Across The Table with Dionysius

Warren Ward: From the Court to the Mic - A Pro Athlete's Tale of Transformation

• Dionysius ( Dion ) Williams • Episode 4

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Ever wonder about the highs and lows behind the glitz of a pro athlete's life? That's exactly what we're unpacking with Warren Ward, whose journey from childhood dreams to international courts is nothing short of a Hollywood script. Join us as we get up close and personal with the basketball phenomenon, learning how the echoes of sibling rivalry and the influence of Tracy McGrady fueled his fiery ambition. Ward doesn't hold back as he shares his battles with labels, the grit behind being inducted into the Ottawa U men's basketball Hall of Fame, and how his analytical mind now dissects games not just on the court, but as a broadcaster and podcaster.

The conversation takes a globe-trotting spin when we explore the relentless expectations in overseas basketball. Here, consistency isn't just key, it's everything, with weekly performances trumping practice court prowess. Ward opens up about the pride and pressure of representing Canada on the national stage, and how these experiences paved the road to his shift behind the microphone. His story is a candid testament to navigating life's unpredictable avenues, embracing the luck and opportunities that come your way, and the realization that the transition from the hardwood to the broadcasting booth is filled with transformative discovery.

But it's not just about basketball or broadcasting; it's the blueprint for life after the game. We dive into Warren's new podcast 'You Only Die Twice,' touching on the metaphorical rebirth athletes undergo upon retirement. He gets real about the challenges they face, from mastering business savviness to hiring staff, emphasizing the importance of translating on-court discipline to boardroom finesse. Warren's journey from sneakers to chess is an inspiring reminder of the resilience and versatility that defines not just great athletes, but extraordinary individuals. Tune in for an episode that's as much about the spirit of the game as it is the game of life.


LEBRON JAMES - In this episode Dion and Warren discuss the top of Lebron James being called the GOAT by current and past players - Here are examples of players Dion was referring to : https://sports.yahoo.com/players-record-saying-lebron-james-213005374.html

Follow Warren Ward Here
INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/warren.ward10/

FOLLOW - YouOnlyDieTwicePodcast
YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/@YouOnlyDieTwicePodcast
INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/youonlydietwicepod/
PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/you-only-die-twice/id1718281847

Find Dion at the following:

DION WILLIAMS
Mortgage Agent
Website - williamsmortgage.ca
Email - dion@williamsmortgage.ca
Phone - 613-902-2313

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Across the Table podcast with Dionysius. I'm your host, dionysius, and today we have a special guest, warren Ward. Warren Ward, for me personally, was the face of Ottawa U Gigi's men's basketball in the city before Johnny Berhane came on the scene. Warren Ward just a couple of things. He's the third all-time leading scorer in Ottawa U men's Gigi's basketball. He represented Canada at the 2011 Pan Am Games. He played professionally overseas. He's the third Canadian university player to enter the NBA draft as well. Congratulations. You recently were inducted into the Ottawa U men's basketball hall of fame and, for those hoopers out there, if his voice sounds familiar, the reason is he's currently the Raptors 905 color analyst. He's the Toronto Raptors radio analyst and he's also the analyst for the CBL's Scarborough shooting stars as well. He recently launched his podcast, which we'll talk about. So welcome, warren.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, man. Glad to be here. Good to see you, man. It's been a long while.

Speaker 1:

Well, jump into it. So you're a hooper. Those that know you know you were a hooper, but for me personally I'm curious what moment early in your life do you think was pivotal in setting you on the path to becoming a successful professional basketball player?

Speaker 2:

A few things. I think you know I spoke about this the other day with my sister. She played basketball. I started playing basketball at 12. So I actually didn't play. I was a soccer player up until the age of 12. Yeah, so I started playing when I was around 12, 13. And my sister used to bust my ass and we were in the driveway. My dad bought a net. I never forget that net and me and my sister would be outside, you know, playing on the driveway, and she would literally destroy me and I used to go to bed being like how am I going to beat her? I need to stay down on that little pump fake. She would always catch me. And then I started to grow and you know that really cemented my desire to compete. So that was a pivotal moment for me. And then, you know, I think another big thing was seeing the emergence of a Tracy McGrady. You know who's my favorite player at the time.

Speaker 2:

You know everyone knows I'm a big Kobe guy but, I love T-Mac and you know, in high school I was told I was too slow to be a guard and I wasn't big enough to be a big man. So I was called a tweener and I never forgot that term. I don't know if I can swear on here, but I fucking hated that term. So my high school coach and I saw T-Mac and I'm like that's who I'm going to be, that's the game I'm going to have, I'm going to be able to dribble, I'm going to be explosive, I'm going to figure all that out.

Speaker 2:

And five-star I won MVP of the five-star camp when I went there and that was a big moment because I took a big-ass trophy home and I was like, you know, when I was younger I said you know, I can do this. You know I just I didn't know what it was. But between those three things like watching, you know, like, like competing against my sister watching T-Mac, and then winning five-star, you know, I think I always knew at that age 12, like 14, 15-ish I was like I'm going to make a career out of this. I just believe that and all of those things really helped cement that.

Speaker 1:

Okay, Curious. At what point was that? You stuck it to your sister and like yeah, you know, I'm better now you can't beat me. Like what age was that?

Speaker 2:

I won't forget that either. I was around 15, 15, 16. And I which is crazy, because I went to school at 18. So I was like just like two years. Yeah, I was just bigger and taller. So she would shot, fake, and then she'd drive to the rim and I would send her shit, right. So, but it was only because I was taller. At that point in time, like maybe 10th, 11th grade is when I really started to, yeah, is when I started to block her and she, I was just too big, you know. But before that man, like she was, she was really good, right, she was really good man.

Speaker 1:

So, as an athlete I think all athletes can adjust. Achievements don't just happen right. There's there's obstacles in the way and in terms of getting there. Can you share a significant or significant or several obstacles you had when you were playing throughout your career and how you overcame them?

Speaker 2:

I mean, where do we start as a pro or before that? Both, both. I think the biggest obstacle for me was my myself doubt. You know, I didn't like when I moved to Brampton I was like 12, right, as I said, 12, 13. So when you're like there was hoop town, gta at the time and there was all these big websites, and it's like when you're a kid growing up I was seeking the validation of other people, saying that I was good, I didn't, or like where was I going to get that from?

