, sweat and tears, it wasn't me? Like, that's, that was the mental struggle of, like, I'm beating myself up, I'm trying to figure it out,

• 14:38Speaker 04

  I'm trying to get over the hump, I'm trying to be better, I'm trying to, I'm trying to come back from something that it's hard to come back from. And then you do all that, you, you exercise all that emotion, and then you gotta start all over because it wasn't you.

• 14:53Fred Taylor?

  But it, it's, it's, it's gonna sound cliche. The thing is this, that's the process, that's life, right? You can't beat yourself up. You know, you've gone through it, you've become mentally tougher, right? In the process, that was supposed to happen. Like, the injury was supposed to happen.

• 15:12Speaker 04

  It was supposed to happen.

• 15:13Channing Crowder?

  It almost sound too like lack of communication, bro. Like a lot of things you saying, like when you different place, when you're a different place, you had to play your role. You couldn't talk to the organization and let them know that, you know, this is what I do. Let me do what I do. And then with your injury, you couldn't talk to the doctors. Like it seemed, as I'm listening to it, it seemed like a lack of communication.

• 15:32Speaker 04

  We can, we do. But to what extent are we going to get this information that they're giving us? Like, right now, if someone tore their quad tendon, I could rehab them back. Just come over here, let me show you what you need to do. This is something that's new, that's rare, that doesn't happen often, that quite frankly, I didn't go to school for. You know what I'm saying? So I'm not sure, I don't know. I'm only going off with the people that are placed in front of me, who I assume are the best at what they do and should know what they're doing.

• 16:09Speaker 04

  Granted, I went under the knife and he did it wrong. And then I came out from under the knife, did all that work, worked back. And it's like, well now, should I have trust issues? Who should I, like, who should I talk to? Like, what level of communication do I have to over-communicate? Or do you just have to?

• 16:31Speaker 00

  This episode is brought to you by Michelob Ultra. Good times mean competitions between you and your friends. Like seeing who can throw some pigskin the farthest or rush the field the fastest. Winner gets an Ultra. Because it's not just a superior-like beer, it's also giving fans superior access to their favorite sporting events. Superior is worth playing for. Visit michelobultra.com/superioraccess to enter. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser Busch InBev Michelob Ultra Beer, St. Louis, Missouri.

• 17:02Speaker 04

  It makes, it forces you to grow up. And I wouldn't say that I was immature beforehand. Like, I don't, anybody who know me, I don't, I don't. The only thing that's immature is that I still like to watch Fresh Prince of Martin, maybe.

• 17:15Fred Taylor?

  That's not immature, that's classic.

• 17:16Speaker 04

  That's what I'm saying.

• 17:17Fred Taylor?

  That's classics, though.

• 17:18Speaker 04

  You know what I'm saying, I still like to watch old, old stuff from back in the day. But other than that, like, I'm, I'm, I'm pretty mature for my age, but it's almost frustrating. Like, I, I'm sorry to sit here and, and get emotional about it. It's so frustrating because it feels like, damn, like, what was the? You, you try to go back and you look like, what, what, what was the, the hidden message? Like, what was the point of going through all that? And then, a year after this, I'm playing in Eastern Conference Finals.

• 17:45Fred Taylor?

  The hidden messages, what, what you're living is, is right now, right? And what we do here on The Pivot, our whole message is really giving back, right? You're gonna have a lot of young guys that'll watch this, like, young players, NFL, or aspiring to be in the NFL, NBA, whatever they do, right? And they're gonna hear, hear what you're saying, and what they're gonna say is, I can't give up. I'm gonna go through some stuff. And what you will find, when you're done playing, you'll be able to go in these corporate, corporate offices and speak, and be able to talk to their, the employees of these big corporations, and really just telling them about perseverance, being mentally tough, yada, yada, yada. That's what's gonna come from it.

• 18:28Fred Taylor?

  Trust me, I'm living it, and it pays well. So embrace it.

• 18:33Speaker 04

  It always comes back. It always comes back to what it was.

• 18:36Fred Taylor?

  It is, it is. And it pays right. But you have to take it for what it's worth. You can't have any regrets, because you can't go back.

• 18:44Speaker 04

  It's impossible, yeah, yeah.

• 18:44Fred Taylor?

  The only thing you can do now is maintenance, you know, whatever it takes to maintenance, stretching, all that other stuff that you know well about, right? And just, you know, take it as a grain of salt, and get ready to go tear some shit up in these playoffs.

• 18:56Ryan Clark?

  I think the, the other thing is too, I went through, and you know, Channing makes fun of me, because I don't have all my organs, but, yeah.

• 19:04Fred Taylor?

  Nothing on the inside.

• 19:05Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, but even, but even in, in going, in going through that.

• 19:08Speaker 04

  His house isn't furnished.

• 19:10Ryan Clark?

