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This is a production
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Production funding for
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proudly sponsors Sports Files.
- My guest today on Sports Files
is Memphis Grizzlies forward
JaMychal Green.
[theme music]
To say the last ten days
or so have been a bit
crazy for the Grizzlies
would be a huge understatement.
It all started with two big
deals prior to the NBA trade
deadline, one of which
was literally completed
in the final minutes.
In what many believed would be a
quiet period for the Grizzlies,
the team shipped starting
shooting guard Courtney Lee to
Charlotte in a three team
trade that netted the Grizzlies
37-year-old veteran forward
Chris Anderson from Miami,
better known as "Birdman"
and second year guard P.J.
Hairston from Charlotte.
In addition, the Grizz received
four future second round
draft picks.
Then the Grizzlies
sent forward Jeff Green
to the L.A. Clippers for guard
Lance Stephenson
and a conditional
2019 first round pick.
Stephenson, who has a team
option for next season at just
under ten million, was in his
first year with the Clippers
after stops in
Indiana and Charlotte.
So while the new Grizzlies
were trying to get acclimated,
the organization dropped some
knowledge on us that came as a
surprise to no one.
And that news was the fact that
Marc Gasol would not play again
this season.
Big Spain had surgery last week
in Charlotte to repair -- get
this -- a non-displaced type two
fracture of the navicular bone
in his right foot.
I don't know either.
Grizzlies General Manager Chris
Wallace says he expects Gasol to
make a full recovery but adds
there is no timetable on how
long it will take.
So the Grizzlies push on and
got back to the grind with a get
together with the
Lakers on Wednesday,
which just so happened to
be the Memphis swan song
for Kobe Bryant.
Bryant, as you would expect, was
given a gracious send off with
many Kobe fans on hand.
But in the end, it was the
Grizzlies who would prevail.
And now to this week's guest,
one of the guys being called
upon to pick up the slack
for the injured Marc Gasol,
a guy who's very
confident in his ability.
I'm referring to JaMychal Green.
And he's next on Sports Files.
[theme music]
Thank you so much, man.
Appreciate you
being on the program.
So, so many changes here
since the All-Star break,
the trades that were made.
What's it been like
as a player on this team
with all these new additions?
- I feel like everybody is
just trying to get adjusted
to the new.
I know it was
everything new going on.
New players.
Finna be a
different style of play,
especially with Marc being out
for the remainder of the season.
So, we're just trying to
find our new identity.
- How long does
something like that take?
I know there's no specific time.
But you've had a few games.
You haven't had a
lot of practices.
Is there some sort of
time table where you figure,
hey, everybody can
click on the same page?
- Man, hopefully soon.
Sooner than later because
we're running out of time.
You know, we're in a good spot
right now for the play-offs.
So, it's very important for
us to continue to win and,
you know, create
distance between that spot.
(Greg)
Mike Conley came out and
said even though we lost a major
to our team, important
player in Marc Gasol,
our goals have not changed.
Is it possible that the goals
haven't changed when you lose
such an instrumental
part of your team?
- Marc is definitely a
big piece of the team.
But I definitely
agree with Mike.
We all competitors.
So, at the end of the
day we all want to win.
You know, we have a
lot of vets on the team.
Some that haven't
won championships.
So, it's important to them to go
on and play in the post season,
as well.
So, we take that very seriously.
- So, I guess there's no
time to say woe is me.
You know, injuries
happen to all teams.
We just have to deal with it.
- Yeah, you just got to.
It's our job to step
up now that Marc gone.
It's different players that had
to step up every night so we'll
be able to win.
- You've gotten
into this position,
as you said.
In fifth right now in the West.
Of course, the top
eight go to the play-offs.
I guess that you've worked
so hard to get to this point,
in the final 25
games to give that up,
that would be a
huge disappointment.
- It would be a
huge disappointment.
So, like I said, it's very
important for us to stay focused
and just continue to play hard.
I know our chemistry is not
there but as long as we play
hard and play good defense,
we keep ourselves in the game,
as well.
- JaMychal, the injury to Marc
Gasol opens up the door for some
players to get
more playing time,
to get important playing time,
and certainly you are
one of them.
Do you feel that this is
your opportunity to shine,
to show everybody
what you're made of?
(JaMychal)
I do.
I feel like God gave me the
opportunity to showcase my
talent and for me to
step in Marc's place.
I know I'm not Marc Gasol
but I'm gonna play hard
and just compete.
You know, try to do anything and
everything to help my team win.
- What does JaMychal
Green bring to the court?
- Man, I'm just
gonna fight, you know,
and bring the
effort, energy, hustle.
I'm gonna do all the smaller
things and just go out there
and play hard.
- What does Coach Joerger and
the other coaches on the staff
say to you?
What do they expect from you?