Speaker 2:

So you try out for all the teams you're trying to make. You know the like you're trying to make Scarborough blues. Like I didn't try out for them, but still like you're trying to be amongst the top players, trying to make the OBA. Is OBA is? You're trying to make Team Ontario so that I can, I can suck in my head. I'm like, okay, I'm this good, but I'm not because I'm not on those teams. So that was a big obstacle for me because I never made those teams. Like I made Team Ontario but I got injured so I wasn't able to play. But after that like that was probably the biggest obstacle Before I got to university was trying to prove to myself I was as good as I thought I was. When I got to university I knew I could play, but again like I didn't win rookie of the year, which pissed me off at the time, and then I started to accumulate. Who?

Speaker 2:

won rookie of the year Clinton, clinton, springer Williams, but I think you knew that already. Yeah, well, he's a London guy, so I'm cool with that. You know that's. You know, I still my boy, anyway. So I didn't win rookie of the year. I still wasn't as good as I wasn't publicly as good as I thought I was, basically. So I'm trying to prove all that at the same time. And but as I got older I got over that. I didn't, I didn't care about that anymore. I became confident because I was a worker. You know, all five years of university I stayed in Ottawa and I worked at every single summer. So when people think about my game and like how I got better, that's how I did it and I worked on things that I was actually going to do in games and I got stronger and every year I improved at something you know in my game. So my fourth year, you know I had I think everyone knows I had three major surgeries in nine years. So that's what like completely derailed my career.

Speaker 1:

Speak to those.

Speaker 2:

Yeah for sure. So 2012, I tore my ACL, just played for Canada twice in the year before coming off a really good third year. That was the first year coach to me took the job here, so we had our ups and downs, but you know, I scored 41 against UFT, made the team. I mean, I had a really good year. I had times as average and 30 a game. Like you know, I had good times that year. We didn't win as much, but as an individual, obviously I you know I was performing and then, you know, winning became my fourth and 50. That was the priority, but my third year was more so. Like everyone, get out the way.

Speaker 1:

I'm like fuck out of here, you know yeah.

Speaker 2:

So so, yeah, like, I tore my ACL in 2012, came back from from that in around 10 months, had a stellar fifth year, was able to you know, as you talked about, like you know enter the draft and I went overseas. And then, 2015, I tore my Achilles. So that was the second derailment and I came back from France. I played here, for I was going to play here for three months and I was going to go to Australia and play in the NBL there and that was the goal. So January 15, february 15, 2000. So the day after Valentine's Day, we had a back to back. We played the 14th.

Speaker 2:

I went out with my girlfriend that night, came back the next day two minutes left in the game, I grab a rebound, pop my Achilles, so I'm like off. At that point I said I'm done, that's it, my career is over because I had an ACL now left Achilles. So I'm like, what am I doing? But For some odd reason, the rehab after the surgery, things just started to progress. I was able to dunk in four months, wow, yeah. So like that's one thing, like I'll fuck myself up, but I'm, I work so hard at it and I do all the rehab and I'm naturally like I just heal fast. So I was able to come back and, like I didn't really think I was losing anything Obviously I wasn't as explosive but I just said, okay, I'm not done, so I play mom and dad for that healing power, of course.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah that's all that. That's not me.

Speaker 2:

That's definitely from some other place. You know my parents, whatever you want to call it for sure. And then, after that, 2018, I finally get my opportunity to go to, to go to Spain, and I'm finally getting back to the level that I knew I could play at. I didn't really need any outside validation. I knew I was good enough to play overseas and I told my agent at the time I am going to get to the ACB in six months. So I went to division two in Spain, to only get to division one. So this is when Luca Donchers was still there. He's playing for Real Madrid and a team called Jepousqua in the ACB. They were like a 13th place team. At that time.

Speaker 2:

I played in Leve Gold for a team, a team called Casadis, and they were like a middle of the pack team. We had seven healthy players. Six healthy players. At the time, we beat the number two team. I played every single position. I played 35 minutes a game.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, and they January 28, 2018. We're playing on the road and it's about around three minutes right, like right before halftime, and I get the ball in transition. I'm running down the court and I'm Euro stepping. I go right left and then the big man Clips my hip and my left knee buckles back and forth didn't hurt nothing, no pain, but I knew. I said, oh, that's it, and I said that that's my third one now in nine years, and I walked off the court with around three minutes left to go, and I haven't played a professional game since. So that was now six years ago. Yeah, 2018. So three major surgeries in nine years.

Speaker 2:

And I said, you know, I said I have nothing left to give to this. I really don't, I've, I can't be mad at the way things went, because I've, I've given everything right, you know. So when people ask me, like, how do like, like, how was I able, just to, you know, walk away? I didn't. I didn't walk away. I I kept going, and Because I emptied the tank, I don't have any regrets. I love them. There's nothing anyone could tell me about basketball. I've done things I never expected to do. I've done more than I thought I was capable of doing, so I don't I don't have anything else. So that day, though but I'm this, and this is when I knew basketball was like I could rest.

Speaker 2:

My agent messaged me after the game. He said all this he's like hey, because he saw it like that game he was watching and he goes. Hey, like he's like. He's like, are you good? I was like I don't know man, like I'm gonna see tomorrow, and he goes. Shit, he goes to Pusquah just offered to buy you out of your contract.

Speaker 2:

Wow, so the very thing I wanted I was gonna get. And I said to myself, okay, well, this, this can't be for me, because there's no way that this, like this, is not just a little sprain. This is like you you've done, you know, like you have another ace. Like you, something serious happens the very day a team is offering to buy you out of your contract. Like what are the odds of that happening? So I just said, okay, I can, at least I know that I would have been where I wanted to be. I could have been in Spain the rest of my career probably. Stop playing right now at you know, age 34 and call it a day, have a six. Like what 10, 12, 13 year career? Call it a day. I would have been happy with that. But just knowing that, that, that, that, that that was coming my way, I'm good, I can rest nice, nice, um.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for sharing that. That that was. That was good. All ballers, including myself, we've all had the aspirations of playing at the highest level. Although you didn't make the NBA, you did play overseas. What was the most surprising aspect or transition from? The transition from Playing ball in Canada to playing professionally overseas?

