← The Stephen A. Smith Show
The Stephen A. Smith Show
Interview Segment Only: I'm not a Number #2 states Jaylen Brown and he's not worried about his competition.
00:13:58
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- [00:00]
Hunter
Geico's motorcycle expertise gives me the coverage I need. Like 24.7claims, I'm on cloud nine.
- [00:07]
Geico Voice
Clouds are wholly unable to support the weight of an adult human.
- [00:10]
Jayson Tatum
What's happening?
- [00:10]
Geico Voice
Furthermore, clouds are not numbered. Even if you procured a jetpack and searched, you'd find no cloud numbered nine. However, at that altitude, you'd likely befriend a flock of migrating snow geese. Geese who'd encourage you to leave your 24.7geico motorcycle claims insurance behind, as they would take you in and even share their dinner of crickets and clovers with you. GEICO assumes no liability for any indigestion that may occur from a clover cricket dinner. GEICO expertise for your motorcycle what's up everyone?
- [00:31]
Greg Rosenthal
It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents, we'll have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [01:01]
Julie Swerbinks
What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
- [01:06]
Jayson Tatum
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
- [01:09]
Julie Swerbinks
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
- [01:12]
Jayson Tatum
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
- [01:17]
Julie Swerbinks
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
- [01:21]
Jayson Tatum
Julius picked well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
- [01:26]
Julie Swerbinks
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:33]
Hunter
I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America. Stories like Erica Hunt, a young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend, 2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:09]
Geico Voice
45 years ago, a Virginia soul band called the Edge of Daybreak recorded their debut album Behind Bars. Record collectors consider it a masterpiece. The band's surviving members are long out of prison, but they say they have some unfinished the Edge of Daybreak, Eyes.
- [02:26]
Jaylen Brown
Of Love was supposed to have been followed up by another album.
- [02:30]
Geico Voice
Listen to Soul incarcerated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:42]
Jaylen Brown
When you look at this season that's about to unfold, knowing that you stand now as a reigning defending NBA champion, what kind of impact do you believe that's going to have on your life moving forward compared to anything that you experienced prior to winning the championship?
- [03:02]
Jayson Tatum
I can feel there's definitely changes, you know, for sure. I think that, you know, being able to etch your name in stone amongst some of the greats. One for winning the championship here in the city of Boston, but also being able to win Eastern Conference finals MVP and then follow it up with finals mvp. Like, that's right. I don't. It hasn't been done those two. But even to be in the midst of like some of the. The legends that came before is awesome. But the way my, my brain is designed, like, I honestly, I don't really think about it. Like we have. I see stuff that's in front of me and the way my brain works is you got a task in front of you. Your job is to do your work. So.
- [03:53]
Jaylen Brown
But what task is in front of you? Because you didn't get selected to the all NBA defensive team, a lot of people felt you deserved it. I felt you deserved you. I definitely had you as on an all NBA team. I definitely had you third team, all NBA. I'm letting you know that's what I was on the air saying. I put you on the damn team. I don't know why I don't see 15 players in the NBA better than you. When you talk about how highly motivated you are and is it just about the work or is there something a little extra right now because of what you feel you were denied?
- [04:25]
Jayson Tatum
A little bit of both. And people who are close to me know, like, you know, I'm always looking for something. I'm always looking for a chip that just adds to the fire. I don't need much, but that. That gave me plenty. And I think that's will also help my team be able to get to the championship and eventually win it. But going into this season, like last year is over, like, it's almost like, you know, after this ring ceremony that we have in a couple days, like, you gotta put it behind you in the sense nobody care. None of these young dudes is caring. They watch me, they watch us, and they want that for themselves. So I already know what's to Come and you gotta fight that, that comfort. So I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to come out swinging.
- [05:13]
Jaylen Brown
What was it like for you watching Jason Tatum, Derrick White, Drew Holiday come home with a gold medal on the team you felt you should have been on?
- [05:24]
Jayson Tatum
It was great. Honestly, it was. It was awesome. Like, I was super happy for those guys. It's a great honor to be able to represent your country. So I was elated, you know, I was having a great summer. And that's what I wanted to elaborate to the, to the unnamed sources that, like, man, like, man, I had a blast. Like, I was traveling the world, enjoying myself, watching those guys do their thing. And that only makes our team have more union, you know, those three guys being able to spend more time together, you know, get to play with some of the greatest players in the world to be able to be around that union of KD, Steph Curry and LeBron James, which was like, in this era of basketball is like one of the best things you could watch. And it was, it was great. I watched every game. I support it with no bias. You know, it was fantastic. I knew what happened prior. I didn't take it personal because I've accepted already what it is. So that allowed me to cheer my teammates on.
- [06:30]
Jaylen Brown
How would you describe your relationship with Jayson Tatum?
