I didn't think the pain from the shingles rash would affect simple everyday tasks like bathing, getting dressed, or even walking around. I was wrong. Though not everyone at risk will develop it, 99% of people over the age of 50 already have the virus that causes shingles, and it could reactivate at any time. I developed it and the blistering rash lasted for weeks. Don't learn the hard way.
Like I did. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist today. Sponsored by GSK. There are moments in a career that stick out with you forever. For some, it's a championship.
For others, it's the one that got away. Our guest today was the face of a new franchise, a hometown hero. and probably part of one of the most talented rosters ever assembled, That came up just a little bit short.
Now he's channeling every one of those lessons into the next generation. We're talking about the journey from mighty mouse to mentor. With the one and only, my God. Damus Sautermeyer. What's up, brother?
Man, JJ, appreciate you, man. Appreciate you having me on. Come on, man. No, I appreciate you taking the time. It's a little different.
Like we off here, we're talking about a couple of things. One, is it alright if I call you coach? I don't know. Do I gotta call you Mr. Satamire now?
Do I call you Coach? Do I call you Biggie? Do I call you? Which one do I go? But also, too, the grind, bro.
You know, congratulations on what you're doing, but the grind. On coaching, it's so different at the college level compared to even playing in the NBA. And now you're at Georgia Tech. Uh what's his year two? Going into year three.
Yeah, going into year three. What's the single biggest lesson that you can take away from your own playing career? that you find yourself kind of teaching your young men at Georgia Tech. That it is a journey. You know, for real, it's it's...
It's a process. And, you know, I've been them before. You know, Jimmy, the biggest thing is that we've been. You know, we've been. student athletes.
We've been really good players, and so I tried to give them, you know, everything that I learned. uh coming up and You know, talk about the things that I did, you know, when I was in college as a player and just try to get them to get lost in the moment so they don't look at this as such a task, you know, because things have changed so much since we've been in school. And, you know, you're dealing with. With so many different things that we didn't have to. You know, you have the, you know, obviously the NIL.
You know, all the different things that come with. with being a PSA now.
So it's just so different. But I try to the best of my ability to keep these guys in the moment.
Well, two things. One, do they understand who Damon Sodomire was playing not just at Arizona NBA? Do they have a clue? You know, it's funny. I don't think they really do, but.
to that point. It's like a teaching point. JJ, it's like a teaching point from the standpoint it is, right? Because when you dealing with today's kid. They don't really care if you could play or not if you don't show them that you care about them first.
And that's what you realize, right?
So you try to get to know these guys and. in in a different way. first of all. And then what happens is Uh And the same thing is crazy because the same thing happened to me when I was coaching in Boston. You know The player, these guys are coming to me, coach, coach, coach, man, we didn't know you was nice.
Nice, nice. We didn't know you was like that. I'm like. But it goes to show you, man, you know, basketball. It's heirs to this.
And and right now, I understand. You know, they didn't grow up on me. My own kids didn't grow up on me.
So, you know, I don't expect them to know, but what I do do is I try to give them, again, everything that I learned. from guys like yourself and all the all the great players that I play with and you know I tell them and The things that you guys might have told me from a guy that was 6'6 and played the wing and could handle the ball and do the different things. I talked to these guys about all the different things, and that's the most important lesson I try to get them. But also too, when I played with you, you always were honest. And I don't think that's any different right now with you coaching, but in today's world, you talked about it.
These young men and women with NIL getting paid are a little bit different. Being able to be coachable, open to some harsh criticism, sometimes they can't take it. You're the kind of coach I know that's going to tell him after a bad loss, you know, you got your ass whooped. You didn't play hard. And that's one thing that you don't play with.
As a non-negotiable, right? It's like nothing else. We can make shots, miss shots, but you got to play hard.
So, how do you balance those two? From the situation of being able to communicate with these young men. Be critical, be honest, but at the same time understand that they may be a little bit more sensitive. And they don't take it as well as we did, maybe back in the day. Not all, I'm just saying, some of them.
Well, a lot of a lot of times I I try to break it down to them. Um I do get at them. I get at them hard. I coach really hard in practice, but if you watch me in practice and then watch me coach in the game, it's two different people. When I'm in practice, I'm critiquing, I'm stopping.
The attention of detail is so important to me because in the game, like, You know, it flows. The game doesn't stop. You can't stop Uh An 8-0 run, unless it's a timeout.
Sometimes you can't afford to call it timeout, so you got to have guys. be able to shake it off. And we talk about recovery a lot, you know.
So, all these things, all these things are truly important each and every day. But that's, you know, to me, I try to put. My guys are in as uncomfortable a position as I can in practice to try to make the games as easy as possible for him. No, I feel that too. And part of it, too, is being able to have them grow from year to year.