  So, I went from, I was 205, um, late in October. By the time I went to the hospital, at the end of November, I was 165, right? And so, when the doctor comes in with the, the test, and it's not showing that anything's wrong with me, he runs down how I'm, I'm okay, I should be able to play, and then he throws me the piece of paper and goes, now I'll listen to you complain. And so at the time, I'm 165 pounds. I'm like, bro, I'm no genius and I'm not the doctor, but something is wrong with me. There's no way I can't hold down food, or I can't walk straight, or I can't do all of these things, or every night at 2 a.m. I gotta change my clothes because my fever is 103. So you're going through those things. And literally, it was a Thursday and I remember I'm driving to my house while Yank is driving me to the house,

• 19:54Ryan Clark?

  and I started praying in the car because I was the same as you. I was like, God, you had put these people in my life, or the team has put these people in my life, and they're supposed to help me. I said, you have to tell me when I need to say something. And it was the next day, I ended up calling another doctor who I had seen, and he was in New York. And I was just like, hey, man, you know, like, I gotta, I gotta take another test. And he reluctantly goes, hey, man, just go. I'll set it up. You can go take the test. That was the first time they saw what was wrong. Called like two hours later, it's like, don't go home, go straight to the hospital. They're waiting on you. But all of that is to say, Freddie, the next year, when we're coming back, we went to Super Bowl. And every opportunity that I got to talk, they asked me about being sick, or they asked me about sickle cell, or going through all those things,

• 20:37Ryan Clark?

  because now I could tell that story. They didn't necessarily care that I had played so well. They cared that I was playing, period. And so you look at yourself now and you are playing, and you have contributed, and you have played well. When you think about where you are and where your team is right now, what's more, what's the most important thing going through your head about being in the Eastern Conference Finals?

• 21:01Speaker 04

  When it comes to basketball, like, it's a different, it's a different emotion and feeling for me. Like, I want to be great, like, every second, every minute. Like, I want to, to perfect this. And people be like, well, you in the NBA. Like, what do you mean? Like, nah, nah, nah. There was, there was a...

• 21:26Speaker 04

  There's a certain level that I'm trying to get to, you know? And for me, I have to understand like that is not my role on this team. I have to understand like I have to be a star in this role that I'm in. You know what I mean? To be honest with you, do I want more? Of course, who doesn't want more? Do I wanna be an all-star again? Do I wanna, you know, win championships and be the vocal point? And of course, you know what I mean? Like, who don't want that? Who doesn't see themselves as that? But right now, in this junction, I have to be a star in VO and be the best version of VO that this team needs.

• 22:11Speaker 04

  Because they need that version. You know what I'm saying? Regardless of whatever my role is, or, you know, what they ask of me, or, you know, how much, you know, responsibility I have. They need whatever it is that they're asking of me. They need it. So I have to be a star in that. I have to embrace that. You know what I'm saying? That's the most important thing for me is that to go out there and leave it all out there. Not worry about, you know, what's going on and worry about, you know, how I'm feeling when I'm out there. I just gotta get lost in the game, if that makes sense. Well, y'all asked, y'all know what I'm talking about.

• 22:51Channing Crowder?

  You gotta get lost in the game. You gotta get lost in the game.

• 22:54Speaker 04

  And there's a lot of things that come with. Like, I didn't play all year. And I got kicked out the rotation at one point. And I worked my way back to playing now in the playoffs. And I have to understand like, that's not because, you know, anything was given to me. I went and I took that.

• 23:16Channing Crowder?

  Yeah.

• 23:17Speaker 04

  So I gotta understand my process and understand that it's been, you know, basically two or three years since I played for real, for real, healthy. So, you know, it's gonna take time for me to get to where mentally and physically I want to be. But I'm still here for a reason. You know what I'm saying? And I gotta like, it's almost like blocking everything else out. Blocking the rehab out, blocking, okay, now I gotta do this. Or blocking, you know, everything else out and just focus on, you know, this moment. Because... Who is to say you'll get this opportunity again?

• 23:53Fred Taylor?

  Right. You were playing well to close out the season in the playoffs, Atlanta. RC mentioned that, and then Kyle goes down. You know, your minutes would increase. Did you put more pressure on yourself to come in and make sure that you were absolutely ready?

• 24:10Speaker 04

  I had been ready since.

• 24:15Speaker 04

  I had been ready two weeks before that. I was already there mentally. I was already there. And then just when I went out there, my body just followed. And now it's like, okay, now you're, now you're, you have a role on this team. That doesn't mean you have to be comfortable. Like, it's almost like you gotta know your strengths and your weaknesses. For me, one of my biggest strengths is I know how to make people feel comfortable. I can go anywhere. It doesn't matter who you are. We can sit in front of you. I can go out to eat. I can make you feel comfortable. Make you feel comfortable. When VO is not at his best is when he's comfortable. So, yes, I got a role. I'm feeling good, but don't get comfortable in this role. They need you to be a dog. You know what I'm saying?

• 25:00Speaker 04

  When you get out there on both ends. So, that's what the most important thing for me is to realize that. It's not a personal thing. It's just, you know, it's just business, like they would say.

• 25:12Channing Crowder?

  I gotta ask you. So, you're talking about the rotation, right? What you missing? Everybody know Spo, Spo got his stuff. He gonna set, he gonna put in the game who he want to, and he gonna play if he don't want to. Do y'all know if y'all going in, or every time Spo look down the bench, you? Nico? No, not me to decide.