Speaker 2:

Excuse me a few things. I think For most people, when people think of professional basketball, you think of you, think of the glorification, you think of your I'm paying, can pay to make money. I'm, you know, like I'm good, like I'm getting paid to make money. You think of all the things you get to do the shopping, the fun, the, the, the family time, and people come in to see you overseas and stuff. The thing the hardest, transition was understanding just how consistent you have to be, and what I mean by that is like when, when you, when you play overseas, it's about your timing number one. So what, whatever? For some odd reason, when I went overseas, it is usually the toughest year of the league, like my first year in Germany. The league was very good and there's a lot of good players and at that time so it's like the timing of when you go overseas and you have to remember, every month you're evaluated four times.

Speaker 2:

Every Saturday you play a game. If you're not in the Euro Cup or you're a challenge, you're playing four times a month, which means every Saturday for four Saturdays. You have to be fucking good. So you practice twice a day for five. Practice twice a day for five days, monday to Friday. No one gives a shit about what you did on Tuesday. Coach doesn't care about what you did on Tuesday. You could have I'd, I'd practice where I have. I literally have 45 points in a practice. I know I could guard me.

Speaker 2:

The game comes, but the game is different. You don't even play at the same time. So these aren't excuses, these are just real things you have to get used to. So a prime example you practice at 10 and at 6. You mandatorily have to have like a five-hour window between practices, right? So practice, usually practice at 10, light stretch, whatever practice at 6 is a real practice. Like you, like you're intense. By Wednesday or Thursday you have to know the other teams plays and sets that's on you. You have to know that. So you either get a booklet or you watch the film and you write them by hand. Thursday You're going through the other teams, like you're, you're practicing the other team sets who does what, which, which way you're gonna guard ball screens, all those things you have to remember.

Speaker 2:

Then the game comes Friday. You go through your walkthrough Saturday morning or you travel and then on the bus You're probably going through your, your film or your watching tendencies, whatever it is, saturday you play the game. Now you practice at 6 for the entire week, right, and this and this is something, this is something people don't think about you practice at 6 the entire week. Eight o'clock now is the game time. So when your body's coming down from practice mentally you've been doing this all week You're you're starting to relax. Now you got to pick yourself up and you got to play at eight o'clock, or 7, 30 or whatever the case is.

Speaker 2:

So that's something I didn't have enough time to really adjust to. I wasn't given enough time over there to do that. So some players go there and they figured out no problem. But anyone like a Johnny burrane or Caleb a gata, you have to be so good to be good on for four days a week. You have to be so good. You're practicing for four days a week because that's when you're evaluated, that's when the coach gets evaluated. No one cares about you didn't practice. No one cares about what the cook you could have the best coach in the world. If he's not, if you're not winning games, right, what happens Exactly? So I think that for me, was probably the biggest adjustment is just understanding how to be good on the day I need to be good how long did I take you fuck?

Speaker 2:

for Probably got to Spain. Wow, till I got to Spain, yeah, till I got to Spain. I truly it clicked in like just like I knew I was good.

Speaker 2:

But, it's like how do I be good on this day? Fuck every like, forget everything. I don't like. I keep swearing but forget, forget everything else, that that you know or that you've done in practice. Like before, I would go to practice and just kill everybody Because I was like, oh, like I, I'm gonna show coach and practice because you know, like I always heard Jordan, everybody, you know you practice hard and the game will be easy, right? But it's not the case, because the game is different, right, I don't know the person I'm playing against. The scouting reports, different. I come off of Wall Street. They could be doubling, they could be hedging, they could like. There's so many reads I'm not making and I'm not, I'm not smart enough yet I haven't had enough reps to make those, to make those adjustments on the fly. I wasn't good enough to do that yet. So when I got to Spain, I just I understood what I needed to do to make sure I was ready on those Saturdays.

Speaker 1:

That's, that's a big one. That's yeah, wow, yeah. I've never heard it put like that. That's, that's really it, changing gears a little bit so For me, I know personally when July 1st comes around and I think most Canadians we take pride in in Canada today and, being Canadian, you're one of the few athletes that can say they represented Canada on the national stage.

Speaker 1:

How did that feel personally and professionally, because I would assume now that you know You've changed gears into broadcasting, that does have some clout to it. Right in terms of saying I represented Canada, I played on that level, right.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's what they say. When they introduced me, former Canadian pro played on Canada. That's what they say.

Speaker 1:

So to speak, to that. How did, how did that feel like personally and professionally?

Speaker 2:

I never forget it. I never. I know exactly where I was. I don't remember the street name now, but I Was walking down. I just I was a king Edward is this way? Yeah, and I'm on the street. I think it's Laurier. Yeah, I think I was on Laurier.

Speaker 2:

I was going to my house. I was going to it was my third year and I got the. I got the email in my email and I called my dad and I was jumping on the street like like a maniac in the broad daylight. So you're fitting in with the downtown. I am jumping up and down. I called my dad. I said dad, I I'm going to China. I just got selected to play on the Fisiu team. I'm going to Mexico in in in October and I, yeah, I called my right.

Speaker 2:

First thing I did called my dad. It was the most valid dating feeling because when I on my recruiting trip, coach DeVero you know one of the best things he did I don't know if he did it on purpose, but he said everything I had thought about. Remember, I told you before like I was looking for that. I was like I was looking for that validation externally about me being like a good player. He said everything that I thought about that I never said out loud. So he said you know, josh played on the national team. He's like you can do that. He's like I think you could be one of the best players to ever play, you know, in the school in Canada. Check, you know. Saying all those things to me, I was like I'm coming out with you. You know, very simple.

Speaker 1:

To just to pause here what, what? Obviously you came to Ottawa U. What? What other schools were in play? And when you were, when you were initially, Well, everyone, except for Carlton, that's.

Speaker 2:

That's pretty much the only school that never said anything to me. Everyone else in Canada was, but I was. Either that or I was going to go to Wabash Junior College where Carl Andrew played. I was recruited there. They said if I go there for two years, they have no doubt I can go anywhere else. I want to go to Syracuse.

Speaker 1:

Oh, yeah, yeah, I loved.

Speaker 2:

Hakeem work. I watched Hakeem work in the tournament man. I loved his game, skinny guy you know, long lanky.

