1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:01,880 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 2: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. Let's welcome into 3 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 2: Straight Fire a guest. 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: You know him. 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 2: He's been on the pod before. We had him on 6 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 2: to talk March Badness. John Fanta, Fox Sports College basketball 7 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 2: Guru John. How you doing man, j Mac. 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: It's great to be with you. It's hard to believe 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 1: that we're done with basketball games for a little bit. 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: It's hard to sink in that the NBA Finals here 11 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: are done. And I guess the next thing that we 12 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: turned to is the draft. 13 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, a little depressing. The season's over finals kind of 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 2: ended with a whimper. I'm just curious your thoughts on 15 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: the you know, the Nuggets. We'd have five different champions 16 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 2: in the last five years, Denver's first title. We now 17 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 2: see Milwaukee win a title Denver. It almost feels like 18 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: we're ushering in an era of parody in the NBA. 19 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: I know you're i'marily a college guy, but you know 20 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 2: the NBA game. Well, just your thoughts on the super 21 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 2: team era out in with the parody filled new title 22 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 2: every year. 23 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,839 Speaker 1: So there's the narrative and there's the numbers to back 24 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: it up that we love the dynasty in sports, No 25 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: matter where it is that we might hate it, but 26 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: we don't stop watching it. So I tend to think, okay, 27 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: is the door opening for somebody to win three or 28 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: four titles in five or six years that type of streak. 29 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: And as I come on with you today, I think 30 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: that by being patient and by having the most dominant 31 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: player in the league, he's not sexy. He's not going 32 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: to win the headlines. He's not going to be the 33 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: favorite person that people enjoy talking to. I guess there's 34 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: some humor to the way that Nicola Jokic goes about 35 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: his business into saying I got to get on a 36 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: plane to Serbia to be back home, to be back home, 37 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: to be back on the farm. But like, I don't 38 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: think that this is going to going to be the 39 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: last time that we see Jokic hoist a Larry O'Brien 40 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: trophy and to be at the top of the league. 41 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: I think that the Denver Nuggets, the first one is 42 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: the hardest to get, Jmack, the first one is the 43 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: hardest to get. And now that you've climbed that mountain, 44 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: you've been there, you know it, you know what it 45 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: looks like. I like it, Like I'm gonna watch the 46 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: NBA Finals regardless of who's playing, just like you will. 47 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: That's what we do. We love great basketball. Do I 48 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: think that the Denver Nuggets being the constant team to 49 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: be in the West, like they could be in the 50 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: next three or four years is the best thing for 51 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: the NBA. I don't think that. No, But I think 52 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: that that's very much on the table here off of 53 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: this title. 54 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's interesting because when the Warrior first broke through, 55 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 2: they had stumbled, i think in seven games against the Clippers, 56 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: and you could sense something was happening with Kurry and 57 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 2: Clay and then they break through win the title over 58 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 2: Lebron and you're like, oh my gosh, the Warriors woll 59 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 2: But I guess the larger point is that it's the Warriors. 60 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: They got one lucky title. Kyrie and Kevin Love were 61 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 2: heard blah blah blah. I think Kyrie got hurt at 62 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: the end of Game one or something, and then the 63 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 2: Warriors just started a dynasty and it just started rolling. 64 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 2: Maybe that happens with Denver now. The interesting point is 65 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 2: the Nuggets had a rookie by the name of Christian 66 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: Brown out of Kansas who was not a lottery guy. 67 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: I think he was late teen's, early twenties, and you 68 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: could tell at Kansas like, Okay, this guy's got like 69 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: two or three years under his belt in college. He 70 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: comes in, he's an instant contributor, and he's playing significant minutes. 71 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: You could argue he won them Game three of the 72 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: finals with I think a nineteen point explosion. My number 73 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: one thing watching the finals coming out of that was like, 74 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 2: there are some contenders who need to seriously look at 75 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 2: somehow these veteran players. Forget about the eight nineteen year 76 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 2: olds who may or may not pop in three years. 77 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: I need immediate ROI and like, where are some of 78 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 2: those value guys at the end of the first round. 79 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 2: So I wanted to bring you on and I'll just 80 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 2: get the ball rolling with a guy like Jimei has 81 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 2: Hakez at a UCLA. Just a perfect high IQ guy 82 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: inside outside, nothing flashy, not as athletic as Brown, but 83 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: I think he's definitely got to have, you know, a look, 84 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 2: if I'm late twenties of a title contender, oh. 85 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: I'm totally with you. I am totally with you on 86 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: Hi may Hawkas first off, he's a winner in every 87 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: sense of that idea. He reminds me the way that 88 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: he plays, the intensity that he plays with, that he's 89 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: played with, is that of some of the Villanova guys 90 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: who have stayed at their school three or four years, 91 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,119 Speaker 1: have been winners and then have produced in the league. 