0:04

On this edition of Magic Pod Squad, Dante

0:06

Arcitelli, George Galante, Jake Chapman,

0:09

catch up with Magic Guard, Markel

0:11

Folts, and of course Magic fans. The Florida

0:13

Department of Transportation reminds you that fans

0:15

don't let fans drive drunk.

0:17

If you've been drinking, don't get.

0:18

Behind the wheel.

0:19

Instead, find a sober driver for catch

0:21

your ride service. Remember, drive sober or

0:23

get pulled over. Have a great night, and

0:26

drive safe. Wad's to go over with

0:28

Markel Fults, including his outlook on

0:30

this Magic season that he is

0:33

incredibly excited about. He contends

0:35

this is the most talented, the deepest

0:38

group of players that he's ever met

0:40

a part of. So he's excited about the start of the season,

0:42

one that he thinks can get past the

0:44

first round, so he's excited about that. And

0:47

what else has Markel Fult's been working

0:49

on here this summer. He's got a new look,

0:51

the reason why he cut his hair, and

0:53

why does he have a quiet confidence about

0:56

himself and his team this year?

0:58

So much good stuff with Markel Fults. This

1:00

edition of Magic Pod Squad.

1:02

Does fons long enough to Orlando Magic.

1:04

This is Cole Anthony. This is Jennon Suggs.

1:06

This is Paulo Man Carroll the Orlando Magic

1:08

and you're listening to the Pod Squad.

1:13

And welcome everyone to another installment of

1:16

Magic Pod Squad. Dante Marcitelli, George

1:18

Galante, Jake Chapman, who does a great job

1:20

on the Magic Audio Network kind.

1:22

Enough to join join us now as our guest,

1:25

Markel.

1:25

Foltz and Markel I couldn't believe this

1:27

when I looked at and of course I know this. You're

1:30

seven.

1:31

You got to be kidding me.

1:32

Twenty five years old and you're seven.

1:34

That can't be right, can it.

1:35

I know, it's crazy.

1:36

It seemed like it flew by, and it's kind

1:38

of weirdy when everyone's walking around calling you a

1:40

vet and you're you're still twenty five years old,

1:43

you know so.

1:43

But I'll take it. I'll take it for sure. I've had

1:46

my years.

1:46

Up, I've done my new diligence of you

1:48

know, going through my ups and down. So I'll

1:50

take it.

1:51

What's worse?

1:52

Is it doing preseason games?

1:54

Or is it when your PR guy says you got

1:56

to do a podcast with him?

1:58

What is more difficult?

2:00

I'll say preseason games, and this is

2:02

the easy This is the easy part. That's

2:04

why re.

2:05

Bet though going into year seven, those preseason

2:07

get you know, can you believe we used to do eight of these?

2:09

How great is it now that it's four? And

2:11

then this preseason could be a grind?

2:13

Can say?

2:14

Look, I was actually excited for this

2:16

preseason because as you know, you know, I've had my

2:18

my amount of injury, so I've.

2:19

Never really been able to do a full preseason.

2:22

So this was kind of like my first full

2:24

preseason, so I kind of have my nerves going,

2:26

just excited just to be able to play and get a rhythm

2:28

with these guys and our new guys

2:30

sou and definitely the

2:32

one thing I will say, being a year seven in one

2:34

pass pretty fast. I don't know if it's because other

2:37

times I was rehabbing this I was actually playing,

2:40

but I feel like it flew by, you

2:42

know, And I can't believe that we did play eight is

2:44

a lot?

2:44

Eight Eight games is a lot?

2:46

Eight's a lot. You're exactly right.

2:48

That fourth game happened four times, so when

2:50

we played eight, Hey, is it?

2:51

Mark?

2:53

I want to ask you this, and then I know that one

2:55

I open it up to these guys too. But as

2:58

far as this, and you guys, tell me if

3:00

I'm wrong. This media day, this

3:02

training camp, there was a different

3:05

you already know it wrong. There was a different

3:08

quiet, sneaky confidence

3:10

about Markel Foltz.

3:12

And I don't know what it is. Am I wrong? Markell?

3:14

That you seem to be in a really good place,

3:16

Not that you were before.

3:17

But you seem very you almost seem like

3:20

everybody's about to find out something that I know

3:22

going into this season.

3:23

What is that?

3:24

Am I right to tell me what that is?

3:26

I think you're absolutely right.

3:27

I think that just again being able to have

3:29

a full, healthy offseason, you know, it

3:31

just builds my confidence even more. And just like I

3:33

said, being available, you know, I think that's one of the biggest

3:35

stands for me, And just being available. I

3:37

think everything else will take care of yourself. But I'm

3:40

just super excited for what we have to come this

3:42

year. I think the group of guys that we have, with the coach

3:44

of staffer and everybody else in the building, I think

3:46

that, you know, we're gonna wake

3:48

a lot of people up. I'm not gonna say shocked, but we're gonna wake

3:50

a lot of people up. I think a lot of people are still sleeping on

3:52

the magic, and I think that everybody's really,

3:55

really, really ready to put our name

3:57

out there and make it last and make it stay.

4:01

Markell, not only is this your seventh year in the league,

4:03

it's now going to be your fifth year Orlando,

4:06

which which also blows my mind. Is

4:09

is it part of it your confidence going

4:11

in that you're just comfortable? I mean, this is this

4:13

is a long time for somebody to be in one place.

4:16

Yeah. Absolutely, I think you know, I call this place

4:18

my home. You know, I love it here. The weather's

4:20

amazing, the people are even better. And

4:23

it's funny you say that.

