1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: This is kJ Live with Chris john Sailin and chrits 2 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: Is having conversations with influencers in the sports world and 3 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: entertainment in this strain. Now here's Chris Johnson. You're now 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: tuned into kJ Live. Today's guests on the show. The 5 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: senior media insider for ESPN, Adrian worsnarlsko words. What's good 6 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: about man? Chris? Uh, I'm doing great? How are you doing? Man? 7 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: The weather is nice. It's supposed to be about eighty 8 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: something degrees out here today and the sun is behind me. 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:40,599 Speaker 1: So I'm feeling great. Man. It's a beautiful day. I'm 10 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: talking to you, man, Come on, this is awesome. Absolutely 11 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: absolutely yes? Sorry, So which man? I want to jump 12 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: right into it. Um, Yesterday you reported for ESPN that 13 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: Ben Simmons so the Philadelphia seventy sixers will not report 14 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: the training camp and he has no intentions of reporting 15 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: the training camp this season or playing for the Sixers ever. Again, 16 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: I guess the first thing that came to my mind 17 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: was what are the pros to this type of move 18 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: for Ben Simmons? I mean, Chris that we've never really 19 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: seen anything like this. This doesn't happen in the NBA. 20 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: Now we know we've seen certainly playing guys push their 21 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: way out of a place, and sometimes you can come 22 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: in and be less than committed to what's going on 23 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: and and make life difficult for your team and eventually 24 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: get your trade. Uh that's not what is happening here. 25 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: It's just I'm not coming and also doing it with 26 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: four years left on your deal almost a hundred and 27 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: fifty million O to him thirty three million this year. Uh, 28 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: it's it's a risky strategy because you're going to likely 29 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: cost yourself money. We'll see how much money. But you know, 30 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: Ben Simmons has been adamant that that the next time 31 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: he wears an NBA uniform, it's gonna be somebody other 32 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: than the Sixers. And it's a little bit of a 33 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: game of chicken, because we know the Sixers are gonna 34 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: be diminished without them, Like they're not nearly the same 35 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: team without Ben Simmons. And forget about what happened in 36 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: the Atlanta series, right, like we we know what how 37 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 1: many wins and what he's worth, certainly through the regular season, 38 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: and they were a one seed last year, and seeding 39 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 1: is going to be important, of course in the East, 40 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: which is really good this year, and so you know, 41 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 1: can he wait them out and get them to Maybe 42 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: the Sixers get off to a bad start and pressure 43 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: increases to to get something for him, or you're waiting 44 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 1: out the teams who would want to trade for you 45 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: to get them. Maybe they get off to a bad 46 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: start and there's pressure increasing on teams that were already interested, 47 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: or maybe new teams to say, we better go out 48 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: and do something big. We gotta shake it up, We've 49 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 1: got to improve. And then the off frs get better 50 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: for Simmons and maybe that gets a deal done. Or 51 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: you just sit there away from the team, not getting 52 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: paid and the team takes you through February to the 53 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: trade deadline. So certainly this is unlike anything we've seen. 54 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna be fascinating how it plays out. 55 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, the league does not like this. It's certainly 56 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: it's not good for the league. I mean, we're being 57 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: honest about it. Um, they don't want to see a 58 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: precedent set with players under contract just not reporting, and 59 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: I don't know that this would do that. I think 60 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: this is a unique situation. I don't think I don't 61 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: think this is gonna be something where players are looking 62 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: and going, okay, is that a strategy for me? I 63 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: don't think that's going on. I do think it's kind 64 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: of independent and unique, but it's definitely something we haven't seen. 65 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: I guess I'm a little taken it back, just on 66 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: how bad things actually got in Philadelphia to push Ben 67 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: Simmons to this point. I mean, he's willing to fork over, 68 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: give up two hundred and something thousand dollars per preseason 69 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: game and all the extra sanctions on top of the 70 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: league sanctions that Philly has in their organization. Woach, if 71 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: you're Daryl Morey, you're not. I don't feel like he's 72 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: in a good position to me, other than obviously it's 73 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: a bad look for the franchise. Your your your top guy. 74 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: But you don't have to harry up and move this guy. 75 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 1: You can say you know you're gonna find him, You're 76 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: gonna be able to keep them and hold him. Do 77 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: you think Simmons will become a locker room or chemistry 78 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: issue even but he won't be around the team. So 79 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: I'm just trying to figure out how is Darryl morri 80 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: or the Sixers in a bad spot here? Other than 81 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: losing somebody that doesn't want to be with their Yeah, 82 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: and I think for Dariel Morey, the hope for the 83 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: Sixers was that Ben Simmons would come back and play, 84 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: play well and his draft excuse me, his trade stock 85 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: would would improve. They didn't like the offers they had 86 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: for him this summer. Uh maybe they're asking for too much. 87 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: But it's really hard. And this is the other thing 88 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: that's a little bit unique to the situation, Chris. You 89 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: typically don't see players of this caliber being traded from 90 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 1: contending teams one seeds or two seeds. They're not trading 91 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,359 Speaker 1: their star players. They resign them, they build around them. 92 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: And when you see a player like let's go back 93 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: through some you know, recent big NBA trades, whether it 94 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: was a James Harden and Anthony Davis, uh um, whomever, 95 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: it's teams headed toward a rebuild. They want young assets, 96 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: they want picks. Philly needs to get back a star 97 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: level player to plug right in with Ben or two 98 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: really good players, and they want draft picks. And so 99 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: it's harder because the teams who are training for Ben Simmons, 100 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: you know, they're trying to add them to the core 101 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 1: they have. They're not trying to trade their best player 102 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,559 Speaker 1: for Ben Simmons. They're trying to trade maybe their second 103 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: or third best player. And in most cases, Philly is 104 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: looking at that going, well, that's a downgrade from Ben Simmons. 