Desmond Bane on Being Traded to the Magic & Defending Memphis After Stephen A.’s Comments

Desmond Bane on Being Traded to the Magic & Defending Memphis After Stephen A.’s Comments

how’d you find out about the trade it was Father’s Day so you know we chilling like enjoying our morning or whatever and my GM text me “Happy Father’s Day you got a second?” And I was like “Yeah I do.” And I’m telling my lady and she’s like “Oh like this this can’t be good.” And I’m like “Yeah probably not.” Thought it was going to be a real sincere happy Father’s Day you know what I’m saying like we we we getting deep like that [Music] welcome back to Young Man in the Three presented as always by 342 Productions and our friends at Wondery Media mr desmond Bane in the building from the beach what’s up bro what’s the What’s the word what’s the word i got a little sunburn on me how you living man that sun bro no I’m good bro i uh it’s been it’s been a wild little 48 hours you know what I’m saying but but all all is all is good i was going to say uh you had quite a week um we’re going to get to the trade uh in a second we’re going to get to Orlando in a second before we get to that can you tell me why players don’t want to play in the city of Memphis i I think all that is just just false you know i I think once you get to Memphis and you learn Memphis and you know Memphis like there’s a lot of love in that city yeah it’s it’s got it rough parts but that’s how every city is you know what I’m saying like not everybody grew up with with everything under the sun um I think that uh Memphis is a beautiful place they got a great organization um anybody that goes there will will be happy with what they got going on for sure with our boy Stephen A because we were talking about this earlier today you know we he’s been on the show before it is what it is like the some of the [ __ ] he’s done in the last couple days to me makes no sense like he’s now pick he picked fights with Tyrese after game three uh he was playing solitire during the game after game four and now he’s now he’s picking a fight with Jaw and he’s doing all this stuff about the city of Memphis what’s your thought process just seeing all of this uh I mean I I really try not to get into too much of that just because I know how how it can get you know what I’m saying and how it can turn out but um John’s obviously a close friend of mine Tyrese close friend of mine both great people um and it’s it’s I think it’s unfortunate you know i think that there’s great things going on in the NBA finals um with the Pacers Oklahoma City two good basketball teams um and there’s a whole lot there to talk about so I just there’s times when I don’t um always understand the motive but um you know it is what it is and I try not to pay attention to it but uh like I said both great friends and um people I care for so we’ll get to Memphis the Memphis second but I want to get your thoughts on the trade we talked right afterwards um what were your initial thoughts when you saw it happen i was surprised but um I also kind of had like a little bit of a feeling you know what I’m saying like I had different conversations within the facility and um I was kind of preparing myself preparing my wife for what could possibly come um so when it came it wasn’t like a where did this come from you know and credit to the Grizzlies organization and they were kind of you know upfront honest with me early that there was a chance so um it wasn’t like it came out of left field but couldn’t have landed in a better spot super excited about Orlando great great um people the facility is fantastic the city’s great um I’m I’m super excited to get to work with with those guys for sure how’d you find out about the trade me and uh me and my lady like I said we’re on we’re we’re here on vacation on uh in Destin and we’ve been trying to like catch like a little coffee shop or like breakfast shop in the morning um and it was Father’s Day so you know we chilling like enjoying our morning or whatever and my GM text me “Happy Father’s Day you got a second?” And I was like “Yeah I do.” And I’m telling my lady and she’s like “Oh like this this can’t be good.” And I’m like “Yeah probably not like it’s it’s either me or or somebody else that’s very impactful on the team and uh about 10 seconds later I get a FaceTime call and um I’m like “Oh yeah we don’t really FaceTime like that.” You know what I’m saying like we we talk a decent amount like for sure but it’s all phone calls or in person so I at that point I knew and he told me that that I was getting traded and when he told me that my heart sunk because it’s like there’s 29 other teams you can go to and uh once he told me Orlando I was like okay like I can do that like that’s that’s that’s where we wanted to go it’s a great great upand cominging team i think I fit in so um it was a it was a crazy little little Father’s Day morning for sure would you would you did you respond with anything just like thank you yeah i mean it was cordial it wasn’t It wasn’t anything like hell with you none of that like it’s I’m I’m not no dummy you know what I’m saying nice story though i feel like sometimes people find out on like Twitter and [ __ ] yeah i mean yeah my agent called me like after it got posted or whatever and was like “You hear what’s going on?” I’m like “Yeah bro like I I know what’s up.” But yeah it’s it was crazy it’s crazy yeah that’s