And speaking of which, which is different, because you playing at Arizona, the lineage there, outstanding basketball player from a Steve Kirk to a Sean Elliott to a Chris Mills. And then you kind of came in. And then, you know, being coached by Luke Olson, you had. put in place You know, at lineage, two, three years, four years, you know, you grew, and Lud Olson was able to mature and coach you. and guide you.
But now in today's world, just keep it honest. How do you build culture when you know transfer portal is one thing, guys leaving early, all these different dynamics, how do you build that culture and consistency within the program with the ever changing landscape of NIL?
Well You know, you try to keep as many players that you can. You know, I. I, for one, you know, the evaluation process is all year round, and it's even with your own team. And I think that's where things have changed, Jimmy. Like you said, you could come in as a freshman.
You know, you average, you know, two, three, four points, but really as a freshman, unless you were one of them dudes, you was just trying to come in and get some playing time.
Sophomore year, you wanted to start. You know, and put yourself in position to be all-conference. And then junior, senior year, you wanted to be all-conference all-American and put yourself in position to get paid. And now things have changed, you know. And so.
The player development side is so important. And that's both on and off the floor. You have to develop a relationship with guys so they get lost in wanting to get better again, like I said on the initial. And it's not, and it's, and it's not a, you know, even though it is a little bit, but you don't want it to be mostly a transactional relationship. You want substance with it.
Um, and that's how you build, you know, and it starts right there. And I think my honesty, uh, I think getting to know these kids and not being out of touch, you know, I mean, you can't be out of touch, you know, I mean, you gotta know, you gotta know what they own, you gotta know their motion, you gotta know you gotta, you gotta know, you gotta know the streets, you still gotta know the streets, you gotta know how they move, right? Right, you gotta know how they move. And I tell these guys all the time, and it's like having your own kids. I'd be like, man, y'all act like y'all the first people to do the things that y'all done.
I said, you know, man, I, you know, I was one of y'all. You know what I mean? This goes back 30 years. And so we've. We've been in this position and I've been fortunate enough to have Played high major basketball, played with other dudes that were successful and became pros, going to the NBA, jumping right into the coaching profession, and then being on good teams as an assistant, and then coming here.
Uh, you know, the tech.
So, you know, I've been those guys before, so you got to know what it is, and I think those are the advantages that I have.
So so let's say this, say the young man knows what it is. But you got all of this going on. You know how it is. And I'm not going to say parents weren't never like that because they were, but it seems like in today's world, and I've been covering college basketball for 18 years.
So I've been able to see you know the transition From you know, built program mantras to now what we're in. How do you You talked about You know, understanding how the player moves, but what about understanding how the parents move and how their handlers move? How important is that aspect of it too in today's world? It's important. You have to, I think that, you know, even in recruiting nowadays, you got to recruit the parent.
Um As well, but wasn't that always the case, though? What's the difference in today's world? Where they always had to go to the mama to make sure that you know, I can get your son in here, and she had to give the approval.
So that's so that's so that's a good question. And I want a great answer. And so, like, the thing about it is, right? Because I grew up with my mother. Right.
You grew up with your mother. And so the thing about it is, is that. My mother Was passive aggressive? She wasn't, you know, she liked what she liked, but basically she wanted me to have a good education. And if I put myself in position to make some money, cool.
But all she cared about is that that... The school I went to, that coach was going to look out for me and help me become a man. What I'm finding out now Um And it's human nature, so I don't want to make it seem like, you know. Parents are bad, or even mothers from that standpoint. I just think that parents have gotten ambitious.
They want it all for their kid. And so, what I say is this, Jimmy. And I got this from someone I work for. Look, man.
Sometimes we all want to win. We want our kid to have success within that winning. And so. What you're trying to do is you're trying to get people to realize that we got to come together. Because If we shine for the name on the on the front of the jersey.
The recognition is gonna go to the name on the back of the jersey because when you win, everybody eats. I haven't seen it any different, and you can go back to the beginning of time and the way they draft now compared to when me and you were coming out. When we and you were coming out of school, you had to average 20. Period. But now They give you equity for being on a good team.
Oh, he was on a good team. He knows how to play. He played with good players. And so you got to sell these things nowadays because, to your point, Um You might not have them that long. If If you're not able to sell those things.
And so, Um and and getting a and getting a parent Mothers, fathers, particularly to understand, like, it's the dynamics, man, have changed. And then you have, you know, in certain respects, they have agents, they have all these different people that you got to deal with. I mean, I think the craziest thing for me, look, I'm going to call you, I'm going to call you by your fortune, Jimmy Jackson. The craziest thing for me, the craziest thing for me is. I'm actually dealing with agents that try to recruit me when I play.