Speaker 2:

So I'm like, and I just love the jerseys. Okay, you know, and like you know, I was number one at that time. I wasn't number 10. So, yeah, so I was like that's who I'm going to end. And they just won with Mellow. And you know, I was like you know, I'm going to go to Syracuse or I want to go play D one. And then Indiana came knocking as well. So they said if I had to go to the Juco, so if I go to Wabash, then afterwards, like they said, I would have my pick.

Speaker 2:

But I went there to look at the school. It wasn't appealing. So I was like you know what, after a few other things that happened as well, like I played really well. But I just was like, yeah, no, I don't think this. It just didn't feel right. And when I went to this camp in Detroit and I came back home and I walked in the door and my mom said like, literally once I walked in, she's like wearing the phones for you and it was Dave. So the timing of everything, you know, when I look back, it's like I just we just came back from this, from this tournament. I think I won MVP of the tournament too. So I did well. And then I come back home and Dave's on the phone and we started talking and I'm like this guy sounds like an American.

Speaker 2:

I was like where's Ottawa U? What the hell is Ottawa U? So I go and I watch and I saw Josh play and I was like, yeah, no, that's the guy, that's where I want to go. And they everyone like Dax like people don't remember how big Dax was I was like, yeah, this is a division one team, like they look. They look big. Coach Dave's on the sideline going crazy. Donny Gibson, dave Lebenowitz, like you know, watching those guys play and then seeing this big, six foot four point guard, and black at that as well, which is really important for me I was like I saw myself within this, you know, within these guys, and then going to a school that's downtown you know, that was a big deal for me.

Speaker 2:

Man, like right in the center of the city. So, all those factors combined, I just like, yeah, you know, I knew I was going to come here. And then two years later, or, yeah, you know, two and a half years later, you know, canada comes knocking and proudest basketball moment for me by far, by far. I was just putting on that jersey. I still have it. It's the only jersey that I hang in my house. Everyone else is. I don't even know where they are, to be honest, but that's the only jersey I hang and it wasn't the senior men's national team. I don't claim it to be that or anything, but to be in the system with the guys and to play and represent the country. I don't think there's a better honor than that. If you're lucky enough to do that, you know you're one of a very, very small, few people to do that, man.

Speaker 1:

Nice, nice, this is going to be a good one. I think we could debate this forever in terms of who the goat is. Me personally, I think, when it's all said and done, lebron's going to be the goat.

Speaker 2:

Oh, and you don't want to do this?

Speaker 1:

But you've expressed admiration for Jordan and for Kobe. In your view, what qualities make somebody the quote unquote, goat?

Speaker 2:

What time do we have? Okay, I'll say this and I'll say this quickly, as quickly as I can. When I think about the greatest basketball player of all time, I think about the luck required to think about the intangible things, but I also think about what they've been given and what they've gotten from what they've been given. So Jordan, to me, is like he's like Messi. Messi is a very humble person and I think Messi is humble because he knows that he's been gifted with things that you can't teach Someone running with the ball full speed and changing direction, it's like the ball is stuck to his foot.

Speaker 2:

That's Jordan. Jordan didn't practice, he didn't have trainers. He drank beer and played 36 holes of golf and then go out and give you 50 in Jordan. Have you ever played basketball in Jordan? I'd break my foot. So that's what he was able to do and he did it because he's just gifted. He didn't practice any of that stuff. Yeah, he worked out to get stronger, but you ever see Jordan working on his game, and right, because he didn't have to. He's gifted. Whereas Kobe to me, kobe did the most with the least. Kobe has the smallest hands, the least amount of vertical jump. He's not the fastest player, but he's 12 times first team, all defense, first team, all offense. He did it on both ends of the floor, whereas LeBron LeBron is the most gifted athlete ever, but yet him and his fans have the most excuses as to why he doesn't win. So I personally, when I think about that and yeah, I get called a hater all the time- I don't care.

Speaker 2:

I'm not a hater. I love basketball. Lebron is the best athlete to play basketball. You talk about the best player, though I disagree, strongly disagree. I do not think he is better just because he's statistically better than Jordan and Kobe, because that's don't matter. Ask the guys that played, ask his counterparts. Why is it that Anthony Edwards or Jason Tatum or Paul George or Kawhi Leonard? Why don't they work out with LeBron If he's really the best basketball player ever? Why wouldn't you want to be around that just because you're competing against him? Anthony Edwards never grew up watching Kobe or Jordan, but yet he asked him who his top five is. It's those guys.

Speaker 1:

Right, but you could do the same for other athletes, for example, younger generation athletes. They're going to say LeBron and they won't say Jordan, but to speak to your point with regards to… which?

Speaker 2:

younger gen…which players Give me a list of guys that you know that are youthful and that put… and not say that…listen there is. There is other guys who do. I'm not saying that, but tell me a young, up-and-coming superstar that has LeBron as their goat over Kobe or Jordan. I'd love to know.

Speaker 1:

I will find that and I'll actually put it in the show notes and I'll find it for you.

Speaker 2:

Say no more.

Speaker 1:

But to speak to the point of Jordan, one of the things that I know growing up you heard a lot was Jordan didn't work out with a lot of guys.

Speaker 2:

No.

Speaker 1:

No, but your point was guys, don't work out with LeBron Like it's…right. I'm just using that as an example. You used to use that one point, right? So for me, again, it's…i think, when you look at it across the board, obviously in terms of victories, jordan's going to be on top, but I think, when you look at it statistically and everything else that encompasses it, because I guess for me again, it's subjective, right.

Speaker 2:

Oh, 100% it is.

Speaker 1:

A preface is by saying Magic Johnson's my guy right. So those that know basketball, if you were to say, hey, combine Jordan and Magic into one player, you're probably going to say LeBron James.

Speaker 2:

Probably.

Speaker 1:

And that's why I have that, you know.

Speaker 2:

But I don't think LeBron and Jordan are in the same conversation. I don't think so. I think when it comes to statistics. I mean, why is it that a triple double back in our day per se, like when Steve Nash was getting triple doubles, I thought that was amazing because it was so hard to do. And now, all of a sudden, the NBA, the game, it's like guys are getting 60 point triple doubles. I wonder why that is. I wonder why the free throw averages have gone. I wonder why, like the stats are inflated.

Speaker 1:

I'm sorry.