92 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: A Josh hart A, Michale Bridges, hi May Hawkes can 93 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: be that j Mack. He could be a really steady 94 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: presence in a lineup. You're talking about a guy who 95 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: went to the Final four in college, went to three 96 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: Sweet sixteens in college. And let's not forget before Hanme 97 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 1: hank Has got to UCLA, that program was in the basement. 98 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: They were in a dark spot. They were not very 99 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: relevant in college basketball. They were losing. It's why they 100 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: had to make a coaching change with Steve Alford. They 101 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: bring in Nick Cronin. Hok As was originally committed to Alford. 102 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: He stays committed to UCLA. Why California kid, great family, 103 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: His sister plays at UCLA. He's got a terrific work 104 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: ethic and anybody and everybody you talked to around UCLA 105 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: thinks the world of that guy. But to be at 106 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 1: his size, he's got good positional size. He's a sneaky 107 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: good athlete. He was one of the guys in the 108 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: combine that actually shines. People were surprised by his athleticism 109 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 1: and to average eighteen eight and close to three assists 110 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: per game while shooting forty eight percent from the floor. 111 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 1: The numbers check out, the attitude checks out if he's 112 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: on the board, and the picks hit twenty twenty one, 113 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: twenty two. If you want to add a rotational piece 114 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: that can help your team, Jimei Hawkez is as good 115 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: of the case as any. At about six foot seven, 116 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: with his length, with his the way that he works, 117 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: he'll help somebody immediately. 118 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, Sacramento Kings are at twenty four. I had them 119 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 2: taking Chris Murray in my last mock draft. Obviously his 120 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: brother Kegan's on the team, But like Memphis at twenty five, 121 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: Utah twenty eight, although they're not really a contender. I 122 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 2: want to mention another kuy Now. He's a kid out 123 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 2: of Marquette, and I'll be honest, when I saw Marquette 124 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 2: this year, he did not pop to me. But when 125 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: you put him in that combine setting and then you 126 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 2: look at the measurements, this kid Olivier, I'm not even 127 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 2: going to try to pronounce his last name, Max SMS 128 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 2: Prosper dude. He was amazing at the Combine. And again 129 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 2: then you start watching some of the games and you're like, oh, 130 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 2: I can see flashes of three in d I don't 131 00:06:58,120 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: know where are you on him? 132 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 1: I like him, and I think part of it like, 133 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: sometimes we overvalue or undervalue a prospect based solely on 134 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: what a college team is running or what they're doing, 135 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: and sometimes a player's best doesn't come out because of 136 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: the way that they're asked to play at the college level. 137 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: It's not an indictment on Shaka Smart. Marquette won twenty 138 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: nine games this past year. They were a very good 139 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: basketball team. But for Prosper, the athleticism Jason got hidden, 140 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: it did it got hidden. Just how much of a 141 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: freak that he can be. This is a guy that 142 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: I'm in on. I watched him at Saint John's, was 143 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: there in person. He scored twenty nine points, the majority 144 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: of them coming in the second half of that game. 145 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: Marquette was down in that game by double digits. Honestly, 146 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: it's a game I've seen him lose eight nine times 147 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: out of ten. He won them that game he's a 148 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: guy who can stretch the floor. What's the thing or 149 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: what's the thing that NBA front officers are looking for. 150 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: They look at for a guy that said six foot eight, 151 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: six foot nine, somewhere in that area code that can 152 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: stretch the floor and knock down perimeter shots. Olivier Mack says, 153 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: Prosper can do that for a team. He's a really 154 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: good defender. Shaka Smart would pin him on some of 155 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: the really strong power forwards or strong wings in the 156 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: Big East. And there are a number of different guys 157 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: that come to mind. This is a guy that when 158 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: you look at risers of the last two months, he's 159 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: as much of a riser as anybody. I think. If 160 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: you ask somebody two months ago Jmak, they would have said, 161 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: maybe he gets drafted, maybe like forty five to fifty. 162 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: And you know, Jmack, once you get to fifty, you'd 163 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 1: probably rather be undrafted than getting selected. It's nice to 164 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: hear your name call, but you'd rather you and your age, 165 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: you want to select your destination at that point. This guy, 166 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: as time has gone on, even his own people in 167 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: his circle, even his agents who I've talked to, his agency, 168 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 1: they've said gotta be honest with you. He's risen more 169 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: than we thought, and he's proved himself. He's got again 170 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: positional size, shot making ability comes from a really good 171 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: program at Marquette, and I've talked with him numerous times. 