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Now, on with the show. Oh my god, you guys are my favorites. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Rich Eisen. I know what I'm talking about.
That's the headline. The Rich Eisen Show. With guest host, Dan Schwartzman. I mean, honestly, he's brilliant. He's a poet.
Dan Schwartzmann. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. And now, sitting in for Rich. It's Dan Schwartzman. And he is our number three.
Yeah. Franchising franchise. Joe has been raised. the SPN app.
So he's XM channel 80. On a Thursday, This afternoon, please. Phone World Cup. France, Morocco today. They're just a matchup.
Five members of Morocco's team were actually born in France.
Now, Patrick Mahomes. Is you know, tough to not say he's the top quarterback in the NFL, even if there's a down year here and there. Patrick Mahomes is one of the best players in this league. And it's come up. And unsports alike and more leak.
You know, talking about Patrick Mahomes. and where he ranks amongst NFL players. And that's always a fun debate, right? Because I think at times defensive players aren't getting the. Notoriety they deserve.
I think people are always. Enamored by sexy statistics, right? Passing yards, touchdown passes, receiving yards. How many rushing yards? A lot tougher to have sexy numbers when you play on defense.
Now, Miles Garrett, obviously, with sex, it's a completely different story. You know, 23 sacks last year, sets an NFL record. He's got, you know, what is he, 29, 30 years old? He's got 120 some odd sacks already. You know, you talk about most dominant players in the history of the NFL.
To me, Lawrence Taylor is number one. Reggie White's probably number two. Uh You know, Miles Garrett is going to be in this conversation when it's all said and done. I'm not saying he's LT. But Miles Garrett is as dominant a player as we've seen.
Aaron Donald's in that conversation. But Miles Garrett is You know, and look, playing in Cleveland maybe hurt him for those years in terms of getting the respect. Because a lot of people weren't watching Cleveland Browns because they were never really a good team to watch.
Meanwhile, he's just putting up stat after stat after stat. Averaging what, like fifteen sacks a year. The numbers are just stunning what he's done in his career. And now going to LA, he will be put on a bigger pedestal. The lights are brighter.
It's a different situation. He's a ram. But when it comes to Patrick Mahomes, I think there is.
Something occurring with him that we see with other great players, and that is the fatigue factor, right? We know Patrick Mahomes is great. Everybody knows Patrick Mahomes is the you know Right now in football, if you're going to start a team, you say, Well, who's the quarterback? You take number one. You probably want to take him.
He's probably the guy that you want to take. But I think to a point the expectations have gotten so high to wear We continue to put different heights as to what we expect from him. That at some point it's unreachable. It's unreachable. In basketball we do it do it with Jokic.
You know, the guy's won what three MVPs.
Meanwhile, he's the first big man in history to give you a triple-double. Last year at 6'11, he's averaging, he's leading the league in rebounds and assists. That's flat-out ridiculous, and scoring 28 points, and he's not winning MVPs anymore. SGA won the last two, and as great as he is, to me Jokic is the best. Because he's doing something that you've never seen before and may never see again.
But there's the factor of fatigue of continuously giving that guy the same trophy year in and year out. It's like, okay, give it to somebody else, rather than to say, Okay, I don't care if he's won it ten years in a row, if he deserves it, give it to him. Last year, people thought Bobby Witt Jr. would win the MVP, or somebody not named Aaron Judge might win it because.
Well, you know Or, excuse me, Cal Raleigh last year, you know, give it to Raleigh. He had 60 home runs. Plus Judge already has won a few. Does he need another one?
Well, they ended up giving it to him anyway.
Now the worry for your show E Otani is, well, you've won four in five years. And while you probably deserve it again doing having another ridiculous season that Otani is on the mound and at the plate, if Kyle Schwarber gets to sixty home runs, well give it to Schwarber. Otani's got enough on his mantle. And when Patrick Mahomes On a list is what number five Not number one or number two. He plays the hardest position in sports, which is quarterback.