105 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: We don't want to downgrade because we're trying to win 106 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: around Joel right now, who's in his prime. That complicates this, 107 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: and so you have a very shortlist of players, um, 108 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 1: who really makes sense that you feel like, maybe we 109 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: don't win the trade, but at least we're breaking even. 110 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: We have something comparable. And Ben's unique talent. I mean, 111 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: I know we talked about his but he doesn't do 112 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: well a lot, but we nobody does do well and 113 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: it does impact winning. Yeah, and we haven't seen too 114 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: many six ten guys that that see the floor, have 115 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: the i Q at the level that he does and 116 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: can play the game the floor game. Then defensively, he's 117 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 1: a monster. Um. Interesting stuff going on in Philly, but 118 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: staying in the Eastern Conference, one of my favorite teams 119 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: last year to watch was the Atlanta Hawks. I mean, 120 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: I love the job that they did in the second 121 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: half of the season, especially after you know Nate McMillan 122 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 1: took over. I think they had the second and third 123 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: best record in the NBA. Do you think that that 124 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: success they achieved last year, you think it's sustainable, it's 125 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: gonna transfer over to this year? Or was last year 126 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: sort of a fluke and sort of where they peaked? Now? 127 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: I do, Chris, I think, and I think we'll see 128 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: a much better regular season team. Listen, they were you 129 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: said it, they were definitely a better team, and name McMillan, 130 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: but they were also a more healthy team later in 131 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: the year. And you've got, Um, you just you saw, 132 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: certainly Trey Young took it to another level. You saw 133 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: the impact he had in the playoffs. We know what 134 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: that does for a player's confidence to go do what 135 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: he did in the postseason. Um, that's gonna make you. 136 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: You just come back a better player that that just 137 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: gives you great belief, It gives the group around him 138 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: great belief. And then you just see what I think 139 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: Travis Shlank has done there is I mean, he's drafted 140 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: really well. They've got really good role players. You know, 141 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: Clint Capella, who signed an extension this summer, just such 142 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: a good anchor for them defensively in the middle. You 143 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: know John Collins with a new deal, uh Bogdanovitch, you 144 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: hope for your Atlanta that that he's healthy this year. 145 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: Certainly he missed a lot of time Gallant Donald Daniel 146 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: Gallinari missed a lot of time last year with the 147 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: ankle injury. Reddish too, and Reddish too, and he's not 148 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: really been able to get traction yet on his career. 149 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: But a very talented player, and so you know, you 150 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: you go down. Kevin Herder is going to be a 151 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: really good player. He's up for his rookie extension. He 152 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: saw he played well in the postseason for them. I 153 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: guess one of my questions though with that, because you 154 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: got a connunche him. Now, if you're the Hawks, you 155 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: paid Capella, you paid Trade, you paid John Collins. But 156 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: now if you want to keep a Herder and and 157 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: Reddish and and you know, extend that everybody, you can't 158 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: pay everybody. So what are they gonna do? Like how 159 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: can they can? So I guess that's my question or 160 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: something that I would be watching for is what they're 161 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: gonna do. That's gonna be interesting because they're a very 162 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: good team, and like you had mentioned, with the injuries, 163 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: I mean they made it all the way to the 164 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: Eastern with the finals, Eastern Conference Finals with guys that 165 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: were banged up, hurt, and Bogey. To me, is is 166 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: a major X factor type. But I am. I love 167 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: the Hawks. John Collins versatility. He really showed up and 168 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: took a leap last year. UM. Another team who I 169 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you about. I got two of my guys, 170 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 1: two of my bruins in the back court, the Chicago Bulls. 171 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: UM they signed Zach Levine in the offseason. De Mar 172 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: de Rosen Vossovich is there? Talk about your thoughts on 173 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: the Bulls, Billy Donovan in that Eastern Conference this season. Yeah, listen, 174 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: certainly some more offensive weapons, you know, bringing in Alonzo Ball, 175 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: bringing into Mar de Rosen, you know, Vussovich and Zach Lavine. 176 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: We're kind of trying to figure it out in that 177 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,719 Speaker 1: short window. You know, Zach went out with the with 178 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: COVID and lost the stretch of games. I kind of 179 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 1: took Chicago out of the playing race, and so, uh, 180 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:53,079 Speaker 1: it's certainly a different group and and a more talented group. 181 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: How they fit together will be interesting. I think it 182 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: is a challenge for Billy Donovan. UM. To figure out 183 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: the pieces they are, how they played together. Maybe it 184 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: doesn't happen from day one, but that's a team that 185 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: you would imagine gets better as we go next season. 186 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: And uh, you know certainly was put together to be 187 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: in the playoffs and to be back in the post season. 188 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: And um, listen, I think I'll be really interested to 189 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: see how Alonzo Ball leads that team. You know, he 190 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: he really wanted to be with the Bulls. Uh. He 191 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: had hoped that they would get a deal done at 192 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: the trade deadline. They didn't quite get that done obviously. 193 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: Now Lori marken In, who was a high pick for um, 194 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: you know, came into Jimmy Butler trade on Draft night. 195 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,439 Speaker 1: Obviously he's in Cleveland now. But I think Chicago is 196 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: one of the teams. They're just like when you look 197 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: at that list of most interesting teams, how this thing 198 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: could go. I think they might be the team, but 199 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: maybe the most variants you could see where they could 200 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: hit it with that group and have a lot of success. 201 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: You could also look and go do all the with 202 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: all those pieces fit together, how's that group played together? 203 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: Because there's a lot out to you know, you've got 204 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: some young guys you've got guys later in their career. Uh, 205 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: you know, early in the season last year that was 206 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: the thing that played really fast with Zach and then 207 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 1: Bosvig comes in and the pace slows down a little bit, 208 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: and then you're you're trying to figure out how do 209 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: you balance that with two really key offensive players who 210 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: played differently. So, but I think Billy Dunovan certainly an 211 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: outstanding coach. They got really good leadership there um our 212 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: tourist Karnisavists and Mark Eversley, really good front office and 213 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: and so I do think it's gonna be a fun 214 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 1: team certainly to watch. Yeah, I'm also looking forward to 215 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: the development of Pat Williams. He was a really intriguing 216 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: root and that's the wild card there. You you said it, 217 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 1: Chris and you know, young player last year. You talk 218 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: to people and they seem in practice and he was 219 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: one of those young players who every day would do 220 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: one thing where you'd go, holy cow, this guy could 221 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,959 Speaker 1: be And then you saw him in Summer League take 222 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: a step and more aggressive. And that's what I think 223 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 1: they want to see him as. Come out person like, 224 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:04,199 Speaker 1: see his personality, come out, see him, you know, take 225 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: the initiative to do more, and so how do you 226 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: balance that with Patrick Williams with a DeMar de Rosen 227 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: who's used to listen having shots and scoring the ball, 228 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: and Zach Lavine who's going to score the ball. Um. 229 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: But I think Patrick Williams, you know, a high lottery 230 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,559 Speaker 1: pick for them, Like how that plays out? I think 231 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: will be um really uh important short term and long 232 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: term because I think there's a lot of hope that 233 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: Patrick Williams is really gonna that that he could be 234 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: a cornerstone guy for them. Yeah. I think so, he's 235 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: got all He's got all the goods. Man. When you 236 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: look at the job that Atlanta has done and putting 237 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: pieces around Trey Young, and then you kind of juxtaposed 238 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: that next to the job that Dallas has done putting 239 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: pieces around Luca Donges. Why do you think the Mavericks 240 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: haven't surrounded Luca with the necessary parts to really push 241 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: put him to that Western Conference type finals type level. Well, 242 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: you look at Atlanta, and so much of it for 243 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: them has been hitting on the draft. Travish Lank came 244 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: with a good reputation. They hired him. You know, it's 245 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: funny they hired I think Travish linkin Atlanta with a 246 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: thought of believing in him as a player, as an 247 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: evaluator of talent. This is a guy who really grinds 248 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: it on the road. And you know is that uh 249 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: like just has built a really good reputation in Golden 250 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: State for that in other places, comes in and really 251 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: hits it in the draft, gets multiple picks and trades. 