172 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: Incredibly easy to talk to. If you're an easy guy 173 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: to interview and you have a realization of what you're 174 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,719 Speaker 1: gonna be in your rookie year, You're not gonna come 175 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: in and get ten shots a game. Okay, nothing's guaranteed, buddy. 176 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: This is a guy Olivier Maxon's prosper who I think 177 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: will be a back end of the first round pick, 178 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: and a valuable one at that. 179 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 2: You know, you said a couple of things about him 180 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 2: as a player, and one of the big things that 181 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: I get in arguments with people about when with my 182 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 2: mock drafts, say is forget about what the guy was, 183 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 2: forget about this past year, forget about last year. You've 184 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 2: got to look at what he can be in an 185 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 2: NBA system that's different. And we see this a lot 186 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 2: with Kentucky guards Man SGA like, okay, he was all right, 187 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 2: nothing especially he was an All NBA player at Kentucky. 188 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 2: Devin Booker, I mean, Jamal Murray, Like this happens a lot. 189 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 2: Forget about what they were, look at what they can be, 190 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: look at the future. And is there anyone in this 191 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 2: draft that jumps out to you as Hey, I know 192 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 2: the stats were modest in college, maybe the pop wasn't there, 193 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 2: but keep an eye on this guy. 194 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. I think that there's a couple. I'm most curious 195 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: to see what the Michigan guys end up being because 196 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: I think both their stocks are interesting. I think when 197 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: you're talking about a Jet Howard, he's got terrific feel 198 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: for the game, and he comes from the right jeans, 199 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: that's for sure, and at six foot eight, at six 200 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:39,839 Speaker 1: foot eight to be able to shoot the basketball thirty 201 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: seven percent from the floor this past year, to average 202 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: over fourteen points per game in the Big Ten. But 203 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: he didn't pop, Like, there's nothing about Jet in my opinion, 204 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: that popped. When you thought Michigan, you thought Hunter Dickinson. 205 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: It's surprising to think Michigan missed the NCAA tournament and 206 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: they have two potential top twenty picks. I mean, that's 207 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: not good for it's a little crazy. That's not good 208 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: for him. But you know, the other guy that I 209 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: look at is Kobe Buffkin. His stock has just gone 210 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: one direction. Yeah, and that's all I like him. I 211 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: think Jmack that he's a guy that to be able 212 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: to distribute the basketball to the degree that he did. 213 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: He wasn't asked to be a passer in their system, 214 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: but he did average over three assists per game while 215 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: scoring fourteen per game while at six foot four in 216 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,079 Speaker 1: the Big Ten, he rebounded the basketball about five times 217 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: a game. That's pretty good for a guard. And there's 218 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: a belief out there that this guy has the stock 219 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: that could lead him to being a big riser once 220 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: he gets into the NBA. That being in the Big Ten, 221 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: the kind of style that that league plays, that you 222 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: just don't get to show your total skill set. So 223 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: I've got my eyes on Kobe Buffkin. I think he 224 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: could be a steal in this draft. 225 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 2: All right, let me mention a guy kind of in 226 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 2: that area, not Big Ten, not a power conference. But 227 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 2: his name is Imani Baits. A lot of people may 228 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:07,439 Speaker 2: know him as like the number one high school in 229 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 2: the player high school player in the country when he 230 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 2: was seventeen, goes to Memphis, is a total disaster in 231 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 2: flames out. And this is where it gets interesting, John, 232 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 2: because you know, Baits is like a big red flags 233 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 2: all around, like, look what this guy was in the past, 234 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 2: and it's like, well, wait a minute, wait a minute. 235 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 2: He was like seventeen, eighteen years old, he screwed around 236 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:26,719 Speaker 2: a lot, he goes to Eastern Michigan, he had a 237 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 2: pretty good year. Is this a guy you would take 238 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: a chance on, like late lottery and near early twenties, 239 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 2: like late twenties or you say, in no way, I'm 240 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 2: not touching him too much hype because there is something 241 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 2: too Hey man, this guy was a teenager screwing around, 242 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 2: and you get him in our right culture I don't know, 243 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 2: spurs culture or a heat culture, and he could totally pop. 244 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 2: But where are you on Baits based on what you've 245 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 2: heard and seen? 246 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,719 Speaker 1: Right? And you know that's the thing here is we're 247 00:12:55,760 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: talking about a kid who's nineteen. He's nineteen years old. 248 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: So it's hard to for me to sit here and 249 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: tell you like I don't like this when people are