NBA Season Preview and Reaction to FBI Investigation into Illegal Sports Gambling

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start of a dynasty with the OKC Thunder. But the rest of the league spent the summer reloading. This isn't just a new season. It feels like a whole new league. We saw blockbuster trades, shocking injuries, and a rookie class with unbelievable hype.

And on top of it all, The sound of NBA basketball is changing with NBC back in the game, nostalgia, but also Amazon, who I work with from a streaming platform perspective.

So let's break down what really matters. I'm with my man TJ Jefferson, of course. Back in the building. What up, show, man? What up?

Let me see that. Oh, yeah. Let me see that shirt. Logo. No homage to Jerry West here.

Loco. The goat. Of the logos. Yes, yes.

Okay. How are you doing, man? I'm good, man. I mean, I mean, thank you for having me. No doubt.

I mean, it was a little rough last night with the Clippers, and the game won. Look, man, I'm sure we'll get to that. Let's not leave off what that just upset me. Then I'll be messed up for the next 45 minutes. We're not going to get one.

We're going to leave that one where it's a one-game anomaly.

So we got 81 to go. 43 points in the first quarter told me all I did. I thought you said you were going to leave it alone. I'm done now. All right.

43, though. I know.

Okay, dial. It was rough going. But anyway, listen, I wanted to do. This is a perfect time to kind of do like a Season preview. I know the season started.

Barely, Jim. I know, but we got some games under the belt. We already got a leading MVP candidate. Yeah. Probably a couple that should win it already.

Let's talk about it. BJ, I'll be a heck of a job for that young man. Yes, no doubt. 34 points in his debut. But I kind of wanted to dig into.

We know the storylines. A lot of things happened over the summer. Our teams retooled. You got you know, OKC looking to defend their championship. You know what happens in the east now that, of course, the injuries impacted some of the teams who were the favorites, Halliburton, Halliburton, of course, Jason Tatum.

Are Cleveland is you kind of back in the fold? Are they really The threat we think they're going to be, along with New York.

So, a lot of things we want to dig into, but I wanted to start kind of with the Champs. The process of. Repeating as the champions, and kind of what Goes into the mental psyche, the physical part of the game that. either allows a team to repeat Or hampers a team. From Ultimately, living up to their potential.

You know, and the toughest thing, too, is. It's not like I've done it and I repeat it, but I've been around the league enough to know whether that was my time spending with Ron Harper. And the Chicago Bulls during that second three Pete. Watching Yeah. the years in which The Lakers were able to do it during the time I was playing.

And then, of course, post-my basketball career, watching the Lakers again in San Antonio. They didn't really repeat. It was five titles in. 10 years almost like every other year. Every other year.

But then, of course, Golden State. But they were able to do But it's interesting because each team It's different about you know, the teams that repeat it. are different. A lot of those teams are a little bit older too. Yeah.

That did this. OKC team is younger, T. They're the anomaly. But you know, the difference is I think one. That you don't have The guys playing contracts.

Everybody that is an integral part of is basically signed a deal. Locked up, yeah. Which makes a difference. Lou Dore got his money. You know, Chet Hong got his money.

You know what? I don't want to interrupt you. Let me ask you, because I'm going to come from this perspective, and it's easier for me to ask you as a former player. What does that feel like? What does.

That kind of relay to the locker room when your best players are taken care of. Does that change things for the team chemistry? Does it change things for the team when guys don't really have to worry about that type of situation? Yes, and here's the thing: you gotta give a lot of credit to Sam Presti and that organization for. the way they were able to build this team in a way where they could sign.

their key components back at the right timing.

Okay. You got to be in a position as a team to be able to do that, yeah.

Okay, first and foremost, without losing any of those assets. And if they did, they still had draft assets. And some younger, talented players on the team that can fill the void, but I don't think to the extent to where they want to be in a position to repeat. But to your question, it does mean something because take a guy like Lou Dort. who's been there from the beginning, so to speak.

Went through some iterations where he's improved this game, he proved his metal. He helped them be an integral part of winning. And now you get rewarded. You don't have to sit there and think about: well, man, you know, I did A, B, C, and D, and now you're not taking care of me. You know, a Chet Holmgren now gets to be able to be locked in after his rookie deal.

No, three years, they extended that deal, no question, of course they were going to do it. But that meant something. Jalen Williams, who came in. We knew we could play. Yeah.

I think OKC knew they had something special, but they didn't know what, what. He proved it. And even though it could have been... A small Fragment of where he's going to be in the league. They knew he had value.

And they sign them.

Now, One of my big things is with a small market team like OKC is very important. That you retain your young talent. Yes. Because it's not like free agents are busting down the door to get to OKC. Which is the honest problem in Milwaukee.

In Milwaukee. Yeah. You know, it was a problem in Portland. It was a problem in these smaller market teams that. You gotta resign.

That young talent. You got to retain it. You know, when they did, I think with Michael Porter Jr. in. Denver.

When they re-upped this deal, even after injury, people were like, man, why are they doing this? Why are they paying Michael Porter Jr. this money?

Well, One, what's a better option? And two, you maybe not in the free agency going to get a player of his caliber. to be able to come to Denver.

So, you got to be able to also have the chemistry with the team and all that in consideration, right? You know, I like to see, honestly, since we're talking about this retention of players. I'd like to see it maybe in the new CBA. That there's a caveat in the collective bargaining agreement. Tell me what you think about this.

Okay. Where when you draft a rookie and you develop them. And now you have a chance after year three. Or whatever it is, to sign them back or to extend their deal. that only a part of that money t Count stores the cat.

that allows you still the flexibility to be able to build your team. But you don't have to lose that. Rookie that asset because you can't pay him. You see, because you built it, the whole thing is like you build up a draft pick.

somebody, you build them up. You want to keep them, you want retention. But the way the rules are now too, a lot of times. Not going to that first apron or that second apron.

Now you end up losing that talent because you can't sign them. Then that player that you developed and put your time and effort in goes somewhere else.

Someone else gets when they're at their when they start to hit their prime and their peak. That's right. They start to hit the superpowers.

Now you lose it. Yeah, that's okay.

So I think that, but I think the difference with this OKCT now, there are challenges, bro. Um with repeating complacency, you've already done it. Um Injuries also. Injuries, but also teams have gotten better. But it's something different about this OKC team, the camaraderie with this group.

And I think it starts from SGA. Because he's a selfless. Superstar. And I think And I believe. the purity of that team when they all get together and they support is real.

Because if it wasn't, you would see it wane at some point of the season. And it didn't. And I think that's the difference with this team here as to why They can ultimately repeat injuries, barring any injuries. is because the collective group Really do genuinely love to play with each other. Yeah, you know, even something as small as, you know, the post-game interview with your player in the game, I've never really seen a team do what they do where no matter who the actual focus is on, the entire team will surround that player.

It's almost like a group effort, a team effort, because that's what the win was.

So everyone kind of gathers around that person who's getting the, you know, the individual accolade of play. Player of the night, but like everyone's taking a little piece of that, a little ownership of it. Never really seen that before, but it's really goes to show, man, that they are down for one another. And that's so important because. You know, a lot of teams, and you can speak better than.

this to me obviously but Sometimes you get a squad and the only thing pH balance in there is the shampoo. You know, the chemistry is not there. The chemistry is not there. But this team does not seem to have that issue. And these guys ride for each other.

They really like each other. And when you're that young, you're all paid, you're all having fun. Yeah. Maybe, maybe it helps that they're in. I've never been to Oklahoma City, right?

But maybe it helps that you're in that smaller market because there's not so many distractions. You put these cats with this money in New York. Man, you put them out here in LA, man, Miami, Dallas. I can almost guarantee you. It will be different.

You know, I'm not in those streets anymore, Jimmy, but I can't. That ain't me, like, when? I mean, you're back in the days. I used to be in the streets, you know, but like, yeah, man. And I think maybe that helps because there's not a, and you know, they can correct us if there, if it really is popping down there in OKC.

Nothing like that. But maybe that helps. You can find trouble. You can find stuff to do everywhere. You want to find trouble right.

I do think that they're in the right environment. Again, it's created by front office.

