1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: This is the Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio with 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: Scott and Michael Barr. Hello, I'm michaelmar and I'm Scott Sashnik. 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: Over the next hour, we'll explore the big money issues 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: in the world of sports, and we'll talk to some 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: of the biggest players in the industry. Today, we spend 6 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: the hour with former college and NBA star and minority 7 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: owner of the Atlanta Hawks, Grant Hill, and we talked 8 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: about the world champion Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, they have 9 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: a chance to be a champion here for the next 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: I think five to seven years. That's their window of opportunity. Uh, 11 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: and um, you know it's it's pretty scary for the 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: rest of the NBA. We will bring you our interview 13 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: with grand Hill in a few minutes, but first let's 14 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: pick up on what grand Hill touched on as we 15 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: look at the top Business of Sports stories of the week. 16 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: The Golden State Warriors are champions again. Yeah, and it's 17 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: really a business story, Michael, just like a basketball story. 18 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: It was their second title in three years over the Cavaliers. 19 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: We spoke with Olden State owner Joe Lake Up last 20 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,399 Speaker 1: month on Bloomberg Business with Sports about how important the 21 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: business community is and attracting players like NBA Finals MVPs, 22 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant and andre Iguadilla. I think they recognize this opportunity. 23 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: Silicon Valley is a rather amazing place, and there's a 24 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: lot of opportunity and a lot of potential for investing 25 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: and doing good and making money in in the technology 26 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 1: world if you're around here, and it might not be 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: that case somewhere else. So I think he recognizes that. 28 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: I think it's a reason potentially for someone want to 29 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: be here. I also want to be at an organization 30 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: where they can win. I don't don't. Let's not sell 31 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: that short and we try to sell that opportunity obviously 32 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: as well. This team is gold because I can't see 33 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: anybody beating this team in the next few years. Well, 34 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: things change quickly, who knows, but they're certainly set up right. 35 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: But they have to keep it together and that's going 36 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: to be a challenge. I mean, Lacob is going to 37 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: spend the money the math has been done over the 38 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: next four years. If Steph re ups and KD re ups, 39 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: and if they want to keep Clay, if you're all in, 40 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: if they want this team at its core to stay together. 41 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: You're looking at one point four billion dollars in salary 42 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: to keep this nucleus together. Some will spend it, some won't. 43 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: This group will. What about the Cavaliers. They've been there 44 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: three years in a row, they won one out of 45 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: the three. What do you do with your cavaliers? Scratch 46 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 1: your head and you wonder did I do this the 47 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: right way? Lebron never saw this coming. Let's face it. 48 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: They won last year at the cat so it legitimized everything. 49 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: It justified his going back, and they did it. But 50 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: if Draymondreen doesn't get suspended, perhaps you're looking at Golden 51 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 1: State winning again. And then if you're Lebron, you're scratching 52 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: your head. What do I do? I made my move back. 53 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: I said, it's all about Cleveland. I still haven't won. 54 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: Now I'm stuck. But he did get that title back 55 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: to Cleveland. You want to make people mad, who's the 56 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: best player, Lebron James or Michael Jordan's Are you asking 57 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: me or I'm going to ask you. I watched Michael courtside, 58 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 1: I saw him hit those shots. I saw all of 59 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: those championships. For me, Michael is as good as it 60 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: will ever be. Now here's the Devil's advocate coming here. Yes, 61 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: Michael won all six of the times that he appeared 62 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: in the title games and win the championship six times, 63 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: no losses. Lebron James three and five, but he was 64 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: there eight times. I was there also when Lebron on 65 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: a Cleveland team whose second best player might have been 66 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: Anderson Veri Jale made the championship. So I was watching 67 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: courtside as Lebron was. And this is not an insult 68 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: to his teammates, but he's playing one on five against 69 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: the San Antonio Spurs or whoever. It was just the 70 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: fact that he has been able to single handedly drag 71 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: teams to that level speaks volumes, and it's why you 72 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: even asked the question in the first place. Another story 73 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: we are following this week big fight in August, Floyd 74 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: Mayweather versus Connor McGregor. Are we this desperate fre entertainment? 