• 25:29Channing Crowder?

  You decide, Nico? I'm like, okay, not this time.

• 25:31Speaker 04

  I mean, it just depends. You know, every game is different. You know, and as a coach, you, one thing that's special about Spo, I mean, one of the greatest coaches ever. I mean, he is one of the greatest coaches ever. So, he understands that. He understands that every game isn't gonna be the same. And we understand that as well as players because he helps us understand that. So you just have to be ready at all times, at all, at whatever the the cost is, whenever it is, you gotta be ready because you never know what could happen. So, I mean, I'm gonna be real, like the game Atlanta Jimmy and Colleen play, Spo told me that morning. I was literally on my way to the gym like, yo, you starting tonight? I'm like, OK, alright. Just go out there, just play. It's better than men on the airplane. Yeah.

• 26:16Speaker 04

  Hey, he never will get on the airplane.

• 26:19Channing Crowder?

  And then, bro, why the heat, though? Because like the culture and all, you hear the culture and everything this heat. We see people come up here, lose a bunch of weight. You see guys just kind of have their best seasons with the heat, go other places and don't do nothing. You showed the heat and to be honest, bro, you you gave up 45 M's. You turned down 45 million from Houston.

• 26:37Speaker 04

  Now, let me tell you the real story.

• 26:39Channing Crowder?

  OK.

• 26:39Speaker 04

  Because, you know, there's a lot of fabrication going on. Houston ain't off, I mean, no, nothing like that. And if they were sitting in here, the above was sitting in here and we was looking face to face, he'll tell you the real, too. That ain't happening.

• 26:54Channing Crowder?

  They ain't off you two for 45?

• 26:55Speaker 04

  No.

• 26:56Channing Crowder?

  How that story get there? Like, where did that come from?

• 26:59Speaker 04

  That's something that you gotta ask whoever put it out. I mean, it's social media. You can't control what's put out or what's not put out. But as athletes, we have to watch our perception and how we're perceived. So we can only say so much. But nah, that's not how it went. No, no, no, no, no. That's not how it went. But, you know, it is what it is, you know? I mean, um, you know, it was an interesting, like, journey to get here. You know what I'm saying? Like, sitting in in the meetings that I was sitting in and, you know, the dialogues I was, you know, having and listening and people and listening to people and and and seeing like, you guys really don't understand that I understand. But, you know, it's OK.

• 27:44Speaker 04

  You know, it's all good, you know? One thing about it is, and then I try to tell everyone around me, I'm like, man, just make sure I'm enjoying this. Because at the end of the day, bro, like, from where I was from. I would have been the last guy to be sitting here with y'all talking, you know, on the pivot and talking about being in the Eastern Commons Playoff, being in NBA in general, you know what I'm saying? I had a dream, obviously. I wanted to play my whole life, but my skill came a little later than everyone else's, you know what I'm saying? Like, I was like ranked 150 or something in my class coming out of high school. I didn't have no college offers going into my senior year, you know what I'm saying? The year before I got drafted number two, I was on no draft boards.

• 28:29Speaker 04

  None, not one, not second round, not first round, nothing. Then I got drafted number two, was in a tough situation, then boom, most improved player. Like, I got a lot of blessings and sometimes, you know, it's as an athlete and, you know, when you start like that, like, I don't know if y'all can relate to this, but in the beginning, it was really hard for me. Like, I had to give a lot in order to get the bare minimum in the sport. Like, it's almost like you, you give everything you have and you're not seeing the results, but you're working hard, but you're not seeing the results. It's not translating, it's not clicking, it's not clicking, it's not clicking. And then eventually, you slowly but surely start building confidence.

• 29:13Speaker 04

  Oh, I got a little bounce now, so let me show my bounce, you know what I'm saying? It's like, okay, I can't really dribble, I can't really shoot, but I can show my bounce, you know what I'm saying, show my bounce. Then all of a sudden, you know, you start realizing, I'm faster than everybody else out here, so hold on, let me figure it out. That's like, that was my process of, of becoming who I am right now. Even when I first got to the league, it took me time, you know what I'm saying? Like, when I first got to the league, a lot of these guys, when they get drafted, they put the ball right in their hand, they say, here, lead the team. We'll figure it out, we'll put things around you, we'll give you a coach that'll help you and do all this stuff. It's a little different for me. I had mentors, you know, who weren't necessarily coaches, who didn't have that respect, but they, you know, took care of me, so it was just a process for me. It took a while for me to, to get to where I'm at,

• 29:57Speaker 04

  which is why I feel like my story is relatable to everyone.

• 30:00Ryan Clark?

  Yeah.

• 30:01Speaker 04

  I've been in every position you can imagine. Like, I'm not gonna sit on here, I'm not LeBron, you know what I'm saying? I'm not, I'm not those guys right now, you know what I mean? But I have been, I've come off the bench, I've been hurt, I've played and practiced in the G League, I've done everything you can think of. So if a kid come to me and they need advice... I can relate to anyone. Not everyone can do that. You know what I mean? So I just say, you know, counted all joy. Trials and tribulations are the best kind, so.