252 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: You know, remember the Dan cheich Um Trey Young Draft 253 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: Knight trade brought them another first round pick. And so 254 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: but you hit it in the late teens with John Collins, 255 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: you hit it a little bit later with Kevin Herder 256 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: and Dallas. You haven't had that draft success and they 257 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:53,719 Speaker 1: haven't had necessarily the high picks either. But so much 258 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: of Dallas they put in the Christaps Porzingis trade that 259 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: Porzingis was the co star. He would be the complimentary guy, 260 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: you know, an all star level player, very unique skill 261 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: set that he'd come in and and and be that. 262 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 1: For Luca don Chech he hasn't been healthy, Chris, and 263 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: I think I think he's very talented. You saw earlier, 264 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: certainly earlier in his Knicks career, where like this is 265 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: a really skilled player. But but but injuries, you know, 266 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: kind of those lower leg injuries have been a concern. 267 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: You worry about that in a player with his frame 268 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: at seven three. It's it's so I've heard good things 269 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: about how he's looked this summer and can he stay healthy? 270 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: So I think that's a big part of it. And 271 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: then you know Tim Hardaway, who you know, ended up 272 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: being much more than I thought. Listen, when they traded 273 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: for Hardaway, you know, New York was getting money off 274 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: and the MAVs really wanted Porzingis in that deal. And 275 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: it turns out Hardaway now they resigned him again, and 276 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: he's been such an important part for them. But I 277 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: think that, um, you know, I think the hope for 278 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: Dallas is is that. And everyone's always talking about free 279 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: agency and they're not gonna have you know what, we'll 280 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: see that the cap flexibility. They certainly have some Lucas 281 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: deal kicks in next year his new super Max and 282 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: Porzingis is on a Max deal, are Hardaway is on 283 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: a big deal and and so, um, you gotta hit 284 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: on picks, and um, you know, you gotta find some 285 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: guys around the edges. Um you know, you know, you 286 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: look at like a Utah when they bring in a 287 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: Royce O'Neil like Joey, players like that who are a 288 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: little bit on the fringe, who come in and become 289 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: starting level players six men and and I think the 290 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: really good organizations you get them on the cheap um. 291 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: And that's where your evaluation, your your your player development, 292 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: all those things come into play when you're trying to 293 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: build a contender, because you you gotta hit on some 294 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: of those guys too. Yeah, you do. Talking about free 295 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: agency and the way the free agency will look in 296 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: the future in the NBA, do you think that, you know, 297 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: these big name guys as that they have been in 298 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: the past, will be available for teams to sign. Will 299 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: the free agent crop be as fruitful, as as plentiful 300 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: as it has been, just because of the nature of 301 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: the way that the league is kind of shifting. No, 302 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: And you know, Bobby Mars had a good piece are 303 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: Insider Front office inside our ESPN about that. He and I. 304 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: He and I have talked a lot about that this summer. 305 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: That you look at the landscape and earlier on in 306 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: this collective bargaining agreement, you saw players doing shorter deals, 307 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: keeping their freedom for free agency. I'm gonna do a 308 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: short deal. I'm gonna keep pressure on the organization, and 309 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep my options open every year. And now 310 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: you're seeing players and initially that super Max didn't seem 311 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: to have the appeal to the great players in the 312 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: league that the owners and front office has hoped it would. Right, 313 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: they wanted to incentivize players to stay where they were, 314 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: so if you were with a small market team, they 315 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: could pay you so much or um with a super Max. 316 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: If you got if you hit the qualifications made all 317 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,439 Speaker 1: n B A or or m v P and and 318 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: and got that, you know, you turn that one seventy 319 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: million dollar deal into two oh five or whatever it 320 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: would be. You're seeing that play out now more, and 321 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 1: there's a little bit of an attitude. I think there's 322 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 1: a lot of an attitude of I will sign the 323 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: super Max now, I will fix the destination later. So 324 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 1: if I don't like how it's going, I'll ask for 325 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: a trade. But what makes less senses go into free 326 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: agency and instead of taking the five year, two hundred 327 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: million dollar deal that I can take with my team now, 328 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: I don't know why am I gonna go do the 329 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: four year Let's say the one forty deal. That's just 330 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: worthless because it's you don't make as much leaving as 331 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: you would stay. I'll just force a trade to where 332 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: I want to go. The harder part for that, though, 333 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: is when you have and you're seeing it with Ben 334 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: Simmons four years left on your deal. You know, Damian 335 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: Lillard has three years left on your deal. You you 336 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: don't have the leverage to go where you want to 337 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: go when you have a bunch of years, because anybody 338 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: will trade for you. Um, when you have three years 339 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: or four years left, because they know you have to 340 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 1: play for them. Now you have one year left on 341 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: your deal, or maybe two years, you're gonna be you know, 342 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 1: maybe a small market team who would like to make 343 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: a run at a big name guy says, okay, that 344 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: guy is gonna leave me in a year, and he's 345 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: telling me and his agents telling me, if you trade 346 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 1: for me, I'm gone. You're gonna get nothing in return. 347 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: I'm gonna walk, and all the assets you gas to 348 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: trade for me, I'm gone. But when you got three 349 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 1: or four years left on your deal, you can get traded. 