From NBA Stardom to Losing It All: Rashad McCants on Money, Fame & Hard Lessons

Summary

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For Good: From NBA Stardom to Losing It All

Guest: Rashad McCants
Host: Joseph "JoJo" Simmons
Co-host: Vanessa Simmons
Date: March 17, 2026

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Episode Overview

This powerful episode explores the journey of former NBA player and NCAA champion Rashad McCants, tracing his rise to fame, abrupt financial and emotional setbacks, and the deep lessons learned along the way. McCants, in conversation with JoJo and Vanessa Simmons, opens up about mental health, money mismanagement, public scrutiny, personal reinvention, and the role of intentional healing in breaking generational cycles. The discussion is candid, vulnerable, and layered with insights about legacy, identity, and resilience—especially pertinent for Black men, athletes, and anyone striving to live with purpose beyond achievement.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Fame, Discipline, and Academic Achievement

• Family Influence & Representation:
  McCants praises JoJo’s family for modeling Black excellence and togetherness on TV, saying they were like "the Cosbys" for his generation.

  “Y’all set the example, man. And just family, household...Was more powerful than anything. And all of us coming from different cultures... But to see an example of a good family...” (03:41, Rashad McCants)

• Chooses Boarding School at 15 for Growth:
  Left North Carolina to study and train in New Hampshire, surrounded by peers from elite backgrounds; excelled academically and athletically.

  “I had 1100 on my SAT, so I could have went to any college I wanted to, including Stanford...” (05:51, Rashad McCants)

• On Not Just Being an Athlete:

  “...take your academics seriously so that you can be in all kind of rooms, not just the one room that’s got the athletes in it...” (06:25, Rashad McCants) “I always wanted to be the leader. I wanted to be the coach’s student...lead in the classroom, in the dorm room, and on the court.” (09:04, Rashad McCants)

2. NCAA Championship Run and College Pressures

• Team Dynamics & Personality:
  Joins UNC at its low point, becomes part of the rebuilding; describes locker room camaraderie, regional music rivalry, and three-year climb to national title.

  “When we got there, they were 8 and 20. It was a bad team...But we ended up being able to take all of our different mindsets and create a championship culture...” (13:01-15:11, Rashad McCants)

• The High of Winning, the Reality of What Comes Next:

  “It was a spectacular time...winning the championship there, it helped me understand how to be a professional.” (16:29, Rashad McCants)

3. NBA Draft Night & Financial Trauma

• Disappointment and Context:
  Expected top 3 pick, falls to 14th, feels slighted—points to shifting team needs as the cause.

  “I was pissed. Cause I was supposed to go top three...and the only guy that was actually trying to vouch for me, ironically, is Stephen A. Smith.” (17:35, Rashad McCants)

• First Major Setback: Financial Advisor Theft
  Shares a harrowing story of being robbed by Peggy Bruford, losing access to his entire rookie salary before even getting his first NBA check.

  “First thing I went through when I got there my rookie year was I got robbed by my financial advisor...That was my first experience of having a lot of money and then not having no money at all in the same breath.” (19:57, Rashad McCants)

  “She got to the family too, where she got to my mom and my sisters...I couldn’t get donuts [for rookie hazing], and KG cussed me out...He wired me some bread to help me out.” (21:18-22:39, Rashad McCants)

4. Truths and Myths About NBA Life

• The Illusion of Stardom:
  McCants exposes the myth that everyone in the league has an equal shot at being a star—so much is determined by market, coach preference, and organizational strategy.

  “Everybody think it’s sweet. Everybody think everybody got an equal opportunity to become a LeBron James or Anthony Edwards. And don’t work like that...” (24:07, Rashad McCants)

  “The coach didn’t like who I was dating...the coach don’t have to play me based on just him alone...The expectations...that you have as a person or a player is something you should be grateful for. Because if you’re expected to do something and you become a disappointment, it was that expectation that put you there.” (24:07-27:11, Rashad McCants)

5. Pressure, Public Exposure, and Mental Health

• Dating in the Spotlight & the Kardashian Effect:
  Public relationships (notably with Khloé Kardashian) added intense, unwanted scrutiny and affected relationships with coaches, teammates, and the media.

  “Who you date matters...you’re exposed. So, me being in a small market...when they find out it’s a bigger thing than it is for me even playing...” (28:02, Rashad McCants)

• Financial and Emotional Weight:
  Becoming the breadwinner brought heavy pressure—not only immediate family but extended circle expectations.

  “You never really understand, like, what people go through when they become that breadwinner for the whole family...God chose us to be that guy. Take pride in that pressure.” (30:24-30:59, JoJo Simmons)

6. The Realities of the NBA—Competition & Identity

• Welcome to the NBA Moment:
  Credits Kobe Bryant as the hardest opponent; admires him as both mentor and unreachable standard.

  “I’ve studied him, right? He’s the guy. I know all your moves. So for him to hit moves I know he’s gonna hit, and I still can’t stop it...” (31:22, Rashad McCants)

• Standing for Academic Integrity:
  Recalls risking reputation by exposing academic fraud at UNC as part of a bigger movement for athlete empowerment and NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) reform.

  “I wanted to be the one guy that they can’t say [‘shut up and dribble’] to. So I stood in the front and I took the bullets and I fought...Ten years later, the things that I fought for came true, which is athletes are getting paid in college right now.” (33:10, Rashad McCants)

7. Reinvention, Writing, and Mental Health Advocacy

• Healing Through Writing and Forgiveness:
  Credit to creative expression and journals/books for helping process setbacks and loss.

  “I started to write...I just recently finished my sixth book...writing and getting away and trying to articulate what happened in my life that ultimately was out of my control.” (37:40 & 37:54, Rashad McCants)

  “Control the controllables.” (quoted from Marcus Collins, 39:11, Rashad McCants)

• Meditation and Letting Go:
  Focus on forgiveness, letting go of resentment, and “renewing the heart” to move forward.

  “To get that new start, you gotta have a new heart.” (39:45, Rashad McCants)

8. Ego, Leadership, and New Definitions of Success

• Redefining Ego & Survival:
  Frames ego as emotional reactivity, describes becoming a "monk" after loss, and surviving the fire as cause for pride—not arrogance.

  “Ego...is the being in an emotional state where you can’t control your emotions...And for me, it’s about responding...Ego forces you to react.” (40:54-42:43, Rashad McCants)

  “I wear a crown because I’ve survived the fire. And when you survive such things like that, you don’t need ego to wear it. You just need to know who you are.” (42:47, Rashad McCants)

• Giving Back & Building Legacy:
  Success is no longer about stats or wealth but about service and helping others, especially via his app “Mindset”—a mental health resource for athletes and entertainers.

  “Giving back, helping others...That’s been me, that’s been my whole journey thus far. Started a mental health company to help athletes and entertainers.” (44:07, Rashad McCants) “...We have meditation...emotional support coaches...mentorship...” (45:29-48:13, Rashad McCants on Mindset)

9. Advice for Young Athletes and Healing Messages

• Don’t Chase Money Alone:

  “Money isn’t everything. It’s not every solution that you need...sports, it’s 90% mental, 10% physical...always need to have other focuses...Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” (49:05-50:17, Rashad McCants)

• Intentionality & Integrity:
  Both the hosts and guest stress the importance of intentional living, discipline, and making conscious decisions—no matter the pressure or temptation.