a that’s um that’s a good for him for facetiming i love what you knew i love that you knew though you were like “But you don’t FaceTime me.” Yeah like there’s no FaceTime we don’t FaceTime like we don’t have that relationship so like clearly something’s up and it’s like it must have been I thought it was going to be a real sincere happy father’s day you know what I’m saying like we we we getting deep like that he just tried to establish a different relationship with you yeah for sure n [ __ ] changed though for sure with that all that’s cool it’s all good it’s all good that’s funny playing against Paulo and Fron um before the trade happened what was your thought just being against them as opponents i mean we was we was talking in the facility and they was like “Yeah they’re 610 they’re both 6’10” i was like “610?” Like I don’t like I remember him being tall but 610 like ball handling versatility you know Wendell can step out and stretch the floor thugs got a crazy motor to them all the young pieces coming off the bench like I really I like our group bro i I really do like it’s unfortunate that I’m leaving Memphis cuz we had some something going there I felt like but um I’m walking into a really good situation good weather i love I love the sunshine i love the water so it seemed like a good fit see you you seem hype the other day you just It seems like I didn’t want to be too disrespectful bro you know what I’m saying like I’m smiling i’m doing all that and it’s like I do miss Memphis but I’m I’m definitely excited about the opportunity well I I would also say and the other thing and this is a thing that you guys you know we talked about a bunch um uh that you had in Memphis as well is these dudes are tough and it feels like you’re walking into these you’re you’re walking into uh a team that’s already playoff battle tested it’s already FIA battle tested to a certain extent i mean Fran’s had so much success there and they just got a lot of dogs jaylen Suggs another one uh and so when you think about that instilling how you play how you always played to an organization like this uh it feels like it might be like a little bit of a seamless fit just because they already have it and I I think that’s that’s why Orlando did it you know i mean I’m I’m sure they did their homework and um you know they they look at the type of guys that they got in their locker room and and how their team’s constructed and they’re like “Okay well this guy kind of fits the mold of of what we’re trying to do.” Um you know and I’m I couldn’t agree more you know when when I knew that there was a bit of a chance that I was getting traded like me and my agent we sat down talked about some potential teams and Orlando was the team that we circled at the top of the list we kept coming back to like if I could slide right in there like open up a little space for Paulo and France jaylen you know he’s a defender guard people all over all over the floor different shapes and sizes like it just seems like a a a great fit a great fit the other thing is they were they were last in three-point percentage and makes this year obviously you’re going to get your jacks up we’re going to change that we’re going to change that we’re going to change that quick we’re going to change that it feels like it feels like we’re going to check in two months in and that number might be a little different yeah yeah 1,00% um I want to get some playoff thoughts from you in general but before we get to that you know you mentioned it before uh I want to just ask you the the the you’ve had so many good memories in Memphis like you mentioned already um you know I talked to Jiren today jiren’s bummed like everyone’s bummed and it’s one of those things this is the NBA so bro like it’s it’s it’s hard like this is my first time going through it like I’m going to miss the people the most you know like it didn’t matter where we was kicking it at memphis like I said is a great great city low-key laidback um got a lot of soul to it but I’mma miss them people man i’m going miss them people for sure yeah and your perspective we’ve already uh you know we talked when we did the app with Jiren in January about your journey but your perspective of what you’ve accomplished in this particular organization you might not be able to realize it fully right now but I’m curious even just in your mind over the last couple days as you’ve thought about that it’s hard to be happy about it i’m not going to lie because like yes I was drafted there yes um like I had some success there but we didn’t do what we were trying to do you know it almost feels like there’s a little bit of unfinished business um and and it’s a business you know what I’m saying so stuff happens like people get moved teams change like I’ve lost a lot of friends um throughout my time of of being in Memphis so it’s like I can’t just be like why me because it’s happened to a lot of people that I’m close to but it definitely feels a little unsettling but but it is what it is and um we move on and there’s there’s beautiful opportunities ahead of me what’s been uh what’s been the most interesting thing for you to watch in the playoffs i think it’s the physicality i mean I think you look across all the series like there’s a lot of physicality both on the ball off the ball um and everybody on the court just about can do multiple things like there’s there’s not a whole lot of one-trick