4:24

You know, I was going through, you know, getting ready

4:26

for practice, and I'm kind of like, you know, you kind of thinking

4:29

like, all right, what's going to happen in practice? And you kind of not

4:32

seeing the same thing even though I had different coaches. But like

4:34

I'm like, all right, I've been here, like you said,

4:36

for five years. It ain't nothing too much new that

4:38

I'm going to see that's going to throw me off. So

4:40

like someone just getting in that routine of what I

4:42

need to get done and what I need to happen.

4:44

But it kind of kind of comes easy. You know, I know my routes.

4:46

I don't have to I know it was exactly what time

4:48

I need to lead a house to get get to the arena earlier

4:51

or get there whatever time I need to get there, and I

4:53

know one rush hour is going to be. So

4:55

it's almost like it makes me a lot more comfortable.

4:57

It makes me feel a lot better, you know, waking up every

4:59

morning knowing what's going on around

5:01

me and my surroundings and also knowing the city

5:03

and just love the love that I have for the

5:05

city.

5:06

So it's very dope.

5:08

I'll tell at twenty five, how

5:11

old did Jet and Anthony make you feel

5:13

and what you're sharing instance at

5:15

any point, I mean there we

5:17

get older and they stay at the same age. Man, they nineteen

5:19

years old is young once you

5:22

get to your to your point.

5:23

Man, it's just crazy.

5:24

I think even with last year where

5:27

Paolo coming in and being here at two thousand,

5:29

you know was born. I'm just even though I was

5:31

nineteen ninety eight and I'm still young. I'm just like two

5:34

thousand here, somebody born, you know, two thousand

5:36

above is like it's crazy and it really

5:38

hits me that, you know, now I'll see

5:40

what my favents are talking about. The joy Why you can you know,

5:42

yeah, it flies, man, it

5:45

flies by us. And like I said, having kids

5:47

as well, see and them grow up and as

5:49

fast as they are. It really just gives

5:51

me a different appreciation for where I'm at and

5:53

also knowing that I was just.

5:55

In their shoes and knowing what they're going through.

5:56

I think it just it gives me

5:59

a different perspective on

6:01

you know, what it's like coming in rather than you

6:03

know, when I was first coming in and having

6:06

the bust that I had and having the feelings that I had coming

6:08

into practice, you know, being nervous and just having

6:10

your first NBA practice and having your first NBA

6:12

game, having a first be a preaching you know, it's a lot

6:14

of pressure.

6:15

But I just try to make those guys comfortable.

6:17

And also being young, you know, I can really relate, you know, not

6:19

that too far ahead, but it really puts

6:21

me in perspective of just you know, life and how it works,

6:24

and just you know, cherish every moment.

6:26

Think about when you came into the league and some of

6:29

the guys that took you, it took you under

6:31

their wing. I mean, do you do you kind

6:33

of offer that first. Do you wait for guys to come

6:35

up and ask your questions or you know all

6:37

the.

6:38

Things that you've seen.

6:38

Do you kind of get to these young guys first

6:40

and off room encouragement and kind of show them the ropes

6:43

or how do you how do you play that out as a bet?

6:44

And do you make them call you mister folks?

6:48

Yes? I would, I would make I can call

6:50

me mister folks.

6:51

I don't think I'll do that just yet,

6:53

not just yet, but you know, I really just try

6:56

to be there for them. I don't really you

6:58

know, put pressure on. I want to

7:00

them to feel comfortable to come ask me any

7:02

questions. But if there's anything that I can

7:04

feel like I can help them, whether it's off the court,

7:06

whether it's on a court, you know, I always want to be there for them

7:08

as a brother.

7:09

You know.

7:09

I feel like this game is bigger than

7:11

basketball, and I think a lot of people have missed that and they

7:13

forget about that, and I just want them to know that as well,

7:15

Like this game is going to be more than

7:17

just on the court.

7:18

You know.

7:18

I want to be able to be able to feel like they

7:20

can come over my house to kick it. You know, feel like my

7:23

mom. You know, my mom stays here. Y'all see my mom a lot.

7:25

You know, my mom is like their mom. They ever need

7:27

a home, cook, any anything. You know, our family's

7:29

really you know, ours open and being

7:31

there for them because at the end of the day, I know what it's

7:34

like to be somewhere in the city, maybe alone

7:36

or just with your whoever you have living with you,

7:38

and I want them to know that, you know, they have someone

7:40

who actually cares about them. You know, I care about

7:42

more than just basketball. And as the game

7:44

goes along, you know, I'm always trying to help them. Like you know,

7:46

I try to make plays for other I try to

7:49

do.

7:49

Whatever we need to do to win it. In order to do that, we're

7:51

gonna need everybody from this from the first guy

7:53

to the last guy.

7:54

So I just try to be there

7:56

in any any way, both mentally, you know, both

7:58

on a court and off.

7:59

So that's great.

8:02

So do you feel how do I

8:04

phrase this one? Yeah,

8:07

maybe I'll just go to the I'll just go to the next question.

8:09

I don't want the decision

8:11

this.

8:11

Year when you can't, when we can't, when you came back from

8:14

the summer, and then we see a new

8:16

haircut.

8:17

Yeah, Mark Hel, Mark Hel.

8:18

And I said to Dante right away, I go, that's

8:21

a business cut.

8:22

Right, it's a business cut too. I thought that too.

8:24

Is this right now?

8:25

Was there anything to go into the haircut? Or are you just gonna

8:27

tell me? I just was time for a change.

8:29

I got tired of. No, it was and

8:32

everything else. No, it was a lot. Actually,

8:34

it's funny you say that. I mean it was a combination. One.