• 30:31Fred Taylor?

  Vic, I, I, I want to ask you, man, uh, cause I'm listening to you. And you want it now. It seems that you want it now.

• 30:37Speaker 04

  Listen, bruh.

• 30:37Fred Taylor?

  So, no, but listen.

• 30:40Fred Taylor?

  But, but my question is this, right?

• 30:42Speaker 04

  Listen, I've been waiting.

• 30:44Fred Taylor?

  So are you naturally?

• 30:45Speaker 04

  How long you been waiting, man?

• 30:47Fred Taylor?

  Right. Are you naturally impatient? Or is it that you want greatness now?

• 30:52Speaker 04

  I, I think that is, is, to be honest, I'm, I'm human. Like, I, I, I feel like that, why shouldn't it be me? Like, I've been through everything you can imagine. I've, I've come back from it, like. Why do I have to wait longer? You know what I'm saying? But, you know, honestly, I'm a lot better than I was a month ago. I'm even better than I was two months ago, three months ago.

• 31:19Speaker 04

  But it's just, you know, I mean, I guess I just want it all right now. You know what I mean? I just, you know, I don't know. I don't. I mean, I just, I, I've been waiting two years, three years. I've been dealing with this. You know what I'm saying? And I'm like, bruh, I'm, I, I don't want to deal with this no more. Uh, I'm, it's like to the point where you like, man, I'm so over this rehab thing. I don't even like the work. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't, I want to just be able to focus on being great. But now you, you, it's, it's more than that. You gotta, it's a process, so you gotta understand that. And I do well, you know what I'm saying? I don't want to sit here and be like, I'm, you know, like, oh, man, this is, this is keeping me awake at night. You know what I mean?

• 32:01Speaker 04

  But I'm trying my best to, to enjoy moments more. Like, enjoy this right now. You know what I'm saying? Like, because I, the last three years, it was just about, okay, what's next? Rehab, what I gotta figure out, what I gotta do to help my knee, dah, dah, dah, dah. And I miss moments. You know what I'm saying? I miss moments, meaning like, I miss like fun times and good times and good conversations with people that, that, that I needed to let soak in instead of worrying about my problems, my issues. You know, so right now in my life, I just turned 30, May 4th. And I told myself.

• 32:36Speaker 04

  That's one thing you gotta do now is like enjoy moments. Be like, when it's time to work, you can work, but enjoy everything else away from work.

• 32:45Channing Crowder?

  Chalk it up as a routine. That's it.

• 32:48Speaker 04

  For real?

• 32:48Channing Crowder?

  It's your routine. It's just your routine and that's that.

• 32:52Ryan Clark?

  Like, we've all had to process, you know, these things where I think Channing's had like 27.

• 32:58Channing Crowder?

  17 knee surgeries.

• 32:59Ryan Clark?

  17 knee surgeries or something like that, you know? And so I think, you know, we all, you all try to deal with those things in certain ways. The things that you've learned, right? You say you've been in like every position. I'm very similar. Like, both of these guys were drafted. I wasn't drafted. You know, so I went from a dude that was cut, uh, working at LSU to a starter, to a Pro Bowler, to a Super Bowl champion. So I kind of feel that same way, you know, that I could relate to all of these dudes because I've been in every place. And now you're on a team that obviously has leaders and has starters and has very good players. How do you find, how do you find your role as Vio the person? Not necessarily just the player, like the guy that makes everybody comfortable when it looks like

• 33:42Ryan Clark?

  you guys, you got a dude in Jimmy from the outside, like I'm not in there, that doesn't look like he cares about making people comfortable, that he's gonna drive a hard bargain, that he's gonna do certain things. Kyle Lowry's already won a championship. So when you look at this team, what's your place in it and how do you find a way to fit in with those names and those people and help this team beat Boston?

• 34:03Speaker 04

  First off, I think that there's a real misconception of Jimmy. I think that, you know, he, he understands that, you know, nobody's perfect, obviously, but he, he embraces it because he's true to himself. He understands who he is and he understands, you know, just because people perceive him or think about him one way doesn't mean that that's, that's him, you know what I mean? So he actually does a really good job of, when you're on his team, he, he, you know you're on his team.

• 34:31Ryan Clark?

  He gonna say, "When you're on his team."

• 34:33Speaker 04

  When you're not on his team, you don't know you're not on his team.

• 34:36Channing Crowder?

  You wanna do that you gotta, you gotta sneak up on him slow, you beat him.

• 34:40Speaker 04

  I'm telling you, that's just Jimmy, you know, and luckily I'm on his team, you know, and I respect him for it. But, you know, to answer your question. And you know, there is a lot of, we have a lot of leaders, a lot of guys who are established, a lot of guys who've done a lot, you know what I mean, who've done more than me, you know, and I've always been a guy in the beginning of my career that led by example, you know what I mean? And there's still, we have an equal balance, like we got a few guys who are established, who've done things, and then we got some guys who are young, new, you know what I'm saying? And who've, you know, been watching, and you know, I understand that, you know, it's all about my work, and my work is what's gonna get me to where I need to be.