- Um, lately they
just been telling me,
you know, play with confidence
and stay out of trouble.
Now and then we're limited.
Just have to play smarter.
No fouls.
You know, just be out there
moving my feet and just play
with rhythm.
- What is the one of area of the
game that you work on the most,
that you need to
work on the most?
- Um, this season we're working
on shooting the ball well and
help spread the floor.
You know, it gives Z-Bo more
room to take in the paint and
put the ball on the floor.
We're gonna start putting the
ball on the floor a little more
and create for my
other teammates.
- If you came from
another generation,
as tall as you are, your
back would be to the bucket.
You'd be backing down guys
and shooting from close range.
But in this day and age,
in the NBA especially,
guys like you and even
taller for that matter,
will go outside and
knock down threes.
I've seen you take those threes.
I've seen you have a lot
of confidence in your shot.
That's extremely important
now to make your game more
well-rounded and to show how
much importance you can be
to a team.
- Yes sir, I agree.
The more things you can do, I
feel like the better player you
can become.
More possibilities for you.
You're not just
limited to one position.
- What's the hardest
part of the game for you?
- Uh, it's adjusting to the
pace and to the physicality
of the game.
Uh, you know, some vet moves
that you got to get used to
out there.
I'm still getting
used to those moves.
So, you know, just try to
keep a smile on my face.
- But I would imagine..
Now you don't have Marc
now because of the injury.
But having been on
this team with Marc,
on this team with Z-Bo, veterans
who play the four and the five
that can really help you.
So, I'm sure you lean on these
guys for advice all the time.
(JaMychal)
Exactly.
Anytime I have a question, I
don't hesitate and go straight
to Zach or Marc.
They always there to help.
(Greg)
When you've..
You grew up in Alabama.
I'm sure a sports fan
like most of us are.
And then became a
basketball fan.
Who were the guys that you
looked up at in the NBA and
said, "Wow, you know, I
love watching this guy."
- You know, Michael Jordan.
I was a Kevin Garnett fan
with the Timberwolves and Vince
Carter, you know, with the
dunking and everything going on.
So, he's very exciting to watch.
- Do you ever pinch
yourself and say,
"My gosh, I'm playing on the
same team as Vince Carter."
- Man, it's like every day.
My locker is right next to his.
So, I just be
looking at him like,
"Man, it's Vince Carter."
I got some questions.
It had to be fun to be
able to do any dunk you want.
It just crazy, you know.
It's Vince Carter.
So, just him still
being able to dunk,
it's crazy.
It's crazy.
- I would imagine though once
you step in between the lines
and it's game competition,
you're not in awe of anybody no
matter who the player is, what
stature they have in the league.
But I would guess when you first
got your chance in the NBA,
it was kind of like
star struck a little bit, right?
- It was surreal.
It's still surreal to this day.
I just be in the house, just be
thankin' the Lord just thinking
about my position.
It's crazy for my
dream to come true,
you know, and be
in the NBA playing.
So, I'm still
taking it in today.
- Before the injury to Gasol,
we'd see you for some time.
Sometime we wouldn't see you.
How hard was it to deal with the
fact that you seem to be in the
rotation for the most part.
But it was never consistent.
- I'm not going to lie.
It was very tough, you
know, to be in that situation.
But, you know, I stay
focused, continue to work.
And it paid off.
You know, I saw
what happened to Marc.
But, you know, somebody had
to step up and if I would have
taken the wrong way and
just been mad and not working,
I wouldn't be in this
position I am today.
So, just thank God for
keeping me focused and hungry.
- You got into this situation
by performing very well
in the D league.
You also, though,
had a stint in France, right?
In between.
What was that like?
- Uh, it's a great experience.
Uh, I still find myself to
this day missing some parts
of France.
(Greg)
Really?
- Yeah, you know, I had a
pretty good time over there.
It was something
new for me, you know,
going out of the
country on my own.
Just the style of play overseas.
You know, it was
a fun experience.
- Well, what's the big
difference in the playing style?
- You know, most
seasons, you know,
you don't have three seconds
and you can tip the ball
off the rim.
So, that's probably like
the biggest difference.
- Would you like
those rules in the NBA?
(JaMychal)
Yeah, I'd love it.
- What about the other things
you miss from having had an
experience like
playing in France?
The food?
- They had some
good food over there.
Like the breads.
I never ate croissants
until I went to France.
And now I find myself
wanting Starbucks and order some
croissants and stuff like that.
So, that definitely
put me in the mind.
- I thought Alabama produced the
most croissants in the world,
man.
I must have been mistaken.
The D league, that's always
interesting because you wonder
players like yourself, you
were an all SEC performer.
You didn't get drafted.
I know that was disappointing
and then you come out and you
go, alright, I can sign and play
around the world and probably
make a little bit of coin.