like, well, no, 250 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: it's he's going to be a flame out. How the 251 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: hell do you know? How the hell do we know 252 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: at his age? How why are you you only look 253 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: silly by saying that, because in no way, if you're right, 254 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: nobody cares like way to be. If you basically pronounced 255 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: that a nineteen year old wouldn't pan out on the NBA, 256 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: we're still talking about a guy like you said, a 257 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: guy that, yes, at one point was projected to be 258 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: the next Kevin Durant, that he could be the next 259 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: great thing. That's not what he's going to be. Is 260 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: he a lottery pick? No, in my opinion, he's not. 261 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: I think it's a systematic thing. I think if if 262 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: you are a team, and I know that this might 263 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: come off bold, but who has five of the top 264 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: forty three picks in this draft? The Charlotte Hornets. Oh 265 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 1: if you used one of them on a money baits 266 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 1: You're not trying to win this year with a year 267 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 1: with Aimani. But I would understand that you have draft capital. 268 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 2: But John on the heels of the Miles Bridges toast 269 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 2: Bridge and this speculation that Brandon Miller if he falls 270 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 2: to three, do they even touch him? I'm sorry too, 271 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 2: Do they take Brandon Miller? Do they take Scoot? Like 272 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 2: I just wonder with Jordan and that franchise, Like I 273 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 2: know Jordan's selling the team. But oh, that's a tough one. 274 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 2: I just feel like, is there a culture, Is there 275 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 2: anything going on in Charlotte that's positive where the coaches 276 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: are going to rain him in? 277 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: You know, Yeah, that's a good it's a great point. 278 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: I mean, and it's a point to consider. There's there's 279 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: no doubt that if but by that logic, then you 280 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: picked Scooter too. I mean, let's be honest here. 281 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 2: I had Scooter two in my mock. I know a 282 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 2: lot of people have Miller and I and I get it. 283 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 2: By the way, do you remember Miller's last game? 284 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, it did not go well. 285 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 2: Totally, But again, James Harden had an awful final last game. 286 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 2: I remember it was against his own defense. He couldn't 287 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 2: do anything. I think it was against Syracuse hard just 288 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 2: totally batch a lot of these college kids, you know, 289 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 2: final game, like Kevin Durant's last game he lost, and 290 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: I think the first or second round of the tournament, Like, 291 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: can't put a ton of sock in it. 292 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: But no, but he did struggle for three late in 293 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 1: the year Miller. The last month of Miller's college season 294 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: at Alabama, he really struggled from the perimeter. And so 295 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: if all the benefits are there, okay, you could be 296 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: a great athlete. You could have all the things that 297 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: you like. And Brandon Miller, he's got a lot to 298 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: like about him. The athleticism, the explosiveness, the ability to 299 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: get to the rim, make things happen. He glides, he 300 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: glides in transition, and he's a willing defender. And yeah, 301 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: I spent an hour with him this past season, talk 302 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: with him for a Fox Sports dot Com article and 303 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: Jmack hearing about his journey and hearing about it. Now, 304 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: this was before everything came out. I thought that that Brandon, 305 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: talking with him in an hour, I could understand who 306 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: he was as a player and what he does well 307 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: and all those things. But this is a shot making league. 308 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: This is a shot making league. And it might have 309 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: just been one season of sample size at the college level. 310 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: But let's face it, Miller, I think he finished the 311 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: year from three like three for twenty five or twenty six. 312 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: He really struggled. He really struggled at the end of 313 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: the year. And you and I both know what happens 314 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: if you get out there as a rookie and you're 315 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: taking and missing shots. 316 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 2: Tough I want to go, is there a Jokic effect 317 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 2: possibly happening where Holy cal we're pivoting away from wings 318 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 2: and threes to hey, you've got to have a big 319 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 2: guy distributing. Now, it's impossible to find Yokic's he's a unicorn, 320 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 2: But I there is a big in this draft that 321 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 2: I wonder if his stock is rising, because hey, maybe 322 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 2: not as a freshman he's gonna stop him, not as 323 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 2: a freshman as a rookie, but in two or three 324 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 2: years you're looking for the antidote Jokic. You look at 325 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 2: this kid, Derek Lively, at a duke who has I mean, 326 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 2: is I think he averaged like five point the game 327 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:04,679 Speaker 2: total non factor but a shot blocking monster, just a 328 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 2: bohemoth inside. I don't know where are you and Lively. 