So, how much time, and I say this all the time about coaches. If they said, Did you want a coach? I was like, No, hell no. Because it was just too much. It was too much for me.
Um, not that I didn't love like you teaching, molding young men. to become successful whether they go to the NBA or not. And I know that's your underlying theme. I know that about you. But With that, it's like it gets to a point too where you're battling all of these things.
You're battling. One Is winning really important, or is it just getting to the next level? That was there before. But now you jump on top, you drop it from 30,000 square feet. The money issue.
Okay, now I'm getting paid.
Now I gotta play right away. In order to get paid. in order to get drafted and all of this stuff. At least back in the day, a freshman could be a little bit more patient, knowing that his time will come next year. But how much has that patience waned now when you have players?
that look at the transport portal. portal and I was like, you know what, if I'm not playing. You know, or starting, you know, after my freshman year, I'm out of here. How do you juggle that? Honestly, I just don't worry about it because it'll drive you crazy from that standpoint, for real.
You know, but you have to, you know, you have to always have it in the back of your mind because it's there. And you have to do a better job. More importantly. Like how we, when we were in school, you had, you know, essentially, you took the spring and the summer off. Yeah.
Like you went and worked out in your hometown or you flew here, you flew there, you played USA basketball. You know, some of us are fortunate enough. We might go to UCLA, get to jump in some run, things like that. You know what I mean? But for the most part, you just went home for the summer and you got better.
A lot of times you need to keep your kids around so you're making sure you got your hands on them.
So other people are not touching them. You know, because that's where things have changed. You know, again, people get ambitious. You gotta give them a plan, Jimmy. You gotta give guys a plan.
And, you know, you have your program, you have your goals, you have. The pillars, the things that you stand on, but you got to give the individual a plan, and it's important. Uh For each player to understand what their plan is for them to get better as a player. And I think that when you outline all these things. Then it becomes easier, but when you're not outlining these things of how a guy's going to get better and he doesn't see a vision for himself within the program, then it makes it hard.
I didn't think the pain from the shingles rash would affect simple everyday tasks like bathing, getting dressed, or even walking around. I was wrong. Though not everyone at risk will develop it, 99% of people over the age of 50 already have the virus that causes shingles, and it could reactivate at any time. I developed it and the blistering rash lasted for weeks. Don't learn the hard way.
like I did. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist today. Sponsored by GSK. Yeah, I get that part, bro. And it's one of those things, too, where everyone is not going to.
Catch that. Because the impatience part, whether that's internally from that young man or is those outside influences. that d do not allow that young man to kind of be patient. To be able to take advantage of a situation like you, listen, you've been through it, you've been through as a star college player. A star NBA player.
You've been on the bench and been around it in the NBA as a coach and this assistant coach, and now you're coming back and bringing that knowledge. But at times, it's just like, man, they ain't trying to hear that. Because they got a couple goals in mind, and it's to get paid, it's to get to the league, they need to play, and all that other stuff.
So, you're going to have battles like that. That you're not going to win, but for the most part, it seems like you got your arms wrapped around enough. on your squad to have a pulse and understanding that If we do this together, everybody can benefit. If not. I wish you the best of luck, but this is how we go operate here at Georgia Tech.
Right. And you're so right. And I use this example. I use this example. Um And When I was in Toronto.
Right. I was there for three years. Um you know And Pretty much could do what I wanted to do. What we had got better as an organization. Yeah, it was just, we were in infant stage.
You know, we were expansion. Yes, we would have got better. And when I tell kids this, I'm like, you see a lot of this. Right now, and I kind of poke fun. At players to try to get people to see what it really is.
They'd be like, man, I can't believe that this guy left. If, you know, you gave him the world, he was able to play his game. He was able to do this. He was able to do that. And I was like, Man, I've been there before.
Sometimes you just get tired of going to work the same way. Man, you get tired of going to class. Say that. Say that. Like people forget about that, right?
Because I'm sitting there in Toronto. And man, I say to myself now, like, what was I tired of? Like I was the face of another country. Yeah. You sit there and again.
I got tired of going from Queens Key to the Skydome. Like, what was I thinking? I got tired of going from Queens Key to Bluetooth Street. Like, you start thinking about the things that don't make any sense as you're now 52, like I am. And I say to myself, man, these kids are kids.
And so that's why I just try. To the best of my ability, not to allow them to bump their head all the way. And if I feel like they're going to bump their head all the way, I'll fight them about their course of action. I don't care. I will.
I will get at them about their course of action because. If you got things the way you want, and you and me both know, especially. How it lines up. If something is tailor-made for you, To be successful, man, you better not leave that. Don't leave that.
Because you don't know that grass is never as green on the other side, man. It just don't matter. And I'll use this because I don't know him personally. But I just listened to his interviews. And I look at Damian Lillard and I just see a man that's at peace right now.