Or I can go to the D league,
probably not make as much money
but I'm here.
And I can get that call,
which happened for you.
Was that a tough decision?
- Definitely was
a tough decision.
I fought my agent about it.
My mind was on going
overseas to start making money.
But he was looking at
the bigger picture, you know.
And I was told about the D
league from a couple of players
that played.
Like, just the
traveling, you know,
the lifestyle is different.
So, I really didn't
know what to expect.
But I thank my
agent for fighting me.
I feel like we made
the right decision.
- He didn't ask for
an increase, did he?
- No.
[laughter]
- I'm sure there's
others though that don't get
that chance to get
called up to the NBA
and they feel disappointed.
But it must be hard because the
ultimate goal for you guys who
have played at a high
level collegiately is the NBA.
Everything else
is second, right?
- So, it's definitely hard.
So, like, in this business,
you got to be mentally strong.
It's going to be
some tough days.
You're going to fight.
You gonna have to
fight through adversity.
But it's all about perseverance.
- You end up going to
your home state school.
You go to the
University of Alabama.
I guess you could
have went to Auburn.
Ole Miss was high on your list.
When it came down to
it, I can understand why.
It's, again, your home state,
but Alabama is such
a football school.
Why Alabama?
- Uh, Mark Gottfried.
He's a great recruiter.
You know, he said a lot of
good things that I liked.
And I always was
very family oriented.
So, I wanted to
stay close to home.
Didn't want to be too
close like at Auburn.
A little too close.
But at the same time, I wanted
to be driving distance away from
my family to come, you know,
watch me play and have a little
space in between us.
- You sound like me.
I didn't play college basketball
but I wanted to be far enough
away from home.
About three-and-a-half hours
was good for me
and still driving distance.
But what was it like when you're
playing at a school that is
known for football,
national championship
after national championship?
Did you feel like you were
treated at a second level
athletically to the football?
Or do you feel that you
got your just rewards?
- I feel like, of
course, you know,
football is they're going to
get more love than basketball,
period, just because.
That's the lifestyle down there.
So, you know, I really wasn't
expecting to receive that same
amount of love.
But at the same time, I knew
that we once was a good program,
basketball program.
And I wanted to, you
know, try to bring that back.
And I feel like my
junior and my seniors year,
we got that job done.
(Greg)
Yeah, there's
been some history there.
There's no question about it.
It's a good program.
But you were very
close to Ole Miss, right?
- Yeah, very close.
Andy Kennedy,
he's a great coach,
great person.
Just love him as a human.
And his staff at the
time that was there,
you know, they were just good
people that I could relate to
just outside of basketball.
So, that was kind of big for me.
And that's why, you know,
that was cutting it close
with Alabama.
- You mentioned Coach Gottfried
and he sold you on Alabama.
Coaches are so extremely
important to players to develop
you both on and off the court,
especially at younger levels.
High school
players, their mentors.
What has Coach Dave
Joerger been for you?
- Um, he's been a great coach.
Been hard on me, which I needed.
I'm not complaining
at all about that.
You know, he corrects me on my
mistakes and he praises me on
things that I do well.
So, I appreciate him for that.
- Yeah, you don't want a
coach that just simply says,
oh, good job, when they
really don't mean that.
Because you're not
getting the feedback you need.
- You're right.
So, for him to
correct my every move and,
you know, to praise me
when I'm doing well,
you know, that
speaks a lot, you know,
about him as a
character, as a coach.
And, you know, as a player, you
wouldn't want it no different.
- So far through
your young NBA career,
toughest guy you've had to
go up against on the court?
And you can't use any of
your teammates because I'm sure
there's a bunch of them.
- Uh, I say the toughest
guy I had to go against is,
uh, I could think of
is probably Dwight.
Because I had to
guard him by myself,
one-on-one.
With him being so much
bigger than I am and stronger,
I had to fight and lost a lot
of energy fighting with him.
- He's a monster.
- So, that's the only person
I can really think of so far.
(Greg)
What do you like to do when
you get away from basketball?
- Man, uh, normally
just watching movies.
You know, movies
that just came out,
TV shows.
Just being with my daughter.
I love being with her.
- How old is she?
(JaMychal)
She's two.
- What's her name?
- Jada Green.
Love of my life.
I feel like I never knew what
love was 'til she was here.
- The name JaMychal, is
there a story behind that?
- I just know my parents was
saying it was a football player.
His name was JaMychal and
it's spelled the same way mines
spelled back in the day.
And they just wanted my
name to be different.
His name was Mychal
but he spelled Mychal
the way I spell mine,
M-Y-C-H-A-L.
So, they just put
Ja in front of it.
- How many times in school did
the teacher think you misspelled
your own name?
- Man, I heard Jay-Meek-Ell.