• Rashad’s Main Lesson:

  “...I didn’t quit. That was the biggest thing...Even when I had nothing, I’m like, nah, something’s gonna come, and you’re gonna be judged on this stupid decision, and it’s gonna stop that door from opening. And I never took the bait...There's always something that you can lean on to get you away from the bullshit...never give up...” (51:03, Rashad McCants)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On legacy and being misunderstood:

  “You’re going to kill it and you’re going to not regret one move that you’re going to make. The path is going to be strenuous, it’s going to be bumps in the road, but you’re going to cross every single obstacle and you’re going to pass with flying colors.” (36:23, Rashad McCants)

• On leadership:

  “You chose yourself to be a leader before you even thought to be a follower.” (54:40, JoJo Simmons)

• On humility and receiving flowers:

  “But you and your whole family, you guys have all, like I said, the Cosbys... you definitely were born to be leaders, regardless how you feel.” (56:57, Rashad McCants)

• On ego:

  “I wear a crown because I’ve survived the fire. And when you survive such things like that, you don’t need ego to wear it. You just need to know who you are.” (42:47, Rashad McCants)

• On healing and moving forward:

  “To get that new start, you gotta have a new heart.” (39:45, Rashad McCants)

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Selected Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early family influence & Black excellence: 03:01–04:22
• Boarding school & academic discipline: 05:01–06:25
• Mindset, leadership, and self-motivation: 09:04–10:21
• Championship run at UNC: 13:01–15:11
• Draft night disappointment: 17:22–18:37
• Financial advisor theft—losing it all: 19:57–23:34
• NBA myths and system dynamics: 24:07–27:11
• Public scrutiny, dating, and mental health: 27:28–30:24
• On writing and mental health: 37:40–39:45
• Ego, emotional control, and survival: 40:54–43:17
• On success, giving back, and “Mindset” app: 44:07–48:13
• Advice to young athletes: 49:05–50:17
• Never quitting, lasting optimism: 51:03–52:38

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The Episode’s Through-Line: Vulnerability as Strength

Through deeply personal recollections—his upbringing, triumphs, public relationship drama, profound loss, and healing—Rashad McCants models what living “for good” means. The episode underscores that healing, integrity, and inner work aren’t weaknesses, but powerful tools to build legacy, break cycles, and serve others.

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For more about Rashad McCants’ mental health work:
M Y N D S E T online

Follow Rashad on social media:
Instagram: @iamrashadmccants
Twitter/X: @SOUNDBITEKing

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The episode closes with gratitude, mutual respect, and an open invitation:

“There's always something you can lean on to get you away from the bullshit...never give up...always be grateful.” (51:03–52:38, Rashad McCants)

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Summary prepared for those seeking deep, actionable insights on mental health, sports, legacy, and building a purposeful life—especially for communities connected to Black excellence and cycles of healing.

Transcript

[JoJo Simmons]

I went to Daddy. I said, I got a verse. You know, I'm five years old. Yo, yo, yo. I said, yo, my name is Jojo, and I got no dough. And he said, why would you say you have no dough?

[Rashad McCants]

What you say?

[JoJo Simmons]

He's like, I get it rhyme, son. I thought I tilt it, Jojo. No dough. I thought I killed it. Oh. And Daddy was like, why would you say that?

[Rashad McCants]

The first thing that I went through when I got there my rookie year was I got robbed by my financial advisor. Wow. And that was my first experience of having a lot of money and then not having no money at all in the same breath. Her name was Peggy Bruford, and she ended up robbing a lot of different players. Myself, Dennis Rodman, Ricky Williams. She was a financial advisor. She was a black woman who used her charm as a black woman to get to us, as an opportunity to let her in the door. And we all did. She was very charming.

[JoJo Simmons]

She was a black woman.

[Rashad McCants]

You wanted to support black business. And she came to the family, too, where she got to my mom and my sister.

[Vanessa Simmons]

He was so young, too.

[JoJo Simmons]

They sound like a Kardashian question.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It sounds like a Kardashian question.

[JoJo Simmons]

Why? Cause it's mental health.

[Rashad McCants]

Cause I date. That's what my downfall of my whole shit was. I dated Khloe. Just a part of the. That's a part of it, yeah.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And that's.

[JoJo Simmons]

You dated a Kardashian?

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That pushes you way in the.

[Rashad McCants]

In the front far as what you say, as far as being pushed in front of the forefront of the exposure and all that. It's like, who you date matters, who you hang around matters, you know, Lil Wayne being one of my friends at the time, being able to date someone as a public figure, high profile, the coaches find wind of it. They have feelings about it. Their wives have feelings about it. Their referees have feelings, like, you're exposed. And so me being in a small market, Minnesota is not New York. So they know. So when they find out, it's a bigger thing than it is for me, even playing.

[JoJo Simmons]

Head over to vandamsenergy.com and put your first order in for the most luxury energy drink on the market. Van Dammes. Stay woke. What's good, everybody? It's your guy, JoJo Simmons.

[Vanessa Simmons]

And I'm Vanessa Simmons.

[JoJo Simmons]

And welcome back to the For Good podcast, where we focus on the good now, never the bad. And we're measured by what we do, not what we have. Today we're sitting down with former NBA player and NCAA national champion Rashad McCants. From winning a national title at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, to being drafted 14th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rashad's journey has been full of big wins, big pressure, public headlines, and real life lessons.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That's right. We're talking about basketball, locker room stories, the league, the pressure that comes with it all, while also diving into identity, public scrutiny, personal growth, and what really happens when the spotlight shifts.

[JoJo Simmons]

Let's get into it. Rashad, man, I appreciate you coming on the For Good podcast. Brother, man. Thank you, man.

[Rashad McCants]

Thanks for having me, man. This is a pleasure. Y' all are legends.

[JoJo Simmons]

I mean, you know, now that, you know, since we were chopping it up before the actual film conversation, I can tell that you're excited to be here, and you really, you know, respect the family. So, first of all, I want to give you that love and that honor for even, you know, saying that, like, yo, we were like the Cosbys to you growing up, and, you know, we did a lot for, you know, the culture, the community, the black community, the black kids. So I really do appreciate that love. Every time I hear that from somebody like, yo, I watched you growing up, and you taught me how to be a brother. You taught me how to be a close sibling. You know? That's what you were saying, right? You said you have siblings, and we were talking about how close we were, and you were like, well, you knew. You guys knew no other way. Y' all were the trailblazers of that, right?

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah, y' all set the example, man. And just family, household, just that individually is just. Was more powerful than anything. And all of us coming from different cultures, you know what I'm saying? Different environments, upbringings. But to see an example of a good family, father, the full father, mother, sisters, brothers, you and Diggy going at it all the time, you. And, like, it was just always a beautiful concept to see as far as content is concerned. But then, you know, shaping it into real life, it wasn't scripted. It was real. So we can all, you know, embrace that and we can all follow that, and I think that that was the most powerful thing for y'. All.

[JoJo Simmons]

So, yeah, it showed black excellence and black wealth, too. You know, I think it showed that beyond the stereotypical black family, that there was black thriving families out there that were not only wealthy, but close and had love and had philanthropy in their heart. And we're doing good things for the community, and we're living together. Like you said, dad, mom, everybody, you know, so, you know, I think you're right. It was a big impact, but we not here to talk about us today. Let's talk about you, Rashad. I want to talk about. You were that guy in high school. We all know that, right? McDonald's all American. That's not no easy feat, right? Top in the country. We know this. When did you realize, oh, yeah, I'm really about to go to the league?

[Rashad McCants]

Probably senior year. I worked really hard, man. I left home at 15 to go to New Hampshire. I was in New England. So as a Yankee fan, I had to deal with a lot of the Boston people, you know what I'm saying? Up there, I was closer to New York. We hate Boston, man. So my culture came from that energy, that New York energy. So being up there in boarding school with a lot of the Andovers and Exeters and all the president's sons and stuff go to these schools, I was closer to this type of pedigree. So it allowed me to focus more on my ball and my academics. So I was able to, you know, hone in on being the best player I could be, but also being the best student I could be. I was student of the year twice in a row. Player of the year twice in a row.

[JoJo Simmons]

I didn't know you were student of the year alongside player of the year.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Wow.

[Rashad McCants]

I had 1100 on my SAT, so I could have went to any college I wanted to, including Stanford, that I was thinking about. But, you know, just worked hard to play hoops, so I just chased that.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's crazy. And I know Vanessa has another question, but I wanted to kind of, you know, add onto it, because now I'm hearing that you were, you know, student of them. Like, that's big. Can you talk to, like, athletes and young kids of, like, is, you know, the athletic ability isn't the only important part, but it's the academic ability as well. Cause you could have not made it to the league, but you still would have given yourself an opportunity to be successful in other lanes.

