1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Best of the Week for What's Right 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: with Nick Right the best takes and moments from this 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: week on the show. Enjoy for Kyrie, Obviously, you feel 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: sick for him. I think Kyrie has handled the last 5 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: couple of years about as well as any player could have. 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: And I've been so impressed by him, and as far 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: as on a dime, remaking his leader reputation and maturity 8 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: reputation and kind of sage wisdom and all of that, 9 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: I've never seen him like it. Like him going from 10 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: a guy who's like, well, great player, but you're gonna 11 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: have to deal with a bunch of other stuff to 12 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: a guy where the other stuff is a huge part 13 00:00:54,920 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: of his greatness. And it seemingly happened on the trade 14 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: to the Maps, and so you give him massive credit. 15 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: You feel sick for him. I also he's a pending 16 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: free agent. How this impacts the contract he will or 17 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: won't get For a guy who turns thirty three in 18 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: a few weeks. Maybe it's craven to talk about that immediately, 19 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: but you think about that, and it concerns you. And 20 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: the other thing you think about is this, since they 21 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: traded Lukadncic he was playing way too many minutes because 22 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: they didn't have another ball handler. And this is a 23 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: and they left themselves with one creator, one ball handler. 24 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: And now I mean the minutes he has played since 25 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: the start of February. Let's go there, right, Luca was 26 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: traded on what February first, Okay, so perfect since the 27 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: Luca trade forty two, forty forty two, forty four, forty 28 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: thirty seven, thirty two in a blowout, forty thirty eight 29 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: thirty eight, and then last night, I it was now 30 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: he was playing big minutes prior to that as well, 31 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: actually since Luca's injury, he was playing big minutes. But 32 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: Luca was coming back, and Luca would have obviously would 33 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: have been back, you know, well earlier than that. 34 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 2: And the maps the topic right now. 35 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, we do it right now, like we might as 36 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: well just get to it the because we have the 37 00:02:55,080 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: breaking news on it, and so I I don't there's 38 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: a lot of pieces to this demon's that are inextricably 39 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: tied to the Luca trade. 40 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 2: And yeah, with the not having the extra ball handler, 41 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: but even the guy that they traded for was hurt 42 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 2: since he got there, he played in what a half 43 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 2: of a game, and I think with Nico Collins, with 44 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: Anthony Davis being a known hurt player, that's something that 45 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 2: you have to take into account and like you're seeing 46 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 2: that firsthand, and I just it was it was obviously 47 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: a bad decision. It was like it was Anthony Davis 48 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 2: getting hurt or Luca donc Is just completely flaming out 49 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 2: and being a hinentrance to your team. 50 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: Well so that so there were a million reasons the 51 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: Luca trade made no sense, uh, even if all of 52 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: your skepticism was correct about him. One was you were 53 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: worried about his body, and so you trade for a 54 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: guy who's six years older and Anthony Davis who has 55 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: real worries about his body. Another one was you actually 56 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: already had depth at center. What you didn't have depth 57 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: that was shot creator. You trade a shot creator for 58 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: the best shot creator arguably in basketball, and Luca for 59 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: another big Another reason it was risky was your window 60 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: with Luca was a decade. You then go Nico Harrison. 61 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: You said, Nico Collins the receiver for the Texans, but 62 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: I knew him. It the You then go on TV 63 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: and say your windows three to four years, Well, this 64 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: year is done now done, and next year's in jeopardy, 65 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: like are you and also are you going to re 66 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: sign Kyrie Irving? Do you still have to? If you don't, 67 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: what are you doing? There was a lot of, you know, 68 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: kind of back burner rumors, demons that this could be 69 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: a Kevin Durant destination next year, that Katie get back 70 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: with Kyrie. You have Anthony Davis. From basketball standpoint, it 71 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 1: would fit great. Okay, Well, now that's massively in question, Like, 72 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: I don't know, you tear your acl in March if 73 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: you're Kyrie, do you just miss all of next year? 74 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: And shout out to Kyrie for shooting those free throws? 