He's at peace because he's back in his mind, he's back. It's not Oakland, but he's at the crib. Yep, he had the crib. He already big body language, his face. You won't see this.
And again, he ain't playing because of the injury, but his demeanor, like you said, his interviews. And I'm glad you brought it to the NBA because I want to talk about that. People got to realize you're the seventh pick. You were the face of a franchise. You kind of...
Went beyond expectations. Was it 19 and 9 your rookie year?
Okay, beyond expectation. I didn't realize it was only three years. It seemed like it was longer in Toronto, but. For the young players like Victor Wimbayama, Kay Cunningham, and Anthony Edwards, these, and I'm glad you touched on. grass is greener sometimes on the other side.
From your experience, you talked about it a little bit, but what other advice would you give them how to handle? kind of the stardom early. in their current situations. I think that the biggest thing for me when I look at the star players right now is they had a power. And they have the power to go sit down.
with the powers to be within the organization and talk to them. about you know being collaborative and how do we get better as a franchise. You know, because They've allowed that in today's NBA. And I think that and I and Like even talking about the guys that you just named, those are great organizations. And so what those guys have to do is they have to They have to think long term and have a vision.
Because the three guys you named, Anthony Edwards, Wimby. Kay Cunningham, the basketball is going to tell who you are. You know, the basketball tells who you are. And so. It doesn't matter what market you in.
To me, that's overrated. And what I say is, and what I'll say about You know, and you used to hear it a lot when we played. To me. I'm not really with that as I've gotten older, man. I don't think.
It Did I want to win a championship? Yes, but you shouldn't have to chase a championship. And If that's not in your cards, it don't mean because you leave somewhere that you're going to go get that.
So create a legacy where you're at. Create a legacy. I think that's what you do. You got to create a legacy. You can create a legacy.
Where you at? At least, if for instance, when I was in Boston, like looking at Jason and JB, like that's what I used to, like, I used to say that first year, because most people forget when my first year in Boston, we were struggling. We were struggling up until about late January, and then we got better, we got better, and then we hit a stride. And one of the things that I would say was that, hey, man, don't take these moments for granted because you don't get them back. Because the huddle and the locker room changes every year.
So try to make the most of each opportunity. And that's how I feel about. you know the young stars in the nba man create a legacy where you at You know, you don't have to leave where you're at to go get something else. I mean, it's really, to me, that's overrated because you got seven or eight different platforms that the NBA come on now. You know, the NBA's global.
You know, and so We're about to add what two more expansion teams, maybe three. Oh, so you got some, you guys, you know, I read the other day that they're talking about going and playing games, you know, a league or something. Oh, in Europe.
So, what are we talking about? But dad, let me ask you this though. Here's the thing. Difference is we had vets in the locker room.
Okay. And even though sometimes we still made our own decisions, at least we were getting sound advice. And I'm not saying these young men that are playing now are not getting sound advice, but you're getting a little bit different. You're getting it from probably.
Someone that's your age, someone you played against, I mean, played with or played against in high school, maybe one year in college. But not having the vetty vets, the ones that's been there that understand a lot. I'm not saying every team is like this, but the majority of teams don't have that deep veteran pool. that these young superstars can dig into. How much is that a factor too with the short-sightedness sometimes of a young player?
Now, let me caveat that: with the way the contracts are now and they negotiate it. It forces guys, if they want their money to have to stay where they're at. But still that don't mean the thought process might not be there. You know, I do think it has an effect. And I'm glad you brought that up because I talk about it a lot, even within my staff.
And people ask me how I got into coaching. Coaching, I didn't know that. I wanted to coach. Coaching kind of picked me. And this is how it happened.
My tenth year I was in Memphis and I tore my knee up. And man, I'll be honest with you, even as I laid on that floor at that time. My thoughts went elsewhere because I Laying on the floor, I was like, man, I gave the game all I could. I don't know if I got anything left. And when I came back as I was rehabbing, I was 32 years old.
Yeah, I had just signed a four-year deal, but I just, I was like, man, I wasn't into it the way I was. Before then, and rehab, it was tedious, it hurt, and I was more so trying to come back to prove that I can come back from a Patela tendon than I was to try to be the best Damon Style tomorrow on the floor I could be. Because if that was the case, I would have actually took a couple years off to try to come back. But I came back in nine months and I played that first game. But what I realized, man, is that I wasn't the same player.
Minto. Yes, mentally. And so I had to make it, Jimmy, I had to make a choice right then and there. Because to be honest with you, I was like, man, it's over. But I still got these years on my deal.