Speaker 2:

Okay, I agree with it If I can pass the ball to somebody and they dribble the ball two times and I still get an assist. That's a bunch of nonsense. It's not like that anywhere else in the world, correct? So when I look at these numbers and people talk about statistics, it's nonsense. It's inflated, right. Look at the game and you could say the game is faster Okay, that's fine, and guys shoot more threes, there's a lot more rebounds available 100% agree with that. But the statistics in terms of drawing free throws and how guys get to their free throw line, like listen, I just don't think they're all real.

Speaker 1:

I'm with you on that point and, to be honest, I'm torn with the NBA right now, like really really torn with the NBA and I work in it yeah, but the skill level is extremely high Extremely high. Yeah, but the rules have just made it so bad to watch and it's like but they don't care. Okay, but where do you think it's going though?

Speaker 2:

That's a tough one, man, I don't know, because the basketball purist and me and the basketball people that I know they don't even like watching. They watch the playoffs Me too, right, they watch the playoffs, but the rating as long as the younger generation is watching, then I think that's really all that matters. I think the game itself like you can't sit there and say that you don't enjoy watching, even like a Trey Young Steph Curry, like I watch because I don't know what those guys are going to do on any given night, and that's what keeps me vested in the game is like the talent level that's in the NBA and the things that people are able to do is like the best. It's amazing. It's so good to watch right now. But the way the game is officiated, the way the game is like even last night, for example, the Knicks and Detroit, like like Monty Williams has all right.

Speaker 2:

The man speared him, he literally did, even if at worst that's a loose ball foul, because he did a sore, did have possession, he lost possession and then he got knocked down. So it's a loose ball foul at worst, but I think in terms of like, that doesn't happen all the time, where it's happened, it's happened where the game is going, you know.

Speaker 2:

I only hope the talent continues to improve and get better and the game somehow starts to level out and it becomes a bit more European, where these things don't happen, you know, I hope, I hope.

Speaker 1:

But but. And having said that, for it to be more European, the game has to become more team oriented and less isolation.

Speaker 2:

No, not necessarily. No, because you can isolate someone. But when they go to the rim and there's marginal contact, it shouldn't be a foul. And just because they say hey and they scream, it shouldn't be a foul. And that you can isolate someone, that's fine. But that's the part I don't. I don't like is, like you, you're giving a point because free throw, slow the game down and that makes it less entertaining.

Speaker 1:

But it doesn't. It doesn't right because I enjoy playoff basketball when those stoppages happens because it forces the other team on the other end to to slow down and run strategy. You know, I would rather see Steph Curry and Clay come off a down screen and a single screen go in one way versus you know, an outlet and Steph Curry taking one dribble and shot from half court right Like I would. I would rather see that, me personally.

Speaker 2:

Okay.

Speaker 1:

I would rather see some type of offense being ran because it's more strategic in that, in that aspect. That's just for me personally. I guess the question I have is technology has influenced the game of basketball All sports, I think. Yeah, the way it's being played, the way it's being coached. Can you speak on, I guess, from the analyst perspective, how it's changed, what you do and how you see the game?

Speaker 2:

I mean, I use stats to support what I see.

Speaker 2:

You know, and the way I like to analyze basketball is I will try and put my, because I try and put myself in the shoes of the player and I'll think about what it is that they're doing and what I would have done in those situations, because there hasn't been too many situations that that are in a game that I haven't been in. So that's how I analyze it. In terms of the tech, the use of technology. You see them on the sideline, like with an iPad, watching the play that just happened, like that's, that's a. You can track everything, but mistakes still happen. Basketball is a game of mistakes. So you have all this technology, but it hasn't eliminated mistakes in basketball. Turnovers still happen, carelessness still happens, missed layups still happen. So I try not to use technology at all. I just I will watch a game and I will look at what's going on and then I will say to myself OK, what is it that that I see that I can literally educate somebody on? Or and I'll give you an example of that, like when, when, when, when, yaka Pertles in the game for the Raptors, it's a lot of ball screen with quickly, right and Yaka Pertles usually rolling and if there's, if there's a, if he catches the ball on the block, it's usually a handoff, or if the shot clocks wind down, it's a little push shot floater.

Speaker 2:

When Kelly Olinix in the game, kelly Olinix is usually in the middle of the floor as a connector. He connects the right side of the floor to the left side of the forefoot Raptors and you see him, guys cut now to the rim from that. You know. I mean he'll cut to the rim from that position and he'll find bounce passes or he'll fake a handoff because he can shoot. So the defense has to honor that. So I look at things like that and say to myself OK, if I'm Kelly Olinix, now I control our offense.

Speaker 2:

Iq gives me the ball or whoever's, whoever's playing the point. Rj can cut now to the rim because the Raptors have slasher's and that's made their bench more productive, because he is literally a connector and his value may be down around the league. But to me that is very valuable and no AI and no whatever is going to be able to watch and analyze and see how many reads can come from someone who, who has that ability to not only pass Like a bodgy yesterday cut back door, got a lob from Kelly from literally almost half court. He caught the ball in transition and just threw it at the rim and a bodgy dunked it. He's playing better, grady as well. Grady Grady's playing better because of Kelly Olinix, the spacing on the floor, the ability he has now. When someone drives he's more. It's just that's don't show that the stat.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, it's a step or two away and that's really all basketball is Like. If you look about the highest level to the lowest level excuse me, it's like when the paint how far away is your foot from that paint? And you look at all three levels high school, someone's in the middle of the paint, the NBA, it's a little bit further out because guys are so much more athletic and it's that little inch of space that creates a bucket or not. And you look at the way the Raptors are playing. That's why they've won three games in a row. They're spacing is better. They're scoring is better. They're averaging 123 in the last three games. So that's the way I look at things, Sounding like an analyst.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Speaking of which, what drew you to broadcasting Like how did this all come about?

Speaker 2:

You know, I think I think you know the same thing. When I talked about like, like healing, there's a power or something else outside of my control, I had a friend of mine, dwayne Watson, who thought it'd be a good idea and he gave me an opportunity and that's all. That's really how it came about. I'm not someone who thinks you know like, you know like it is, it is all my hard work that got me here. No, it's not nothing to do with that. Like, I definitely work hard at this. I try to understand basketball from my perspective and I could, I could. I know people will, will all like. I know people definitely will disagree with with, with my take on LeBron, and that's okay. I don't expect to be perfect, I don't, I don't care, but that's what I believe and I'm going to do that.

Speaker 1:

That sounds very Jordan and Kobe-like. Hey man, it is what it is so.