75 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: You know, he obviously is as big of a Kobe 76 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: fan as any active player. Kobe famous famously shot his 77 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:47,679 Speaker 1: free throws after he tore his achilles. You really really 78 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: hope that Kyrie's career doesn't follow that same trajectory as 79 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: far as Kobe was just never the same guy after 80 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: that torn achilles. But I also think Kobe Kobe was 81 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: thirty four when he tore his achilles. Kyrie is thirty 82 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: two about to be thirty three. Was was Kobe? I'm 83 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: looking up when so Kobe tore his Achilles in April 84 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: of thirteen. Kobe was born in August of Uh. Yes, 85 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: we was thirty four August seventy eight. So I I 86 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: just will the MAVs make There's so many tentacles to 87 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: this and I'm reacting in real time. Will the MAVs 88 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:48,239 Speaker 1: make the play in they're three and a half clear 89 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: of Phoenix. Phoenix would be a at this point a 90 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: more interesting team, uh because of the Kadim Booker factor, 91 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: even though that seems to just be ready for the 92 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: season to end. But now that whoever gets that ten 93 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: seed is dead on arrival, the MAVs have no who 94 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: on the MAVs can create a shot, honest to god, 95 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: Like last night after Kyrie went down, it's Dante Exum 96 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: you you know who you also? I mean Kai Jones. 97 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: Shout out to Kai Jones, by the way, who had 98 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: some real personal demons and issues or action demons is 99 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: too strong. I don't know that he he had a 100 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: It seemed like he might have had a drug problem, 101 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: you know, and seems to have gotten himself clean and 102 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: is you know, resuming his NBA career. So you root 103 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: for young people like that, Like that was going down 104 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: the wrong track. He ended up playing big minutes yesterday, 105 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: right they signed him. He goes nine to ten from 106 00:07:56,320 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: the field. But I mean Clayton Thompson signs there thinking 107 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: I can catch and shoot. Well, who's who you're catching 108 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: it from? 109 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 3: Now? 110 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: This isn't I think, you know what. I think I 111 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: did a bad job in my initial reaction to this. 112 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: This is a. 113 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 2: Again like the Luca ad trade. 114 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: No, the Kyrie injury some in the last ten minutes, 115 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: because this is just an unmitigated disaster of historic proportions. 116 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: And you can say the injury is just bad luck, 117 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: but that's only if you think that if Kyrie's workload 118 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: was different, if his responsibility was different, if his ability 119 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: to rest games, if need be was different, He's still 120 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: would have torn his ACL. I don't think that. And 121 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: the MAVs, who are the defending Western Conference champions, decided 122 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: without the player forcing them or even asking them to, decided, 123 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: I am going to blow this entire thing up and 124 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: take a risk that's unprecedented in NBA history. And within 125 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: a month of the trade, the piece you traded for 126 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: who was injured when you made the trade got hurt again. 127 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: And the guard in this league that maybe at this point, 128 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: honestly has more responsibility to his team than any other 129 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: guard in the league because of how the rosters construct 130 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: did post Luca. You use him in a potentially reckless 131 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: manner and his historically shaky knees get one of them 132 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 1: gives out on him, and now you're just cooked. And 133 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:25,439 Speaker 1: you're a team that does not have your own draft 134 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: pick for twenty seven through thirty. So that's the other 135 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: like they MAVs future draft picks. I talked about this 136 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 1: the other day, so I kind of know it already. 137 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: But here's what it is, outgoing draft picks. In twenty 138 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 1: twenty seven, it goes to Charlotte. In twenty twenty eight, 139 00:10:54,520 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: Okse can swap with them. In twenty twenty nine, it 140 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: goes to Houston or Phoenix. In twenty thirty, I think 141 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:13,079 Speaker 1: the Spurs can swap with them. But twenty seven, twenty eight, 142 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 1: twenty nine, and thirty you do not have your own pick, 143 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: and two of those years, yeah you will have someone's pick. 144 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: But okay, in twenty seven it just goes to Charlotte. 145 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: In twenty eight, Oka Se can swap with you. In 146 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 1: twenty nine, Houston can swap with you, and in thirty. 147 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: The Spurs can swap with you, so if you bottom out, 148 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: it doesn't do you any good. I I don't know. 149 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: The only reason Demonse. I think Nico Harrison survives this 150 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: is because Patrick Dumont, the owner, came out and did 151 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: his own press conference where he was like, two thumbs 152 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: up to the trade. You gotta be a grinder like 153 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: Shaquille O'Neill and Larry Bird were never drank, never party 154 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: and just all ball and and I'm yeah, of course, 155 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: and I am just sick for Kyrie man. This sucks 156 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: and it's it's a lot of money. And I know 157 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: nobody cares about the money part of this with pro athletes, 158 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: but Kyrie had cost himself a lot of money the 159 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: previous few years and left money on the table, and 160 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: then because of his own excellent play and the desperation 161 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: of the MAVs post, Luca was in a spot where 162 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: he was going to get that macal and now I 163 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 1: don't know what it means for him. This is devastating. 