- It's funny because, I think right now
a lot of people...
everybody is talking about it.
And...especially basketball.
When you bring LeBron to Hollywood,
you've got now: LeBron. Kobe.
Space Jam 2.
[Laughter]
How do we get you, cameo, something,
in "Space Jam 2"
Wouldn't that be like iconic?
What? You thought I was going to talk about something else?
- No! Listen.... Space Jam is a good...
It's a great segue there.
I got to be honest, man.
Being in front of the camera for me...
was something that never excited me.
- Really?
- Never.
- Not even like an iconic...
I remember Michael Jackson.
Michael Jordan. Jam.
- Yeah.
- Right?
-That's a music video.
I'm not doing films.
[Laughter]
Now...I'll direct it.
- You'd be interested in that?
- Well, no.
But that's something I would think about doing.
- Really?
- Yeah.
But being in front of the camera is
something I would never...
- Okay. Since you brought it up,
something you would think about doing,
ever possible to get you back on that court?
Ever possible to get you back
on that court at the Lakers?
- Listen man. I, you know,
Rob Pelinka is my guy.
He's Gianna's godfather.
He used to ask me all the time
just tease me
because he knows it's never gonna happen.
I'm really comfortable in what
I'm doing. I control my own schedule.
- Yeah.
- Create fun podcasts, anime series,
a slew of new novels coming out next year.
There's a lot of fun stuff happening,
and I can control my own schedule.
I can coach my daughter.
I can be present at all of
my eldest daughter's volleyball games.
I can drop them off in the morning.
I pick them up in the afternoon.
So... zero. I have no inclination
and no desire to play basketball.
Just none.
Now when you see... Tiger.
Or Serena. Or... Tom Brady.
You're like "That's good. I'm good."
- No. What I think of is like,
"Man. That's a great story. I wonder..."
- I'm with you.
You go director-mind now.
- Exactly! Exactly. That's where I'm at.
Maybe we should talk about something.
We should talk about something.
The basketball gene, I've completely
and fully passed off to Gianna.
She's got it.
And then you have the "The Punies"
which I feel like...
bred out of conversations,
observations with your with your girls.
- Oh yeah. One hundred percent.
- Maybe even their little cousins.
- Yeah.
- Tell me how did it happen for you?
Because I would imagine a podcast...
was a natural fit. But not the first thought.
- No, not the first thought.
But, you know, as a parent you try to
figure out ways to teach your children
without being preachy?
Because my kids just tune me out
after a while. "Yeah, dad. We know."
"Y'all work hard, yeah."
"yeah yeah yeah"
You know, hit me with that.
Right. So you want to stay away
from the "yeah yeah yeah" syndromes,
You know?
And so I was inspired by "The Sandlot."
I was inspired by the Peanuts,
which are both family traditions for us.
Fourth of July we always watch "The Sandlot."
- You're a "Sandlot"?
Every Fourth of July.
Barbecue burgers. Watch "The Sandlot"
And then it just hit me.
Just to put them together.
And, create this series.
And I was thinking like an animated series.
But then it kind of struck me that
podcast is probably the best space to do that.
I'm sitting there and I'm laughing
I'm like...
"Am I the only one that's going to be
laughing at this stuff?"
- Did you play it for your girls?
- I did!
I did and they loved it.
So I was like... "I feel better. I feel better."
And I go down. Lay down
to go to sleep at night...
- Did they gas me up, though?
- Maybe they're the only ones who'll enjoy it!
I gotta go back and check it again.
Let me re-edit .
And I'm looking at it and I say
"No. I think this is okay."
Is it? Nah. This is the best we can do.
So... just send it out.
I need you to give me...
There's a phrase. I've heard in Italian.
Just make it quick.
A phrase I've heard in Italian and...
I can't get the pronunciation right.
It's "never say never"
- Okay.
- How do you say "never say never"?
in Italian?
- Uh...depends what part you're in...
- Any part. The part you're most...
- "mai dire mai"
- "mai dire mai"...
And that means what?
- "never say never"
- Cool
[Laughter]