Speaker 2:

You know, I, I, I definitely attested to the fact that I got. I got lucky. I have someone who looked out for me and I went to school for broadcasting Okay. But when I came back from Europe had a little bit of money, but I also hit a wall and I understood that, like I didn't have the experience to get into the corporate world, but I wasn't an entrepreneur like everyone else wants to be nowadays, right, A YouTuber, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Or a YouTuber, or whatever.

Speaker 2:

I didn't have those necess, like I don't have those skills I committed to basketball. That's that's what I spent the majority of my time doing. So, even if I wanted to and I consider myself a pretty, like, well-rounded person but still like I didn't put in enough time and and I didn't have the same linear focus I had for basketball, for business or for, you know, sales or like anything that I'm in right now, right? So when I stopped playing, I was like, what am I going to do? What am I going to do? And this was the only thing that came to me Okay, so I said, let me, like I don't have nothing to lose, it's something that I know. Mm-hmm, um, I, I'll talk for free. So I do this with my friends any, all the time we argue about this shit all the time, right? So if someone's going to pay me to do it, like why, why would I say no? Right, and I'm like I get to work on TV. Okay, I'm it's a bit nerve wrecking Like, do I want to be public about this? But it's like I'm talking about basketball. So, yeah, like why, why not? You know, and that's how it came about.

Speaker 2:

Man Like I, I got my opportunity with the 905 and then I was let go for and I was let go. After my first year, covid happened, I went to broadcasting school. Paul Jones mentored me for eight months, okay, uh, I went to the college of sport media. So, um, you know, uh, david Lannis he was my teacher, and Paul Jones as well, and I'm we made a demo tape. It got into the hands of the right people and TSN saw it and and I was hired. And then I got back with the 905 and, um, I'd been there for the last two years doing, doing both those things.

Speaker 1:

Doing very well Thank you. You kind of spoke on this in terms of influences, but who have been your, your biggest mentors or influences in in sport and, I guess, in in broadcast, in the broadcasting career?

Speaker 2:

Um, well, in life, my dad I'll start with that Uh, my dad and my mom, my two sisters, um, and I think, in broadcasting Michael shreyhan I love the fact that he, like I, I don't just want to do sports I feel like I could be on a talk show. Um, I feel like I would challenge a lot of the the, the things that um, people don't want to talk about or say. I definitely feel like, um, I'm someone who, who would, um, because I'm, I believe in myself enough to not care about the like if someone agrees with me or disagrees.

Speaker 1:

Right. Um you're there for the dialogue, not necessarily the appeal of someone agreeing with right, especially when it comes to like clicks and computer like.

Speaker 2:

If you're going to spend your time commenting on what I'm saying, that should tell you more about you than it does me. Right, right?

Speaker 2:

So, um, definitely, uh, someone who, who, who wants to, you know, speak about interesting topics. Um, but shreyhan is someone who not only works in football but, like he does, he does morning TV. You know he, he he's someone who can interview someone Like I. I I relish in that, I, I I enjoy watching that. I think that is like total media Right. He's always doing something different. He can talk about a sport. He can sit down with. You know the what I think he. I think he interviewed Prince Harry or William, or one of them too, like, how do you go from football?

Speaker 2:

to that, you know so like that's something I find really interesting. Um, and what was so? What was the other one you asked me about?

Speaker 1:

Uh, in your sporting career, like who's in in terms of sports influenced you Obviously, kobe.

Speaker 2:

Kobe, kobe, yeah, kobe team. And I was going to say, from a broadcasting perspective, I think Paul Jones. Paul Jones is someone who's very um, he's very charismatic. His vocabulary is phenomenal. That guy's vocabulary is like if you listen to him speak, he's always given you some adjective. I'm like what the fuck?

Speaker 2:

I have to get my dictionary out and I'm like, yeah, he's, he, just he's, he's a good teacher, you know, and someone who, who cares, he cares a lot about me. Uh, he cares about, you know, the people around him and he cares about black people's development in this space, and I love that. He's underneath, he'll say it, you know, and I like that. So, um, and he always has this, this, this, um, additive. He always says when are we going to help one another? And I cannot, I should you not? That guy's helped me. He has helped me. And, um, you know, I, from a broadcasting perspective, I stray hand Paul, um, those are the. And Jim Taddy, you know, mike, he's my co-host on on with the Raptors. He's, uh, he's great man, great.

Speaker 2:

I love that guy, I love working with him. Uh, you know, um, like we called the game last night, called the Indiana game last night, so uh, I'm on his podcast every Thursday. Um, Jim, Jim, Jim's great man.

Speaker 1:

Great, yeah, he's a great mentor, um, in terms of your um transition in broadcasting. One of the things you recently started was a podcast. Yeah, speak on that. Yeah, man.

Speaker 2:

Um, uh, you only die twice, that's the name of it. Um, I was told. I don't know, I don't know who told me. Um, but somebody said as an athlete, you have two deaths, one as an athlete and you know, one in real life. And um, I had stuck with me and I'm a big James Bond fan. So there's a movie, what's what's your favorite, uh? Sean Connery hands down. Okay, Now which?

Speaker 1:

one. What do you mean?

Speaker 2:

Which one?

Speaker 1:

Which? Which Sean Connery movie sticks out? For me it's Goldfinger yeah.

Speaker 2:

I love Goldfinger. I say Dr, no, okay, yeah, I'll go, yeah, because it's it's in Jamaica and I I'm not Jamaican, but I do. I do love the opening scene with the, with the, with the three blind mice. So I definitely or sorry, the three, the three men that are blind but they're not yeah, that's so, um, and it was shot for $60,000 and people don't. I don't think people know that yeah.

Speaker 2:

That whole movie, the whole production, 60 grand. I didn't know that, yeah, so I just. And he had. So Sean, sean Connery has a, has a film. You only live twice, right, that's, that's the name of the, that's the name of the movie, right, I'm pretty sure. So I just took the die, changed that. Uh, live and die, and uh, you know, we came with the name. It was catchy, um yeah, I like it.

Speaker 1:

I like it. I highly recommend you check it out.