164 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: Oh god, so oh hold on, So that's interesting. So 165 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: that's probably what he'll do. Well, I don't know. I mean, 166 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: he has a player option, but I don't know that 167 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: I so he could pick up the player option for 168 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: forty four million, but I think it's more likely he 169 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 1: opts out and still gets a new deal. I just 170 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 1: don't think it will be a four year max like 171 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: so it's if it were a career ending injury, which 172 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: it's not, then you just opt into your player option. 173 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: I don't think that's what's gonna happen. But I'm just 174 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: devastating for Kyrie. I'm not listening, and I'm devastating for 175 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: MAVs fans. Thirty days and your entire basketball world is 176 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: just you went from having one of the brightest futures 177 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: of any team in the league too its as dark 178 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:07,959 Speaker 1: as it gets, and all of a sudden, Anthony Davis 179 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: is back on the Pelicans. 180 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 2: And they're raising the prices in the stadium for particular. 181 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: Well, that's another thing I saw that story. It's just 182 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: a tone deaf timing of the announcement. I don't understand 183 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: that piece of it at all. But just joining us, 184 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: Kyrie irving torn acl that was the fear last night. 185 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: I am amazed by the way quick sidebar. I am 186 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: constantly amazed at how accurate those sports medicine folks on 187 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: Twitter are by watching the video of something and saying 188 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: what injury the guy suffered. I think those guys that 189 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: I follow on Twitter bat like eight hundred. I think 190 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: four out five they nail just by watching one video. 191 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: And it's listen. I do know know nothing about science 192 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: or medicine, but it's always impressive to me. 193 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 2: So Shack said that Steph deserves to be in the 194 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 2: goat conversation. 195 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 3: Do you think that's a right take to have? 196 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: Sadly no, So let's talk best point guard ever. We've 197 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: done this before. I'll do it again just quickly. Here. 198 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson, I believe this in my bones, is the 199 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: greatest point guard in NBA history. And Magic Johnson. It's 200 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: not only that as a rookie one Finals MVP, now 201 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: we should of Kareem should have won it, but had 202 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: one of the single greatest finals games ever playing center 203 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: at just being utterly dominant to win a championship as 204 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: a rookie right after winning a championship in college. If 205 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: people don't know what I'm talking about, the Kareem was 206 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: out so magic jump center as a rookie against Doctor 207 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: J and the Sixers and dropped forty two, fifteen and 208 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: seven to win a championship in the finals. That almost 209 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: gets talked about too much. And what doesn't get talked 210 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: about enough, in my opinion, is this demanse. In year three, 211 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson was second team All NBA, and then after 212 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: that he played nine more seasons before the HIV diagnosis 213 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: and was first team All NBA all nine seasons. Those 214 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: nine seasons after year three, his MVP finishes were third, second, 215 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: hold on sorry, third, third, second, third, first, third, first, first, second, 216 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: So again years four to twelve for Magic nine consecutive 217 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: first team All NBA's nine consecutive top three MVP finishes, 218 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: three league MVPs, went to nine finals, won five championships. 219 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: He's the greatest point guard ever. With that said, every 220 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: time I'm putting together my all time starting five steps 221 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: the better option at point guard than Magic. So I 222 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: know that sounds weird, but whenever it's like, Okay, create 223 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 1: the greatest team you can possibly create, I'm like, all right, 224 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: So the two the only two locks, even with respect 225 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: to Kareem, the only two locks are Michael and Lebron. 226 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: Those guys are the locks. And now we're figuring out 227 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: the rest of the squad, and so I go all right, 228 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: so Lebron's there, he can bring the ball up. You know, 229 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: Michael couldn't shoot a three to save his life, so 230 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: I probably need some more shooting defensively. I'm going to 231 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: be a monster anyway, so I'll put Steph in in 232 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: place of Magic. So that's where the best point guard conversation. 233 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: You know, gets off to a rough start, or not 234 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: a rough start, but it gets complicated. This episode of 235 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: What's Right is brought to you by DAYA Pizza featuring 236 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: dairy free cheese made with their new DAYA oat Cream blend. 