Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets Power Forward | Lessons on not giving up and how to build your circle of mentors

This week on The Burn Podcast we had to go back and revisit a conversation with my guy Michael Porter Jr. from the Denver Nuggets. Amid their 24' season playoff run there are so many things coming to fruition that we talked about in this conversation from Season 4 of the show.

I first met Michael when he was at the University of Missouri when I was working with the basketball team. We hit it off and stayed in contact as he battled adversity and eventually got drafted into the NBA.

We talk about some funny memories but we also break down a few critical moments when Michael was able to use some mental training tools to take his game to the next level.

Check out the full episode on Youtube and all podcast platforms.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

But I know I mean you were in my corner the entire time through the rehab process, you know then going into the draft and then you know, our relationship kind of changed, because I reached out to you one day and I was like Welcome to this week's special episode of the Burn.

Speaker 2: 0:30

Grateful and appreciative to each and every single one of you that tune in every single week for our opportunity to be great together, to connect to that burn that ignites why and purpose, that causes us to be disciplined in our action. Today we bring you a special episode, a relationship that I am so thankful for with Michael Porter Jr. Nba season is here. I've had the opportunity to work with athletes in every major sport Olympians, championships won and on this journey you meet amazing individuals who put in the work, who believe, and the relationships make you better. Michael Porter Jr is an example of that. My guy, michael Porter Jr. We go all the way back to freshman year at Mizzou. So many unbelievable memories that we will cover from our relationship.

Speaker 2: 1:25

But I do want to mention one thing to kick things off. I'm just so proud of you you know to be here in San Diego. You're kicking off training camp. This is year four. There's amazing things that have happened. But for all the listeners and this is where I really want to start with you you often and we talk about this how what you do every day manufactures the results that you get. So you've decided to be consistent, because there's a fire that lies inside of you. Where does that fire come from? That has driven this consistency for you to achieve what you've achieved with this great game and what you do in life.

Speaker 1: 2:01

I mean, for me it started at an early age, you know, when I first started playing basketball. Three years old is when I picked up a ball and then I found a love for it. But I also realized, okay, god gave me a certain talent. So I mean, it says it in the Bible and I believe it. You know, whatever you're gonna do, work as hard as you can at it. So it could have been anything that I dipped into.

Speaker 1: 2:20

I was going to go all the way in basketball, whatever, like I never wanted to be average. You know people that just are okay with being average. Like I kind of find a problem with that because it's strange to me, like, why would you not go, try to be the best? So, whether that was school, you know a board game, whatever, I was just competitive and, um, you know, for me it's been a long journey. But but then you have your why's too, like why do you do what you do? And mine is, like I said, trying to maximize my potential, what God's given me, um.

Speaker 1: 2:50

And then the other one is you know my family, seeing the sacrifices they did for me. Um, I never missed a game because my mom would bring me that, even when we didn't have money, she was going to find a way to give it, get us to the game. Um, you know things like that. They make you want to give back to them. So now to be able to bless them you know, you're here with me right now, on the day that I I just did my deal with Denver. You know my extension and to just be able to think of all that work, all those late nights, early mornings, to be able to sign this contract and now take care of my family for the rest of my life like that's things like that is what get me up in the morning. And it's just crazy when you see your stuff start to pay off.

Speaker 2: 3:31

Well, you know, you're an amazing example for your similar siblings in terms of how you show up, and that that burn is definitely lit in you. I'm gonna get a little emotional thinking about this, and I hadn't thought about this in preparation, but it just hit me. When you mentioned God, I remember when you were going through your challenge and adversity and I sent you a Bible verse that I've said to myself every single day since February of 2008, when I texted you James 112. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he stood the test to receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him and I remember an interview that you did and you shared that Bible verse and to be sitting here today, on this day when you signed this contract, knowing that you stayed faithful, you continue to show up every day.

Speaker 2: 4:18

It uh it. It makes me emotional because you can say things or share things, but sometimes they don't stick. But I think that's what's special about you is you take things in, you process them because you're a very smart guy. That's why you have your show Curious Mike, and so you process these things, but then you choose to take action. I think that makes you special.