Speaker 2:

Yeah and um, it's about dealing with the transition and I think, when it comes to that word, like it's something that there's nothing for. Like you can, you can go on YouTube and I can type in how to do the Chris Brown dance and how to become a vegan and how to dress and style, and yours is thousands of videos come up. But the important things like like this topic, like what does an athlete do when you have spent, like I did, 15 years of my life with a singular focus on one thing meaning most of my time, my energy, my thought process, like I'm just thinking about basketball, I'm going to school, I'm living my life, I'm having fun, I'm doing, I'm with girls, whatever, but my focus, if you were to ask me, like, what is I'm doing right now? Basketball, right. So if I have that in my head, how the hell do you expect me to stop and just go and go work at a bank? Right, and it don't matter how much money you have, because there are players who come. Like I'll give you a prime example Give it a.

Speaker 2:

Rena said this, and I know for a fact we don't have this amount of money. Give it a. Rena said at 32 years old at a hundred million dollars and I was useless. He also said between the hours of seven and ten he didn't know what to do with himself. So he drove his Porsche all around LA just to fill in the time slot, because that's when he'd be playing. Terry Henry on Dari of a CEO is my favorite footballer him and him and Ronaldo. He told Steven Bartlett that he would be home on the weekend. He'd be like oh, this is what you guys do when I was playing, because he'd never seen that before. So that's a whole mental adjustment that no one talks about. No one talks about. And I don't have a hundred million dollars. I ain't even retired with a hundred grand, so when? So what am I supposed to do if they're struggling?

Speaker 1:

I.

Speaker 2:

I'm just. I can just admit it that it was a transitional process for me and what happened was I started broadcasting. I was on TV, I'm in nice suits and you know, and people thought that I figured that part out as easy. I just went from hoping to this and but that's not the case. I'm still transitioning to this day. I'm still Someone who's I'm not attached to basketball.

Speaker 2:

I don't, I don't miss it. I can watch someone else play and be like I'm clapping call, make my money, go home. I'm cool with that part. But in terms of like finding something else that wakes me up the same way basketball did, finding something else where I, if you were to told me when University that like, hey, getting up at 6 am To go to a pool and rehab and then going to a weight room at 8 and then going home for 9 and eating and then going back to dinner at 10 to 12 and then going back to runs at 4 to 6, if you had told me Doing all of the all of that was like a waste of time or something to out of me like you're crazy. This is what I'm doing, this is how I'm spending my day. You can do whatever you want to do, but this time spending my day.

Speaker 1:

It's not a waste of time.

Speaker 2:

my summer it's right, right and there's a lot of guys who've done that and it takes away from the other areas of your life. You see, you have to, you have to live and, like I said this in the speech, you serve your choices. So I made a decision at a young age this is what I wanted to pursue, but not getting the total outcome or the milk, because, like that's what the money does, it justifies the time spent. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

I don't care what anyone says. That's why NBA players get. That's why you chase that dream is because you spend all this Time doing this thing to make this crazy amount of money, so you don't have to worry about anything else. That's that is. That is the reward for that time, for the hard work. But there's a million people a year that try and make it to the league. So what are they gonna do? And there's been 3,000 NBA players ever Say that again, 3,000 NBA players ever. So exclude the guys in Europe, because a lot of them do make a lot of money. But what are they gonna do when they stop dribbling the ball? What it, what it, what is your passion and it?

Speaker 2:

You can't sit here and say, oh, you know what, I'll start a business. Okay, what business? How do you file your taxes for that business? How do you run a business? Who's gonna want to work for you? Have you asked yourself those questions? I'd hire some. Do you know how to hot? What are you looking for when you hire someone? Do you have you studied this? You know how to fire?

Speaker 2:

somebody right like it's there's a, there's an also HR component to all those things. So unless you're in it and you learn all those things, like, don't be fooled, magic Johnson enterprises not Johnson's the face, but he has a plethora of people who know how to answer every question. I just asked you a plethora. He's the face. Great, he has the money is everything else there's a chips on a people who run that operation, who don't get credit because they don't need it. They're just well-paid, right.

Speaker 2:

So I had to learn how to do all those things after basketball and I'm not passionate about them. I'm not so you know. It's that. That is where I think the podcast we're trying to address that. Like, how do you interview for a job? How do you relate? Because what, what happened to me was they said I didn't have experience, but I'm like I've dealt with more pressure than all the people coming out of school. Like, if I didn't perform on this Saturday, as I said earlier, I'm fired, right, no, you, you, you get a performance review. So don't tell me I don't have experience once a year, right, it's just.

Speaker 2:

How do I translate my basketball experience into this job? That's extremely difficult. It's extremely difficult. But how? But there's a way to do it, you can articulate it and you can learn how to do that right. So now, if I get asked that question, well, listen, every every 24 seconds in a shot clock, I I had to either put up a shot or deal with how to get the best look of something. These are my stats that I had to put up every single night, or else I'm fired. Okay, this is your quota every month. Well, this is how this can relate to that. This is how I can transfer this ability.

Speaker 2:

I'm a hard worker, I'm disciplined. You say all those things. Fine, everyone knows that. But you can take the what you've learned and put it into a job interview. You can. You can also research the same way you would do a Scouting Report and research your opponent. You can research the person who's you know who's gonna be hiring you, right, all right. So we had a great guest may cut off. She worked at Salesforce. She was an executive there. She worked. She stopped playing basketball after two years of playing in Greece Work went to Salesforce for eight years and her transition was that she got laid off from Salesforce. So I worked at Salesforce to. I quit Salesforce and I went to another company before the massive layouts, but she outlines in the interview exactly how to go from playing basketball as she did, to working her way up to be an object that out.

Speaker 1:

What episode is that?

Speaker 2:

that is. I think that's episode four or five, but still we have Leo Rowan's and, in his experience, savannah Hamilton, jermaine Anderson he's now in financial literacy. So we there's a plan, there's an episode for everyone to learn something about how to take the things that you've earned, because I think Playing basketball at a professional level it should count for something, mm-hmm, it should get you. You can use those skills and apply it to something else that you want to do and that Preparing professionally in any sport in any sport.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and that's why we cover all sports. You know we want to deal, we want to understand what you've gone through, because each individual experience is is is different. It's very unique. So that's what the podcast is about and that's what it encompasses Nice, nice.

Speaker 1:

As we wind down here, just a couple of rapid-fire questions. You can answer them shorter or long. What's one thing people can't find out about you from Google?

Speaker 2:

I love chess. I'm a habit chess.

