Episode 35- Caron Butler

The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins

On the latest episode episode of the Rex Chapman Podcast, the guys are joined by former NBA Champion and now Assistant Coach of the Miami Heat, Caron Butler. After a great career playing, Caron talks about staying in basketball, and how sharing his personal story of Tuff Juice has impacted so many people around him.

You Can Follow Caron Butler on Twitter and Instagram

5:45 - With a couple of Wildcats on the 1st Place Heat, the guys have to know what's going on with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro as the Heat have been playing great basketball as of late.

9:40 - Caron details his story growing up in Racine, WI and the realities of having guns, drugs and a rap sheet by his teenage years. It wasn't until he joined the Lakers where he was able to speak his truth, and share it with everyone he could.

14:40 - What started Caron on that path to hustling and dealing drugs? It took a long time before basketball gave him the same rush that being on the streets did. Basketball provided him a path for him to get out of the game.

21:40 - Caron's relationship with Mark Wahlberg as a friend and how they became partners in developing his story "Tuff Juice" and creating it into a Hollywood movie.

27:00 - How Caron ended up going to UCONN and what was it about Jim Calhoun's recruiting pitch that separated him from all the other offers he received?

35:00 - Caron was off to the NBA but watched his teammates with the National Championship. He didn't feel like he missed out, but he knew his fingerprints were all over their collective success. It also was a great feeling when Coach Calhoun sent him a Championship ring.

39:20 - How Caron has used his platform to influence positive changes to our legal system including mass incarceration, prosecutorial reform and policing reform. People need rehabilitation more than they need punishment.

45:00 - Caron and Rex share stories about Kobe Bryant and when he really came into his own with the Mamba Mentality.

50:00 - For Caron, Kobe Bryant was a teammate, a friend, a mentor and more importantly his inspiration. He could be content with being one of the great players in the history of the game, but it wasn't enough. Caron asked himself what am I going to do next to stay hungry and stay motivated?

52:30 - As far as Caron is concerned, he just thought his Mavericks were a better team than the Miami Heat when they won that title. It was Rick Carlisle who leaned into the matchup with the Big Three, saying how important his Mavericks were for protecting the integrity of the NBA.

54:30 - Caron details how his Heat stack up in a loaded Eastern Conference with the 76ers and Nets both getting better at the trade deadline, plus the Bucks Bulls, Cavaliers and Celtics who have played good basketball all year long.

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