The Stephen Curry Interview (Part 1) | LeBron James and Steve Nash | Mind the Game

You might know this, but you deserve a

little bit of uh uh putting me out to

pasture, a little bit of my retirement.

>> He sent you all back.

>> Oh, yeah. Learn what I do.

>> Yeah. He sent you all back. I go ahead

and put him on down.

>> It's not something I like to talk about

in public. In public a lot, you know,

>> exclusive. We got we got exclusive.

>> When he came when he came in the league,

I still felt like the big brother a

little bit, you know. I still feel like,

you know, I got the upper hand here,

right? you know, then he started

becoming who he is and the pendulum

shifted. And so my last two years with

the Lakers, my second game with the

Lakers, I I bumped knees in Dame's first

game with Dave and broke my tib joint on

the inside where like it's

weightbearing, it's problem. And I had

it's where the nerve goes. I already had

nerve stuff and I was never the same. I

spent two years working out twice a day

just to try to overcome it. So I come

back my 18th training camp and I'm like

I've been going so hard trying to get

there. I had a pretty good first

preseason game. Like I can't remember

what happened. Like I think we drove

home from San Diego. Had a back spasm

the next morning. I was just like then

like I had like I don't know. I was

doing all right. And then I was like

another flare up and it just like my

nerves were messed up. I couldn't

recover. And I was like well I got to

find out. So like I had a week since I'd

last played and I was like we're playing

them in preseason. I'm like I got to

find out like I have to play hurt. Can I

play hurt or else I'm what's the point?

Right? And so we went to play these guys

preseason in like Ontario, California or

somewhere. I don't even remember this.

And uh

>> I remember the game Ontario. I knew

>> we came out. I'm guarding Steph. I think

they put up like 50 in the first

quarter.

>> Maybe it was 45, but it feel it felt

like a 50 piece, right? He's running

everywhere. I'm like back is broke.

Everything's Jack. I couldn't have

probably stop I could have stopped him

if I was 100%. And now I'm like dragging

around Stevie Kur putting me in every

action. I'm looking over at Steve like

>> what the [ __ ] you are you Stevie? I

think that we we know we know he's over

there smiling too.

>> They're laughing at me. Alvin Gentry

over there laughing at me like no no no

see what you got. I'm like man literally

like three more four more days of

thinking on it. I was like

>> yeah

it's uh it's uh I think it's time.

I think it's time. Uh, and that was it.

I called Mitch out of his misery. He

called Mitch said why he wrote

me out.

>> Oh man, that's classic.

>> Next thing I know, he showed up at

practice, was teaching us pick and roll.

You can't beat him.

Cheers.

>> One this way and one this way. Yes, sir.

Yes sir.

>> Thank you. Thank you for doing this.

>> It's our first official golf podcast.

>> Yeah. They heard mind the game. They

thought the game was basketball today.

Was actually not. Mind it. We say mind

the TV.

I was watching the uh

>> Bryson Deambo.

>> Oh, the Break 50.

>> Break 50. Uh I mean, I knew you were

good.

>> I was losing my mind. I only watched

half. You matched him.

>> I watched the whole thing.

>> Yeah.

>> I mean, that's being kind.

>> As you could I shot I lost my mind, too.

There's like a little small gallery

behind Oh, there was

>> that uh was following us

>> and so I knew the whole concept. I knew

it was Bryson's a week before the Ryder

Cup. I'm like, "All right, this dough

time." And it's the best I've best golf

I've played in my life.

>> And it's so funny. I was watching one of

the hoes. I don't know what hole it was.

And you was like,

>> "I'm going to give it a little grunt on

this one. One of his drives said

>> and he got him on the drive." And you

can Bryson obviously this is what he

does. Like this. He's a best in the

world. And when they got up to the ball,

he was like,

>> "I think that's your ball."

>> He was like, "Oh man, I out drove him."

Like it was crazy.

>> He didn't want to give it to me. I think

one of the good parts too that I was

watching too and you was I think Bryson

asked you a question like like who's

your inspirations like you know

obviously you know in the game that we

all

>> you know and you you mentioned Steve and

you mentioned Reggie you know and

>> obviously Reggie makes so much sense and

it's terrifying to competitors like

myself and and and all the competition

over the years.

>> How did that how h what made you kind of

watch those guys from the beginning? And

that's funny that I'm sitting across

from talking about the life.

>> So that's I mean we all got history in

the game playing against each other and

the whole deal. But

>> my rookie year we played in a uh

preseason game outside

>> in um in Palm Springs like Indian Wells

Tennessee Indian Wells.

>> It was my first time like actually

seeing him you know on the court and to

the point of inspiration.

>> Super intimidating

>> just seeing him across. I still do some

of your uh when you're in the starting

line or the uh national anthem, the line

like you just do like the little leg

stuff. I still do it.

>> I still do it.