8:36

I was tired of sitting in hair salons for three

8:38

three hours, four hours, you know, trying to get.

8:40

My hair done. Is that how long it didn take?

8:43

Yeah?

8:43

Know me till like three hours. If I go to a hair salon till

8:45

like three hours for hour, I don't know how I want me to do it. You

8:47

know, I command them on that,

8:50

but you know, I.

8:50

Don't know how you did it.

8:51

If I if I had to tell my wife I was piecing out

8:53

for three hours, there'd be no See.

8:56

Sometimes it was good because you get away from the kids and little

8:58

so so sometimes I you, that's true, but

9:01

that's true. The same time, with our schedule, you know, with practice

9:03

and everything, I didn't really have time to go sit

9:05

and get my hair done for three hours. So, uh,

9:08

that was a small part. But like you said, I just

9:10

wanted to come with a new, new hair. I felt

9:12

like it was time for a change. I felt like it was more

9:15

business, you know, like, and I feel like, no one's

9:17

seen me.

9:17

With my hair like this.

9:18

I've had my haircut like this is probably eighth

9:20

grade. So I just felt like, you know, it

9:22

was it was just showing maturity,

9:25

a different look, a different mindset coming into

9:27

the season. I feel like it's a year of a narrative change

9:29

for me. That's something I've been saying with my family around

9:31

the house. It's just time for a narrative change, and it's

9:33

time for me to set the tone. And really, you know,

9:35

come, like you guys said, you see me walking a little bit

9:38

different. You see a compience that I have. Yeah, that I

9:40

not only believe in myself, but my teammates and the surrounding

9:42

people around us.

9:43

So it was it

9:45

was a combination of both. But I still have my hair.

9:47

You know, might pull a Jimmy Butler put it back in, you know

9:49

mid season and pull it, pull a little trick, but no,

9:51

I think it's it was just really just me locking in

9:53

and showing how serious I am about the season.

9:55

Well, you can say, fly back into a high top, fade

9:57

a little bit.

9:58

I got it, I got I got all my reads in

10:00

the bag just in case. You know, you know, people put

10:02

other people there, and why can't I put my own hair back?

10:04

Of course, there was a lot you put off to

10:07

that exactly, time and energy into that,

10:09

as I I asked you that media day if he's still

10:11

because I had a man bun for years and when I do

10:13

it off, I woke up in the morning and I would always

10:15

go back.

10:16

It's it's

10:19

definitely I have good and bad

10:21

days. You know, some days I'm just so glad I don't have

10:23

you know, I sleep a lot better. I

10:25

don't have to wear It's very low maintenance.

10:27

I just see how your haircut, you know, every other week the

10:29

week, and I definitely

10:32

have some moments where you know, I see old videos

10:34

and old pictures, I see somebody else and sometimes

10:36

I'm like, dang, I missed my hair, and then it's other tithing. I'm

10:38

glad I'll have to go through that. It

10:40

goes both way, but I'm very happy with where

10:43

I'm at. How steel see I'm the opposite.

10:45

Everybody told me a good thing he got rid of that.

10:47

It was unanimous

10:49

that it was it was good. Hey, real

10:51

quick, how can how I be worried for Colt?

10:54

With the news yesterday, the extension, he's going to

10:56

be here, he got his payday, all

10:58

good things.

11:00

Man, I'm super excited, you know.

11:01

And I was kind of talking cold before he signed and

11:03

just telling him, like, man,

11:05

it's very rare to come past that as a small guard

11:07

and just you know, anybody, you know,

11:09

just to be able to stay your career, you know,

11:11

most guys three years, four years, you know,

11:14

and that's that's really it.

11:15

So I want everyone to win.

11:17

I want everyone to see.

11:18

I want everyone to get paid, but to know that Cole has

11:20

a home here and you know, whatever happens

11:22

after is and I just wish many more blessings.

11:25

But I know, I'm super excited for him.

11:27

I'm happy that he gets a chance to continue to grow and

11:29

continue to help

11:31

us grow and continue to do this thing, you know, for

11:33

him to be rewarded after you know, all the things he's done

11:35

over the few years, you know, I wish

11:37

that for everyone.

11:38

And I'm super excited.

11:39

Well, and Markel, you're part of it too. Yours is a little

11:41

different, so the team can negotiate with you the entire

11:44

season. So is that something what

11:46

so ever?

11:47

Thoughts down?

11:47

That's funny, that was funny. You know I had a lot of people like,

11:49

yo, what happened with you? I'm like, look, I'm a bet now, so

11:51

I get a little bit more to Trida, you know, other

11:54

people. So I'm

11:56

just really excited. You know, I love Orlando.

11:58

You know, I'm just continue to take care of my business.

12:00

You know, I know my agent's doing a great job of negotiating

12:03

and doing things, and I

12:05

know that part is gonna take care of yourself. You know, I'm just

12:07

happy to be on the floor. I'm just happy to be playing

12:09

healthy, be healthy, and I know I'm gonna I'm a

12:11

winning player. I know I can help my team win in many ways.

12:14

I know that everything else to take care of itself. So as

12:16

we go into the season, all don't worry about this Wednesday

12:18

and going to get these winds and making it to the playoffs.

12:21

I just want to win with these guys.

12:22

I know that it's very rare to have a team like this, being

12:25

coming from different teams, and the unique.

12:27

You know, no matter what happens, you know, even

12:29

if things do go perfect, you're still gonna have

12:31

some guys that might have to leave, some guys.

12:33

Very hard to keep a group of guys together. So I

12:35

just want to cherish this moment.