Okay. You start to trickle it down to your general manager, to your coaching staff. To fill that out, and then how you go about the player evaluation process is very important. Done a great job of that. Done an excellent job of.

fitting these pieces together, which is tough. You know, it's very difficult to get. Four to five individuals, let alone 15, to kind of buy in. Yeah. And personality-wise, they've been able to do it.

Hence, We've seen how dominant they were last year. Uh and how They're the overwhelming favorites, despite what's happening, we'll talk about that. Kind of the resurgence of certain teams, additions of other teams in the West, they're going to challenge. You know, OKC. You know, which I think it's going to be a phenomenal year.

And speaking of which, it's funny how things change quickly. In this league, because we're talking about which teams could ultimately challenge OKC. in the Western Conference. And because of what happened in Houston. with the addition of Kevin Durant.

You know, also with Clint Capella coming in. You know, those changes. automatically catapulted a team that was number one with Houston. Into, okay, this is a team that's a serious threat. with the addition of K D Uh To possibly beat Okay, see and represent the Western Conference in the championship.

But then what happens? Fred Bambi. Goes down. Such a shame, man. Bro, I was so hurt with that, man.

Yeah. You know, because that that's a replaceable part. that at this time of the season is tough to overcome. Because you just can't go find another point guard. Like Fred Van Vleek, yeah, not with insert championship, you know, championship ring.

He's been there, he's gone through the playoffs, he's been through the grind.

So, yeah, that kind of stunk to see him get hurt. It does, and it. when injuries happen matter. Because say this happens End of last year. Beginning of the summer, you got time free agency-wise to find and plug a piece in.

Yeah, the perfect piece of piece. But when it happens, you're limited.

So now, we saw in game one, even though they took OKC to a two overtime. that they struggled With Operating their offenses at time, their offense at times, but initiating. and being able to operate the same way they did last year. And the challenge is, it's not like, okay, KD can handle it, Reeves Shepard can handle it. Um Thompson.

Thompson can handle it. But the problem is those guys are finishers. Two plays. They're not initiators.

So you're asking finishers, the guys that get it now go, to now be initiators of the offense and create the same kind of. Change your game up. You know what I mean? The same kind of. um point guard mentality On the short notice to do that.

And that's going to be tough for Houston. Oh, yeah. For sure, I mean But you you look Size-wise, right? Like we're just talking about. They went the big lineup.

They went the big lineup. They're big, but let me ask again: I come to you with these questions because your eyes, you know, as a former player, they're big, but they don't seem very fast. Am I? No, they're not like Cleaver. Yeah, exactly.

You see, that's a difference. The Thunder are big and fast. They are. But here's the difference, too. One, I don't know how much.

It depends on the team that they play. I think a lot of times they play the super big lineup, okay? That could fluctuate. Coach is going to look at breakdown in the game and say, okay, this may benefit us better against team A compared to team B. But how your offense operates is also important.

When Fred has the ball and he's running the pick and roll, and he has to isolate, or he has to be able to get these pocket passes in. That's what he's used to doing. But now The defenses are going to play. those pick and rolls a lot differently. The execution on those pick and rolls And these plays, these specialty plays, are Are a lot different because you don't have Fred Van Blipp to be able to see one, two, three plays ahead, to be able to see the breakdown in the defense and then make the right play.

That's just instinctually what he does as a point guard. And that goes back to my other point about having finishers now being your initiators of the offense. Every now and then, they're going to be able to make the plays. But on a consistent basis, that's what made this Houston team so tough. Even when Van Vliet struggled shooting the ball.

He still operated the offense. Yeah. And then once his shot came back, like we saw in the playoffs. That made it even more deadly of a of an offense. When he had both going.

So I don't know how. Houston overcomes that. Because you can't replace them, but you got to figure out if there's somebody that's out there free agent-wise. Point guard? That can come in and be a part of this because I think they can get the injury exception.

No, he's definitely gone for the game. Yeah, okay. Yeah. You see what I'm saying? Do you feel Thompson can be the one who stepped?

No. No, that's a full-time point guard. He's not that skill set. He's a finisher. You're taking his best skill attribute, which is finishing at the rim, cutting to the basket, second shot.

Away by having him initiate the play, by having him further away from the basket. It's the same thing with Tari Eason. His big thing was hustle, breaking down, keeping... the offensive glass and and possession alive.

Okay. Reed Shepherd coming off of screens and being that on that second side, the guy you can get it to now going to it. Kevin Durant can do it, but then you start to wear him down. Think about it. If Kevin Duran is bringing the ball up, you know what I'm doing as an opposing team?

I'm gonna press him up. Yeah, pressure. I'm gonna press him up. So now you got to get the ball out of his hands.

Somebody else is going to initiate, try to get it to him in half court. But again, this is what happens. It's not something like Ime Doka hasn't seen before. But it's something that you didn't prepare for coming into the season. with how you made the moves on your roster.

You based your roster moves on Having Fred Van Vliet as that leader at the point guard. And what they were dreaming of this Van Vleet and Durant running the pick and roll together, doing things like that. And now. And then you think about on the weak side, you got a. Highly explosive.

Mon Thompson. On that side, you got Reed Shepherd also as a shooter to keep the Court spread. We're not even talking about Singun, who's able to duck in and do some things and occupy space. And now his three-point shooting, as we see, has gotten better.

So you had all these. You got a top of eight then. Yeah, you got all these different aspects of the offense that operate off these two players. that are now it changes because of the dynamics of not having fan belief.

So do you think that that's something that they can overcome or? They just have to work with what they have and I think right now they got to work with what they have and figure out. Whether that's now or as we get closer to the trade deadline. Is there a point guard? that they can get.

that they think fits And they don't need a scoring point guard. They don't need a point guard to come in here. They need a facilitator, one that can be a threat coming off a catch and shoot when that ball comes back to them, and can be a threat coming off the pick and roll. And defensively is not That much of a liability. Anyone out there just off the top of your head?

No, I was trying to just think, man. I just, I got to go back through. You know, I'm I'm always a a fan of Tyce Jones.

Okay. Just how he plays the game. What with the Duke? I like him.

Well, I mean, high IQ. doesn't turn the basketball over, makes the right plays, a coach on the floor. You know. Those things to me. That's why I always loved it.

And it's hard for me to understand why he didn't stick in certain places. But that's what he could bring, especially to a team like this. That's that's the kind of player I see.

Okay. You know, now that brings me to... We talked about Houston, but I think I think the team that everybody's really talking about is Denver. Yeah, I mean you've got hard jubilee. Arguably, the best player in the world.

Uh-huh. Um How do you see the loss of Porter Jr. since we spoke about him earlier? How do you see that loss? I mean, I know they've replaced him with what came out of Johnson.

So. How do you feel that that is going to work for this team? And what does I guess the better question for me, as the fan asking the pro, is: what does Cam Johnson bring to the table that Michael brings? Porter Jr. did not.

Well, he's not going to bring the same shooting. Threat? from behind three, but what he's going to give you is defensive versus Delhi. Versatility.

Okay. To be able to guard multiple positions. He can run the court. Not asking you to replace, and I think Denver looks at it like, not asking you to replace. Michael Porter Jr.

'Cause at 6'9, 6'10, the way you can stretch the court and shoot the ball. That's not in Cam's game right now. But what Cam can bring is a level of versatility offense with offensively with it. He doesn't need the ball in his hands. He runs the floor, but defensively, where a lot of the breakdowns.

breakdown happened. According to You know, what we all heard about Michael Porter Jr. On the defensive side, That is not much of as an issue with Cam. as it was with michael porter jr plus The contracts are a little bit less too.

So you got some ease off the salary cap with moving Michael Porter Jr. a little bit. But then the addition got shooting.

Now, Denver shooting. You end up getting Tim Hardaway Jr.

Okay, back in the fold who can. Shoot. You got Bruce Brown that's back. That was like the utility. It was like that glue guy was that champion for that championship run that did a little bit of everything.

Now, he's running a little bit of point guard. We'll talk about that a little bit on that second unit. I think they still have to address that. Denver. I think they definitely missed him last year, though, with everything he bought together.

Well, they did. Yeah. You know, but they're interesting, too, Denver. Who's that backup point guard for? Because they end up having Bruce Brown kind of run quasé the de facto point guard when Murray's not in the game.