You could say it's the most important position in sports. How many teams are either a true contender or a pretender based on the fact they have a good quarterback or not? Unless you have a really dominant running back and a really dominant world-class. All-time great defense. If you don't have a good player quarterback, you're probably not going to win a Super Bowl, right?
And we've seen it a couple of times. The Bears in 85 and the Ravens in 01, those were great legendary defenses, and they could run the football. It's a great combination. And yeah, you needed a decent quarterback. That at least could manage a game.
And that's what you had with Jim McMahon, and that's what you had with Trent Dilfer.
So Patrick Mahomes, not number one or number two, and that led to a discussion on unsportsmanlike. And Evan Cohen talked about the fact that You can't put Mahomes anywhere but number one or two. Take a listen. I mean, look, I it's a legit argument. Tom Brady for certain.
And Tom Brady's the greatest. Like honestly, you cannot argue against Tom Brady. And I understand eras are kind of important too, and I was always a big John Elway fan. And to me, John Elway was. The best quarterback that I saw, I know, listen, I saw Marino, I saw Montana.
I always loved watching Galloway. You know, the army had. I just, there's something about John Elway that I loved. But statistically, when you look at a guy like that, they threw a lot of picks back then. It was a different type of game.
You know, offenses weren't run the way they are run today. It was a much different NFL.
So it's hard to take errors and say this guy is greater than that guy when he played at a different time.
Now, Marino, you can make an argument because he was putting up. You know, numbers at quarterback that you're seeing today, right? Like you're seeing. Ridiculous passing yards. People throw for 5,000 yards routinely now.
Back when Marino threw for 5,000 yards, he was the only guy doing it. Throwing for four thousand yards is a big deal. I remember when Domikowski threw 4,000-plus yards with the Packers, and it was like, wow, 4,000 yards. That's unbelievable. Whoa.
Now it's like, wow, 16 guys, 15 guys store for 4,000 yards. Half the NFL storeing for 4,000 yards. Three guys throwing for 5,000 yards.
So it's different, but you also have to take into effect the winning, right? The greatness about Patrick Mahomes, that I think when I look at it, is. The success he's had his entire career He sat that first year. Played that final game when Alex Smith, you know, they had drafted Patrick Mahomes, sat him for that first year through 15 games. Came in in that sixteenth game.
I think he threw no touchdowns and two interceptions. And then the next year they handed him the starting reins, and the rest is history. They've won Super Bowls, and they've made it to the AFC Championship game. I think it was like every year until last year. Tom Brady obviously is the greatest of all time.
He's number one because of the fact that he is. The greatest, not just the Super Bowl wins, but also statistically. And while other people have put up great numbers, right? Aaron Rodgers has great numbers, but he's only won one ring. True Priest is great numbers.
He only won once. And Patrick Mahomes' career is far from over. I mean, statistically, when it's all said and done, Patrick Mahomes will have the most ridiculous statistics you're going to see. It's astonishing what he's already accomplished in his career. It's absolutely astonishing what he's done.
And I think when you break it down, it's just incredible that Here's a guy that's still young. I mean, it's not like Patrick Mahomes isn't going to play another 10 years. The only thing that'll stop Patrick Mahomes is he decides that he's had enough, right? Because guys are making so much money today that. At some point you say, Okay, I've made enough.
Do I really need to do anything else? He's thirty years old. At the start of next season, he's going to be 31 years old. That gives him at least 10 years. Quarterbacks in the NFL today.
Play to, you know, early forties. Sex, I'm going to mid-forties. These already accomplished incredible things, 36,000 yards. This year He's probably going to reach 300 touchdowns. He doesn't throw a ton of picks.
His interceptions to touchdown ratio is very impressive. Three to one or so. He's won the Super Bowls. His completion percentage is through the roof, 66% for his career. He's proven himself.