350 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: You may not like where you end up. You end 351 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: up at another small market or a place that isn't 352 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: better than what you have, And so I think that's um, 353 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: that's also part of this dynamic. Absolutely Uh going to 354 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,439 Speaker 1: New York for a second. I just wanted you just 355 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 1: to touch on the Knicks. They re signed what de Rose, 356 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: the resigned Nerland Noel. Um, they don't have a lot 357 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: of space. They resigned Julius Rando to to a very 358 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: favorable deal. Um, it wasn't the max Um Mitchell Robinson 359 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: coming back, he's put on fifty or sixty pounds in 360 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: the off season, or the Knicks a legitimate threat to 361 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,919 Speaker 1: be a top four or to five seed in the 362 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: Eastern Conference. I think there are a threat to be 363 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: that Chris. Because the Tim Thibodeau gets a lot of 364 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: gets a lot out of his group in the regular season, 365 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: I think the question for them is gonna be and 366 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: we saw it in the postseason last year. You know 367 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: he can grind a group through the regular season. And 368 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: I thought what he did last year was just really 369 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 1: important for the organization that it just established a baseline 370 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: again of competency and professionalism. And if you were a 371 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: Nick fan and and you watch your team play every night, 372 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: like you saw something that you hadn't seen in a 373 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: long time. Right, They come to play every night, they 374 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: and beat anybody. You know that Nick, I mean Nick 375 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: fans for years like you might as well just go 376 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: to bed early when they're out on the West coast 377 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: because they're gonna get drilled out west. And that wasn't 378 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 1: the case. They're in games, are beating people. That was 379 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: really important for the organization and that's what Tom Thibodeau 380 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: brought back. And then you saw in the playoffs they 381 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 1: struggled to score. They struggled when you saw him against Atlanta. 382 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: Uh when Atlanta loaded up on Julius Randall and they 383 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: needed other people to make shots. They struggled having enough 384 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: maybe playmakers, you know Alec Burk's comes back. Who's who 385 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: was good for them last year. You know that will 386 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: be the next step. But I think they did keep 387 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: you know a lot of these deals this summer were 388 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 1: really two year guaranteed deals. They weren't like it was 389 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: three years with a player off team option. So they 390 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 1: have their flexibility. I think for New York, you know, 391 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 1: having cap space next summer doesn't really do anything. There's 392 00:20:57,359 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: no big free agents. What you want to have if 393 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: you're New York. You want to have picks, and you 394 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: want to have some young players who developed value. Emmanuel 395 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: Cook quickly with outstanding you know, Obie Topping struggled in 396 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 1: his rookie years. Certainly they're playing a lot of veterans. 397 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: And then he saw in this summer and he said, okay, 398 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 1: Obi toppin looks like he might be ready to make. 399 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: You know, that stepping a guy's second year. And so 400 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,360 Speaker 1: you want to develop those younger players, either for you 401 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: to be part of your rotation and go forward, or 402 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 1: if you're the Knicks right now, what you're waiting for 403 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: is that next unhappy star who wants out and then 404 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: you have enough assets to go get him in a trade. 405 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: And so I think the Knicks are trying to balance 406 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,480 Speaker 1: and live in both those worlds right now. Absolutely, it's 407 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 1: gonna be interesting in the Atlantic, UM going across the way, 408 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: talk about the Nets. You know, came up short last year. 409 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 1: UM battled through some entry stuff with their big three, 410 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 1: made some I considered pretty big signing when in Patty 411 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: else during this off season. I love Patty Mills. I 412 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: love when he brings to the table on a lot 413 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: of levels. What are your thoughts though, as far as 414 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: the nets um actually winning this year or being the 415 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: favorites to win the championship, are they they are? To me, Chris, 416 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,400 Speaker 1: if that team is on the floor, if they're all 417 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: playing and they're all healthy, I think they're the best team. 418 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: And I think there's a gap between them and everybody else, 419 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 1: even the Lakers Milwaukee, who you know, we saw no 420 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: Kyrie James Harden basically on one leg in that series, 421 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: gutting it out, and then k D playing, you know, 422 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: at an all world level, playing like the best player 423 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: in the league. Milwaukee was certainly fortunate to get out 424 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: right and beat them, and they did and went on 425 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: to win the title. But I think the next team 426 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 1: with their big three. I love the addition of Patty Mills. 427 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: I thought that was one of the really good under 428 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: the radar signings this offseason. I think he's perfect for them. 429 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: You know, Joe Harris, I think we'll have a lot 430 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: to come back and want to prove in the playoffs, 431 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 1: he was really really consistent and good for them, and 432 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 1: and and didn't play well in that Milwaukee series, Uh, 433 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: you know that stayed with him. Who want to come back? 434 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: And and he's been a really good player for them. 435 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: And and you've just seen, like you know, Blake Griffin 436 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 1: found a role there. Let's see what LaMarcus Aldridge has 437 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: left coming back. Um, but I think the Nets are 438 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: the best team. I thought we as we saw last 439 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: year for many different reasons. It was rare to have 440 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: all three of them on the court, and um, but 441 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 1: when they're all playing together, who, like you saw right 442 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: from the beginning, Harden took on that playmaking role, played 443 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: in a way that was perfect for that next team, 444 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: we are gonna feature Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant is the 445 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,239 Speaker 1: best player in the world, and I'm gonna get him 446 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: the ball everywhere on the floor to make him great. 447 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: And and uh and and then certainly Kyrie is as 448 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: skilled of the player as there is in the league. 449 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 1: So I think And I thought Steve Nash was really good. 450 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: I thought Steve with a lot of different lineups, almost 451 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: a different group every night, you know, there was a 452 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 1: baseline of kind of how they played, and they were competitive. 453 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: I thought Steve did a really good job in his 454 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 1: in his rookie year. And he's got a good staff, 455 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: and uh, they're gonna be tough if they're all on 456 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,360 Speaker 1: the floor. I think that that's the most underrated thing 457 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,959 Speaker 1: about the Nets organization, is that from top to bottom, Uh, 458 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:32,679 Speaker 1: that entire organization or like basketball dudes like my my 459 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: buddy Ryan for and Kelly he's actually assistant coach out there, 460 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: and you talk about Jacques von Royal, Ivy, Thiago Splitter. 461 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: They are have an organization filled with just basketball guys. 462 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 1: And I think they had a lot to do with 463 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 1: the big threes. Ability to kind of buy into to 464 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: to Steve Nash and buy into this unselfishness that to 465 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 1: me has been the most important And the thing that 466 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: stood out the most with the Nets is their unselfishness 467 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: and and they love playing with each other. They love 468 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,119 Speaker 1: sharing the sugar, and that was the thing I was 469 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: wondering where they going to ever be able to kind of, 470 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: you know, get together. And they got it together quick. 471 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: But again, the injuries are gonna be you know the deal. 472 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 1: Um moving over to the West Western Conference, Man, I 473 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: want to talk about the Lakers. They made some big signings, 474 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: made a big trade. Um got Russell Westbrook in the building. 