Again, that's not who he is, but It works when you have Jokic on the court. 'Cause he can still facilitate stuff. But I do like those acquisitions though with Tim Hardaway Jr. You also got Cam Johnson, we talked about. But I think a big one is Jonas Valentunis.

Because Quality-wise, you had Javel McGee, you had DeAndre Jordan, but you didn't have a quality center like this to back up. No. That's a threat outside, but big rim protector. Get off the pick and roll, roll into the basket, occupy space.

So it's the first time I think they've really had. a comfortable level Um for them having a backup center. how you feel the season's gonna play out for them this year. You know, I was thinking about this the other day, like teams that are really. Because you got the best player probably in the world.

With Having Jamal Murray and those two kind of been the staple points. Brown now has established himself. Yes, he has. Got paid for it too. As you know, last year was like, okay, could he?

Fill the role of KCP? Could he be? And it kind of struggled at times, but Christian Brown figured it out. Perfect complement to what Jamal Murray and Yokis does. Because he does a little bit everything too.

I think this team is built. For is very similar to the team that won it.

Okay. Versatility across the board. You got perimeter shooting. But the main two guys are the main two guys. Defensively, they can lock in.

I think the difference is having that backup center. That can relieve Jokic. He does have to play. The amount of minutes, a lot of times, it's like you said, I big DeAndre Jordan fan, obviously, former Clipper. If people don't know him, a Clippers fan, but you're right, he wasn't.

At that point of his query, he's not going to give you. what this new backup center is.

So yeah, I I'm not a huge Denver fan. Why? 'Cause I'm a Clippers fan. Of course.

So but you respect what Denver if you don't respect what the Joker does and can do, then are you really a a basketball fan? Is the question.

So a a as a Clipper fan, I'm worried that like, man, This is a hurdle we're not going to get over. We can't. We're not going to be able to touch these guys.

Well, I mean, it's a good subway too, because, of course, I work for the Clippers and we had a tough one last night. 43 points. Hey, man, stop it. First. Hey, hey, listen, man.

It was one of those things, game one of 82. Yeah. And I get I give Utah a lot of credit because with a young team.

Now they sprinkled in some vets. You got Jordan Yane that, you know, kind of came back. I think that Kevin Love is on the bench. He didn't play last night, but having him in the locker room. A valuable presence of the valuable presence.

Yeah. I think that this is a team.

Some really good young talent.

Okay. Keontae George is really good. Kessler. Walker Kessler ball. Yeah.

Lori Markinen is healthy now. And when he's healthy, Ace Bailey is going to learn how to be. That guy, I was talking to Kyle Anderson, who's a veteran on the team. You know, he played with Golden State and a number of different teams. I said, what's.

Aces upside Bailey said. Perennial All-star all the way. Just because of his talent. He said he's just learning how to, he doesn't know how to play yet, the game about NBA. But once he learns, so shout out to Utah.

They did their thing, they got hot. I mean, they couldn't miss yesterday. But for my Clippers, I mean, the big thing is: one, they always talk about the age, of course. A little bit older. We're the oldest team in the league.

At about 31 years and above, you know, 30 average 31 years, along with Golden State. But I think the difference with this team this year is that the depth At every position, so you can go too deep. But not only too deep. The two players are different. Like Bradley Bill and Bogey are different players, so they bring you something different.

Why didn't Bogey get any run yesterday?

Well, he still was dealing with offseason injury. That's why.

So they're monitoring his minutes and his body. But also Two things they addressed. One, they needed a backup center. Mm-hmm.

Okay. So Ty wouldn't have to play, Ty Lou wouldn't have to play small.

So you accomplish that by bringing in Brooke Lopez. By bringing in Brooke.

Now, he's different than Ivitcha Zubach. Yeah. Zhu has expanded his game, he's now a facilitator. You can trust him with the ball in his hands, he can score down low. Double team comes, he's making plays.

But what he doesn't do. Is provide you space on the court. Not stretching out the defense like. Like Brooke does.

So Brooks is going to give you. Lane protection, rim protection, rebounding. But now he's a space provider. Whether that's in the pick and roll, or when James or Kawhi are doing that thing, you can space him in the corner and the big has to honor that.

So now you're pulling the big. out of the lane. Also addressed The playmaking issue when James Harden doesn't have the ball. by bringing back CP3.

Now how much his minutes Are going to be dispersed during the course of the year, still up in the air. What did he get like 15, I think? He had 15, 16 last night. It was good to see him back. It was good to see him come full circle.

But That's an area that they needed to address. And that's not taking anything away from Chris Dunn for the phenomenal job that he's done. Last year by playing backup point, but it's different when CP is able to run it. I think. Brooke benefits.

I think John Collin. Collins benefits. from having CP.

So that's another aspect, John Collins, a highly athletic. Three four man that can guard multiple positions, that can run the court. shooting about 39, 40% from three.

So he stretches the floor. You know, I um I thought Collins would be start.

Well I It's see, the thing is, I think Ty was looking at okay, in that first group. You got Kawhi, Bradley, Bill, and James. Which is great to see Kawhi back up. Great to see.

Okay. But we need a defensive presence too on that wing. Kawhi can't guard each and every night the best player. Guess who can? DJ.

You see what I'm saying? And then you get the rim protection with zoo.

Now what happens too is on that second unit, I think John Collins gets more freedom offensively in that second unit. to be able to utilize his skill set. I still think it's going to take 15 to 20 games, not just for John, but for the team to kind of figure out how the pieces are fit, how the pieces are going to fit because. Just because you got great names and potential Hall of Famers that you put together, all of a sudden it's not going to. This episode is brought to you by Contentful.

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Putting Hall of Famers together isn't case in point. What that 2000. What Whatever the year there was with Nash and Carl Malone coming to the Lakers. I don't care if it was the Lakers. It was 0.6, okay.

Yeah. And also, let's talk about Bradley Bill. How do you see him fitting? What do you see his role on this team? You know what I think he brings to the table, and I know he brings to the table.

We we know he can score the ball.

Okay. In Washington, he was. Ball dominant, which was a good thing. He needed the ball in his hands. He had to go create and do his things.

I think he. two seeds and scored 30 plus points, okay? We know he can score. But the difference is he brings Cutting to the basket.

Okay, he can cut. Great cutter.

So Zoo and James. Playing off of the Kawhi. but also movement without the ball. A la like a KD, a Steph on that second side. You can run a pin-down form.

He gives you a different aspect to your offense.

Okay. That's what he can bring to the table. And you're not asking Bradley to be. A high usage player with the ball in his hand. but he can also facilitate and also be a playmaker.

He can bring the ball up and relieve the pressure for James.

So he gives you that versatility offensively. where he can do more than just have the ball in his hands and pound and try to break you down. He can really beats you without the ball in his hands. That's what I think Brad brings to the table.

Now, losing Norman Powell, how do you think that's going to affect this clip?

Well, it does, but that's why you bring in Brad Beale. Especially on that second unit. If you put Brad in that second unit. He assumes the same kind of role offensively, more so. Like Norm did.

Okay. You see what I'm saying? Because both are very similar from the aspect of playing off the ball. I think Bradley's a probably a better is better one-on-one player. Even at this stage, then Norman, so that was Brad's game.

He can one-on-one with anybody. Norm needed a little bit more space. He needed to catch the ball off the off the goal to kind of really beat his man consistently. And I think that's the difference.

Now with all the you know, the story about the The Clipper story this offseason with Kawaii and the planting of the trees story. How do you feel that that. That has affected this team, or has it affected the team? Hasn't. I tell you what, I've been training camp at practice.

What I saw and was able to really see was A collective group that was focused in on taking care of their business. And you talked to Ty Liu and the coaching staff. The word that keeps being mentioned all the time about the Clippers is professional. We got pros. You think about the pros that are on this team.

the years of service. Between James, Kawhi, CP, Brown. Bread. Brook. Bohi.

now even Zoo.

Okay. Come on, bro. I mean, you got... actual so that it was just about their business. All that other stuff, okay.

And then management, everybody, listen, you can come in and probe all you want. We didn't. We didn't do anything wrong. That's what we've been saying. We're going about our business like we're going about our business.