So then what ended up happening is We drafted Kyle Lowry and then we drafted Mike actually Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay in the same draft. Then we traded Shane Battier. All right, then we got Mike Connolly. that next year. And so essentially they brought in my replacements.
And so basically what I did was what John Sally did for me, what Alvin Robinson did for me. I pulled those two guys in and I was just like, man, compete. in between these lines, but don't let the business of basketball. Mess with y'all's relationship because what's going to end up happening is eventually this organization is going to have to choose one of you guys to stay and they're going to have to move the other guy on. Not because the other guy is not good enough, because the other guy can play and he just don't fit in the plans and it's not enough for both of y'all.
Both of y'all. And so I was so protective of that because, man, I know how the NBA can get, and I didn't want that to happen. And so, what I would do, Jimmy. And me, and not even knowing, when I look back on my process, I'm like, man, you know, this is how it kind of got started. Man, I used to go to the coaches and the coaches meet, you know, the coaches meet in the morning, you know, we come and shoot down and I'd go knock on the door, give them that knock, and I'd be like.
Hey man, I ain't got it tonight. My knee is killing both of them boys. You know what I mean? Yeah, that was real talk. Yeah, so then what ends up happening is I go to San Antonio for half a year.
I finish my career. And then they bring me back to Memphis. As a player development coach with who? Mike Connolly, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, all these guys that I just got through playing with. And so basically.
My role at that time, because they were allowing me just to give my feet wet, man, was just really to keep those young guys together mentally, work them out, talk to them, and just make sure they were in a good space, man, so they can be successful at the end of the day. And that's kind of how my journey started by me not being able to play no more. But you know, the realization, though, at that point, too, like you said, you were in year 10. You accomplish a lot individually, of course. came up short from a championship perspective, but It does say something, D.
is I got hurt early in my career, my third year.
Okay, first time I ever got injured and missed anything. And wasn't the same player afterwards, right? Ended up having 11 more years, don't get me wrong. But mentally, I wasn't the same. You were at a different point.
You were at the end, but still, like you said, I think it's very important. You said this: you said, listen. I came back because I wanted to prove. That I could come back, but mentally, I wasn't it. But it's funny how.
You making that decision. Like you said. A 180 To coaching, because you were coaching those young guys while you were there before you left at Memphis. And then circle back around and those moments too of reality, and people don't understand it, haven't played at a high level, haven't played professional sports. No matter if you're 10 years in.
Making those decisions on when to say when. It's one of the hardest to say because The majority of us, the majority of players, maybe 99%. Don't lead a game the way we want. No. No, you're right.
And the thing about it is, again, I talked about John. And I talked about Alvin. Because at that time I told myself I can do one of two things. I can either help or be a hater. You know what I mean?
I could either help or be at. You know what I mean? And so. To this day, My relationship. With Kyle Laurie.
Mike Connolly. Rudy Gay. You know, it's funny when Toronto won the championship. You know, Kyle wore my jersey. Mm That's deep.
That's deep. That's deep. And so everybody asked him. You know, and he's like, that's my OG. He took care of me.
You know what I mean? And so my whole thing was. It didn't matter if them, you know, how it used to be back then. If, if, if, if I was going to eat, they came to eat, they came out. No, I'm looking out.
I'm looking out. We got to look out. Hey, we're going to go over here, man. They're going to look out for you. They're going to take care of you.
That's how it goes. And so I just feel like. That's how I got into the coaching part of it, but it started with the whole relationship piece, and the relationships are so important, man. And, you know, you don't really realize that when you're playing, but even now, You know It's like I never Yeah, it opens up doors. And I never, I never, once I, once I couldn't, once I felt like I couldn't play anymore, I never talked about when I played.
Because, man, when you're around these kids and you're trying to help these kids, man, they don't care at all. At all. They don't care about none of that stuff, man. They just don't care. Like, you have to help them, and you have to be all right with that.
Like, you know what I'm saying? And like, I was all right with playing. Like, when I quit playing, I quit playing pickup. I quit all that. Like I was done with it.
If I wasn't in the gym with kids, working out guys, watching people play, I didn't go to the gym to play basketball no more. Man, I can go get me a workout in. Like, we can do that, you know. But I had other interests, and I started to dive into the coaching. I wanted to really learn how to coach because just because you played the game don't mean you can teach the game.
And I learned that as well. Say that again, bro. Say that again, man. Say that again. Just because you played the game at a high level don't mean you can teach the game.
We've seen it.
Some high-level players. And I love magic, but it was tough for him to coach. I think it'd be tough for Michael Jordan to coach. Because their mind Set of what their expectations are for everyone, including You know, what they did. Guys can't reach it.
You know, Magic is looking for point guards to be able to see three or four plays down the line, and a lot of guys just can't do it. And their frustrations won't, I don't think, allow them. To have the patience. Larry Bird had the patience. I think he did an excellent job.