>> Like I was watch I was watching

everything you did from across the

court. But growing up like I knew I was

a pass first type of point guard like my

dad had to actually tell me

called Dale Curry right now and he'd

tell you he actually had to tell me to

shoot cuz I was not in this house. Not

in this house. You ain't going to be

that. Um, but I always like just love

the creativity being like at felt like

we had similar statures where as a point

guard being able to, you know, handle

being in the trees, getting the ball

where you needed to. You saw angles that

didn't even make sense. Your change of

speed,

>> you can control the tempo. Um, got

everybody involved. Like there was just

something fun about that. That is a way

that I, you know, wanted to play. Fast

forward to Davidson,

I was a two guard and had to kind of

expand. That's I mean I I always there's

a video of me as a 10-year-old running

around with a Reggie jersey

>> just cuz you know I just love his

competitiveness and the way he moved off

the off the ball. But I didn't know like

that would be a huge part of

>> my game once I got to like how am I

going to actually make it to to the

league type vibe. But that was your

style was like exact. I tried all the

behind the back passes this day,

one-handed, left-handed, like all that

type of stuff,

>> just seeing the floor a little

differently. Um, felt like he was

>> kind of the model for that. So,

>> and what about your pops too? Obviously,

I mean obviously the inspiration that

you saw every day, but like as your pops

being a pro itself, anything like you

took from his game like I mean the quick

the quick

>> the quick release.

>> Every video you see of him in the corner

one like one dribble and then the quick

release. He had the high arcing release,

too.

>> Yeah.

>> I couldn't get that. So, it was like

almost comparison and contrast of

>> I want to be a great shooter. I want to

have a quick release, but I also have to

own my own form. I can't really

>> It has to go in at the end of the day.

>> Yeah. You know what I'm saying? You got

to feel comfortable what you're doing.

>> But did you did you guys ever talk about

it like quick release or you

>> Yeah, we talked about that a lot. Uh

when I was in high school changing my

form,

>> I used to do like the little slingshot

situation and to the point of seeing

when I watched myself on camera was like

that thing looked like it take forever

to get up there. But I to your point it

went in

>> but as I got the varsity I was like you

know it's probably not going that

thing's getting swatted to the eighth

row.

>> And you was able to you was able to

dissect that.

>> My dad your dad your dad called it out

as I was making that transition. I I

wasn't with it at first. Like I was

>> because I knew he was gonna have to

break down all the fundamentals of

everything that I felt comfortable with

>> to then master like a new form.

>> It felt like it too much.

>> Yeah. It's like I don't want to do extra

credit on on the homework. I already

know I already know the formula like I

got to recreate it and and obviously it

worked.

>> But I feel like someone who loves

shooting, shot a million shots, always,

you know, obsessed with it. watching you

shoot

like I think I have a bit of a classic

shot. I get it to like clay get into the

pocket and shoot. What I think you

brought to the game and I would I love

for you to tell me I'm full of it

>> is you don't really stop. So like you

talked about this shot as a kid to now

it's the same shot but up here like I

don't really feel like you stop and if

you do it's like this split second

>> only probably on like just standard

catch and shoot where

>> to I always tell people like I would

teach Clay's form to anybody who

>> said hey how do I shoot a basketball I

would like pull up a clip of Clay and

it's just that's freaking perfect 10 out

of 10 every no notes right

>> um but to your point it helped me off

the dribble because it's kind I'm going

to call it unorthodox, but it is a one

piece shot that no matter if you're

really all the way on balance or just

off or if you got it on the right hand,

left hand, off the dribble, like

whatever it is,

>> I kind of can get it here quick enough

that through the zone

>> and I still have all my power, you know,

I don't lose anything through that. So,

that's helped me. Especially at 6'3,

like in the league,

>> no matter who's in front of you, you

really feel like I have a chance. As

long as I get them to drop their hands a

little bit, I can get it up there quick.

and I don't want to have any waste of

motion.

>> Was that by design or was that just

happened?

>> That's just how I've shot it. There

wasn't much thought to that part other

than when I was in high school doing the

um that that transformation, I guess you

call it.

>> Cuz I also feel like that is a part of

your range

>> is that you like

>> instead of stopping and having to use

all your legs, you're using it all in

one motion. So like he just kept backing

up and

>> where's this going? And it was like a

it's like a flick like I got an

opportunity to see it this you know last

summer you know first time us

>> joining forces I got to see it after

practice every day just like a a flick.

It didn't matter, right?

>> You know, certain guys in our league or

certain, you know, basketball players

all over the world, they have to get in

a certain pocket.

>> And in order for them to even get to

here or how

>> it's like when he touched the ball, by

the time he does what he needs to here,

it doesn't matter where it's coming

from, come from here. Come from here.

>> Quick, quick, quick. Like, and and

that's a great question. It's like, did

that did that

>> did you learn that or it just kind of

happened? And it's like, no, it just

>> it's kind of natural.

>> Kind of just naturally just happened.

Yeah. Yeah, like there's always a u a

reset like summertime when you're

working on mechanics. Like my guy

Brandon Pain, he'll

>> we'll talk about it and if I've missed

two or three in a row, he start looking.

>> I'll know it's because I don't have the

ball. Like if we talking middle of the

frame, I don't have it more middle to

right. Like I'm more kind of doing that

and it's just a you get a little lazy,

right? But I still have to call that

out. But then once you get into,

>> you know, the game and the flow, there's

not much thought to it. But it it's

interesting because like necessity is

the mother of invention. You kind of

invented something like you've gone on

to be the greatest shooter of all time

by like a long margin like range,

accuracy, dexterity, off the move, left,

right, leaning in, leaning back. Like

you do it all, but like you I don't know

if you could do that if you had picture

perfect form. I'm not saying you don't,

but you invented a way of going through

the zone, like you said, off the dribble

like it's up.

>> And that gave you more range and that

gave you more dexterity. Like,

>> by the way, it's not it's not really

recreatable.