Has nothing to do with what we're putting on? No, and they collectively talk to people inside the Clippers organization, especially the coaching staff and general management. This has probably been the best camp. they've had. I've heard that.

Kawhi and James really didn't miss anything. of the Work the same thing. That was being done on the court. They didn't want to come out. Most competitive because the second unit with CP and John and Chris Dunn.

They were getting at him. They were getting at him. So it was a competitive fire all the way around. You know, and that was and that just goes back to this. You got pro.

Chris Dunn is a pro. He's been in the league. You know, these are pros right now, and they understand what the goal is. They all had. They've had their accolades, they've got their money.

Now what they want is what Brooke And what Um Kawhi hat. Yeah. Get that ring. Which is that ring? That's what they want.

Oh man, what that is? But that just goes to the west. I mean, Minnesota. We didn't touch on the Lakers. Which let's let's talk about them right now, man.

Let's talk about the Lakers. What do you see in I see an average team without LeBron playing. A better team, of course, with LeBron. I don't think they're at that upper echelon like the Denvers, the Minnesotas, the OKCs. You know, in the West.

Could they be a threat? Definitely. When you have Luca and LeBron healthy. I mean, that's a lot of gravity to one to two players. You know, I don't think that I think what Austin Reed's assuming the role that he's at right now.

Um He's taking another step in his game. Great third player to have. On your squad? Little thin inside. Houston is?

I mean, um the Lakers are, especially with teams now playing double bigs. Yeah, so they got Jackson Hayes and I who's that other big that they could throw out there? Exactly. Speaking of a little fin. When you say a little thing, I talk about Luca.

You know, and see that. But, you know, I'm of the thought process that.

Sometimes, when you are big and you get little, it doesn't mean that you're always going to be better. Think about how many. Did he look better? Think about how many better the first game. Yeah.

I'm just saying, family comics were chubby, and then they lost weight, and then they weren't funny no more. Hey, but Luther lost weight, he can still sing. Yeah, but here's the thing: Big Luther and Lil Luther. But Big Luther was, from what I understand, Big Luther was in love.

So all the better songs from Luther was when he was big, when he was skinny. He was hurting. You know, he was looking for love, but I don't think the songs were as good, though.

So I think if we really broke this down, maybe next time I see you, I'll break this down to when Luther's songs were eating Chubby. And I think Chubby Luther, William Ray Andross, had the better songs than Skinny Luther. Chubby Oprah was better than skinny Oprah. You know what I mean? So I don't know.

I think that. Two things. The in shape Luca would be better. Long term. Long term.

Long term. For sure. For sure. And I think two ways. Probably the The best thing that happened to Luca to me was that he got traded.

And from this, hear me from this perspective. He was the face of the Mavericks. Yeah. He could do any and everything he wanted to do. Which then I think made Luca really comfortable.

Complacent, somebody. And complacent. And a lot of times when you're in that, you don't see it. Because You're the gravity of that franchise. Nobody good, they're gonna tell you some things, but they're not gonna demand things of you because you have so much control.

of that franchise. The shock to the system was Damn, I got traded. Yeah. I got, I'm Luca. I got trade.

I'm just speaking third person. I'm not saying I'm in his mind, but you think about it. That ignited something in him that he had to take a hard look at himself.

Okay, over time. It's not like Luca didn't get in shape, but then he got out of shape.

So he realized he needed to drop some weight. when he was at Dallas, but the consistency to keep it off wasn't there. This trade Gave him that motivation to say, not only am I gonna keep it, am I gonna drop it? Yeah, oh, but I'm gonna keep it off. Allah yokish during The pandemic, the 2021 season, when he left, he said, listen, I got to get in better shape.

Because it not only helps me as a player. Score the ball better. I'm better defensively, but I can I can extend. My Playing on the court. Efficiency a lot better because I don't tire her out in the fourth quarter.

So, my minutes can be extended. I don't need the breaks in between because I'm in better shape. A LUCA can be better defensively. which helps him better mentally because he's in shape.

So now some of those tired turnovers late in the game, you don't have as much because he's in better shape. Defensively, guys are just not getting around him like he was. Remember, you saw young Luca 2017, 18, how he looked, how he was moving. He tried on defense. He was better on defense.

But when you're a little overweight and you don't have the stamina, guess what part of the game is going to suffer? Yeah, your defense.

So I think I think Short term, long term, it helps. Absolutely, but you're not going to stand up for all the chubby cats out there. And also, because he got skinny and he hurt his groin, it looked like.

So I'm just saying.

Well, now your body got to adjust too. Just like when you gain weight, your body adjusts. When you lose weight, your body has to adjust to certain things. But I just, I think the Lakers are one of those teams. That Even with LeBron, they're going to be on that back end of that Western country.

I just think. Can they get in the play in? Yes. I think they'd be on the back end, but you lose a component or two that's tough for them. I mean, Minnesota is still.

Minnesota, they're looking to prove last time. An aunt went off. I mean So that's the thing about the West: the West, Golden. We didn't talk about Golden State. Haven't you?

Jonathan Kaminga's, shout out. You got your money. You did what you needed to do to do. He bought out. And he balled out.

Now, they're still a little thin. you know, rim protection. Yeah. But when you have Steph still being Steph, You got Jonathan. I just don't know.

through an 82 game season, Well, he can't put that up.

Well, he can keep it up, but would the others be able to support that? based on the talent and what's happening in the West. If this team was in the East, I'd say no problem. But in the West, You see, what you want, you want to be a top four C. To be able to have home court advantage in the first round.

Okay. Definitely top six so you can avoid the plate. 'Kay. That's what you want. Can Golden State be a top 16?

Yeah. Do you think they can? I think they can, but it's a lot of things that are going to have to fact. Jonathan Kamiga really is going to have to be as consistent because you got Jimmy Butler, you got Steph. Draymond is going to do his thing.

But Jonathan Kaminga is probably like that X factor. That gives them that youth, that athleticism, that above the rim, that defense. That Steph and Jimmy at this point in their career can't give you. And he's going to have to be very consistent with that all year for Golden State to kind of see that.

Now, did you see the bet that's going on? Maybe I shouldn't be using that right now. Oh, man. But I guess the friendly bet that is allowed with the Warriors. Do you know about this?

I heard something about it. Draymond bet Jimmy. That he That I guess Jimmy would have a shoot a higher percentage from the foul line. Than Steph.

Okay. Oh, wait, say that again.

So Draymond and Draymond and Jimmy have a bet. And it's that I guess so. It's Jimmy saying the Draymond. I'm going to shoot a higher percentage from the foul line than Steph Curry. The thing is, Steph didn't know about this until after the game was over.

Someone brought it up to him. And he goes through his benefits over the year. Over the year.

Okay. And so. Steph was asked about it at the post-game presser and he kind of look he got a look on his face and he was like well this is the first time hearing about it And the reporter was like, well, do you think he can? And he was like, absolutely not. There's no way.

Well, Steph shoot 90%. Yeah, and so that Jimmy said, I'm going to have to shoot 91%. I think I can do it. He goes, I was 16 of 16 and he was eight of eight. But I mean, that's a tough one.

But hey, man, you got to have a goal, right? You got to have a goal, different goals, and also to volume. We've got to look at who gets to the free throw line the most because that matters too. Because if Jimmy gets there less than Steph, Shooting less free throws, but making more than his percentage is going to reflect that. Just like people always said, Well, Seth is a better three-point shooter based on percentage than Steph.

I said, But his volume is not the same. Yeah. So, if he's shooting less than making, of course, his percentage is going to be higher. If I'm going two for three, I think. Exactly.

Steph's shooting 10 to 12, 13 a game.

So, his percentage is going to be a little bit different. But Golden State is interesting. I want to make a real shift real quick because we had to tap on this. Is that if you look at the season preview, still wouldn't talk about Cooper flag, what he's going to bring to Dallas. I think.

Cooper flag going to Dallas. Is a great scenario for two things. The pressure for him to have to carry a team. is not there because of A D and then when Kyrie comes back.

So he's able. To learn, you still have PJ Washington, you still have lively guys that can help him defensively around so he can kind of go do it. We saw some highlights and what he's been able to do. I had a chance to cover them in college. Yeah.