And sure, the numbers the last couple of years, like he's had the 50 touchdowns. He sworn for 5,000 yards a couple of times in his career. Last couple of years, he hasn't reached 4,000. Look, I don't think the guy's getting old. I don't think that's the issue here.
But I think it is hard to not put him right there.
Now, is he one or two? Uh, you know. I think no question he's not one because Brady's one. But then, where do you rank a guy like Patrick Mahomes, who has played probably half his career at this point? He's not going to have a fall from grace to where you look at Patrick Mahomes and say, what happened, right?
I don't think there's going to be a Russell Wilson moment for Patrick Mahomes. And one of the reasons for that is him and Andy Reid are tied at the hip. And Andy reads a lifer. Honestly Andy Reeker retired tomorrow and he's our first Ballot Hall of Fame head coach. There's not much more Andy Reid actually needs to do in his career.
And if Andy Reed just keeps coaching and Patrick Mahomes is his quarterback, And the average 10 to 12 wins a season, Andy Reid's going to be the all-time winningest head coach in football history. He's going to get there. He's won, you know, multiple rings now, and he's probably going to add to that. And as long as Patrick Mahomes is there in Kansas City with him, there's no reason for Andy Reid to retire. And as long as Andy Reid's there for Patrick Mahomes, he's going to always put him in the best position to succeed.
Why is Andy Reid a great coach? Because he puts his players in the best position to succeed. You know, quarterbacks have always flourished for the most part under Andy Reid. Donovan McDabb was a heck of a quarterback, six Pro Bowls. Michael Vick came back Went to the Eagles and what happened?
Had a tremendous season. Remember, he was up there for MVP one year. My whole point is, I just think when you look at the situation Patrick Mahomes is in. As long as he's got Andy Reid there, there's no reason Reid's not going to be there for a while longer. He's going to keep putting up unbelievable statistics.
And we're going to be talking about 70,000 passing yards, 500 touchdowns. But it's not going to just be stats, right? Look, Matt Stafford has put up ridiculous statistics in his career. Matt Stafford's still going strong, and he's a very good quarterback. And You know, Matt Stafford has won himself a Super Bowl.
But when Matt Stafford retires, the numbers are going to be there as well. But this just highlights, he's at 64,000 yards and 420 touchdowns. And Matt Stafford at thirty-eight years old probably can play another three years, and he's going to add to those totals. But when the homes get to this point in his career eight years from now, when he's 38 years old. There may be another one or two Super Bowls.
He may be filling out most figures on one hand. Because as long as you have Patrick Mahomes as your quarterback, One thing is free agents want to go play with him. You're never going to be a bad team per se because you have the quarterback position locked down. It's, you know, he's going to make guys around him better. You just have to make sure to give him pieces here and there, but as long as you have Mahomes, you're always going to be competing.
So the numbers will be there, the rings will be there. And I do think when it's all said and done, Patrick Mahomes will be right there in that top three all time because statistically he will be, and you'll have the rings to prove it. You know, I'm not saying Matt Stafford is a stack compiler. He's been much better than that. But if you're going to look at a Stafford, for instance, with the numbers, because they are going to be very comparable to what Mahomes is going to have.
The difference is Mahomes will have more rings unless well, I mean, Stafford could win a couple of more and the Raider you know, and the Rams are going to be clearly up there. I mean, it's going to be the Rams are going to be a very good team. You look at that roster and the addition of Miles Garrett on that defense and whatever Aaron Donald decides to do. The reality is the Rams are going to be right up there as well, and maybe Stafford gets up further on lists because of the fact that he potentially could have. Another ring and become a multiple Super Bowl winning quarterback, plus all the numbers that he's put up in his career.
So. Is it a disrespect with Patrick Mahomes, or is it maybe the fatigue factor where you see it every day with him? And when he doesn't accomplish fully what you expect because he's done ridiculous numbers in the past. And he throws for 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and 4,000 yards, you say that's good, but from Holmes we expect more. I think that's where sometimes this happens, where people kind of downplay him a bit.
