soccer-cleats

If I wanted to play video games, right, I’m a Call of Duty guy —

Okay, but are you though?

I actually am though! I’m not like you, or Devin Booker, or some of these college kids. But I could rock with a little Call of Duty. I’m not great, but I know what I’m doing. How would you set me up if I wanted to be better at the game?

I would just have to play with you. I’ve got a bunch of friends and everyone is on different levels. And I think it’s the more you play, the more you know. That’s with anything.

Then what made you want to invest in Faze?

For me, I always try to align myself with brands that have the same values as me. I’ve been following Faze since I was 12, 13 years old, when they just started. And I’ve watched them grow and continue to keep that family spirit among them. It’s always family first with them, that’s what I found to be the special part about Faze. They’ve stuck it out for a long time and built this thing into a different machine. And they just continue to put out great content and be aligned with great other companies along the way.

What is it now that so many players are more visibly attached to gaming? Is it just how the new generation of athletes operate or is it something else?

It’s something I’ve always done growing up. That’s just the gaming world. It’s more acceptable now because people are making money from this. And no one’s scared of making money. When you’re able to do that and enjoy something you love? It’s completely different. It’s a different aspect. Everyone’s just more accepted in this world now through gaming and everyone knows now what everyone’s playing: Fortnite, Call of Duty, whatever it is. It’s just more acceptable.

Well, there have been fans and pundits who say that athletes, like they did to David Price in Boston, were too focused on gaming and it messed with their pro responsibilities. Does the possibility that someone could say you’re not focused on basketball because you’re playing too many video games bother you at all?

They also aren’t in my life. They’re not in my world. They don’t know when I’m playing video games. That’s just people guessing, at the end of the day. So I’m not gonna take anybody guessing or anything like that over what I know I’m doing with my life. That’s a little weird to be saying about somebody else’s life if you don’t even know them.

I understand that, because I’m a Philly guy. And I’ve seen everything my city has had to say about you. So, let’s dispel some myths. The thing I’ve loved about you in your career is that when someone says something about you, you shoot right back at them. Like that announcer for the Washington Wizards who said you were “the most overrated player in the NBA.”

The thing with people is that they think they know something soooo well. And this guy thinks he knows basketball sooo well. And that may be because he watches the games but does he really know the game? Did he grow up playing the game? Has he been in different situations, has he run the point guard position, has he played at this level? Like, everybody wants to feel like they know the game. And that’s just not the case. Draymond [Green] says it all the time. That’s not the case. Not everybody knows everything about something or as much as they think they know.