329 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 2: I did see the video out here of one of 330 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 2: his workouts in LA where he made like thirteen straight 331 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 2: three pointers, and you're like, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait, wait, 332 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 2: there's nobody defending him. I didn't see any of this, 333 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 2: a dude, but maybe that's just because of the structure 334 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 2: that Shire was. 335 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: Playing, right, it was partially the structure that John Shire 336 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: was playing. Partially it had to do with the fact that, 337 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: like Lively, if you watched Lively run early in the season, 338 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: it just looked like he was a wide eyed he's 339 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,400 Speaker 1: a baby deer. He was just trying. He was trying 340 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 1: to figure everything out, and so the offensive game wasn't 341 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 1: going to come. Not when you've got a Jeremy Roach, 342 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: not when Kyle Philipowski's putting up huge figures. Which it's 343 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 1: amazing that Philipowski didn't stay in the draft, that he's 344 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: coming back to the you're talking about he's he's a 345 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: sure fire first round pick if he goes to the draft, 346 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: if not top fifteen. So for Lively, like he's a 347 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: unique case. But here's what you love about Lively. To 348 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: your point about bigs, there's always a need for rim protection, 349 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: and Derek Lively did it at an elite level. Seven 350 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: foot one with a seven foot eight wingspan. His ability 351 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: to help defensively for duke just change games for them. 352 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 1: He's got to hit the weight room, he's got to 353 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: build his body up. Yeah, one and done. Guy is 354 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: out a duke that can happen. We talk about that. 355 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: That's a real thing. But he's an upside pick. He's 356 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,199 Speaker 1: another guy that, like you said, who's a guy that 357 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: at the college level maybe didn't perform at a high 358 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 1: level in the scoring column that you still are buying. 359 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: I'm with you. I'm buying Derek Lively as well and 360 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: j Mack. There's not a lot of great bigs in 361 00:18:55,359 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: this class. Definitely as a result Lively's Lively. He could 362 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: end up sneaking into the lottery because a team really 363 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: believes in him. But a team also has the need 364 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: for a big man and doesn't have a need for 365 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: a guard who could be wishy washy. 366 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 2: And this one's not for the NBA casuals. But how about, 367 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 2: if not the Jokic effect, the Walker Kessler effect, a 368 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 2: shot blocking a juggernaut inside as a rookie. Now I 369 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 2: know he's still been longer in college, but he was 370 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 2: like an impact guy for the Jazz blocking shots. I 371 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 2: don't know that Lively can have that quick of an impact. 372 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 2: Maybe he takes a gap year, hits the weight room, 373 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 2: gets on some creatine or whatever the kids are doing 374 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 2: these days, and comes back as a nuisance next year. 375 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 2: But I'm with you on Lively. Give me a guy 376 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 2: that you're higher on than the market that maybe other 377 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 2: people are saying Lukewarm, you really are all in on. 378 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: I mean, Hawkes is one guy that I'm all in on. 379 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 2: I'll give you a second to think about it. I'll 380 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 2: just toss out a guy that okay, Okay. 381 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:01,919 Speaker 1: Mine would be Xavier's Kobe John Interesting. 382 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 2: I didn't have him in my first and that was 383 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 2: one of the guys that people told me, Hey, you 384 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 2: got to keep a eye on this Jones kid, Okay. 385 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: And the reason why is because I thought that first off, 386 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:15,920 Speaker 1: I thought he got coached a heck of a lot 387 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 1: better this past year. Who's he coming from. He's coming 388 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: from a guy in Sean Miller, who we know his 389 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: pass but he's one hell of a basketball coach. 390 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. 391 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 1: And what and what Miller did is he got Jones, 392 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: a six foot six wing to be kind of a 393 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: point wing and Xavier system. Jones passed the ball at 394 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 1: a high level. He became a better shot maker from deep. Yeah, 395 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: thirty seven percent from deep on a Sweet sixteen Xavier team, 396 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,880 Speaker 1: a team that was you watched the college game enough 397 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: to know Xavier was one of the better offensive teams, 398 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,199 Speaker 1: one of the more fun watches in the sport. This year. 399 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: They played a pro style offense, Miller in his gap 400 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,640 Speaker 1: year when he was out of coaching, worked on involving 401 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: his offense to being more like a international style offense. 402 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: He thinks that's gonna be a selling point to recruits. Well, 403 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: guess what. Kobe Jones was the one who benefited off it. 404 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: I like his game, I like his handle. I think, 405 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 1: like you just said, thirty seven percent from three, he's 406 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: a guy that I'm more bullish on than others because 407 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: all those things combined with again an awareness, an awareness 408 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,679 Speaker 1: of where he is on the floor, and awareness of 409 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: making the right play. You could not You don't need 410 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: more than one hand to count how many guys in 411 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: their rookie season made a huge impact on a winning team. 412 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: Like it's not like there's a flurry of rookies where 413 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: you're like, wow, this this past year's draft class was unbelievable. 