75 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: Michael Bard? This is this is what I ask you. 76 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: Are we this desperate? Forever? Is Connor McGregor a boxer? 77 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: Are you saying this is gonna be a lot like 78 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: the Mayweather packy alf At least I had a boxer 79 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: against a boxer this and there's no kicking, there's no 80 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: DOWBN on the ground wrestling. This is a man who 81 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: has spent his life perfecting the craft of boxing going 82 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: against another guy while a master of promotion, I'll give 83 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: him that. Connor McGregor a masterful promoter. I haven't seen 84 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: one since Don King. But he's just not at the 85 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: skill level of Floyd Mayweather. I'm just I'm just wondering 86 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: what we're going to see. To give you an idea, 87 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: the Mayweather fight against Manny Pacquiao, it costs between ninety 88 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: and one dollars to watch on pay per view, and 89 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: it drew and estimated at four point four million viewers. Overall, 90 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: it generated close to six hundred million dollars in revenue. 91 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: That's according to ESPN. What will this generate? Yeah, I'm 92 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: guessing this is going to be close. Let's look at 93 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 1: the major parts. Obviously, the number one, as we always say, 94 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: the number one revenue, same is the media. This is 95 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: going to do five hundred million dollars. But let's look 96 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: at on a global scale, what will the stream cost? 97 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: How many people will buy this in Asia? I don't know, 98 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: it could top five million, but you throw merch and 99 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: the betting and the tickets. This is gonna be on 100 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: par with that fight and our last story, we'll talk 101 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: about women's pay when it comes to golf, and it's 102 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: not on par with the men's as the US Open 103 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: Championship takes place, well, we've seen this time and time again. 104 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: It's now on par. When we talked about tennis, the 105 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: question is do you pay the men and the women 106 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: the same amount no matter what or many times organizers 107 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 1: will say, and we heard this fight from the women's 108 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: soccer team from US Soccer that the men generate so 109 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: much more revenue. That is why they get paid more. Clearly, 110 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: when we're talking about golf, men's golf generates way more 111 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: money than women's golf, not true of tennis. From the 112 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: money and a golf to now a former NBA star 113 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: and also a star at Duke University, Michael, we're talking 114 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: about Grant Hill, who is now also one of the 115 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: owners of the Atlanta Hawks. Why don't we start with 116 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors, just because the series just ended 117 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 1: and everybody's talking about Golden State, let's stick on the 118 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: basketball side of things. I'm sure you saw where Joe 119 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: Lacob said way back when last year, like we do 120 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: things better than everybody else. Do the Golden State Warriors 121 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: do things better than everybody else? Yeah, that was an 122 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: interesting quote that I did read in the New York 123 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: Times from Joe Lacob. You know, I think the reality is, like, 124 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,359 Speaker 1: I know Rick Welts very well. Who is the CEO 125 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: of the Golden State Warriors. Uh. He was in Phoenix 126 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: when I was there, so I have a very good relationship. 127 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: He started off at the league many years ago. So 128 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: on the business side, Uh, he's an exceptional leader. And 129 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: then Bob Meyers Steve Kerr the leadership on the basketball 130 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: operation side. Uh, it's certainly top notch as well. I 131 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: know Curve very well from playing against him. He was 132 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: my general manager in Phoenix as well. But the bottom 133 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: line is they have superior talent and they were able 134 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: to have tremendous success through the NBA Draft. They drafted 135 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: Steph Curry, Clay Thompson, Harrison barnes Um. They also drafted 136 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: Draymond Green in the second round, so they were able 137 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: to hit with their draft draft picks and they didn't 138 00:07:56,160 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: necessarily have high draft picks, but those moves really laid 139 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: the foundation for that franchise, and then their ability to 140 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: have player development, to really have these guys who have 141 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: character but also worked very hard on their games to improve, 142 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: to get better, to put themselves into positions where now 143 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: the last two years they have been contenders and coincidentally 144 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: able to attract a former m v P in one 145 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: of the top two or three guys in the game, 146 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: and Kevin Durant. Because the end of the day, you're 147 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: only as good as the players you have, and they 148 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: have exceptional players who who have character but aren't characters. 