475 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: How do you think that Russell and Lebron to ball 476 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:28,120 Speaker 1: dominant players are going to fit in with each other. Yeah, 477 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 1: it's gonna be interesting, and it's it's not really a 478 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: dynamic we've ever seen. I don't know what we compare 479 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: this group with in terms of like the skill sets 480 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 1: and say, Okay, we saw it work with these guys 481 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 1: that didn't worry. It's just a unique pairing. What I 482 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: do know is that you're gonna have to fit in 483 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 1: with Lebron. You're gonna have to figure out how to 484 00:25:52,920 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: play with him, because it's Lebron James and and the 485 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 1: part of the greatness of Lebron is his ability to 486 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 1: elevate the people around him to to maximize as unselfish 487 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: as he is and and and what an incredible passery 488 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:16,879 Speaker 1: is and how and I Q unlike any um you 489 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: know at the very very top, he sees the game 490 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 1: in ways that that almost nobody else does. And even 491 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: as that as Lebron loses some athleticism in his mental 492 00:26:25,359 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: late thirties, he compensates with it because he's not He 493 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: wasn't the best player in the league because he was 494 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:36,880 Speaker 1: the most athletic or the most explosive. Um. He he 495 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 1: was the best player in the league and and still 496 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: certainly is right there with k d because of of 497 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,880 Speaker 1: how he sees it, thinks it and and and how 498 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 1: skilled he is. And so he's a player who can age. Um, 499 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: who's gonna age really well and still be all NBA 500 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,959 Speaker 1: because of that. But same with Russ and Russ is 501 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:00,919 Speaker 1: you know, Russ isn't the as explode us as he 502 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 1: was in his twenties and thirties. But I think what's 503 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 1: underestimated about Russell Westbrook is he is a great teammate 504 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: and he has got your back. He is a player 505 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,880 Speaker 1: who cares deeply about winning. Now, do you love every 506 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: shot he takes? No, you don't. And Russ will also 507 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 1: admit it to and he'll do it privately with his 508 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: guys when when he's like but I think I think 509 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 1: it will work because Russell will be intent on it working. 510 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: Now again, part of surrounding Lebron traditionally as you surround 511 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 1: him with shooters, right, because he draws so much attention defensively, 512 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,680 Speaker 1: that's not where Russ is, right, Russ is not a 513 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: catch and shoot uh guard. He's still attacked the rim 514 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:51,159 Speaker 1: and and so it'll be a challenge. Um, But I 515 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: do think that you know, and he saw Russ really 516 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 1: come on last year. He was injured early in Washington. 517 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: He played through a lot of pain and just went 518 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: on played and you saw him as he got healthier, 519 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 1: and then you saw that Wizard's team come from really 520 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 1: far back to get into the postseason, which was remarkable. 521 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: And and how he acquiesced to Brad Beal and made Brad, 522 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: you know, continue to make Brad the featured guy there. 523 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: I think Russe will do that in l A too. 524 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: It's funny when you listen to the barbershop talk around 525 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: here locally in l A. It's a lot of arguments 526 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,399 Speaker 1: going on, man, because no one can just no one 527 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 1: seems to be able to envinge in the world where Lebron, 528 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:31,640 Speaker 1: like Russ has the balls the late game situation, Russ 529 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 1: has it on the ice, so his brock balls in 530 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: his hands, Lebron spotting up because if you got it 531 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: the other way around, and you got Lebron with the ball, 532 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: do you want Russell Westbrook's spotting up? Now? Granted, they 533 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: got some good pieces they signed Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk. 534 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 1: I love those two. Those are two electric electric scores 535 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: that are gonna come in and give you buckets. But again, 536 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: the whole thing is gonna come down to the spacing 537 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 1: and how comfortable guys are with each other in those 538 00:28:57,480 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: late games situations. We didn't even talk about Carmelo and 539 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: what his role is gonna be this year, But I 540 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: want to get your thoughts on Mellow and just what 541 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: do you think his role with the Lakers. I mean, 542 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 1: we obviously we envisioned a you know, the six man 543 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: type of situation the rebirth in Portland, So I wanted 544 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: to get your take on Mellow this year with the Lakers. Yeah, 545 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: catch and shoot and and that's gonna be his job. 546 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:19,800 Speaker 1: He'll have a lot of open shots with that group. 547 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: You know, he showed in Portland he can still make 548 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: him and you saw in Portland. You know, I think 549 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 1: it was important for Mellow to finally accept the fact 550 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: that he was a role player and that he was 551 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: not going to be a featured player anymore. He did 552 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 1: that in Portland, and I think he came in there humbled, 553 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 1: grateful for that opportunity, and he really helped that team. 554 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: He helped them on the court. Certainly he helped him 555 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: off the court. Remember talking to Neil as their president 556 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: about you know, all the leadership that Dame had has 557 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: to do day in and day out, and certainly c 558 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: J that you know, they were Mellow took some pressure 559 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 1: off of them some days because they were still leaders, 560 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: they still their team. But Mellow commands such respect of 561 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 1: his peers, of young players. I mean, so many young 562 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: players who come into the league end up in the 563 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 1: locker room. They all they grew up idolizing Mellow and 564 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 1: that he was able to help in that regard in 565 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: Portland and and it was just was terrific in that way. 566 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 1: And I think he can do that in l A. 567 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: But he's gonna need to catch and shoe, he's gonna 568 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: need to make shots, and he's shown he can still 569 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 1: do that. Will be interesting to see how many minutes 570 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: a night that is for him. But this is his 571 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: chance to win a championship, and he has been, um, 572 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: you know, it's been in an elusive and elusive pursuit 573 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 1: for him, and he has said it, this is it, 574 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: this is my chance. And you know, he and Lebron 575 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: have been talking about playing each other since I think 576 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,680 Speaker 1: the ABC D camp and finding a way to play 577 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: with each other. And I think, you know, I remember 578 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 1: I've talked to Mellow. I think he was on the 579 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 1: podcast last year. I think we talked a little bit about, 580 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: you know, he didn't line himself up to go to 581 00:30:57,280 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: to be a free agent with the Big Three and 582 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 1: go to Miami. He could have maybe done that, and so, uh, 583 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 1: this is his chance now, and so it'll be a 584 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: lot of fun to see him there, see him back, uh, 585 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 1: you know, in in a in a glamor market in 586 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: the NBA. And listen, he's still a player who he 587 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:20,840 Speaker 1: just has such a following. He's still suck, such a 588 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: popular player, and it's it's gonna be a lot of 589 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 1: fun to see him and Lebron together. He can still 590 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 1: get it going. And you know out here in l A, 591 00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 1: everybody's expecting the championship. So it's gonna be exciting. Um. 592 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: A couple more questions on the Western Conference. Two more teams. 593 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk about the Warriors. I had Warriors 594 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: jam Bob Myers on my podcast back in March when 595 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: the Warriors were sort of finishing up their season. They 596 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 1: were actually in a good spot. Steve Kerr had sort 597 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: of right at the ship that got some wins. They're 598 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 1: figuring things out with lesser talent. Bob is feeling great 599 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 1: about the Warriors. They go into the summer, they draft 600 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 1: too high lottery picks, um and Kaminga being one of 601 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: them that really turned it out the summer during the 602 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: summer league. I guess my, the biggest thing, and it 603 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:10,480 Speaker 1: is everybody's question, is is how is Clay gonna look 604 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 1: when he comes back after nearly two years off major injuries? Right? 