12:36

Like I said, I don't take anything for granted, So I'm

12:38

more focused on that. And I know

12:41

that would be You know, I'm blessed, and I've been extremely

12:43

blessed in my career and I know that. You know,

12:45

I know what I've worked, I know what I deserve.

12:48

But at the end of the day, I'm just happy to be on the floor playing

12:50

basketball.

12:51

Well, and you know this, Markel, but I want people listening

12:53

and watching to know people in the NBA last

12:55

year, Okay, this is all NBA guards, every

12:57

guard in the NBA games,

13:01

fifty percent from the floor, fourteen

13:04

points and five assists. How many

13:06

guys do you think did that, Markel? How many NBA

13:08

guards would you say did that?

13:11

Right? Just as as you hear that not Probably.

13:14

Not many, right, Yeah, I don't think. I don't

13:16

There were It.

13:17

Was you, DeMar de Rozen De,

13:19

Aaron Fox, and Shay Gilles Alexander.

13:22

Wow, pretty good company. Yeah,

13:25

that's great company.

13:26

So all that all that to say, you're coming

13:28

off the best year of your career. I mean it was career highs

13:31

all the way across the board, but it was also efficient.

13:33

It was also it wasn't just hey, let me go

13:35

get twenty five every night, it was what the team needed.

13:38

Well, how would you assess what you did last

13:40

year and what you want to do this year.

13:42

I think that last year, you know, especially

13:45

coming missing those first twenty five games,

13:47

and always my mindset is just to do whatever the team

13:49

needs to win, whether that's hasn't our water

13:51

bottles while I'm on a bench, whether that's playing

13:53

defense, whether that's Dobbins for loose ball, whether

13:56

that's scoring twenty points, whether that's getting tennis

13:58

is My mindset has always been and help

14:00

my team win in any way possible, and that's

14:03

still my mindset today. I don't

14:05

I'm not a guy that goes to chase points just to

14:07

say he score points. I'm not a guy that goes to chase

14:09

a sist to just say I got assist. I

14:12

love the game of basketball. I love winning, so

14:14

at the end of the day, I want to be there for

14:16

my teammates. And be available one, but just go

14:19

out there and compete at a high level. I think with

14:21

doing that, you know is being smarter, being

14:23

more vocal, and I just want.

14:25

To keep showcasing my talent.

14:26

I have so much untapped potential

14:28

and untapped skills that I've yet to shown that.

14:30

I know with availability, that's going to continue

14:32

to show on every Like I said, everything else is gonna take care

14:34

of himself, and I just want to be there.

14:36

I want to help this team win. I think we have a very special

14:38

group.

14:39

I believe that we are very talented

14:41

and have a chance to do something very very special.

14:43

I just want to make sure we get there.

14:44

And I think that with that that comes

14:46

with the leadership and holding people accountable and holding

14:49

myself accountable. And I think as long as I

14:51

do that and everyone else does that as well, I

14:53

think we're gonna do really good.

14:54

We're gonna do really good.

14:56

Markel, Obviously, we have almost the same

14:59

group coming back as we've had last

15:01

year and even over the year four. So

15:03

is there anything that you're trying to do going

15:06

into this season that's different to help

15:09

us get to that next step that we

15:11

all think we can get to.

15:13

Yeah, well, just being available. I think that's

15:15

the first that's number one, that's

15:17

job. Yeah, that's the biggest

15:19

thing. And I think with that, you know, like I said, I

15:21

think it's the accountability part.

15:23

I think that we're all in a place, like you.

15:24

Said, we've been with each other for almost going on

15:26

three years now, that we should be able

15:28

to tell to each other about anything that's going on the game.

15:30

And that's what we need in order to get to where we're

15:32

trying to go.

15:33

You know, we can't have guys missing assignments

15:35

or even doing something good and we don't acknowledge it.

15:38

I think that in order for us to get to where we need to

15:40

go, we need to have that open communication, not

15:42

only with coaches, but with each other to be able to

15:44

push each other forward.

15:45

And I think that we're all ready for that challenge.

15:47

I feel like you guys can see what everybody is

15:49

just a different maturity in in.

15:51

The locker room, in the gym where we

15:54

believe.

15:54

You know, we got a small sample size last

15:56

year, even with the bast start to I want to make

15:58

the playoffs scene. I think we all want

16:00

that, and we're all ugly for us, So I

16:02

think it's gonna be fun. It all

16:04

starts with coming with a great start. You know, like you said

16:07

that that first twenty five games hurt us, and we've seen

16:09

that, so we know how important it is to start.

16:11

But with that, we can't die off.

16:13

We gotta make sure we begin in

16:15

middle and the sea. We keep going all the

16:17

way through until we get to the playoffs.

16:19

And keep going.

16:20

Markel, tell me about Arnie Candor, the new vice

16:23

vice president of player Performance. He could be

16:25

a big sort of secret weapon. A.

16:27

Yeah, I don't want to tell too much about him

16:29

now, but Arnie is Annie is unbelievable

16:31

man. Just his dods, you know, his energy that

16:34

he brings to the team, his experience,

16:36

you know with his championship teams that he's

16:38

been a part of, but also just his knowledge

16:41

of being basketball minded. You know, I think

16:43

that that's one of the biggest changes

16:45

that we made this year. And you can talk to almost

16:47

any guy from top to bottle, I guarantee that's one

16:50

of the best, the best guys they've been around. And not

16:52

just the stuff that he knows, but just the person

16:54

he is year around Arnie automatically

16:57

he makes everyone feel love. He makes everyone feel

16:59

like they're someone and that's something

17:01

that I carry myself that I try to do walk around.