• 35:24Speaker 04

  My work is what is the reason why I'm able to sit out all year and be in a playoff rotation and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals is because of the work I put in. So, you know, I just understand that I have to focus on that. And, you know, I'm smart enough to know when to lean and when to follow. The saying is, you know, you gotta learn to follow before you can lead. So, right now, I'm just focused on being the best follower I can be, you know what I mean? And letting those guys lead, they've earned it, they've been playing all year, they've, you know what I'm saying, their resumes speak for themselves, you know what I mean? So, I would be a fool to be like, nah, I need to be that, you know what I mean?

• 36:09Speaker 04

  Do I feel like I can be that one day? Of course, I will be. But right now, I need to learn how to be that before I can be. And look at it like that, and then for the guys, other younger guys who are looking up to me, because I'm not, you know, I'm still nine years in, you know what I mean? I'm not old, but I'm not like, you know, super old, I'm old, but I'm not super old, you know what I'm saying?

• 36:27Channing Crowder?

  You're not an old boy.

• 36:28Speaker 04

  But, you know, there's still guys looking up to me, there's still guys watching me, you know, and they see me in there every day, working, working, since the day I stepped foot in that arena, you know what I mean, they see me working. So, that's big too, as far as leaders go, especially if they see you, and you not necessarily one of the, you know, vocal leaders, or the leader of the team, but you're still in there every day, working, you know, putting in the work as if like, nah, this is my team, you know, because it is, I'm a part of it. And y'all gotta put in the work too, you know what I'm saying? So, that's really what Heat culture is, you know, understanding that we all need to put in our part of the work in order for this thing to really work. And we do, we work, man, we get in and in.

• 37:12Channing Crowder?

  This your fifth team, and I've heard everybody here about it, this your fifth team.

• 37:17Channing Crowder?

  Now you had a bad mouth of the team, but you you work hard on the Miami Heat than you did on other 14 teams you played.

• 37:22Speaker 04

  No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I wouldn't say that. I I've been a worker my whole entire life.

• 37:27Channing Crowder?

  So what's the difference in the Heat from other organizations? Why do they have that that that I don't want to say taboo about it, but why do they have that reputation?

• 37:34Speaker 04

  It's something that's easier.

• 37:37Speaker 00

  This episode is brought to you by Michelob Ultra. Good times mean competitions between you and your friends, like seeing who can throw some pigskin the farthest or rush the field the fastest. Winner gets an Ultra. Because it's not just a superior light beer, it's also giving fans superior access to their favorite sporting events. Superior is worth playing for. Visit michelobultra.com/superioraccess to enter. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser Busch. In Bev. Michelob Ultra Beer, St. Louis, Missouri.

• 38:07Speaker 04

  To experience than it is to explain. Like you have to be a part of it to understand like, oh, OK, so this is Heat culture. You know what I mean? I could try to explain it to you and you that's a great point. Like you ain't work hard on no other teams. Like but I did. It's just, you know, it's a different feeling. It's a different it's a different way of working in there. It's a different mentality. I think that's the biggest thing is like the mentality all year long is has been we we understand what we need to do, you know, and what we're trying to play for. And everywhere isn't like that necessarily.

• 38:45Channing Crowder?

  They get after it though. When UD and Jimmy were about to fight in the regular season, like them boys get after it. You be like, damn it, everybody come out and be like, no, we good. That's just that's how it is.

• 38:55Speaker 04

  Yeah, we just we just want to win. That's it.

• 38:58Fred Taylor?

  Is that is that because you have guys like UD, who Chan just mentioned, he's a three-time champion. You have PJ Tucker, who just won a year ago. Kyle, a few years ago in Toronto. And then Jimmy and the rest of the guys, Bam, the whole squad.

• 39:14Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 39:14Fred Taylor?

  They just played in the finals, in the bubble.

• 39:16Speaker 04

  We got guys who been through some shit.

• 39:19Fred Taylor?

  Right, of course.

• 39:20Speaker 04

  Not even, not even, not even just basketball, speaking, just life in general.

• 39:23Fred Taylor?

  Right.

• 39:23Speaker 04

  Their path to get to where they're at now, we all been through some shit.

• 39:26Fred Taylor?

  What's, what's, what's the mindset? As you prepare for the Celtics, what's the mindset of the locker?

• 39:31Speaker 04

  We know it's not gonna be easy. We knew we wasn't gonna be, no matter who we play. We know it's not gonna be easy. We know it's gonna be a fight, but we all about the fight. That's, that's, that's what we gonna do. We gonna fight regardless. No matter what's going on, no matter what day it is, no matter what time it is. We gonna lace them up, we gonna boogie. Simple as that, we not, I mean, it's just how it is, you know what I mean? And I'm sure they, they're similar. Boston's similar, I'm sure. But, you know, we, we looking forward to it.

• 40:01Ryan Clark?

  You mentioned similar though, right? In football players, we all have this perception of basketball players.

• 40:08Speaker 04

  Oh, snap.

• 40:09Ryan Clark?

  You know, I'm just, I'm just, I'm just, hey, I'm just gonna be.

• 40:13Fred Taylor?

  That dynamic was really college.