605 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 1: I think that's the number one thing? And then what 606 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:19,880 Speaker 1: about these other guys that they signed during the off season? 607 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 1: Is Otto Porter going to be a contributor? What about 608 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 1: you know, Jordan Poole gonna be able to make another 609 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 1: short of a leap? I mean, you know, Looney's there, 610 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: and Steph is gonna be Steph. Dremond is gonna be Dre. 611 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:31,960 Speaker 1: But what do you think about the Warriors? To me, 612 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 1: I feel like that if they get hot, Clay comes 613 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 1: back uh as a decent version of it himself. I 614 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 1: feel like they could surprise the people and potentially get 615 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: to the Western Conference Finals. I'm going out on the limb. 616 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,080 Speaker 1: But what do you think about that? Won't? Yeah? No, 617 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:47,880 Speaker 1: you you said it, Chris. And the question for that 618 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:49,920 Speaker 1: team is gonna be what is Clay like? And two 619 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 1: years away is a long time, and there's no more 620 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: professional player than him, no more dedicated player, nobody who 621 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:01,240 Speaker 1: cares as deeply about his craft and who always puts 622 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: the work in. And he's I'm I know he's done 623 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: that in his rehab, but there's nothing that simulates playing 624 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 1: NBA basketball except playing NBA basketball, and so I think 625 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 1: people have to be realistic that let's you know, Ramona 626 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 1: Shelburne ESPN reported that he you know, they have the 627 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 1: optimism maybe he's back around Christmas, and so if you're 628 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: saying around the first of the year, you know, you're 629 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 1: hoping by the playoffs that he's you know, but maybe 630 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 1: it takes a whole year to come back. Like I 631 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 1: just think it may not be realistic to think it's 632 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,080 Speaker 1: just gonna be the old Clay right away. That doesn't 633 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: mean he can't get back there, but we just don't know. 634 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: And I think that's the wild card. It all depends 635 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: upon him. James Weissman, you know, the number two pick. 636 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:50,120 Speaker 1: A couple of years ago, they played much better without 637 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:52,520 Speaker 1: him than they did with him. And they they when 638 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:54,880 Speaker 1: they kind of went back to the style that they 639 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 1: were used to playing, Uh, they were more successful. Now 640 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:02,720 Speaker 1: that's not just on him. You know, you're gonna see growth. 641 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:05,760 Speaker 1: You know, obviously he had the injury which krittailed you know, 642 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:10,239 Speaker 1: some of his development and time on the court. But 643 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 1: this isn't what you're not hearing from the Warriors this 644 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:15,239 Speaker 1: year is like they don't want to talk about development. 645 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:19,480 Speaker 1: They're not talking about like they're talking about winning, and 646 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 1: they're not using their minutes and roles to grow young players. 647 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:26,760 Speaker 1: They're putting a team on the court that can help 648 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:30,080 Speaker 1: Steph Curry and his prime go as far as they 649 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:33,760 Speaker 1: can in the playoffs. And so you mentioned Kaminga and Moody, 650 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 1: and I think those are two players who can be 651 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 1: on the court as rookies and contribute and and in 652 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:41,360 Speaker 1: the long run have a chance probably to be very good. 653 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: But they need, you know, their men. Their mindset in 654 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:49,200 Speaker 1: Golden State this year is putting a team on the 655 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:51,439 Speaker 1: court that gives us our best chance to win every night. 656 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:53,880 Speaker 1: How does James Weisman fit into that? What does he 657 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,400 Speaker 1: look like when he gets back, you know, and obviously 658 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 1: Clay once he's back, and so, uh, that's a team 659 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: again with the Hiberians, you mentioned conference finals realistic. I 660 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:09,000 Speaker 1: guess if Clay is great. Um, but we know the 661 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 1: West is deep and and we saw what Steph did 662 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:16,120 Speaker 1: last year almost single handedly amazing. But but that that's 663 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:19,120 Speaker 1: that's there's no one player in the West that's gonna 664 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:22,879 Speaker 1: just carry you. Uh, he'll need more health obviously. Yeah. 665 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:26,080 Speaker 1: I think Wiggins his performance last year, the jump he 666 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 1: made in this consistency on both ends, I think that 667 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 1: was a major plus for the Warriors too. You know, 668 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:33,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go out and say I just want him 669 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 1: to get there because I've I've never been the biggest Stepan, 670 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:40,200 Speaker 1: but I love just last year what he did, how 671 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:42,400 Speaker 1: much heart he was showing. I mean, he literally was 672 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:44,680 Speaker 1: playing for that franchise, and I can I can feel 673 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 1: it when I watched the highlights. You know, it was 674 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 1: a lot of pride associated with that. And I'm a 675 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 1: big Clay Thompson guy. So I really wish Clay is 676 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:54,120 Speaker 1: he gets back to being a hundred percent last one 677 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:56,239 Speaker 1: in the West. Do you think the Suns can make 678 00:35:56,280 --> 00:36:00,840 Speaker 1: it back to the NBA Finals. I don't see it. 679 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:03,640 Speaker 1: I don't see it, Chris and and listen, what they 680 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:07,400 Speaker 1: did last year was remarkable and what Monty Williams and 681 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:12,040 Speaker 1: Chris Paul and James Jones that leadership to take a team. 682 00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:17,400 Speaker 1: You don't see teams go from um the dregs of 683 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:20,920 Speaker 1: the league, that the bottom of the lottery and all 684 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 1: of a sudden make a jump like that. Now, Chris 685 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 1: Paul was an important edition. And you saw the development 686 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 1: of DeAndre eight and the Michael Bridges and and and 687 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:31,759 Speaker 1: all those guys. There was some good fortune last year, 688 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:34,279 Speaker 1: and sometimes you need it, and that's okay, that's not 689 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,279 Speaker 1: a knock. You need to put yourself in position that 690 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:39,920 Speaker 1: if stuff happens to the team you're playing, that you're 691 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 1: good enough to take advantage of it. And so they 692 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: were good enough to take advantage of the Lakers injuries. 693 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: Now they were too seat. That's hard to do in 694 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: the West. And you know they is they move forward 695 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:55,839 Speaker 1: in the West and their injuries in front of them, 696 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 1: and teams were beat up and then all of a sudden, 697 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:02,040 Speaker 1: Kauai is not there are in the conference final? Well 698 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:05,279 Speaker 1: they beat the team that was there. And so I 699 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:11,840 Speaker 1: don't know if that good fortune, uh, I don't know 700 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:15,400 Speaker 1: if that carries them to another conference finals and or 701 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:19,240 Speaker 1: another NBA Finals, but certainly they are formidable in the West. 702 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:22,440 Speaker 1: They're good enough to make a run. I don't feel 703 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:28,040 Speaker 1: as though they're a favorite, but they've shown that um 704 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 1: that they can take advantage of an opportunity. And that's 705 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:34,880 Speaker 1: what a lot of postseason basketball is, matchups, taking advantage 706 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:36,759 Speaker 1: of an opportunity. That or you don't have to be 707 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: the best team all the way. You've got to be 708 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:42,240 Speaker 1: the team. And sometimes it's healthiest that plays together and 709 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:45,680 Speaker 1: and and you get a break. Yeah, definitely need those breaks, 710 00:37:45,719 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 1: I think. But if you think about I'm just not 711 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:51,200 Speaker 1: sure when Jamal Murray's coming back. I know Kauai is 712 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:53,759 Speaker 1: gonna be out for an extended period of time from 713 00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:56,200 Speaker 1: last year. So I'm just wondering about, you know, the 714 00:37:56,239 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 1: status of them guys and how that's gonna play out 715 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:00,000 Speaker 1: in the race and all of that. It's gonna be 716 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:02,920 Speaker 1: interesting to see because those are two major pieces in 717 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:05,600 Speaker 1: the Western Conference that's gonna that are missing from teams 718 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:07,160 Speaker 1: that are gonna open the door for others, you know what, 719 00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 1: and they change. Yeah, you're right, Jamal Murray, I think 720 00:38:09,680 --> 00:38:11,359 Speaker 1: there's hope that he is back this season. I think 721 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:13,440 Speaker 1: there's some hope that Kauai can come back this season. 