Speaker 1: 4:36

Yeah, it's unbelievable man. I mean coming through all that adversity. Do you have any stories from kind of when we met, or any stories during our time in Mizzou of me that you like would remember, Because you were always around but I didn't always you saw everything. Did you have any stories?

Speaker 2: 4:51

Oh yeah, so the first one is so I was a hooper back in the day, as you know. However, I could shoot a little bit. I was slow, I couldn't jump, so I had a couple D3 opportunities, but I ended up going to Michigan State to watch them win a title. But, being a shooter, I was always impressed with shooters. So one of the first things was, I thought, when I came to the first practice, my first day, you were at the top of the key and you hit 19 straight three-pointers. And what went through my mind it wasn't necessarily the 19th, it was the number of shots that this young man must have taken in order to put yourself in position to hit 19 straight three pointers, right. And so I always look at work ethic like what allows somebody to achieve what they achieve. And so number one was the work ethic. And then the second story, which is, you know, painful, but you know the pain is what leads us to our growth was.

Speaker 2: 5:42

I remember the first game? Yeah, I remember Iowa State. Everybody's excited, everybody's energized. And I remember you came up to me in the locker room and you're like bro, I don't know if I can go, and I mean the emotion was in your face. Your back was killing you and I just admired the fact that you put it on the line for the team. That night you made it about the team and you attempted to go out there, knowing the pain that you were in, and we know what happened afterwards. But then to come back and to battle to, you know, when we were playing Tennessee in the NCAA tournament that year yeah, yeah, yeah, I think about that. It's one of those things you got heart, you got guts, you got fight in you. Guts, you got fighting you. Yeah, that's why you're achieving what you're achieving. But those are the things that I remember. You know it's the hard work, but then it's the mindset that you have.

Speaker 1: 6:29

That's crazy, because I remember that vividly too, that that game, um, and I remember coming up to you because I was like, huh, he's such a good speaker, what if he could just speak it into me, like, what if he could say something to make the pain go away? Because I knew like you were, you had that, so uh, so yeah, I remember that. And then, but, nah, bro, it was just too much. Like the few days leading up to that game it was getting worse and worse. So by that time it was, it was, it was impossible to play. But I know, I mean you were in my corner the entire time through the rehab process, you know.

Speaker 1: 7:00

Then going into the draft, um, and then, you know, our relationship kind of changed because because I reached out to you one day and I was like, man, I'm going through this, I forget what it was, but I was like could you just send me messages daily? This was, man, years ago, bro. I was like, can you send me messages to encourage me daily? And ever since then, every single morning, I wake up to a text from you I don't think it've missed one morning saying something motivational, something for the day, and that's unbelievable, because I mentioned it one time and I know a lot of people. They will like you talk about it all the time. They'll talk the talk or they'll say, yeah, I'll do this for you, whatever. But then they never follow through or they might feel like a week it's been every single day, like, like, how did you get that consistency about you, or just that routine? I mean, like those texts are coming in at 2 or 3 am you know what I'm saying? Like how did you?

Speaker 2: 7:51

my favorite texts are the ones where you say things to me like bro, what time did you go to bed last night? What time did you wake up?

Speaker 1: 7:57

today.

Speaker 2: 7:58

It's unbelievable well, you know, it's one of those things I'm driven by embracing your everyday opportunity. You know my story. I shared it with you guys the first time that I spoke at Mizzou, when Konzo brought me in, which was such a blessing being able to work with you guys. That year, my mom passed away 11 days before my eighth birthday. My parents were divorced when I was six months old. All I've ever known is challenge and adversity. I'm a 42-year-old man. My mother passed away at 38 from a rare muscle disease there's still no cure for so every day past 38 has been a gift that God has given me. So if I have a blessing of having a relationship with somebody like you and you ask me to help you with something, I'm going to be there to help you, and that's all I know. To help you, and that's all. That's all I know. And I think the world.