414 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: It's not like this year's draft class has a ton 415 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: of depth to it. But can you find those guys 416 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: that just understand that being an eighth or ninth guy 417 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: is an okay thing. Kobe Jones, like Hakkas one of 418 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: those guys. 419 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 2: Hey, how about Austin Reeves undrafted and now he's gonna 420 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 2: probably make like ninety million dollars, some massive contract. Somebody's 421 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 2: gonnay him, probably the Lakers. Let me throw my guy 422 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 2: at you. You saw a lot of them. I didn't 423 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 2: think we saw him at full go because of the 424 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 2: system they played in and depth on this team. But 425 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 2: Jordan Hawkins at Yukon, I had sixth overall and a 426 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 2: lot of people were like, Jay, are you crazy? He's 427 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 2: not that good, And I just remind people, it's not 428 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 2: what you were, it's what you can be. And I 429 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:21,719 Speaker 2: see this guy can handle. He can shoot the lights out. 430 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 2: He's one of the best shooters in the draft. And 431 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 2: at six ' five, I think he can probably guard 432 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 2: twos and threes. I'm not quite saying, listen, this is 433 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 2: Devin Booker or Jamal Murray. I'd like to see a 434 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 2: little more playmaking, But again, Jamal Murray didn't come into 435 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 2: the league as a playmaker. Five years later, he's averaging 436 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 2: like ten assists per game in the NBA Finals. Like, 437 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 2: players can grow and develop, and I don't know where. 438 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 1: Are you on Hawkins microwave. He is the microwave in 439 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 1: this draft class. He's the best shooter in this draft class. 440 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 1: And there's no question about it. I would put Grady 441 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: Dick second, but in my opinion, Jordan Hawkins is undoubtedly 442 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: the top three point shooter in this class. There is 443 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: something to be said about that when you're elite, absolutely 444 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: elite from a shot making perspective. In the NCAA tournament, 445 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: Jordan Hawkins he shot over fifty percent from three. He 446 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: was nails for Connecticut and Jason. This is not like 447 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: a you know, I understand when people say, oh, college 448 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: game versus NBA game, but here's where there's a clear 449 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: difference between college and NBA. In the college game, there's 450 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: a whole lot more misses, a whole lot more misses. 451 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 1: Jordan Hawkins just broke broke through that. This is a 452 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: guy who, to me, has a toughness about him, has 453 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: a great ability to come off, to come off screens 454 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: and make things happen like his movement off the ball. 455 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:53,120 Speaker 1: Danny Hurley runs complex sets at time point where you've 456 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 1: got to move, catch, shoot, and sometimes the amount of 457 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 1: space it's airtight. And Hawkins did that at a very 458 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 1: high level. So I'm with you. I think he's the 459 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: best shooter in this draft class. I've got a name 460 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 1: for you, okay that I think people should learn about 461 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 1: ahead of the draft that did not play college basketball. 462 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: So I'm higher on him than others. Ryan Rupeir Oh 463 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 1: Breaker six foot six, nineteen years old, seven foot three wingspan. Yeah, 464 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: and you talk to anybody out in New Zealand where 465 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 1: he's played, You talk to the people around his club, 466 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: you know what they say, unbelievable lockdown defender like at 467 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 1: nineteen is ready to defend at the NBA level. I 468 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:41,440 Speaker 1: don't know about you, but in the back half of 469 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: first round, if I can get a guy who's gonna 470 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,920 Speaker 1: step right in and be a challenge for an opposing 471 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,479 Speaker 1: guard in practice and could come in and lock somebody 472 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: down for two or three minutes at a time, I'm 473 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 1: okay with that. And I think Repair could be a 474 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: guy that steps up on the board. 475 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. I'm a minority owner and the Breakers, so I'm 476 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 2: pretty familiar with his game on and off the court. 477 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 2: Do you remember Andre Roberson, He played for the OKAC Thunder. 478 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 2: He was on some of those TV Westbrook teams. This 479 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 2: is who he's in the mold of. But he's more repairs, 480 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 2: more offensively skilled, I believe, and NBA teams have been 481 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 2: going down there looking at him for a long time. 482 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 2: I definitely think he's a first round pick. How high 483 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 2: back end of the lottery early twenties is is we'll 484 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 2: see two more for you. An NBA draft podcast would 485 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 2: not be an NBA Draft podcast without a Weembin Yama question. 486 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 2: The problem is, I don't really know what the question 487 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:36,640 Speaker 2: would be. We know he's going first, we know he's 488 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:40,199 Speaker 2: a game changer. I think my macro question would be 489 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 2: the three best players in the NBA, arguably Yannis Jokic 490 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:48,159 Speaker 2: and Doncic, three Europeans. The number one pick is going 491 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 2: to be Webbin Yama, who's expected to be a unicorn, 492 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,400 Speaker 2: the greatest prospects once Lebron. You see the theme here, 493 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 2: and I've been talking to a lot of people about this, 494 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 2: and it's not that like are the Europeans taking over 495 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 2: or whatever, but something's going on in the league right 496 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 2: now where a lot of these American players and listen, 497 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 2: I like Scoot Henderson, but you look at Scoot the 498 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 2: Thompson Twins. You know these guys are coming in the league. 