ponies um left playing you know in the playoffs right now but even in the previous couple rounds so it’s just a beautiful thing to see i think the game’s in a really good place um you know there’s a lot of young guys that are emerging and becoming stars so the the NBA is definitely in in good hands and um I’m excited to to hopefully be in that position next year can you talk about uh you know you guys obviously played OKC you’ve had a lot of experience with them you played them in the first run this year what it’s like uh what the Pacers we’re taping this Wednesday you know they’re playing game six tomorrow night what that’s like just going up against that defense yeah it’s it’s a it’s a lot of pressure you know i mean they have multiple guys that are picking you up full they got length um they got size but um the Pacers play probably one of the best brands of basketball to to go against them like it’s if if you have just a couple guys that the offense runs through I think it’s going to be very tough because they’re loading up on those actions they’re physical on those actions but the Pacers are like you get six shots you get six shots you get eight shots you get 10 shots yaka might have 14 shots but it’s a very very balanced attack full of players that can do multiple things um you know so I think it’s a very good matchup and um it’s it’s been a good series it’s been it’s been fun to watch with with Lou Dort in particular you know your two sort of the the stronger dudes in the league his ability to defend his ability to defend without putting his hands on you you’ve had to deal with it yourself you know Jaws had put his hands on you okay so so All right so explain because because basically he doesn’t get these fouls called because they’re saying he’s not putting his hands on you yeah no he he I mean you know you get a reputation as a defender in this league and um you know you can you can you can get away with some things and I think Lou Doris is an exceptional defender i think they have a lot of guys um that are more than capable but they they definitely play a like I said it’s a physical brand of basketball but it’s a playoffs you know what I’m saying like that’s what you expect like some of the hand checking and some of the uh sweep through fouls that you’re getting in the regular season you’re not getting the playoffs and that’s how it should be because it’s the it’s the highest level of basketball but he is definitely a great defender um I think it’s an underrated motor you know what I’m saying and just commitment like he’s committed to getting stops um is is and most of their team is is wired that way they got a strong identity like that did you see they want to put a statue of uh Caruso diving for the ball outside the arena that’s crazy they they better put a headband on it too what about What about Shay what about Shay i mean he there’s not much else to say in terms of like just his skill set but just some of these moments even the other night in game four he looked gas and he comes back and just takes over at the end that’s what the great players do i mean I played alongside John Mor Jiren Jackson like I got a chance to see it firsthand like those guys are different like when the when the lights are the brightest when the game’s on the line like they rise to the occasion um I mean J’s done it time and time again and Jiren’s done it time and time again um like it’s it’s just something about those those type of dudes like they and I’ve seen the behind the scenes you know what I’m saying j he works like you talking about going in like dark mode where you ain’t going to hear from him like he locked in get to it jiren he’s he’s in there early so like there’s no secret to the success like they’re they’re working they’re working is there anything that surprised you in these playoffs i I mean yes like but I’m not I’m not gonna speak on it but um the beach yeah yeah but all right take yourself take your team out of it is there anything that surprised you no i mean I I knew that Denver Clipper series was going to be a very tough series um whoever got out of that was going to give OKC or whoever advanced from our series like a a good shot at it um I mean yeah no I’m I’m not I’m not too surprised so so Indie getting here wasn’t a surprise they bro they play a They play a brand of basketball that fits the playoffs they got a couple guards that pick you up full court miles Turner stretch the floor protect the rim tyrese is like one of the most unselfish superstars in the league so it’s just like yeah it it it’s crazy that they’re there but at the same time it’s like if you watch them play it’s it’s a they play a great brand of basketball so it’s it’s like if you if you really are a basketball fan it’s it’s not that surprising and Nehart Nemhard plays the way you’re talking about he’s another one 100% michael shot i mean the way he’s been shooting in the playoffs versus the regular season has been crazy in this Orlando experience are you excited to be in the East definitely i mean I think that the the West is and I mean I’m sure probably people in the East are saying that the East is better than the West like that’s just how life goes but um I think that we’ll have a great chance you know whether we was in the East or the West to to make some noise um but but um I mean our division just kept getting tougher and tougher you know every time you look up San Antonio