Speaker 2: 8:43

Unfortunately, there are too many people, as you just referenced. They like to talk, but the action tells the real story, right, and so our real relationship comes from. Can you call me in a bind and I'm going to be there for you. Yeah, oh, mike, I'll call you in a few days. I'm busy. No, no, I'm going to be there for you, cause that's the relationship that we have, and I think that's what life is all about, and I think there's too many people who talk rather than driving action and building relationships, because that's what life's about.

Speaker 1: 9:08

No doubt, and you do a great job of helping us. I mean those Mizzou days me. Now I know you talk to a lot of teams still, but, like you personally, as your own individual, how did you get to the point where you were making these life habits of like remember, uh, not too long ago there was a fight. I think it ended at like 12 am. I still get my text from you at 3 am like I'm like bro, did you sleep? You? I just saw you on tv at the fight. Like how did you get that that in you where you were just that?

Speaker 2: 9:38

one in full disclosure. I'm gonna tell the people. I sent the text before I went to bed that night because I was still up, it was Easter time and I'm like I was thinking to myself, I mean, am I going to wake up in an hour and send my messages? And I'm like I'm sending them. That was one night where I had to do that, because I do have to get some sleep, right, but a lot of the discipline is it's wanting to maximize every single day.

Speaker 3: 10:02

Right, so for you, you have a choice.

Speaker 2: 10:04

You have earned everything that you've had. You've fought through all the adversity because you made a choice. Here's how I'm going to work, and oftentimes it's not the work that the Nuggets ask you to do, it's the unrequired work, it's the extra work. My guy Messer I remember speaking to his team at SIUE when he played back in the day years ago. They would bring me in to speak and you know it's the work that you guys put in in the gym. That's what gets it done. And so for me it's the little things that I've been blessed to have coaches and mentors in my life who have helped me understand. If you do the little things every day and you keep stacking those habits every day, day after day after day from my nutrition to my health, to how I show up for my family and my kids, to how I work If we just take it one day at a time and choose to win one day at a time, you will have success Right, and I think a lot of people they get so caught up in. I want the result.

Speaker 2: 10:53

Give me the result, the long term goal, give it to me right now, as opposed to, are you willing to do what it takes every day in order to achieve that result? Most people, they don't have that consistency. And I believe one more thing we have to be the example.

Speaker 1: 11:10

We have to be the example. You can't talk about it if you're not doing it.

Speaker 2: 11:13

I mean there would be a different level of respect, or maybe we wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't show up in my life and have discipline, Because how could you and I have a conversation? About discipline if I was completely undisciplined, there would just be a different level of respect, and so I feel like you have to be an example of showing up and doing the things. How could I have a conversation with you about discipline if I'm undisciplined?

Speaker 1: 11:33

Exactly so, man. I know a lot of people like they want to make these life habits, these new changes.

Speaker 3: 11:50

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Speaker 1: 12:13

I don't know if you ever have off days, but like when people have a bad day or they feel like they lost the day, how do you, when you're so driven by a standard and you're putting these streaks together whatever it is and you have a bad day, how do you kind of like bounce back from that guilt and not let one bad day turn into oh, I'm going to just give it all up, because a lot of people do that. They make these New Year's resolutions they might do good for like a week and then they fall off for a day, and now it's kind of hard to get back on the right path.

Speaker 2: 12:45

What do you say to people like that? For me it's about the shifting of perspective, right, as tough as it is on the ears. I go back to my mother coming to the dining room table with an IV stand while we had 24-hour nursing care in our house her last year living to ask my older brother, Drew and I, how our days were at school. So if my mother was able to do that, what's really a bad day for me? So I just shift the perspective. I call that the power to reframe. It's our ability to focus on the solution rather than the problem, and I think that's the opportunity. It doesn't mean I don't have bad days. I still have two coaches. I read books every day. I have mentors. I'm high maintenance, right, I mean I have issues, I have problems, I have struggles, but I have people there to help me. So, number one, I think it's acknowledging it's okay to have challenge and adversity I have it all the time but I have those confidants and individuals that I reach out to who help me get through it.

Speaker 1: 13:33

I think any time we try to manage it alone.