Early December then through the NCAA tournament. High motor, high IQ, very unselfish, teammates love player with him, and his skill set is off the roof. But I don't think he is going to have to carry the same kind of pressure going into his rookie year as maybe a Zion had to. A Ben Simmons or oh, because of the surrounding caste because it's surround because of the surrounding cast. He doesn't have to go in and be like, expectations are the expectations.

No, because they're pretty high. But they're high, but they're not. Cooper has to be. The linchpin this year to get us. No, we know a year, two, three down the line.

This is all Cooper flag.

Okay. We have built a team. that he can come in and be a support mechanism, learn. go through his stuff and add value without having to carry the load physically and mentally. And also add to his game because he's running a little point now, right, without Kairi.

So it's just, you know, that's just. And he can go through and make mistakes without being killed. like other rookies in his position were before. Because of the expectations of him. Leading the team is not the same.

Because when Zion went through his stuff with everything. The spotlight was on him all the time. You didn't see that with the NBA. Because the NBA didn't put Cooper flagged first national game, kind of like they did Zion.

Okay. You see what I'm saying? Now they put him the next day with Wimby. But Wimby's kind of the headliner. And the secondary piece of that is the number one picks Cooper flag, in my opinion.

Okay. All right. Well, I'm going to take your word for it. I just, you know. Um, speaking of Wemby, before we move on to case, let's...

You know what Victor Wempanyama looks like to me? He's a guy. He was my creative player when I used to play 2K 2006. Every player I made was 7.5, weighed about 2, well, you know, weighed that much, but weighed about 270 and could, you know, big man with guard skills, could handle, could shoot threes. He's like a video game.

come to life. Have you ever seen? I mean, I'm going to ask you the question: Have you ever seen anything like that? But I already know the answer: no, because you have? No, no, no, no.

I haven't seen a. The complete package. I've seen a player that was very similar. Ralph Samson.

Okay, Rob Samson. Rob Samson was so ahead of his time.

Now, he didn't shoot it with depth and didn't. Had it like Wemby. But Ralph is saying, if people don't know, Ralph Sampson was seven foot four inches, played for the Houston Rockets, player of the year. What, three years? Three years in a row.

At Virginia. At Virginia. And he was a seven foot four inch. He handled the ball. He brought because I know because as I'm watching Wembañana, Wemby highlights from when he was 16, 17, 18 years old, I kind of made that thought.

And I go back on YouTube and watch the Ralph Sampson because I don't really have that clear of a memory, but I do. Ralph's running the offense. He's pushing the ball to court. And at that point, a big man was never supposed to be that far out. Ralph Sampson was about What, 10, 15 years ahead of his time?

He was, too. And that's why I think when he went to Houston with the team, it didn't kind of work. Mm-hmm.

Because the league wasn't ready for a big that could kind of Step out away from it and be as effective, which is crazy because in college, that's what made him special. But because the league was still built around the big man on the block. It didn't work. Maybe if he didn't go to Houston, maybe if he were. able to go to a team where It was just him as the main post player, and they were able to utilize him differently without having another big.

Maybe it works out different for Ralph Sampson. But back to the comparison. Body size. I looked at the two. Agility, I looked at the two.

Athleticism, I looked at the two and how they athletic wise, we're very similar.

Okay, IQ and how to pass the ball. I look at that. Wimby has, of course, the range of three-point shooting. Wimby has the guard skills a lot better than Round. But that's the iteration of what the game is.

Evolution. And the evolution of the game.

So when I see Wimby, I see the. I ain't gonna say 2.0, Wimby's the 5.0 of Ralph Sampson. Of what he brought to the table. And I'll tell you something. What they wanted to do with Wimby this year was Okay, we know you can shoot it, but I want you to have some discernment.

Mm-hmm.

On one the number of shots and when you shoot that three. I think the first game he only shot two.

So he got closer to the basket utilizing that shot. But use it any Come on, man. 40. He used it. He used every tool that he had.

Every tool he had.

Now, the threat. Is I can step out and shoot the three. You get comfortable here.

Now I can. bang you on top of the head with the three. I can also break you down and take you to the cup. But that's the beauty of another year of growth and understanding. how to play this game.

how to utilize your tool set.

Okay, because now you got to be able to sprinkle in things, okay? Against this team, I'm better utilized really. to the basket. Mm-hmm.

On this team, I may be better utilized because they got two bigs, pulling them out, allowing my teammates now more freedom of movement to get to the basket by being a perimeter threat.

So that's the... iteration of being you know College coaches always say, you know, the best thing about being a freshman, You turn into a sophomore. You turn into a sophomore. You see what I'm saying? And the best thing about a young player in the league after they go through their first year, second year, is that they grow.

Another A year of experience.

Okay, and then now they see the game different. I can see Victor. Seen the game different because he came from Europe. Play in a certain way. Completely different now, completely different.

He had to figure it out, figure it out.

Now I think he's. Figured it Out.

Well I hope not. I hope he hasn't fully figured out. No, no, no. Because if that's the case, no, no, no. He has so much more to grow, but I think he's figuring out.

How to really play this game and be efficient at it.

Well, Brian Windhorse, he was a guest on the Rich Eisen show, and he said he dropped some nuggets to us. One of them being, Wemby doesn't like to be listed as tall as he is. Whatever. Yeah, like apparently. They measured them at 7.5, and then later they caught it up as a clerical error, and they moved them down to, I believe, 7.3.

And they also kind. of wanted him to understand that His skill sets best serve not taking as many three-pointers as you said. And to me, that makes complete sense. You, you. You don't want to be as tall.

You want to everyone know that you're a more well-rounded, skilled player, but yet your gift. Your blessing is the fact that you're that tall. That you're that tall. That you're that tall. And now you have this skill set that nobody else has.

So you have to like find a way, the best way I guess for him. There you go. We'd go back to that. The best player is fine. The balance within their game.

Yes, sir. And that's what he's. That's what he's figuring out, I think. Right now, in this year. And this is again, we're only one game in.

We saw some preseason games, but that one game, I think. Tales are tale. Of kind of not only his thinking, but how the Spurs want to utilize his skill set. within their offense. that gives us a little tail sign of what we're going to see, I think, through the course of the season with with Wimby.

But man, it's we we cut kind of covered the West a little bit. The east is a little bit I want to touch on the east real quick, preview-wise, because Cleveland, New York. They're the two teams. New York makes a move with Mike Brown. They want to play at a different pace.

They want to play faster. Is that possible with the current structure of this team. Sacramento was different. You can play fast. You can get up and down.

New York is a little bit different. I think pace of players can be broken down in two different ways. Fast break-wise, but how much and how much pace do you play with in your half-court set? I think that better suits. New York.

Okay. And there are half-court sets. Jaden gets off of it, the ball moves. Side to side, now you can break down the dribble. Help.

Kick it out, cat is outside. You know, it's different ways you can play with pace within your half court set. to still be able to be functional without running up and down the court. Cleveland. It's just a year.

I know Derris Garden got hurt in the playoffs. It's questioned about. Down the Mitchell. Not regular season, but In the Postseason. Is this the year I think that maybe Evan Mobley can be more of the center?

Center point of their offense. Because he has that skill set.

Well, they lost Ty Jerome, free agency, who proved himself. I would say as a Threat offensively.

Now, when he got deeper into playoffs, his inability to get around guys kind of hurt. Even a little bit, especially with Dares Garden beat up. But You lose that shooting. But then on top of that, because Max Streus got hurt. Mm-hmm.

you know, in the off season.

So that sets you back a little bit from a perimeter shooting perspective, which provided the space for Cleveland. What do you think about I think Cleveland is one of those teams that this has to be the year? Because you've been there, you've been disappointed, Kai. A lot of teams like Boston had gotten there, gotten there, then disappointed, then boom, they broke through. Broke through, yep.

You've kind of seen that happen with teams in the past. Denver kind of got there, got broke through. Cleveland has been there. This collective group has been there. They've gotten paid.

Everybody's taken care of. We talked about that last year coming to the season that Donovan was taken care of, that Moby was taken care of, that Allen was taken care of. You know, um And that they were ready to maybe ascend and really be a threat to Boston? But now with Boston hurting. with Indiana.

No Hall of Burden. No Hall of Burton.