and Houston and talks like they’re aggressive to do something san Antonio’s got the number two pick to put next to Wimi new Orleans got all the talent in the world just trying to put together um we’re obviously or Memphis was was very talented um so it’s like yeah Houston up and coming it’s it was a it was a very tough division thanks to DraftKings for sponsoring the show the NBA Finals are here and DraftKings Sportsbook an official sports betting partner of the NBA is pulling out all the stops to make this a finals to remember here’s something special for first- timers new DraftKings customers bet $5 to get $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins richie I was on the courtside buzz uh same game parlays today for the finals game six or boy dub for the 40 piece uh plus 950 dub 25 plus points five plus rebounds five plus assist three plus made threes there’s a lot of different parlays on the app right now uh that all look pretty interesting but that’s the one that I’m looking at don’t miss your last chance to bet on the NBA this season download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code young man that’s code young man for new customers to get $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins when you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings the crown is yours gambling problem call 1800 gambler in New York call 8778 Y or text open Y at 467-369 in Connecticut help is available for problem gambling call 888-789-77777 or visit ccpg.org please play responsibly on behalf of Bootill Casino Resort in Kansas 21 and over age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction void in Ontario bet must win to receive reward minimum minus 500 odds required bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance for additional terms and responsible gaming resources see dkg.co/audio so one other thing D to your point about Memphis you know obviously the team is bummed the players are bummed but I wanted to get some of your experiences in the city itself because you had such a close relationship with the city overall and some of your favorite memories just from being in the community i love that place bro it uh people who live there like have a certain pride about Memphis like it may not have all the bells and whistles that other cities have but they have like a a real pride about the way that they live and um care for their city and care for one another for real um but I mean getting in the community like community service I was super close with this boxer out there um his name Mike Cook like we was just at his fight before downtown Tom Lee Park um my teammates came through so like we was we was just like well connected like you would be if you lived anywhere you know what I’m saying like it’s it’s a great place to to call home like Mike Miller goes back and lives there you see Zebo there all the time tony Allen there like if it was such a bad place as people are talking about people wouldn’t be coming back to to live there and plant their roots there like J obviously loves it there i think Jiren’s a big fan of it like it’s it’s a if you live there you understand but like it’s easy to look from the outside looking in and hear about all the stories i mean I was like that too like I came from a small town like it had it crime and it had it different things but when you go to Memphis like you think oh my god like it’s it’s going to be treacherous and yeah there’s parts like there’s parts of Richmond that’s treacherous too like it’s just that’s life like it’s it’s never going to be peaches and cream everywhere you go but it uh it’s a great place to live how early did you realize that when you got there it didn’t take long like I met with this guy named Kevin Helms it was like our team security he was showing me around he worked on the police force like he was telling me stories about things that he done been through like in Memphis and he seen the the most real of the real like he been through some real deal stuff you know what I’m saying so I was just like if he says this about the city and has been through such and such and he loves it here and raised his kids here and still lives here like it it says something about the place like it’s it’s uh like I said it’s got it’s got a lot of pride to it don’t you think some of this it’s been well documented but your background you know you’re an underdog like you got this chip on your shoulder you’re somebody who people did not expect to be here and I feel like Memphis is an underdog city 10,00 blue collar like they they working for everything they get like ain’t nothing handed to them and and they know if you’re if you’re if you’re faking them you know what I’m saying like it’s you you don’t got to fake it like just be yourself and and they’ll accept you uh do you think you think you’ll still go back definitely i mean I at least I got to get my stuff out of there and I mean I got a lot of friends there um so so we’ll be back for sure um but um I mean Orlando’s a great place so you’re gonna be I’mma be in that sunshine you know what I’m saying you’re gonna be tipsy on the beach yeah I’m gonna be down there living life living life one one Orlando question forgot to ask you uh Mo Vagner have you had any experience with um him saying anything to you in any of the games i mean he I feel like he says something to everybody he see like the dude the dude the loose cannon