- 14 hours ago
John Wall joins the show to recap his time at the draft lottery and preview the prospects the Wizards could draft with the top pick.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00I want to start by saying on behalf of Wizards fans everywhere, thank you.
00:05Thank you for going to the draft.
00:07Thank you for bringing the number one pick home.
00:10What was that experience like?
00:13It was a dope experience.
00:15A full circle moment.
00:16Like I said, having a number one pick, I go up there and represent the Wizards organization
00:20and help me get another number one pick.
00:23It was amazing.
00:24Like I said, a full circle moment for me.
00:27Yeah, I mean, it was, you know, who was the representative when they got the number
00:31one pick for you?
00:35A-Bowler, A-Bowler's wife.
00:36A-Bowler's wife was the one.
00:38I think A-Bowler had just passed his wife that went up there.
00:41That's so cool, man.
00:43So, John, when the pick came through, you seemed to get a little emotional.
00:47Did it touch you?
00:49I think it was just a surreal moment for me, just knowing it was Mother's Day,
00:53knowing my mom passed in 2019, and then being up there with the organization that
00:58gave me the opportunity to be drafted, number one, and to live out my entire dream.
01:02So, it was like a super emotional, super surreal moment.
01:06And like I said, I give a lot of credit to God and a lot of credit to Francis because
01:09I feel like they made that happen on that special day.
01:11So, what's crazy is, I thought, so, I mean, I don't know what it's like in the room.
01:17I've never been in the room.
01:19But when they go to that commercial break and there's four teams left, that commercial
01:24break felt like an eternity to me.
01:27What did that feel like sitting there?
01:30For me, it was kind of like, for me, when they had the first four teams into five, it
01:36was pretty easy and complicated because I knew we were guaranteed a top five pick.
01:40So, once they got past five, I'm like, okay, we're the last four.
01:43Then they had Tony Cook to speak, and then I had to speak, and I'm like, man, I don't
01:48want to speak right now.
01:49I want to speak later.
01:51And then you just see the kids go one by one, and then when you try to get the other
01:56pick, I'm like, oh, maybe I don't want to pick.
01:57So, I'm kind of like, do I get up right now?
01:59Do I stay seated?
02:00Like, what do I really do in a moment?
02:03So, it was dope, though.
02:04Yeah, John, nobody on this show has ever felt that type of feeling.
02:10For those guys that are sitting there, Peterson, DeBanza, you know, knowing now that you could
02:16be that guy going on that pick, what's that feeling like?
02:20Oh, I can't really say.
02:21I mean, because I never had it as good as sitting there.
02:24It felt like the whole draft night, to be honest.
02:26Uh-huh.
02:27Like, it looked like it was draft night.
02:28Everybody had their own table.
02:29Some of the guys were sitting together.
02:31When I did it, when my year came up, I was in my agent's house.
02:34So, it's a lot different than what I was.
02:36But I know it kind of gives you some clarity to understand when you're going into those
02:40meetings and starting yesterday or today, who I'm going to meet with, who I'm going
02:43to talk to, who I might work out for, and where I got the opportunity to go.
02:48If young John Wall, well, old John Wall now, he had a chance to give one of those guys,
02:54older, not old.
02:56I'm old here.
02:56I'm 58.
02:5758, you had a chance to give somebody a message or some advice.
03:03What would that advice be for the guys now, being in this position, but now you got to
03:07go and play it, to have a career coming?
03:10Continue to be yourself.
03:11Continue to be the person that got you here.
03:12Continue to have a great personality, great character.
03:14Continue to put the work in.
03:16I feel like nothing has changed.
03:18Like you said, you got a little bit of clarity to understand where you might be going when
03:21the draft night comes, but you still got to put the team to work in.
03:24And you know, you're ready to get your career started whenever the draft night happens.
03:28Talking with John Wall here on the Rude Guest Hotline.
03:32It was just so cool to see you up there representing the Wizards in the draft lottery.
03:38I'm curious, how did that come to be?
03:41Like, did Ted reach out to you?
03:43Did Dawkins reach out to you?
03:45Like, what was that?
03:46What was the initial conversation where they're like, hey, John, we were wondering if you'll go
03:49to Chicago for us?
03:51I think it all just started for me getting an opportunity to work back with Monumental
03:55Sports Network this year.
03:56I've been a sports analyst broadcaster guy.
03:59For the team throughout the season, having like 16 games and doing that.
04:02Yep.
04:02I think it's good in relationship backed up.
04:04And then you just have a conversation between Zach Leonsis, Michael Winger, Will Dawkins,
04:10everybody.