So now you have. Those are the two at the top of the pecking order. But then creeping is that Orlando team. Yeah. Okay, with Desmond Bain coming in with a healthy healthy Fond With Paulo Ben Carroll coming in and having another season.

Wendell Carter with the size inside. This is a team that plays hard, they play together, they play smart. And they and they leaned out. I thought their roster, because they had a lot of overlapping parts, and that's not taking anything away from.

Some of the players who Cole Anthony, you know, Markel Folks, but they had a lot of overlap in a lot of the same positions. You have healthy shrugs now. Coming back, who was a ballhawk.

So now I think their roles will be more defined. You understand your playing time a lot more.

So you'd be more comfortable in that. And now. I think Coach Mosey can manage those pieces a lot better.

So Orlando is a team that we think healthy could be in that top three. And it filters out Atlanta dependent on the health of Prisingis. on how that plays out. I think is going to be very important. Um and then the east, Milwaukee.

That's a tough one right there, bro. Yeah, we thought there's reports that Yannis Does he want to be there? Does he want to be traded? I heard that his family moved back to Greece. Yeah, I I I just think yeah I don't, and again.

From what I've read and known about Giannis, he loves Milwaukee. He wants to build, he wants to win there. But did you also hear that he had said that he would Accept the trade to the Knicks.

Well, wait, here's the thing though. Did he say that, or did somebody say that?

Okay. See, that's the, see. You gotta be careful with these sidebar conversations because Until I hear Giannis really push for that, or you can see In some of his interviews, if he starts to lean towards the openness, you can tell how somebody answers questions.

Okay. and you can start to piece it together based on how they're answering certain questions. Until I see that, that there's a lean and hedge towards. me wanting to force my way out or get a trade or I ain't I'm not going for the other stuff yet. Because there's too many innuendos and rumors going on about it, and a lot of times.

It's not true. Yeah, things don't mean anything. They don't mean anything. People will take something as simple as unfollowing someone on Twitter and Instagram and then build a whole narrative around that. It's just social media.

It's like, what are we doing? Yeah. So the bottom line is we kind of looked at it like the West, we already knew. Listen, it's you know, ten deep, eleven deep. Utah was you know picked a To have the worst record in the West, and we saw what they did.

They certainly do not look like that. But I mean, it's a long season. I mean, Portland is going to be a threat. But in the East.

Well, Portland might be under. But they played hard.

Well, yeah, right now. Right now, Portland might be in disarray. No disarray. That was a team that played better in the second half of the season last year and had momentum going to the summer and at the beginning of this season. And we'll discuss that in a minute.

But. In the East. It's kind of more defined where you know kind of who's going to be there. with Cleveland with New York, you figure Orlando's gonna be there. You know, those three teams.

And then the rest filter out with ALAN. uh with Milwaukee You know, where does Chicago fit? In that puzzle, Detroit. I was just about to bring up. Yo, Detroit, whether they fit in that puzzle.

Another year, Jaden Ivey comes back. Durham another year. Uh, Duran, another year of experience. Cade Cunningham, I mean, shout out, bro. He had a heck of a year last year.

I mean, unbelievable. Isaiah Stewart, if he can, you know, separate the football from the basketball, he had 20 last night left.

So, so that's a team that. That grinds you out, you know, so. is not as defined it is more so that after that top three in the East, man, it can go anywhere.

Well, can I bring up my my other team? I'm I'm you know, I get A lot of crap sometimes because I have two teams. I have an East Coast and a West Coast team. Let's talk about the Sixers. I didn't bring them up because I knew you were.

Let's talk about it, man. Because on paper, I'm looking at this team and then, you know, I heard great things about VJ Edgecombe. You saw it. And then last night they came to fruition, man. What are your thoughts on the Sixers?

Because I'm about Mbaid. It's all about Enbate. Yeah, because he did not, obviously, he did not look great yesterday. 20 minutes, four points. It looked like he couldn't jump.

still kind of recovering from surgery. But it doesn't look like he... Took into consideration over the summer, like Luca, to drop that weight. And I know it's more difficult when you can't. Physically go out there and compete and play because of injury, especially when you have a lower.

Body injury because you can't do the same kind of workouts, but your diet is very important. To me, I always felt that in B. never was in never has been in tip-top shape. Yeah, unfortunately. And that contributes to a lot of these nagging injuries, reoccurring soft tissue injuries.

because you're never in shape. Again, you got a big body. And if you put too much weight on that body, something eventually is going to continue to break down. And that's what we see with MB. Yeah, human beings probably aren't meant to be what, 7-2, 290.

No, not like that. And you'd be 290 in a different way, too, though.

Okay, where physically you're put together.

Okay, and your diet supports that now. You're not as apt to getting injured because there's no question that when Nbid is healthy. He's in that best player in the game. But it's so much. Of their success he hinges on Him being him.

Top now. You're in the east, you may be able to get away with some things to win some games in the east. How dynamic Tyrese Maxey is. Very. Very.

Now, VJ Edgecombe, are you going to depend on him all year to give you that? We don't know yet, but we know the potential is there. Paul George is the other aspect of it. See, now Paul George was healthy coming in and playing like Paul George, and you can say, you know what? They can carry the load until then B figures it out.

But that's still a question mark. You know, so it's your sixters. It's still a question mark. Who are they? Do we know who they are?

We know people's names. No, but seriously, but who are they as a team? As a team, yeah. What's their identity? How are they going to play?

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Learn more on meta.com. This episode is presented by State Farm. Having insurance isn't the same as having state farm. It's like expecting the leadership of a team captain on the football field, but getting a C captain. You wouldn't settle for just anything for your team.

Shouldn't it be the same for your insurance?

So, don't settle for just any insurance when you can go with a leader. State Farm. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. As it always had a Ben B. And, you know, the weight thing is one thing, but he also gets very unlucky sometimes.

We're talking, you know, the dislocated fingers out of nowhere, the, you know, the broken eye sockets, things like that that aren't necessarily have anything to do with his weight or his condition. It's just, you know, the bounce of a ball, a stray elbow, you know, someone falling on his knee that was already hurt.

Now, is that the definition of injury prone? I was literally, I was asking. And it's not meant to be in a negative connotation either, but it just seemed like it's always something happening. Would you all embed that limits his time on the court? Yeah.

whatever it is. And again, Getting poked in, you can't. Ain't nothing you can do about it. No, busted nose, busting a finger, you're going after a ball and it hits. Bro, it it But it it just It just seems like it's this cloud around he and the franchise.

that never allows either to benefit from that enormous talent on a consistent basis. We see that in small iterations on how good he and that team can be. But collectively, we haven't seen it enough. for a long period of time. You know, we've seen Boston build up.

Yeah. We saw Milwaukee build up. You know Even for a little aspect, we saw Indiana kind of build it a little bit by piece by piece to get to where they're at. New York, we've seen it build up. It's been these breaks in moments with Philly.

Yeah. I mean, with Joel, you know, it started from him getting drafted. You know, he missing what. two out of his first three years, three years, you know. Um, and it's really sad in the sense that if you just are a basketball fan and I feel as a basketball fan, if you just love watching good basketball, we're all kind of.

Missing out on the potential that this man has because, like you said, we see when he is healthy, the things he can do. on both ends of the court it's kind of untouchable it is It is. It's going to be very interesting to see. For the East, for the West. And one thing I did want to touch on was this.

It's interesting. We've seen a lot of change, a lot of. excitement in the league. A lot of new faces. Perfect.

Here's the thing that we're looking at. An end of an error. The big change. Mm-hmm.

When and how does it come? And what I'm mentioning is Steph LeBron KD. Yeah. Back into the careers. the torch bearers of the league.

Are now The uncs of the league. The uncs of the leagues are going to have to be replaced. And it's ironic too, you think about this. Steph out of those three was the one that had question marks early on. Think about it.

Monte Ellis. It was a big decision Golden State had to make at the time. Monte Ellis Steph Curry. Oh, right, right. Imagine if they chose the other way, the state of not only Steph, but where the league would be, if they made that one decision.

Okay. Because Monte, you know, he was scoring, what, 23, 24 games. Just imagine.

Now, As much as Steph accomplished, you kind of didn't expect that. You know you expected stuff from KD and from LeBron. But yet it's Steph who's been with the same team in the same situation.

