0:03

We've got to go to.

0:04

On this edition of Magic Pod Squad,

0:06

we catch up with former Magic player, nine

0:08

year NBA veteran Carlos Arroyo,

0:11

now the general manager of the Puerto Rican national

0:13

basketball team.

0:14

Just one of the many things on his current resume.

0:17

He's in the music, he's been in movies,

0:20

just an unbelievable professional basketball

0:22

career, and now he's building something special

0:25

with the Puerto Rican national team. Magic

0:27

fans apport a Department of Transportation reminds

0:29

you that fans dorole, that fans drive drunk. If

0:31

you've been drinking, don't get behind the wheel.

0:33

Instead, find a sober driver or catch a

0:35

ride service. Remember, drive sober or

0:38

get pulled over, have a great night, and

0:40

drive safe. Lots to get into with

0:42

Carlos Arroyo, including how

0:44

he got to Orlando, his conversation with

0:47

Joe Dumars, then the general manager of the Pistons

0:49

that ultimately led to Carlos

0:52

arriving here in City beautiful, how much

0:54

he appreciated the Puerto Rican

0:56

in the Latin community for completely

0:58

embracing him during his three years

1:00

here in Central Florida, something that he is eternally

1:03

grateful for, and what he's up to now

1:05

with the Puerto Rican national team. Terrific

1:07

stuff with Carlos Arroyo on this

1:09

edition of Magic Pod Squad does

1:11

his.

1:12

Fawns long enough to Orlando Magic. This is Cole

1:14

Anthony, This is Jennon Suggs, This is Paulo

1:16

Man Carroll the Orlando Magic and you're listening

1:18

to the Pods Squad. Hey,

1:21

welcome.

1:22

Eber went to another edition of Magic Pod Squad

1:24

Dante Marcatelli, George Galante, Jake

1:26

Chapman, and Carlos Arroyo, former

1:29

Magic player now the general manager

1:31

with Team Puerto Rico, doing.

1:32

A fantastic job building that team.

1:35

Carlos played nine NBA seasons from

1:37

two thousand and one to twenty eleven. Three

1:39

here in Orlando from two thousand and five

1:41

to two thousand and eight, And Carlos, is

1:43

this right? I knew you had played, I

1:45

knew you had a long career overseas,

1:48

but I think you stopped playing professionally

1:50

about six months ago.

1:51

I have

1:54

good depth.

1:55

I mean, nineteen ninety

1:57

six to twenty nineteen, that's

1:59

a heck, that's a head giver career.

2:01

My friend. It's been a long journey,

2:04

but you know, a great one. I mean the

2:06

Big three, you know cows as

2:08

part of my career as a professional.

2:10

Yes, well,

2:12

it's always great to see a college. We appreciate

2:15

you doing this all over due to catch

2:17

up, but kind of let everybody know

2:19

what you're up to now. I know, between running

2:22

team Puerto Rico, between following your

2:24

daughters around and their volleyball career, I

2:26

mean, I don't know I have time for anything else.

2:29

Yeah, I've been fortunate to you know, be able

2:31

to uh say on my

2:33

feet as you can say, I mean, and

2:36

then do little things here and there. I like to have

2:38

the flexibility of not

2:40

being at a job, you know, and committed

2:43

to a job undred percent. I like to you know, be with

2:45

the national team as well as you know, following

2:47

my girls around with volleyball and my oldest

2:49

other and she's already in college, and I got

2:51

the two little ones at the house, and

2:54

you know, you know, in the national

2:56

team itself.

2:57

It's it's a it's.

2:59

A twenty four seven jobs throughout

3:01

the year, you know, with qualifiers that we have with FEBA

3:03

and recruiting and.

3:04

All that stuff.

3:05

So you know, I try to stay pretty

3:07

busy. I've done music here and there,

3:09

and I was able to you know, be

3:11

a part of a movie you

3:13

know that came with the music. So doors,

3:16

doors, those doors open for me.

3:19

I just try to take advantage of, you know, the

3:21

things that I did when I was playing and the

3:24

doors that are opening now.

3:25

And I've been blessed to be honest with

3:27

you guys.

3:28

He's being modest. He's being modest. He says

3:30

music here and there. He's a music sensation.

3:32

With saying we can't gloss

3:35

over and like like we

3:37

can't get into that a little bit now, we

3:39

can't just gloss over the music part of

3:41

this.

3:42

I mean it was always a passion

3:44

of mine.

3:45

You know, I never had the time because I was always traveling

3:47

when I was in the league and when I was in Europe. So and

3:50

you know his producing music takes a long

3:52

time. You know, you have to be in the studio for you

3:55

know, so many hours. I mean, you know, I had kids

3:57

at home and I had to go to my wife.