>> I'm not telling kids, hey, it's over,

you know,

>> but you uh so Bruce Frasier, you like we

use you as an example a lot when I'm

doing the breakdown drill. Like I'll do

like pregame stuff or

>> um after practice stuff where to the

point of being able to get to my base

Yeah.

>> Like he'll bring you up as a

demonstration of like you use you had

such a solid foundation

>> where you know

>> get your hips down.

>> Get your hips down, get low. Like you're

feeling every part of your foot, your

feet, and you're you're using all of

that force to kind of get through

>> pushing in the ground.

>> And that's a that's a foundation you

have to have to then build off of that,

you know, creativity and that looseness

up top. So that's like that's part of

the

>> the natural progression of foundation to

confidence to then okay now I can

experiment a little bit. So maybe it's

not necessarily a thought it's like

>> you hammer that down so much that now I

have the ability to say okay

>> what's going to help me in the game or

if I need to

>> stay out of the trees I can get my range

back. Oh, I got that's in there because

I have this and if I always I still have

to go back to that will though like we

do our stuff at the free throw line

where you're doing like the spins and

>> you got to be in, you know, in balance.

That's that's your world. Like that's

what I learned.

>> I also think one of the most impressive

things I know we're here to talk about a

lot of things, but the most impressive

thing is that

>> you you came in, you know, 6'2,

whatever, and obviously super skinny.

>> Super skinny. You know what I'm saying?

Like I remember like super skinny, fresh

out of Davidson, super skinny. And

obviously, you know, our league, you

know, you know, throughout the course of

a season, flights and everything, you

know, can be taxing on your body.

>> Yeah.

>> I think one of the most impressive

things that a lot of people don't talk

about when it comes to you is that the

weight and the strength that you've put

on and still being able to shoot the

ball in that capacity. There's a lot of

guys that we've seen come in at a

certain weight or a certain, you know,

body frame and they're told to put on

weight or they're told to put on

strengths and it can affect their shot,

>> you know, and

>> it's actually I there's no way it could

have made it better,

>> but [ __ ] it seems like it nothing ever

changed. How was that? Like, did did

that worry you in the beginning? Like,

oh [ __ ] y'all tell me I got to get

stronger now.

>> Story. This is like my rookie year

>> uh in training camp. So, I came in as,

you know, a shooter in the draft, but

>> Don Nelson was my coach and um

>> going through training camp or sorry,

summer league started. I think I

probably shot like 30 low 30s for three

in training or in summer league

>> and then you're coming into training

camp, you know, a couple months later,

like still working, getting through,

trying to get comfortable with where

shots are coming from. And Don Nelson,

he went in the weight room cuz to your

point, I came in 180 lbs maybe. Mhm.

>> They're trying to get me in the weight

room doing all these lifts and stuff.

I'm shooting like trash in training camp

like the first week. He walked in there

and cussed out everybody in the room.

It's like

>> he y'all killing the shot. He's lifting

too much weight. And to me, I didn't I

didn't I didn't know that as a concept

cuz like I I always just wanted to get

stronger. Like most of it was just

vanity. Like hey

>> look better in the jersey. All these

mirrors around here y'all telling me I

got to look like this. Stop trying to

pop. Like give me something. Well, I

didn't even think about it in terms of

shot. I I I know that there are uh

there's a a range of like body

composition that matters to making sure

everything moves right. So, if you're,

you know, if you're doing a big

transformation, you can't change how

your body moves.

>> I never thought I could get to that

point, but then when he caught it out, I

was like, wait, are they really messing

up my shot?

>> But that balance of being able to

appropriately like get your body to move

efficiently, like a lot of live is to me

is core strength. Like if we're talking

specifics um

>> everything is about the foundation. Like

how does your body move through that

range where you have, you know, complete

control of, you know, your your movement

patterns, not necessarily like brute

strength but

>> efficiency,

>> stability, patterns.

After 18 seasons of NBA travel spanning

from Vancouver to Phoenix to Los

Angeles, I know the importance of

arriving ready to perform. That's why

I'm excited about Emirates premium

economy, which brings a whole new level

of comfort to international travel. You

know those cramped airplane seats? The

wider leather seats in premium economy

are the total opposite. They come with

leg rests that support your entire leg,

not just your feet. For someone who's

dealt with back issues, the extra

recline and ergonomic design make a real

difference on those long haul flights.

As a 6'3 guy, I may not be the tallest

in the locker room, but on a flight,

sometimes that little extra space makes

all the difference and getting out in

one piece. When I first started

traveling in the MBA, I thought the

travel was exceptional, but things have

evolved. And with Emirates, I'm not sure

where they can go from here. The

ergonomic seats, the space, the service,

it all makes for an incredible travel

experience. I can't get over how they

handle meals up here. Real plates,

actual metal silverware, and they're

pouring sparkling wine like it's

nothing. The entertainment screen is

huge. And get this, being upfront means

you're not stuck waiting forever to get

off the plane. Transform your next

international journey with Emirates

Premium Economy. Trust me, it's the MVP

of travel experiences. Book your

elevated experience at emirates.com/

us.

I want to talk about or hear about like

your summer routine, your shooting

routine has a legendary work ethic,

>> but you came in the league with ankle

problems

>> and physical therapists will tell you

that the glutes, hip strength has a lot

of connection to ankle stability. It

takes obviously a lot of the pressure

off the ankles.