And you know, Isaiah, it was tougher for Isaiah, too, though, at times. You know, because of his greatness. It was tough for them to understand how guys couldn't get it. Especially some superstars that couldn't get it. And as we talk about that big.
You know, we always say this.
Well, I don't have no regrets. Whatever happened, it was meant to be. But is there. through the playing career in the NBA. Is there regrettitude that you have?
Yeah, I have a regret. I have two regrets. that I wouldn't even have. If we would if if things would have been achieved. Uh I hate that we didn't win a chip in Portland.
And I shouldn't have left Toronto. But if we went to chip in Portland, then... that that becomes mute. Because what happens with The Toronto situation is. You know.
Things could happen. you know but my pace and where I was and my trajectory as an individual player. I was on pace, you know, for whatever in terms of numbers. But when I went to Portland We were on pace to Be successful as a team. And I think we all sacrifice numbers to be a great team.
And probably the thing that That makes me the most mad about it because people don't talk about us. Like when me and you play together, we went to the conference finals, man. Yeah, we did. People act like we only went to the conference finals with that one team. We went back to back.
We wasn't supposed to go the year we went. And so What happened to us is funny because You know, we watching, it made me think about when Boston lost to the Knicks this year. I was like, man, in my head, I didn't have nobody to tell it to. But now, since me and you talking, I was like, man. That reminded me of when we beat Hugh Ty in Portland.
Man, we taking our shirts off, taking our jerseys off, man. We'd be stacking them alone. We'd be stacking them alone. You know what I mean? And so.
We had won the championship right there, and we forgot it was another series, and then we went and got swept. And it was San Antonio. It was San Antonio. Yeah, it was San Antonio. And we were better than them that year, bro.
That was a lockout year 98. We had everything to match up with San Antonio.
Now, I will say. you know some of the schematic plans as you know when i went off in the locker room Hey, hey, we'll keep that done, but put it this way. I got traded the next day over that summer. Hey. Hey man, that was that was a uh but that was that was a crazy series, but you know, I mean, I just think about.
That window. Um about that window. And that Portland window was crazy then. You know I think that we got impatient. You know, so you think, I think back to Portland, we go to the conference finals.
My second year in Portland, we changed the team. We go to the conference final. My third year in Portland. We changed the team. We were still right there with the Lakers.
Most people forget that next year, 2001, I think we either had the first or second best record next to Philly that year. We had one like 41, 42 games before the break. And then what happens is Deadla Shrimp comes out of retirement. Rod came in midseason and it wasn't no fault of their own. It was already a little rocky, but things just went to the left, right?
And it probably all started in the summer. When we had lost to the Lakers. If you think back to it. And you was in Portland, so you understand what I'm saying. Back then, that was the first time where an organization was really paying guys.
So, guys was all right with, you know, with maybe taking less minutes because they was giving out that money. Yeah, that's true. You know, and so guys was, guys, was all right. Guys was all right with less minutes because we wasn't necessarily playing for contracts. And at that time, to get all those young guys to do that, because that whole team was essentially brought in in the prime of their career.
Everybody, not one person, everybody. Mm-hmm. And so then, you know, when we lose to the Lakers in game seven. Man, we trade Jermaine O'Neill and Brian Grant. I was like, damn.
Yeah. I was just like, I just was like, I was like. I was like, man, that's a tough one, man. Like, I just, you know, for me, I was just like. Jermaine.
was going to be Jermaine. Jermaine was coming. And then although BG. was injured. that year.
He was still a big part of what we were trying to do. And he was an anchor for us because he brought that toughness. He was going to lay that wood. And then when we made that move to bring in Sean and Dale, now we had to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, and get them to buy into what Jermaine and Brian had already bought into. That was difficult.
And if I'm not mistaken, I think both. Dell and Sean were coming off all-star seasons. Yeah, that makes it and I and I get it too, man, because It's hard to say you don't have regrets when you were right there, where you could touch it, when you were so close to. You know, again, you don't want to be defined by winning championships, but that is a definition. of the true winning situation when you're a pro athlete.
Not that you got there, but that you can walk in that room. You know, with those guys with rings. and be a part of that. You know, when I talk about regrets, too, mine, not that I got hurt, it's probably how I looked at it afterwards, big. because I was a different player.
I jumped off my left foot. I had no power. But trying to always prove that I can give back. And then, when I finally kind of got a chance to understand, okay, this is going to be your role from now on, I was fine with it. But it took some time, man.
That took. I mean some years to kind of figure out.
Okay, you're really not going to be the same player. And then when you were in a situation, I was. important when we were that because that was my first time in the playoffs in 98 99 So that I remember you talked about that.