he crazy i I love it though i love it you need some of that on a on a team that’s trying to trying to win like you need a little somebody to stir the pot up and and be the one to uh you know talk [ __ ] and back it up so I’m I’m uh I’m excited to be teammates with him i got a chance to talk to F a little bit ask him about where I could stay at and little stuff like that but um yeah it’s all it’s all up are you going to Disney World have I been before are you going to go with the family i got I got two young kids you know what time it is like I’m trying to tell my son we’re going to Disney he don’t even know what I’m talking about but once you get there I’m sure it’s going to be hard to leave i feel like this is I feel like you’re going to be very easy to find in Orlando posted on the beach we shouldn’t tell the fans that but yeah I’m I’mma be around for sure well we don’t got to say which beach you’re going to be on that beach with a drink we on the court or on a beach that’s it i’m have a little membership man for sure for sure wait I have a I have a question just actually I haven’t even talked to him about this but I know when Male got traded last year he was with you that was a wild wild experience like he was on the dock which is probably like 100 feet from where I was at with my trainer and uh I’m hollering down there like “Bro what’s what’s going on?” And he just you know MueL he laid back like super chill like whatever the case may be so he like “Yeah bro.” Like “I got traded like it’s crazy.” Da da and we just living like kicking it like it’s a normal day we end up eating doing the whole thing and he end up jetting back to the crib but I’m like “Man Bunny just got traded at my house.” Like and like me and Carol like I know him for sure but like it’s not like we just be hanging out all the time like what’s the what’s the odds of that it is a random It’s a super random place to get that information and keep her cool after the fact and I was trying to recruit him to the Grizzlies when we was working out earlier in the day bro I remember pictures to my GM like “Hey bro like I’m in here with buddy make get it done.” Do you remember when you guys took a photo and you tried to troll people on Twitter by acting like you were recruiting him yes I do remember that night you were there you were there you were there you were there this is why this is why NBA players should not have Twitter yeah 1,00% all it is is that it’s just literally that we better in the 90s to be fair to you the difference between you getting traded is you got to move he just had to move he didn’t He literally didn’t even change his apartment yeah he’s he’s he’s still doing the same thing he was doing just change the jersey out yeah it’s uh But I mean shoot like I said bro Orlando is not a bad place like I’m I’m sad to leave Memphis but I’m excited to No that downtown’s fun come December I’mma be like “Oh man this is nice.” Oh everyone’s going to be hitting you you’re going to be turning people You’re going to be turning people away me and my lady we talking about it we not getting no big house cuz then everybody going to think it’s You know what I’m saying that’s that’s that’s the uh hotel motel thing no guest room come on bro we runs it though you’re going to see he runs the city i I’m I’m excited to get with B for sure for sure with his game he’s so tough like he just can do everything and he’s still so young with his game in particular what do you see like just as a fan in terms of like I don’t even want to be like what his upside cuz like who knows but like it feels high you know what I mean like he feels like he can do anything anyone in the league can do i think he’s very underrated um I mean he’s 610 physical put the ball on the ground turnaround jump shots like as the game starts expanding and continues to slow down like making all the reads like all the players that are still playing in play like at this time of the season like are are doing everything tyrese Halbert does everything yogic won the other year he does everything like Shay dominant dominant scorer but he’s smart too and and makes the right play so it’s just like you got to get to that level where you’re you’re doing everything and I think he’s right there like he is he’s doing it like he’s he’s young France he’s right there you know similar similar tier where he’s playmaking he’s scoring um so it’s it’s it’s it’s very very exciting times in Orlando so out so this summer you’re working out you worked out today you’re at the beach you doing anything else that’s it bro get that and and talk to you i’m enjoying my family i got a little workout in we’re about to go grab some grill but we we chilling man we chilling that’s exactly right all right bro enjoy i’ll see you soon appreciate you my guy [Music]

On this week’s episode, the newest member of the Orlando Magic joins us! Desmond Bane discusses his trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Magic and what he’s looking forward to the most about playing Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. He also shares his thoughts about Memphis in reaction to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith’s recent comments about the city and Ja Morant, and then helps break down the NBA Finals. Let’s go.

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Previously The Old Man and the Three w/ JJ Redick (ESPN / First Take) and Tommy Alter