• 40:14Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, I'm just, you know, I'm just gonna be, I'm just gonna be honest, you know?

• 40:17Fred Taylor?

  That present, that present.

• 40:18Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, like when, when Paul Pierce gets carried off and then bounces back, I'm like, look how soft. Right? And when they hurt their wrist and they rolling on the ground, like, what's wrong with your frickin' legs? Like, why can't you get up and walk? But the one thing I will say, watching you guys and watching Boston play in the playoffs has been different. The, the physicality has been different. The, the willingness to lock down and play defense, to, to rebound. Those things, I think that's the reason your two teams are in the position that you're in. When you think about that matchup and the Tatum's and Jalen's and Marcus Smart's and all the different players that they have, and y'all have very similar players.

• 41:03Ryan Clark?

  What's gonna be the difference in this matchup?

• 41:07Speaker 04

  Just gonna have to wait and see, my guy. You gonna have to wait and see, my guy, dude, it's going. It's great, two great defensive teams. We got two great teams with a bunch of wings, guys who can guard multiple positions, who can put it on the floor. They got versatile bigs. It's just, it's gonna be fun, man. I tell y'all, it's gonna be good basketball, so.

• 41:30Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, like, and that's what interests me, you know. Y'all played 82 games. You know what I mean? It's, it's hard, it's hard to lock into 82 of anything, right? But then it gets down to the point, we just gotta win 16 of them. And, and that's what we're gonna focus on. Being in, in this position, I mean, like you said earlier, like, everybody want it, right? Everybody wants to be the guy. Everybody wants to be the star. But now, when you, when you get here, is it hard to not think too far ahead into winning it? Right, you know, cuz, and I say this, like, Fred, one of the greatest running backs I've ever played against, he played on a lot of teams that had no hopes of winning the championship. Right, and he knew that when the season started. Right, I played on teams that you knew at the beginning of the season.

• 42:15Speaker 04

  I played on teams.

• 42:16Ryan Clark?

  Right. So, how does it feel that you in a different spot now? Like, you were the team that can win it all. Like, you down to the last four after what you've gone through.

• 42:26Speaker 04

  Yeah, it's crazy to, to, to think about it. Like, a year ago, I was laying on my back watching. And now, I'm playing Eastern Conference Finals, like. It's, it's truly, like, you ever heard they say, "God has a human"? Like, it's really funny to think about, like, dang, like, you went from that to this. And so, it's like, it's a crazy feeling, cuz, you know, this is my first Eastern Conference Finals, this is the first time I've, I've gotten this far in the playoffs. And you, you, you realize, like...

• 42:58Speaker 04

  Oh, this is different huh? Cause at first, you know, you just, you just playing basketball. You playing, you playing, you playing, you trying to get right, trying to get better, working, working, working. And now you like, you at a spot and you, and you sitting, I'm sitting and I'm thinking like, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, you know? But it's still basketball. You know, and, and everyone else is going to magnify it, of course. You know what I'm saying? That's their job. That's what everyone's job is. You're supposed to, it's sport, you know what I'm saying? But when you, when you really understand that, obviously it's important, but it's just another game.

• 43:39Speaker 04

  And when you're at your best is when, you know, things are at their best. Meaning like the level is at their best and, you know, the, the atmosphere is at its best. And you just gotta go out there and do your best, really. It's not always gonna be perfect. If you watch the games closely, it ain't always perfect. You know what I'm saying? It gets ugly at times, but you know, you just gotta have a mindset that you just gotta keep playing. You gotta keep rolling, rolling with the punches. Cause they coming, they trying to win too. You know what I'm saying? So I'm looking forward to the battle. I ain't really, you know, it's been a minute since, you know, I played in some basketball like this. You know what I mean? Like, um, and every step, every game has been like, whoa, like, it's getting, you know, it's getting better and better.

• 44:23Speaker 04

  The competition getting tougher and tougher and it's not gonna get any easier. So, um, it's only making me stronger. It's making my legs stronger.

• 44:33Speaker 04

  You know what I'm saying? It's really helping me. So, you know, I'm just trying to embrace it, man. I, I, you know, I just try not to be too hard on myself as an athlete. You know what I mean? Realizing like, bro, you missed a whole year and you gotta be patient. But at the same time, you're like, man, I'm a dog though, man. I can't, you know, I can't make no excuses like that. You know what I'm saying? But it's reality, you know? And, um, you know, it's fun, man. Um, I'm looking forward to the, to competing, you know? And just going out there and playing basketball.

• 45:01Channing Crowder?

  When, cause y'all one of the, the best, best four teams in the league now. Eastern Conference, Western Conference. So y'all one of the best four teams in the league. Y'all ran through Atlanta. Y'all took 76ers to six. You know, big Heat fan, so I watch y'all boys every night.

• 45:13Speaker 04

  Thank you, my guy.

• 45:14Channing Crowder?

  When did you know, like, what, at what part of the season? Cause you said I've been on some terrible ass teams. And I was on team, bro, I'm talking during camp. We used to, we look around the locker room like, man, it ain't shit on this team. We can't stop nobody. We ain't gonna be able to run the ball, can't throw the ball, we ain't got a quarterback. Like in NBA, like in the season, halfway through the season, when playoffs start, like when does it click where you be like, oh, we legit can compete this year?