149 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: If you know what I'm saying, are they a dynasty? 150 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 1: I guess they have to ask that. I think they are. 151 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: I really think they are. I think you know. These 152 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: guys are all young enough. Um they're in their mid 153 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: to late twenties. They have a tremendous chemistry. I think 154 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: as good as they've been this year, adding Kevin Durant 155 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: to the mix, they will only be better next year 156 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: having that year under their best. It took some time 157 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: to sort of build that continuity. If you can keep 158 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: that cord together of Curry, Durant, Draymond Green, and Clay 159 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: Thompson and then add the right complementary pieces around them. 160 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: They have a chance to to be in the finals. Unfortunately, 161 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: if you're a fan of another team or happen to 162 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: be an owner of another team, unfortunately, they have a 163 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: chance to be a champion here for the next I 164 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: think five or seven years. That's their window of opportunity. 165 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: Uh and um, you know, it's it's pretty scary for 166 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: the rest of the NBA. Is that good or bad 167 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 1: for the NBA from a business perspective? Grant, if realistically 168 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: fans go into a season thinking only one, maybe two 169 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: teams can win, that's a great question. Um you know, 170 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: I think the ratings from a television standpoint were pretty high. 171 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: That was for the two best though, that was just 172 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: for the two best leading into that not so great. Yeah, 173 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: you know, it's interesting thing I think. Um, you know, 174 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: there were a lot of blowouts and uh, I'd say 175 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: maybe of the playoff games leading up to the finals 176 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: were blowouts. And I don't know if that's necessarily a 177 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: good thing. Um, you know, I I think you want 178 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: to as a fan feel like your team has a 179 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 1: chance and has an opportunity. We are celebrating the Warriors, 180 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: but there's the other side of the coin the Cavaliers. Now. 181 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 1: Granted that this is the first time ever in the 182 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: history of the NBA that both teams made it to 183 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: the finals three years in a row. But if you're 184 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: a Calves fan and you looked at the performance, you know, 185 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: four games, the one and pretty much they were blowing 186 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: out in a lot of games, what can the Calves 187 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: do to improve their team? That's a great question. Um. 188 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: You know, you almost got the sense when you saw 189 00:10:55,360 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: Lebron James at the press conference after Game five, where 190 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: he gave everything he possibly could give, as did Kyrie Irving, 191 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: and it just wasn't good enough. And you you know, 192 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: you you wonder what can they do? They need help, 193 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: They need another they need another All Star, as crazy 194 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: as that sounds, because they just did not have the 195 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:27,079 Speaker 1: firepower to match up with the Golden State Warriors. So 196 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: it's it's gonna be interesting to see. It's gonna be 197 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: interesting off season. Lebron James is a free agent. There 198 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: have been rumors about him moving. I doubt that will happen. Um, 199 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: But what can Cleveland do Because they're good enough to 200 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: still dominate the Eastern Conference and they're still good enough 201 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: to get to the NBA Finals. But can they beat 202 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors team next year if they were 203 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: to meet four times in a row? And uh, and 204 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: I would say, no, they're not. Carmelo Anthony calling online 205 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:07,839 Speaker 1: one Carmelo online one. Grant, does he fit in with Lebron? Well, 206 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: you know, I think Carmelo. I think the nature of 207 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 1: their relationship is a mutual respect. I think they've had 208 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: tremendous success playing together in the USA basketball environment where 209 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: Carmelo has really thrived. I think if if Melo was 210 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,599 Speaker 1: going to take a bit of a back seat to 211 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: any player in the league, it would be Lebron James. 