[Rashad McCants]

Absolutely. I think when you. When you look at our culture and you look at the examples of articulation, intelligence, academia, we don't have too many examples of that that kids can look at to say that that's cool. Right? And I think that's the biggest thing that I've always taken away is taking your academics seriously so that you can be in all kind of rooms, not just the one room that's got the athletes in it. Cause we're looked at as the dumb jocks. We don't really know what we talking about when it comes to music, film, or any of those different things. But for me, I took that as a challenge, a personal challenge. So. So when I went to basketball camps, we do certain seminars where people come in and speak. We do team bonding situations where I was always in the front. I never wanted to. I was the funny dude, you know what I'm saying? That would make crack jokes. But I also wanted to be an example of the guy taking notes in the front. So that was always a personal challenge. And athletes, we do have a stigma on us because there's a lot of us, we hone in on the athletic side so much that we can get lazy. And that laziness tunes to go towards academics because we want to sleep during class and catch our rest so we can have energy for practice. So for me, once I got over that stigma of falling asleep in class, not really studying for certain things, I go up to boarding school, and now I'm focused on academics. I'm learning about different languages. I'm really honing in on my math and my English. All the different things that you start to see pay out as you get along with other cultures. And I was in a melting pot of different people, so getting along with different people made sense. So now that I'm looking back on it, it all, you know, is for the benefit for everybody, especially younger kids, to just really pay attention to how good academics can treat you if you really treat it the same way.

[JoJo Simmons]

I love that. That was deep because a lot of. And I know I want to say this, and then I want Vanessa to definitely get into her question. You already knew you had the athletic ability to go to the NBA, but yet you still wanted to be at the front of the class to set that example. That is in its own discipline. That in its own Is a different type of mindset. Vanessa, please. Yeah, I want you to.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, that's exactly what I was gonna say. I love that you shared that about your journey because that shows the ultimate discipline more than just the athletic side, but the academic side. How you're disciplining your mind and it all plays hand in hand. Yeah, I thought that was.

[JoJo Simmons]

That was crazy. Yeah, that was dope. And I really respect that mindset that you had.

[Rashad McCants]

Well, I mean, the one thing it has to accumulate to is leadership. And I think leadership qualities come from setting the example. And I always wanted to be the leader. I wanted to be the coach's student. I wanted to be the guy coach leans on to talk to the other players. So in order to Be that example. You had to lead in the classroom, you had to lead in the dorm room, and you had to lead on the court. And so in order for me to be the ultimate leader, I had to hone in on all of those and take the challenge. And ultimately that was, you know, outside of family, you know, I was 15 in New Hampshire. I'm from North Carolina. So being away from home was also a challenge in itself. And being around people you don't know, but also having them look up to you like, all right, what are we doing now? All right, we actually. We're studying now. We're going to do the full study hall and we're going to make sure our grades are all on point and we gonna practice hard. You know, all those things I took personally and I can contribute it to guys like Kobe Bryant. And that was ultimately one of my teachers and one of my mentors that I looked. Looked up to very deeply to as an example, you know, somebody that could really take this thing personal and take it as an obsession.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, I love that.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That was a really dope mindset to have at such a young age. So it's speaks volumes to, like, your success that you have had. That's incredible. I really respect it. But. So when you're labeled as the next big thing as a teenager, what does that do to your sense of self? Did you ever feel like you had room to just be young?

[Rashad McCants]

I think so. I think at some point I'll take for, for example, my freshman year at UNC, being after being a McDonald's All American, playing in Madison Square Garden, all the greatest arena in the world ever.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know, we from New York ever.

[Rashad McCants]

I know.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know, I'm a Knick fan, dude. I'll be hearing what you be talking about. The Knicks.

[Rashad McCants]

I was a Knick fan.

[JoJo Simmons]

We're going to get back into the question.

[Rashad McCants]

But it was one of those things where when you look at the dynamic of how far you can go as a player, where you want to go as a player, get to UNC and just wanted to be that example of prestige and honor and integrity. And when you get to that level, it's all about what you do, how you show up, how professional you can be. And at a young age, if you don't have those examples, it's hard for you to really show them that you can do it. And those are the pitfalls that you have as a youngster coming in because you get criticized because of the things you don't know. Maybe your father or mother hadn't taught you etiquette to get to the college level and how to walk around. But you start if you're really paying attention and you really are wanting to step in front of the challenge. I think everyone can learn from their own mistakes, the small mistakes, the small things become bigger things. And if you can tackle the small things, you can learn that nothing pushes you out of your path.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah. Now I'm gonna keep it honest. Like, you know, I've played some basketball growing up and I love the game. I've had some great moments. But we all dream to have a championship run like the one you had at unc. So I would really want to know what was that championship run really like, who was the funniest on the team

[Rashad McCants]

and who talked the most trash, man. It was a three year journey. So when we got there, they were 8 and 20. It was a bad team. None of the recruits really wanted to go to Carolina. So myself, Raymond Felt, and Sean Ray

[JoJo Simmons]

Felt shout out to Nick Legend to me. He's a Nick Legend to me. Some people say otherwise. Ray Felt is a Nick legend for sure.

[Rashad McCants]

For sure. Ray a legend period.

[JoJo Simmons]

He's a legend, period.

[Rashad McCants]

But to us in New York, we

[JoJo Simmons]

loved him for sure. We loved everything he did for us.

[Rashad McCants]

No doubt. And when we got together, it was one of those things where we wanted to tackle a championship earlier, but we ended up changing coaches after our freshman year. So we ended up getting Roy Williams.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yep, Roy Williams.

[Rashad McCants]

So Roy Williams being one of the best coaches, you know what I'm saying? So him getting there and him having a team that he didn't recruit, which was ultimately a difficult situation for him because we were all, you know, part of my friends. We were all niggas, you know what I'm saying? So all black kids.

[JoJo Simmons]

All black kids.

[Rashad McCants]

All black kids. He go from Kansas to Carolina.

[JoJo Simmons]

All black kids.

[Rashad McCants]

It was nine of us.

[JoJo Simmons]

What did they say? You ain't in Kansas anymore.

[Rashad McCants]

Ain't no clicking of these heels today. And we all had different personalities, you know, we all did from different places. And so it was a challenge for him. First year, trying to figure out all our personalities, how we get along. And we ended up losing the second year in the second round. And that was more of a challenge for us, trying to figure out what it was. Cause we were so talented. Going into that third year, you looking at a group of guys who've been together three years, there was always guys like Melvin Scott, who was funny as hell. David Noel was funny as hell. But we had a group ultimately of Just a bunch of down south guys outside of Jawiah Williams. So I was.

[JoJo Simmons]

I thought people funny. Anyway, so it was cool.

[Rashad McCants]

They cool, but it's like I had to deal with this. I was a Jay Z, Tupac guy.

[JoJo Simmons]

There we go.

[Rashad McCants]

So when it came down to music, it was different. They was listening to Mike Jones, they was listening to Lil Flip. And I'm like, put the J on, please. So that was my. It was me and then it was them. So that was how different I was in comparison. But we ended up being able to take all of our different mindsets and create a championship culture where we knew we could win it. We got Marvin Williams came in the last year and he helped us take it to the top. And we ultimately, that whole year was just the best, you know, And I got a lot of notoriety, Sports Illustrated covers and a lot of other different things.

[JoJo Simmons]

It was a big, big deal.

[Rashad McCants]

Big deal.

[JoJo Simmons]

And it's Unc, right? Jordan played there, Jordan won there. Anytime you win at North Carolina, you're going to be a big deal.

[Rashad McCants]

You're going to be a big deal, 100%.

[Vanessa Simmons]

So after you win a national title, are you fulfilled or are you always. Are you like, on to the next thing?

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah, that was a big thing because everybody wanted to know what we were all going to do. It's our third year, so we had a whole nother year.

[JoJo Simmons]

You got another year. Oh, you can go to the league.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah. You know, and we were all kind of at the point where it's when and then. Right when and then. And so for me, I was already going through controversy. I was Buttonhead was the coach. And I'm gonna be honest, World Wild west was my mentor while I was in college.