237 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: Dairy free cheese come a long way, and DEAA is 238 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: leading the charge. Their pizza's off for the melt and 239 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 1: stretch of traditional cheese without any dairy. 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The guys who are actually 258 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 1: in the discussion for greatest player of all time, Lebron, Michael, 259 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: and Kareem they have as far as first team All 260 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:26,200 Speaker 1: NBAS thirteen for Lebron, ten for Kareem, ten for Michael. 261 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 1: Some people throw Kobe in there. I don't think that's legit, 262 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: but that's fine. He has eleven. Steph has four, so 263 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: he doesn't have the the great season after great season 264 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: after great season all these other guys did. Here's the 265 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: other thing that he doesn't have. And again I'm not 266 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: tearing him down, but this if everyone who is actually 267 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: in the goat debate, which I think is only three people, 268 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: but other people might want to expand it to a 269 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: couple others. And even if you expand it to them, 270 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 1: if you include Magic, if you include Wilt or Russell, 271 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: like pick whomever, they all had an extended period where 272 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 1: they were unequivocally, undeniably the best player in the league. 273 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: Steph doesn't have one. Steph doesn't have one season. Now 274 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: that's again it's like, well, that's his whole career is 275 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: during Lebron's career. I get it. But that so you 276 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,640 Speaker 1: just so you can't be in the goat conversation when 277 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: and you can be like, what about the Yearie won 278 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:50,679 Speaker 1: unanimous MVP. Yeah, he was going to be considered the 279 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 1: best player in the league, and then the finals happened, 280 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: and so like, there has just not been so a spot. 281 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: I'm not tearing him down. You guys know how highly 282 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 1: I think of him as a player. 283 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 3: He is greatest shooter, arguably. 284 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: The greatest shooter ever. He might be the greatest ball 285 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:16,120 Speaker 1: handler ever. He's one of the greatest teammates ever. 286 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 3: But he is offball players. 287 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 2: I know that's not like exactly the best, the best, 288 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 2: probably probably one of the best off ball players. 289 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 3: In NBA history, I imagine. 290 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: Maybe maybe the maybe the best. Yes, no, all those 291 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: things really matter. I find to me, Uh, nobody wants 292 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 1: to have this debate. But an interesting one is him 293 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 1: versus Duncan. Like it is, it's hard to do, Like 294 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 1: putting up Steph's career versus Duncan, and Steph's career versus Kobe, 295 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: and Steph's versus Shack are all really interesting because those 296 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: are four so different players, just you know, so such 297 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: drastically different players, different styles, different career arcs like those 298 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: to me are real debates. But Steph versus Lebron, Michael 299 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 1: and Kream are not wh she is not and that's fine, 300 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: Like that's not a It was also weird timing to 301 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 1: have this discussion, Like Steph was having a down year 302 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 1: and the Warriors were twenty five and twenty five and 303 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 1: they traded for Jimmy and they're you know, on the uptick, 304 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 1: and Steph is playing some of his best basketball of 305 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: the year. But this isn't like some magical Steph Curry season. 306 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: He's not. He has no shot of being first team 307 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: All NBA this year. He is. I remember when they 308 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 1: traded for Jimmy he had as many games with fifteen 309 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,439 Speaker 1: or fewer points as he had thirty plus points. Like, 310 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: he's averaging the fewest points he's averaged in a season 311 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 1: since his first MVP is so in a decade, and 312 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: he's averaging below forty from three for just the second 313 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: time of his career. So again, I'm not he's all. 314 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,919 Speaker 1: All that's true, While it's also true is he's having 315 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: the greatest old little guy season ever. So all those 316 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 1: things can be true at the same time. But goat 317 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:49,920 Speaker 1: conversation now we're now we're getting a little cuckoo. Where 318 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 1: we have to start today is with what Lebron James said, 319 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: what was said about what he said, and how we 320 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: got here. So first a level set of what happened. 321 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: Anthony Edwards was asked about being face of the league 322 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 1: and he was like, I don't really have an interest 323 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 1: in it, I just want a ball. Lebron was then 324 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:24,639 Speaker 1: asked about that as the face of the league, and 325 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 1: Lebron said, yeah, I don't blame him. Why would you 326 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: want to be when all the people who talk about 327 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: our league and it seemed like he was about to 328 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: say former players, but and media, but instead it was 329 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:45,360 Speaker 1: just a catch all, just shit on the players. And 330 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,959 Speaker 1: then as Bomani Jones would say, hit dog gone holler. 