722 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,200 Speaker 1: But what do they look like when they do, where 723 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:18,200 Speaker 1: are you in the standings when it happens? Can you 724 00:38:18,239 --> 00:38:22,840 Speaker 1: make up ground? Excuse me? Can you make up ground? Uh? 725 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:27,880 Speaker 1: A lot of uncertainty coming off injuries like that. Listen, Denver, Listen. 726 00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 1: We look back and if Jamal Murray doesn't go out, 727 00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:32,440 Speaker 1: nobody was playing better than the Nuggets last year and 728 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:35,080 Speaker 1: they've just been the Aaron Gordon train and Gordon oh man, 729 00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:37,960 Speaker 1: they killed the clip. I remember. Yeah, they were smashing, 730 00:38:38,040 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 1: they were looking good and killing people and they had 731 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:43,719 Speaker 1: a real chance. They had a real chance. You look 732 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:45,320 Speaker 1: back and you go, that team could have easily have 733 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:50,399 Speaker 1: been in the NBA finals. But I mean, that's that's sports, Chris, 734 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:54,040 Speaker 1: that's I mean, that's injuries. Injuries, man, Injuries are everything 735 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,640 Speaker 1: in the league. Man, Well that was nice rundown of 736 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 1: the NBA. I wanted to segue over into the new 737 00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 1: sort of development leagues that have popped up that are 738 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:09,640 Speaker 1: now grabbing um the kids. They're gonna be in the 739 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: event eventually before they go to college. The Overtime Elite 740 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 1: League and the g League Ignite where we saw two 741 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:19,920 Speaker 1: lottery picks get drafted from that team. Jalen Green, Jonathan 742 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:23,560 Speaker 1: cominga uh in this most recent draft, Woach, what do 743 00:39:23,719 --> 00:39:28,040 Speaker 1: you think that this new route that elite level high 744 00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:31,000 Speaker 1: school basketball players can take. Do you think it's gonna 745 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:36,239 Speaker 1: attract more guys and take away from the bulk of 746 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:39,919 Speaker 1: the talent from the n C Double A. I don't 747 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:41,919 Speaker 1: know if it's gonna take a bulk of it. It's 748 00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 1: taking a significant portion. And what I think is great, Chris. 749 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:49,560 Speaker 1: It's an option, and it may not be for everybody, 750 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:53,640 Speaker 1: but you know, there's gonna be kids who still want 751 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:56,640 Speaker 1: to go to college route and want to go to 752 00:39:56,680 --> 00:40:00,960 Speaker 1: school somewhere, want to play major college basketball and all 753 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:03,279 Speaker 1: the things that do come with that. And there's kids 754 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,520 Speaker 1: who say, I want to go Ignite, I want to 755 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:08,480 Speaker 1: go over Time, And that's what it's all about, is 756 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:12,560 Speaker 1: having options, and it's not one size fits all, and 757 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: I don't think it's ever gonna be everybody's at this 758 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:18,200 Speaker 1: one place. I mean, there's a limited you know, Ignite 759 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:21,200 Speaker 1: or Overtime. You know, there's limitations on how many guys 760 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:23,480 Speaker 1: they're gonna bring in and pay and all those things. 761 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:26,520 Speaker 1: But I think the NIT last year had even more 762 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:29,399 Speaker 1: value because of the pandemic. And I think the fact 763 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:33,400 Speaker 1: that Jalen Green, Jonathan Comingo could go in the bubble, 764 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:37,800 Speaker 1: be able to play you know whatever. It was five weeks, 765 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:41,960 Speaker 1: six weeks month in front of NBA executives within against 766 00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:46,360 Speaker 1: NBA level talent or certainly professional talent with gms they're 767 00:40:46,440 --> 00:40:50,920 Speaker 1: studying them. Um as opposed to a year where there 768 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:53,279 Speaker 1: were nothing was interrupted. They were able to play there 769 00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:56,040 Speaker 1: in the bubble, there in the gym every day for offices, 770 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:59,759 Speaker 1: could come released, watch up close and see them again 771 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:02,239 Speaker 1: on an NBA court with an NBA three point line 772 00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:06,799 Speaker 1: guarding bigger, stronger, older guys. I thought that was an 773 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:09,040 Speaker 1: advantage last year for those guys, and I thought they 774 00:41:09,080 --> 00:41:13,160 Speaker 1: certainly benefited from it this year when gms are back 775 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:15,960 Speaker 1: in the college is more. Those guys weren't on the 776 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:19,480 Speaker 1: road as much, very little going to the A C 777 00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:22,839 Speaker 1: C or the Big twelve or the Big Ten. They 778 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:25,400 Speaker 1: were limited in their travel and their access to these guys. 779 00:41:25,480 --> 00:41:27,840 Speaker 1: So I thought it was even a greater benefit the 780 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:31,399 Speaker 1: ignite last year for two high level guys like that, 781 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:35,520 Speaker 1: and um, you know, Brian Shaw did a great job. 782 00:41:35,600 --> 00:41:37,319 Speaker 1: I got Jason Hart over there. I think he'll do 783 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:39,319 Speaker 1: a really good job. I think the league puts a 784 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:43,960 Speaker 1: lot of thought into who coaches the players, the support 785 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:46,319 Speaker 1: system around them. So I think the Ignite is here 786 00:41:46,360 --> 00:41:48,839 Speaker 1: to stay. You know, the overtime Elite is still new, 787 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:53,280 Speaker 1: um and so you know, we'll see how that plays 788 00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:56,239 Speaker 1: out there. Certainly getting their share of of really good 789 00:41:56,239 --> 00:42:02,920 Speaker 1: players in college basketball has to figure it out. And uh, 790 00:42:03,160 --> 00:42:06,279 Speaker 1: but I think what is to me is really good. 791 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:08,080 Speaker 1: And I think what was important to the NBA was 792 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:11,080 Speaker 1: if I don't want to go to college basketball and 793 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:12,520 Speaker 1: I don't want to go be in the G League, 794 00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:15,560 Speaker 1: I remember the Ignite is not really it's not the 795 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 1: full G league experience, and the the NBA knew that 796 00:42:19,640 --> 00:42:21,719 Speaker 1: if we just put these guys in the G League 797 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:24,160 Speaker 1: at eighteen years old and they're doing the whole G 798 00:42:24,360 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 1: league gamut, which is you know, six am flight from 799 00:42:27,239 --> 00:42:33,080 Speaker 1: Fort Wayne to which you know, to to Maine back 800 00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:37,080 Speaker 1: down to play the Long Island, that's like, like, that's 801 00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:39,680 Speaker 1: not for kids. The the Ignite thing is a little 802 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:45,680 Speaker 1: more um of a colt environment and agents. I don't 803 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:49,960 Speaker 1: think Christy agents weren't gonna let and and anybody like, 804 00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:52,440 Speaker 1: because you could get eaten alive in that day to 805 00:42:52,520 --> 00:42:55,239 Speaker 1: day G league at that age. Playing against men coming 806 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:57,799 Speaker 1: right out of high school. That may not enhance your 807 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:01,680 Speaker 1: draft status. Uh And so I think the way they've 808 00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:06,280 Speaker 1: set up the Ignite is a good fit. It's not, again, 809 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:09,640 Speaker 1: just the full immersion into the G League life, which 810 00:43:10,200 --> 00:43:13,360 Speaker 1: I think most kids right out of high school would 811 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:18,160 Speaker 1: really really struggle with physically and probably little mentally too. Yeah, 812 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:20,439 Speaker 1: I think. But I think the most important part of 813 00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:25,120 Speaker 1: of the G League Ignite experiences the mentor the mentors 814 00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:27,480 Speaker 1: that the kids are around. Brian Shaw, Roder Strickland, some 815 00:43:27,520 --> 00:43:29,799 Speaker 1: other guys. Now this was last year. Now this year 816 00:43:30,080 --> 00:43:32,960 Speaker 1: you've got Jason Hart, who is you know, one of 817 00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:37,000 Speaker 1: the very best college assistant coaches that uh in in 818 00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:39,279 Speaker 1: the n C Double A and is eleven year pro 819 00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:43,160 Speaker 1: and is all about showing this next generation how to 820 00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:45,880 Speaker 1: do stuff. That's what these guys need to understand the 821 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:49,879 Speaker 1: most is practice, habits and you know, responsibility, accountability, being 822 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:53,959 Speaker 1: grown men in a professional basketball setting. I love these 823 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:57,319 Speaker 1: two leagues and the overtime Elite crew. It's filled with 824 00:43:57,400 --> 00:44:00,160 Speaker 1: guys that have NBA front office experience and to be 825 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:04,319 Speaker 1: a coaching experience. Um, Brandon Williams, Kevin Ollie, some other 826 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:06,080 Speaker 1: guys are over there doing a hell of a job. 827 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:09,440 Speaker 1: So I'm really excited about both leagues and what the 828 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:13,120 Speaker 1: future holds. Whoach my man? Last question for you, UM 829 00:44:13,520 --> 00:44:16,560 Speaker 1: we I do it? Asked this question to all of 830 00:44:16,640 --> 00:44:20,360 Speaker 1: my guests. UM had a great conversation with Mark Spears. 