4:00

Arm the other and you know, when are you coming

4:02

on? Why are you going to retired? You should be you know,

4:04

so you go through all those ups

4:07

and downs of you know, being retired and wanting

4:09

finding yourself, you know, you

4:11

know, seeing what what fits better, uh, once

4:13

you're done playing. But you know, for

4:16

the most part, you know, my family supports everything I do.

4:18

So it's been a blessing.

4:21

Now do they get to come on, like because we were doing

4:23

this podcast right now and you're you're in Chile

4:26

right now. Yeah, Like, do they do they

4:28

get to come on some of these excursions with you? I mean,

4:30

you're you're riding all over the world. Still

4:33

not really, Yeah, we

4:35

were, you know, we had the World Cup

4:37

this summer. We were in Philippines, and we had all those

4:39

exhibition games before the World Cup leading to the

4:41

World Cup. So we wait to Italy, survey

4:43

and all these places.

4:44

But not really. You know, my girls

4:47

they do travel well in the summer and throughout

4:49

the year. They do the clubs.

4:50

You know, they have the club seasons and you

4:52

know, now I'm o oldest season and Dane Hyland

4:54

she got a scholarship to play volleyball with it. So she's

4:56

over there going through her freshman year. And

4:58

my two little ones are in school where they have their own

5:00

activity. So my wife is always

5:02

you know, she's the one, you know, she's ober drive

5:05

at the house when I'm not there so but

5:08

you know, I like, you know, I love taking

5:10

my kids to school. You know, I loved that part

5:12

of being a father as well. You know, I miss so much when

5:14

I was playing and traveling. You know, I'm just

5:17

trying to catch up with those times that I missed.

5:20

Carols, What appealed to you about producing music

5:23

when you got started? How how did

5:25

it sort of take you away from from the grind

5:27

of being a pro basketball player.

5:30

You know what pushed

5:32

me to to do music was you know, at the time

5:35

I retired, the music business was just

5:37

growing so fast, especially the reggae

5:40

tall and Latin urban music.

5:42

And you know, I decided, I said, you know what, I have a great

5:44

relationship with all these artists. Why

5:46

do I, you know, try to find a label

5:48

that can support the vision that I have with the project

5:50

that I wanted.

5:51

To do and and you know, maybe I can make

5:53

some money. And it went like that. It

5:55

wasn't easy, But.

5:58

I thank God for basketball every day because

6:00

of the relationship that I build, because

6:02

of the respect that I got for the years that I played

6:04

in the national team and then the NBA.

6:07

You know a lot of those guys, you know, we build religions

6:09

when I'm friends with most of these guys. So

6:12

but it wasn't easy, you know that the music

6:15

industry, you know, especially when you're trying

6:17

to do a collapse, you have to be after

6:19

guys constantly, you know, to jump on the

6:21

track or you know, find time

6:23

to do a video or you know, because their

6:25

schedules are so so different

6:27

than you know, athletes, and

6:30

they don't have no time discipline

6:32

when it comes to going to studio. You know, they

6:35

might tell, you know, I'll be there at eight and they show

6:37

up at twelve.

6:38

You know what I'm saying. But you one of the features.

6:40

So you have to kind of like you

6:42

have to suck it up and you know, and

6:45

grind.

6:46

George doesn't feel bad because he's been chasing around

6:48

NBA players for twenty five years, so he knows

6:50

exactly what you're talking.

6:52

Right, I do not

6:54

feel bad now, you know about to sit around and wait

6:56

part of this, right, I always like

6:58

to tell each other it's like, oh, we spent a lot of times

7:00

sitting around and waiting, you

7:02

know.

7:03

Far athletes, athletes as you know, George

7:05

and Dante as you know. You know, if

7:07

we have practice at ten, we probably there as nine

7:09

true.

7:10

I see what I'm saying. Actually, you know, and artists

7:12

they are not like that. They might not show up.

7:14

They might not show up and I'll tell you why they didn't show

7:16

up. You know. So their

7:18

schedule is just very is it, you know, mixed?

7:22

Is it different on a movie set? Did you enjoy

7:24

that experience? I imagine those things have to happen

7:26

like clockwork. When you set up to shoot a movie

7:29

that was great.

7:30

Uh, you know, that was one

7:32

of those experiences where you know, you

7:35

try to you're in a

7:37

situation where you've never been you know music.

7:39

Yeah, I've been doing music since Ide with a kid, you know, and

7:42

you know, with my friends back home in Puerto Rico.

7:43

But you know, being at a.

7:44

Movie set, you know, everything is by the clock, and

7:47

everything is very disciplined structure,

7:49

you know, you know, call up at five in

7:51

the morning, you have somebody there for thirty already

7:53

waiting on you to get, you know, to the studio

7:55

that can do makeup and all that stuff.

7:57

And or they say, you know, action is

7:59

action, you know, whatever time they tell

8:01

you. It's more structure than the music business.

8:04

I want to get into this car. We know it because We had you

8:06

here for three years, and it was a fun three years here

8:08

in Central Florida. It was fun for us to get to know you,

8:10

and I know it was fun for the fans and a lot of Puerto

8:13

Rican fans here in Central Florida,

8:15

so I know they'd love to have you here, and I know

8:17

you enjoyed your time here as well. But let

8:19

everybody know your basketball journey. Ultimately

8:22

you get to the NBA, but your story

8:24

and to make it, and you know, to be an NBA

8:26

player to have the career you had is fascinating

8:28

and it's it's a credit to the hard work that you

8:31

put in.

8:32

Thank you, Thank you so much.

8:35

I think most of Latino's not my

8:37

journey, but you know I was one to raise in Puerto Rico

8:39

turn pro when I was sixteen.

8:41

My father wanted me to turn pro when I was sixteen.

8:43

Back then, you can still play in your

8:45

college and you

8:47

know, I could still play in the NCAA and go

8:50

back home and make some money and you know,

8:52

be a pro and be a part of Division

8:54

one basketball, which it was my dream.

8:58

That wasn't drafted.

8:59

You know, I had pretty solid senior

9:01

year and I got invited to some vetcams. We

9:03

decided to go with the Toronto

9:05

Raptors. That opened the doors for me that first year.

9:07

So I went to vetcamp them having

9:09

fifteen guarantee contracts, which I told my

9:11

agent, I don't know what I'm doing here, because

9:13

you know, there's no way I can make a team.

9:17

I did well enough for them to open a spot

9:19

for me and give

9:21

me a non guaranteed contract. So I was with them

9:23

to like half of the season, and then I

9:26

went to Spain that

9:29

first year, played a month there, and

9:31

finished the season with Denver. They got me a ten day

9:33

card again. After that, I signed

9:35

with Utah and then I was I

9:38

think from Utah, I went to Detroit and then

9:40

and then that's where I ended up in Orlando.

9:42

But I mean, my journey's been one

9:47

of you know, of those journeys

9:49

that you'd say, you know, where's even gonna end up next?

9:51

But I really learned that appreciated

9:53

every coach that I had, every teammate that I had.

9:55

I played with some great players.

9:58

I was fortunate enough when I was in a land.

10:00

I know, my first year with Grant you

10:02

know, and Stakesy Argument and all those

10:04

guys, you know, uh, the white and his speak.

10:06

So I

10:09

was blessed. I was blessed my whole career.

10:10

I learned a lot from every organization

10:13

that I was a part of, and even when I went to

10:15

Europe. It was a

10:17

moment where in Europe where I was like, can I

10:19

do this because it's just different culture

10:21

wise. You know, it hits you when you go to

10:23

Europe. It's not for everyone. So I had to adapt.

10:26

Even though I was playing in the.

10:27

National team and I had just FHEBA

10:29

rules and the way they played. It was totally different from

10:32

the NBA.

10:32

But I playing with the national team

10:34

and helped me at that better. But I still had

10:36

to get adjusted with you know, the food and the

10:38

language and the culture. It was just,

10:43

you know, it was just difficult times.

10:45

You know.

10:45

I was there by myself most of the times. My family,

10:47

you know, went with me.

10:49

My first year in Europe was in Israel, so I

10:51

told my wife that's when I had my first

10:53

daughter, and I told him I'm going to go first

10:55

to see how it is and everything gets settled, and then

10:57

I'll bring you guys over the same

11:00

when I went went to Turkey, and my

11:02

last year was with the Barcelona in Spain. But

11:06

you know, the treatment and the

11:08

care that you know they gave me was

11:10

was amazing, was first class at all times.

11:12

You know, I always felt that I was

11:14

in a situation where I was going to be successful and

11:17

and I have an opportunity to play my game, which

11:20

I missed. You know, I feel like one

11:22

of the years in the NBA that I really

11:24

felt like I was playing my game and I was really

11:26

happy on getting ready for games

11:29

and traveling, and so was with Orlando. To be

11:31

honest with you, you know, I got to play

11:33

minutes. Uh.

11:34

Brian gave me an opportunity from

11:37

from the start when I got to to Orlando, and

11:40

you know, and I was able to you know, showcase

11:43

Uh you know part of my game that I was unable

11:45

to showcase.

11:45

When I was with the other teams. Aside

11:49

from you know, I felt like I was in Puerto Rico when I played.

11:51

And as you guys remember this is all

11:53

of flags. It was. It was just an amazing

11:56

experience, you know. Uh.

11:57

And I felt that every time I went to Orlando with

12:00

the teams, you know, every time I quote,

12:02

you know, I felt like I was a Puerto Rico people

12:04

coming and supporting you know that, you guys know the Porto

12:06

Rican community and Orland Lose amazing and

12:09

growing. So you

12:11

know, my journey's been a special one and I

12:14

truly miss it. Uh sometimes

12:16

I miss it. I don't miss the grind of it, you know, waking

12:18

up and training and all that stuff. But I missed the

12:20

locker room, you know, and the

12:22

group people I met throughout my journey

12:25

and basketball in general.

12:27

Just giving me a light that I can't complain

12:29

and truly blessed.

12:31

That's awesome.

12:32

Carlos, Carlos.

12:33

Before we get in, they saw some of your Orlando

12:35

teamates because you were here right when some of those guys

12:37

were just starting to pick you know, the Dwights

12:40

and the Jamiers. You played with John

12:42

Stockton for the last year

12:44

of his career, last two years of his career. But what

12:46

was it like playing with the guy? I mean, because I went

12:49

back and looked just to see, Oh, let me see how many games

12:51

he played in his John Stockton and

12:53

he started all eighty two of late thirty one minutes.

12:56

The last year while you were there.

12:58

I mean, what was it like to I mean,

13:00

that was one of your first stops in the NBA

13:02

ended up being with one of the arguably

13:04

greatest point guards ever to play it in.

13:08

You know, and you know it was funny. John

13:11

was the starter and the backup was Mark Mark

13:13

Jackson, So I was behind the

13:16

number one and number two assist leaders in the history

13:18

of the game. So that he's hand.

13:20

You know, that year for me was

13:22

a clinic the whole year. You know, it's just

13:25

watching them, how they prepare for games, how they saw

13:27

the game. I was asking a lot of questions, but

13:29

that truly helped my game mature

13:32

and a professional level. But

13:35

John was very quiet, you know, I

13:37

was just I would just watch them, and you

13:39

know, at the times I was asking him questions why he saw pick

13:42

and roll situations, how to manage

13:44

you know, the time

13:47

when he was in the game, when the game was on the line,

13:49

fourth quarters, you know, decision

13:51

making and stuff like that. It was just a true master

13:54

man.

13:54

He was. It is my

13:57

and then it doesn't matter. You could never

13:59

pressure it. It's like kind of like watching

14:01

you got You can have a guy brush him ninety feet,

14:03

but he's gotta go to his own speed, you

14:06

know. So that's what I like about John

14:08

and every drill.

14:10

You know, he took it personal. If we were running

14:13

seventeens, he will make sure he was the first

14:15

one, you know, just to prove that he's not

14:17

old. But he was a tube professional

14:20

man.

14:20

I can honestly say I was a last substitution.

14:23

For John Stopton, you know, and Sacramento. I

14:26

was a big guy that brought about axcepting out coach

14:29

flow. So you know, I asked

14:31

me this t a wow that he came out. I

14:33

think it was the playoffs in Sacramento, But

14:37

that moment in itself I would take

14:39

with me forever because you know, me

14:41

going in there and give him high

14:43

five and you know, give him kind of like a little

14:45

earlier after he walked out the last time he walked

14:48

out of the court, that was a truly

14:50

special moment for me.

14:52

Well, the guy had replaced the other guy

14:54

that replaced George. That's an answer to a trivia question.

14:56

After nineteen years of starting

14:59

point guard, the guy that replaced him

15:01

as the starting point guard the next year was this man,

15:03

Carlos the Royal. Right, and and maybe

15:06

probably the best statistical year of your

15:08

NBA career that that year starting

15:10

in Utah.

15:11

Absolutely absolutely, I remember,

15:13

you know, I had a lot of pressure

15:15

from from the media back.

15:17

Then because they were you know, are you're the.

15:19

Next one, You're ready to you

15:21

know, take on, you know, that responsibility.

15:25

And I said, look, I'm only here

15:27

to take advantage of the opportunity, just

15:29

like John did when he was given

15:32

that opportunity.

15:33

So, but you know, it's a lot of pressure,

15:35

you know.

15:36

I can honestly say that, you know, mentally,

15:39

I was trying to prepare myself to not

15:41

mess it up.

15:43

And but I had a structure

15:46

team, you know, with Jerry Swam. You know,

15:48

he was very determined with doing

15:51

things right, very

15:53

disciplined with his structure and how he wanted us

15:55

to play. And as you guys know, you know,

15:57

Jerry doesn't mess around, you know, and

16:00

he's the same at practice I shoot around in games.

16:02

You know, he's the same way. So and

16:06

and it helped my game to be honest withy, I

16:08

don't, you know, just stay in

16:10

line with what I needed to do as a point guard

16:12

and as a young point guard too, trying

16:14

to find myself. I knew that you did that first year

16:16

that he gave me the ball, I said, you know,

16:19

run the team. I knew that, you know, I needed to

16:21

be focused and my best season.

16:24

So if that was your best year, your second best year, I would

16:26

think statistically was at six oh seven

16:29

season here you mentioned some of your teammates.

16:31

That was my intern year, so quick personel story.

16:34

I had to hold. I was the radio intern. I had to hold

16:36

the my gap to practice after in the

16:38

newt rounds. And you guys were

16:40

such a great group. I don't know if I'm still doing this

16:42

all these years later if not for people

16:44

like you, Jamiir, Tony Batigue, he

16:46

I'm dueling, and of course grand Hill. He's the

16:48

first NBA player who ever called me my name back

16:50

to me, which I will never forget. Can

16:53

you just talk about that group a little bit and

16:55

and what you learned from guys like Jamir and specifically

16:58

Grant, just as far as being a teammate now the

17:00

leadership lessons that I'm sure you brought into

17:02

heading up the Puerto Rican national team.

17:05

You know, speaking of our Grant, I saw him and uh

17:08

uh you were able to set up a

17:10

game with UFA and Vegas this summer, so

17:12

I saw him there. You

17:15

know, he's part of the us USA basketball now

17:17

and it was great. CM. He was always

17:19

just a great leader. Always very positive, very

17:22

soft spoken all the time.

17:24

You know.

17:25

Uh, he knew it'll calm you down at moments of

17:27

adversity, which I like. But

17:30

it was just a fun group.

17:31

I think, you know, Dwight in

17:33

itself, he kept him and Jamie,

17:35

he kept the group always laughing and doing

17:38

little.

17:38

Jokes here today, you know how they were.

17:40

Kean was kind of like a jokes too, but

17:43

he was serious when we needed to be serious.

17:45

But t was our o G. You know, Stacey Augman

17:47

was our o G.

17:48

So we had a great balance on that team,

17:51

you know. Uh, and me coming in,

17:53

I was just trying to fit in. I think when

17:55

I came in, I played one game with see Press.

17:57

That was the only game I think it was in Cleveland that.

18:00

We play together. And then I think

18:02

orlanda kind of a wake them or something.

18:05

Uh.

18:05

But I know I had to.

18:07

I know we were trying to fight, you know,

18:09

we were finally trying to you know, stay afloat and

18:11

trying to make the playoffs.

18:12

That we missed a couple.

18:13

Of games that year, but we had we had to

18:15

run that uh that last part of the

18:17

year.

18:18

Uh.

18:18

But I enjoyed it. I was just happy to be in Orlando.

18:21

To be honest with you, Uh, well, there was rumors

18:23

about me being traded.

18:25

You know.

18:25

I met right away with Joe Dumars and

18:27

Detroit and I told him, look, I don't want to leave, but if

18:29

if you're going to trade me anywhere, please.

18:32

Let it be on that Is that right?

18:34

Is that right?

18:34

You asked for this? Yeah? Cool? Oh yes,

18:36

yeah, there was too. There were rumors because

18:39

remember dark old Minischik.

18:41

Yes, he wasn't he wasn't happy you know,

18:43

you know in Detroit, and they weren't happy with him

18:45

either, so they were trying to move them.

18:48

And uh, there was a period

18:50

of like two weeks where it was you know, strongly,

18:53

you know, there was they were considering trading him,

18:55

and and there

18:58

was rumors that I was part of that past page

19:00

with with darkle so and I had

19:02

a great relationship with Joe, and

19:04

I said, Joe, you know, uh, can we talk for

19:06

a second.

19:07

So we went to his office. I said, look, because I didn't want

19:09

it to sound like I wanted to leave, you know, I

19:11

had or Detroit was a great

19:13

group too, you know, and we had just down to

19:15

the finalist too the year before. And

19:18

I told him there's a lot of rumors. I don't want to leave,

19:20

but and I hear that I'm being

19:23

you know, chopped around with with Darko. I

19:25

said, all I asked

19:27

is that if you trade me, please trade me to a life.

19:29

I want to be close to home. I feel like I'm home there.

19:32

You know, oh the Flags,

19:34

this is that community. And

19:37

he took his glasses off and his right.

19:39

I remember, it's like yesterday. He took an

19:41

answers. He answered right away. So he's

19:43

quiet. He looks at me and

19:44

he said, and

19:46

he said look at me. I'm

19:49

like, okay, And he's like, I

19:51

give me my word. If

19:54

you're not here with me, you're gonna be in Orlando.

19:56

Is that is that if that deal goes

19:59

through.

20:00

I was like okay, And

20:02

then uh, I think we went to we

20:05

went to Ohsta weekend.

20:07

That's when we got treated. Remember and

20:10

uh he called me and so Carlos, I always

20:12

spoke a week ago. Fortunately had

20:14

to make the trade. Blah blah blah. But I give you my

20:16

word, you're going with all lad So

20:19

I was kind of like, so

20:21

as soon as I hung up, I started like I

20:23

was scaring and out until my wife we going

20:26

on that so were

20:28

we were truly excited. Man, it was an opportunity

20:30

that I really.

20:31

Wanted to to be a part of that. You know, that

20:33

club and Orland

20:35

that's always been you know home for me. You

20:37

know, we go there to take the kitchen Didney.

20:39

It's two hours from the I mean four hours from the

20:41

house. Uh. So you know,

20:44

I felt like I could fit in it. And

20:47

you know with the guys and and

20:49

uh the teams that the team that you

20:51

guys had back then, so and I could

20:53

welcome to uh you know, we had

20:55

a mix up open veterans and young

20:58

guys as well. So I felt

21:00

comfortable right away.

21:01

I think was there too, Yeah,

21:04

yes he was. He came here your last year. He had Rashard,

21:06

you had Turkey, had Dwight Jamire. I mean you had

21:08

the.

21:08

Start of Shaun Stevens.

21:11

Stevens. Yes he was, yes, he was, Yes, he was. He

21:13

was fun.

21:14

Yeah he was you know he keep you inddressed. Uh

21:17

but what George, we played together, that's

21:19

right. You There was a lot asked

21:22

of Carlos with that because there was

21:24

a lot of there was a lot of there's a big Puerto

21:26

Rican community here which fully embraced

21:29

you, as you mentioned, but you made

21:31

time. I always marveled at that because

21:33

you could have filled your entire day with

21:35

with with go and visit this person, visit this person

21:37

in this autograph. But he did it, didn't

21:39

he He he wanted to be a part of that cause you I always

21:42

marvel at how much you embraced that part

21:44

of it, Carlos, with that with that community, I

21:47

was.

21:47

I was just grateful.

21:48

I was grateful for the love and I was thank

21:51

for for people coming, you know, night

21:53

in and night out, supported and brought the

21:55

flags out. You know, it was just we started

21:57

having Latin night.

21:58

I don't know if you guys had that for.

22:01

We did not.

22:03

I think Joey was a big part of that as well,

22:05

uh through n Carlos

22:08

Velis too.

22:09

They were a great group.

22:10

You guys had up a great group that you know, really supported

22:12

me and make sure that I was out there in the community showing

22:15

love too. And I think that was a

22:17

great part of uh, of that

22:19

energy that that I brought when I went to

22:21

to you know, to Orlando, because of the

22:23

community that was behind

22:26

you know, our team. So I was

22:28

just grateful, man, I was, I was, uh

22:31

in a place where I always wanted to be, so you know.

22:33

And I expected that and it happened

22:36

and it came through. So I was just I

22:38

wasn't all with everything.

22:39

Well, I re level when we got when we traded for Carlos,

22:42

we had you know, we I knew we had

22:44

a big Latin community in central Florida,

22:46

but you know, it didn't really touch us

22:49

until we got VI you and I

22:51

remember, I remember immediately when the trade

22:53

came, Linda Lamb and Gonzalez

22:55

was on our staff and Joey Cologne,

22:57

and they immediately came to Joel

23:00

and Tricia and I and just said listen,

23:02

like this is going to open up the

23:04

whole new world for you guys. We're

23:06

kind of we're kind of looking at her and like, come

23:09

on, like.

23:10

You can't be like we we we had

23:12

Shaquille and Neo Penny like we're good, like yeah,

23:14

and then it but it was it was like this

23:17

whole and even now we have a we

23:19

have a Hispanic media list that we

23:21

now we still use to this day to

23:23

twenty twenty three that.

23:25

We didn't have before.

23:27

We really didn't And I kind

23:29

of trace it all back to you coming close

23:31

to to to Orlando.

23:33

That was beautiful, man, that was beautiful.

23:35

I mean, I was in shock, but I

23:38

was expecting people to support our team.

23:40

But I was in shock with the magnitude

23:42

of the energy of everybody. Just We're

23:45

having Regguatory.

23:45

Knights concerts right after

23:48

the game. Yeah, And it

23:50

was not like there was like one hundred people two

23:52

hundred. It was like five thousand people, aren't there?

23:55

Oh, we were producing postgame radio shows

23:57

during those concerts. I'm not spot.

24:02

You're exactly right. You mentioned Brian Hill. Brian

24:04

Hill was a big fan of yours. He was a big fan of

24:06

Darko's too. It was something special with

24:09

that group. But I know Darko struggled

24:11

in Detroit and and and you know, I know he

24:13

wasn't as happy being there. But but

24:15

he was a talented individual. Carlos

24:17

Darko was a guy that he accepted his role

24:19

here. He did what Brian asked of him, and

24:22

you know, blocking shots, protecting the rim. What do

24:24

you remember? But it was a hard The NBA life

24:26

was hard on Darko. Well, what what is your take

24:28

on on his on his

24:31

NBA portion of his journey.

24:33

I think he was very misunderstood, right,

24:36

you know, Darko

24:38

was extremely talented, could task

24:40

you know, the fat and he could score, and

24:42

he could do anything, you know, he wanted to. And at

24:45

the same time, I don't know if he was as

24:48

passionate for the game as other guys.

24:50

So it kind of made

24:52

me rough the league the wrong way because

24:54

it ain't show it, you know. But he

24:57

loved basketball, but he was just not pas

25:00

shouldn't like to go out and get

25:02

extra you know, training and you

25:04

know, get to a city and find a high school gym

25:06

and go shoot. You know. He wasn't

25:08

like that. He wasn't as dedicated as

25:11

as you should be when you're in the NBA, and

25:13

that might have were up guys

25:16

and teams the wrong way. And at times

25:18

it showed in the games at times you see him playing

25:20

and he was just this interest. He looked dis

25:22

interest. But I think that was part of his personality

25:25

as well. He was just like

25:27

that. He was European. He come from a place

25:29

where, you know, his

25:32

family probably had to go through war situations

25:34

in the past and tough situations,

25:37

you know, and you know, going

25:39

into a culture where everybody's

25:41

dedicated and loved and very passionate

25:43

about the game, it's just different. You know, cultural

25:45

wives. He was just built different,

25:48

you know, but he was very missing. I

25:50

loved dark Girl, you know, I love dark Girl,

25:52

you know. And and guys on the team

25:54

could tell you, you know, we loved dark He

25:57

was funny and all. Wait, ye feel

26:00

overwhelming.

26:01

The the amount of the amount

26:03

of pressure on you from the

26:05

Puerto Rican community just kind of and

26:08

and even still, I mean, you are you're

26:11

mister Puerto Rican basketball essentially, and

26:13

there are a lot of people who kind of tie tie

26:15

their hopes to you.

26:16

Is it Does it ever make you sort of want

26:19

to hide for a day and get a breather? Yeah?

26:21

And if you had to pay for a meal since you beat Team

26:23

USA and O four and the Olympics, have you

26:26

have you had to have you had to pay for anything

26:28

into Rico?

26:30

Yes, yes, yes

26:32

I do. I mean I've got share

26:34

with my my premio here and there. You know.

26:37

But no, I'm

26:39

learning young. You know that. You know I

26:42

embraced it. I embraced it.

26:45

You know my parents, you know, they

26:49

they taught me from a young age. You know, I was national

26:52

team was a religion.

26:53

You know a lot of what growing up. You know, I watched

26:56

the national.

26:56

Team since I was a young kid and it

26:59

was always a dream of mind to be a part of that

27:01

team. But you know, I think, uh,

27:04

you know, once I made it to the league, you know, I started

27:06

getting you know, recognition, and then once

27:09

that those two thousand and four Olympics, you know, after

27:11

that, just I think my life changed completely from

27:13

a from a marketing

27:16

standpoint, you know, and and try

27:19

to move my name with brands in Puerto Rico and

27:21

internationally that I could you know, benefit.

27:23

From and grow and grow my

27:25

brand. You know, it helped me a lot. But after

27:28

those two thousand and four Olympics, you know, and

27:30

then you know, doing

27:33

well in the NBA helped my name as well

27:35

to be able to open doors and internationally

27:37

with the national team open the doors for me in Europe

27:39

as well. So I've always

27:42

embraced that, the love and the uh

27:45

it's a huge responsibility obviously,

27:48

you know, you have to kind of like have your your

27:50

mirror plan.

27:51

You know, You've always

27:54

I'm always kind of inspiring the next generation

27:56

where I was when I was a player and now

27:59

as and toory general manager for the national

28:01

team and instructuring this the

28:03

federation moving forward for years to

28:05

come. You know, I always

28:08

constantly have to deal with new players coming in and now,

28:10

recruiting and staying in touch with the

28:12

guys that are a part of

28:14

the national team now and just try to

28:16

build a structured team and a culture

28:19

within our federation, federation where

28:22

guys that are were not born and raised

28:24

in Puerto Rico can understand what it

28:26

means to represent Puerto Rico and still

28:28

feel proud of what you were in the uniform.

28:31

So uh, but you

28:33

know, I've embraced it since I was a kid, and I

28:35

learned to end. I've grown understanding

28:38

the business part of it and then the human

28:41

part of it, which is the love from the community and

28:43

the people. Every time they see and they

28:45

want to take a picture, they want you to, you know, speak

28:48

about it all the years in the NBA

28:50

and what it means to represent Puerto Rico here and there.

28:53

Uh, I've learned how to maneuver. I've always had a

28:55

good solid team around me, you

28:57

know, you know, uh, my family and my pr

29:00

people that keep me grounded as well, I

29:03

think, which I think is very important.

29:04

So I've

29:06

never thought that I'm bigger than the national team

29:09

or bigger than Puerto Rico. Bigger than you know, always

29:12

kind of like you know, moving. So I'm grateful for

29:14

the opportunity that the game gave me and just

29:16

try to embrace it and carry myself

29:18

with respect as much as I can.

29:22

I know we're getting close to the end here, but by

29:24

the time this drops, we're going to be in Mexico

29:27

City playing against the Hawks. And we're

29:29

very excited because you're going to be there. Is

29:31

it What does it mean? You know, as as

29:34

an international kid, what does it mean

29:36

to see have an NBA

29:38

game in a place like Mexico

29:40

City or or somewhere abroad.

29:43

Man, I wish you were cold to play the Puerto Rico

29:45

man. I like that happened

29:47

me too. I know we were

29:49

able to carry on a concert

29:51

at the game. That we can't bring a game to Puerto Rico,

29:54

you.

29:54

Know against the Pelicans.

29:56

You don't have magic Pelicans with Jose Alvarado.

29:59

And Porto, you know, we can't make that happen. Say it's

30:01

one of the guys that ever recoup a They

30:04

saw our national team as well, so hopefully

30:06

we get made something happen. Uh, But

30:08

I'm excited. I think globally the game

30:11

is growing continues to grow.

30:13

And you know at Lanta America, you know, Hispanics

30:15

are very passionate about the game. Uh,

30:18

just and beautiful to see, you

30:20

know, especially Orlando, you

30:23

know, being that it's in a in.

30:24

A in a state where you know it's a Hispanic

30:28

community.

30:28

I think having that game in Mexico

30:31

will help a lot, will continue

30:33

to build, uh, the NBA brand

30:35

worldwide, and and I just think it's

30:37

great, you know, to have those types of games in

30:40

other countries.

30:41

Are you doing the postgame concert, Carlos?

30:46

At least? How about a

30:50

good answer. What are you telling hey,

30:53

Carlos? Last thing?

30:54

You know as well as we're getting ready for this, we're looking back

30:56

on your career and you're seeing Vince

30:59

Carter, roll on, John Stockton,

31:01

Dwight Howard, Mark Jackson. Right, you look

31:03

at it, people aren't fortunate enough to play

31:06

with that caliber player throughout

31:08

their entire career. And also success.

31:10

You went to an NBA finals, conference finals,

31:12

You've won championships overseas. When

31:14

you think about all of that interaction, right,

31:16

and all the greats that you've played with, all the success

31:19

that you've had, how does that help you in your role?

31:20

Now?

31:21

What are some of the biggest takeaways that

31:23

you have from that experience, because he can.

31:25

Walk into a meeting and take his resume and just drop

31:28

it on his ton and just go, damn, let

31:30

go.

31:31

Let's here's the picture. Here's a picture of me supping out

31:33

on John Stockton for the last time.

31:35

Yeah, why don't you here's It takes

31:37

two hours to read my resume and I'll be back.

31:39

Yeah, right, man, I can't

31:41

complaint. I've been extremely blessed

31:45

and grateful for you know, I

31:48

continue to say that because as

31:50

you mentioned, you know, my last two

31:52

years was in my last year the

31:54

NBA and Boston where I had Shack and I have you

31:56

know, uh Paul and KG

31:58

and Ray Allen, right Miami

32:01

was with those guys. So I

32:03

think the.

32:04

Game has really shown me to

32:07

be professional at all times,

32:10

be humble with every everyone you meet, the

32:13

new generation, be a mentor,

32:15

you know, and uh.

32:17

With everything that I've learned outside

32:20

of the of the the court

32:22

and on the court, you know, I think that's helped

32:25

me grow with to see the game from

32:27

a different perspective, from a business perspective

32:29

as well, and

32:32

you know, it's just has opened the doors for me

32:34

worldwide at which my son would

32:36

love and be as fascionate as I was when I was

32:38

a kid playing back when he really hates

32:41

it, you know, yeah,

32:43

and you know and you know, so that

32:45

he can actually live and

32:47

go through the experiences that I went through, as

32:50

you know, as a basketball player loving this game.

32:52

But I

32:54

think overall everything from

32:56

it, from different aspects of the game, I've

32:58

learned and I still appreciate

33:01

the life that I have now being retired.

33:02

You know, I can look back and say, look, I did this that.

33:05

Wow, I can't. I can't believe it. You know, I'm just

33:07

truly honored and blessed. We'll

33:09

be exacted.

33:11

Well, we're so appreciative of your time, and

33:13

we're proud of your Carlos, with all you've done and

33:15

you continue to do. And we can't wait to see you in

33:17

in Mexico City and Georgia back up on

33:20

the post game concert. He'll be ready, he'll be.

33:21

Ready to get.

33:23

Yeah, and

33:26

best of guys, keep keep up the great

33:28

work with Team Puerto Rico. We'll be cheering, y'all, and

33:30

that's fantastic. Carlos, take care, Thank you, thank

33:32

you. I appreciate you that you got it. That'll do

33:34

it for this addition of Magic Pod Squad. We'll see

33:36

you next time.