I really didn't know what it takes to
get over injury, especially a stress
fracture where I had a ride put into
my machine at that time, so I really
didn't know what it was gonna take.
That was my first time being injured
and not knowing exactly what it
takes to to overcome that and get
back to an elite level.
It took me a couple of years,
but yeah, I'm back.
When you were here you got a chance to
build a really good report with Casey and
Dion and Jeremy and in terms of what you
were talking about from from recovery,
was that something that was was a factor
for you and and making your decision that
you did have such a good relationship?
Not really. That wasn't really
a factor for me, health wise.
I've, I've, I've grown to know how to
take care of myself now and know how to
do preventative things that I didn't
know how to do that last time I was here,
which was, what, seven years ago?
Sheesh. Yeah. But yeah,
that was that was a long time ago, but yeah,
that wasn't a selling point for me now.
What were the factors
for you in terms of? But
I mean the city, it's a great city.
One thing I did love about Dallas when
I was here last time was the city.
It's a great city,
great weather, great people.
I love the southern hospitality
and also just the basketball wise.
Just starting playing basketball
and starting on the team
was very important to me.
The last time you heard?
Tell us about how you can, you know,
talk to your team and your teammates
and tell them what you think.
I mean, you could tell anybody what it takes.
It's more about the implementation of,
of, of really. Putting it into these
young Buckaroos about how how serious
it is and and and what it really takes.
But obviously last year you guys made
to the Western Conference Finals,
so you got definitely got a taste of it,
but those finals are are different.
Western Conference.
I mean shoot, did they beat us by 40?
So I mean, and then you could really say
about that really lost, fair and square.
Then. Playing against them in that series,
how much did that factor? Process about.
It definitely it guessing seven
straight games and Luca definitely
help with the decision of knowing
that he's a he's a a player who
gets everybody involved and I like
being around players like that,
Lebrons and Chris Pauls and players
who get their teammates and balls,
especially the big man.
So that was definitely a
a selling point for me.
Play against them.
Did you playing against them?
Did you see yourself?
I definitely, I definitely saw,
I definitely, I don't wanna say I saw
a lack of rebounding and defense.
I would just saw that I could help
a lot in that category on this team.
Definitely rebounding in the blocking
shots and and as a lob threat. So yeah.
Ohh, familiar for me at least.
I mean, it's damn near the
same coaching staff I had.
2020 Lakers in the Volvo.
So yeah, it was real familiar for me
to ask. You know, Jake kid in his
time here has spoken so well about the
things he learned he was on there.
Would you share with us what
kind of bond you developed?
The kid, and I think
I mean, I've always been admired,
JFK's demeanor and his coaching style,
even as an assistant coach.
I like those type of coaches who
who don't get too riled up and
they get their point across.
They don't have to do too much.
And I've always liked those
type of coaches, though.
Those are the ones that that
really resonate with me.
What, what, what do you mean what is my,
what was the original,
the beginning that question,
my vision, my vision, expectation.
I really don't have any expectations
but to play my brand of basketball.
So every time I step on that
court is is full speed.
It's it's, it's high energy.
So getting the crowd involved,
just making sure that I'm doing
everything to make sure that my team
is in the right position to win that
game each and every game, every day,
every time I cross those lines.
And me personally, I feel like I'm,
I'm, I'm the most efficient player
in the league when it comes to
even if it's not not per 36,
just just just in in general I'm
extremely efficient at what I do,
blocking shots, rebounding,
even scoring actually.
So yeah, I'm just, I'm just,
I'm really excited.
Yeah.
I mean, I'm extremely excited,
very excited. Just the way he he,
all the attention that he draws and the
way that this system is set up to have
all the shooters around it really opens,
opens up the lane for players like
me who are dynamic at the rim.
You love this?
Yeah.
I don't know about the biggest difference.
I just, if anything, I just like the energy.
I like the energy out here.
I like the people,
I like the southern hospitality.
