Exclusive with Nate Robinson: Ja Morant needs to chill

As the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat, confirming what many in the NBA world thought before the Finals, Nate Robinson comments on Ja Morant's Instagram Live controversy and offers advice for his future. Nate discusses the potential of the Oklahoma City Thunder and shares his views on Victor Wembanyama's hype. Finally, he reflects on his NBA career, the coaches he played under, and his top five players of all time.

Phoenix Suns: I didn’t like that Monty Williams got sacked

SP: What did you make of the Sun’s play-off run?

NR: It was entertaining but it sucked that I didn’t get to see Chris Paul, a guy who came in with me, see out the season. He worked so hard for 20 years, one of the best point guards to ever play the game.

He loves the game and puts in a huge effort, for it to be stripped from him? I know it was killing him. If they had him, they had a chance. It was fun to watch but they didn’t quite have enough.

SP: Did you agree with the decision to sack Monty Williams?

NR: I didn’t like that too much. The guy helped the team get to where they were over the years and then you just fire him like that? This league is like that though. Teams and going to keep recycling coaches - they have to find the perfect fit.

OKC: A ‘sneaky team’

SP: Tommy Alter says Oklahoma City Thunder have the brightest future of any team. What do you say to that?

NR: They have a nice young team. If they can stay healthy it’s going to be good to see. They are a young team with a lot of good guys who can play basketball. They’ve got more picks coming up and it’ll be interesting to see what they do with the draft to help them out. Who are they going to pick?

They’re going to be a sneaky team people must watch out for - once they click and get it rolling, it’s going to be a great place to be at.

Victor Wembanyama: I don’t go off hype

SP: What’s your view on Victor Wembanyama - do you believe the hype?

NR: I don’t go off hype or potential. I want to see what your game is! I want you to pass the eye test. If I can see what you bring to the table.

Overseas the rules are different, it’s not like here - there’s a lot of cheating! We have the greater, more dynamic, players and you have to hold your own. If he doesn’t produce what they expect, he’ll be called a bust.

On the Ja Morant controversy: I would just chill

SP: What do you make of Ja Morant’s Instagram Live controversy?

NR: He has to understand and know that he’s not the Ja Morant that nobody knows anymore and can just be invisible. You’re now visible to the world. You’re a fish in the bowl. If I was him, I would just chill, enjoy my summer and my family and work hard and get ready.

I am going to change my whole image up, no guns, I would change my persona of who people think I am. Everybody makes mistakes and it’s OK. We’re not perfect human beings and it’s in the past now. Move forward. He can come back from this and show kids how he can bounce back from something stupid, these self-inflicted wounds. He can be a better person.

SP: Do you agree with the punishment given by the Grizzlies and the NBA?

NR: I don’t agree with the Grizzlies not letting him come to the facilities. If I’m a member of your team who has made a mistake, you support me with that. I understand my penalty is what it is, but you can’t tell me I can’t come to the gym. I can’t come to my safe haven, somewhere where I am loved? You guys are going to shut me out all together? If I’m him I am thinking I may not want to be a part of that organization if I am going to be treated like that.

The commissioner is going to step in and do what he’s supposed to do, that’s what he signed up for, but you have to move past it. We’ll see how he bounces back.

SP: The Knicks last made the final in 1999. What do they need to do to get challenging?

NR: They need a couple more pieces. What would help them is a dominant big player to slow them down and get some easy buckets. Get them to the free-flow line early, so they’re not just depending on Randle and Brunson. That’s what killed them, They are missing a few pieces, but they’ll be alright.

SP: How was each year that you grew with them?

NR: Each year just got better and better. My stats grew all the time. Assists, points, steals - everything went up. I grew to learn how to play in this league. The first few years were rocky, I was a rookie and didn’t really know how to play. I didn’t care about winning or losing, I just wanted to show them I could play. I was excited, and once you learn what it’s about - eating, resting, and the number of games you play, learning about your body.

It takes a while to get comfortable in your own skin within the league. I just worked hard and when you get older, that’s when you want to be at your peak. You’re ripe and I played my way. You need to feed off the crowd. I just enjoyed playing the game of basketball and nothing made me happier.

SP: Who was the best coach you played under and why?

NR: I have two. One was Isaiah Thomas, legend and a Hall of Famer. He was a players’ coach - he made the player feel comfortable about who they are and what their game is. He wanted you to be great every time you stepped onto the court, I’d never had that since High School. Be who you are. Too many coaches want you to play their way - if it’s not their way then ‘get out of here’. He let us be ourselves. He was a great, humble and smart guy. He rocked with his players and I respect that a lot.

Tom Thibodeau is the other. He is a hard ass, a student of the game. He didn’t have a wife or kids and basketball is his family. He had the east coast going crazy for the Knicks. Watch out for them!

SP: What’s the best piece of advice you have been given?

NR: One of my assistant coaches at the Phoenix Suns, coach Phil we called him, he said with energy every day ‘Nate, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing’ that’s the best advice I have had. I love that quote and I live by it every day.

SP: Who’s your top five players on the court?

NR: I’d have loved to have played with Shaq at 5, at 4 Kevin Garnett, Lebron at 3 slash point guard. Then you’ve got to have Kobe and Jordan. They have to be my five. Unstoppable.

Career Highlights

SP: What are the key highlights in your career in the NBA?

NR: I’ve got so many! The block on Yao, the block on Shaq, also on LeBron. The dunks too. But my greatest highlight is just getting drafted. No21. Getting the opportunity to showcase what I could do at 5’9. Hearing my name called, wow.

It’s a dream come true. I grew up with dreams. Who knew I could play in the NBA? I knew, I felt it, it’s something I wanted and I wasn’t going to accept no for an answer. When I heard my name called I was living my dream, not dreaming it. God has been good to me - I’m blessed and I’m happy and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

SP: Three times NBA slam dunk champion - what a massive achievement.

NR: Thank you, I appreciate that. It was a long time coming. I never thought I would do it that many times, but when I was a kid and saw the dunk contest I instantly wanted to be a part of it. I dreamed of it - I went outside and looked for a hoop. I tried to recreate the dunks that I saw, tried to create new dunks!

When I saw my opportunity, I seized the moment. I knew that if I got in, I had to win it. I just couldn’t wait for people to see the talent God gave me. I wanted to showcase it to the world and I did that.

Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz: It’s going to be cold

SP: Any plans to step into the boxing ring again?

Right now, I’m battling with kidney disease. I’ve got to take care of my health first. Once I get a kidney, I would love to return to the ring.

SP: Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz is coming up, who are you backing?

NR: That’s going to be cold. You’ve got an older guy in Nate Diaz who can get it done, In the UFC - we haven’t seen him box without grabbing, kicking and punching people. With Jake, he can really fight and gets those hands going. It’ll be interesting. Older with experience, or the young gunner coming in looking to disrupt things? I don’t know.

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