>> When you went through all that stuff,

first of all, like I'd love to hear

looking back, were you ever worried like

is this is this it for me? like am I

going to be put in this little box of

can't move like I want to move and then

two getting that hip strength. I've

heard about your deadlift strength and

stuff like get walk us through that a

little bit.

>> Yeah. um after my second year it was at

had my first surgery and

tell my wife like there was a moment in

rehab sitting in the basement of my

house in Charlotte you know um like a

three and a half almost four month rehab

just on that to the point where I wasn't

even rolling my ankle like landing on

somebody I was doing the one where oh we

catching in transition I'm pushing off

and that thing would flip and I look

back like what

drop like bandandy legs. Like literally

like I just couldn't stay on my feet.

>> And to your point about learning your

body, right? Like learning how it moves,

learning what

>> You didn't have that problem in college.

>> No. Um I rolled my ankle one time in

college the traditional way where I was

coming down the lane

>> going up for a layup and playing it on

somebody's foot and and rolled it. That

was my junior year.

>> But I didn't really have anything coming

in that was of concern. But to the point

of the volume of games in the league,

the phys you mention the physicality of

the league, travel, all that stuff. I

got week. I wasn't doing things to keep

up with the pace and then it caught up

to me where the whole chain was

compromised.

>> Um, and I had to learn all of that on

the fly post the second surgery cuz

first we thought it was like is it the

shoes I'm wearing? Is it I got those big

Forest Gump looking ankle braces that I

still wear now. Um, and you're just

like, what is the problem? I like

>> I feel strong. I feel

I feel coordinated, but I can't

necessarily get through a full season.

So, learning your body, learning the

like breaking it down from the beginning

of, to your point, core strength, glute

strength, the entire chain that can show

itself if you know in and strength or

weakness down u in your ankles. And for

me, like the most boring, monotonous

work you've ever done in your life,

right? Every day.

>> The little muscles,

>> little muscles,

>> propriception type stuff, movement

patterns.

>> Um, and there was definitely some dark

days of

>> one, you you know, you get this league.

I remember um when we came to your camp

when my junior UNCCP gave us this whole

like freaking just speech on y'all think

y'all nice now but

>> y'all when you get to the league

everything resets like you have to earn

your way and I'm thinking that just

means like production on the court

>> I ain't know nothing about the off the

court stuff you know what I mean so like

that was the learning curve of

>> trying to figure out how you're going to

survive in this league

>> and if I couldn't even be available how

do I even know am I good enough can I

get to that level and there was a lot of

fear fear um and doubt in that moment

for sure. Uh cuz you feel so far away

from

>> yourself.

>> But especially if you especially if you

know like I know I belong. I know my

game translate

>> but my body is not even allowing me to

get to that point

>> you know so you can only imagine like

>> frustration

>> frustration like you know like I know I

know my work ethic I know the work I've

put in

>> but [ __ ] my body is not even allowing me

to even get to that to even show what

I'm capable of doing too so

>> definitely

>> especially those early days when you're

like trying to prove yourself I'm I

belong

>> you have those little moments you have a

couple good games like oh yeah I belong

Yeah. Yeah.

>> Yeah.

>> Having said that, that struggle kind of

made you who you are.

>> Yeah.

>> Right. Like as far as the shooting, like

it went up a with the strength in the

hips came the strength in the ankles

>> came the dynamic movement like I mean

your fitness levels the the we'll get to

the the style of play, but if it wasn't

for that process, it's almost like you

you maybe you didn't shoot 42% from 27.

You know what I mean? Like you know what

I mean? I think there's a

>> I think there's an understanding of not

taking anything for granted even to this

to at this stage in terms of longevity

that I learned then that is carried you

know to this day of how I approach you

know the offseason how you approach the

recovery days how you approach

>> even just uh prime yourself for a

practice like I can't just walk on the

court like you got to there's steps you

got to take you know

>> um

>> I think we going to hype each other up a

lot in this thing but like walking into

um the locker room last year or the for

the Olympic journey. I got I we had

played with each other. I'd heard about

the work ethic and the sheer volume of

time and how he takes care of his body.

But when you see somebody on that level,

couldn't beat him to the gym in the

morning, but it was like the idea we

there was just an energy of like we all

know this this is the stuff that makes

you who you are on the court that's

going to prepare you for the moments

when the lights are bright.

>> I don't even think we talked about it.

It was just a unspoken like this this is

what this is what you do

>> and I learned that you know early in the

process to know like don't take that for

granted so that you can be your best

self and it's like there's no accident

when it comes to

>> for sure

>> being who you are so no matter how you

learn it how you get there.

>> Yeah. What? Tell me about like u as

someone that was obsessed with shooting

too, you know, needed to be able to

shoot at our size or else you know your

ceiling

>> behind you. I mean I you know made me

real quick to be able to shoot the ball,

right?

Um, what was your approach and your

routine and like how did it develop and

how did it change like you know as a kid

you just go and shoot because you love

to shoot then you're like a dad says I

should practice and you hear people you

start practicing purposefully then you

know what I mean then you get to college

you

>> how did it go through to like now you

have this you're chasing greatness like

you I've seen you in person we've worked

together we

>> I watch you from afar like everything is

intentional

>> like tell me about like how you approach

shooting

>> I always talk the is now like nobody

should have to tell you you should go to

the gym, right? Like as a kid, I was

that type of kid. You I was blessed to

have the opportunity to find a gym

wherever.