17:03

But they have someone who's been through, you

17:06

know, the ups and down and actually been on successful

17:09

teams.

17:09

You know, that's always a plus. That's always

17:12

a plus to have.

17:12

And he's done a great, unbelievable

17:15

job of helping us with recovery, helping

17:18

us with managing our bodies,

17:20

making sure that we have the proper energy

17:22

and things that we need resources, whether that's having

17:25

games in the room and the recovery room so we

17:27

can be together and have that you know, chemistry

17:29

off the court to giving

17:32

you medicine that you never even thought of or

17:34

a remedy that you never even could think of that.

17:36

That can help you with the sickness, you know.

17:38

And I think that's it's just a small thing

17:40

that's going to help you get over, you know, once you're a really

17:42

good team. Is really paying attention to the small details,

17:44

and that's something that he prods himself on.

17:46

He told me a lot this. He told me about the recovery

17:49

pool. Sorry, he told me about the.

17:50

Recovery pool, Smoothie salt,

17:53

and then the sprinklers and the why and now he's hitting

17:55

you guys with water while you're floating around.

17:57

I mean, that's just like next level

18:00

stuff. No, man, he's insane. He makes it

18:02

fun. It's not like something where you're like, oh,

18:04

I got to do recovery.

18:05

You know.

18:05

He brings an aspect to it where you

18:07

never know what's going to happen. Here's some some

18:09

stuff that I've never seen before, that I never even thought of

18:12

doing. But it's something that's very little that's like, oh

18:14

wow, like I can just do this every day and it's gonna

18:16

help me feel and you.

18:17

Can feel it, you know.

18:18

It's not something that like most of the time when we try something,

18:20

you might not feel it. Like most of the stuff that he's

18:22

giving you you feel right away, and it's like it

18:24

makes you want to keep doing it.

18:25

You get addicted to it.

18:26

That's awesome.

18:27

Are you feeling with the music in the back there of mar Kelvick

18:29

CA's years now for years? I

18:31

want it's it's mostly

18:33

popular, you know, like whatever you tring you

18:35

at the time, right, like a lot of current

18:38

stuff. Yeah, walk by the other night for the first

18:40

time. I got a little Lionel Richie.

18:43

I got some El Deball.

18:47

He gonna he going to keep the throachers. That's

18:49

one thing about Arnie. He you gonna

18:51

here throwback and that's how you there. But

18:53

it also gives you a sense of like calmness, like

18:55

you almost like wow, because whether

18:58

you like I know it a little bit like a lot of songs

19:00

that we hear today in rap or whatever, it's

19:02

usually samples from Oh. So when you start hearing,

19:04

you think it's going to be a song that you know, and then you're like, oh,

19:07

this is the original, the original b

19:09

or the original you know a song to it.

19:11

So that's one thing that Arnie is. I love

19:13

them for it. You know, it's something that's really dope. You know,

19:16

he gets the vies going, whether it's

19:18

when we're calming down, you know, off the

19:20

court and it's it's really dope. It's something that you know

19:22

sometimes everyone once in a while you might laugh like what

19:24

the what are we listening to? But then you realize

19:27

it just everybody just ends up bopping their heads

19:29

blowing and just moving smooth. So those

19:31

one of the things, like I said, the small thing that that makes

19:34

a big difference.

19:35

Are you getting educated, Like is there any song that's

19:37

come on and you're like, wait, a second that.

19:38

Yeah, yeah, it's been a it's been a few with eight. I'm

19:41

like, who is this? And I'm like, I didn't.

19:43

Even know that, you know, it's been I got to

19:45

see. I got one on my phone the other phone that

19:47

he sent me that I really like, and then it

19:50

just stuck with me.

19:50

I was singing it after I'm like, I don't even know who this

19:52

is. I'm just singing it.

19:53

But that's that's my girl. I'm actually gonna

19:55

try to learn at least three songs before the years over.

19:58

Nice.

19:58

Hey, how glad are you that you're doing so young?

20:00

You don't have to spend that all that money on

20:02

Taylor Swift tickets those things out right.

20:05

It's a great show.

20:06

He'll get me wrong, it's a great show, but you'd

20:08

be out a lot of money right now.

20:09

Yeah, I'll be bed down back.

20:11

I don't have to tell her, you know, we're gonna have to stream it on

20:13

on something YouTube or something.

20:15

Luckily he likes Malana right now, so we can just keep

20:17

that good people.

20:18

Yeah, that's how that's how it works.

20:20

Hey, tell us about there's so much interest obviously

20:23

in this entire team, and you mentioned it, there's a buzz

20:25

in town. I know you feel it. I know everybody feels that

20:27

they're excited for this thing to start. And I think it starts

20:29

with all of you guys being healthy, which is fantastic.

20:31

But uh, you know, we saw Polo for a

20:33

year. He wins Rookie of the Year, we saw him a Team USA,

20:36

right, we're following him Franz as well, playing overseas.

20:38

But what you know, Polo seems

20:40

to be all about business too, you know, he does what's

20:43

the Is there a lighter side of Polo? Tell us

20:45

kind of about the pollow, the pollow

20:48

that you've gotten.

20:48

To know here over the list.

20:50

Man, Polo is just really mature.

20:52

Man.

20:52

That's another guy I say. I think he's twenty

20:54

about to turn twenty one. Hey, you

20:56

would never think that, just about the way he cares

20:58

himself. But he's on

21:01

the court and off the court. But he definitely has a

21:03

playful and the joyful side. You know, he jokes around.

21:06

Uh, he spends a lot of time with his friend.