831 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:22,480 Speaker 1: He's he broke down a great story. I wanted you 832 00:44:22,560 --> 00:44:26,240 Speaker 1: to break down or give us a great Kobe story 833 00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:28,640 Speaker 1: with Kobe being Bryant fans here, Man, we just want 834 00:44:28,640 --> 00:44:31,960 Speaker 1: to get your some of your best or fondest memories 835 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:39,480 Speaker 1: of an interaction or interactions with Kobe Bryant. Yeah. I've 836 00:44:39,520 --> 00:44:43,120 Speaker 1: never never covered anybody like him. I'm sure I never 837 00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:47,920 Speaker 1: will again. He think about Kobe was his He had 838 00:44:47,960 --> 00:44:52,800 Speaker 1: such an incredible curiosity and and and and a and 839 00:44:52,920 --> 00:44:57,399 Speaker 1: a desire to understand not just his industry and his world, 840 00:44:57,520 --> 00:44:59,640 Speaker 1: but he wanted to understand your world. And he wanted 841 00:44:59,680 --> 00:45:03,839 Speaker 1: to under stand the world I competed in and understand 842 00:45:05,719 --> 00:45:07,759 Speaker 1: what I would do to compete, what others would do 843 00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:12,960 Speaker 1: to compete. And uh, he understood our profession sometimes I 844 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:17,040 Speaker 1: thought better than some of us understood our profession. And uh, 845 00:45:17,600 --> 00:45:21,680 Speaker 1: I remember once obviously we know how competitive he was, 846 00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:24,840 Speaker 1: and and and the one thing you know, it's the 847 00:45:25,239 --> 00:45:27,719 Speaker 1: relationship with Michael Jordan is really interesting. And he saw 848 00:45:27,760 --> 00:45:30,120 Speaker 1: it kind of come full circle at his memorial service 849 00:45:30,200 --> 00:45:34,600 Speaker 1: and Michael how emotional Michael was, and Michael talking about 850 00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:37,120 Speaker 1: sort of, you know, like a little bit early on 851 00:45:37,200 --> 00:45:38,480 Speaker 1: he saw that Kobe is a little bit of a 852 00:45:38,680 --> 00:45:41,759 Speaker 1: like an aritant. You leave me alone, kid, you know 853 00:45:41,760 --> 00:45:44,160 Speaker 1: a little bit of that, and Kobe wanted to. But 854 00:45:44,239 --> 00:45:47,920 Speaker 1: I do remember a time where they weren't particularly close, 855 00:45:48,080 --> 00:45:51,080 Speaker 1: and I remember there was a point where Michael had 856 00:45:51,280 --> 00:45:55,040 Speaker 1: I think Michael maybe had done some list or Michael 857 00:45:55,080 --> 00:45:58,200 Speaker 1: had in an interview, had had given a list of 858 00:45:58,239 --> 00:46:01,120 Speaker 1: either greatest all time player, is our greatest act of players. 859 00:46:01,160 --> 00:46:02,560 Speaker 1: I can't remember. I'd have to go back and think 860 00:46:02,600 --> 00:46:05,040 Speaker 1: what it was. Whatever the list was, he left Kobe 861 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:07,320 Speaker 1: off of it, whether it was the top three or whatever. 862 00:46:08,440 --> 00:46:12,879 Speaker 1: And I knew Kobe was pissed about it, and he said, 863 00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:14,759 Speaker 1: were you gonna be on the road. I want to 864 00:46:14,800 --> 00:46:16,680 Speaker 1: get together. I want to talk. And I'm like, well, 865 00:46:16,719 --> 00:46:18,400 Speaker 1: i'll be where you like. You tell me where to go, 866 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:21,920 Speaker 1: and he said, well, we looked at their schedule and 867 00:46:22,320 --> 00:46:24,880 Speaker 1: come to Minnesota. So I got on a plane. I 868 00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:27,600 Speaker 1: went to Minnesota. We go out to eat, and I 869 00:46:27,640 --> 00:46:30,360 Speaker 1: remember this too. He would wear that jacket almost like 870 00:46:30,440 --> 00:46:32,719 Speaker 1: it was like a varsity letterman Laker jacket. It was 871 00:46:32,760 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 1: the year after they had won their back to back, 872 00:46:35,320 --> 00:46:37,680 Speaker 1: so it was the what year with it that crispin 873 00:46:37,719 --> 00:46:44,359 Speaker 1: they won the back to back three second one with pole, right, Yeah, 874 00:46:45,520 --> 00:46:48,600 Speaker 1: And at this point, like Lebron's in Miami and he's 875 00:46:48,600 --> 00:46:52,520 Speaker 1: a he's about to start winning championships and and and 876 00:46:52,600 --> 00:46:55,480 Speaker 1: Kobe's trying to hold on to He's trying to hold 877 00:46:55,480 --> 00:46:59,759 Speaker 1: onto it. And I remember we met at the restaurant 878 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:02,200 Speaker 1: um at the hotel they're across from I think it 879 00:47:02,200 --> 00:47:05,160 Speaker 1: was across from Target Center, and he had that jacket. 880 00:47:05,960 --> 00:47:07,880 Speaker 1: It was like a varsity letterman jacket, was like a 881 00:47:07,920 --> 00:47:11,520 Speaker 1: Lakers jacket. It had like the six basketballs, I think 882 00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:15,920 Speaker 1: the six championship balls and else was wearing that jacket. 883 00:47:16,280 --> 00:47:19,080 Speaker 1: Guys want to tease them, but it was Kobe and 884 00:47:19,120 --> 00:47:21,280 Speaker 1: he could wear like it was like a varsity letterman 885 00:47:21,400 --> 00:47:24,160 Speaker 1: Laker jacket with all the like you know when a 886 00:47:24,200 --> 00:47:26,600 Speaker 1: guy in high school is like a all state and 887 00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:29,919 Speaker 1: you get a patch for its all state or that's 888 00:47:29,920 --> 00:47:32,759 Speaker 1: what it looked like. And um, it was actually it was. 889 00:47:33,520 --> 00:47:36,640 Speaker 1: It was kind of pretty neat. And and so we 890 00:47:36,719 --> 00:47:41,680 Speaker 1: sit down and we start talking, and I don't know 891 00:47:41,719 --> 00:47:44,080 Speaker 1: if Michael came up. I do think Michael came up, 892 00:47:44,120 --> 00:47:46,800 Speaker 1: because now Kobe had five titles, right, and he was 893 00:47:46,880 --> 00:47:49,640 Speaker 1: chasing the sixth, and and that was it. And I 894 00:47:49,680 --> 00:47:53,319 Speaker 1: think Kobe felt, I know he felt, if I can 895 00:47:53,360 --> 00:47:57,719 Speaker 1: catch Michael and championships, that puts me in the conversation 896 00:47:58,480 --> 00:48:00,600 Speaker 1: with you. You can't ever take me out of conversation 897 00:48:00,640 --> 00:48:04,120 Speaker 1: for the greatest among the greatest players of all time. 898 00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:07,600 Speaker 1: And and at that at that point, I think people 899 00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:09,360 Speaker 1: are talking who's the best player in the league. Lebron 900 00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:10,920 Speaker 1: is the best player in the league. Now maybe it's 901 00:48:10,920 --> 00:48:13,640 Speaker 1: not Kobe anymore. And and but I think he thought 902 00:48:13,719 --> 00:48:17,359 Speaker 1: I'd get that sixth title, Like Lebron's a long way 903 00:48:17,400 --> 00:48:19,040 Speaker 1: from six and the other great players in the league 904 00:48:19,040 --> 00:48:21,000 Speaker 1: are all a long way from that. So we started 905 00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:23,640 Speaker 1: talking about Michael and he said to me, you know, 906 00:48:24,480 --> 00:48:26,920 Speaker 1: Michael is not really the one that I emulated as 907 00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:30,040 Speaker 1: much as it was Michael Jackson. And I got close, 908 00:48:30,160 --> 00:48:31,879 Speaker 1: you know, I got to know Michael Jackson, and I'm going, 909 00:48:31,960 --> 00:48:34,680 Speaker 1: I'm going, what are you talking about like I'd never 910 00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:37,640 Speaker 1: heard him talk about Michael Jackson in that way, and 911 00:48:37,680 --> 00:48:40,000 Speaker 1: he went on and on about getting to know Michael 912 00:48:40,280 --> 00:48:42,360 Speaker 1: Jackson when he was a young player in l A 913 00:48:42,480 --> 00:48:46,239 Speaker 1: and going up to to uh never uh never Land 914 00:48:46,280 --> 00:48:50,360 Speaker 1: ran everything never was it never Land right, And he 915 00:48:50,360 --> 00:48:53,759 Speaker 1: would watch Michael make music, and he would watch his 916 00:48:54,040 --> 00:49:01,319 Speaker 1: painstaking process of of in the studio and how meticulous 917 00:49:01,360 --> 00:49:03,680 Speaker 1: he was, and he learned about this attention to detail 918 00:49:03,760 --> 00:49:06,040 Speaker 1: and how every and he went on and on. I'm 919 00:49:06,040 --> 00:49:09,080 Speaker 1: sitting there with my tape recorder on going maybe I 920 00:49:09,239 --> 00:49:11,960 Speaker 1: missed this, but I don't think I remember he got 921 00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:14,160 Speaker 1: up and went to the bathroom, and I remember I 922 00:49:14,160 --> 00:49:17,000 Speaker 1: I googled Michael Jackson and Kobe. I remember sitting in 923 00:49:17,080 --> 00:49:20,279 Speaker 1: my seat going has he talked about this before? And 924 00:49:20,320 --> 00:49:21,840 Speaker 1: I look and I'm like, I don't see it anywhere, 925 00:49:21,880 --> 00:49:24,960 Speaker 1: and I'm going, all right. And so I ended up 926 00:49:24,960 --> 00:49:26,960 Speaker 1: writing the piece and it got a lot of attention 927 00:49:27,000 --> 00:49:29,040 Speaker 1: at the time because he had never And of course 928 00:49:29,480 --> 00:49:32,160 Speaker 1: the only thing I remember finding was I think Kobe 929 00:49:32,160 --> 00:49:35,400 Speaker 1: was at Michael Jackson's memorial service and maybe they did 930 00:49:35,400 --> 00:49:37,399 Speaker 1: a quick TV stand up with him and he talked 931 00:49:37,440 --> 00:49:41,279 Speaker 1: about him. But what the interview really was about, was 932 00:49:41,360 --> 00:49:44,680 Speaker 1: it was a dig at Michael Michael Jordan's It was 933 00:49:44,880 --> 00:49:47,960 Speaker 1: it was it was what the whole thing was really about, 934 00:49:48,160 --> 00:49:51,440 Speaker 1: was like, you know what, Michael, You're not even really 935 00:49:51,440 --> 00:49:53,640 Speaker 1: my guy. Now we know Michael Jordan was this guy, 936 00:49:53,760 --> 00:49:56,000 Speaker 1: and like I knew it was bullshit, and he knew 937 00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:59,200 Speaker 1: it was bullshit. And the Michael Jackson story was real 938 00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:02,360 Speaker 1: and he had done and spent all this time with him, 939 00:50:02,400 --> 00:50:06,040 Speaker 1: but it was the lengths Kobe would go sort of 940 00:50:06,080 --> 00:50:10,319 Speaker 1: give a dig back to Jordan's without like just it 941 00:50:10,400 --> 00:50:14,600 Speaker 1: was elaborate, and Michael Jackson stuff was all accurate, but 942 00:50:14,719 --> 00:50:17,640 Speaker 1: it was just really didn't really I don't know if 943 00:50:17,680 --> 00:50:19,600 Speaker 1: he really wanted to talk about the Michael Jackson stuff 944 00:50:19,600 --> 00:50:22,640 Speaker 1: as much as it was the way to tell Michael Jordans, well, like, 945 00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:25,480 Speaker 1: you know what, if you're not gonna put me on 946 00:50:25,480 --> 00:50:27,960 Speaker 1: a list, maybe you're not really mine. It just was 947 00:50:28,000 --> 00:50:30,719 Speaker 1: great and it was Kobe and and I just it 948 00:50:30,840 --> 00:50:33,080 Speaker 1: just was a little window into how he thinks and 949 00:50:33,080 --> 00:50:38,600 Speaker 1: how competitive he is was and there's just nobody nobody 950 00:50:38,600 --> 00:50:42,280 Speaker 1: else like him. Man, absolutely genius. This guy was basically 951 00:50:42,320 --> 00:50:45,440 Speaker 1: like to MJ to Michael, you're not the MJ that 952 00:50:45,480 --> 00:50:47,600 Speaker 1: I looked up to. I looked up to this MJ. 953 00:50:47,760 --> 00:50:52,759 Speaker 1: But exactly. That's a big time story. That's a big 954 00:50:52,800 --> 00:50:55,880 Speaker 1: time story. Well, woach, thank you so much, maman for 955 00:50:56,000 --> 00:50:59,520 Speaker 1: joining kJ Live today. We'll be watching you on ESPN. 956 00:50:59,560 --> 00:51:01,440 Speaker 1: Do what you do think. I'm sorry I kept you 957 00:51:01,480 --> 00:51:05,080 Speaker 1: so long, man, I know you can I know, Okay, good, 958 00:51:05,440 --> 00:51:09,040 Speaker 1: all right, good man, Chris. We'll catch up soon, my friend. Yeah, 959 00:51:09,080 --> 00:51:10,960 Speaker 1: we definitely will. Thank you so much for joining. This 960 00:51:11,000 --> 00:51:13,000 Speaker 1: is kJ Live with Adrian watching Rowski