Speaker 2: 13:35

that's where we get in trouble, no doubt.

Speaker 1: 13:36

That's why.

Speaker 2: 13:37

I admire when you'll pick up the phone and call me. Hey, let's talk through something. If you try to do it by yourself, you take it on to the court. So my goal in a conversation like that is I want to provide peace of mind for you.

Speaker 1: 13:51

Let's leave it off the court. So, like you said, the ability to reframe is so much more easier said than done, but it really is a choice, like, I think, a lot of people, especially in today's age I don't know if it's social media or what it is, but they have a hard time with anxiety, like choosing their thoughts. Um, is that kind of like a muscle, like you have to just do it over and over and then you get better at kind of choosing to think positive, or is it just getting off your phone? I think this is it for me kind of getting off my phone, going in a quiet space and just sitting and then kind of changing perspectives, because it's hard, like you say it all the time eliminate distractions. Is that the only way you can really do it, you think?

Speaker 2: 14:30

yeah, I mean, you just said it, you've identified. I have to put my phone away if I'm actually going to free my mind.

Speaker 2: 14:36

Right, so most people know you should probably put your phone away. Yeah, and then what do most people do? They don't put their phone away. So you've identified. Okay. Here's the shift I have to make in my environment if I'm actually going to clear my mind, and I think that's common for any. We all know what we need to do, but do we actually choose to do the things we know we need to do? To have a clear mind, to perform, or to give ourselves that peace, or to be able to push away?

Speaker 1: 14:57

Isn't that funny, though, like we, we always say like when, for a lot of people that struggle with social media use or whatever, when I get off social media I feel the best I've ever felt, but then, like, we always kind of end up going back to some of the destructive things in our life. I don't know where that comes from. Like I know there's a quote that says a lot of times we are more afraid of our true light and potential than we are of our darkness. We feel more comfortable, kind of in our old bad habits and the things we used to do, which is kind of a crazy thought. You know what I mean. Some people are so like it's actually hard for them to evolve and become their better self because it's just uncomfortable. And you talk about that.

Speaker 2: 15:34

People don't like being uncomfortable, right, and it's easier to be comfortable. It's easier to just live in comfort. It's hard to be uncomfortable. It's hard to do something repeatedly, over and over and over again. Right, there's a point when you train, right, you're going to reach a wall and people's greatest growth comes when you push through that wall. And then when that uncomfortable becomes comfortable, then it's the choice Can I get to uncomfortable again? And that's where greatness really comes through. It's when it's that constant pursuit of being uncomfortable, when most people just want to stay comfortable or they reach a point of being content. And so I know these types of conversations. It's hard for people. Sometimes they're like oh my goodness, like this is kind of freaking me out a little bit, you know, but we all have it in us in order to get to that place. But you have to choose to go there and once you test yourself, you realize what you have, you realize you perform at a higher level. More confidence comes. That confidence shows up in all areas of your life and it just feels good.

Speaker 2: 16:29

You're not doing what you know you need to do to feel good. That doesn't feel good Exactly, but people seek that sometimes.

Speaker 1: 16:35

Yeah. So you said on the way here, you woke up at 1 o'clock to get your workout in because you knew you're going to perform your best. You got to get your workout in when you went to go speak in Orlando. So I actually I think you brought that up one time about being uncomfortable and I actually took that and I tried to like apply it to my like I hate cold tubs.

Speaker 1: 16:53

So took that and I tried to like apply it to my like I hate cold tubs. So I was like you sent me a text one time. You were like uncomfort, uncomfortability or whatever the word is, speeds up the process of mental toughness. And so I took that and I was like I'm gonna try to make myself as uncomfortable as I can be in my workouts or my. You know, recovery, whatever it is, and it really is true like when you push yourself and it's I mean even in the weight room, you know if you throw on to where you can barely lift it when it's uncomfortable, that's how you really get stronger. You know what I'm saying. So it's, that's a fact.

Speaker 2: 17:26

That's another moment. I remember when you were coming back from your rehab. I remember when I would come for lifts and Nick is pushing everybody, as he always does, keeping everybody uncomfortable, and I remember you had the iPad tracking everybody, but you were still getting a little bit in and I knew there was something special about your ability to stay uncomfortable. When you would, you'd grab some weights and, even though you probably weren't supposed to be doing it, you're like I'm going to push a little bit. I'm going to push a little bit. See, that's a choice. It was a choice for you to push yourself. There was a choice for you to get inside the cold tub.

Speaker 2: 17:56

What a lot of people don't realize is those little decisions and choices. My mother taught me the greatest life lesson I've ever learned before she passed away it's not how long you live, it's how you choose to live your life. And most people don't realize when you choose to get in the cold tub, you're manufacturing a 35 point game Right when you eat right and I know how important nutrition is to you because I used to make smoothies for you in the weight room too. I know the nutrition You're manufacturing by eating right. A 32-point game, a 17-rebound night, a new contract that you signed. So all those little things manufactured, but most people aren't willing to consistently show up and do those things it's gone to the point, like you said, I don't even feel.

Speaker 1: 18:39

I don't feel comfortable now. Unless I'm uncomfortable and you're probably the same way like unless you see the growth every day, you're not gonna feel like yourself. You have it. You have a good saying. You text it to me every Friday champions create distance on Fridays. Where does that come from?

Speaker 2: 18:54

so that came from. All my work actually started corporately, so my speaking I've been doing this for 15 years, so everything was corporate from 06 until 2011,. Until my old high school basketball coach in 2011 called me. His name was Todd Basler and he said Benny boy. He still calls me Benny boy to this day. Benny boy, these guys are underperforming. Come and talk to them. You come talk to these guys for me and they were playing Parkway Central. Central was ranked 10th, ledoux was unranked and I came and I fired these guys up and they knock off Parkway Central and I'm hooked. That's when all my work in sports started.

Speaker 2: 19:28

So then it became sports analogies and business kind of blending it together and then it just hit me. I think I've been saying it for eight or nine years now it's every Friday. Champions create distance on Fridays because most people what do they do? Right? If we're talking about an eight to five, they show up. I can't wait to clock out. They're already thinking about the weekend. And then they get to Saturday and they're so disappointed in themselves that they didn't work on Friday, which then creates stress for Monday. Yet the highest performer say if today's a workday, I'm going to attack that workday. I'm going to create distance from the people. Maybe that's creating a promotion, it's a manufacturing right, it's manufacturing their next opportunity, and so champions tend to do the little bit extra when other individuals stay content and they hold back from doing what's needed.

Speaker 1: 20:10

Yeah, no doubt it's crazy, because people will take those days off, those Fridays, saturdays, sundays.

Speaker 1: 20:15

And then they're stressed out come Monday, you come stressed out, or even in basketball, like I've noticed this If I take two days off on the weekend, you come back and you lost a little bit of the ground you gained. So even if you go in for a little bit, touch shots, feel the ball, you're going to retain some of the stuff you worked on through the week. But if you just take the whole weekend off, at least for me, like I can't, I don't, I don't come back the same come Monday and then it takes Tuesday and Wednesday, by Wednesday I'll feel back normal and then you know what I mean. So if you're just consistent every day, like that's the way to do it. Um, for this conversation all I had to do was go through our texts and I got like stuff I wanted to ask you about. So another one you talk about is no undue pressure, and you text me this before games. You'll say eliminate distractions and no undue pressure. What do you mean by that?

Speaker 2: 21:05

When you step onto the court, the last thing I want you thinking about is I have to have a 35 point night. I have to hit six, three pointers tonight. I have to. That's thinking about the result that you cannot control. If you do your preparation which we know how hard you work off the court in those unseen hours, as our guide likes to say right in those unseen hours, then you're prepared for the game. So why should there be pressure? Why should there be stress? Why should you worry about your point? You've already put in the work. You just need to play loose, attack those 48 minutes, give it everything that you've got, one possession at a time. So don't put any pressure on yourself. No undo, but don't put the pressure on yourself. Right. Eliminate all distractions so there's peace of mind. When you get onto the court and we've had conversations right Times where things are challenging your mind's racing a little bit we can quiet the mind. It allows you to attack at your highest level.

