1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 2: This show is a blast, it's hilarious, it's personal, and 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 2: it seems like it has no limits. 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 3: Make some noise as loud as you can for Jeff T. 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 2: Be Hen and DJ Wells, host of the Club five 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 2: twenty podcasts. 7 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 4: Make some noise, Get yourself some draws, get yourself some DAWs. 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 4: There you gonna make some noise, Get some drums. Hit 9 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 4: him in the back, be Hen, back there in the back. 10 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 3: Behn. 11 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 4: There you go, your. 12 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: Sir, Yo yo yo, y old fanatics, How y'all doing, 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: how y'all doing? What on? Yeah London, eargy? You'll know 14 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: what the time it is at this Club five twenty. 15 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: I'm your host, my Nemet, DJ Wells live in Fanatics, 16 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: macs man one time for Boots. We know the Bob's 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: twenty five dollars unlimited talk text do or what they 18 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: add with the T five gen nation. While y'all know 19 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: what time of this, come a man, tap in and 20 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: get you a phone man. Still got my game with 21 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: me up here to my far left, we got my 22 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: dog Bishop be hearing out the pearlies. 23 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 3: How you are nasty saying? 24 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 4: And what up? 25 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 3: Fanatics? My boy? What's up? Baby? What? 26 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 4: What up? 27 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 3: Tapped in for show. To my right, my dog young 28 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 3: Nacho Young team got you what what's good? 29 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: We got a good one today, got a good one today. 30 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: Come on man, listen man, we got a special special 31 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 1: guest man. We couldn't imagine that we would have digitallemen 32 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: on our platform. 33 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 3: But it's a blessing. We're about to have a dope conversation. 34 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: We happy to share this moment, which y'all we have 35 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: the one, the only, the commission. Mister Adam Silver joined 36 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: the five twenty. Makes some noise, Yes, sir, yes, sir, 37 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: go go sir. 38 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 3: It's a pleasure. It's a pleasure. Thank you boss man. Hello, yeah, 39 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 3: energy energy, you love this Wow. First and foremost who 40 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 3: want to say thank you? We areppreciate you joining us 41 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 3: or how you doing. 42 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 2: I'm doing great? This is incredible. I mean, I for 43 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: the fans, this must be fantastic. Just to the whole 44 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 2: environment here. I mean, congratulations to Michael Rubin. I can't 45 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 2: believe what he's built for. 46 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: Sure, I'm sure listen, this is a blessing to have 47 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: you on this stage. Obviously, you know what I'm saying. 48 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: You got to walk across that stage. But for me 49 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: and be here. It's our Draft night moment. Baby, Yeah 50 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: I got I didn't. I didn't walk across the stage. 51 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: I didn't go to the draft, but I got a 52 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 1: chance to hear my name called. It was pretty cool. 53 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 4: Do you got a championship ring though? 54 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I got a championship better than yeah, talk about it. 55 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 3: I snuck out of there with one. 56 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: Yeah. Now, I wanted to ask you this question because 57 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: everybody's moment, no is their dream to get across the 58 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: NBA SA, shake your hand and hold a jersey. What 59 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 1: was it like for you the first time and you 60 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 1: got to be in that position and helps the draft 61 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: as the commissioner. 62 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 2: It was, it's it's it's emotional for me. It still 63 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,399 Speaker 2: is because you know, for that moment to come into 64 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: the NBA for these players and just as importantly for 65 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: their families. So when you're standing up on stage, particularly 66 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 2: for you know, the top draft picks who are sitting 67 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 2: there right in front of you, you're staring often at 68 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: their parents, their siblings, their friends. So it's it's truly emotional. 69 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 2: I mean I feel it along with them. And then 70 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 2: when the guys come up on stage, I mean, obviously 71 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 2: there's some of the best athletes. 72 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 4: In the world. 73 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: They've already performed at a high level in college and 74 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 2: Europe or whatever else. Like when I put my arm 75 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 2: on them and I shake their hand, they're often you 76 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: can feel how nervous they are, you know. It's it's 77 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: such and I think it's just a lot of them 78 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 2: been holding in the emotion and it's just a release 79 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: because even if you're projected to be the fifth pick 80 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 2: or the fourth but whatever, it is the reality of 81 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: that actually happening. So I'm just saying, like I'm holding 82 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: it together too. For a lot of them, it's just 83 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: and and it's I'll just add it, it's a privilege 84 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: to be up there. I don't have any particular talent, 85 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: you know, unlike a player, so I realize I'm fortunate 86 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: to be part of the experience. 87 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 5: Who was the first player you introduced to the NBA, 88 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 5: which I said, who was the first person you introduced 89 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 5: to the NBA? Like, what was your first pop o? 90 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: Man, I gotta think about that, because you know, I 91 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: was the deputy commissioner for several years and did the 92 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 2: second round as well, so I gotta think about that. 93 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 4: I can't remember who who the first player is? 94 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 3: Is drafted. Was every I want to ask you this question. 95 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: Obviously you know legal background, worked in the NBA as well, 96 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: recipes obviously, like great David Stern, what was that moment 97 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 1: like when you found out that you were going to 98 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: be the commissioner? 