[JoJo Simmons]

Okay, I didn't know that.

[Rashad McCants]

So I had Michael Jordan calling me and Worldwide, Jay Z calling me.

[Vanessa Simmons]

In college.

[Rashad McCants]

In college.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That is crazy.

[Rashad McCants]

I was at the 40, 40 in the summers with Jay. The whole night.

[JoJo Simmons]

You felt untouchable.

[Rashad McCants]

I was the guy. And that was then and that was 2005. Jay actually came to the championship game. Him and B, who was a constant,

[JoJo Simmons]

he had to suddenly hit him chest just a little.

[Rashad McCants]

She was with him.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know what I'm saying?

[Rashad McCants]

It was spectacular time. And I can honestly say that being around World Wild west was the ultimate pinnacle for a player at the time to be able to be next to him. He put you in every room. So winning the championship there, it helped me understand how to be a professional. And like I said, it brought that New York feel even closer to me because I was Able to be around certain things that other guys wasn't. I even had Nike, almost had a Nike contract in college, where I can just get any shoes that I want. It was just one of those things where during that time, it was special. Not a lot of guys were getting that kind of treatment.

[JoJo Simmons]

I cannot just trust me, I already know that's a different treatment. To be able to talk to Jay Z while you're in college, just casually, you know, you're the top guy in the country and like, so I know the feeling of top of the world feeling that. Top of the world feeling.

[Rashad McCants]

Sure.

[JoJo Simmons]

So let's, let's, let's skip over to draft night now. 14th pick, big deal. What was going through your head when you got picked at 14? And who was the first person you thought about when you. When you got picked at that. That number?

[Rashad McCants]

I was pissed. Cause I was supposed to go top three. I'm gonna be honest. I feel that I was fucking pissed. I was sitting over there waiting, you know what I'm saying? And the only guy that was actually trying to vouch for me, ironically, is Stephen A. Smith. Wow. It was his first panel that he did for the draft. The first time he was doing the draft and covering the draft. And he was kinda confused at how me and Sean may have failed the 13 and 14. And we were the champions. We had won. We were some of the top talent in the draft. But it was up to teams and what they needed. So a lot of teams needed point guards. A lot of teams was looking for different things, but I was expecting to go top three, top four.

[JoJo Simmons]

So you were upset when you got picked 14?

[Rashad McCants]

I was definitely.

[JoJo Simmons]

There's still a sense of relief in like, okay, I'm here though. But you knew you were gonna go ahead. You're like, for sure I'm going. Why am I going at 14? Do you remember the 13 that went before you? Well, you no remember 13.

[Rashad McCants]

Sean was 13. But I remember I was supposed to go 12 if I wasn't gonna go anyway to the Clippers. And that was a LA team, which put me somewhere where I can be as far as Sunset and all that.

[JoJo Simmons]

The girls, a fun time.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah, fun time, fun time, fun times. And just. It wasn't a disappointment because I ended up going to Minnesota with my favorite player.

[JoJo Simmons]

You hooped out in Minnesota?

[Rashad McCants]

It was cool. It was solid.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I wish I could get in the conversation.

[JoJo Simmons]

She was asking me before you came. She's like, I don't know. I'm like the.

[Vanessa Simmons]

No, but I remember. I remember around the NCAA. I was in St. John's around this.

[JoJo Simmons]

So.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, I remember.

[Rashad McCants]

No, it was.

[JoJo Simmons]

But I was like, no, Minnesota is where, you know, you went to a couple different teams for sure, but. But you were with Kevin Garnett and them guys. So like. And you hooped out. You hooped out there.

[Rashad McCants]

I had. I averaged about 10 for the, for the little four years that I was there. And KG ended up going to Boston second halfway through. But it was a fresh start. I mean, I think for the most part when you get drafted and you. You don't want to go to the team that they get, that you get drafted to, but ultimately it is a fresh start for you. So for me, it was a wake up call to really try to change narratives and start fresh and get to a new city.

[JoJo Simmons]

My boy wanted fun in the sun and God said Minnesota

[Rashad McCants]

negative 22 for you for sure.

[Vanessa Simmons]

What would you say was your biggest emotional adjustment going from college stardom to the NBA? And did anything shake your confidence?

[Rashad McCants]

I would say trying to adjust to the NBA scheduling, the travel expectations, the money. Okay, this is really. I'm glad you said that because the first thing that I went through when I got there my rookie year was I got robbed by my financial advisor. Wow. And that was my first experience of having a lot of money and then not having no money at all in the same breath. So before I even had access to anything, I remember it like it was yesterday. And a lot of people could probably find this on the Internet. I've told a story. Her name was Peggy Bruford and she ended up robbing a lot of different players. Myself, Dennis Rodman, Ricky Williams. She was a financial advisor. She was a black woman who used her charm as a black woman to get to us as an opportunity to let her in the door.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah.

[Rashad McCants]

And we all did because she was very charming.

[JoJo Simmons]

She was a black woman.

[Rashad McCants]

You wanted to support black business. And she came to the family too, where she got to my mom and my sisters and. Wow. Yeah. And I remember I was going to get. Rookie hazing is a thing. So you have to get donuts and stuff for all the seniors and all the older players.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Wait. Rookie hazing is the thing in college or in the NBA?

[Rashad McCants]

In the NBA.

[JoJo Simmons]

And really any sport?

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah, any sport. I didn't know that for sure.

[JoJo Simmons]

You're a rookie, you gotta.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I didn't know professionally.

[JoJo Simmons]

I got funny book bags. They make you get donuts. It all depends on who's gonna haze you.

[Rashad McCants]

Pick up all the basketballs, clean up this, take this. So I had to get donuts, right every morning. And one morning I wake up and I get a call from my agent that she got us. You know, I don't know what the fuck she got us means. I'm like, who she? What you mean, she got us? She's. You gave her power of attorney to the accounts and all of the stuff to move the money. She got the money. She transferred it. You don't have any money right now, literally. So I didn't. I couldn't get donuts. So I get to the gym, and I don't got donuts. And Kevin Garnett is not the type of guy you don't show up and do what you're supposed to do with. He holds you accountable, ultimate leader. And so I didn't have the donuts. He cussed me out, and I'm like, bro, I ain't got no money. I'm broke. He's like, broke? You ain't broke. You an NBA player. You got millions of dollars, bro. I was like, nah, I actually got robbed. Like, man, y' all don't want to hear that shit. Fuck that. So later that night, he called me back. He found out it was true. He wired me some bread to help me out, you know what I'm saying? And kept it real.

[JoJo Simmons]

He felt bad after cursing you out.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Rashad McCants]

But he also felt worse that that was something that could happen. And that being my first example, like, of, welcome to the NBA. Watch who you trust emotionally. It was draining because we was invested in who she was and the whole vision she projected of building wealth, trying to get where you guys were as far as having that family vision of bringing everybody generational wealth, make sure your

[JoJo Simmons]

kids are good, making sure their kids are good.

[Rashad McCants]

And it was such an amazing vision. So to see that happen, it makes you have trust issues immediately. Immediately. And I think that that was the one thing, emotionally, that was the first thing I really went through outside of the women and the friends and family. After a while, you start money start drying up, and you gotta take care of everybody and everything. And so it's just different.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, I can hear that. I can see how that could happen. And, you know, you don't expect to come in the league and get robbed. You know what I mean? Like, you've never seen that much money, and you trusting somebody to manage it and take care of it for you, and then that happens had to be the one of the worst moments in the NBA moment. But you bounce back, my brother. You bounce back. Now, I want to talk about it. You were talking about rookie contracts and lifestyle changes and the attention, the women, everything. What's one thing about the league people glamorize that isn't really like that, though, because everybody glamorizes making it to the league and getting rich. What's one thing in the league that people glamorize but it's not really like that?