21:08

He's actually really good at two K. My

21:10

doubt they giving his credit where is due. That's

21:13

why I also realized I was getting old. You know, I

21:15

played it in two k I think New Orleans preseason

21:17

in the row. You know, I felt like I played the game

21:20

a lot before my kids, and I felt

21:22

like I was a gamer.

21:23

And this dude, when I tell you, he beat

21:25

me bad.

21:26

I was trying not to get beat by twenty one the whole

21:28

game, and he was making every shot.

21:30

I realized that I'm getting a little old, and I gotta work.

21:32

I gotta either give up the game or I gotta work

21:34

a little hard, And so I got maybe that business

21:36

decision.

21:37

But yeah, he's just a good dude.

21:39

Man.

21:39

It's very He's easy to be around.

21:41

You know. He's not one of those guys that's like, oh, I'm a

21:43

pick, you know, you can't kick it with me. And

21:46

for him to be like that at such a young age

21:49

and to feel.

21:50

Like, you know, you can talk to him

21:52

and almost be relatable, Uh, it's

21:54

dope. And it's honestly a very

21:56

dope thing to see a guy that once

21:59

in a lifetime talent.

22:00

Dude, this guy's shoe long is at twenty

22:02

years old going on right one, and.

22:04

I only can think about how he's gonna be when

22:06

he's twenty five, when he's twenty four. That's all That's what

22:08

I think about, Like when he continues to grow, continue figure

22:10

out more about his body, continued to come

22:12

into his manhood.

22:14

And I'm just dope. I got it. Like I said, I got experience,

22:17

a chance to be able to play with someone like that.

22:19

Now you're talking about all these guys that are making you feel

22:22

old. Does Joe Ingles

22:24

make you fall?

22:24

Man? Oh Joe,

22:27

It's just go back to Joe and feel okay.

22:28

But I'm twenty five again.

22:29

That's yeah, that's right, Joe.

22:32

I think Joe just turned thirty six, and I appreciate

22:34

it. And I would just sit there.

22:35

They said, like thirty six. One,

22:38

that's amazing for him to still be hooping. But

22:40

two, I'm just like thirty

22:42

six, he's gonna be kicking with the coaches more than us,

22:44

you know. Yeah, But but it's

22:47

I'm.

22:47

Not gonna lie to you.

22:48

For nine years I thought he was thirty six.

22:49

I'm not gonna lie. I'm

22:52

not gonna bring it.

22:53

Joe.

22:53

Joe is amazing man. He brings a different type

22:56

to the team, trash talking to everyone.

22:58

I think the product this is been the most

23:01

chippy that they've been since I've been in

23:03

Rolandao and the good way. You know, it's been

23:05

like we're really competing, We're really talking

23:07

snack to each other. It's like we almost want to

23:09

get in fights in practice, but at the same time, we

23:12

need that. We need that in order for us to

23:15

grow and get better, you know. And I think that it's

23:17

it's the perfect amount where we're

23:19

pushing each other every day, but we also know

23:21

that we have each other's back, you know, which which

23:24

each person is capable of when we

23:26

get in those situations. So I love

23:28

Joe and I I know I'm gonna get a lot of

23:30

syste off member. I can't wait to play with him as well.

23:32

All right, I think Mark Kel tell us tell us about your

23:35

YouTube channel. I noticed something on social media

23:37

the other day.

23:38

I haven't seen a ton of.

23:39

Mixtapes and highlight reels and you interacting

23:41

with people. But what's what's going on with

23:43

the YouTube.

23:44

Channel and what can we expect? We'd love to follow

23:46

along.

23:47

Yeah, I just started, uh decided

23:49

that it was time for me to create a YouTube channel.

23:51

And it's just my name at Markel

23:54

Fulkes and I really just want to be able to motivate

23:56

people.

23:57

I also want to create a platform for.

23:59

You know, of fans and people all over

24:01

the world to know that you can, you know, do anything

24:03

that's possible.

24:03

You know.

24:04

I just want to really show a little bit more about

24:06

my life, show a little bit more about what I do daily,

24:08

and just hopefully, you know, reach

24:11

anyone who's looking to look forward to.

24:12

You know, I'm gonna have concent on you know, road trips,

24:14

I'm concent on my.

24:16

Shoes that I wear, you know, a whole bunch of different stuff,

24:19

and I just really want to show a little bit behind

24:22

the scenes.

24:22

Of what I do.

24:23

You know, I'm I'm private, but I'm not you know, I

24:25

do a lot of stuff in the communitator Orlando's

24:27

just all over and I think that I just want to shine

24:29

a little light on, you know, more stuff that I'm doing.

24:30

And I think it's a dope way to access

24:33

this, but it's something new that I'm trying.

24:35

So it's I just hope everybody goes

24:37

and subscribe and really likes it.

24:39

What's the feedback then, I think people

24:41

would be firing up, but all fired up to see that.

24:44

Yeah, it's been amazing.

24:45

I think my first video in there was from my camp from

24:47

the summer and my third a old camp and

24:49

we had a great turnout, and I think that the it's

24:51

been pretty good. I think I've been getting a lot of subscriber a

24:53

lot of videos, and I know a lot of people are excited, you

24:56

know, again just to see more about, you know,

24:58

what goes on in my life and what I go through

25:00

everything that I've been doing.

25:02

So I think that it's been dope.

25:03

I bring him a lot of good you know, good

25:06

comments, are good you know, good return.

25:08

So yeah, I'm gonna keep it going. It's gonna be something

25:10

that I gotta get.