331 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 1: And then all the guys who Lebron was talking about 332 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: doth protested too much. So the first one was stephen A, 333 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:11,400 Speaker 1: who did a five minute rant in response to Lebron 334 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 1: that and I'm not I am not exaggerating when I 335 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: say this. In the first ninety seconds of stephen A 336 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 1: responding to Lebron saying that the biggest voices in the 337 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: media just go after you repeatedly, particularly if you're the 338 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 1: face of the league. In the first ninety seconds of 339 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:40,119 Speaker 1: a response to that, stephen A blamed Lebron James for 340 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: the following the downfall of the Slam Dunk Contest, the 341 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 1: lockout in twenty eleven, and the Chris Paul Laker trade 342 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: being mixed. He put it all Lebron's feet, all of it. 343 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: He's like ruin the dunk contest because you wouldn't participate, 344 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 1: and then said the decision was what led to the 345 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 1: owners locking the players out and changing the collective bargaining agreement, 346 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: and then threw the CP three trade in h as 347 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 1: kind of a little dessert after a delicious entree and 348 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 1: didn't really, to my ear, address any of what Lebron 349 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 1: actually said. And then and I couldn't believe this. And 350 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 1: let me say this as well. I have a really 351 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: good relationship with Steven A. I actually texted with him 352 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,119 Speaker 1: this morning. But he is so I don't want people 353 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 1: to think that this is there's like media beef. But 354 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: he knows this. We both have strong opinions. We disagree. 355 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: I disagree with a lot of what he says. He's 356 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:52,960 Speaker 1: a big boy, grown man. He understands none of that's personal. 357 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: And so I'm not I'm not trying to start something. 358 00:27:57,119 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 1: This guy's a friend of mine. I just think he's 359 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 1: out of his mind on some of this stuff. And 360 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: then on his podcast and this I won't put on him. 361 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 1: And you know, appreciate those producers of that podcast because 362 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: they put us on their you know, friendly relationships. But 363 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:18,199 Speaker 1: and Demon's ay, this will blow your mind again. In 364 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 1: addressing Lebron, James saying that if you're the face of 365 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: the league, you get extra criticism, get shit on. When 366 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: Steven A brought that up on his podcast, you know 367 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 1: what video played alongside it, like the soundless what we 368 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: call b roll highlights. Hand to god, it was Bronnie's 369 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: bad minutes against the Sixers. That's true. Go look, go 370 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: watch so like again, I don't think that's stephen A's call, 371 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: but it doesn't exactly dispel the narrative that, well, yeah, 372 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: you there might be a little, a little unfairness here, 373 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: and so that was his part of it. Bill Simmons, 374 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: who is as loud and as respected and as important 375 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 1: of an NBA voice as there is, who is an unabashed, obvious, 376 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 1: diehard Celtic fan who has never really been what you'd 377 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 1: call a Lebron guy, and Lebron's never been a Simmons guy. 378 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: Simmons sent out the following tweets. Celts Cavs is a 379 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: wonderful NBA game between two excellent teams that's included some 380 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 1: terrific individual performances. This next game will be splendid too. 381 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: We're so lucky to be able to watch great players 382 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: like Luka Ancic, Lebron James and James Harden battling it 383 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: out tonight, just basically making fun. It's being like, this 384 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 1: is ridiculous. Oh, everyone's got to be so positive. And 385 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: then Bill went on a long history lesson on his 386 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: pod this week where he was like, this is how 387 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: it's always been, and then explained how we went after 388 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: guys who either hadn't won or until they won, or 389 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: very specific postseason failures in the moment, which is not 390 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: at all what Lebron's talking about. Lebron was talking about 391 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: the general conversation surrounding the league being constantly negative. And 392 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:40,520 Speaker 1: you know who totally agrees with Lebron that that's a problem, 393 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:45,479 Speaker 1: Bill Simmons. You know how I know that because on 394 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: December thirty first, Bill Simmons did an NBA pod with 395 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: the great Kirk Goldsbery that is titled The All Positive 396 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: NBA Show with Kurk Goldsbury that he says at the beginning, 397 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 1: he's doing because the conversation surrounding the league has gotten 398 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: too negative. So for some of these guys, even when 399 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:14,800 Speaker 1: Lebron says something they agree with, because it's Lebron saying it, 400 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:20,800 Speaker 1: they can't agree with it. And then Wilbond on the 401 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: Greatest Sports TV Show that's ever existed. Pardon the interruption. 