Okay, that's had as much or more success than the other two completely as a championship, as a champion. And the other two moved around to trying to figure out. their their standing in the league as far as championship. But now they're on the back yet. Two years left.

Think for staff. On this deal. Think it might be right. Uh Katie just extended his two years. The bron with his One year extension.

So you're talking about changing of the guard? And how that happens, that transition. You know, in the league and who it gets handed off to. Is a very interesting thing about this year, too, because we're seeing the end of an era. starting to come.

I'm not saying that they can't play longer. But would they continue to be the torchbearers of the league?

Well, look, the end is obviously near. Just is what it is. For LeBron, you know, Rich and I were talking today. He was talking about MB. He goes, and it even goes back to when he was drafted.

Like, you knew you weren't getting 20 years out of him. I'm like, with all due respect. You ain't getting 20 years out of nobody, really. You know, LeBron is an anomaly.

So. You know, I think we're definitely at the point where we have to look and say. you know Like boys, the men, we've come to the end of the road for these guys. But is there. And here's the the the thing about especially the two with LeBron and Um Stephen.

Is that they culturally kind of change the NBA because Steph and what he did with the shooting Steph 1000% and LeBron with the business of basketball and just We haven't seen a player built. that played like he did, that impacted the game like that, with all those tools. As great as the young talent we have coming in and that already plays. Yeah. Who can galvanize the public from that perspective to kind of be really?

The face or the faces of the game. Yeah. That was a question last year. You know what I mean? We're not talking about just talent.

Yeah. Because Steph did way more outside of talent because of his size or lack thereof. He galvanized a whole culture. of people. demographic of people.

that believe that they can do what he can do. Because I think, Jimmy, that that might have been because... Not everyone, look at LeBron. He's what 6'8, 6'9. He's 250, 260.

He's just, you know, built like a superhero. Right. Not everyone, most people can't relate to that. Right. You can relate to a dude who's like 6'3 and he looks like your neighbor, and someone who you'd be playing pickup ball at the Y with.

And I feel you know, that on top of the fact that Steph made everybody think that they could shoot 32 feet away from the basket. Good. in my opinion, in some cases, ruin basketball because guess what? Not everybody can shoot like Steph Carl. I'm pushed back.

I'm not going to say Steph ruined it. I put it on the coaches who let kids do it.

Okay. So, whether Steph was doing it or not. You as a coach still got control.

Somebody who's teaching these young men and women how to play. That's responsibility too on you. That's a great point. To not allow them to play like that. Yes, sir.

So, Steph gets a bad rap for that. But it's the people who are put in position of power. That have influence over these young men and women that allow them to do it. I don't care if it's parents. I don't care if it's coaches.

or if it's an organization. that allows it to happen. Steph, he was just so talented. That's what he did. It was undeniable.

It was undeniable. But he still had a certain discipline to it too, though.

Okay, with Steph in his game. He still beat you off the dribble and got to the free throw line and got laid.

Okay. So it wasn't always just that. He wasn't just hanging out. He just wasn't. But that's where I'm going to go back with that.

But it's going to be interesting to see. And to me, the face of a league is not sometimes. all about just the talent. is who has that Intrinsic impact. On a group of people that galvanizes that this Does something different.

Steph was different. The brahm was different. A lot of the Wimby is different, but. Because he is maybe European a little bit. How does that connect with Young players.

Okay. 97, 4, 7, 5. That's how we can't relate to that. We can appreciate it. Yeah.

But To the average fan, it's like, well, I ain't never gonna be there. Anthony Edwards, but then it's some things in his personal life that I think prevents him from being the face. You know what I'm saying? Slow down, young boy.

So, is it a question? Cooper flag. Is it a Cooper flag?

Well, because of. Situations, you're kind of thinking, yeah, the people a certain demographic of people probably will rally around Cooper flag to try to make him. the face of the league and I don't think that's any secret like if but you know what's interesting is that It looks not. Luca is also not American. I know.

But I see it's always. It's always a butt. You see what I'm saying? With all these talented people, we got, but there's a butt. It wasn't a butt with step at the beginning, but he's too small.

Well, then it was like he's injury prone. Remember, his ankles were initially. But then he just hit that stride, boom, it was over. It never was a question about LeBron. Nah, I mean, LeBron had this pressure on him since he was, what, 15, 16 years old.

I still have the Sports Illustrated when he was 16 on the cover. You see what I'm saying? So that's, when we talk about face of the league, we're talking about not just talent. Mm-hmm.

It was a lot of talented players when Michael played. Of course.

That whole thing was just levels. But it's levels to this, it's what I'm saying. is that There's levels to this and it's not just a based on talent. Because there's so many talented young players in the league right now that you can point around and say, okay, they can be. the face but Some guys have it.

Yeah. And It is something that you just can't put down on paper. It is something that's an intangible that a person. or persons have that when they walk in the room, They can sell you on the energy changes. And it's only so many that come around.

And we're on the back end of. That aspect, especially, and that's not taking anything away from KD, but with Steph and LeBron. And that's hard to replace. June 9th or June 25th, 2009, I was in New York. Um, I was getting ready to go to the draft at the garden.

Uh Two hours before I went there, I got a phone call that Michael Jackson had died. That was the day I went there because Blake Griffin was getting drafted first with Clippers. I wanted to be in the building. But during that draft, Steph Curry got drafted and he walked right by me. And I.

You just never knew. I never knew on that day when that kid walked by me after he got drafted, coming through the crowd. How his life and his career would end up. And it's a beautiful thing to see, man, because he definitely did, he changed the game and he. held himself up as a guy who You know, we talk about guys who you don't have to worry about getting a call in the middle of the night.

That he did something wrong, or you know, so he did everything the right way, I think, with Steph. And so it was good to be able to see him get. Those props and those rewards because he did do things the right way. And he changed the game. He changed the game.

He changed the game. And it's. Again, the handoff is never an easy one, but I'm sure we're probably not seeing who that next person is going to be. I mean, we kind of know, but we don't know. Because you can put as much marketing behind a person, that doesn't really mean that they're going to be the consistent.

Like you said, it's not just what happens on the court. If I could bring this up real quick, you know, I do a wrestling podcast.

So some, and you know, John Cena, of course. A lot of people, you know, John Cena, undeniably the face of WWE for 20 plus years. And I was just looking at a comment on Twitter the other day, and they were thinking about other wrestlers who maybe could have. been John Cena. But the thing was, it wasn't just what he did in that squared circle.

It's the make-a-wishes. You know, he's very famous for doing more make-a-wishes than anyone else. It's about knowing that you got to get up at, you know, six, seven in the morning and do TV and radio hits and you got to be prepared and be professional and represent yourself in the company.

So there's more than just. Was he the best wrestler? No, he was never the best wrestler, but for everything they needed to be the face of the company, he checked every he double-checked every other box. And, you know, that's kind of what you're looking at for the face of the NBA, right? It's just not what you do on the court, but there's other things that you bring to the table.

you know it'll it'll make people rally around you and uplift you and you will become I got a question for you though. Was there ever a time, and I'm sure there was, when you were playing against a rookie, right, and you knew. That he's gonna be him. Like, who were some of the guys who you knew right off the bat? If I can give you an example, you remember Danny Fortson.

I'm sure you played Danny Fortson. He told me in 98. I was still living in Pittsburgh. He's from Altoona. We were hanging out.

I was like, tell me about the NBA. And he got to the point where I was like, well, who's the man in the NBA? And he goes, well, I'll tell you this. He goes. Might not believe it.

But that kid, Kobe Bryant, is gonna be the man. And I was like, really? He goes, trust me. He goes, and TJ. Everybody knows it.

And it turned out, and this was after, you know, the air ball of the. The three-pointers in the playoffs against the Jazz, and he wasn't starting his first two years. But Danny told me then, he was like, Everybody knows Kobe's going to be the We knew how talented LeBron was. We knew how talented AI is. But that doesn't mean that they're going to be like we think they're going to be.

We know they're talented. But it was something tangible about them when they played, when you played against them, that you said, you know what? They got it, they get it. AI was like that. Colb was like that.

Kevin Garnett was like that.

Okay. It was this. LeBron was like that. KD was like that. You just knew it was something.

Different. about them. At that time when they were young. D-Way was like that. Word.

You know, that you just, it was just something different. You know, something's yeah, I don't know what it's hard to Pinpointed. Yeah. You know, they just figuring it out, but damn, they got a lot more. And You just kind of know.

And for all of us, we've been blessed to see that maturation process of a lot of these players. who carried the torch for the league. You know, speaking of carrying torches, it's been a tough day today, October 23rd. Um Unfortunately, some stuff came down today With regards to the FBI and gambling. Yeah.

Tough day for the NBA. And I and I kind of took some notes down. Because it's a Two-pronged investigation. By the FBI I think it's uh New York City. Uh federal government On gambling charges.

And there's two sides. It's a From the player perspective. gambling through prop betting. but also through illegal Manipulation of a poker game.

So it's two different indictments, two different things going on. But unfortunately, You know, Terry Rozier's name got brought back up into this. Chauncey Billops and a good friend of mine, Damon Johnson. Chauncey is a good friend.

So at the beginning of the basketball season, when everything jumps off, and we're all excited about Wimby and Edgecombe, and we had this great game between OKC and Houston. The Lakers in Golden State and then boom This bomb dropped about this morning, yeah. this morning about the allegations. and the probe into it.

Now this is a year-long investigation. Uh into this. Again, two separate. things but involves Like Damon Jones was one that was involved in two pieces of this. We already knew about the Terry Rogere.

But the gambling Um, you know, before, so I just took, you know, Jante Porter was banned for life in 2000. 24 April after admitting tipping gamblers. And limiting his own minutes to cash parlays. And that's what's talking about the parlay part of it, which is really hard. Prop betting.

Um The FBI are looking into wire fraud. This deal is called the code name Nothing But Bet They follow phone records. They're looking into betting bank accounts, money laundering trails. You know, they linked the mob to this. Yeah, that's not good.

Okay, uh you know. Fixed gambling, mark decks. Card reading glasses. Card reading machines. Machines.

So it's a lot going on. Again. You don't want to Indict anybody. Innocent until proven guilty. We don't know all the facts, whether Chauncey is.

a subject in this matter? Damon is a subject or they're the main targets. Yeah. We know Terry Rogier was exonerated. by the NBA, but that's different than being exonerated by the FBI.

Keep in mind, the MBA doesn't have the autonomy to subpoena a witness.

Okay. to take a deposition to force a witness to come and testify. Against or for a defendant.

So their process of going through the investigation is not as stringent as the federal government. That's why they're The federal government never came out and said. Our case is done with Terry Rogier. The NBA did difference.

Okay, so it was never really over. But it's just a stain on the NBA because, again, I'm not going to indict anybody because I don't know all of the information. Yeah, it's a developing startup. It's started this morning, still going on, and it's still going on. But I think it speaks to this part of gambling.

And sports. Which is When it first began to open up, and you can chime into this, is the threats of this kind of activity happen. And we're not talking about just in basketball, but it happens to be that basketball has been in the forefront of this, whether it's been in college with some. of the point shaving. And now, again, with Terry's name being brought back up, and now with Chauncey and Damon.

and the ties in it. That one of the biggest things, the biggest things before was that, how do you prevent this from happening? in sports. And I meant to talk about this, but was college baseball, basketball, football. Pro football.

But whatever it is.

Now when you have athletes who are able to bet on games. And you bring that into part. I work with FanDuel. It's a partnership, it's a great company. But then it opens the door for these kinds of activities to happen, which.

You know, when you have this kind of, when it involves this amount of money, it's always going to be something. But you hate it when it impacts what the momentum of the NBA has gained so far. Expected beginning of the season.

Now, we already had the Tim Donahue issue years ago with the official. You kind of brush that and you think that's a one-off. And now with the introduction to legalized gambling. That's the part, and especially with the prop bets, where you can Basically, go quarter by quarter and bet on a little bit of everything. Anything.

And how do you control that? You know, I know Adam Silver had talked about And I got it in my notes about him, and I don't want to misquote. where Adam Silver looked at The integrity of the game. Um Maybe look at To drop or limit lines on two-way or little use players. To kind of ease the way to manipulate, so guys that are really not playing as much can't really act.

It can't really have an effect on the game. And again, these are. And therefore kind of taking away the chances that they might be like, well, well, maybe I can do it. Here's the thing. When you go into a plan like this, you have an idea of what could happen.

We know, here are the signs, here are the telltales, we know based on the history of gambling, this is what can happen. But you're not really prepared for all that can. And to be able to be reactionary and to address the issues and make adjustments, I think is going to be very important, not just for the NBA, because all the other leagues are looking at this and how they handle this.

Okay, because it's going to hit them at some point or another. We saw it in baseball.

Okay, we see it in football. We saw that before there were gambling sites in baseball.

So you don't think they took history of that and said, okay, this is what we have to guard ourselves from. But you can't guard yourself from everything because each individual, when something happens, Somebody can be weak at a moment, be enticed, and don't know what's going on. But again, giving information freely sometimes is not free. It's a cost to him. And it's unfortunate that we're in this situation right now with everything going on positively with the NBA.

But my hope is that once we dig into the evidence into the case. that we won't First, don't judge and Already prosecute those involved without getting the information, all of the information. Because this is going to be an ongoing investigation. Yeah. Their attorneys, the three individuals I talked about, are going to have attorneys.

They're going to push back. They're going to give their side of the story. And we got to be cognizant and open to hearing that. And then, once the evidence gets put on together, then we can begin to decipher and pick apart but two. Sit here on day one.

and to speculate On who did what and how it happened without knowing everything, I think it's a disservice to. The investigation itself, everything they've done. but to also the individuals who were involved. And despite Terry Rogere. Being Mention in this again, I still have to see exactly what all it is.

on this side.

Okay. Because there's still some facts that are still left on the table that we don't know about. Couldn't go today without not talking about it because it is. And the big issue today, and it's going to be a story that's going to continue through the course of the season. But we had to address that today.

Um because it's it it it does kind of put A little stain, a little bit at the beginning of the season. It really does. And it's it's sad, you know, because You never want to see something like this taint sports because you already have, you know, there's always that already that little small group of fans, or I don't know who they are, who always think that everything is fixed. Everything is fake. You know what I mean?

And it's like, and now they're just, you know, eating all of that. See, I told you, I told you. But with anything, you're going to have something. There's this much money involved.

Okay. This much, yeah. I mean, it's going to be some human nature, man. It's hard. The lure of that money, it's.

It's a hard thing to to to turn down and I know, but with the mob affiliation and all of this stuff going on, I mean, it's a big, big thing. You're talking about a year-long investigation? and them having plants and insights into the actual gambling on the poker side. Of they knew exactly what they were doing in that poker game. I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I heard this is a four-year thing that this McGoan.

Well, they said one. One, okay. But as far as digging in, I mean, they said one on when I was watching the press conference.

Okay. A year-long investigation, they said. But they had plants that were at the poker games that were inside, that were part of the scheme to. Do kind of Implement the cheating.

Okay. Because they were trying to catch. Those that were involved.

So it's unfortunate, but that's the way of the world. I mean, it's been that way. This ain't the first time. No, no, definitely not. You know, we just get it real time.

And it impacts us now because it's happening to us now.

So Just just be cautious on your speculation. on your indictments. on these individuals until you kind of figure out and get more information. About what's really going on. But, you know, I appreciate you, bro.

That's a wrap on our season preview. To me, the board is set, the pieces are in motion. And it's going to be one of the most, I think, unpredictable seasons that we've seen in a long time.

So Don't get too frustrated when your team lose early, like the Clippers. Don't get too high when your team starts to win because we got a lot of season to go.

So I appreciate all you tapping in. You're having me, brother. You call me. Anyways, I'm glad you can join me and pontificate a little bit. I'll always answer Jimmy Jackson's.

I appreciate it. Especially if I get some free clippers. I got you. I got you. I got you.

I got you. Make sure you download the show. At Jim Jackson Show on IG, on The Rich Highs and YouTube, or wherever you get your podcast. Enjoy the weekend. A lot of great basketball coming up and football this weekend.

Peace. Talk to you soon.