04:11All those people just talking to me.
04:13And seeing if it's a possibility to happen, when it came, it's a full circle moment.
04:17You can't turn those type of opportunities down.
04:20How does it feel being back in the building?
04:23Because I know when I started doing stuff with the commanders, you know, it make me feel
04:27you're not a part, but you damn sure are a part.
04:30You know what I mean?
04:31Because you were in there before.
04:33Yeah.
04:33Like I said, it's a full circle moment for me just to be back in a position outside of
04:38just being on the court, which I wish I was still playing, but to still be involved with
04:41the organization, be around the city that loves me and I love the city back.
04:46But it's all there.
04:47You want to be there when everything changes and they get back to winning?
04:50Yeah.
04:50I hope it is to be the right stepping stone of how to get approved.
04:55John, I'm curious for you, when he did the interviews after the draft lottery went
05:01down, A.J.
05:02DeBansa said that he's known you for a while, that maybe you came to one of the high school
05:07showcases he played in.
05:08I know what a hoops junkie you are that you go watch high school basketball.
05:12What do you think of DeBansa's game?
05:15I'm super talented.
05:16I did a thing when I was on Amazon Prime.
05:18I did a video and called in.
05:20It was like, he reminded me of a young Trace McGrady.
05:22Super athletic, got a great heavy mid-range.
05:26Super athletic, figuring out what the game is all about.
05:29And seeing it grow and continue to get better.
05:30And yeah, a couple years ago, I went to Indiana and got to see him play in the EYBL tournament.
05:36And then we went to dinner after that at Benihana's.
05:38And just talking, just figuring out what he was doing next, what he was offering the goals.
05:42Continue to work and continue to do all those things.
05:44And after this great year of college, he's put himself in a great position to be the number
05:48one pick.
05:50John, I'm going to switch gears for a second.
05:52What's your favorite part of dinner at Benihana?
05:56Well, man, you know I got to get the trio, man.
05:58I love it.
06:00I got to get that.
06:01I got to get the miso soup.
06:03I got to get a cup of shrimp for it.
06:04After that, I'm good.
06:06Dude, that salad dressing they have, that like ginger salad dressing to Benihana, I need
06:11to go with Benihana.
06:11See, that's for you right there.
06:12I don't eat salad, so I'm going to leave that up to you.
06:14You don't eat salad at all?
06:15You don't eat salad, man.
06:16You got to eat some vegetables.
06:17See, I love my vegetables.
06:19Don't get me wrong.
06:20I'm just a picky eater, so I don't really like sausage.
06:23Okay.
06:23Okay.
06:23Gotcha, gotcha.
06:24All right, back to basketball.
06:27So, the bands, I love that.
06:29Young Tracy McGrady.
06:30What do you think of the kid Peterson from Kansas?
06:34Oh, 45 bucks a good year.
06:35I mean, somebody that has a very mature game, played way beyond his years.
06:40I think outside of all the stuff he dealt with in college this year and all the criticism
06:44he had, he's still one of those guys that end up being number one and number six for
06:48sure.
06:48So, what do you think of his year at Kansas?
06:52Missing time, and now we're hearing about this, like, creatine thing.
06:55How hard is that for a young man to kind of deal with?
06:59Well, I think it's difficult anytime.
07:00You've never had to deal with anything like that before.
07:02There were injuries before in your career.
07:04And you're used to playing basketball.
07:05You love the game of basketball.
07:07All you want to do is go out there with your teammates and compete at a high level.
07:11And certain things will take you away from the game.
07:13So, I think he did a great job of trying to not talk about it as much and not trying
07:17to make it about himself while he was playing.
07:20But, you know, we live in an area where there's social media and everything is under a microscope.
07:24Totally.
07:25For sure.
07:26I'm loving asking you about these players.
07:29What do you think of Cam Boozer's game?
07:32Very mature.
07:33I've known him for a long time.
07:35I used to work out at the Eddys High School, Columbus High School.
07:37I can play a lot.
07:39Alternate winner.
07:40Wherever he goes, he's going to be an alternate winner.
07:41They're great boys, great maturity, great basketball.
07:44Actually, he does all the right things.
07:47And when I say whoever gets him, he's definitely going to win him.
07:50All right.
07:51We'll go again.
07:52How about Wilson?
07:52Yeah, Caleb Wilson.
07:54It reminds me of baby KG.
07:56With a motor, super athletic, raw, and faked up a little bit.
08:00Playing with that tenacity, not trying to back down for anybody.
08:03So, all these guys have a great opportunity.
08:06They all just bring something different to the game.