- They're pronouncing it..
- Jay-Mc-Call.
[laughter]
- You wrote JaMychal.
Did they think you were like
misspelling your own name?
Shouldn't it be Michael?
No, it's JaMychal.
That's fantastic.
Alright, you're
off the hot seat.
But we like to end
all our interviews,
JaMychal, with something
we call Five for the Road.
So, it's a simple question,
first thing that comes to mind.
Favorite
professional sports team?
Any sport, you can't
say the Grizzlies.
- Okay.
Uh..
First team come to my
mind was Atlanta Falcons.
- Growing up that was your team?
- Yeah, growing up.
- Yeah, but there's no
professional sports teams
in Alabama.
- Atlanta is like the closest
next thing closest to us.
So, the Falcons.
- Okay.
How about your favorite
pro athlete of all time?
- Michael Jordan.
- MJ.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
Favorite music, genre, artist?
Who do you like to listen to?
- Right now I'll say Doe B.
He's hometown, from my hometown.
Yeah, he passed away recently
but he signed with Hustle Gang
with T.I.
But yeah, he was a
pretty good rapper.
- And, um, you like to
listen to music before a game?
- Yeah, definitely.
I feel like it
put me in my zone.
You know, it takes my mind
away from everything else.
I just focus.
- So, focuses you.
I worry sometimes if it
relaxes you too much.
- Yeah.
See, some music, you know,
it depends on what type o
of music you like.
I don't really like, like, slow
jams before a game or anything
like that because
I need something.
- Get lethargic and
need to be fired up.
Alright, favorite
movie of all time?
- Favorite movie of all time..
Uh, that's tough.
I can tell you the favorite
movie so far that I watched.
That would be Creed.
- Did you like Creed?
- Yeah, I liked Creed.
Yeah, I seen it last week on TV.
Yeah, I enjoyed it.
- Have you seen the
Rockys, the other Rockys?
- I have.
Yeah, yes sir.
(Greg)
So, is Creed better
than the original Rocky?
- Ah, I don't want
to say all that.
It's a good movie.
- Favorite television show,
all time?
- Martin.
- So many people say Martin.
What is he doing now?
- I don't know.
I really don't know.
- You were fantastic.
JaMychal, thank you so much.
Continued success.
We'll take a break.
That was JaMychal Green.
Overtime is next.
[theme music]
Before too long
spring will be here and then
summer, right around the corner.
And that means folks
flooding to the great outdoors.
With Pickwick and
Sardis in our backyard,
boating is as
popular as anywhere.
And last weekend we got a taste
of what's new this year with the
52nd annual Mid-South Sports
and Boat Show at the Agricenter.
Here's a look back at some
of the sights and sounds.
[upbeat instrumental music]
- We got tons
of boats this year.
There's more boats than we
have ever had this year.
We got fishing
tackle, trout ponds.
There's ski boats,
pontoon boats, fishin' boats.
Anything you would
want to be in the water.
We have a bunch of
new dealers this year.
We have two outside vendors
this year that's all new.
Sounds systems for your boat.
Wake boards, skis, life jackets.
Just about anything you'd want.
[music continues]
(off-screen male)
I don't see fish-flavored fudge.
- Not yet.
[music continues]
-Alright, we have
a 2016 23 LSV here.
It has automatic surf
gate and wedge on it.
It's really cool that they added
a new invention where the rider
behind the boat has a bracelet
on his wrist and can control the
circuit and the
wedge from there.
So, if he wanted to
go faster or slower,
he'd be able to do it
from riding behind the boat.
And as well as changing
the wake from the left wake
to the right wake.
[music continues]
(off-screen male)
Correct me if I'm wrong
but those aren't boats.
How'd they get in here?
[music continues]
- Next year, we'll have
even more boats.
I've already got boat
dealers that want more space.
We're going to fill the
courtyard up next year.
We'll have..
We're working on right now going
ahead and getting more tackle.
You know, this used to be
the tackle show of Memphis.
And it will be the
tackle show of Memphis.
- Well, tomorrow is Senior Day
for the Memphis Tigers who host
Tulsa at 3:00.
It's been a rocky season to say
the least but it is a chance for
University of Memphis fans to
say goodbye to Shaq Goodwin,
Trashon Burrell and
Ricky Tarrant Junior.
And that's it for now.
Have a great week and
we'll see you next time.
[theme music]
(female announcer)
Production funding for
Sports Files is made possible
in part by...
(male narrator)
Infiniti of Memphis has
moved to Germantown
road just half mile north of
Wolfchase Galleria and is proud
to support WKNO for its quality
broadcasting and service
to our community.
Quality and service -- No wonder
Infiniti of Memphis feels
at home on WKNO.
The Lighting Source, major line
distributor of commercial and
industrial lighting including
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the lighting source
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