So that first playoff series, it was a series of five, five games. We beat Phoenix. Man, I was so emotional because I said, man, this is what. This is what I've been seeing, been around people who've been in the playoffs, is all about. Is this time of season, this time of year?
And then for us to be so close. And then come up short. You know, with that. Is The same thing. When you always talk about that team.
Of how talent they want to talk about all this other stuff. I'm like, you realize the talent that we had on that team? in 98, 99 and yours moving forward. But we were 10, 11 deep. I mean, legitimate.
Yeah. And to not be able to accomplish hours like that in Sacramento when C. Webb got hurt in the Western Conference semifinals against Denver. He wins that. I mean, he doesn't get hurt.
We get to the Western Conference finals against San Antonio. You never know what happened. Phoenix Sons, John. Joe Johnson gets hurt. We end up losing in the conference finals to San Antonio.
All three of my losses were to San Antonio, like where we could have had deep runs. And man, I tell you. You look back at it, and it's like, I had a great career, but it's like, I wonder what that moment would feel like to one, be in the championship. to be in the championship competing and then ultimately be able to hoist up that trophy. No question.
I tell you, you know, the thing about it too, too, Jimmy, is that, and I don't have an ego about it, and I've been blessed, man. But the one thing that the coaching has brought me is it, it. It's funny, you know, 'cause When I was in Memphis with the Grizzlies, you know, we were so far away and we got better. And then we upset San Antonio one versus eight seed. And then we take OKC to.
to a seven-game series and lose it. But then we go to Boston. And You know, man, to to to to get to the playoffs and You know, to do the things that we did and to that, go to the finals that first year. I had no clue I was leaving. I was like, man, we gonna, you know, this is gonna be, this is gonna be all right.
Then we come back that second year. You know, we had a best record. You know, you get a chance to, you know, for me, it's funny because we got a chance to coach that all-star game. That was in Utah that year. And so I truly believe this.
I don't want to take nothing away from nobody, but I truly believe this. I feel like that team. You know, they they lost, right? And I had left midseason to take the job at Thanks. But man, we was tired, man.
Like we play straight through. Like, like, it made it actually made me respect all the champions even more. Right, right, with those back-to-back championships, like the three-peat. Yes, like the like the Lakers. Went in.
Three. Like LeBron going to the finals however many years in a row he went. Like man, he he played what he's put this will be 21 22 22 years. 22 years, bro. If you count postseason, he's probably more 24.
Yep, 24, 25. Yeah, definitely, with all those postseason games. You know what I mean? And so that's what people don't understand because I'm coaching.
So, you're doing the film, you're doing all the rest of the stuff. Man, I'm tired. I can't imagine how they felt. Yeah, I mean so From that standpoint. Although I wasn't on the floor running up and down with the fellas.
Like I felt like I was running up and yes, I felt like I was running up and down, running with the fellas, right? And so when you see them big moments, There's a couple moments that just really stand out for me during that run. And one of those moments is... is when we played Milwaukee and Giannis dunked on Big Isle, right? And they called it tech.
And man, I just never seen Al Mad. Man Al War Yanis out. The rest of that game, we end up tying to see. I remember that. Lock defensively was all into him and was in some big shots, too.
Right. And then we go home, lose game five. And I love Boston fans because the Boston fans are brutally honest. And man, we lose game five. You hear a couple boo birds, but not really bad, but you could tell they were, you know, they were like, dang, this might be over.
We go back. to Milwaukee Man, and JT gave them boys a 40-piece, man. It was just like. Bam. And I was like.
All right. This closed for the, you know the old saying, this building is closed for the summer. You won't come back here no more. And we end up winning game seven, and you think about those things, but then I think about the finals, and I say this, and I'm saying what I'm saying, because... even as a coach to Wendell.
It shrinks. It shrinks. Yeah, yeah. And most people sit up there and, you know, sometimes you become a prisoner of the moment. But if you think back to even that 2022 final.
You know, uh But Three and a half quarters, I mean, three and a half games, we were the better team. Game four, we are winning. And the last four minutes at home. We couldn't get it done. And that's when Steph hit a couple big shots.
And as we were going back to the locker room, And you know how the locker room is in Boston.
So the visiting. And the home and the business locker room kind of intersect. And then you go to the left, and then you go to the right, right? Amen. In their locker room, you heard...
You you heard You know, a noise up in there like they won the championship. And I was walking with one of our assistants. I was like, man, it's over, dog. I said, we had our opportunity. They smell blood.
Had to get on that plane, fly five hours back to the bay, got smacked, came home. We just couldn't recover. You got these little small windows, man. And like, you got to take advantage of them. And, you know, that's, that's, that's, you know, it's the, it's, look, it's the agony of defeating a lot of, in a lot of ways, because a lot of times there's only one team can win.