99 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 3: Oh? 100 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: Man, I mean I I again, I just remember feeling 101 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: how fortunate I was. I had at that point, I 102 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 2: had already worked for the league for twenty years, Yes, sir, 103 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 2: at the time I found out, I had worked for 104 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: David Stern that entire time, so I had a seat 105 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: in the room, so to speak, for a lot of 106 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 2: that had transpired over that time. And I and I again, 107 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: I worked hard, but at the same time, I realized 108 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 2: it takes a fair amount of luck to be in 109 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 2: the right place at the right time. I saw it 110 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 2: as tremendous responsibility to carry this league forward off of 111 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 2: all those great players that had come before me, great commissioners, 112 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 2: you know, David Stern being the most recent. So you know, 113 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 2: it was momentous, there's no question about it. But you know, 114 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 2: it takes a while to sink in you just again, 115 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: just and I still feel that even eleven years later. 116 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 2: Just it's an awesome responsibility because in addition to the 117 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 2: literally hundreds of millions of fans globally that for the players, 118 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 2: their families, the tens of thousands of employees of the NBA, 119 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 2: you know, and now the w NBA that that we're 120 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 2: part of. It's you know, you feel the weight of 121 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: the responsibility. And in this league, I mean there's there's 122 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 2: incredible things that happen every day, but there's also things 123 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 2: that are risk to the business. You know that, And 124 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: it's the ultimate responsibility working together with the players, with 125 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 2: the team owners to make sure the league continues to 126 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 2: operate smoothly. So I would say I I'm all struck, 127 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 2: but also feel that sense of responsibility most definitely. 128 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 1: I got a question, were talking about Draft night and 129 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: you being up there calling names, and it's been some 130 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: nights where guys' names didn't get called in that first round. 131 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 3: Oh what's that feeling like? 132 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: Do you ever be like, man, I just hope this 133 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: kid gets called, because obviously I didn't go to the 134 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: green room, but I'll skip. That was a scary feeling 135 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: for me to be in a green room and I 136 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: get my name called. And we had some guys go 137 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: super super late in the first round, and be the 138 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: last guy in the green room, like, what's that feeling? 139 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 2: You know, I'm often it happens occasionally where there is 140 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,359 Speaker 2: a player who's projected to go higher and drops for 141 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 2: whatever reason. And often in some cases in between break 142 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: in between picks, I walk down and just. 143 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 4: Say hello to the player and their family. 144 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 2: You know, we have a lunch in the day of 145 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: the draft, so I've talked to them and I see 146 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 2: them before the draft, but also just to remind them 147 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 2: that nobody can predict the future that I mean I 148 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 2: think about, you know, I mean our MVP in Shay 149 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: I forgot it on. He's like the eleventh pick or whatever. 150 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 2: He wasn't a top ten pick. Tyresee wasn't a top 151 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: ten pick. But not only were they not ten top 152 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: ten picks, but they were both traded, you know. And 153 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: and you have incredible players. You know, Jokich was a 154 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 2: second round pick. Ye young man just pointed out to me. 155 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 2: You know, Draymond Green was a second round pick. I mean, 156 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: you have look at the current finals. You know, you 157 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: have players who are enormous contributors who weren't. 158 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 3: Drafted at all. 159 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 2: And so I always see it as my responsibility to 160 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 2: remind them that this is just one point in time 161 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: and you should take motivation from this and that again 162 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: that understandably these teams are making these decisions, but don't 163 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: let that sort of prediction be controlling on you and 164 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 2: go double down on your work because there's a reason 165 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 2: that they're there, that they were projected to be there. 166 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 4: And even if you know, if you think the NBA is. 167 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: The four hund and fifty best players in the world, 168 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 2: so we have a relatively small draft compared like if 169 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 2: you watch the NFL draft, how many rounds they have, 170 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 2: It's only a two round draft. So again I just 171 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 2: remind them like, yeah, it sucks in that moment, it 172 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: feels embarrassing potentially, but go get them. You know, this 173 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 2: isn't gonna determine your faith. 174 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 3: Oh definitely. 175 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: You brought a very interesting point up. We're looking at 176 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: the finals right now. Obviously Games seven will take place 177 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: very very soon. We have two small market teams. You 178 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: see a lot of the nerves just like, oh, the 179 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: NBA is upset. We don't have bigger markets in that. 180 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: We would love to have that conversation with you because 181 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: obviously it has been great basketball being played the energy's 182 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: been high. You've been in both arenas. The fans there 183 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: seem happy. Is a narrative. 184 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 3: It is just like now, y'all not really tuned in 185 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 3: into an actual product. 186 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 4: You know, I could say so much about that, A 187 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 4: few things. 188 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:07,839 Speaker 3: I'll say. 189 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 2: One of the points I made the other night was, 190 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 2: you know, I'm sure that a lot of NFL fans 191 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: here when the Steelers and the Packers play, you know, 192 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 2: Pittsburgh and green Bay, nobody says two small market teams. 193 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: It's thatad It's two storied franchises, and I want to 194 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 2: emulate the NFL from that standpoint. I mean, our goal 195 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: and we're on our way there that whatever market it is, 196 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 2: they have passionate fans. They're competing for the championship. And 197 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 2: just like in Milwaukee where he won that championship, Jeff, 198 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 2: you know, it's the story, isn't that it's a small market. 199 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: It's the best franchises in the NBA, the best teams 200 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: in the world, competing for championships, and increasingly in a 201 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: digital world where the incremental difference between Indianapolis and Chicago 202 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,599 Speaker 2: should become irrelevant because. 