499 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 2: They're not nearly as skilled. Now can they get to 500 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 2: the bucket and driple between their legs and all the stuff. 501 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,200 Speaker 2: Of course, and they Flashy Dunk's big followings on Instagram. 502 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 2: But you just see some of these Europeans, and I've 503 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 2: already looked to the twenty twenty four draft and there's 504 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 2: possibly three of the top five hail from European families. 505 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 2: I don't know what's going on, man. 506 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: I think the skill ends up leading to a slower 507 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 1: pace and sometimes half court basketball. In fact, most times 508 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:45,120 Speaker 1: half court basketball. So when I look at Doncic, when 509 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: I look at Jokic, and when I look at Giannis, 510 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: their ability to take the basketball, whether it's at the 511 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: elbow or whether it's in the post wherever it is, 512 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 1: or at the baseline, it's it's like that Lebron debut 513 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 1: commercial way back in the day that Nike put out 514 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: when the game totally stops, when he was in Sacramento 515 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 1: and they and there's that ad and the game just 516 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 1: totally stops, and then he looks at the camera and smiles. 517 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 1: It's like when those guys get the basketball that everybody 518 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 1: else enters into quicksand because all nine other players on 519 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 1: the floor, particularly the five on defense, all of a 520 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,159 Speaker 1: sudden they've got to slow down in a game that 521 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:33,640 Speaker 1: is so incredibly sped up. So we're in an era 522 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: of We've been in an era of the NBA that 523 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:44,199 Speaker 1: Stephen Curry helped make of speed and who cares if 524 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,160 Speaker 1: it's two or three on one. If it's an open three, 525 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,239 Speaker 1: take it, take it, and you're probably gonna make it. 526 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: At least that's the goal, that's the thought in mind, 527 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 1: and just jacking up shots from downtown is something that 528 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: can be successful, and some teams play with fire. That's 529 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 1: what teams want to do. But the three guys you 530 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:05,680 Speaker 1: just brought up, it's not to say they don't shoot 531 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 1: the basketball well, because two of the three do in 532 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 1: Don chisen Jokic, but all three of them have the 533 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 1: ability that if the game is on the line, or 534 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 1: if it's a one or two possession game, they could 535 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,120 Speaker 1: take the basketball and you could throw one, two, three, 536 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: four people at them. And it's now an offensive friendly game, 537 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: just like all sports are. I mean, look at football. 538 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: If you go to the rim and you take a 539 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 1: little bit of contact, the whistle's being blown because you 540 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 1: are one of the most dominant players and you're gonna 541 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 1: get the benefit of the doubt. That to me is 542 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,480 Speaker 1: what's happening. And Victor Webbinyama is going to be able 543 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 1: to come into this league and he's going to be 544 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 1: able to do that. That's his game as well. He's 545 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 1: a guy he could take a running three point shot 546 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: with one foot. I cannot wait for the NBA world 547 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 1: to see that on every night. Basis. 548 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 2: I wonder who they have San Antonio open the season with, 549 00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 2: cause it's going to be a marquee game and they're 550 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 2: going to be on open. They have to be right. 551 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 2: I know you have the champs. You're not gonna have 552 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 2: them open against Denver and Altitude, No way that'll be. 553 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:10,520 Speaker 2: That'll be an interesting one. It's gonna be a good 554 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 2: matchup when Minyama against somebody. I don't think they'll do Lebron, 555 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 2: but it'll be somebody big final much. 556 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: Oh, I'm gonna go both for the NBA opener. Celtics 557 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:25,479 Speaker 1: have Wemby open up old school NBA world's most famous arena, 558 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: Spurs and Nick. 559 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 2: That's not bad. We Minyama against Randall and Mitchell Robinson. Yeah, 560 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 2: that's gonna be a tough ticket. We'll wrap up with 561 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 2: this John. So I'm looking at the Charlotte Hornets depth chart. 562 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 2: They're picking second Terry Rozier Oubray, Yeah, Gez, Gordon Howard, 563 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 2: I like Mark Williams, he's young. 564 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 1: PJ. 565 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 2: Washington obviously the big guy there is LaMelo Ball. They 566 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 2: have the kid book Night from from Ukott, so they 567 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 2: don't have much What are you doing if you're Charlotte 568 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 2: at we touched on Brandon Miller. Scoot Henderson not as 569 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,479 Speaker 2: much of a known commodity, although six months ago if 570 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 2: you were looking at Scoot Henderson you'd be like, oh shucks, 571 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 2: is that Derek Grosse. I'm just curious trying to get 572 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 2: into the mind of Charlotte. Any thoughts on that one. 573 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: So I'm with you. I would take Scoot it two. 574 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 1: I think it's in their best interest to take Scoot 575 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: Henderson at number two. I just think at the age 576 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 1: of nineteen to have the incredible scoring ability that he possesses, 577 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: to take on Wembin Yama last October. And I know 578 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: we can't go off of one game too much, but 579 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: in that game that when they played, how easy it 580 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 1: could have been for Scoot to get upstaged or for 581 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 1: Scoot to take so many shots that it just resulted 582 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 1: in being a points performance. But efficiency was off. No, no, no, 583 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: he said, I'm gonna punch right with you. I've got confidence, 584 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 1: I've got swagger, and he does. His speed is that 585 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 1: of you know, it's it's that of a Russell Westbrook type. 586 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 1: He can he can go, he can go, and he 587 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: looks up to Russ he looks up to Alan Iverson. 588 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 1: He plays with that type of attitude and swagger. 589 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 2: I mean, he's John Is that good? 590 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 1: Though? 591 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 2: Those are Those are two incredibly selfish players. Talented obviously 592 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:29,719 Speaker 2: Hall of famers, no doubt, but not a ton of 593 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 2: winning in the not a ton with their style. 594 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: But I like scoot Here over Brandon Miller because I 595 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: I side with and maybe Charlotte's not the one to 596 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 1: do this. I side with a kid who, you know, 597 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: understood what G League I Knit's supposed to be about. 598 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: Separate if he's one of seven kids, he had to 599 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 1: go into a room in Nevada. It's not all goods 600 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: and glamour with G League Knit. I mean, you don't 601 00:31:57,920 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: have to go to you don't have to go to 602 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 1: college classes, but you're isolated, you're without your family. They're 603 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 1: trying to be hard on you to get you ready 604 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: for the next level. He took that on he did 605 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: a great job with it. The guy runs his own 606 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:14,960 Speaker 1: training fitness center down in Georgia, he runs food drives, 607 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 1: he does work in his community like he gets it. 608 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: And I spent an extensive period of time with him 609 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: in Chicago for a Fox sports dot com piece, so 610 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: you can read over there, and folks, I can tell 611 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 1: you right now the growth that I've seen him make 612 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 1: in eighteen months, just from talking with him eighteen months 613 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 1: ago ahead of one of his night games to now 614 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 1: has been leaps and bounds. And I think if that 615 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 1: kid could do that from seventeen and a half to nineteen, 616 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 1: I'm willing to bet on him being a great guard 617 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 1: in the National Basketball Association in three or four years. 618 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: I think he can be that good. Whereas with Miller, 619 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 1: I have legitimate questions about his perimeter shots, and now 620 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: I have some updated questions about his character. 621 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 2: It's undeniable stuff. John Fanta College Basketball at Fox Sports. 622 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 2: You do a little bit of everything, Ah, the videos, 623 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,960 Speaker 2: the writing, streaming TV. What's next? 624 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 1: Man? 625 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 2: What else you got this summer? Any big plans? 626 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 1: Hey? It's it's like you know as as well. If 627 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 1: they ask you, what do you say? Yes, Yeah, I'm 628 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: willing to do it. Uh, absolutely so. So next week 629 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 1: I'll be at the NBA Draft. I'll actually the the 630 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:28,239 Speaker 1: NBA Draft. In the past in Brooklyn has been as 631 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 1: the night goes on, and people said this, especially in house, 632 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: Like on TV, some people do do get bored. We 633 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 1: get it, but in house has has become you know, 634 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:43,400 Speaker 1: like not the best fan experience. Well, they're doing they're 635 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:45,680 Speaker 1: doing a live show. It'll be on the NBA APP 636 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:48,040 Speaker 1: but it'll be inside the Barclays Center. So I'm gonna 637 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be on that show on Draft night in Brooklyn. 638 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 1: We're very excited for it. And then breaking things down 639 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 1: for Fox Sports dot Com off of that with Peach 640 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: Jam coming up for me as well in the basketball world. 641 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: So in the recruiting world, I'll be down in Georgia 642 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:06,080 Speaker 1: to try to see who's could be the next you know, 643 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:08,720 Speaker 1: who could be the next great prospect out of high school? 644 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:11,360 Speaker 1: Kind of a lost art Jmach. Everybody goes to transfer portal. 645 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:12,359 Speaker 1: Now at the college. 646 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:13,799 Speaker 2: Level, is it probably Boozers Kid. 647 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's one of them. Absolutely, He's some of the 648 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:21,320 Speaker 1: highlights this this freshman class though, this upcoming freshman class 649 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 1: not a great freshman class. So okay. It's very hard though, 650 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 1: to be a freshman in playing college basketball even now, 651 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:30,399 Speaker 1: because there's still guys that are playing that are twenty 652 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 1: four and twenty five years old. 653 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that makes it real tough on the young kids, 654 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,359 Speaker 2: all right, John, thanks a lot, Enjoy the draft next week. 655 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 2: Talk to you soon. 656 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 1: Thanks J Mak