212 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: You know. I think he would defer to him. I 213 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: think he would follow him. I think Lebron is an 214 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: exceptional leader. And I think there's an environment in a 215 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: culture there that is obviously about winning championships. Uh. And 216 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: so I know a lot has to happen, uh, you know, 217 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: for for for for for that to be a reality. Um. 218 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: But I do think that that that the dynamics of 219 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:56,679 Speaker 1: their relationship would we would actually make it work. Grant, 220 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: You're no stranger to sort of what we've seen these 221 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: is trying to set up great teams when you were 222 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: looking at leaving Detroit, you were courted by the Orlando Magic, 223 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,719 Speaker 1: You Tracy McGrady and Tim duncan as well. How are 224 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: things different now as compared to when you guys were 225 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: trying to form that that three headed monster. You know, 226 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: it was a little bit of a different time and 227 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: we you know, players today kind of know each other better. Uh, 228 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 1: you know, have known each other from from the AUTH 229 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: circuit and and have closer relationships. That wasn't necessarily the 230 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: case back in two thousand. Um. Now you know, if 231 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: it were to have happened, and certainly if I had 232 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: stayed healthy, then you're looking at him. Even if I 233 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: didn't stay healthy, you look at a super team with 234 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: Team Mac and Tim Duncan. Um. But I think it 235 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: was very bold and aggressive on the Magic's part. And 236 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: I think it was it was, you know, sort of 237 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: the first idea or the first you know, first time 238 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: that the thought of going to multiple superstars. Um, it wasn't. 239 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: They weren't successful, and in part because you know, I 240 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: wasn't healthy. I was I couldn't stay healthy and play 241 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: with with with Tracy and of course Tim Duncan chose 242 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: to stay in San Antonio. But I think it was 243 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: the first sort of free agent, um, you know, opportunity 244 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: for a team to really be aggressive and try to 245 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: assemble a championship quality team in one summer. Uh. And 246 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: so of course we've seen we've seen that happened since 247 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: then Miami. You know, you look at Cleveland, you know, 248 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: Lebron going and linking up with Kyrie, bringing in Kevin Love. 249 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: Uh and then of course you look at Durant and uh. 250 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: And so I think the trend now is that, for sure, 251 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: great players want to play with other great players, and 252 00:14:54,560 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: you know, and that wasn't necessarily the case thirty years ago. 253 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: Those grant great co host want to work with great 254 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: co host, But I got Michael Bart instead. Christy Leadlow 255 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: has me unfortunately. So that's your NBA program for folks 256 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: who might year old now think about that. You spent 257 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: all that time at Duke under coach k your mother 258 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: Janet on the board of Carlo Carlisle group. Your father 259 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: played football. Yeah, I was a professional athlete with the 260 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys. You had a lot of advantages, and it 261 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: was still hard for you. How difficult must it be 262 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: now for younger kids trying to make their way in 263 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: the NBA who perhaps don't have that background. Yeah, I 264 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 1: mean I think in some respects, I think, you know, 265 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: being able to sort of handle money, UM, be responsible 266 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: with um, you know, with your newfound same if you will. 267 00:15:55,720 --> 00:16:00,080 Speaker 1: I think I had those types of advantages, uh know. 268 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: But still, I mean, I think it's still hard. I mean, 269 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: I think one of the differences is nowadays these players 270 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: are almost celebrities as teenagers. When they're fourteen, fifteen, sixteen 271 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: years of age playing on the grassroots circuit AU basketball, 272 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: they are already kind of on the fast track to 273 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: be in the n b A. You know, I didn't 274 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: think about the NBA until my into my junior year 275 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: when it hit me and it it dawned on me like 276 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: this time next year, I'll be preparing for the NBA draft. 