And the success is not always going to be there like that. But, you know, you think back to all those moments, man. And, you know, even in defeat. Like, and thinking about those moments, man, you start to think back as you get a little older, you get all nostalgic and stuff and think back to all the moments that you had as a basketball player. How many relationships you built within the basketball community and all the things that you did individually and then that you did with guys, man.
And it still make you feel good. The result might not have been what you wanted, but it still makes you feel good.
Well, I'm glad you brought it to that point because I wanted to. I appreciate your time and I know you got stuff to do, but it's c two more things. When you look at your entire career, I mean, you got rookie of the year, you got playoff battles, you got some controversies you had.
Now you're. You're a mentor, you're co coaching and teaching young men. What's the biggest difference between the 25-year-old Damon Staden Meyer? And now this mature 50 plus year old Damon Stottenmeyer. You know, I just I care more.
I care more. And, you know, that's, it sounds vague, but I do care. Like, we, like, when I was. younger um It was basketball. You know, it was basketball.
You were defined by basketball. And that's all you really want it to be defined by, right? And I think as you get older, like. when things when I do things or you know, think about things, I think of how they impact everybody around me. You know, my kids, my players, my coaches.
My family. uh my administration uh The city of Atlanta, you know, whatever that looks like. I think about everything before I do. You have to. You have to understand, like, you know, it's not about you at this juncture.
And for me, it's just not about me. I've been blessed. I've lived a great life. I live my dream. Uh of playing in the NBA.
And I never dreamt about, you know, being a head coach, but here I am at Georgia Tech, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. in one of the best cities in the country. And, you know, I've There's not a day that goes by where I don't think about those things, but the impact. Jimmy, because I care. You know, you just, you know, you don't want to let people down.
You know, and and with that being said, you know, you're still gonna let some people down, but you just don't wanna let people down.
So, for me, um, it's the care factor. You know, I just care, you know, I care about everything that's around me and how it impacts me, uh, and how it impacts the people that are next to me. Like that, it really matters. You know, I care what people think about me, you know, the person, you know, how I treat the kids, how I conduct myself, character, all the different things. I care about what people think about me.
Every day I think about those things when I wake up. I totally agree with this. Because I got a chance to know it, even though it was brief, but we got a chance to spend a lot of time talking and hanging that one year. One of my favorite teammates, people of all time. Forget teammates, just people, and to watch your journey.
Uh Through the coaching ranks. And where you're at, I know. The program is going to be better, but more importantly, those young men and those families are going to be better. Because of the tutelage, the insight, the mentorship, but then you add that other layer on it. Not the winning and losing, but the caring part.
So to me, the legacy that you're starting to build on the college side. whether it's fully all the way through with Georgia Tech or wherever it may be. I think it's long lasting because of the maturity in the person that you are. And bro, hopefully I get a chance down the line. In the tournament, sometimes get a chance to cover you.
uh to be able to chop it up with you Uh maybe Be able to say some good things on TV as well. But I appreciate, you know, the thing I appreciate too, the most. about where you're at now. Is that you're 52 when you're in Atlanta and you're living there compared to when you were 25? 26 living in the land.
If you was dead.
So I'm glad it happened later on in your life. Look, I feel and like I say that too, and I'm like, man. It's crazy to think I lived here. I had a place here, came and hung out here in the summertime when I was in my earth. 24, 25, man, riding up Peachtree and all them.
Drop top money of the thing, David. Man, no, it's been a beautiful thing being back here. You know, I got a perspective on it, and you know, it's. You know, it's a great city, man. It is.
It's a great city. And, you know, we're going to get this thing rocking, man. It's funny. Kenny Anderson came up here a couple of weeks ago, and I thought about you. Kenny's mad, bruh.
Yeah, and and and you know, it's you know the history and the and and and the legacy and all the stuff that was built here, man, you know, it's important that we get that back because you know it's it's uh it's it's it's ready the trajectory is the right way And and This year, man, we we we We got to get to that tourney. And, you know, I look forward to you doing one of them games. That would be some full circle stuff right there, boy. Better believe it, man. I'm hoping for the best for you, man.
I know I'll see you down the line. I appreciate you taking the time to come on the show, too, brother. All right, JJ.
Okay. Talk to you, man. All right. All right. Man, incredible.
I mean, probably one of my best interviews I've done up to this point because it was personal. Good friend of mine, of course, with Damaster Meyer, but watching his transition. The insiders from one of the best. Damon, thanks for your time, brother. For anyone, everyone who wants to see his work in action, make sure you follow Georgia Tech basketball this season.
And for more conversations like this, like I always say, hit that subscribe button on YouTube and follow us wherever you get your podcast. I, all of us, appreciate you tuning in.