>> My dad played in the league. So it's not

like, you know, the access wasn't there.

But it wasn't he couldn't be the one

telling me, you know, it

>> was 8:00 like 7:00 what we doing today?

like if I'm not the one pushing that

like start there

>> and it always became just a joy of you

know the game and finding ways to you

know get a little bit better. It sounds

real cheesy when you think about it, but

the idea of every day like I was just

exploring, like trying stuff, you know,

never really satisfied with, you know,

the level that I was shooting. Even if I

had the greatest workout, I'm probably

thinking about the couple of misses that

I had and and, you know, how can I get

better that next the next session? And

from there, you just expose yourself to

different, you know, thought processes,

different, you know, approaches to to

training. Like I have my trainers now

who I've been with uh for the last 15

years, but like I was always curious,

you know, coming through of being

uncomfortable.

>> Hear that kids

>> curious want to learn

>> being uncomfortable getting in gyms that

you know kids that are better than me.

>> Um you know the workouts where you know

like if you're not getting anything out

of it there's that internal voice that's

like

>> I probably coasted today like oh no I

did something I got something out of

this today. And then you start to just

do that more and more and more and the

reps kind of

>> start to to build up. Um most more

specifically though, when I got to the

league, um I thought I was preparing

myself for the, you know, the the NBA

journey and the pre-draft workouts and

stuff, but I was still at Davidson,

still doing like college type workouts.

and uh caught up this guy Edon Ravine

who um I had met through my agent and

he's like yo come out to to Baltimore or

sorry to uh to Maryland for um you know

a couple weeks and let's just work out

and I I have this kind of approach to

how to get you ready for these workouts

and um and then for for summer league

and all that

>> walk you know just a leap of faith just

in terms of am I really going to get

somebody but I I was curious and like I

said I was going to put myself in an

arena where I could learn what to do or

what not to do or what worked or what

not worked. And the hardest two weeks of

my life where you really had to

determine like how again how bad do you

want it? He put me through hell.

>> Um but to the point of like really

earning it, that's where that kind of

set me off on the on the journey. Worked

out with CP

>> over that that summer leading into my

rookie year. Really learned what it

meant to be a professional. Like I was

just around people that knew what they

were talking about and thankfully, you

know, kind of pushed me in the right

direction.

>> Yeah. And and obviously you didn't know

when we talk about shooting a lot

obviously um you didn't know what you

were doing.

>> No.

>> But at what point did you realize

how transcendent what you were doing on

the floor to the masses? When did you

when did you figure out, holy [ __ ]

Steph,

what you're doing on the floor is

transcending a whole generation of of

players? Obviously, you didn't know

early on. You just shooting. You just

out there, you know, doing your thing.

>> But when did it click to you? You

started looking around was like, "Oh,

wow. That kid is

>> That's a great question."

>> Cuz you you know, you ruined you ruined

the game.

>> It's destroyed.

>> Completely destroyed.

>> Mark one

step.

>> When Mark Jackson uh got back on the

telecast after he coached us and he said

it on the telecast um Yeah, he was taken

out of context of just like or too

strongly in the sense that he was just

being funny. Not talking about how

watching his kids play in a game.

>> He's like, "Oh, he's ruining the game.

I'm walking to high school gyms now and

>> just coming across just

>> I'm trying to think of the first moment

though. It's like

>> cuz you know obviously you know it.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah. Yeah. You know it. I when Trey

Young came in the league and that was

like the first person who they said was

like the next me even though he's a

different player and

>> we I known him when he was in high

school like

>> um that was like the first time you're

like

>> one I'm getting a little older with

these kids that are watching you

>> who are now emulating their their game

after the way that you play or like

there's now expectations on set person

to be

>> you or play like you.

>> That might be the first time I thought

about it. um or really experienced like

what the impact was.

>> Yeah.

>> Um but I got that you ruined the game

question all the time after Mark said it

and you know now it's kind of tongue and

cheek just cuz you know you understand

there is an influence and I now it's

about how can you allow kids to hear the

story about the entire journey and not

just the finished product.

>> Absolutely.

>> That might have been the first time I

actually thought about it though cuz

yeah he was a kid that came to the one

of our games got to talk to him. Next

thing you know he's getting drafted and

it's like oh he's in that. I'm like,

"No, he's he's his own player." Like,

>> well, I mean, but what Mark didn't

realize that he he ruined the league,

too.

>> No, everyone shoots threes now. Everyone

>> 63's a game. 53's a game. Like, it's all

me. It's all stuff. It's all step.

>> You You were the first

>> I think you jumped

>> It was the I think it was maybe Stevie

Kerr's first year. you jumped 200 threes

>> attempted

>> from one season to the next. 200 threes

attempted and then the league followed.

>> Mhm.

>> Then Dame and Clay and now it's like

>> it's not uncommon for like three, four

guys on your roster to shoot hundreds of

threes a year.

>> Shot quality is still Jerry's still out

on where the league is, but Bob Mar was

the first one who told me like, "Yo, you

should shoot 15 threes a game." I was

like "What?"

Like you know how hard it is to get

>> to get 12 good looks up like

>> Yeah.

>> But he was one of those like why why

not? The math says

>> you know 15 threes for you is great.

Like the whole deal you start thinking

about it but

>> yeah the game of train is morphed crazy.