Speaker 1: 21:55

It's crazy how that works. The freer you are, the higher you can perform. If you've put in the work beforehand, that's the key, though yeah, if you've put in the work.

Speaker 2: 22:05

Because if you just, Once the game starts, you can look the man across from you and if you know he hasn you can see it in his eyes you will have 35 points. Yeah, because I will attack every possession. You're not going to stop me tonight Because I can see in your eyes. You have not worked the way that I work, no doubt, and that's a massive advantage that you can have as an athlete.

Speaker 1: 22:21

Man, especially at this level, because it's all about at the NBA level. It's not about the skill you know everyone's skilled there's more skilled players than others but way more about who has the mental edge and that only comes from the work you put in. Like I remember my rookie year people were like yo, why is he shooting that shot? It's because I knew I shot that shot way more times than anyone else on the court was putting in the work. You know what I mean. So you just feel more confident in yourself and that's the way to do it. You just came out with a book, bro, oncoming Leadership. You talk about the way the best leaders lead. Talk about that because you're obviously a leader of leaders. You know what I'm saying. You talk to a lot of people, help a lot of people. What are your tips for being a good leader? Do you think it needs to be vocal by example? Like what are your biggest things?

Speaker 2: 23:12

So there's I would say there's five common things, themes. So I wanted to honor 11 leaders that have impacted my life, because the blessing of my work is, you know, you can say these things I've helped you. You inspire me, right, your work every day. You fighting through challenge and adversity. When I see pain in your eyes, but you fight through it. That inspires me, right. So it's an iron sharpens iron. So I wanted to honor 11 people that have impacted my life, how I show up, and 11 amazing leaders that I've worked with.

Speaker 2: 23:40

And there's five things that they had in common. Number one they do what I call the unrequired. They're willing to do that little bit extra, like we talk about. Everybody knows what's required for you to win the day, to be your best, but the individuals who do that little bit extra they're the one. A little bit extra every day you keep stacking those days makes a profound difference. Number two they connect to the burn. They understand what drives them. So for me, when I wake up, I think about my mother every single day, literally on my phone. My alarm on my phone says my mother's name Jan Fishman Newman. I wear a bracelet that says legacy. I have a little journal. I write Jan Fishman Newman every morning, right. And that's what the highest performers do. They connect to that burn. They also live to the standard. They don't allow their feelings to dictate how they show up, right. So if I were to text you before a game, oh, you went for 35 last night. Go do it again. We're living in the past of your feelings.

Speaker 1: 24:33

No doubt as opposed to same thing.

Speaker 2: 24:35

Nothing changes. No undue pressure. Eliminate distractions, one possession at a time. Just go cut loose and be you, yeah Right. So that's a standard that you've created for you to have the right mindset when you step on the court.

Speaker 1: 24:47

Yeah, I want to pause you right there Because, giannis, I think he is a professional at doing that. Nikola Jokic is another one. It doesn't matter if they play good, bad, whatever. They're not thinking about that. Once the game's over, they're their same self. If they have 50 points, they're not getting too high, because then it's going to affect how they play the next game. I know a lot of athletes they'll have a good game but then they'll be really high for a second, but then they're kind of scared for the next game because, like I gotta outdo what I just did or match it, and then they end up, you know tripping or not having a good game. But, like you said, when you can move on from that previous performance or maybe you know be happy, but then, like, once you go home, you know you sleep, wake up the next day it's all over again. You know what I mean, you got to do it again. Um, that, I feel like, is a big key for athletes to like be consistent in their performances.

Speaker 2: 25:36

They have to. And that goes to the fourth principle, which is to lock in. You've got to lock in consistently, it's not occasionally. So you now understand you have to be happy for yourself, right? I mean, you had a great game, team wins a game, great team effort, great contribution, but the next day you've got to lock in again. That's what the greatest champions do. You just said it. You got to lock. You got to go back to work the next day, right.