[Rashad McCants]

Probably the opportunity to be a star. Everybody think it's sweet. Everybody think everybody got an equal opportunity to become a LeBron James or Anthony Edwards. And don't worry like that. The opportunity for you to play in the NBA is one that you should be grateful for. I think that's definitely gratitude worthy. But depending on where you get drafted, depending on who your coach is, depending on the direction of the organization, which way they're thinking about going, whether they want to win or they want to tank, they want to look for draft picks and rebuild, it's just like business. If you go to a business that's used to doing bad business ethics, they don't really do accounting right. They always got, you're gonna be dealing with this type of business. So the structure of the league, people think the perception is, you should be this. You should become this. You were a bust. You didn't do this. You didn't do that. Well, the coach didn't like the way I walked. The coach didn't like who I was dating. The coach didn't like the car I bought. Coach don't like the way I talk. And the coach don't have to play me based on just him alone. Not the open knockout. Personal feelings, not the executives, not none of that. Just his personal feelings about me can affect my whole career. So you further that conversation and you say, well, you get drafted to a Utah Jazz. Utah is winning culture. They need certain people in positions to thrive. And if you fit that mold, you can turn into a Hall of Famer. Yeah, overnight. So I was dealing with certain peers of mine, putting in perfect situations, and then looking at my situation like, damn, how did I get here? When I feel like I'm more talented than they are? So it's a lot of guys who've been putting in those situations where they were talented enough to prove that they can do what they do to get to this level, but never got the opportunity right. And so that's the glamorization of the league that nobody really knows is, man, you looking at somebody in magazines, commercials, this a guy you sat next to who just had a better situation, he got a better hand than you did. And sometimes you can get a bad hand and play it right. You can still be a good player, but it doesn't get to the level where you expect it. And I think the best thing I could say about the question is the expectations that you have as a person or a player is something you should be grateful for. Because if you're expected to do something and you become a disappointment, it was that expectation that put you there. That means that you had the potential for people to think that you could do more and they're disappointed that you didn't. The other people didn't have those expectations. They just kind of just showed up and oh, we're surprised. So the people who have expectations, expectations, and you don't look down on your situation, you were actually expected to do great things. So you were great at some point.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Great answer.

[Vanessa Simmons]

So you were dealing with all of these things. You're learning for the first time. And now your personal life is extremely public. How did that affect your level of mental health and decision making at the time?

[Rashad McCants]

That sounds like a Kardashian question.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You were so young too.

[JoJo Simmons]

It sounds like a Kardashian question.

[Vanessa Simmons]

It sounds like a Kardashian question.

[JoJo Simmons]

Why? Because it's mental health.

[Rashad McCants]

Because I did. That's what my downfall of my whole was. I dated Chloe.

[JoJo Simmons]

Oh, was it? Okay, see, I don't be paying.

[Vanessa Simmons]

I thought you mad. I thought you'd been what I was like.

[JoJo Simmons]

But no, it wasn't.

[Rashad McCants]

I, I.

[JoJo Simmons]

But if you wanna, if, if you wanna discuss that, no problem.

[Rashad McCants]

No, no. It's just a part of the. That's a part of it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah. And that's.

[JoJo Simmons]

You dated a Kardashian.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah.

[Vanessa Simmons]

That pushes you way in the front. Yeah.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

We could talk about that if you want to, but I didn't, I didn't know. Like, I didn't. I don't get into.

[Rashad McCants]

They know about it. I mean, anybody that knows me knows that that's a part of the conversation. But as far as what you say, as far as being pushed in front of the forefront of the exposure and all that, it's like who you date matters, who you hang around matters. You know, Lil Wayne being one of my friends at the time, being able to date someone as a public figure, high profile, the coaches find wind of it. They have feelings about it. Their wives have feelings about it. Their. The referees have feelings, like you're exposed. And so me being in a small market, Minnesota's not New York. So they know. So when they find out it's a bigger thing than it is for me. Even playing. It's like, is she showing up to the games? And it's like, yo, what the. Who's she here with?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, they're asking questions.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah, who's she here? Who's she here? And then they find out it's me. And it's like, well, he ain't Kevin Garnett. Wow. So it becomes a thing, so. And outside of that exposure, it's what you want to be. You know, for me, I've always aspired to be a rapper, an actor, an author. All of the things that I am today had pushback back then, So I couldn't do my music like I wanted to back then, because they're like, you got to focus on hoop. I can't go be in entourage and try to get a speaking part because we want you to focus on who. So all of those things, now they're opened up, but it exposes you now more than it did back then. We didn't have the social media at this point where it can magnify. But the exposure means a lot, especially how you handle it. And the mental health, like you asked about, it takes a toll on, again, the expectations, how people see you showing up to your job, how you handle the pressure. And the coaches put the pressure on you. The fans put the pressure on you. You got to show up. You got to perform. All of these different things happen to carry over to finances and family. Now you. If you don't show up with the bread, everybody's looking at you. Where's the. Where's the money? And we need our money, right? How we gonna pay rent? And so think about being 19, 20 years old and having to tell people what to do, how to live. And grown folks, a lot of pressure. A lot of pressure. A lot of pressure.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, it's a lot of pressure. Sheesh. You never really understand, like, what, you know, people go through when they become that breadwinner for the whole family. It's more than immediate family. It becomes everybody attached to you. And you had to deal with that pressure. Probably still till today. You're dealing with that pressure of making sure that, you know, you're the guy to make sure everybody. I know it, but, brother, I can tell it. I could see it. You know, we work hard to make sure that we keep things afloat and everybody happy, because God chose us to be those guys. God chose you to be that guy. And as much as it's pressure, take pride in that pressure.

[Rashad McCants]

100.

[JoJo Simmons]

Take pride in the Pressure, I say, you know what I mean? So I wanted to get back into the game real quick. I know we got deep about. About mental health and. And pressure and stuff like that, but I don't know if you've ever answered this, and I'm sure it's out there somewhere on the Internet, but I'd love to know. You're welcome to the NBA moment, as in who was the toughest person for you to guard and who gave you that welcome to the NBA moment when you got into the. Into the league? Like who. Who really killed you out there on that court?

[Rashad McCants]

There was never a kill youl.

[JoJo Simmons]

Okay.

[Rashad McCants]

I'm just gonna be honest.

[JoJo Simmons]

Okay. Okay. Don't make me find clips.

[Rashad McCants]

It ain't never a kill you. It's never a kill. You might hear a couple shots or something, but it's never a thunderstorm. But Kobe was always the guy, you know, because as a mentor, as a teacher, I've studied him, right? He's the guy. I know all your moves. So for him to hit moves I know he's gonna hit, and I still can't stop it. You know, those are the frustrating parts. And as great as he is and to be able to witness it in person, that was another level of just extraordinary. And you got Tracy McGrady. Vince Carter was one of my idols as well. So going up against somebody like them and Allen Iverson, those four, that's my favorite. Those four of my Rushmore, Allen, Tracy, Vince and Kobe. And then if I had to add another one, which would definitely be Kevin Garnett, if it was room for five for the Rushmore. But it was definitely just going out there competing because I was undersized. These guys are six, six, six, seven. I'm six' three and a half, six' four. But I had to, you know, I had the muscle, I had to come in and I had that dog in. Yeah, I had to really bark, you know what I'm saying, To make sure I got respect from them. And that was always my thing, is to show up when I walked on the court, get my first foul, bump em, foul them, look em in the eye and let them know I got five more. I got five more fouls. It don't even matter. Give me everything you got. I'm not walking off this court without you giving me respect and me giving you respect.

[JoJo Simmons]

I love that. I love that. That was a great answer. I love that.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah. Okay. So when you later spoke out about your academic experience at unc, it sparked a lot of conversation. So for Those of us who don't know, can you tell us about that and what made you decide it was time to tell your story?

