Diaw razzes Okobo on French pickup game, Drake music video appearance

French basketball player Boris Diaw, who played on the Phoenix Suns from 2005-2008, was a player current Suns point guard Elie Okobo looked up to growing up. The two have known each other since Okobo was a young kid in France.

They went on Fox Sports Arizona’s Valley Chatz on Sunday night, where they discussed their background, different ways Diaw has helped Okobo and a Drake music video Okobo appeared in.

“Boris is from my hometown so he was like the man over there,” Okobo said. “I was watching the NBA since I was a kid and I always enjoyed it.”

Diaw played pickup basketball frequently with Okobo’s dad, leading to a relationship between the youngster and NBA player.

As Okobo got older, he replaced his dad as the one playing with Diaw.

He got advice from the NBA player on how to get better, himself.

“He always gave me good little advice, he was always smiling,” Okobo said. “Obviously watching him and being able to talk to him when he was paying pro back in France … He gave me little advice and I always took it really seriously.”

Okobo said Diaw’s lessons on learning to make the right play at the right time and playing smart while avoiding little errors were the “main thing” he was taught.

Diaw cut in – that was not, in fact, the main thing.

“To stay humble, too,” Diaw reminded him.

Turns out, the two played for the French national team together for a short time. It was Diaw’s last year on the team and Okobo’s first, so there was a big difference in age and athleticism between the two.

“It was this young arrogant kid. Him and his friend thought he could play 2 on 2 against me and another old guy,” Diaw said. “And so we played 2 on 2 – they said, ‘Yeah, we’ll beat you old guys, you guys are too slow’ — so we beat them 5-0.

“So I think we could teach them a little bit to stay humble.”

The screen flashed over to Okobo laughing.

“I’m kidding about the arrogance, but he did think he could beat the old guys,” Diaw said. “And he got a reality check real quick.”

But there are benefits to being the young, hip guy. Okobo appeared with Devin Booker in the music video for Drake’s Chicago Freestyle.

Okobo went into the story of how that all got set up.

After a trip to play the Toronto Raptors after the All-Star Break, Okobo and Devin Booker went to a restaurant and ended up at Drake’s house.

“That was kind of crazy. We were just chilling out there … and then some guys came in with some cameras and then we were recording. And then they just asked us ‘Oh is it cool if we just record you guys for like a little bit, just for our new music video.’” Okobo recalled.

“We did it, and it was fun, we had to sign this little paper, that said (they) can put our face in this video.”

As Okobo was narrating, Diaw would smile and shake his head if he wanted to laugh.

Finally, he got his chance.

“When I heard that Elie was in a Drake video, I went and looked for him, and it’s really Devin Booker that’s in the video,” Diaw said. “Elie is out of focus.”

Sure, they made Okobo sign the paper giving consent to use his face in the video, but in Diaw’s opinion, that was unnecessary.

“Unless you’re his mom or his girlfriend, there’s no way you recognize him,” Diaw said. “No one can understand why they made you sign the paper.”

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