>> But what what was it? Was it that

conversation? Was it Stevie Kerr? Like

what what was the one what was the

impetus be behind taking out 200?

>> The way that we created shots was a big

part of it. um the offense that he

instilled where it was less uh you know

traditional pick and roll less pick on

game um

>> movement more pinch post to pass all

that stuff where you're creating

so uh

>> the concept of you know all 15 threes

cool but they're not all created equal

in the terms of

>> game pressure the rhythm and flow of how

like is it one pass shot is it

>> balls change side three times and you

know you're coming off and you you move

touched it got back relocated. That's a

different shot percentage-wise than

>> the exact same shot from the exact same

spot on the floor in a different

context. So,

>> we started to understand that a little

bit. Um,

>> and it just catered to my natural style

of seeing the game like to the point of,

you know, your influence, Reggie, the

way that I could get it both ways on the

ball and off the ball. So, I didn't

really, it didn't, as crazy as 200 extra

threes in a season sounding, it didn't

felt natural. Exactly. for like a normal

evolution.

>> So, let's talk about this offense,

right? Cuz

>> you come into it's a pick and roll

league

>> and you're a primary ball handler in

profile. You have the handle, you can

shoot off the dribble. Yes, you played

the two in college, but everyone's like

obviously he has a skill set to did you

feel uncomfortable at all in pick and

roll or were you just like, you know,

were you or was it Steve or was it both

of you? How did it come to like, hey,

we're just not going to run a million

pick and rolls when the time came? It

was just conversations like I was

comfortable with all the different

options. Granted as a ball hand like you

your natural tendency is want to you

know be able to make the decisions like

be one reading the floor seeing where

the defense is

>> uh kind of dictating possessions but

when he came in and you know you we all

know Steve the way he communicates the

way he kind of approached the job. We

were almost a what 50 win team when he

came in. that's built on, you know, a

great defensive presence with the the

guys that we had. He's like, I just want

to make a couple tweaks to the way that

we're creating shots and, you know, he

has, you know, the Papovic influence and

um he had always referenced Atlanta um

with uh Coach Bud when they he was down

there and like they were in like the

second and third year of trying to, you

know, implement this kind of style and

>> um leveraging everybody on the floor as

a threat offensively. He's like, I just

want to help, you know, make those

subtle tweaks. So once we got into

training camp, he showed a a clip of um

I can't remember the soccer club, but

>> Barcelona

>> TikTaka, right? And he was talking about

that as a philosophy of how we're going

to create shots, how we're going to

create shots, how we're going to, you

know, keep things simple.

>> Um you know, make the defense have to

make a million decisions in a possession

so that you can then find the right shot

and

>> illuminating the Spurs five stuff when

they're make a decision.5.

>> And so once we got in training camp, it

it took a minute to

be comfortable with not calling a play

and just

>> letting Yeah.

>> letting the ball um kind of dictate

where you're supposed to be.

>> I love offball screens,

>> which

>> as a shooter and a scorer. Coach

McKillip at Davidson taught me, you

know, you help somebody, you help

yourself. And it was a concept of

>> if I can set a screen and you're

guarding me and your goal is to keep the

ball out of my hands, you got to make a

decision now. Like

>> you you call the switch. Oh yeah,

>> you going to stay body tight.

>> My guy going to be open.

>> Mhm.

>> So like sacrificing your body to be able

to set screens was a big deal. Um and

that helped

>> kind of optimize coach Curry's kind of

philosophy because I was involved in

pretty much everything whether was on

ball or off ball.

>> And then from there you just work on the

shots that you're going to get and

that's the entire team. And so to your

point, out of all of that,

>> I wasn't like I was coming in saying, "I

have to hit this number of three-point

attempts to, you know, maximize what I

was doing." It's just that's how it kind

of naturally happened.

>> It's fascinating to me because like the

league is so pick and roll heavy for

someone with your skill set, your

willingness to move so much. That's

probably what prevents other teams from

playing that style more than anything is

someone's willingness to move, to set

screens, to be the sacrificial them.

>> There's a great stat. I watched a video

the other day. um over a certain period

of time in your career, your um team's

rim attempts when you're on the floor

are 45% of your shots. That's not from

you dying someone at the rim. That's

from your man chaos.

>> When you're off the floor, it's still

pretty high, but it's down to 27%.

That's pretty. So, your influence is 18

percentage points on rim attempts. And

that's not from you.

>> That's just people's respect for your

gravity. the game plan of do we switch,

do we bump, do we show like you staying

at home like you talked about screening,

they don't want to leave your body. The

decisions we got some clips to pull up

here of the finals.

>> Oh yeah.

>> Is most dangerous.

>> He doesn't have the ball.

>> Yeah.

>> People

as a competitor and as a dear friend

now.

>> Yeah. Having guys not truly understand

what that means when you're competing

against a guy like that. It it it it

grinds you in the head

>> because it's a natural reaction. It's a

natural reaction. The most dangerous guy

gives the ball up. The first thing you

do is

>> I did a great job.

>> Right.

>> He is most dangerous when he gives the

ball up.

>> And like you just said, that stat right

there is a is really a byproduct of

that. 45% of rim attempts when he's on

the floor. That mean when he's giving

the ball up and he's moving and move and

everybody is doing like this to Stephss.

Draymond layup, egodala lob, you know,

guys payton the third dunk like because

of that vibration, you know,

>> it's funny to say the ball has energy.