[Rashad McCants]

Oh, man. I was already into education reform at the time. And at that time, nobody was really paying attention to the discrepancies of athletes not getting a fair shake academically. So they were doing a story on the football team who just got penalized for improper classes. And I was wondering why everybody wasn't penalized and how it wasn't a thing where they were trying to showcase and highlight why we weren't getting the proper education. They were just trying to sweep it under the rug. And at the time, it was also the Black Lives Matter movement. And I felt like black minds mattered more than in the educational system, than what we were fighting on the streets. And it starts there, because education and our articulation and our coherence is always about what we see and how we understand things in the streets and following rules and directions and laws and justice system and all of that stuff. So I felt like it started in the classroom. It started in teachers being able to just give us grades based on us being good players. And that really pushed me forward. And all the things that I have been through at North Carolina within the system, with the coaches being quiet, not saying nothing, but also having the heart and the willpower to step against the machine, because I was the only person that was able to do that was willing to do that, and everybody else stood behind it. And I considered all of the universities at the time as plantations. I considered them as, you know, breeding grounds for athletes who have no brains to fight back or have articulation to speak their mind about things that really mattered. That's why they tell us to shut up and dribble. So for me, I wanted to be the one guy that they can't say that to. So I stood in the front and I took the bullets and I fought. Ten years later, the things that I fought for came true, which is athletes are getting paid in college right now.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah.

[Rashad McCants]

The one thing that they left out was to give them the education to facilitate that money, to make them more financial, literate, financially literate with the money. So I wanted them to become thousandaires before they became millionaires. So that was my whole fight, and I think that I won. It just took time, and everybody frowned upon it at first because I was the only one doing it. And they, like, you snitch and you did this. And it's like, man, you can't snitch against the master, bro. You can only tell the people where they hiding the bodies. So for me, it was, this is what's going on over here. Y' all need to go take a look. And once they found everything, it was like, yeah, we need to change this. So without me, there would have been no change.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, that's dope. That like you said, I'm gonna. I'll take the hits.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

Because at the end of the day, it isn't right. These players should be getting paid. And now every player on the bench has a Cuban chain.

[Rashad McCants]

Come on.

[JoJo Simmons]

A diving Cuban chain.

[Rashad McCants]

Facts.

[JoJo Simmons]

So looking back now, if you could sit down with 22 year old Rashad McCants, what advice would you give him, man to man?

[Rashad McCants]

What advice would I give my 22 year old self? The real questions, man, you gonna kill it, bro. You gonna kill it and you gonna not regret one move that you gonna make. The path is gonna be strenuous. It's gonna be bumps in the road, but you gonna cross every single obstacle and you gonna pass with flying colors. So don't be afraid. Be ready. Keep doing your push ups, you know, keep yourself groomed, keep yourself up to par and articulated with all things and you're gonna make it fine.

[JoJo Simmons]

Kept doing your push ups.

[Rashad McCants]

I gotta do the push ups, baby boy.

[JoJo Simmons]

That sound like he was talking to our subscribers. I'm talking to the listener. Y' all need to hear. I hope y' all heard that. Don't forget to click the subscribe button. But I hope y' all heard that. You know what I mean? I hope y' all heard that. Like that was something that we all need to hear.

[Vanessa Simmons]

He was speaking to me just now. He was speaking. I was internalizing. I was taking that. I was like, I'm do my. I'm going to try to do that.

[Rashad McCants]

You do little push ups with the knees.

[JoJo Simmons]

Absolutely. This is what this podcast is about, man.

[Rashad McCants]

I love it. I'm going do it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

So when the noise got loud and the narrative wasn't in your control, how did you separate who you are from what people were saying about you?

[Rashad McCants]

That's an incredible question. I started to write.

[JoJo Simmons]

I love that.

[Rashad McCants]

I just recently finished my sixth book. So when I started to write, yeah, I got six of them.

[JoJo Simmons]

You wrote them all yourself?

[Rashad McCants]

Yes, got them all. And I think that was a part of my expression that was held back a lot because I used to write a lot of poetry before when I was in the league. And I'm a rapper as well, so it's all rapping. Been rapping 25 years. So when you start to put it and articulate it into book form, you start to get a different depth of who you are. And I encourage a lot of the people out there to try to express themselves more than one way, whether it's, you know, you're angry all the time and you feel like this is one. Try meditation, you know, try breathing, try getting a sauna and go to the gym. There's other ways to express, but for me personally, it was always just writing and getting away and trying to articulate what happened in my life that ultimately was out of my control. Shout out to my boy, Marcus Collins, who gave me this quote, control the controllables. And when you can control what you know is in your control, you don't really have to worry about that which is not in your control. So I ultimately went through a lot. I lost everything. And when you lose everything, everybody thinks turns away. Nobody has your back. You're in that hole and ain't nobody digging you out. You got to climb out. And I think a part of my testimony was I was able to climb out without the expectation of somebody pulling me up. And so writing books and being able to reflect on my life, forgiving people, forgetting all the bad things that's happened, literally erasing them, shredding pictures and things that gave me bad memories and not thinking about those things anymore. Moving forward with grace, forgiveness, compassion. It helped me get a new start. Like you were saying earlier, to get that new start, you gotta have a new heart.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know what I'm saying? You gotta get that new start. Renewing me a new heart, you gotta have a new heart. I love that. And I wanna double down on what you said about controlling the controllables. That's how I've been living for the last year. And I've been stressful, free. When I always used to get upset with things I couldn't control or try to control it, it was always. It always made me feel more stressed or worse about the situation. But when I realized, I was like, is this something that can be controlled? Nope. What I'm gonna do?

[Vanessa Simmons]

What can you do?

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah, but if it's something I can control, I'll control it. You know what I mean? But if I can't, what can I do? All I could do is I can choose my happiness. That's what I can do.

[Rashad McCants]

Wow.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's what I can choose to be happy in any situation. You know what I mean? I can choose. That's what I can control. I can control my emotion towards what happens.

[Rashad McCants]

Yes.

[JoJo Simmons]

I stub my toe.

[Rashad McCants]

Ah.

[JoJo Simmons]

But I'll be all right.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Wow, you sound just like daddy.

[JoJo Simmons]

You go, I sound just like daddy, man.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Oh, my goodness.

[JoJo Simmons]

He learning. He been learning. So I want to be real here. I want to talk about the word ego, right? And how much does ego play a role in the league, right? And when did you realize ego can either build or break you when it comes to the world, the league life?

[Rashad McCants]

I love it. Because what I've learned over the years. My sister just recently opened my eyes to what I was or what I've become is a monk. She said, I've become a monk. And I had to think about it. Cause I got my bald head, and I had to think. I'm like, dang, I have been a monk ever since I've had the bald head and thinking about what ego is. And it's the being in an emotional state where you can't control your emotions, where your mind is being controlled by your body, and your body's telling your mind everything it wants it to do. That's all ego. Because if you think about being triggered, you're being triggered by things that force you to react. And for me, it's about responding. And response allows you to sit and calculate a strategy to how you want to respond to whatever's happening. And I think ego forces you to react because it wants this reassurance of what's happening and giving it to you and in your control. So when it comes to sports and talking about the NBA, there's a lot of guys that can be egotistical, but it's not based on what people would consider confidence or arrogance. Ego comes from just being overly emotional and not understanding the scenery and the environment and how to control yourself in these environments and being triggered. And I think as the time has gone on, I realize, like, people would say, oh, he's got an ego because he wear a crown. And I can say, nah, I wear a crown because I've survived the fire. And when you survive such things like that, you don't need ego to wear it. You just need to know who you are.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know what I'm saying?

[Rashad McCants]

So for me, I look at people and say, why don't you have a crown?

[Vanessa Simmons]

Come on.

[Rashad McCants]

I love that because you have ego still. You feel like it's, oh, I ain't got it. It ain't about that. It's about, who are you to me? I can be stylish. I could say it's just a hat with a hole in it. I could say it's a Lot of things, you know what I'm saying? But at the end of the day, I'm definitely dropped the ego and was able to realize that everybody who attaches themselves to their emotions are the ones who attach themselves to the ego, allow that ego to control them.

[JoJo Simmons]

That was deep. That was a good answer.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Extremely deep.

[JoJo Simmons]

That was a great answer. I'm not going to lie. You going crazy.

[Rashad McCants]

This just me. I'm just me. I watched a lot, man.