• 45:37Speaker 04

  To be honest, we felt like this since day one. We felt like that we could compete for a title since day one. And we've been working towards that since the very beginning. We are fortunate enough to be able to play for the, still have an opportunity to accomplish that goal.

• 45:55Speaker 04

  And we just gotta, you know, it's not gonna be easy, obviously, but we've been working since the very beginning for it. So we gonna go out there and just give everything we have, you know what I'm saying?

• 46:07Channing Crowder?

  He smiles. Every time you talk about basketball, he's talking to smile.

• 46:10Ryan Clark?

  When it's crunch time though, when it's crunch time in this series, who get the rock?

• 46:14Speaker 04

  Jimmy gonna get the ball. Jimmy gonna get it. He's proven. I mean, look what he did last series, you know what I'm saying? So we got a lot of guys who can get it, really, honestly. But, you know, most would say Jimmy.

• 46:26Speaker 04

  We got Tyler who can get it, Bam who could get it, got K-Lo who could get it, shoot, I could get it. You never know. That's the beauty about our team.

• 46:34Fred Taylor?

  Are you the same defender that you were?

• 46:38Speaker 04

  That ain't never, that ain't never gonna stop. I probably could have, I probably could have been a good defender with one leg.

• 46:44Fred Taylor?

  So I know you're gonna take yourself, but you are Pat Bev, the best defender?

• 46:49Speaker 04

  I mean, I'm gonna pick me, just like I'm sure he would pick him, but I'm picking me. I'm not picking Pat, I'm not picking Pat Bev over me.

• 46:59Channing Crowder?

  Fred, Fred, did you see what he did to James Harden?

• 47:03Fred Taylor?

  Oh, yeah.

• 47:04Channing Crowder?

  Damn, Harden didn't know where the basket was. He spun around, showed him where the basket was.

• 47:10Fred Taylor?

  It was just, I just laid that up. I knew, I knew what the answer was gonna be. I don't know what he brings to the table, but sometimes you can, that confidence isn't always there when you're dealing with certain injuries.

• 47:21Speaker 04

  But the thing is, like, when you play, as, when you're injured, when you play, it builds the confidence back. Like, as you keep playing, as you keep trying stuff and doing things, you're like, oh, wait, alright, that feel alright. And then when you get in the game, you don't even be thinking about, you don't even be thinking about your leg. It's just like, alright, we about to just, you know, about to just hoop, you know? So for me, you know, it's... I just feel like defense is what I've done my whole entire life. Like, that's one thing, that's the reason why I played when I was younger. You know what I'm saying? It wasn't because I was skilled, it was because, I mean, I was all defense in college. First team all defense here in the NBA, so, led the league in steals.

• 48:06Speaker 04

  So, I mean, I think that's really important, and I think it's really important for our team. So, I just come out there, man, I just try be on a thousand on both ends of the floor, man, that's all.

• 48:17Channing Crowder?

  Just to pivot, I gotta pivot, man, because I walked in my, um, in my bedroom today. And my wife listening to one of your, one of your damn baby maker songs. I don't like you talking to my wife on them songs, man.

• 48:33Channing Crowder?

  You really sing?

• 48:34Speaker 04

  Yeah, a little bit, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 48:36Channing Crowder?

  Where did, how did that come from?

• 48:39Speaker 04

  In the church, really, my mom.

• 48:41Channing Crowder?

  Choir.

• 48:42Speaker 04

  Choir, church choir, from seven to like fourteen.

• 48:45Channing Crowder?

  What you talking about on that album ain't from the church?

• 48:47Speaker 04

  No, no, no.

• 48:53Speaker 04

  Nah, that ain't from the church at all.

• 48:55Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 48:55Speaker 04

  That's from life.

• 48:56Channing Crowder?

  Yeah. But you, you go like, you, you can sing to a woman, like, you can get a woman singing?

• 49:02Speaker 04

  Hmm, I mean, for the most part, you know, I, I wouldn't say, uh, it hasn't worked for me.

• 49:08Channing Crowder?

  That's cheating. I gotta work, I gotta go on dates, I gotta mow lawns, you just sing and say sexy crap.

• 49:16Speaker 04

  When you hoopin', you sing, man, it's tough, it's harder than people think, man, because then it's like, it's like two heads, you know what I'm saying? So, they like, oh, nah, this gotta be a drag, and you can't, he hoop and he sing, he hoop and he sing, you gotta, oh, man, get out of here. You already troubled as it is, I can't handle both, you know what I'm saying? So, but I mean, it's, it's cool, man, it's nice, man, I, I love just music in general, you know what I mean?

• 49:41Channing Crowder?

  Like a future in it? Are you gonna keep, you gonna keep dropping an album when you retire?

• 49:46Speaker 04

  I'm gonna drop an album this summer, probably, yeah. I mean, it's been a while since I, I've been, I took a little break, you know, dealing with, you know, priorities, but... Some more music coming out. I got some fire coming out for sure. I'm not even gonna lie to you. But it's pretty impressive for, you know, for somebody who play basketball and I don't really, I don't do music for real. I mean, I do music, but you know what I mean. It's not like my.