He

>> also player movement has energy as well.

And certain guys like you go back like

you saying Reggie you know having energy

himself having energy guys you're just

moving and flowing and uh it's just it's

a beautiful thing. It's a it's not

beautiful when you playing

>> it hurts.

>> It's impossible.

>> But as a competitor and someone who kind

of like thinks the game as well. It's

like wow you can appreciate that [ __ ]

That [ __ ] is like it's it's it's

>> possessions where like you've been on

the sidelines as a coach like when you

start clapping no matter if the shot

went in or not because you know that the

the possession was just absolutely

>> those are my favorite like moments when

you watching film. It's like that's just

basketball at its best

>> and be a part of like organ of like

executing those type of possessions.

Those are my favorite. That's when you

don't matter who score everybody

everybody hyp.

>> Operation successful patient dies.

>> Exactly.

He didn't go in, but that was

>> beautiful. Everybody clap successful

patient die. That's That's hilarious.

That's like right there.

>> The American Express Platinum card is

now better than ever with updated

benefits to help you unlock

unforgettable experiences. You can

access the largest global airport lounge

network and global hotel program with a

suite of benefits as compared to other

credit card programs. Plus, with the

dining benefits and over 10,000 US resi

restaurants and exclusive access to

unique experiences worldwide, Platinum

membership means you can turn the

ordinary into the extraordinary. There's

nothing like landing a table at one of

the hottest restaurants. And when you

enroll with MX Platinum, you get up to

$100 back each quarter on eligible resi

purchases at participating resi

restaurants. It's actually changed how I

dine out completely. Instead of playing

it safe with my usual filet minion, I'll

go for something more adventurous like

Japanese tasting menus or Mediterranean

food. Those credits make trying new

things feel effortless. And honestly,

some of my favorite dining experiences

lately have come from just saying yes to

whatever the chef recommends. When

you're getting those credits back each

quarter, you can really lean into the

full experience from appetizers straight

through to dessert. With an array of

premium travel, dining, and

entertainment benefits, all backed by

American Express's award-winning

service, Platinum membership brings

experiences to a whole new level. It's

true what they say, there's nothing like

Platinum. Terms apply. Learn more at

americanexpress.com/withplatinum.

And now over to our director, Jason, for

a word from another one of our partners.

>> Thank you to our partner, DraftKings.

NBA fans, the season's heating up. We're

just a couple weeks into the action, and

it already feels like we're in

mid-season form. The rookies are making

noise, stars are setting the tone, and

every night brings something exciting.

And we've teamed up with DraftKings

Sportsbook, where you can bet on the

stars. Right now, all new customers who

bet $5 get three months of NBA League

Pass complimentary of DraftKings and get

$300 if your bet wins paid in bonus bets

when you sign up using code mind. Stay

in on the action and use your $300 in

bonus bets on DraftKings same game

parlays for a shot at even bigger

payouts. DraftKings Sportsbook delivers

the unmatched intensity of hoops right

to your fingertips. Love the thrill of

live betting? DraftKings has got you

covered. Bet live on star player props

and inprogress games right as they

happen. Get in on the action now.

Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app

and use code Mind to turn five bucks

into $300 in bonus bets if your bet

wins, plus three months of league pass.

The crown is yours.

Let's take a look at some of these clips

of you guys playing each other. So,

>> wait, I haven't seen these clips. It's

cool. I haven't

>> I bet. But in our psychosis, we could

probably go back to each of these

moments.

>> Boom.

>> Right.

>> So, like just first of all, the the post

to pass.

>> I think it's important for like the

casual fan to understand. Why is a post

to pass interesting? Cuz like you guys

you're not saying let's go to Fesus

here.

>> No. You know what happens is I'll start

and let you guys talk about it.

>> Yeah.

>> When you throw the ball in the post now

you've disoriented the defense's vision,

>> right? Instead of everything being in

front of them, you're supposed to see

man and ball.

>> You you almost it's impossible.

>> Well, I mean, you you you say it's the

same thing as what the Bulls was doing

in the 90s when they would throw the

ball into Luke Longley at times. And now

>> the other actions start happening.

Chicago screen pinch post.

>> MJ can come off of it. Scotty can come

off. It's the same kind of concept what

they were doing. It was just called the

triangle,

>> you know. So, like you said, as soon as

the ball go into the post, now it

>> action starts.

>> Action begins and and it's

>> it's it's like it's control chaos. But

those guys know exactly what's going on.

But we're just trying to get the chain

to move on the defense,

>> you know, and it's when you have a when

you have threats, you know, on the floor

at all times, it can disorient the

defense, which it, you know,

>> you would show the first clip of me

having to [ __ ] up.

>> Is that is that you got a few of them?

>> How about this? I completely

>> This is the happiest I've ever been

watching this game, by the way. So we

>> the biggest smile,

>> but he's throwing in the post here.

Draymond goes to set a a split screen.

>> So Tristan Thompson is probably not

supposed to be guarding.

>> Let's see. Al, so this another piece of

it I can't. So there six seconds on the

shot clock. And the reason he's guarding

me is probably because

>> switch ball screen under 8 seconds

offensive rebound something. That's part

of the the ball and body movement where

you can again make the def defense have

to make multiple decisions to where now

all Tristan's guarding me. He's not used

to being in a guard spot which

>> keep one of the conversations we had

previously

>> about fives guard and pick and rolls

>> you know instead of going oneonone all

the time against the five

>> throw it chase it and let's see what he

do screen out of it I smoke screen out

of it I don't even set the screen

they're not used to guarding pick and

roll so let's see what they do so now

>> having our five man who's can move his

feet obviously he was very you know very

well equipped to move his feet

>> but can he get into pinch post action

that's different you Yeah.

>> And he does a good job. He gets into the

body.

>> You know, I think LeBron's trying to

play center field here cuz Draymond and

he's, you know, so what happens though?

Come off a hard cut.

>> He sets a screen and you're so fearful

of daylight.

>> It's my favorite moment where Tristan

has to decide.

>> So, I think

what else is tricky for people is that

if Tristan

>> runs into the screen or under the screen

the way he should on a switch,

>> there's too much daylight for you there.

So he has to show you to LeBron

>> if they're not on the Yeah. If they're

not on the same page because to the

point if that happened on this

possession, Braun read it where you're

going to try to jump that pass to take

it away and make us make another

decision. But one person's on on a

different station. This it's a wrap.

>> That's it. And this is the this is the

byproduct of the

>> So there's there's the rim attempt,

right? And so that's all just out of

gravity, fear, game plan busting

movement, playing post and pass. All

right, let's see what we got here.

>> So, this is just random basketball right

now, right? You come down, you know,

people are finding spots. We're going to

move it. You get off the ball, which is

>> most people I've seen inside the

three-point line in seven years. It's

been a while, right? You know, just go

back five, six.

>> Oh my god. Nine guys inside the three

line.

>> This is unbelievable.

>> Dre is the only person outside the

three-point line right now. Wow.

>> It's unbelievable. Okay, but you don't

stop playing. So, what are the

principles here? I'm just going to move.

Someone knows they're supposed to pin in

>> or you're gonna screen and someone's

gonna clean it up.

>> Yeah. So like when you come So that's

the when a guard goes underneath the

head underneath the basket.

>> If you're guarding that person obviously

like tennis up coming out whichever side

>> if uh if Shump is trying to stay

attached but I've been moving the whole

possession. So unless he's kind of bear

hugging, which happens at times,

>> I'm at the advantage cuz now he's

chasing and trying to, you know, decide

and to the point where we've been doing

a bunch of action where now Braun's

trying to decide at what point am I

jumping out. I've already guarded two

actions before and it's just, you know,

good timing. And Dre Dre was an

unbelievable asset in that sense cuz it

didn't matter. We had four ball hand

analysts on the court right now

>> that could make that play, right? Sean

could have made it. Dre, Andre or

Draymond could have made it. Andre could

have made it. I could have made it if

somebody else is in the in the action.

So like that obviously helps. Dre's

under control. He knows like something's

about about to happen. Somebody about to

be

>> And that is like one of the things in

our league too. Like sometimes that's

what makes you know certain guys like

Dre Egodala, you know, uh Rondo, you

know, Draymond. It makes what some of

their superpowers actually work for them

as well. Because as you can see right

now, we're not pressuring Dre. We're

trying to read his eyes. see where he's

throwing the ball and then maybe stunt

to the direction of the pass. But also

what

>> the the flip side is that he can see

everything because there's no pressure.

Same thing with Rondo. Rondo, imagine

Rondo up there with Paul and Ray coming

off floppy screens, KG and Perks setting

the pin downs and Rond just up there

just like

>> cuz no one wants to pressure him.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, they're afraid to pressure him

because he's fast, but also they say,

"Okay, well you can't shoot as well."

But his superpower is you not pressuring

him. So he can just

>> you giving him time and

>> you he can see it all, you know. So I

don't know if we were in like if Steph's

underneath and he comes out. We're

switching.

>> Well, I would say something like

he gets locked in sometimes.

Part of it too.

>> The first part about this is it's

random.

>> So you're not always certain.

Steph gave the ball up on the left wing

and threw it to Dre and and now it ended

up down here

>> and did his possum thing.

>> Yeah, I don't know what's going on.

>> Popcorn at halftime. What? I don't know.

I feel like maybe something sweet.

>> Yeah.

>> And then boom. So when he starts to

sprint here, head under the basket

playing possum. He sprints.

>> Shump now is in emergency mode because

he cannot be like this is too much

daylight.

>> There's never a time he's going to point

switch him out. So it's like or point

our opponent serves me out. That's

>> exactly. And so he's on his bike. Now

when you're sprinting that fast to

close, it's hard now to read and react.

It's hard to read and react. And so

LeBron really should be on the high side

here. Correct. But he probably feels if

I get on the high side and he fades and

we switch, I'm in trouble. I'm in

trouble.

>> So you're thinking, let me bias my body

towards stuff

>> and point you almost passing me off.

Yeah. Like you know, just certain

players in our league. is just certain

guys over the course of the history of

the game.

>> No matter what you do,

they still have an advantage.

>> Yeah.

>> And that's what make that's what makes

great. That's what make Grace great.

>> That's what makes them great. That's a

great point. I

>> You have something?

>> No.

>> Exactly. I was Well, I'm going to ask

you about him in a second.

>> No, no, no. It's about the the guest. We

got the guest on, Steve.

>> No, no, no, no.

>> You guys battled it out in the four

straight finals. This is this is

important history in the game stuff.

>> Thanks for watching Mind the Game. New

episodes drop every other Tuesday.

Remember to like, subscribe, or follow

wherever you're watching.