203 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 3: We have a global fan base. 204 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: Yes, we have something like a two billion person social 205 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 2: media community. I mean something like seventy million people will 206 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 2: have watched the NBA Finals this year. So the fact 207 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 2: that there may be a million more people that live 208 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 2: in one market or another shouldn't be the issue. Now, 209 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: I accept that it's a narrative going in the other thing, 210 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 2: I'll point out some of those markets are only smaller 211 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 2: relative to the size of other NBA markets. The mayor 212 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 2: of Oklahoma City pointed out that three hundred million Americans, 213 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 2: close to ninety percent of Americans live in cities and 214 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,560 Speaker 2: towns that are smaller than Indianapolis and Oklahoma City. 215 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 4: Like most of. 216 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 2: Us, I'm from the suburbs of New York, but I 217 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 2: grew up in a town Ryan, New York that had 218 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 2: fifteen thousand people and so and my growing up, Yeah, 219 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 2: New York City wasn't that far away, but it seemed 220 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 2: like it was a million miles away. 221 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 3: That was my town. 222 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 2: When Little League season started, we had a Little League parade. 223 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 2: My high school only had a couple hundred people in it. 224 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 2: That was my world. So I think it owned This 225 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 2: small versus big market narrative only becomes relevant because of 226 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 2: historically how we've looked at things but again, the world's 227 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 2: changing quickly. To me, if you're Jannis Tenakunpo and you're 228 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 2: in Milwaukee, you're globally known, and nobody's going to convince 229 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 2: him that if you went down the road to Chicago, 230 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 2: then you can be that much of a bigger star. 231 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 2: So and I lastly saying, just having going back and 232 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 2: forth from Indianapolis to Oklahoma City and vice versa over 233 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 2: the last two weeks, the passion is unbelievable in those towns. 234 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 4: I just came in from Indianapolis this morning. I mean, 235 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 4: you're there. 236 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 2: Every storefront has banners in it for the Pacers. Same 237 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 2: thing in Oklahoma City. Every building has a huge. 238 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 3: Banner on it. 239 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: Everyone's wearing merchandise. If you see on television, everyone's wearing 240 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 2: the team colors. It's like a college environment. And so 241 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 2: in some ways, when you're in those markets where that 242 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 2: are smaller, it captures people's attention even more than you know. 243 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 2: I live in New York City now, when when we 244 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 2: have teams in this town that are competing for championships, 245 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 2: as big as that audience is, it's not as all 246 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 2: consuming as it might be in a so called smaller market. 247 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 3: For sure, I mean, we were talking to a guy yesterday. 248 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: He was telling us about how it was in New 249 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: York when they were just making the Eastern Conference finals. 250 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 1: And I think that's what the narrative is because when 251 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 1: you see all the people outside it was what a 252 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: million people almost outside, you started thinking like. 253 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 3: Man, if they was in the finals, what what that 254 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 3: look like? 255 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: So I think that's worse, you know, talk about But 256 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: to me being from Indiana and seeing how the Pacers 257 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: reacting the fans are, it's crazy. 258 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 3: I think it's beautiful for the league. 259 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 4: It is. 260 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 2: And also I mean when it comes to basketball, no 261 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 2: state is more closely associated with the game than Indiana. 262 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 2: I know you're still coaching high school. Yeah, while they're 263 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 2: staying in Oklahoma City. I mean, it's this sport feels 264 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 2: endemic to those markets. It's as I said, it's not 265 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 2: there's the support for the thunder, for the Pacers, but 266 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 2: also people just love the game in those cities and 267 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 2: states and you can really feel it. And I think 268 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 2: particular the way these finals are being played, just the 269 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 2: selfless style, the pass first, I mean both teams, it's 270 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 2: a great defense, really physical. I think people are really 271 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 2: eating up these finals they're just really enjoying them. 272 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 5: For sure, we'll be getting some expansion teams here soon. 273 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 5: What the expansion change how you feel about the. 274 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,439 Speaker 2: You know, I it's something we're going to look at it. 275 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 2: It's more complicated, I think sometimes than people realize, because 276 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 2: I think some people look at expansion that you're printing money. 277 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 2: It's not because it's like, if you own something, you're 278 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 2: selling an interest in it. If you're one of the 279 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 2: thirty owners in the NBA and just say you expand 280 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 2: by two teams, it's not that different than selling a 281 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 2: portion of your team to someone else. 282 00:13:59,120 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 3: You know. 283 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 2: Having said that, there's so many great markets out there 284 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 2: that love the NBA. It's something we're definitely gonna look at. 285 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 5: Okay, for sure, yes, I now, he said Seattle, who 286 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 5: was just trying to figure out, like what cities would 287 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 5: be good to bring a new team too. 288 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: Obviously they do the Summer League in Vegas, so it's 289 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: equipped for NBA basketball, So I know Vegas will probably 290 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: be a coole spot. 291 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 3: Like you said, Seattle had a team already. 292 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 2: You know, it's interesting. I mean, we had a team 293 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 2: in Seattle before. It's such an incredible market for many 294 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 2: of my years that the NBA were spent when we 295 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 2: still had a team in Seattle. There's no doubt about 296 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 2: the love for basketball there and Vegas. You just mentioned 297 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 2: where we are our summer league. I feel like we 298 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 2: have a team there. Yeah, you know, the two weeks 299 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 2: or so that Summer League goes, it literally like it 300 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 2: consumes the whole basketball world. Those games when we first 301 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 2: started playing the Summer League, they are those games were 302 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 2: hardly even on television. Now, sports centers operating out of 303 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 2: Las Vegas studio shows there. You know, it's it's like 304 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: they I've never been to the Baseball Winter Meetings, but 305 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 2: that's what it feels like. You know, all the general 306 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 2: managers there, teams are doing deals, guys who weren't drafted 307 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 2: or there the draft picks are there. They're selling out 308 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 2: in the arenas. So like I feel like we already 309 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 2: have a huge presence in Las Vegas. 310 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 3: Definitely. Sure. I want to ask you a fun question. 311 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: I'll recently introduced somebody to the movie Eddie, and then 312 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: we watched Celtic Pride. So those old NBA movies that 313 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: used to integrate all the things between us, me and 314 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: the Spans fictional in the NBA. I want to know, 315 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 1: how does that happen? Is there a license in to 316 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: our conversation that happens? Because you know, you see a 317 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: lot of things meet you and some of the players, 318 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: some not I would love to see. Is that something 319 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: that's in the works future as a game is going 320 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: we get back into that. But how does a conversation 321 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: or something like that happened? 322 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 2: Well, the way it works, And I was at the 323 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 2: league for Eddie and Celtic Pride, And there's a division 324 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 2: of the NBA called NBA Entertainment that I used to run. 325 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 2: And so when people and for anybody here today or 326 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 2: is listening to this wants to make a movie involving 327 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 2: the NBA's teams come to us, I mean we try 328 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 2: to make it easy, you know, in es since we 329 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 2: come and say if you want a license, you. 330 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 4: Know our logos or our name. 331 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 2: You know, we want movies to ultimately be positive of 332 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 2: course about the league. So you know, most people realize that. 333 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 2: So it's not that we're not approving things that come 334 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 2: to us, but we'll have discussions with the producers and 335 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 2: the writers and the directors. But we want people to 336 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 2: be talking about basketball. We want them to be talking 337 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 2: about the NBA and the w NBA and all the 338 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 2: things we're doing. So, you know, I think over the years, 339 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 2: we've learned to try to make it a bit more 340 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 2: turnkey for people who want to use our intellectual property 341 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 2: and say please, you know, we to extent that you 342 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 2: have a new angle and it maybe people want to 343 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: do something about mascots. It's not always just about the 344 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 2: you know, there was a movie called like Mike something 345 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 2: may remember. You know, there's you know, the the Michael 346 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 2: Jordan Last Dance. You know that came out in the 347 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 2: middle of the pandemic. 348 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 3: What's the movie? Would common? Just right? Just right? Yeah, 349 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 3: you know, I mean. 350 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 2: But also even like one of my favorite basketball movies 351 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: is Hoosiers, even though the NBA had nothing whatsoever to 352 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 2: do with that. Like any movie that's about the love 353 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 2: of the game is we think is really positive for us. 354 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,479 Speaker 2: So we're always encouraging people who want to do anything 355 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 2: around basketball. You know, I'm when I walk through this 356 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 2: fan festival, I want more tension focused on basketball. And 357 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 2: that's like my job is to get more people to 358 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 2: love this game. 359 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: You say your favorit basketball is Hoosiers. That's very interesting. 360 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 4: Probably probably. 361 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:38,360 Speaker 3: Come on, I haven't seen hoos. Did you play back 362 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 3: in the day in high school or anything? 363 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 4: Did I play? Yeah, that's why I wear I played, 364 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 4: but not well, I don't know. 365 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 3: I mean we walked in. I was like, okay, you 366 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 3: might set a screen of slips. I didn't know you 367 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 3: was that tall. Say he might have been a sniper, 368 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 3: big gore back in the day. We might need you 369 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 3: in the park. 370 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 2: And I'm in the office, thank you. 371 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: So I had a question like when there like a 372 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,679 Speaker 1: trade like Luca happens, right and it kind of shocks 373 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: the league, Like what's it like in a league office? 374 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 3: Like do y'all know, like whoa, this is about to 375 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 3: be wild? Or you know? 376 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 2: Says before I you know. First of all, I'll say 377 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 2: one of the misnomers I think out there is that 378 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 2: I have the power to disapprove a trade. Yeah, I 379 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:27,640 Speaker 2: don't think the only what the league's role is, as 380 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 2: you can imagine in a in a cap system and 381 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 2: a set of rules around trades, what happens is before 382 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 2: the trade is known publicly, although sometimes they're leaked or 383 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 2: they're or they're informally announced, but for a trade to 384 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 2: be official, it gets called into the league office. It's 385 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 2: kind of old school, you know, where both teams have 386 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,159 Speaker 2: to get on the phone and lawyers and people in 387 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 2: basketball operations literally line up the contract. So if somebody 388 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 2: make it up is making eight million dollars, you have 389 00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,919 Speaker 2: to ensure that the other team has eight million dollars 390 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 2: of cap space in order to sign that player. You 391 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 2: have to assure that it complies with all of our rules. 392 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 2: And so we get if assuming a trade hasn't been leaked, 393 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 2: a call will come into the league office, a team 394 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 2: will say we want to set up a trade call. 395 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 2: Both sides will be on the call. It's a little 396 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 2: bit like anybody who's bought a home and there's a closing, 397 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 2: the closest thing where you've got to make sure like 398 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 2: you indeed have the title to the house. Yeah, there's 399 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 2: been an inspection, and there's a contract, all those things, 400 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 2: so there's in essence of checklist, and then the trade 401 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 2: becomes official. So we don't and because the teams often 402 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 2: in particular trades and Luca is a good example where 403 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 2: the teams are very secretive, they're not necessarily tipping us off. 404 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 2: We learned about it, I mean, we learned about it 405 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 2: be ahead of the public, but only it's usually only 406 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 2: a question of hours because we have to go through 407 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 2: that official process of approving it, but not sooner than that. 408 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: Was that like when you've seen that come across where 409 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: you kind of shock, like, Yeah, I. 410 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 2: Would only say I mean because in many ways I'm 411 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 2: a fan like others, and teams aren't necessarily calling the 412 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,719 Speaker 2: league office for suggestions on player movement, So there's the 413 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:17,959 Speaker 2: fan in me that only because that's not a player 414 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 2: move that people were talking about or the shows like 415 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 2: yours were talking about. 416 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 3: I was surprised from that standpoint. 417 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I want to ask you that question obviously, what 418 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: the game growing, media is evolving, ever changing, Right, you 419 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: got player podcasts, got independent stuff like that. What's one 420 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: thing you think that the actual media outlets can improve 421 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: that could actually help the game. I know we get 422 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:39,440 Speaker 1: a lot of criticism, but what's something that we could 423 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: actually help promote the game better or help progress. 424 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 2: Well, first of all, I'll just say kind of in 425 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 2: the same lane when I was talking about movies about 426 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 2: the NBA, I'm very appreciative of the amount of media 427 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 2: coverage we get. I recognize it's not all going to 428 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 2: be positive. But to me, as long as it's genuinely 429 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 2: from the heart and it's real passion and people aren't 430 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:06,639 Speaker 2: making up stories about us, I appreciate it. And you know, 431 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 2: it's one of the things great about sports is people 432 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 2: come with their opinions. Yeah, and they like things, they 433 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,959 Speaker 2: dislike things, and we learn from that too, you know. 434 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 2: And it's we pay attention to social media, we pay 435 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 2: attention to traditional media. You get great ideas from there. 436 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 2: I think the only thing I'd add to the extent 437 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: there's more media that's educating fans about what goes into 438 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 2: championship basketball. I think sometimes if you haven't been close 439 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,159 Speaker 2: to the game, and I've learned a lot over my 440 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 2: time because I didn't play at a high high level, 441 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 2: to understand that it's not just about effort. It's about 442 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 2: the plays that are unfolding. It's about the sophistication of 443 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 2: the coaching, It's about the sophistication of the scouting. I mean, 444 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 2: I think sometimes like understanding what goes into being an 445 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 2: NBA player, the amount of hard work, the amount of training. 446 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 2: But also I think sometimes because the way our game 447 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 2: is called, you know, it's it's moving so quickly, even 448 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 2: for the best announcers, play by play announcers like Mike Breen, 449 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 2: or the best color commentaries, the best color commentary. It's 450 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 2: moving so fast, there's not necessarily time to explain everything 451 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 2: that's happening that you know, it's not just this guy 452 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 2: is off tonight, but he may be off because it's 453 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 2: incredible defense and what is the scheme and what is 454 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 2: that defense? So I think sometimes like those other shows, 455 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 2: whether it's a pregame show or halftime or it's an 456 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 2: afternoon show, podcast, you name it, about the NBA, just 457 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 2: to be talking about more about the game and what 458 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 2: goes into team basketball and what and what goes into 459 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 2: making the NBA and staying in the NBA. 460 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, sure, definitely. 461 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: You always talk about how the NBA is a business 462 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 1: and the fraternity and what they do for the players 463 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 1: after they leave the game. 464 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 3: I want to indulge in that a little bit more. 465 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, obviously, it's a bunch of programming now that it's 466 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: been coming into the league. When I first came in 467 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: the league, the rookie rookie transition and all those great 468 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: things that you have to do when you first get 469 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,639 Speaker 1: in the league, I was wondering, how can we like, 470 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna say better, and I think it's does 471 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: a really good job, and everything is nice when you 472 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 1: retire from basketball, But is anything like you would suggest 473 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: or some of the guys who might retire at the 474 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 1: age of like thirty thirty one, is there anything you 475 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: can suggest to help them with that process. 476 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 2: It's a great question. A few things. Number One, so, 477 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 2: for the first time, we have a former player who's 478 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,880 Speaker 2: running the Players Association, Andre Gudala, yep. So he's very 479 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 2: attuned to the issues of not just former players, but 480 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 2: the transition for a player to go from being on 481 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 2: the floor to then the rest of their life, and 482 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 2: to how they're gonna use the skills they've developed as 483 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 2: a player and what new skills they might need to 484 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 2: be successful whatever they choose to do, whether it's to 485 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 2: be in the media or to run business or whatever else. 486 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 2: The other thing Andrea is doing is building a closer 487 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:16,680 Speaker 2: relationship between what has been a separate organization, the Retired 488 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 2: Players Association, and the union that currently represents the players, 489 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,200 Speaker 2: because I think that can help with the smooth transition 490 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 2: as well. And then you mentioned the Rookie Transition Program, 491 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 2: So that's a program for players coming into the NBA, 492 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 2: the transition of coming from college or Europe wherever it is. 493 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 2: Now the world's changing quickly because now with nil deals 494 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 2: and collectives, guys are now coming into the league and 495 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 2: the same thing for the women in the WNBA now 496 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 2: in many cases having been paid, so they already have 497 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 2: a certain sophistication around payments and being you know, shoe 498 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: deals and things like that. But so they come in 499 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,159 Speaker 2: we have the training in I think one thing that 500 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 2: Andre is very focused on awareness and the Union leaders 501 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 2: before him, is enhancing those programs so that while you're 502 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 2: a player, there's a lot of different counseling on managing 503 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 2: your money, managing your life, you know, dealing with social media, 504 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 2: all those things. And the Union has done a fantastic job. 505 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 2: There's a role for our teams and a role for 506 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 2: the league and doing all those things. And then I 507 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 2: think also where Andre now, I think the focus is 508 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 2: all right, what more can we do for helping the 509 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:33,239 Speaker 2: players manage that transition. And then once I said, they 510 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,919 Speaker 2: become a retired player because often and Jeff you can 511 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 2: speak to, when you're right off the floor, there may 512 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 2: be a period of sort of decompressing, taking some time, 513 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 2: there's that change from being on the road the whole time. 514 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,440 Speaker 2: Often guys are getting reacquainted with their families or you know, 515 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 2: they've they've had kids while they were playing and haven't 516 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 2: been around as much. So there's that period. But then 517 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 2: now you have essentially the rest of your life ahead 518 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 2: of you. What kind of programs can we help provide 519 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 2: to train people? And I'll just say lastly, I mean 520 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 2: there's also one of the things that we put in 521 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 2: place several years ago, and and Michelle Roberts was head 522 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 2: of the Players Association, Chris Paul was president Union is 523 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 2: lifetime health insurance for guys who played in the league, 524 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 2: which is a huge deal, and also enhancing the pension programs, 525 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 2: the four oh one K program, so that for somebody 526 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 2: who has played, you know, a certain minimum threshold of 527 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 2: years in the league, you know to a certain extent, 528 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 2: you'll be set. You know you're gonna have health insurance, 529 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 2: you know you're gonna have a pension. Now, you know 530 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:38,879 Speaker 2: that that's not suggesting they should just be satisfied with that, 531 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 2: But on top of that, there's all these other opportunities, 532 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 2: and you're obviously a great example of it of what 533 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 2: can you then use that platform you have by virtue 534 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 2: of being an NBA player and then building careers from 535 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 2: beyond what you accomplished on the floor. 536 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 3: For sure, most. 537 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 1: Definitely we talk about the NIO situation all the time. 538 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: I know you probably asked some millions. Is it a 539 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 1: possibility to high schoolayers go back to the NBA straight? 540 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 3: Maybe? 541 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: But the nil impact you say, you got lesser people 542 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: in the drift this year. If you think that stuffing 543 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 1: is gonna be an on one issue, is it's just 544 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: a new transition Perio, because it's just new. 545 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, when you think about it, we don't, as I said, 546 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 2: we only have a two round draft. And the fact 547 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 2: I think it's really positive that some of these young 548 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:24,360 Speaker 2: men are getting good information in essence and realizing that 549 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 2: they're unlikely to be one of the to be selected 550 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,560 Speaker 2: in those two rounds. And if that's the case, and 551 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 2: they can remain in college and be paid and in 552 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 2: many cases paid significant amounts of money. That so one, 553 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 2: they're getting compensated for their skill and maybe even more importantly, 554 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,920 Speaker 2: to extent they want to be professional basketball players. They're 555 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 2: getting real minutes, they're getting great coaching, and they're continuing 556 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 2: to train and improve at their craft. So it's a 557 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 2: win win for everybody as opposed to losing eligibility because 558 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 2: if somebody's convinced you that you're going to be a 559 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 2: top draft pick, not getting drafted, you can't go back 560 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 2: to college and now you're going to play maybe in 561 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 2: Europe or Asia or something else, as opposed to really 562 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 2: honing your skill and having your best shot at. 563 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:17,920 Speaker 4: Playing in the NBA. 564 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,119 Speaker 2: And the other thing is if you're not going to 565 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 2: be drafted and you're going back into school, it shouldn't 566 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 2: be lost that you're also you know, continuing to get 567 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 2: an education, because realistically, you may not have an opportunity 568 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 2: to play in the NBA. It may be great, you know, 569 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 2: it may to go play in Europe. There's great basketball 570 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 2: playing played around the world, but that may you know, 571 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 2: not compensate you at the same level as being in 572 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 2: the NBA. You may not be able to do it 573 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:46,719 Speaker 2: for as long. So now you finish, you play for 574 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:49,040 Speaker 2: three four years in Europe, whatever it is, but now 575 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 2: you have a college education and then you can go 576 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 2: out and then pursue another career. So I think the 577 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: fact that some of those young men are withdrawing their 578 00:28:57,840 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 2: names is very positive to me. That just means there's 579 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 2: better information out there in the marketplace. 580 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 5: Will we ever get back to kids being able to 581 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 5: come straight out of high school? Like, what that ever 582 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 5: be a thing again in the NBA? Do you think? 583 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 2: You know, we've talked about that, you know, just so 584 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 2: everybody understands, like, that's not a decision we can make 585 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 2: on our own. It can only it has to be 586 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 2: negotiated with the players Association, And when we last discussed it, 587 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 2: I think that the general feeling from the teams and 588 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 2: the players is to extent that those young players have 589 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 2: that extra year. Honestly, whether it's in college or playing 590 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 2: in Europe. There it's better for the league because they 591 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 2: come in better skilled, with a little bit more maturity. 592 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 3: Gotch. 593 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 1: We've talked about obviously the All Star format possibly being 594 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: the USA versus the world. We've got a lot of 595 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 1: great international players, a lot than one MVP. Recently, we 596 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: got camps around the world. 597 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 3: Is there a. 598 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 1: Possibility that we could get an expansion scene that's not 599 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:55,959 Speaker 1: in the United States. 600 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 2: Well, we have the Raptors, of course, but you know, 601 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 2: but around I know they're attached. 602 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 4: It's not the same. Yeah, over time. 603 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 2: I mean, one of the things we've been looking at 604 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 2: the league at the league is whether we can help 605 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 2: operate a new professional league in Europe. I mean, don't 606 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 2: get me wrong, there's incredible basketball being played in Europe, 607 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:22,959 Speaker 2: and there's some really great teams, and you know, several 608 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 2: of our most recent MVPs have come from Europe. But 609 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 2: I think from a commercial standpoint, basketball professional basketball hasn't 610 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 2: been nearly as successful in Europe as the size of 611 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 2: the market might suggest. So that's one path I wouldn't 612 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 2: called expansion directly, but it's building off the NBA brand 613 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 2: and potentially doing more in Europe. To your direct question 614 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 2: about teams in Europe, I think over time, it's definitely possible. 615 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 2: Like I was in Paris last summer for the Olympics, 616 00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:59,040 Speaker 2: I mean, the interest was off the charts. I mean, 617 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 2: to me, it was the hottest sport there. I mean 618 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 2: like we were selling out every game, not just the 619 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 2: games involving USA, but you know, the gold medal game 620 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 2: was USA versus France. 621 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:10,240 Speaker 4: I mean the. 622 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 2: Game before the US Serbia game was some of the 623 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 2: best basketball I had seen. So there's great players, enormous interest. 624 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 2: I think part of the limitation is on players' bodies. 625 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 2: It's not just the length of the flight, but when 626 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 2: you're jumping multiple time zones, it's important guys get proper 627 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 2: rest for being on the floor. 628 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 4: It's disruptive. 629 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 2: You know, there's people remember there used to be supersonic 630 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 2: jets that went back and forth from New York to Paris, 631 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 2: you know the Concorde that there's some commercial airliners now 632 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 2: who are talking about restoring supersonic jets. I mean, I 633 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 2: think that if the traveler faster, honestly, that would be 634 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 2: a game changer. 635 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:55,800 Speaker 4: It would make it easier to do. 636 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:58,719 Speaker 2: But as I said, I think the next step is 637 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 2: to sort of plan a flag in Europe, potentially with 638 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:04,320 Speaker 2: the European League, and then go from there. But I 639 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 2: think if any league could do it, you could easily 640 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 2: imagine teams in Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin. I mean, it's 641 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 2: not for lack of interest, that's for. 642 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 3: Sure most of it. So you can imagine having a 643 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 3: back to back in Paris. Man. 644 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, like you said, that flight would have been crazy, 645 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 1: but it'd probably be a lot of fun. 646 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 3: Though. I think guys will be open to playing in Paris. 647 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 1: I've seen guys go over there for preseason games and 648 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 1: exhibition games, and they're like, it's cool to be over here. 649 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 5: You got any adjustments that you would like to make 650 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 5: for the All Star All Star Game? You want to 651 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 5: bring some new take something out, Like how do you 652 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:43,520 Speaker 5: feel about All Star Weekend? 653 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 2: Well, the weekend itself, which we're not judged on. For 654 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 2: those who are there, it's fantastic. I mean I think 655 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 2: anybody who was in the Bay Area in San Francisco 656 00:32:55,880 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 2: last year, I mean there's tons of events and part ease, 657 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:03,920 Speaker 2: and there's a fan festival kind of like this. I mean, 658 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 2: people love that experience there. The game itself, as we've 659 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 2: not put our best foot forward, and I think the 660 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 2: players recognize that. We recognize that. So, as you mentioned, 661 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 2: we're talking about changing the concept, doing something maybe close 662 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 2: to what the NHL did in the four nation faceoff. 663 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 2: I mean I think it if it were just straight 664 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 2: up USA World. As much as fans would love that, 665 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 2: I'm not sure be fair to the players because roughly 666 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:33,560 Speaker 2: thirty percent of the players are from outside the United States, 667 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 2: so it wouldn't be fair to pick half the team 668 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,640 Speaker 2: from thirty percent and the other half from seventy percent. 669 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 2: But I think we're looking I know we're looking at 670 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 2: different formats now talking the Players Association because we need 671 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 2: their agreement where we would use that concept again similar 672 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:53,719 Speaker 2: to the NHL did, where you'd create that passion around 673 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 2: the USA playing other countries, other regions in the world. 674 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:00,600 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm particularly excited about it. I'll just so 675 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:03,280 Speaker 2: next year, our All Star Game is moving to NBC 676 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 2: where it was in the old days, and we'll be 677 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:08,160 Speaker 2: in the middle of the Winter Olympics. So on the 678 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 2: Sunday when the All Star Game takes place, for TV watchers, 679 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 2: they'll be watching the Olympics, you know, all day. Then 680 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:17,439 Speaker 2: you'll come to our All Star Game, and then after 681 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:19,280 Speaker 2: All Star Game, we'll be going back to the Olympics. 682 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 2: So I'd love to play off that theme that we'll 683 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:24,640 Speaker 2: be smack in the middle, as I said, of that 684 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 2: Olympic competition. So I think it's a it's a good 685 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 2: time for us to be looking at those formats. 686 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:32,640 Speaker 3: Okay, cool, cool, Yeah. 687 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,840 Speaker 5: Oh I wanted to ask too though, So Lebron, you 688 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 5: know he's on his last leg. 689 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 3: Of the league. 690 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:39,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, you make sure you said that, not me. 691 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:43,400 Speaker 5: I'm saying that who you think that can fill that 692 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,200 Speaker 5: void of like the new face of the NBA just 693 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:47,000 Speaker 5: give me, Like. 694 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 2: You know, I always say, like, you know, we don't 695 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:51,840 Speaker 2: create those faces of the league office. They earn it 696 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 2: on the floor. It's interesting to watch these finals. Obviously 697 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 2: Shay is our MVP. Yeah, he was a scoring leader 698 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:00,879 Speaker 2: this year, but again, I mean, he's having a great 699 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:04,600 Speaker 2: final so far. But ultimately, Lebron is a face to 700 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:07,879 Speaker 2: the league and Michael was and KD was and these 701 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 2: guys and Steph because they win championships. I mean, it's 702 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 2: looking fairness to any individual player. It's also a team sport, 703 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 2: and Lebron made that point the other day. Sure, but 704 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:21,600 Speaker 2: look at sports are about competition, it's about winning. And 705 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,279 Speaker 2: the great news is kind of like what I was 706 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:26,319 Speaker 2: saying about the draft earlier. I don't have to sit 707 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 2: here and predict sort of who our next face of 708 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:32,239 Speaker 2: the league is. They they earn it. You know, they 709 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 2: are established by what they do on the floor, and 710 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 2: it's it's great to see now this next generation. I 711 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 2: think in a way it's the best of all worlds 712 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 2: because Lebron is still at forty years old, playing an 713 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 2: incredibly high level. Steph is playing an incredibly high level 714 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:50,240 Speaker 2: so is Kevin. 715 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:50,680 Speaker 3: You know. 716 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:56,840 Speaker 2: So, it's wonderful to see that generation still here mentoring 717 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:01,840 Speaker 2: this next generation, but ultimately ultimately that this next generation 718 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:05,239 Speaker 2: who want to take that mantle from them again, that 719 00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:07,200 Speaker 2: that's where the competitive juice is coming. They got to 720 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:09,799 Speaker 2: earn it by demonstrating they deserve to be the face 721 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:11,760 Speaker 2: of the league by their performance on the floor. 722 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:14,120 Speaker 3: That's definitely I wanted to ask. 723 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:17,520 Speaker 1: I think for all those basketball here in the off season, 724 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:20,200 Speaker 1: we get to see all the players playing different situations 725 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 1: now which you're integrating the NBA, like having the Drew 726 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 1: League on the NBA APP, things of that nature. Is 727 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 1: that something that's like purposely saying, Okay, we're going to 728 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 1: embrace every aspect of this game and keep growing. Or 729 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:32,080 Speaker 1: is this something organically you guys just like, you know what, 730 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:33,319 Speaker 1: if everybody's rocking with this, we. 731 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 3: Might as well include ourselves in that. 732 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:38,480 Speaker 2: I would say it's that's a case where it's definitely both. 733 00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:41,520 Speaker 2: I mean, what's cool about the Drew League or Rucker 734 00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 2: or anything else is that it's truly organic. I can 735 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 2: take zero credit for that, but then we can be 736 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:50,960 Speaker 2: very intentional about it and say the NBA APP is 737 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:56,280 Speaker 2: a central repository of basketball, of every you know over time, 738 00:36:56,600 --> 00:37:00,680 Speaker 2: truly everything basketball, but right now, anything involving INNBA players 739 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:04,280 Speaker 2: and NBA players are playing in those summer leagues, whether 740 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 2: it's summer leagues here in New York or in LA 741 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:10,640 Speaker 2: or Drew or whatever else that you know, Especially one 742 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 2: thing about social media, it's not always fine. It's not 743 00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 2: always easy to discover what you're looking for. If you 744 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:22,480 Speaker 2: think about X or Instagram, whatever else, like those algorithms 745 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:25,319 Speaker 2: are pretty good at feeding you more basketball, but you've 746 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:27,720 Speaker 2: shown interest in it. But there's nothing like that ability 747 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:31,080 Speaker 2: to go to the NBA app, and that is identifying 748 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:33,879 Speaker 2: for you. If there's great basketball out there involving NBA 749 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 2: players off season or future NBA players, or what's happening 750 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 2: in Europe or Asia, we're gonna deliver it directly to 751 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 2: you and that and that's a place where we're trying 752 00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:45,480 Speaker 2: to get a lot more sophisticated, but we want to 753 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,640 Speaker 2: take advantage of of of all that great all that 754 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:51,200 Speaker 2: great content, all those great games that are already out there. 755 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:55,080 Speaker 1: Most definitely for sure, now listen, I got the jersey on. 756 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 1: I'm saying the goat a lot of fans missed the 757 00:37:58,239 --> 00:37:59,280 Speaker 1: classic jerseys. 758 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:01,560 Speaker 3: Is there a world where we could. 759 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:04,120 Speaker 1: Possibly have the All Star Game back into the original 760 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:05,240 Speaker 1: uniforms of the players. 761 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:07,120 Speaker 4: You know, I'm looking around there. 762 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 2: There's a there's a gentleman out there named Sala Raka, 763 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:12,959 Speaker 2: and he oversees all of merchandising. So, Sally, you heard 764 00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:16,399 Speaker 2: that suit. Are you nodding your head? Yes, he's saying, yes, 765 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:18,920 Speaker 2: we're gonna we're looking at that idea. No, it's we 766 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:21,440 Speaker 2: We go back and forth like people want new uniform 767 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:22,960 Speaker 2: they want Oh but I love. 768 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:24,720 Speaker 4: The idea of the of the classic jerseys. 769 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:26,239 Speaker 3: Hey, I love how you put him on the spot 770 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:29,600 Speaker 3: there by start life. It's you. Hey. 771 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:32,240 Speaker 4: You know, the feedback from our fans is critically important. 772 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:35,120 Speaker 1: So thank you everybody, most definitely, Well listen, Commission, We 773 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:39,120 Speaker 1: appreciate your time and makes Norse in Mississippi one time. Yeah, 774 00:38:39,440 --> 00:38:41,719 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you for having me, most definitely one 775 00:38:41,719 --> 00:38:44,400 Speaker 1: time for fanatic sex. Two pounds of Boots mobile twenty 776 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:46,879 Speaker 1: five dollars unlimited tall text data what they had Team 777 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:50,920 Speaker 1: G nationwide for shore. We appreciate you all, y'all be safe. 778 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:52,120 Speaker 1: The volume