- [06:35]
Jayson Tatum
Me and him have a championship level relationship. You know, I think that together, we've been here for a long time and we've had to listen to any and everything for the longest that we couldn't play together, that things should be broken up. We wasn't leaders and we were close every single year. Like right there, right there, right there, every single year. And we viewed it as like, just stay the course, while everybody else viewed it as blow it up. And we got the receipts.
- [07:13]
Jaylen Brown
But the way six conference finals appearances for you, five conference finals appearances for him, two NBA finals appearances for you both, and now a championship.
- [07:22]
Jayson Tatum
Absolutely. I mean, before, I mean, that, that says, that says in itself. But, you know, that wasn't the rhetoric, you know, going into the playoffs this year, that wasn't the rhetoric going into the season last year. But obviously that rhetoric has changed. But one thing about it is going to change again. It's going to be some point again if it's not working or whatever. Is not. We win or lose a couple games in a row, it'll be back. The commentators, everything will be back. And that's just a normal cycle of everything. And you gotta embrace that as well. Yeah. So I understand how things work. And Jason, we've been able to build a bond. We've been able to create an environment that we wanted to see and we've been able to grow together as human beings, as individuals. And when you win a championship, man, that's special.
- [08:11]
Jaylen Brown
So considering that bond, I am appreciative of the greatness of Steve Kerr and how he's a four time champion, wins six NBA finals. All his coaches credentials are not to be questioned. But I looked at that man bench Jason Tatum for two games. I saw one game where he reportedly walked up to Jayson Tatum before tip off and told him, I'm gonna have a hard time finding minutes for you. I don't understand. Maybe it's just me. Yes. Maybe somebody that plays in the league, that plays with this man as a teammate all of these years, what was that like? And could you fathom any explanation how you as any coach can look at a guy like Jason Tatum and say beforehand, I don't know if I'm going to be able to find minutes for you in a 40 minute contest?
- [09:03]
Jayson Tatum
Not for sure. I'm biased when answering this, by the way. Totally. But Jason, I think he handled it extremely well. That just says a lot about JT's character. But I know he was pissed for sure. I remember texting him and being like, you know, like I'm mad for you. Like I know what that, like I was mad for him. Like jt, I know how he carries himself and how, you know what I mean? So I know like that feeling. But I thought he handled it well. I thought he handled it with class, if anything, I know how.
- [09:40]
Jaylen Brown
How would you have handled it?
- [09:41]
Jayson Tatum
I would have handled it probably the same way. You know what I mean? No different. I think that's just, you know, our character kind of exudes outwardly what we, who are, who we are inwardly. And jt, even though I know he probably felt that internally and that feeling like he was able to control his emotions and still handle business and he'll add to winning and be a part of a great group that won his second gold medal. And now it's an afterthought.
- [10:09]
Jaylen Brown
The brothers are first team all NBA. Over the last three years, he just finished averaging nearly 27 points per game. And even you with your greatness plays the role of a number two offensive option a lot of times because obviously he's the number one option in most situations. What can we expect from him this year based off of what he experienced this past summer?
- [10:33]
Jayson Tatum
First, I would say, you know, I hate the, the number one, number two option.
- [10:38]
Jaylen Brown
Okay.
- [10:39]
Jayson Tatum
Thing. I think this game is, is played at any, any given point, I'm the number one, you know, depending on the night, or he's the number one, depending on it. Just. Okay. Depending on how the defense is scheming, depending on how teams go about, you know?
- [10:53]
Jaylen Brown
Well, what I would say in response to that is that is totally accurate where you and Jayson Tatum. But most teams, there's a clear number one and a number two option. But that doesn't exist on Boston because of you, because you and Jason Tatum right there. That's what I would say.
- [11:09]
Jayson Tatum
Yeah. But I think it's a team game, man. I think our organization, our coaches and our teammates allow us to be who we are. And I think Joe does a great job of putting us in our spot.
- [11:19]
Jaylen Brown
So Joe Missoula's done a hell of a job.
- [11:21]
Jayson Tatum
Yeah, man, it's been great to be a part of it. Like, I've. I've got to witness a lot of JT's growth. He's got to witness my growth. And there's nothing wrong with being a part of a team. You know what I mean? There's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with, you know, trying to do something bigger than yourself and playing a role in that. I've never had an issue with that.
- [11:44]
Jaylen Brown
What can we expect from the Boston Celtics this year? Y'all are the reigning defending NBA champions. There's a bullseye on your back. Everybody knows it. Pretty much. Team remained intact. Brad Stephens, exceptional, kept everybody together. Porzingis health is questionable. Obviously he's not going to start off the season. Your thoughts about what people can expect from the Boston Celtics for this upcoming season?