Speaker 1:

Oh really.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I have a chess player, but I play chess every day, okay. It's my phone background.

Speaker 1:

Okay, yeah, this time we might play one. Okay. Top three sneakers of all time.

Speaker 2:

Top three sneakers that I wear or that I just you know you have, want, you'd have. Jordan ones. I Love Jordan ones. Kobe grinches, the grinch is man I love. You got a pair of those, of course, okay, yeah, of course, in the box too, the grinches. And I don't know, man, nothing beats a cool pair of Air Force ones, all white in the summer. Man, nothing, nothing beats those, man. I hear you on that.

Speaker 1:

You're stuck on an island and you have three items with you. What do you bring? And it can't be people.

Speaker 2:

Three items. I am bringing a Lighter okay, my phone and a book.

Speaker 1:

What's the best advice you've ever received?

Speaker 2:

told you in the car, advice from the few is not advice for all. Say it one more time Advice from the few is not advice for all. Your top five Ottawa basketball players born in Ottawa or from Ottawa from.

Speaker 1:

Ottawa associated with Ottawa.

Speaker 2:

Okay, well, I mean, number one is easy. I'm going, I'm going with my teammate man, johnny B John. Johnny brane is number one in my opinion. Gary Gallimore okay. Tyson Hins. Third Tyson, tyson, nasty. I don't care. Well, everyone knows, but Tyson, tyson. I'm a big fan of Tyson's game. Mario Shioch. Yeah as well, yeah and last, this might my surprise you, great Carter.

Speaker 1:

Wow, okay, carter, yeah, shout out to St Pat's.

Speaker 2:

Yes, yes five time defensive player of the year a pest. I hated him as a player, but I respect him Nice.

Speaker 1:

Nice Sure. I like that. I like that. Knowing what you know now. Is there anything you would do differently if you were to start over again or start over tomorrow?

Speaker 2:

Professionally or in university or Take a pic. I Would try my best to eliminate the self-doubt that I started with.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

I think that's number one. I get rid of that. I Would have probably Been more open as a teammate. You know, I think that's something I didn't really do.

Speaker 1:

Now I am what do you mean? But, like when you say that and knowing what you've taught, we've talked about, are you thinking more from the clothes-minded Jordan? Like I have a singular focus them not.

Speaker 2:

I meant I mean more like I don't have to when okay, when I would step on the floor when I was in university, like it was one on nine.

Speaker 1:

Wow.

Speaker 2:

You know, that's the best way I could put it Wow, everyone's in the way, everybody, everybody, everyone's in the way I. I have to go and I have to make it. Everyone's in the way.

Speaker 1:

So I had a different philosophy. Me it was, it was, it was six on five, were winning, right said. You know, I had my coach, the guys on the floor, we're like yeah, everyone's in the way, in my opinion. So you know when did that change?

Speaker 2:

three three, four or Well, it changed when I stopped playing. No, no, I just mean, like I didn't have to be so like you ever seen? You ever seen golem? You know like, like you know, lord of the Rings, you know? Oh, you never seen it. Okay, well, there's golem and he's like he's, he's so tight, he's holding on to this, this, he's holding on to the ring and he's like, like it's mine, it's my precious.

Speaker 2:

But when my my last year University, when I started to share and be more of a playmaker, I was a better player. So I mean by that is like I needed to be more. If I could do it over again, I would have been more open as a teammate and not so closed off and like people, people who wanted to like, get to know me, people who wanted to be just like, just just know that I accepted them as you know like, as my teammate and my boy, like I could have been more friendly. Okay is what I'm saying, okay, and I think that is something I would have done. Everything else can say the same, injury, whatever, all that stuff can say the same, but I just would have made sure that all the guys knew how much I actually cared about them.

Speaker 1:

Thoughts on that and I hear what you're saying, but what I found is it's a fine line in terms of your competitive desire. I know between being friendly and being a teammate versus achieving that desire and that goal like it's. It's.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, but that's why I can say it now, because it didn't happen. So I don't know whether what happened or not. You asked me a question, I gave you the answer. So I mean, I listen, it was one on nine. Like I said, it was one on nine, everyone's in the way. But as of right now, when I look back, if you asked me if I would change something, that's.

Speaker 2:

I would have been more friendly. And the reason why I say this? Because I can't change it. I can't change it, so I would have loved to be more the way I am now. Right, you know I can watch Johnny play and be so supportive and happy. Where it's like now he's taken away from, from what I'm doing, or Mike or Josh, or I'm not competing with them, I'm I'm. I actually love those guys. I'm so happy to see Johnny and have his career because he deserves it. No one you know like he was a walk on it. I know a walk on no like.

Speaker 2:

I remember Cincinnati 4-3 is in a row and then he started every you know, like that that's his story. You know what I'm saying and like I didn't help that at first, you know now I can sit back and say, look at this kid man. Like, if there's an example of what you want is not me, it's not Josh. If there's an example of someone who Kids should look at in terms of a professional, I agree that that did you don't even need to look at Kobe or that's the person you should be looking at. That guy so humble, that guy man, that that, that guy's the. That's why he's the best for me.

Speaker 1:

So when can people find you online and get in contact with?

Speaker 2:

it Instagram. I'm always open, you know. If you follow the podcast, watch an episode or two.

Speaker 1:

What are, what are the podcast handles? What are you? What are you?

Speaker 2:

Let me go ahead and and Get that checked out right now. Give me one second here. So my name Warren dot ward, 10, that's my Instagram, and then you only die twice, pod. That's it. Yeah, we have 54 posts as of right now. We're doing quite well. We post content every couple of days, like usually every day. We have a new episode dropping, this Friday with a politician oh, adam Vancouver then. So he's a liberal, he was well, I'm not gonna ruin the whole episode, but you'll you'll find this out. This is can't one of Canada's most decorated athletes ever? Okay, yeah, I've been to four Olympics.

Speaker 2:

Okay, I'll check that out. I'll put it in the show notes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah Well, warren, thank you really enjoyed this conversation and Until next time. Yeah, hopefully it's not 11 years or 12 years or whatever it's been, but good to see you, man, it's been great.

Speaker 2:

I I always enjoyed talking to you. You did one of my first ever interviews, so anytime man, happy to be here.

Speaker 1:

Nice, nice, and and that's podcast, check it out next time. Bye for now.