08:09Do you see any – the kid, Acuff, from Arkansas, I mean, what a scorer.
08:16Like, I remember watching you at Kentucky and just being completely blown away by your speed.
08:22I don't know that I had ever seen speed like that on a basketball court.
08:27Yeah, what Coach Keith said yesterday.
08:28Yeah, I mean, your ability to just get down the court in what appeared to be two seconds.
08:34You know what I mean?
08:35What did you see when you watched Acuff play ball?
08:39Baby Stephon Marbury without the athleticism.
08:42That's a reminder of a baby Stephon Marbury.
08:44He's not as athletic, but scores the ball at a high level.
08:47To me, out of all the guards that Coach Kyle has had, he's the best scorer that Kyle has had
08:52at all his point guards.
08:54Like, a three-level scorer that can score any level.
08:57Yeah, Detroit mindset with him.
08:59Don't back down for nobody.
09:01And he's going to compete and take on any challenge.
09:02So, you've got to respect that and love him about it.
09:05Oh, yeah.
09:07There's a young man from D.C. going to play for Coach Cal.
09:10I know that you pay attention to that stuff.
09:13I saw him in the Capital Classic and was pretty blown away, dude.
09:17I'm blanking on his name this second.
09:19Jordan Smith.
09:20Jordan Smith.
09:21Yeah, what do you think of him going down to Arkansas?
09:24Well, he's one of those guys that don't ever get tied to peace on any level.
09:29Freak athlete.
09:30I love him.
09:30I mean, I gave him the National Gatorade basketball player of the year, probably this year.
09:34And we had a couple of interviews we did, but I've been watching him from a distance.
09:38He continues to get better year by year.
09:40He's a gym rat.
09:41He's going to continue to grow and get better on the couch.
09:44That's wild.
09:45For you, do you – and maybe it's both.
09:48I don't know, but do you still root for Kentucky?
09:50Are you an Arkansas guy now?
09:53I root for Kentucky.
09:55That's the school they gave me.
09:55I've been telling them about my dreams, but I'm always going to support Cal at the same time.
09:58Yeah.
09:59I always want Kentucky to win, but I'm always going to root for a guy who loves and supports also.
10:04John, you spitting off all these things about all these players.
10:07You sound like a little Dick Vitale, man.
10:10How much excitement are you getting?
10:12Because I'm being honest with you.
10:13Watching young talent, when you've gone through it and you know what it takes when you're watching young talent,
10:19it's – I mean, it can just take you.
10:22Have you fallen into it where you just look forward to it?
10:26I'm super excited.
10:27You know, I got my own holiday invitation.
10:29John Wallen's holiday invitation for a tournament.
10:31So I've got some of the best players in the country, best teams in the country coming every year to
10:35my tournament.
10:36But I'm always locked into basketball, man.
10:38Winner's basketball, men's basketball, A&U for girls and boys, college.
10:44I'm doing it all, watching it all.
10:45So I just enjoy loving the game and watching the game and being around you.
10:48Okay.
10:49I love that, man.
10:50Well, part of that is obviously you're doing more work at Monumental, television work with Amazon Prime,
10:55like all sorts of stuff.
10:56But you're also now – I think it was just last month – you were named the president of basketball
11:02operations at Howard University.
11:05What does that mean?
11:05How did that come to be?
11:08That's a great opportunity.
11:09I mean, it's a blessing to be able to continue to learn and grow the game and understand what the
11:12business is on that side of the game.
11:15You know, eventually one day I want to be a general manager on something in the NBA.
11:20I just – it came about me that I became a captain of a day one day and went to
11:24a game and talked to the team and just been around those guys.
11:27And shout-out to Coach Blakeney and them.
11:28They gave me opportunities to step into this role.
11:31I took full advantage of it.
11:33That's pretty damn cool.
11:34Here's a very little-known fact.
11:36When I was a little kid and lived in North Carolina, I went to Duke basketball camp, and Blakeney was
11:41one of my coaches.
11:42How about that?
11:43Wow.
11:43That's crazy.
11:43It's crazy, right?
11:44You know what, though, John?
11:45He didn't listen to nothing he said.
11:46I listened.
11:47I just – I couldn't perform.
11:49You know, the crazy part is you've got to give Coach Blakeney a lot of credit.
11:52I mean, over the last five years, what he's been over there in that organization, been in the dream factory,
11:57getting those guys to win, getting recruits in, winning their first NCAA tournament game,
12:02got another great team coming back this year.
12:05It's super exciting.
12:05I'm glad I could be involved and be a part of it to help them grow
12:08and continue to figure out what they can do to make our basketball better.