• 50:09Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, cause none of y'all can rap.

• 50:11Speaker 04

  I mean, we got a few guys.

• 50:12Ryan Clark?

  Dame can rap. DM.

• 50:14Speaker 04

  Dame, he can rap. Iman Shumpert can rap.

• 50:18Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, Iman.

• 50:18Ryan Clark?

  Shumpert can rap?

• 50:20Speaker 04

  Who, who else?

• 50:20Channing Crowder?

  Shaq's terrible.

• 50:23Channing Crowder?

  I told him to his face.

• 50:24Speaker 04

  Did he go platinum or gold or something?

• 50:25Ryan Clark?

  Shaq's so emotional.

• 50:26Speaker 04

  That's what I'm saying. So it must be good to somebody.

• 50:29Channing Crowder?

  No, no, no. He's Shaq.

• 50:32Channing Crowder?

  If Shaq was 6'1", he would not sell one album.

• 50:36Ryan Clark?

  And they call him Shaquille.

• 50:37Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, Shaquille. He get beat up. 6'1" Shaq would got beat up every day at school.

• 50:43Ryan Clark?

  Especially rapping.

• 50:44Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, man, them boys can't rap. But you, nah, real, real talk. My wife put me on you and singing and all that stuff, so.

• 50:50Speaker 04

  Thank you, man. Keep sharing that, man. You know, I don't think a lot of people know, but I can hold a little tune, man, you know.

• 50:55Channing Crowder?

  Glad I'm married. You moved down to Miami.

• 50:59Channing Crowder?

  Ain't got a chance no more.

• 51:00Speaker 04

  Chill, chill. Well, I'm taking my heat in five.

• 51:04Ryan Clark?

  Deep five?

• 51:05Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 51:06Ryan Clark?

  Not happening. You can see. Well, these are two, these are two really good basketball teams, bro.

• 51:11Speaker 04

  I understand that.

• 51:12Ryan Clark?

  With stars. And they just, they just went six games with James Harden and banged up face Joel Embiid, but it's gonna be a fight.

• 51:23Speaker 04

  They resting too.

• 51:24Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, but what we gonna do is we just gonna get on PrizePicks and we just gonna continue to go. By the way, I'm much smarter in basketball than these two guys.

• 51:35Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, like we got a partnership, we got a partnership with PrizePicks. They be dead wrong. I was 5-for-5 on Friday.

• 51:41Speaker 04

  You was 5-for-5.

• 51:42Ryan Clark?

  I was 5-for-5.

• 51:43Speaker 04

  It's, it's player props. Over, under, this, that. He got lucky. The other sheets was garbage.

• 51:49Ryan Clark?

  That was a bad day. That was a bad day. But y'all suck too. We finished like this. We talked about you singing. We talked about the perseverance and adversities that you've had to face. Do y'all win it? Are the Miami Heat the best team in basketball?

• 52:04Speaker 04

  What you think I'm gonna say?

• 52:06Ryan Clark?

  I just want the truth.

• 52:07Speaker 04

  Definitely.

• 52:08Ryan Clark?

  Three more weeks, four more weeks.

• 52:10Speaker 04

  Couple weeks.

• 52:10Ryan Clark?

  Miami Heat had opportunity, because I think it's, I think with people, listen, I look at the team, or people look at the team, and not to be disrespectful, I think it's sometimes hard for people to watch Jimmy Butler and think that Jimmy Butler can be the best basketball player on a championship team.

• 52:27Speaker 04

  You know what's good, you know what's great about that? We don't care. We don't have, no, we don't care about what nobody's saying about nothing. We just about our business, man. And Jimmy the same way, that's why he our leader. That's why you see us follow. We don't care about nothing that's going on, what anybody got to say, anybody's opinions. They was, they, they was telling us we was gonna lose the series, last series after game four. We ain't worried about none, none of that noise, man. We focused on them two rims, them four lines, and that's it. And whoever else, the five they bring out there. I said, that's what we worried about, man. We not worried about nothing else. We focus on that, we focus on winning basketball games. And I think that's what makes us so good, like, we not, we, we just concerned about that.

• 53:12Speaker 04

  Know what I mean, so? But, you know, it's gonna be fun, I'm looking forward to it. You know what I mean? Like I said a year ago, I was watching, so I'm in it now, so. I'm looking forward to it, and, you know, I'm just looking forward to keep continuing to build myself and brand myself and, you know, make people remember. Because I think, you know, a little, they forgot a little bit, but it's okay, you know? That comes with the territory, you know what I mean? I don't plan on going nowhere but up, so just gotta keep grinding.

• 53:41Ryan Clark?

  That's the place to end, brother. Appreciate you. Pivot.

• 53:43Speaker 04

  Yes, sir.

• 53:46Speaker 04

  Appreciate you. No one rocking with.

• 53:49Ryan Clark?

  Yes, sir. What we gotta do?

• 53:52Speaker 04

  I love it, man. I appreciate it.

• 54:28Speaker 05

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