[JoJo Simmons]

Did you like go to church?

[Rashad McCants]

Like, you see mom was baptized.

[JoJo Simmons]

You didn't hear me say, come on, you preach, brother. I know you listen. I watch you on the Gil pod. I've seen, I've never seen this side of, of, of Rashad McCants, man. And I'm. This is, this episode is. I'm in here like taking in all

[Rashad McCants]

the information, cuz I'm like, what I tell y' all about your pops, man? I need them words of wisdom at the end. Cause that's what kind of shape understanding, man. I love that, you know, just talking that talk.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah, I'm learning some stuff. I'm really enjoying this conversation. So what would you say success looks like for you outside of the trophy fees and the stats today?

[Rashad McCants]

I would say giving back, helping others,

[JoJo Simmons]

which is huge here on this podcast,

[Rashad McCants]

is what we represent, man. And you guys do a great job of that because you're already examples. Thank you. And I feel like we need more of that. We need more people willing to show those who can't really see the light, don't know or understand how to stand in the light and let them know how easy it is to embrace it when you understand where you want to go. I think being in business development helped me realize that working in projects, working in a group helps individual leadership. And so I always like to see other people thrive. I like to see other people smile. I like to see them chasing their goals and their visions. And after I've been through all that, I've been through trying, trying, trying to being knocked down, being doors closed, failing. The real success and passion for me is watching other people succeed and helping them along the way, giving them anything that I can in my resource book that can help them along the way. So that's been me, that's been my whole journey thus far. Started a mental health company to help athletes and entertainers.

[JoJo Simmons]

What's it called?

[Rashad McCants]

Mindset.

[JoJo Simmons]

Because, you know, we're big on mental health here and we're about to close out. But if you want to discuss that,

[Vanessa Simmons]

I would love to hear.

[JoJo Simmons]

Please, please let us know.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah. So mindset is, it's a, it helps with consulting. So post and pre career opportunities, helping athletes and entertainers understand what you can do before basic training of trying to get into the industries, whether it's film, whether it's music recording, vocal coaching, all that kind of stuff. And then post career you want to be an analyst, trainer, all that kind of stuff. We got mentorships and we wanted to start in colleges where the alumni can come back and become mentors for those players and give back to them. Same in the music industry, in the film industry, we have so much culture where all of our mentors and our older OGs just sitting around watching us fail or watching us just, just be lost. And so it's app based. So we have everybody on the app being able to have access to that. We got meditation where you can go to sound bowls and Tibetan sound bowls and listen to different meditation music videos and all of those different type of things, teaching you how to meditate and go within. And then we also have the was meditation, consultation, mentorship and they got so

[JoJo Simmons]

much stuff going on. You're trying to remember it all.

[Rashad McCants]

Just trying to remember it all. But it's one of those things where we want to give back for the testimony of everybody.

[JoJo Simmons]

Right.

[Rashad McCants]

And eventually going into single parent homes, families, veterans and helping everybody with the mental health.

[JoJo Simmons]

I love that it's called.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Can you repeat the name of the app again?

[Rashad McCants]

Mindset is M Y N D S E T online. You can go to the website, y'

[JoJo Simmons]

all tap into that Mindset dot online. And you know, here on the podcast we take mental health super serious. So to hear that you have that just shows me more that you are the perfect guest for this podcast is like you look, you sound like you take your, your mental health very serious for sure. Sound like you take, you know, the way you think very serious. So like to know that you have that for other athletes, entertainers, artists. Yeah, it's huge. You know what I mean? It's huge. There's not a lot of them out there. I know I've worked with one other called Backline where they work in the music industry, where they work with artists, roadies, road managers, managers, helping them find therapists that match up with them, you know, because a lot of people that be on tours and stuff like you can be on as an artist or a roadie or a road manager, you may be on six month tours.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

And that takes a toll on your mental health.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

So they provide services for people in the music industry industry. So yours reminded me of knowing like there's not many, but there is backline. So shout out to my backline family and shout out to mindset online.

[Rashad McCants]

So and I wanted to add too, we do have the therapy aspect. That's what I left out. But it was, it's, it's emotional support coaches what we wanted to do instead of just going to therapists and licensed therapists to cut cost on having them be available 24 7. We have emotional support coaches that don't have to be licensed. But sitting there and they can listen to you and they can empathize. People need it and just, just be there just to be.

[JoJo Simmons]

People just need a sounding board. You know, a lot of people just need to talk and feel not judged and just get it out and then they just feel better. You know what I mean? Sometimes you don't want somebody to reply, so just listen, you know, to get it out. Yeah, most people just need to get it out. So as we wrap this up, if there's a 17 year old kid or younger right now watching this, that thinks the league solves everything, what does he need to hear right now from Rashad McCants that's been through it all, that

[Rashad McCants]

thinks the league solves everything. Well, the number one thing he needs to understand is that money isn't everything. It's not every solution that you need. And I think that that's the number one path that's being promoted in the NBA is you're gonna make a lot of money. Right. And I think when you talk about sports, it's 90% mental, 10% physical. So you're gonna have to be mentally strong to even get to the league. In order to get to the 10% of you would have to prepare to play, get your body right, see all these guys getting injuries and think about what you got to do when you're injured.

[JoJo Simmons]

Yeah.

[Rashad McCants]

Jason Tatum, he just had to go through something he never went through. And you try to figure out what are you gonna do. Well, he has $300 million to do deal with. He can, but some guys don't. You know, there's some guys that go through depression, like a demarna Rosen, like a Kevin Love. And they had the money, but it's still a part of the, the game that you don't see. So I would tell these young kids right now that you always need to have other focuses. Even if you want to put this in the forefront of your, your life and say, I'm obsessed with this, I only want to do this, I would say that you should definitely dabble in the other things. Things.

[JoJo Simmons]

But they say, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

[Rashad McCants]

Don't put all your eggs.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's a true statement. One hundred and definitely speedy recovery to Jason Tatum.

[Rashad McCants]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

But I do want to make this a note. The Knicks were going to beat you guys anyway. We were going up 3, 1. Literally. It was a rap. Anyway. Shout out. You know, I hate Boston. I like Jason Tatum. I have no, no, no hate towards great player. We were going to win anyway, and we're going to win again this year if we. So you guys just let y' all know. But now, I mean, Vanessa, you have anything you wanted to add before we get out of here?

[Vanessa Simmons]

No. This was an incredible conversation. Like I said, I learned so much, and I think I just want to leave our viewers with one thing. So on this podcast, we focus on the good and through the wins, the losses, the headlines. What do you feel was the good that came from your journey, and what are you most proud of?

[Rashad McCants]

The good. The most good that came out of the journey was. I didn't. I didn't quit. I think that was the biggest thing that I can really think about. There's so many opportunities to go sell drugs, to go do stupid shit, to put a record on your back. And I think that was the one thing that I always focused on, was, you got too much to lose. Even when I had nothing, I'm like, nah, something's gonna come and you're gonna be judged on this stupid decision, and it's gonna stop that door from opening. And I never took the bait. I've always stayed righteous. It's not easy. It's not. It's not. But it goes back to that discipline we talked about in the early stages, even being in the front of the room, front of the class, taking notes, that carried over. And I was able to always be an example of what righteousness really stands for. And I think that has led me down this path of knowing that there's always something that you can lean on to get you away from the bullshit. And for me, it was always staying righteous. It was always looking ahead, surviving, and being able to survive. That was the biggest thing that I pretty much learned through my whole journey, is never give up. You always got a bright spot. There's going to be a door that's going to be opening. Be nice to people. You know, you never know what a smile can do. You never know what a laugh can do, what a handshake can do, and always be grateful.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[JoJo Simmons]

I love that, you know, And I want my listeners, our listeners, our followers, our community to hear, like, just make the right decisions at all times or

[Vanessa Simmons]

try your best to do that. Keep that front in mind because sometimes

[JoJo Simmons]

you won't make the right decision, sometimes you won't. But I think about set that. Intentional. Being intentional about making a decision.

[Rashad McCants]

Decisions. Yes.