Speaker 2: 25:57

And then the last thing, it's a transfer of belief. They believe believe in themselves and they believe in the individuals around them, right? So there's a great belief you have in yourself, right? Cause for all of us, I always say you know you, meaning God gave it to you, but you got to choose to go and take it. That's a belief you have. I'm going to go take this every day. A lot of people don't choose to do that, but then you also have an opportunity, through your example, to lead other people on the team, to lead other people in your life, your brothers and sisters and your big beautiful family. Right To be an example and go take yours too.

Speaker 3: 26:31

Because you would. You would do it for the whole family.

Speaker 2: 26:33

But the reality is you've got to take care of yours, but be a great example for them to do it for themselves.

Speaker 1: 26:38

Man, it's crazy. You say that Perseverance under trial. I mean that was my mindset the entire time going through the injury. Like I knew God isn't going to leave us in our challenges or adversity. So I knew, you know, if I stand firm and have faith, he's going to get me through it and he's going to bless us more. You know God says like, if we have faith in him, he works everything out for our good. So I had no worries as far as that go.

Speaker 1: 27:02

And I think one thing that people don't understand and you know this too adversity can be your best friend. Like, once you get through that adversity, you learn things, you grow as a person to now where when little things affect you, they don't even phase you. You know what I mean. Like because of the bigger things I went through and I've gotten through, little stuff doesn't even shake me and I don't know if I would have been the person I am right now if everything would have been smooth sailing. So I think when people see adversity, sometimes they run, they don't persevere. But I mean god says like, when you persevere, there's blessing in that. So I'm that firsthand. And it's just crazy because God is good man, he really is, and the best is yet to come.

Speaker 1: 27:39

The best is, yet it's just early, I'm 23 years old 23, yeah.

Speaker 2: 27:44

So many people are given talent right. It comes from parents, things of that nature. Both of your parents are athletes. It was fun to have the opportunity to work with your dad as part of that that mizzou that first year. But I know the real hooper in the house is your mom.

Speaker 2: 28:04

Your mom used to go for like 40 a game in high school, right, man? So tell us about growing up having parents that were athletes, a mom that used to be able to get down on the court too. And then what was it for you? Because you were given talent right, so it was within you, but then you chose to take this amazing talent.

Speaker 1: 28:19

Yeah, so, like you said, it was my mom who was a superstar in the family. Like my dad could hoop. My mom averaged like 50 in high school 50?, like something astronomical. She went to Iowa still holds some scoring records there had like a 70-something point game. So she was playing overseas when she started having having kids. You know they weren't even trying to have kids brie, sierra and then me.

Speaker 1: 28:41

I don't think we were really supposed, but then she kind of gave it up and was like I'm gonna be a homeschooled mom. So she helped us through everything. But I think, like having parents you know, that kind of kind of helped us along the way. But but then, like I was saying earlier, man, like it doesn't matter what it is, god has given all of us a unique talent. It's just up to us to find it. Um, it was kind of obvious for me, cause I was six, 10, you know, loved basketball, but for a lot of people it's not that easy. But I think once you find kind of what God has blessed you in, you say I just saw it on your Instagram You're supposed to pray like it depends on God, but then work as if it's up to you. So that's what I did, like I would pray, you know I'd realize that God blessed me a certain way, but then it's up to us to put in the work. You know what I mean. He doesn't do it for you. So that was my mindset.

Speaker 2: 29:29

So, mpj, once again, congratulations. I'm just, I'm so proud of your work every single day, the consistency and, as we mentioned earlier, I know that the best is yet to come. They haven't seen anything yet, nothing because of your choice, of how you work, your commitment to your teammates. I know you guys are going to get after it here in training camp. You know I'm going to be in your corner all season long, yes, sir, and we're in your corner. All the guests that come on the show with the burn. We're here to help share different perspectives, so that you can connect to your burn, to show up more consistently in your life, so that burn can ignite you. Light. That why and purpose on fire every day and go, take the necessary action. We'll look forward to seeing you next week, yes, sir. Outro Music.