12:12And keep building a winning coach and stuff.
12:13I mean, trying to coach Blakeney and staff because they have been doing a tremendous job.
12:17John, they gave Michigan their hardest game of the tournament.
12:22Yeah, surprisingly.
12:23And they said it was 6'4", 6'5".
12:25Right.
12:25I mean, he's doing a hell of a job there.
12:28It's funny.
12:28I remember when I was at camp, one day – I don't know why I had this – I had
12:32a map of the D.C. Metro,
12:34like the actual subway, like the red line, the yellow line.
12:37That was my T-shirt I was wearing.
12:39And he came over to me.
12:39He's like, oh, are you from up there?
12:41And we talked.
12:41It couldn't have been cooler.
12:43I'm really excited for you.
12:45I have some good buddies that are involved in that Howard program, and I'll definitely get down to a game.
12:50I did want to ask you a little bit about the games going on right now, though.
12:55The Thunder and the Knicks are just steamrolling teams.
12:58Do you think we're on pace for a Thunder-Knicks finals?
13:03I know.
13:04It's a possibility.
13:05I mean, they're both playing at a high level right now.
13:07But, you know, at the same time, those first game or two of the next round could be tough
13:11because we get too much time to layoff to come out a little rusty.
13:15But I think the Western Conference and the East-Kinds finals are going to be a lot better
13:19than what we have right now, you know what I mean?
13:21Especially for those two teams.
13:23I mean, I think we have a great series going on between the Fitz and the Cavs
13:25and Timberwolves and Spurs.
13:27So we'll decide to see where that ends.
13:29But I think it's going to be a great showdown.
13:32Well, I think if the Spurs can get past the Timberwolves,
13:36I think you would need Jalen Williams in the Western Conference finals
13:39to go against the Spurs.
13:40I think the Western Conference finals and the T-Wolves, man, Anthony Edwards,
13:46that entire team just has a total dog mindset.
13:49But I think the Spurs get through there.
13:52Thunder Spurs should be absolutely electric.
13:56Yeah, I feel like the Spurs are healthy.
13:58And if the OKC doesn't have Jalen Williams, that can affect them a little bit
14:02against him.
14:03I mean, I don't go by what regular season records was because you could be the
14:07team for a regular season and get swept in the playoffs.
14:09So you're never showing your full game plan or you're not making your
14:12adjustments in the regular season.
14:15Did you watch Donovan Mitchell last night?
14:17He bawled.
14:18Yes, I did.
14:21Have you ever had a game like that where in the first half,
14:23you've seen nothing working, but in the second half, you can't miss anything?
14:26Yeah, you know how you do it.
14:27You might change his jersey and change his shoes and then, you know what I mean?
14:30I'm giving her love to come.
14:31But you know what I mean?
14:31You're a scorer like Donovan Mitchell.
14:33It's just about finding one or two of them going around.
14:36And once he's getting the rhythm, he's tough to stop.
14:38You know what I mean?
14:38He's just going all three levels.
14:40Super-ab-led it.
14:41And then he's going to have all the pressure to make all the plays now with adding
14:44James Harden to the team.
14:45So he can get back to his role of just being a bona fide scorer.
14:48Yeah.
14:49When you're playing like that, like to a dude like me, I've heard of when shooters
14:54or basketball players get in the zone.
14:56Mitchell was clearly in the zone in the second half last night.
15:00What is that feeling like?
15:02Nobody can guard you.
15:04It's like the rim is like an ocean.
15:06Nobody can stop you.
15:08It's all up to you.
15:09If you stop shooting, that's the only way you're going to stop yourself.
15:12There you go.
15:13God, it feels so cool.
15:14John, man, I know you are a busy man.
15:17We really appreciate you making time.
15:19Seriously, again, thank you on behalf of Wizards fans.
15:21It felt like a truly full-circle moment watching you be up there
15:26and then land the number one pick.
15:28I remember where I was watching the draft lottery
15:30when they won the number one pick to draft you.
15:33And now I got to experience it with my children.
15:36It was very cool, man.
15:38It is.
15:38As I say, I didn't get to watch my kids, but I was at the lottery.
15:41But my kids were jumping up and down back home.
15:43So, yep, before a circle moment.
15:44Oh, yeah.
15:45Absolutely, man.
15:45Well, thank you again for the time.
15:47Appreciate you, John.
15:47And we'll see you soon.
15:49All right, thank you.
15:50Have a good one.
15:50All right, man.
15:51All right.
15:52The great John Wall.
15:53They just spitting off all of them.
15:55Dude, he is a hoops.
15:57You're into it, dog.
Comments