[JoJo Simmons]

Knowing when you're doing wrong and you can make a better decision to do right. Because some people do wrong and they know they're doing wrong and they try to ignore that they're doing wrong to do what they want to do. Yeah, you're ignoring. You're doing it wrong just to do what you want to do. But you know, this isn't right.

[Rashad McCants]

That's easy.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's like when somebody trying to steal out of a store, you know it's wrong, but you get away with it. So you going to do it.

[Vanessa Simmons]

You going to keep doing it right.

[Rashad McCants]

And what you stealing, you might just want it and you want to pay for it. It's all ego. Go get back to it.

[JoJo Simmons]

It all gets back to ego.

[Rashad McCants]

But I like that intentions go, because that's a lot of My whole method is being intentional. Me too.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Every step.

[JoJo Simmons]

That's my favorite word. What this podcast is about. It's what my life is about. All intentional. You see how we talk? We haven't talked about no drama. We haven't talked about no. Like, even when you said, oh, that's a cadet. I didn't want you to if you didn't want to. Because that's not what this is. It's a part of your journey. And I love that you're vulnerable enough to talk about it. Cause this is what this podcast is about. I've been vulnerable since this podcast has started with my own life as well. You know what I mean? So I'm loving the vulnerability that came from you in this episode. And obviously, before we wrap it up, I like to tell every guest that, you know, we appreciate them for coming on and giving them they four good flowers. Because, you know, you're doing a lot out here. The gems that you dropped, amazing. You know, the leadership that you show. Crazy. Like, a lot of people don't know at a young age that they're choosing to be a leader. You chose yourself to be a leader before you even thought to be a follower. And that is a huge thing to do at a young age to say because I was the opposite. I've said this on other podcasts. I so much was this, this guy Jojo that you saw on TV. But what you're not understanding is before 15, 16, I was a regular kid. So now I'm famous. I'm still trying to prove to my regular friends that I'm regular. But my dad used to be like, nigga, you're not regular.

[Rashad McCants]

He didn't birth no regular nothing.

[JoJo Simmons]

Neither one of y'.

[Vanessa Simmons]

All.

[Rashad McCants]

Nothing was right.

[JoJo Simmons]

But, you know, as a kid, you want to feel like you fit in.

[Rashad McCants]

Yes.

[JoJo Simmons]

You know what I mean? And that's what I dealt with. And for you to have that recognization of, I'm a leader and I will be nothing else is big at any

[Vanessa Simmons]

age, you know, especially so early on, like, that's commendable.

[JoJo Simmons]

You're only. Only one other person came on this podcast. Her name is Mackenzie Brook, and she's still young, like 22. And she said, you know, she's a tick tock star, like 17 million followers on TikTok. Crazy. And she said, you know, one thing I always knew and my parents always told me is everything I do will be looked at. I said, for you to know that so young. She said, yeah, you know, that's why I stay out of drama, is because the decisions I make, I know that it can affect anything in the future. It may not affect presently what I'm going through, but five years from now, three years, ten years from now, a dumb decision, like you said, could ruin a future blessing.

[Rashad McCants]

Wow.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Or a dumb decision can ruin. Ruin an entire legacy that you've already built up. Two seconds of pleasure or whatever.

[JoJo Simmons]

A legacy that's supposed to be meant for you.

[Vanessa Simmons]

Yeah.

[Rashad McCants]

So please allow me to give you guys, before we go, flowers, because what you just said, as far as you thought you was regular early on, you probably. You ain't never been regular.

[JoJo Simmons]

She always was Vanessa Simmons Hilton.

[Rashad McCants]

She's been the example for real. She's been the example for real.

[JoJo Simmons]

She's always been like that.

[Rashad McCants]

But you and your whole family, you guys have all, like I said, the Cosby's, like, before you knew you was little Jojo, that we all looking at you indeed, going back and forth like y' all still was the example. We all related to how you guys interacted with each other. And then from the female side, you are probably the only last role model left of what it is to have integrity, to really hold herself as a. A true lady and exhibit that. And you haven't been in no bullshit in the media and none of that stuff. You still hold yourself to a whole. A higher standard. And for you guys to be together it's two sides of the spectrum, showing the world, still the light shine. Thank you. And I love that. And I appreciate you guys for doing that. I think they appreciate y', all, too. But it can't go lightly because you definitely were born to be leaders, regardless how you feel.

[JoJo Simmons]

And you really appreciate. Just gave me so much confidence, obviously more in this podcast, making her my co host. It's like you see it. And we were just talking about this in the episode. We did. Like, we're more powerful together than we are alone. We could be successful alone, but we understand the power we have together. We came in together, we're gonna go out together. You know what I mean? And that's how I feel. Rashad, before we get out of here, if you want to let them know where they can find you, let them know what you got. Coming up. Anything you want. The people, our listeners, our subscribers, our family. Four good people to know. Let them know.

[Rashad McCants]

Bring Run's house back, man. First and foremost. First and foremost, bring it back.

[JoJo Simmons]

Tell them if the bag is right,

[Rashad McCants]

let's get the bag right. Let's bring it back. We need some examples. No, but I am Rashad McCants on Instagram. SOUNDBITE King own X. I'm on TikTok as well. Same handles. I got a lot of shit in the pipeline coming up. I got my own column. As far as the journalists, I'm branching into the journalistic side, being able to expand the conversation beyond just being an athlete. Like I said, I got books on Amazon, six of them. Check them out whenever you got the time. And yeah, we still fly Crown on, you know what I'm saying? Kobe's 81. You know what I'm talking about?

[JoJo Simmons]

I love it. I Love it. Kobe's 81. I like the viral mom. I ask you, I am not male alone. You really believe he was gonna score 81? Like, I'mma leave it alone. I'mma leave it alone.

[Vanessa Simmons]

What does that mean?

[JoJo Simmons]

See, you don't know what. He went viral. He went viral for saying he could score 81. Like Kobe. Listen, I'm never mad at somebody's confidence of saying that.

[Rashad McCants]

I never said it. They just looked at the sound bite. Cause I. I sound bited and I made him click on it. And what?

[JoJo Simmons]

So what did you truly say before you get out of here?

[Rashad McCants]

There's a method to scoring 81. Yeah, Kobe taught a method of scoring 81. And he could have scored 125 that game. He didn't want to score.

[JoJo Simmons]

No. Phil Jackson hate it.

[Rashad McCants]

Right?

[JoJo Simmons]

So Jackson took him out for the fourth quarter and said, some records aren't meant to be broken.

[Rashad McCants]

100. And so when you look at the way that Kobe Bryant scores the ball, there's a method to the madness behind all of it. And so a certain, certain select, fewer people understand that if you score a certain amount of quarter, you can get to 80, 100 easily. And I was trying to explain that, but, you know, guys wasn't really paying attention. I know what you're saying.

[JoJo Simmons]

You were trying to say that. And I still blame and hate Phil Jackson for that and for ruining my Knicks a couple years ago. Like, he really came in and did a number on my Knicks. So, Phil Jackson, respect all the coaching. You did. What you ain't. Never mind. I'm not going to get into that. It's the for good community. I ain't going to do that. We stand for good. We love you, Phil Jackson. I'm just playing around. But, guys, this has been a great episode with my guy, Rashad McCants. Man, this has been dope. We got into a lot of great things here. A lot of. A lot of stories, a lot of vulnerability and, you know, I hope you guys enjoyed this episode as much as Vanessa and I enjoyed this episode. Did you enjoy this episode, Vanessa?

[Vanessa Simmons]

I really did enjoy this conversation. Like I said, you dropped so many gems that I'm definitely going to be jotting down to.

[Rashad McCants]

Remember, control the controller.

[JoJo Simmons]

Make sure you guys hit that subscribe button, drop some comments, leave some reviews. You already know. This is the 4 Good podcast where we focus on the good, never the bad. And we're measured by what we do, not what we have. We're signing out. Till next time. Time it's your guy, JoJo Simmons, my sister, and my boy, Sean McCants. Till next time, guys. Peace.