277 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: And so as much as we were sort of celebrities 278 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: in college, I feel like it's a lot different these days. 279 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: And you know, I never thought about the NBA in 280 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: high school, you know, I mean, that wasn't and I 281 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: think when I even talked with other players who maybe 282 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: didn't have the same background I had or didn't come 283 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: from the same environment, but we would play at the 284 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: various tournaments and this, that and the other. You know, 285 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: it was about trying to go play in college, trying 286 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: to get a scholarship, trying to go to college for free. 287 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: That was the topic of conversation. It wasn't like about 288 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: getting to the league. And so these young players in 289 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:15,239 Speaker 1: the exposure they have is just off the charts, and 290 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 1: so they kind of are preparing for it and planning 291 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: for it a lot younger than we were. I'm even 292 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: in college players at Duke now, you know, they're in 293 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:29,120 Speaker 1: a bubble. They can't do silly things and be college 294 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: students and have some sort of some bit of normalcy 295 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 1: in this day and age like we had. You know, 296 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: me and my teammates, we did a lot of foolish things, 297 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: but a lot of you know, a lot of my 298 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: classmates did too, And that's part of such as oh, well, 299 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: you know, certain things that happened in the locker room 300 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: stay in the locker room. But I mean did and 301 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 1: you know, and nowadays when I go back to Duke 302 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: and I you know, I got a chance to spend 303 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: time with Harry Giles and Jason at them, you know, 304 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: I marvel at their singular focus. You know, they are 305 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 1: there to get to the league. I guess what I'm 306 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: trying to say is, you know, certainly, yes, I've had 307 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: tremendous advantages which helped me as a young player in 308 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: the NBA, and I think it also helped me as 309 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: I've retired and transitioned on UM. But I also think 310 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: these kids have been preparing for this a way younger 311 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: and a lot younger than I was. Did your downtime 312 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,479 Speaker 1: in the NBA afford you the opportunity to learn what 313 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: you needed to to become an owner? It did help. 314 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, look, I'm I'm an owner of 315 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: the Lanta Hawks, vice chairman of our board. Uh, it 316 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:46,120 Speaker 1: didn't just happen. I mean, I've been looking at doing 317 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: this for twenty years, and I think the thing that 318 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: I realized was the access to leaders of industry that 319 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 1: my position as a professional athlete afforded me. And I 320 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: tried to take advantage of that. And so one thing 321 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: that that people don't realize is that when you're in 322 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: the NVA, there's a tremendous amount of downtime as a player, 323 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: and I tried to take advantage of that. I tried 324 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: to be productive when I would go on the road. 325 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 1: I would try to meet people, uh, in different industries. 326 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: I would got to know, you know, the alumni association 327 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: at Duke University very well, and you know, got to 328 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: know various distinguished alumni and the various cities we were in. 329 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 1: And so meeting for breakfast, meeting for coffee, taking in 330 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: the dinner, having an opportunity to not only pick their brains, 331 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: learning from them, expand my rollo decks. Uh. And so 332 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: I was always sort of targeting the end game, even 333 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 1: when I was young, in the midst of my early career. 334 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: And I think part of that, as you talked of earlier, Scott, 335 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: the benefit of my family. I had a father who played, 336 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: and I saw firsthand that it ends, you know, it 337 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,919 Speaker 1: ends one day. Brand I want to end with the 338 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: leadership of your mother because she told me the story 339 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: of years ago. And I'm sure you know which one 340 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: I'm talking about. She would tell you to stop breaking 341 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: your toys when you were six or seven years old, 342 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: and then one Christmas you opened up a bunch of boxes. 343 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: Can you tell the world what was in those boxes? Yeah? Yeah, 344 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: she had She had gotten all the toys that I 345 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: broke through the years, had gotten them fixed. And uh, 346 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 1: gave him, and at seven eight years old, I didn't 347 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: totally understand it, you know what she was doing. Um, 348 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 1: but you know, I certainly got the message eventually to 349 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: take care of and value what I have and appreciate 350 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: what I have. And you know, my you know, as 351 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: I said, my parents, UM have just you know, been unbelievable, 352 00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: been my heroes, Um, been my example, have held me 353 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 1: accountable my entire life. That that exercise hasn't changed now 354 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: as I'm forty four years old. My mom will still 355 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 1: put me in check. Um and now I'm not breaking 356 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: my toys now. But uh, but you know certain kids 357 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: are kids are breaking yes exactly, no, exactly they were 358 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 1: there to exactly know what I mean, you know, she 359 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: I'm lucky that with the life that I've had and 360 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 1: the success that I've been able to, uh to experience, 361 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 1: that I still have people in my life who are 362 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,640 Speaker 1: honest with me and who hold me accountable, who tell 363 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: me when I'm wrong and uh and despite what people 364 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 1: may think, I'm wrong a lot and uh, and I 365 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: also recognize that not a lot of people in my 366 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: position have that they don't have people who are going 367 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: to be honest and be real with them, and and 368 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: so you want to surround yourself with people who are 369 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 1: going to not always tell you what you want to hear, 370 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 1: but tell you what you need to hear. And I 371 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: certainly get that from my mom and my dad and 372 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: from my wife from time to time too. Yeah, have it. 373 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: I get it every day from the wife. I'm always wrong. 374 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 1: I don't know where you think. People think you're not wrong. 375 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: Everybody thinks I'm wrong all the time. And since the 376 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: show will be heard by my wife, you're number one, baby. 377 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: Thanks so much. We appreciate you taking the time. See 378 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: I'm smart enough. Never knowing that my wife is listening 379 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: to the show, I will always say she is the boss. 380 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: You're a smart man, Mr. Bar But let me tell 381 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: you what I took away from Grant is that the 382 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: kids today, those kids at Duke have a singular focus 383 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: on the NBA. That's the goal. And it probably starts 384 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: at age what you tell me twelve fourteen. When you're 385 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: a good player on that A A U circuit, it's 386 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: no longer just about the fun. And let's see if 387 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: I can reach a college scholarship the goal. And we're 388 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: seeing this with LaVar and Lonzo Ball. This is a 389 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: plan that is being executed by these folks for a 390 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: long time. And you and I have been in the 391 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: same boat. We both have had a chance to talk 392 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: with Coach k and you talk about the quality of 393 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: the man and the focus of what he is all about, 394 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: which is why it does not surprise me when you 395 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 1: get down to that extreme important shot with Christian Laitner 396 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: and the past from Grand Hill. Now you wonder if 397 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 1: that could happen though in the future, because now it's 398 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 1: one and done. It's not going to be that third 399 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: and fourth year guy who has been in the press 400 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,879 Speaker 1: of situation, who has learned how to handle, who has 401 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 1: really really live through the tougher times. Now you're asking 402 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: an eighteen year old or a nineteen year old to 403 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: make it happen. All right. Time for a number. I 404 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: got one for you, ninety nine. And it's not Wayne Gretzky, 405 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 1: because I hear ninety nine and thinks sports and sports business. 406 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: I think Wayne Gretzky immediately, But it is somebody else. 407 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: It is not either or on get smart. We're talking 408 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 1: about Aaron Judge's number nine. His jersey is now the 409 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 1: top selling Major League Baseball jersey since May one. It 410 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 1: has been like that, and then since this month, the 411 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: sales of Double It's amazing. I mean, this guy has 412 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 1: really come out of nowhere. Nobody expected this. The Yankees 413 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: didn't expect this, which is why they've set up that 414 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: Judge's chambers in right field. They're trying to get that 415 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,119 Speaker 1: millennial group that's so hard to to court that they 416 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: want to go and sit there. Yeah, he's he's actually 417 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: past Chris Brian to the Cubs, a very popular player. 418 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 1: The guy has had a two year rain as the 419 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: best selling jersey. And then come on, say it out 420 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: loud and say, you know, here, come here comes the jack. 421 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: I'm the judge Sterling. I apologize. Thank you very much. 422 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:42,479 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio around 423 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: the world. We are here each and every week at 424 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: the same time, exploring the world of money and sports. 425 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: Michael Blarn and I'm Scott Sosnik. Thanks for joining us, 426 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 1: and please tune in next week when we speak with 427 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: standcasting CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers.