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I hope all of you guys had 36 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,679 Speaker 1: a great weekend. Part in the different setup. I'm doing 37 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: some renovations to the studio right now, so for about 38 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: the next week or so, this will be the setup 39 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: just want to get some permanent stuff in there. Had 40 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 1: we threw the set together really fast. If you guys 41 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: remember we started this show in February in the middle 42 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: of the season, and so we didn't have a ton 43 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: of time to get detailed with the setup. So we're 44 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: doing some work in there right now. Um, that should 45 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: be back to normal by next week. Season is right 46 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: around the corner to we are, if I'm not mistaken. 47 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: Four weeks from Thursday is the first preseason game this year. 48 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: That's how close we are. And the next month we're 49 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: gonna be spending a lot of time looking forward. We're 50 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: gonna do another series, a detailed series similar to what 51 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: we did with our top twenty five NBA players. We're 52 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: gonna do the top fifteen power rankings going into the season, 53 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: and each video is going to be a deep dive 54 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 1: into everything about that particular team in the Power rankings, 55 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: changes they've made to the roster over the offseason, what 56 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: I expect them to look like on the offensive end 57 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: of the floor and the defensive end of the floor, 58 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 1: Predictions for the season, everything under the sun for each 59 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: of the top fifteen teams in the league. That's something 60 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: I'm really looking forward to But before we look forward, 61 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: there is one last thing that we have to do 62 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: looking backwards, and it's something I feel like it's really 63 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: important because one of the best basketball players of all time, 64 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: a player that coming into last season had three championships, 65 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: should have had a Finals MVP, had one back to 66 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: back m vps at one point, and is the foundational 67 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: piece for one of the wildest franchise turnarounds in the 68 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: history of the NBA and the most dominant franchise of 69 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: this era. Mr Steph Curry. He just had not only 70 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: another championship added to his resume, a Finals m v 71 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: P what should have been a second added to his resume, 72 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: but had one of the most dominant playoff runs of 73 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: his career and an NBA history that changes a lot 74 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: of things, that puts him into conversations with players that 75 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: we never really thought that he'd be mentioned with when 76 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: he came into the league. And so before we look forward, 77 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: before we start thinking about this next season, I wanted 78 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: to take an opportunity to think a little bit harder 79 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: about where Staph lands all time. After this crowning achievement 80 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: of his career, this playoff run, winning a fourth title, 81 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: with the Golden State Warriors. So we're gonna be diving 82 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: into where he ranks in the list to a um, 83 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: how I what rules I use with my particular list, 84 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: and get into some of the other players on the 85 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: list as well. But it's gonna be a big focus 86 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,679 Speaker 1: on Steph. You guys know the drill before we get started. 87 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: Subscribe to the volume's YouTube channel so you don't miss 88 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 1: any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at 89 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: Underscore Jason lt so you guys don't miss any show announcements. 90 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: And then, last but not least, if you miss one 91 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: of these videos and you can't get back over to 92 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,239 Speaker 1: YouTube to finish them, don't forget that you can always 93 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: go to our podcast feeds wherever you get your podcasts 94 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,119 Speaker 1: and find the audio version of these shows under Hoops Tonight. 95 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: So again, we need to have this conversation because I 96 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: do think these things matter. Um, the debates themselves can 97 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: get frustrating to me for the same reasons why the 98 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: player rankings can get frustrating. Sometimes no one really wants 99 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: to negotiate and good or talk or discuss and good faith. 100 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: Everyone's kind of married to their opinions and it can 101 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: get very like aggressive with people, and it doesn't end 102 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 1: up being a basketball discussion often enough for my likeing. 103 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 1: But I do think these things matter. The reality is is, 104 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: particularly with the NBA, we care about player rankings. We 105 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: talk about the goat the greatest of all time in 106 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: basketball a hell of a lot more than we do 107 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: with Major League Baseball or with football, obviously because of 108 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: positional differences. And I think that's interesting because there are 109 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,119 Speaker 1: positional differences in basketball. I keep separate lists for bigs 110 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: and perimeter players, which we'll talk about here in a minute, 111 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: but lists, these all time rankings do matter a lot 112 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 1: more within the historical context of the NBA than they 113 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: do with other sports. And Steph Curry just had an 114 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: incredible career defining achievement and as a four time champion, 115 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: two time m v P, he is on a very 116 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 1: short list of players who have hit those specific markers 117 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: in NBA history, and so he's starting to force his 118 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: way into some really complicated conversations, and that's recognition that 119 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: he deserves. I've always been a big believer that you 120 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: know that that that the trophy really means something, and 121 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: when you have a season like this that ends in 122 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: an achievement like Steph lighting up that Celtics defense and 123 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: getting a trophy. I believe you deserve a hell of 124 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: a lot of recognition because of just how hard that 125 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: is to do. I do the same thing when Janice 126 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: got the trophy last year, did the same thing when 127 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: Lebron got it in again. When these guys add that 128 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: particular achievement to their to their resume and needs to 129 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: be celebrated. So a couple of things. First of all, 130 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: why do I keep biggs and perimeter players in separate lists. 131 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: It's the same reason why I value perimeter players more 132 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: than bigs in general. But it goes deeper than that. 133 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: They because I don't have to get into the basketball reasons. 134 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: The main thing to me is it's they're just different positions. 135 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: How can I possibly compare what Kareem abdul Jabbar did 136 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: for the Lakers for all those years to what Steph 137 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: Curry is doing for the Warriors. There's no basketball translatability. 138 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: They didn't even do any of the same jobs on 139 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,239 Speaker 1: the floor, aside from the end result, which was putting 140 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: the ball in the basket or stopping the other team 141 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: from putting the ball in the basket. That's where the 142 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: similarities end. So how can I say one player is 143 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: better than the other when it's like comparing a left 144 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: tackle to a cornerback in the NFL? Like it just 145 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: there's not enough parallels there for me to make those 146 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: types of comparisons. So for me, I'm gonna put perimeter 147 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: players in one list, and bigs at any kind of 148 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: big and another list that involves big centers like Kareem 149 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: abdul Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain and the best power forwards 150 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 1: of all time, the Tim Duncans and the Dirk Namitzki's 151 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: of the world. I view that specific position, the low 152 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: post anchor on both ends of the floor, as a 153 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: completely different position, a completely different job, but basically a 154 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: different sport than what the perimeter players are asked to 155 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: do on any given possessions. So I'm going to keep 156 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: them in different lists. That's just the way I do it. 157 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: A lot of people are going to do it differently, 158 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,079 Speaker 1: and that's fair, you know. Like some people say Kareem 159 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: Abdulgibar is the greatest basketball player of all time, They're 160 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: not wrong. I just have a hard time saying Kareem 161 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,359 Speaker 1: is better than Lebron and MJ considering they do absolutely 162 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: nothing similar on a basketball court. And then lastly, I 163 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: don't factor in any basketball before the nineteen eighties. The 164 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: reason there is very simple. I have watched a lot 165 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: of film from everything that's happened, from all of the 166 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: greatest games in NBA history many times over. There's plenty 167 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 1: of footage and a lot to dive in there to 168 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: learn beyond it gets really cloudy for me, and I 169 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: personally just don't feel comfortable having strong opinions about basketball 170 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: players that played that long ago. The game looks very different. 171 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: It's a lot harder to find footage. In general. It's 172 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: just an era that I do not know enough about 173 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: beyond what I've read in books and a little bit 174 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: of footage that I've seen. So for me personally, I 175 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: don't feel comfortable comfortable for that. There are a lot 176 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: of guys out there that are older, that have been 177 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: around the game a lot longer, that are more willing 178 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: to dive into those types of comparisons. That's not me. 179 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 1: So this particular list for me is perimeter players. After 180 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: those are my rules. That's just the way that I 181 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: do it. That's the way this list is gonna go. 182 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: So what I want to do is I want to 183 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: first list off what my top nine is without Steph 184 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: and then what I what we'll do is we'll go 185 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: over steps resume and where he fits into this list. 186 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 1: So I have Michael Jordan at number one. What he 187 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: did in terms of dominance, not just as an individual 188 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: but with his team is unmatched in NBA history, and 189 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: I think that that has to way more than everything 190 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: else that we talked about on this list. When you 191 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: win six championships in eight tries as a team, when 192 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: it's considered blasphemous to even mention another player in the 193 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: same breath as you, that is a type of dominance 194 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: that nobody in this era has accomplished. There was maybe 195 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: you two or three year stretch in the early two 196 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: thousand tens, like from two thousand twelve to two thousand thirteen, 197 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 1: in those two seasons where it was blasphemous to mention 198 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: a name with Lebron James. But that was two years, 199 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: and what mj did during that entire decade of the 200 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: nineties mimics what Lebron did during that two year span. 201 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: There's no comparison. And then in terms of team success. 202 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: We've had players have three peats. We've had players win 203 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 1: a lot of championships over a long period of time, too. 204 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: To three peats executed within an eight year window is 205 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: a level of dominance that no player in modern NBA 206 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: history has been able to touch. I think we have 207 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: to apply the appropriate amount of credit and attention in 208 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: that direction, and that to me is gonna put MJ 209 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: at number one on my list. Number two, I have Lebron. 210 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: He's the unprecedented combination of longevity and greatness. There are 211 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: players like uh like Karl Malone and and Kareem abdul 212 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: Jabar that were around forever and we're very good the 213 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: whole time. But for both of those guys, once they 214 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: got over that age at thirty five, they were great players, 215 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 1: but they were never considered potentially among the best players 216 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: in the league. And that's the wild thing about the 217 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: Lebron James experience. Like I, most Lebron fans disagree with me, 218 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: and I have him at number four going into this 219 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: age thirty eight season, this twentieth season of his career. 220 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: It's a type of dominance at that age that we've 221 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:31,719 Speaker 1: never seen before. The other big thing with Lebron that 222 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: I think often gets glossed over is there is no 223 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 1: player in NBA history that has the variety of success 224 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: that Lebron James has. From taking Eric Snow and Danielle 225 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: Marshall and Drew Good into the NBA Finals in two 226 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: thousand seven to winning sixty games twice and making it 227 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: to the Conference finals with Moe Williams as his best 228 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: teammate in that team with Delonte West and Shaquille O'Neil 229 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: on it, but when he was way past his prime, 230 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: to what he did with the Miami Heat, to the 231 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: end of the Miami Heat era when Bosch was at 232 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 1: the five and Dwyane Wade had declined quite a bit, 233 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: to the Kyrie Irving Kevin Love Calves, to just the 234 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 1: Kevin Love Calves going all the way to the NBA Finals, 235 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: to having a winning record with Brandon Ingram and Crew 236 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 1: when he was playing in two thousand nineteen, to what 237 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: he did with Anthony Davis, like there's just regardless of circumstance, 238 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: there is no player that has been as successful as 239 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: he's been and as many different types of situations to 240 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: solidify his basketball impact. With so many other players in 241 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: NBA history. You can quickly point to like, oh, like 242 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:37,959 Speaker 1: he won this way, but who knows if he could 243 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: have won if something else was different, you know what 244 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: I mean? And even with MJ, it's like he always 245 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,559 Speaker 1: won because he had Scottie Pippen. And you know whether 246 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: it was Horace Grant the first time around or is 247 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: Dennis Rodman the second time around. He had a great 248 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: front court that helped him do with do the dirty work. 249 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: You never saw him win in like different styles, not 250 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: undercutting what he did. That's just MJ. Or that's just 251 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: Lebron's case, Lebron's pace. If you're attempting to say or 252 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: convince people that he was better than m J, you're 253 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: centering it around longevity and variety. He won over a 254 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 1: longer period of time, and he won a bunch of 255 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: different ways, and that is what kind of that kind 256 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: of removes question marks and remove subjectivity from his basketball impact. 257 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: At number three, I have Kobe Bryant, and I know 258 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 1: that's gonna seem high for a lot of you guys, 259 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: but I value what he did on the court a 260 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: great deal. Also, I think the analytics movement did a 261 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: lot to damage Kobe's legacy in a way that I 262 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: don't think it's fair. You know, Kobe was inefficient as 263 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: a score compared to a lot of his peers, but 264 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: that had a lot more to do with the way 265 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: the game was played in that era, slow pace, very 266 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: little space to operate, still had bruising power forwards on 267 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: the floor, two big lineups almost exclusively. I mean, he 268 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: was playing with bidenm and Gasol. You know, that's just 269 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: parameters shifting from era to era. It's not fair to 270 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: compare James har it In and the types of shots 271 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: that he's taking in this era with the type of 272 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: spacing that he has to what Kobe was dealing with. 273 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: And yet the analytics movement has driven that argument to 274 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: the point where a lot of people have Kobe down 275 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: at like thirteen all time in their rankings, which I 276 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: just think is absurd and disrespectful. And I don't think 277 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: there's a single thing that James Harden can do with 278 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: the basketball as well as Kobe can do it, and 279 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: he shot higher percentages. So what do you guys think 280 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: that is? Do you think James Harden actually was better 281 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: than Kobe at those things or do you think the 282 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: parameters have shifted? I think the parameters have shifted, so 283 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: I think it's Kobe has been unfairly maligned on that front. 284 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: He's got a lesser version of MJ's career. He's the 285 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: second best score of all time. He won five championships. 286 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: His last two championships with the Lakers have become underrated 287 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: as well. I mean, it really was just a bunch 288 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: of role players in pau Gasol. Very good teams, but 289 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: not the super talent related teams that we've seen when 290 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: throughout NBA history. So I've Kobe at number three. Number four, 291 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: I have Magic Johnson. I think he's the ultimate franchise 292 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: foundational piece. We talked about this a lot with Tim 293 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 1: Duncan and Steph Curry, this idea of the player that 294 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: never really was like consistently the best player in the league, 295 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: but that was always in that conversation, and their career 296 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: spans multiple iterations of that team. The team is always 297 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: winning and they win a lot of championships. That's magic, 298 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: Tim Duncan and Steph Curry. I think Magic has the 299 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: best version of that career. So I have him up 300 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: at number four. The big thing with him his versatility 301 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: as a big forward with as as much skill as 302 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: he had allowed him to evolve his role as the 303 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: team needed it to change. No different than him starting 304 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: at center in an NBA Finals game in his rookie year. 305 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: UM Number five, I've Larry Bird, three time champ, three 306 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: time m v P. Team success is what keeps him 307 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: behind Magic at this point. Those four so Lebron, Magic, Bird, 308 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: and MJ All those, all of the five, not counting Kobe, 309 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: those are the only four per emitter players to have 310 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: three m vps and three titles. That's how rare that is. 311 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: There were two bigs who did a Kareem and Russell 312 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: that only six players in NBA history have three titles 313 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: and three m vps. Not a coincidence that I have 314 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 1: them as four of my top five going into this 315 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: particular conversation. Number six, I have Kevin Durant, two times champion, 316 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: one time m v P. I also have him as 317 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 1: the third best score of all time. Number seven. Remember 318 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: these are all players in their accomplishments. Post number seven, 319 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: I have Dwyane Wade, a three time chap, one time 320 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: Finals MVP. He had one of the most dominant playoff 321 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: runs of all time in two thousand and six. He 322 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: average twenty eight, six and six on fifty nine percent 323 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 1: true shooting. In the finals, he averaged thirty five, eight 324 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: and four on fifty seven percent true shooting. Uh Like. 325 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 1: At his peak, he was arguably the most unguardable player 326 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,119 Speaker 1: in the NBA, with how difficult it was to keep 327 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 1: him out of the lane. Number eight, which is wild. 328 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 1: I already have Johannas antennakompa two time m VP in 329 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: one time champ, already incredibly dominant playoff run in two 330 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: thousand twenty one, probably should have won last year's MVP two. 331 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 1: He's gonna be rocketing up this list at a high 332 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: rate of speed. And then number nine, the final player 333 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: in the top ten, not counting step I have Julius Irving. 334 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: He won a title and an m v P in 335 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 1: the early eighties. The interesting part about it is he 336 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: did it during Magic and Birds Watch. UM I had 337 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: him just barely over Isaiah Thomas here. Isaiah Thomas's team 338 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: was more successful, but I did think Julius was a 339 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: slightly better player. UM So, where does Steph fit in 340 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: this list? That's the question. Let's take a quick look 341 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: at his resume. So step is a four time champion 342 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: now one time finals MVP should be too. A two 343 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: time m v P, an eight time All Star, four 344 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: time first Team All m b A, eight time All 345 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: m B A overall in a two time scoring champ. 346 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: Just that resume before we get any deeper into the woods, 347 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 1: before we even consider all of the details. In the 348 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:02,360 Speaker 1: context that automatic puts in ahead of dr j had 349 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,479 Speaker 1: A Janice had A Dwayne Wade and headed Kevin Durant, 350 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: and there's a healthy gap there. So he can be 351 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: no lower than the sixth the best perimeter player since night. 352 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: So I don't think that Steph has a case over Magic, 353 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: and I don't think that Steph fans would disagree with me. 354 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 1: I mean, Magic's a three time m v P, five 355 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: time champion during an era when the league was stacked 356 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: with talent. This was before talent delustion, this was before 357 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 1: they expanded the number of teams, a similar type of 358 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: role to Steph two in that franchise cornerstone type of 359 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: type of roles. So I don't I think he's got 360 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: some ground to cover to get into that Magic Johnson conversation, 361 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: which means that the debate here is is who's at 362 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: number five? Are we putting Larry Bird at number five? 363 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: Are we putting Steph Curry at number five? Al Right, guys, 364 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: it's time to kick off Week one with Fan Duel, 365 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: America's number one sports book joint today. To get started 366 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: with one hundred and fifty dollars in free bets guaranteed 367 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: when you place your first five dollar bet. Just sign 368 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: up with promo code Jason T to get in on 369 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: the action. Then you can turn game day into pay 370 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: day all season long. Now, if I had a hundred 371 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: fifty dollars in free bets, there'd be two bets that 372 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: I would make. I would take the Dallas Cowboys win 373 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,919 Speaker 1: total under because every time Tyrone Smith gets hurt, the 374 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: entire season goes downhill. And then my favorite long shot 375 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: Super Bowl bet is the Chargers. You can get them 376 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 1: at plus right now. I'm a huge Justin Herbert fan. 377 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 1: It's like watching an NBA shooting guard play quarterback in 378 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: the NFL. I like them at that particular number. Play 379 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: your way and bet on more than just the final score. 380 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: Wager on everything from touchdowns to total yards to catches. 381 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: You can even combine your bets for a chance at 382 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: a bigger payout with same game Parlay. Vandel Is also 383 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: now live in Kansas. Don't fumble your chance to get 384 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: one dred and fifty dollars in free bets win or 385 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: lose with promo code Jason t Make every moment more 386 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: with Fan Duel, the official sports book partner of the NFL, 387 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: and so I wanted to dive into that a bit. 388 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: So Larry Bird's peak was higher in my opinion. From 389 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: nine eighty six he won three consecutive m v P 390 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: s and two championships and one finals MVP in both 391 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: championships N six During the regular season during that three 392 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 1: year span, he average twenty six ten and seven on 393 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 1: fifty from the field from three and eight percent from 394 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: the line, so he's basically the original guy. In the playoffs, 395 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 1: the scoring went up a little bit twenty seven ten 396 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 1: and seven from the field thirty eight percent from three 397 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 1: percent from the line, so he was the original hyper 398 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: efficient score. So his peak, if you're just looking at 399 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: just that three year window, three m vps, two finals, MVPs, 400 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: dominant efficient scoring, well rounded game, rebounding the basketball, passing 401 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: the basketball. I don't think Steph can match that peak, 402 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: but in terms of the totality of their career right now, 403 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: I do give Steph a slight edge. Not only does 404 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: he have one more title, but I think he has 405 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: the most impressive title out of any of the titles 406 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: that Larry and step one combined Playoff Run and we 407 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,159 Speaker 1: talked about this a lot on the show. There are 408 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 1: so many elements that we've even forgotten about, as as 409 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: if time has gone by. For instance, Lebron, James, Kevin 410 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 1: Duranton Janice are all still at the peak of their powers. 411 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: I have those guys as the other three and the 412 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: top four players in the league right now. He was 413 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: coming off of a foot injury. He sat out. I 414 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:29,959 Speaker 1: can't remember how many it was, something like a dozen games. 415 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: His first bit of action was coming off the bench 416 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:36,160 Speaker 1: in the first round of the playoffs. This Golden State 417 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 1: roster was very good, but it's flawed, Like it kind 418 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: of reminds me of the Kobe rosters in two thousand, nine, 419 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 1: thousand ten, Like there's arguably not a top fifteen player 420 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 1: on the roster outside of Steff. I didn't even have 421 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: a top twenty player on the roster outside of Steph. 422 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 1: Like each players deeply impactful and valuable, right Like what 423 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: Draymond does for the Warriors is immensely valuable. What Andrew 424 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: Wiggins did for the Warriors was immensely valuable. But there's 425 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: no star next to Steph Curry there, so that that's 426 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: kind of uh an interesting piece of context. He goes through. 427 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,640 Speaker 1: He rips through Nikola Yokitch in the first round, John 428 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: morand uh rapidly ascending John Morant in the second round, 429 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: Luca don Chech in the third round, and Jayson Tatum 430 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:24,439 Speaker 1: in the fourth round. Literally with Luca and Tatum in particular, 431 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:29,679 Speaker 1: he emotionally crushes them. Both Luca and Jayson Tatum played 432 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:34,400 Speaker 1: well below their play just previously. In this playoff run. 433 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: Luca looked like a world beater against the Phoenix Suns 434 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 1: and looked like a shell of himself against the Golden 435 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: State Warriors. Jayson Tatum was you know, Kauai esque through 436 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: three rounds and then fell apart in the finals. That's 437 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: two Steph's credit. Obviously, Andrew Wiggins was doing the defensive job, 438 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: but the emotional stress, the fear of looking eye to 439 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: eye with Steph Curry coming at you on the other 440 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 1: end of the court, that had a psychological impact act 441 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,400 Speaker 1: on those guys. I truly believe it did, and it's 442 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: an underrated part of this playoff run. In the Boston series, 443 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: he averages thirty one, six and five on percent from 444 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,360 Speaker 1: the field, from three from the line, and only two 445 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: and a half turnovers per game. This was against the 446 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,120 Speaker 1: Boston Celtics defense that I thought had the best half 447 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: court defense of this era, the same Boston Celtics defense 448 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,879 Speaker 1: that caused massive problems for every other star they came 449 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: up against. Jimmy Butler had some nightmare games in the 450 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: conference finals, Janice's shooting percentages didn't even resemble the way 451 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: he normally plays basketball, and Kevin Durant had the worst 452 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,480 Speaker 1: playoff series he's had in six years. That's what the 453 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 1: Boston Celtics team did to those guys. And Steph Curry 454 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,439 Speaker 1: had one of the best playoff series of his career 455 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 1: against that Boston defense. And then even as we zoom 456 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: out to the totality of their legacy, you know, Larry 457 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: Bird continued and grew the legacy of the Boston Celtics, 458 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 1: So I don't want to undercut that. He also him 459 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: and Magic Johnson are directly responsible for infusing life into 460 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: an MBA that was losing Steam in terms of its 461 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 1: national popularity. But what Steph Curry did with the Warriors 462 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: is somehow even more impressive than that, because he came 463 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: to them when they were a perennial loser and he 464 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: turned that perennial loser into the most successful NBA franchise 465 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 1: of this era. Now there's competency in the the organization 466 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: from top to bottom. They have an owner that's willing 467 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 1: to spend, a general manager who understands what works in 468 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 1: the modern NBA, an excellent head coach, and the you know, 469 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: most Warriors fans will tell you this was the year 470 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: where Steve Kerr kind of showed some malleability and willingness 471 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 1: to change his approach to cater to this specific roster. 472 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 1: So don't get me wrong, the Golden State machine has 473 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: lots of of really competent people in their positions that's 474 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: leading to the success. But the guy who started that 475 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: all as Steph Curry. And none of that happened without 476 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: Steph Curry. And so what he did turning a perennial 477 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: loser into an NBA powerhouse that will continue to be 478 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: an NBA powerhouse to some extent even after he's gone. 479 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,119 Speaker 1: I put an even I put an even a greater 480 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: deal of of weight in that accomplishment than what Larry 481 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: Bird did with the Boston Celtics. So, even though Larry 482 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,959 Speaker 1: Bird had a higher peak from nineteen eighty six, I 483 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: think Curry is the fifth best perimeter player in NBA 484 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 1: history since nineteen eighty So the question here, the final 485 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: question I wanted to touch as you know what, most 486 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 1: Steph Curry fans will wonder, what would it take for 487 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: Steph Curry to be considered in the goat conversation? And 488 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 1: first of all, it's a conversation. You're never ever going 489 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:53,199 Speaker 1: to get unanimous approval from any one name from the 490 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: basketball community. I mean, my father in law is a 491 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: big basketball fan. He thinks Will Chamberlain is the best 492 00:26:57,840 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: player of all time. You think I'm gonna convince him 493 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:03,199 Speaker 1: any thing like Like, I'm not. Like, That's just the 494 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,479 Speaker 1: way he sees it, right. There are people out there 495 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: who think Kareem was the best player of all time. 496 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:10,679 Speaker 1: Most people think m J. Lebron fans swear it's Lebron. 497 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 1: It's a conversation. The thing that interested interests me more 498 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 1: is what's the case. Right. MJ's case is dominance from 499 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 1: no one could mess with me and no one could 500 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,360 Speaker 1: mess with my team. Therefore I am the greatest ever. 501 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: That's MJ's case, right, Lebron's cases like, regardless of circumstance, 502 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 1: regardless of scenario, regardless of team, for twenty years, I 503 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 1: could make your team a contender. That's that's Lebron's case, 504 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: and it's a damn good one. So what is Steph's case? 505 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: Right to me, Steph's case is that ultimate foundational piece 506 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: and the three names we threw out there, like Tim Duncan, 507 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: Steph and Magic Johnson because they don't have the dominance, 508 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,360 Speaker 1: They don't have that eye to eye with the best 509 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:03,920 Speaker 1: players in the league and consistently beating them and out 510 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 1: playing them type of thing that Lebron and m J had. 511 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,639 Speaker 1: But there's this team's success. There's this like aura of 512 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 1: success that seems to like players who come into contact 513 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: with them play better, the organization as a whole seems 514 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 1: to be improving as they are involved. That ultimate franchise 515 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 1: foundational piece becomes Steph's case. It's great leadership, it's great consistency, 516 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: it's making different players play well around him, it's winning 517 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 1: over a larger span of time. Getting a title in 518 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: two when he got a title in two thousand fifteen 519 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: is incredibly impressive in that regard. But he needs to 520 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: have a better version of Magic Johnson's case because right 521 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 1: now that foundational piece thing is going to go to Magic, 522 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,480 Speaker 1: right and his case isn't good enough to enter into 523 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 1: that conversation. So what what what step would need to 524 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 1: do is to win two additional titles, which is absolutely 525 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 1: in play, especially with some of the young talent that's 526 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: on that roster. If step manages to win two more titles, 527 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 1: he becomes a six time champion that has the type 528 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: of unassailable leadership and competency organizational uh that that impact 529 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: on the organization that left behind a dynasty that will 530 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 1: linger even after he's gone, the same way that Magic 531 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: did with the Lakers. If Steph can have a better 532 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 1: version of that case, that becomes his case when we 533 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 1: have those conversations, and you can imagine a scenario in 534 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 1: the future where you're sitting at a sports bar and 535 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 1: STEP's a six time champion and you got three guys 536 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: sitting at the bar, and the MG guy goes man dominance. 537 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 1: No one could mess with him. Six titles no one 538 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 1: was even at his level. And then the Lebron guy 539 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: buttsan and he goes, yeah, but you know, he played 540 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,040 Speaker 1: for twenty years. He wanted all these different ways. He 541 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 1: wanted with a d as his teammate, he won with 542 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: KYRIEA as his teammate, He wan with Dwayne Waite is 543 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: his teammate. You can see that being the case. And 544 00:29:54,680 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: then with Steph, it's I took a perennial loser and 545 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: turned them into the most competent and successful franchise of 546 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: this era. We won six championships. I you know, so 547 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 1: that puts me over Magic Johnson. That puts me over 548 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 1: Tim Duncan. I am the ultimate franchise builder in NBA history. 549 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: That would be Steph's case. He just needs to get 550 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: two additional titles to enter into that conversation. And it's 551 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: wild to even think that it's possible at this point, 552 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 1: but it absolutely is. So again, my list funky parameters 553 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 1: right perimeter players only only after. But when I'm ranking 554 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 1: my top ten, I'm going m J. Lebron, I'm going 555 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 1: Kobe Magic, Steph at number five, Larry Bird at number six, 556 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: and I'm going to Kevin Durant Dwyane Wade, Johannesson, Henny 557 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 1: Coombo at number nine, and Dr J at number ten, 558 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 1: and with that we can finally stop looking backwards. I 559 00:30:57,120 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 1: feel like we've taken plenty of time this summer to 560 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: give step the victory lap, a two month long victory 561 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: lap that he deserves. He's already a top five perimeter 562 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 1: player in modern NBA history with a lot of basketball 563 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 1: left to play. I'm excited to watch it. And like 564 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:14,120 Speaker 1: I said, over the course of the next month, we're 565 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 1: gonna be doing deep dives into each of the top 566 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 1: fifteen teams going into the season in the Power Rankings format, 567 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 1: so be on the lookout for that. As always, I 568 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: sincerely appreciate you guys support, and I'll see you in 569 00:31:23,920 --> 00:32:29,480 Speaker 1: a couple of days. The volume