402 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 1: Did you know did what he always does, which is 403 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: whether it is while he's on the broadcast, when Lebron 404 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: happens to past Magic Johnson for career assists, or when 405 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:49,719 Speaker 1: he's addressing Lebron's comments. Can't help himself but make it clear, 406 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 1: no matter how great these guys are, they're not quite 407 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: as great as the guys that happen to be playing 408 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: during my personal heyday covering league. It's crazy how that 409 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:06,480 Speaker 1: works out. And we're yet to see what the Chuckster's 410 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: going to say, but we'll find out here very soon, 411 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 1: and my guess is it'll be more of the same. 412 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: So now that I've set the table on what happened, 413 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: oh yeah, and then Lebron responded with tweets, it would 414 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: appear this first tweet as a response to stephen A, 415 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 1: where I wrote, exactly made my point. But anyways, happy 416 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 1: this convo has started. It ain't about face of the game, 417 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 1: and it ain't about one person or one show. It's 418 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: about the culture of basketball. The most beautiful game in 419 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: the world. Our game has never been better. Incredible young 420 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:45,200 Speaker 1: stars from all over the world and some older ones too, 421 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 1: laughing emojis. Steph Curry should be all we're talking about today. 422 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: This after he scored fifty six. Let's discuss how great, okay, 423 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,760 Speaker 1: seeing the cav have been this season in two complete 424 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: different styles of breakdown why and how they have been. 425 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,240 Speaker 1: Of course, if players don't perform, when I need to 426 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 1: discuss that too and break that down. Even that can 427 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,240 Speaker 1: be discussed in a way, and this is the important 428 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 1: piece of it. Even that can be discussed in a 429 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: way that's not to bring finality to that player's game, 430 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: but to leave room to see how that player responds, 431 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 1: and let's watch the journey of that player. This ain't 432 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: about me either. This is where I disagree with Lebron, 433 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 1: and I'll get to that in a second. This ain't 434 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 1: about me either. At this point, I don't really care 435 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:28,920 Speaker 1: what's said about me. It's always something. This is about 436 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:31,760 Speaker 1: the impact the negativity is having on our beautiful game 437 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 1: and our fans. I know I speak for a lot 438 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: of the players. More importantly, a hell of a lot 439 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 1: of great fans that truly love and celebrate this sport 440 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 1: around the world. Hashtag mind the game than a cloud emoji, 441 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 1: a brain emoji, and of course a crown emoji, because 442 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 1: what would a Lebron tweet be without the crown emoji? 443 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 1: All right? He then went on with my pal Scott 444 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 1: Van Pelt made a similar point after the Laker game, 445 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:59,600 Speaker 1: and now everyone's caught up. So to me, the question 446 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 1: should be, is Lebron right that the coverage of the league, 447 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 1: particularly for the super duper stars face of the league 448 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 1: caliber guys too negative? And if he's right, how did 449 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:21,800 Speaker 1: we get here? So I do think he is correct, 450 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 1: and I do think I have been a part of 451 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:29,600 Speaker 1: the problem at times. I'll explain how in a moment, 452 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:35,239 Speaker 1: and I think so where I disagree with him, where 453 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:41,520 Speaker 1: he says this isn't about him, it actually is almost 454 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: entirely about him and one other person, because so much 455 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: about how we currently cover the league has to do 456 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:58,560 Speaker 1: with how we covered Lebron James, because how he was 457 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 1: covered has impacted how every other superstar, true super duperstar 458 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: is covered. So this is a point I used to 459 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 1: make about Prime Klay Thompson. The better example right now 460 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:19,680 Speaker 1: might be like Devin Booker, where I think those guys 461 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:27,799 Speaker 1: who are in the Jalen Brown Devin Booker tier of 462 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 1: players like ten to twenty if you were ranking them, 463 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:41,040 Speaker 1: might be in the actual sweet spot because they get 464 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 1: the same max contract as the superstar as the super duperstars. 465 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:53,879 Speaker 1: But it is not a daily legacy referendum. When they 466 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:57,720 Speaker 1: play great in big spots, they're lauded. When they play 467 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:02,360 Speaker 1: poorly in big spots, it we usually look to instead 468 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:06,919 Speaker 1: the best player on their team, and why didn't he 469 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 1: do more? And that's I think what ants comments are 470 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 1: referring to. While he wants to be this player on 471 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: the team, obviously he sees man heavy is the head 472 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:22,839 Speaker 1: that wears the crown, and so that the reason I 473 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:28,400 Speaker 1: say this is about Lebron and one other person is 474 00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:32,239 Speaker 1: the Lebron of it all? Is this? How many times 475 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:39,440 Speaker 1: have you been watching sports TV and heard a version 476 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:42,799 Speaker 1: of this? Sometimes by me? That's why I'll say, hand up, 477 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:47,960 Speaker 1: I'm part of it. Well, after a guy misses a 478 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:51,879 Speaker 1: big shot, or plays poorly in a big spot, or 479 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:55,600 Speaker 1: doesn't carry his team far enough or whatever it is, 480 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 1: how many times have you heard this, Well, if we're 481 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:06,279 Speaker 1: leb Yron, we'd be killing him. Well if Lebron did that, 482 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 1: and so the way Lebron was covered set a template 483 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:20,960 Speaker 1: to where it's how then Durant and Steph and Embiide 484 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 1: and Giannis and Jokic, those MVP guys, Well, fair's fair 485 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 1: did it to Lebron? So then we get to this 486 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: question why did we cover Lebron that way? And that 487 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:43,920 Speaker 1: then gets to the other person in this story, the 488 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:49,360 Speaker 1: only name in all of NBA history bigger than Lebron's, 489 00:37:51,080 --> 00:38:01,200 Speaker 1: and that's Michael Jordan. Because so much of our basketball, 490 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:05,960 Speaker 1: and at this point it's not just basketball, it's overall 491 00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:17,160 Speaker 1: sports commentary has been twisted is probably too strong of 492 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:24,800 Speaker 1: a word, but adjusted, tweaked, manicured to serve the legend 493 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:29,120 Speaker 1: of Michael Jordan. You hell. You saw it in some 494 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 1: of the reaction to the Super Bowl and Mahomes getting 495 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:36,680 Speaker 1: a loss in the biggest game. It's like, oh boy, 496 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:41,239 Speaker 1: we all know those super Bowl losses count different than 497 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:48,799 Speaker 1: divisional round losses. That's a Michael Jordan argument. And when 498 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:53,080 Speaker 1: you look back at how we have covered this league 499 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:59,439 Speaker 1: for forty years, there's only one guy, one guy who 500 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: at EA each and every turn, has benefited from it, 501 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:08,960 Speaker 1: and it's Michael. Let's go back to how we talk 502 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 1: about the nineteen eighties as a decade. Who was the 503 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:17,080 Speaker 1: face of the League in the nineteen eighties. Oh, there 504 00:39:17,120 --> 00:39:19,040 Speaker 1: wasn't a face. It was two guys. We've turned two 505 00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:24,200 Speaker 1: guys into one person, bird Magic. So why why was 506 00:39:24,239 --> 00:39:31,040 Speaker 1: it not magic and bird or bird and magic separately. Well, 507 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:35,800 Speaker 1: in part is it because when we turn bird Magic 508 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:39,439 Speaker 1: into one person and don't give Larry Bird his kind 509 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:45,720 Speaker 1: of individual standing. Folks right now, big enough NBA fans 510 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:48,880 Speaker 1: to care about this, to be watching this pod to 511 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 1: or to be watching this clip, probably don't know that 512 00:39:53,440 --> 00:39:59,000 Speaker 1: Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, their team's played in six 513 00:39:59,080 --> 00:40:02,880 Speaker 1: playoff games against each other, and Larry Bird was six 514 00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:06,920 Speaker 1: and up, not in series in games disease, you know, 515 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:12,080 Speaker 1: bird magic in the eighties. What we have totally erased 516 00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:19,239 Speaker 1: one person's legacy from the If you ask die hard 517 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:23,840 Speaker 1: NBA fans, give me your top twenty five, twenty five 518 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:28,400 Speaker 1: players of all time, the vast majority are going to 519 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:33,080 Speaker 1: have every single guy that was the best player on 520 00:40:33,320 --> 00:40:38,319 Speaker 1: multiple championships with one glaring omission, and it'll be the 521 00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:46,160 Speaker 1: same omission Isaiah Thomas. Why because part of part he 522 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:51,040 Speaker 1: is just he has been turned into a bit player 523 00:40:51,480 --> 00:40:55,279 Speaker 1: in the story of Michael Jordan. We've partially erased a 524 00:40:55,440 --> 00:41:00,960 Speaker 1: Keeam's legend while his championships came, you know, when Michael 525 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:04,279 Speaker 1: wasn't playing. Even though one of those championships came in 526 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:08,239 Speaker 1: a year Michael Jordan got MVP votes. We've glossed over 527 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:15,759 Speaker 1: when people talk about Shaquille O'Neill. Shaquille O'Neill, does anyone 528 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:20,360 Speaker 1: have you ever heard someone make this point about his greatness? 529 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:27,520 Speaker 1: At twenty three years old, he outplayed he was the 530 00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 1: best player on the court in a playoff series with 531 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:36,000 Speaker 1: Michael Jordan and beat him. No, we just pretend it 532 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:41,239 Speaker 1: didn't happen. And then the pia stay resistance of all 533 00:41:41,239 --> 00:41:44,400 Speaker 1: that is the guy who was his wingman for the 534 00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:50,359 Speaker 1: whole thing, Scotty. We we act like he was a 535 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:59,360 Speaker 1: just a nineties run our test and that included in 536 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 1: Michael's die. So why am I explaining that in relation 537 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:08,360 Speaker 1: to this, Because it's not only that the guy that 538 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:12,040 Speaker 1: today's face of the league or the potential faces of 539 00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:18,120 Speaker 1: the league have to deal with a constant teardown of 540 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:23,800 Speaker 1: what they have or haven't accomplished. It's that the last, 541 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:28,479 Speaker 1: the previous guy, the all time face of the league, 542 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:32,520 Speaker 1: got the exact opposite treatment. And it is again if 543 00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:36,200 Speaker 1: you really look at it. We did. There's so much 544 00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:44,000 Speaker 1: of how we consume today's NBA that is colored by 545 00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:49,920 Speaker 1: how we have discussed and talked about these two players, 546 00:42:50,640 --> 00:42:54,720 Speaker 1: Michael Jordan and Lebron James. When it comes to Michael, 547 00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:59,480 Speaker 1: we elevate lesser players like Reggie Miller, who was a 548 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:03,680 Speaker 1: nice player. He was eighteen three and three for his career. 549 00:43:03,960 --> 00:43:08,399 Speaker 1: He made zero first or second All team NBAS That's 550 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:14,040 Speaker 1: who he was into a guy with almost legendary status. 551 00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:19,440 Speaker 1: Why he had that great one series against Michael. You 552 00:43:20,040 --> 00:43:27,080 Speaker 1: hear more about Craig Elo who Jordan hit the shotover 553 00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:31,160 Speaker 1: than Sidney Moncrief, who beat him in the playoffs, was 554 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:34,600 Speaker 1: one of the best defensive players ever. Why we talk 555 00:43:34,680 --> 00:43:38,920 Speaker 1: about the nineties Knicks who had one All Star on 556 00:43:38,960 --> 00:43:43,560 Speaker 1: their entire team for a decade like this legendary opponent. 557 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:48,279 Speaker 1: Why to build up the legend of the face of 558 00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:58,120 Speaker 1: the league? Juxtaposed that to how Lebron when he was 559 00:43:59,239 --> 00:44:03,400 Speaker 1: rolling through the East the way Michael was in the nineties. 560 00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:10,560 Speaker 1: We didn't build up the sixty win Hawks, or the 561 00:44:10,640 --> 00:44:18,800 Speaker 1: Paul George Pacers or the DeRozan Lowry Raptors into something 562 00:44:18,840 --> 00:44:21,960 Speaker 1: bigger than they were No, we went the opposite. That's 563 00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:25,279 Speaker 1: the Yeah, yes, you made eight straight finals, but in 564 00:44:25,320 --> 00:44:30,279 Speaker 1: that conference against those teams. What is it again, It's 565 00:44:30,280 --> 00:44:34,839 Speaker 1: it's not that it's always been this way. It's not 566 00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:39,480 Speaker 1: that it slowly became like this. It's that it did 567 00:44:39,480 --> 00:44:44,200 Speaker 1: a one to eighty. There are just certain things that, 568 00:44:44,320 --> 00:44:48,120 Speaker 1: again in service of one guy at the expense of 569 00:44:48,160 --> 00:44:55,000 Speaker 1: the other. We've just decided, like someone in some bible, 570 00:44:55,120 --> 00:45:00,440 Speaker 1: some sports bible somewhere decided coincidentally right or around the 571 00:45:00,520 --> 00:45:09,319 Speaker 1: time that this guy Lebron was lapping the field in 572 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:13,319 Speaker 1: every category. Actually, you know what, longevity is not a 573 00:45:13,360 --> 00:45:17,239 Speaker 1: factor in any of this. It's just you know what. 574 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:19,799 Speaker 1: And when it comes to how great a player is, 575 00:45:20,080 --> 00:45:23,680 Speaker 1: how long he was great, nobody cares about that since 576 00:45:23,719 --> 00:45:29,560 Speaker 1: when that was that was literally never a part of 577 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:36,640 Speaker 1: any logical sports discussion until again, so much of how 578 00:45:36,680 --> 00:45:40,480 Speaker 1: we talk about today's league has to do with these 579 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:44,520 Speaker 1: two players. And then we get to the media piece 580 00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:53,000 Speaker 1: of it, because one bill talked about this. Yes, Michael 581 00:45:53,239 --> 00:45:59,680 Speaker 1: was criticized until he won, and then once he won, 582 00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:05,200 Speaker 1: he was deified to a level an athlete in this 583 00:46:05,320 --> 00:46:11,680 Speaker 1: country has never been deified. And so the guys, this 584 00:46:12,160 --> 00:46:17,040 Speaker 1: current generation, not this generation, the old guys of this 585 00:46:17,160 --> 00:46:26,560 Speaker 1: generation Lebron Katie, those guys who watched that growing up thought, man, 586 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:32,640 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get that same treatment once I win and 587 00:46:32,719 --> 00:46:38,120 Speaker 1: I'm great and I'm the face of the league, universal 588 00:46:38,200 --> 00:46:43,640 Speaker 1: praise and adoration. And then the guys who gave that 589 00:46:43,840 --> 00:46:49,520 Speaker 1: to Michael, like Wilbond, now say we're not on your payroll? 590 00:46:50,239 --> 00:46:56,120 Speaker 1: Were you on Michaels because that's what he got people. 591 00:46:56,760 --> 00:47:05,719 Speaker 1: It's all projection. People. People say to me and Shannon that, uh, 592 00:47:06,480 --> 00:47:10,919 Speaker 1: you guys, they make up in their minds this tight 593 00:47:11,040 --> 00:47:17,200 Speaker 1: relationship with Lebron that we must have while denying the 594 00:47:17,239 --> 00:47:21,880 Speaker 1: reality of the pretend relationship that you're acting like that 595 00:47:22,360 --> 00:47:26,920 Speaker 1: we have with Lebron a moderate Shad actually had with Michael, 596 00:47:29,840 --> 00:47:36,920 Speaker 1: my main man, Michael Jordan, the sideline reporter for the finals, 597 00:47:38,040 --> 00:47:44,960 Speaker 1: was his dear friend and golf buddy. We we then 598 00:47:45,320 --> 00:47:53,720 Speaker 1: act like people are being honest arbiters of this skip. 599 00:47:54,440 --> 00:47:59,560 Speaker 1: God love him. Built a huge portion of his career 600 00:48:01,280 --> 00:48:05,399 Speaker 1: on a singular take, which was this guy will never 601 00:48:05,440 --> 00:48:10,520 Speaker 1: be Michael Jordan, and nothing that he can do can 602 00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:14,479 Speaker 1: ever change my mind on it. He could never move 603 00:48:14,600 --> 00:48:21,319 Speaker 1: off that it was the only through line other than 604 00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:28,000 Speaker 1: his Cowboys fandom for his TV career. And in Woje, 605 00:48:29,080 --> 00:48:32,120 Speaker 1: who at a point in time was not only a 606 00:48:32,120 --> 00:48:39,360 Speaker 1: great reporter the best columnist in the in basketball media, 607 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:46,120 Speaker 1: got iced out by Lebron's camp and just eviscerated him 608 00:48:46,520 --> 00:48:56,359 Speaker 1: for years and years and years. Simmons, who crushed Lebron's 609 00:48:56,680 --> 00:49:03,839 Speaker 1: family during back when he was doing running diaries about 610 00:49:03,880 --> 00:49:06,680 Speaker 1: the draft, and then Lebron never had a real relationship 611 00:49:06,680 --> 00:49:12,560 Speaker 1: with him, and then Lebron annihilated Simmons. Celtics has always 612 00:49:12,680 --> 00:49:23,319 Speaker 1: been a begrudging appreciator of what he has or hasn't done. 613 00:49:23,600 --> 00:49:28,319 Speaker 1: And then there's like, there's other guys who's so much 614 00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:35,440 Speaker 1: of their career is tied into Michael, whether it's Wilbon 615 00:49:35,719 --> 00:49:38,720 Speaker 1: or why does Barkley get a pass for not winning 616 00:49:38,760 --> 00:49:44,360 Speaker 1: while he ran into Michael Jordan. All of this so 617 00:49:44,440 --> 00:49:53,400 Speaker 1: you have a whole media machine, and then folks have 618 00:49:53,480 --> 00:49:59,080 Speaker 1: the audacity, the absolute audacity to act like it's shocking 619 00:50:00,160 --> 00:50:07,359 Speaker 1: that that it's shocking that Lebron might occasionally push back 620 00:50:08,120 --> 00:50:11,560 Speaker 1: or might say, you guys changed the rules mid game 621 00:50:14,160 --> 00:50:19,359 Speaker 1: and this isn't how you've treated guys previously, and so 622 00:50:20,719 --> 00:50:28,960 Speaker 1: that's what they're talking about, and I think it's reasonable. 623 00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:32,839 Speaker 1: I don't know if there's a fix for it. I thing, 624 00:50:33,040 --> 00:50:37,440 Speaker 1: maybe the fix for it is for when Lebron retires, 625 00:50:37,520 --> 00:50:42,960 Speaker 1: this whole thing resets, but honestly, maybe not