I guess what we call it's a big
difference from from different
cities like LA and places like that.
LA is a great city, but the people aren't as.
Open arms, I guess you would say
as they are in Dallas and yeah.
He said yeah, and I hold the door open too.
I'm. I'm very polite.
You talked about the being one
of the most efficient players.
#6 Bill Russell was pretty
efficient guy back in the day.
What does it mean to have his number on?
I mean, it means a lot of rest in
peace to him, but he did so much
for the game and he did so much
for the game on a winning aspect.
He was really like one of the
first definitions of a player
who was all about winning.
And the things that he did
was just truly amazing.
You know, Christian brings in a different.
Center is. The game is quite a
bit different and yet some of the
things that we can't do well,
the things that have cost The Mavericks
in the Western Conference final lectures,
you kind of think about taking
him under your wing and.
Adjusting his game a little bit,
I feel like, I feel like his game is.
I feel like the things that I
could help him on his game would
be just rim protection and just
aggressiveness on the defensive end.
On the offensive end,
he's he's got that down Pat,
he's extremely aggressive and
and and and getting buckets.
But definitely on the defensive end
we all can learn from each other and
I I definitely could just give them
a couple of pointers on that aspect,
but that's about it.
Actually said all. Getting ready.
Fun, fun man. I I'll just,
I if if we could play 5 on five
instead of practice every day,
I would be in heaven.
I just like playing basketball,
and basketball is just one of the one
of the funniest sports in the world.
And just playing actually playing
basketball as I've always been one of my,
my, my, my favorite things.
Family dynamic.
I mean it's amazing.
It's amazing feat that we I don't think she
ever thought could happen, or me either.
I never thought happened either,
especially 37 years later, which is crazy.
It's it's literally older than me.
So I'm I'm just I'm I'm just grateful
that my mother could lay those bricks,
could be the bricklayer for her,
her family and her legacy.
And now my my sister was in the WNBA.
I. I'm I'm clearly an NBA and
I've won a gold medal after hers.
So I mean the the the the McGee family,
the McGee brand is just continuously growing.
Speaking about your mom, your mom
feel about this, just take the time.
She she loves Texas.
Yeah. She loves Texas.
She loves Dallas.
She she loves the city.
She's out here.
She'll be out here a
lot this year. So yeah.
That we wanted to wait at least
15 games and you've been on
the last several teams you've
been on have done really well.
Is that a goal for you as well or what?
What's your at the end of?
My goal at the beginning of the year
is to try to win every single game.
I want to go Day 182 and up.
Damn near impossible.
But I want to do it.
Like why can't you shoot for that?
So yeah, my goal every every year is
to win every game with my brothers,
which is the one through.
Seeing that that's putting this maverick,
this Dallas Mavericks jersey on.
And if you're not coming
in with that mindset,
then you're not on my side at all.
2020.
Playing against them.
I'm excited, I'm excited.
I mean you always get excited to play your,
your, your opposing team,
especially in the starting role.
So that's definitely a a just
because I was the back up there.
So it's definitely a a game that's
on my checklist to where like,
Oh yeah, I got to go crazy that game.
Now you're on the other side of it.
Feel like what happened in
last year's playoffs? Me too.
Rivalry between, possibly.
Very possibly. That was a.
It was definitely a great series,
except that last game, but yeah,
definitely could lead to a rivalry for sure.
They don't ask you what
happened in that gate.
Ohh. I mean, yeah, people ask me all
the time and I just tell them, I mean,
you gotta TV. You got two eyes.
You saw what happened.
We lost by a lot. That's what happened.
Shots were falling.
They shots were falling.
Good. All right, ohh you got one.
Think 450. To advise you.
Not not yet. I plan on doing
it during the year though,
having those conversations with
the young guys on what they're
doing with their money and
investments and things like that.
But yeah, I haven't yet.
I've only been here for a week,
I believe. So, yeah,
I haven't had the chance to yet.