We got a special edition of Hoops Adjacon on the Athletic NBA show this week, David Aldridge.

I'm in New York at this Olympic prep thing.

Marcus in the bay getting ready to go to SAC. And our guest this week from the Minnesota Timberwolves, The Man, the Myth, the Legend of Nasree. What up, man? What's up, man? You're doing. Man, Nas, thank you for coming on, man. We've been trying. We were working on it for a minute because you have blown up like something crazy this year. We want to be sure we got you on, man. And just, man, there's so many questions. But first of all, let me ask you, like, what are you thinking of a matchup? I mean, it's been tough for us throughout the season, but, you know, it's playoff time down you know so it's a different different type of basketball game you know it's a lot more

intense uh things season but you know it's it's playoff time now you know so it's a different different type of

basketball game you know it was a lot more intense uh things get real real heated and um

i think uh i think that's kind of where we buckle in and then saddle down for sure is it is it

what does it feel like as you know for most of the season you guys were top dogs and even though what you finish at third seed?

Just still like one seed, right? It's like one game. What was that like just going through basically the whole year as an elite Western conference team? Yeah, man, it was crazy. like especially for me in my fifth year you know it was crazy to you know to have that jump that

you know we were at my from our first guy until the lead to where we are now. It's just like a completely 180. So, I mean, that's, that's been huge. And then just been exciting, you know, to compete against these teams at a high level and, you know, trying to get our shot to be at the number one seat, and especially going against the OKC in Denver.

Those are two great teams. And just being able to go out there and compete with them, I think we split even with both teams. But it's been fun just to make sure that sometimes you don't want that bad loss. You're not in this predicament of things of that nature. It's kind of like a mind game. But at the end of the day, you kind of just go out there and play.

Man, how...

I can't imagine... nature. It's kind of like a mind game. At the end of the day, you kind of just got to go out there and play.

Man, how, I can't imagine, like, what it was like to end last year the way that it ended with all the injuries and everything that was going on. I know you thought, man, this is not the best of us.

I know we're better than this, right? I just wonder, like, I know y'all use that as fuel all season.

How does it feel in comparison to know, oh, hell, yeah, yeah. Now you're going to see the real Minnesota going into these playoffs. Yeah, man, I mean, I think last year was our first year, you know, even being together at the team, so a lot of things take time. I mean, I think we just, you know, trying to get to know each other and you know style of plays and you know knowing how to communicate things of that nation and then you know I think this last summer I think we all headed off had a good start you know those guys had a great Olympics you know experience and you know I think a few other guys were in the gym just getting right you know I, and then we all came together earlier in the summer, you know, just to have that co-ecent to the bond and things that I need you and to push it into the season. Hey, I need to, I'm going to give you the floor because if you need to talk, you'll talk. I'm going to let you go ahead and do that because I feel like you've earned it. How in the world were you not drafted? Oh, man. I think for me, just, I think just not passing the I test. I think that's the only thing it was. I mean, I think I had a lot to learn basketball-wise, but I think the eye test was pretty much. I mean, I was overweighted. I mean, I wasn't really working out too much then as well. I mean, I think, I think that was a humble and experience for me. I think I needed that. And, you know, kind of coming from high school and things of that nature, where I was at top of the, you know, top of the line, a basketball player ranked top five or every case maybe to now I'm hunting. You know what I'm saying? So I think I needed that different experience. What, you know, professional athletes, it's not that they fail, is that they deal with failure better than anybody else? You know what I mean? Like they're able to deal with it. I wonder what did you tap into those first couple of years? We went, oh, hell, I got to show these folks what I'm really all about. Yeah, I was, I was hungry. I was desperate. I wanted to, you know, show that I belong in

a court with anybody that was in the NBA. I think, you know, I went out there, and I think

I at least deserved the opportunity, and I think I was going to make the best of the opportunity,

and I was no airfans of bus. I was getting air fans of but I was getting sure that I made that

happened I think that started with the summer league my first year and um I was able to convert my

contract within two two games maybe so I think I really I just needed the opportunity and I was

going to make make things work do you think that that whole experience helps you now because

I mean I look around a league I think you can start

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