25:10

Comfortable with, but I definitely want to, you know, get

25:12

access to my fans and let them be able

25:14

to see a little bit more about me.

25:16

No, I always find it funny we know players

25:19

improve year after year and right up until

25:21

the end of their career, but we never seem to give credit

25:23

to coaches and in front off us personnel

25:26

for improving. And coach Mosley

25:28

now headed end the year three, I'm sure he's a little bit different

25:30

than he was in year one. Now obviously him

25:32

kind of grow as a leader, especially

25:35

of this group in particular.

25:37

Man, he's been great.

25:38

I mean he's been great since the start, but I think he's just

25:40

gaining more confidence as

25:43

far as in his players, he builds more

25:45

confidence than us.

25:46

He's letting us really.

25:47

Run the show in the sense of out

25:50

we're the ones out there in the time of what's going

25:52

on, and he wants us to take that torch

25:54

because he knows that at the end of the day when we get in

25:57

no situations, he doesn't want to be the guy that's.

25:58

Called him the places.

25:59

He wants us to feel comfortable enough and know what's going

26:01

on so we can make adjustments

26:03

on the fly. And I think that's one thing that he's really keeping

26:06

this on. But like I said in the beginning, the accountability

26:09

part, I think that he's really really owning in.

26:11

Or old that's accountable, even if it's the smallest

26:13

details.

26:13

Like you, I'm pretty sure a lot of people are seen like

26:16

in training can when he's talking about in the locker room,

26:18

in the training room, and he's really in.

26:21

The small details. It's something as small as that,

26:23

you know, making sure we clean up after each other. But I

26:26

think that.

26:26

He's really holding it on accountability part

26:28

and holding everyone to steep to the fire,

26:30

and that's what we really need as a coach.

26:32

From like I said, from the top to bottom. And it's not only

26:34

him, he got assistant.

26:35

Coach doing it as well.

26:36

But more importantly, we're starting to have each

26:39

other being able to talk to each other, pull

26:41

each other aside, and then also feel comfortable

26:44

enough to be able to go to him and feel comfortable

26:46

enough to talk to him about any bit anything. He has

26:48

an open door policy where we can go talk to him by anything,

26:51

and he makes it easy for us to talk. I know me

26:53

personally, you know I have conversations. He always

26:55

checks on me, and I talk to him all the time.

26:57

We joke around sometime, but I.

26:59

Know that he has you know, the best interest,

27:01

not only as you know basketball player, but as

27:03

young men they have grown in in this

27:05

business in life. So that means

27:07

a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to everyone else.

27:09

I know the young guys might not see it right now, but it's

27:12

something that they I know they will appreciate.

27:14

Like I said, it's very rare to come pass a team like

27:16

this, and it starts from the coaching.

27:18

Yeah, I want to see and

27:20

listen, we're hearing that word accountability a couple of

27:23

times from you.

27:23

We heard it from coach.

27:24

We've heard it through through training camp and and media

27:26

day from everybody, and it's not to it's not

27:28

to make light of the last couple of years because the

27:30

last two years you've been trying to build and try

27:33

to know what you had right. You got to give guys an opportunity.

27:35

But it seems like maybe some of the things that

27:38

were okay the last couple of years, some of the mistakes

27:40

that we write, tell us, tell us what

27:42

what's changed as far as that goes, what what are

27:44

we asking of

27:46

you guys this year?

27:47

That's different.

27:48

Yeah, it's just it's just like you said, the mistakes

27:51

that we made last year, we can't make this year. It

27:53

can be that and not even really

27:56

that just as we're go into the season, we can't keep

27:58

making the same mistakes. It's just like as

28:00

you get older, you can't keep making the same mistakes

28:03

and say.

28:03

You're growing and mature.

28:04

You know as you get older, once you make one mistake, you

28:06

learn from it and you know moving forward, you can't.

28:09

We can't beat ourselves at the end of the day. And I

28:12

feel like a lot of times we beat ourselves by whether

28:14

it's turnovers, whether it's not boxing out, whether

28:16

it's missing free throws, whether it's doing.

28:18

The things that we can control and not doing those

28:21

each night.

28:21

And that's something that if we want to be the team that

28:23

we all believe that we can beat, we can't have

28:25

it.

28:25

Happen this year.

28:26

Whether it's like I said, turnovers, whether that's coming

28:28

late to practice, whether that's not telling

28:30

your buddy when he mixed the assignment,

28:32

you know, and those are things that we need in order

28:35

to grow. And I think that we all are ready

28:37

to be

28:39

held to those standards and be held accountable

28:41

for those things.

28:42

And it's just.

28:43

What's going to need to happen in order for us to reach where

28:45

we need to reach. Because we have the talent, we have everything

28:48

that we need.

28:49

I feel like that's the last thing, all.

28:51

Right, listen, last thing, and that got if you guys

28:53

got if you guys got something, but last for me, Nationally,

28:57

there seems to be some love

28:59

coming to Orlando, right. There's something I don't want

29:01

to say expectations, right that I think there's a lot

29:03

of people that feel that you are a playoff

29:06

team, and I'd love to know how you feel about that and

29:08

and and what kind of what what do you think this team

29:10

can do this year?

29:11

I think it's great.

29:11

Do you hear him on you heard him on media Day?

29:13

I did.

29:14

He's embracing it. He's embracing

29:16

it.

29:17

Uh.

29:18

I mean I think that for the people that are believe

29:20

in us, I think that, you know, it's about time,

29:23

you know. I think that, Uh, we've

29:25

been believing even last year. You know, we we believe

29:27

we were we were high. I think that like injuries

29:30

hurt us a lot, but we

29:32

believe we can be any team. It's not once he in

29:35

the NBA. We don't believe that we go in and we

29:37

are our guys can match up against their guys.

29:40

You know, we're not saying it's going to be easy, but we believe

29:42

in the work that we put in. We believe that the

29:44

chemistry that we have and col lottery

29:46

that we have is going to get us there. And

29:48

like I said, the maturity and the hunger

29:51

and the chipped on the shoulder that we have for all the people that didn't

29:53

say or don't count us in and don't

29:56

that's that's that's what drives us, you know, And I

29:58

think that's what keeps us going.

29:59

Keep it's just locked in. I think we're gonna be

30:02

We're gonna be going far. You know, I don't.

30:04

I don't think this is over, you

30:06

know, big expectations. I think that this is something

30:08

that we're capable of. I don't think that is something

30:10

that I don't see why we were not

30:12

in the playoffs and maybe getting a way out the playoffs.

30:15

You know, it's not just a nagative Clayer. I think we can win the playoffs

30:17

and go far, and

30:20

man, we got I've never been on the team

30:22

it's talented, you know, with with with

30:24

Disney guys, I play with a lot of talented

30:26

guys, but they have this many interchangeable.

30:29

Guys from from top to bottom. I

30:31

don't think I've ever been on the versatile team with this.

30:34

That's awesome.

30:35

That's how I praise.

30:36

Now. I'm ready, let's go.

30:38

Let's let's go right now.

30:40

What Jake, you're gonna Jake, you gotta get some rest,

30:42

Jake. So, Jake's got a five five month old

30:44

girl, five month old early? You gotta get nice for hell

30:47

that in that five month range.

30:49

Hey, just be ready to change the diapers.

30:52

You gotta fire your ways for the naps. But it's

30:54

tough man, it's tough. And when

30:56

they say enjoy, really enjoyed, because once

30:58

they start moving, you know, you always wish.

31:00

I feel like for myself, you know you wish, you like, I can't

31:02

wait till they can walk, when they can do it on their own.

31:04

But once they.

31:05

Start walking, then they don't stop, and then they start running,

31:07

and then you're like, hey, don't jump off of that, don't

31:10

do.

31:10

That, but just enjoy it. I think it's

31:12

really dope.

31:12

It's a dope experis and my

31:14

kids have been truly a blessing.

31:16

You know.

31:16

Every time I come home, it's just they

31:18

feel like I've been gone for two years, you know, the way

31:21

that that's so excited to see me.

31:22

And I just cherished those moments, especially with

31:24

the schedule that we have and how much we're

31:26

gone. You know, it's truly a blessing.

31:27

But and I know you

31:30

have a girl, right yeah, yeah,

31:32

she's gonna have your hurt.

31:32

My daughter has. My son he's

31:35

rough, but my daughter she is.

31:38

I can't say no, I say yes to everything.

31:40

She's wrong. I'm just like fitting there, smiling

31:42

and can't help it. I mean, she

31:45

I'm a puddle around her.

31:46

But that's good.

31:47

That's good veteran advice because I

31:50

keep saying that same thing. I can't wait till she can talk.

31:52

I can't wait till she can I'm

31:54

so funny and this and that and everybody, everybody

31:56

who knows keeps telling me, appreciate

31:58

this, while I.

31:59

Appreciate it because when you when you

32:02

when they started is it's gonna start being a lot of talk

32:04

back.

32:04

There's gonna be a lot of running, and you're gonna.

32:06

Be like, I don't know if

32:08

I wanted them to go this fast, but it's it's

32:10

a it's a dope process.

32:11

Listen, all three you need to slow down because I

32:14

got one getting to the house.

32:15

I gotta do that. One just got in the call. Listen.

32:18

I would kill to be back where you guys are right

32:20

now. I'll tell you that. That's what I

32:23

already know. I can't.

32:23

That's all I think about now too. It's just like they're

32:26

not gonna want to kick it with me. I they're

32:28

not gonna want to chill with daddy and

32:31

just sit here and watch give me kisses.

32:33

Because my son is kind of already like that. He all

32:35

independent on its iPad.

32:36

I'm like, dang, you don't want to lay up with men always,

32:39

But it's like it happens fast.

32:41

They get their own personality goes, it

32:43

goes.

32:44

Well, now my my my oldest, just my oldest

32:46

just turned ten, and now I get a fist pump

32:49

when I drop her off at school. I used

32:51

to get hugs and kisses and all that. But

32:53

you know what I do. You know what I threaten her with. I'll

32:55

take away this jersey. He wears

32:57

this thing everywhere. I will take

33:00

this away.

33:01

You don't hang out with that. I

33:03

like that verage.

33:05

I got some leverage.

33:06

She loves that.

33:07

That's awesome.

33:08

Well, you're you're all of our favorite player,

33:10

Markel.

33:10

We can't wait for you to have a great season.

33:12

Listen, this is gonna be a fun team. Uh

33:14

go go go have fun with it and surprise

33:16

everybody and and all of us will.

33:18

Be here cheering, cheering you on.

33:19

I think it is.

33:20

I think you're gonna do something extraordinary this year.

33:22

We can't wait to see it.

33:23

No, it's amazing. It's always a pleasure coming on the

33:25

podcast.

33:25

I appreciate you guys having me and you

33:28

know it's gonna be a great season.

33:29

I'll see you during the year, all.

33:30

Right, Look, forward to it. Markel folds for Dante,

33:33

Marc Telly, George Galante, and Jake Chapman.

33:35

Let's have a great season. We'll see you next week on Magic

33:37

Pod Squad

34:00

a