- [12:11]
Jayson Tatum
What people can expect. Expect us to play hard. I think we should set the tone on defense. There's no. That's non negotiable. But just expect it to be fun, be exciting, be fun to watch. Let's defend what we just received. And it's going to be a journey. Expect a journey. That's what I would say. Expect highs, expect lows. At the end of the day, we know what we want the result to be. We know what it looks like now. So expect the journey. It's going to be highs, it's going to be lows, it's going to be ups, it's going to be downs, but we gonna try to stay solid through this whole thing.
- [12:49]
Jaylen Brown
Worried about the Knicks at all? Worried about the Knicks, huh? I'm just asking. I'm just asking.
- [12:55]
Jayson Tatum
I wouldn't use the word word. But the Knicks have a good team. I think, you know, Kat brings some a level of excitement to them, dynamic offensively, shooting the ball as well as, you know, Mikhail Bridges and stuff like that. So the Knicks, you know, I think will be, you know, a team to watch this year.
- [13:15]
Jaylen Brown
Philadelphia 76ers. If Embiid and Paul George are healthy.
- [13:18]
Jayson Tatum
If they're healthy, yes, if they're healthy, yeah, I expect the same thing. Like, man, you gotta be. There's no easy opponent in this whole league. I think that the league is going to be a lot stronger from top to bottom on both sides this year. So everybody got to come to bring it, man. Philadelphia is going to be good. New York, they're going to be good. Those teams are priming themselves. So it's going to be some good basketball for viewership.
- [13:47]
Jaylen Brown
As a champion, you got hall of Famers like Isaiah Thomas, incredibly supportive of you, Magic Johnson, incredible admiration for you, along with Michael Jordan and others. Every hall of Famer that I've ever spoken to have had nothing but the greatest things to say about you as you embark upon this journey of trying to capture another NBA championship this year. You're more than just a champion now because of all the things that you're aiming to do and all the things that you've been doing. What is your hope as you look forward, thinking about the things that you are planning on accomplishing, not just as a basketball player, but as a man. How do you want the world to view? JAYLEN Brown?
- [14:35]
Jayson Tatum
Hopefully, through my platform, through sports. Sports has a way of bringing people together. Hopefully, through my work on the court and off, we'll be able to, you know, create a shift in, you know, how athletes view themselves, how we look at the sport, how we go about deals, and hopefully has a positive impact on our society. And I pull from, you know, people such as Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali who have inspired me in this journey. But hopefully 10, 20 years from now, you know, how we look at the average, the daily athlete and how they go about conducting themselves through business, through community, through family, is in a different place. You know, I don't want to hear the notion is that, you know, forget about this, forget about that. All you need to focus on is this. Now, you, a young man, CEO, philanthropist, man in your community and your, your talent and your influence goes beyond, and the people that's telling you that this is the only thing you should be working on, the only thing you should be paying attention to. You need to be paying attention to them because We've seen how that story goes. But for me, it's all about the next gen. It's pouring in. It's people who have died, put their lives on the line. For me to be able to sit here and be able to play basketball for a living and for their sacrifice, you know, we could never, we could never repay. So the least I could do is go out there and play some basketball and speak to you after the game about whatever it is that needs to be talked about because people have done more in order for us to even be able to get here. And that's the energy that it's going to take to continue to push so we can get to where we going. Geico's motorcycle expertise means I'm covered by people who know bikes like I do. I'm happy as a clam.
- [16:42]
Geico Voice
No conclusive scientific research has shown clams can experience happiness.
- [16:45]
Hunter
I just meant that I feel really about my coverage.
- [16:48]
Geico Voice
I mean, even if you took the climb out for the best day ever, visiting the zoo, taking a scenic ride, knowing you're insured by specialists, and sharing a strawberry ice cream cone together, the climb would not feel happy. And your strawberry cone would taste sort of clammy. Geico's motorcycle specialists who know bikes like you do, assume no liability for clammy ice cream cones. Geico expertise for your motorcycle.
- [17:06]
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [17:37]
Julie Swerbinks
What's up, everyone? Julie S.W. binks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
- [17:42]
Jayson Tatum
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
- [17:44]
Julie Swerbinks
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
- [17:47]
Jayson Tatum
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
- [17:53]
Julie Swerbinks
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
- [17:57]
Jayson Tatum
Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
- [18:01]
Julie Swerbinks
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and JSB on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [18:09]
Hunter
I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of Ms. And murdered Black women and girls in America. Stories like Erica Hunt, a young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend, 2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [18:44]
Geico Voice
45 years ago, a Virginia soul band called the Edge of Daybreak recorded their debut album Behind Bars. Record collectors consider it a masterpiece. The band's surviving members are long out of prison, but they say they have some unfinished business.
- [19:01]
Jaylen Brown
The Everyday Eyes of Love was supposed to have been followed up by another album.
- [19:06]
Geico Voice
Listen to Soul incarcerated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.