Vernon “Mad Max” Maxwell recently appeared as a guest on the All the Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. I haven’t yet listened to the full interview. But what I’ve seen and heard thus far is downright hilarious.
Mad Max was one of my favorite players growing up. He defined what it meant to be a dog on the court. A teammate who, as long as he kept his temper in check — which didn’t always happen — was the type of player you’d want in your corner. He didn’t back down from anyone — no matter their superstar status.
Vernon Maxwell played in the NBA from 1988-2001, and was a key contributor to the Houston Rockets championship squads during the mid-90s. Prior to the NBA, the 6’4″ guard played basketball at the University of Florida, where he left as the all-time leading scorer in program history, still holds 15 records for the Gators, and is second behind Pete Maravich (LSU) for points scored in SEC play.
Hakeem
In one clip, Maxwell recalls the time his Rockets teammate Hakeem Olajuwon slapped him across the face in the locker room with those “big old hands of his.” I would include a direct quote, but it’s expletive ridden to the point of every other word.
That’s not an exaggeration.
The entire conversation contains more curse words per minute than George Carlin’s special ‘7 words you can’t say on television.’
Meanwhile, as Mad Max relives this moment from his Rockets years, Barnes and Jackson, both retired NBA players who fit the mold of Maxwell during their playing days, are in tears laughing. Nearly falling out of their seats. Coughing. Trying to catch their breath to ask follow-up questions.
Drazen Petrovic
On Drazen Petrovic, one of my all-time favorite players in the 90s whose life was cut short at the age of 28 in a car accident, Maxwell said:
That MFer give me nightmares. I’d rather guard Black Jesus, Michael Jordan, than guard that MFer. That’s how bad it was for me. This MFer used to give me buckets. I used to be so frustrated. I couldn’t stop this MFer. You can’t give this MFer an inch.
Mad Max on Drazen Petrovic
Jordan
Then there’s Maxwell talking about going up against prime Michael Jordan at the height of his powers, and if his Rockets team could’ve beaten the Bulls during their run had MJ not retired for two years.
Every time I turn around, I’m looking at the bottom of that MFer’s shoes. That MFer done spinned off me and took off. I ain’t never seen a MFer just spin and jump at the same time. Just gone. Just gone.
Maxwell talks guarding Michael Jordan
Kobe
Later, in a follow-up appearance on the podcast, he reminisces about meeting and playing against a young Kobe Bryant who is not even out of high school yet. Kobe had been invited by John Lucas II to a Philadelphia 76ers practice where Maxwell was playing at the time.
And I’m, you know, I’m guarding Kobe. I’m a two and he a two. So, [expletive] [expletive], he came at me and said heh heh heh heh, and pulled up on me [with a jump-shot] and I said, ‘Oh my goodness. This little MFer is for real.’
Vernon Maxwell on playing a high-school Kobe Bryant
If you’re an old school NBA head and don’t mind the cursing, which is and always has been a signature of Maxwell in conversation on and off the court, give it a listen.