And maybe when you're putting together a list of top quarterbacks, that's kind of what may happen. Potentially. And I think it kind of makes sense. And I get it. And I don't like it.
And you see it in other sports as well because. You know, I mentioned it with Jokic. It's a situation with Jokic where there is a fatigue factor with him when it comes to MVP, and you may see it again with Otani as well. And again, didn't hurt Judge and it didn't hurt Otani, but. These guys will continue to be in the conversation, possibly more.
Um, you know, when it comes down to, um you know, the situation with Um You know, giving MVPs to a guy that's going to continuously be in that conversation. All right. NBA offseason rolls along. And since we started the show, no news on LeBron going anywhere.
So he's still out there.
So, where is he going to end up? What's the latest? We're going to find out a bit more about this hectic NBA offseason that continues. Jason Jones with The Athletic will join us next. Dan Schwartzmann in for Rich.
It's The Rich Eisen Show on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and SiriXM Channel 80. Mm-hmm. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. 22 past the hour, hour three on the Thursday. Dan Schwartzmann in for Rich Eisen, the Rich Eisen Show, ESPN Radio, ESPN Apps, Sirius XM Channel 80.
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Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. NBA offseason. It's been a pretty wacky one. Star player Jalen Brown got traded.
And by the way, from one team to a rival, from Boston to Philly, helping an Eastern Conference team get better, that's usually unheard of. LeBron James available, says his goodbyes to the Lakers. He is available. We're hearing teams now be narrowed down. Sixers, Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, potentially Minnesota.
So there's options there. A lot of teams can use LeBron James. Janis already moved from the bucks to the heat. It's been a very, very eventful off season. In the NBA, to say the least.
Jason Jones, right at the athletic, joining us. And Jason, when we talk NBA, we have to, of course, talk LeBron James. Available, a bunch of suitors for LeBron. I'm not going to ask you where you think he ends up. I'm going to ask you where you think he has the best chance to win a ring.
Amongst the teams that we are hearing are considered finalists for his service. That's a good question. I would I think the best chance would be to go back east. And I think the best chance gives a refilling. That's just me, I think.
That he would be a good addition for them for what they already have. I think. avoiding OKC, avoiding San Antonio. You know, avoiding potentially having to deal with, you know, Joker and Having to deal with Minnesota and if the Lakers figure something out, I think. Just the path toward the championship might be a little.
little easier to navigate back east. Here's the thing, though, Jason, because I think Philly does make sense, and he's got connections and friendships with that organization, but. You got one guy averaging, what, twenty nine points a game in Brown, twenty eight points a game in Maxey, you had you know Embiid averaging twenty seven points when he played. As much as LeBron to me is an unselfish player and would consider taking some sort of a back seat, I don't think LeBron James wants to go to a place where he's playing twenty minutes and scoring twelve points a game. What's the point then, right?
This is LeBron James potentially the greatest of all time. Is there enough basketball? And do you think those three names I just mentioned are willing to give up a bit To incorporate LeBron to where LeBron is a factor. And not just some big name sitting on a bench or playing minimal minutes where kids go, this guy is considered the greatest of all time. You know what I'm saying?
Yeah, I think that's kind of the kind of the thing now where LeBron is in his career. as good as he was last season, Is there a place where he goes where he's the number one guy? Are the number two guy? I mean, if maybe he goes to Cleveland, still got Donovan Mitchell, if you're going to re-sign James Harden. You know, he's still got, you know, I don't know if there's an ideal fit where he's going to be.
You know, kind of just that one or one A guy. You know, maybe Minnesota, because maybe he could say, you know, you would say Anthony Edwards, him, and then Lomello. Right. But yeah, it's just kind of a weird spot to be in because, as good as he was, he's still, I think people still, he's 41. And I think that's playing a factor in that when you got a bunch of young guys, And one thing that you've been if you've been around the league long enough, A lot of times, young guys want to prove themselves even at the expense of the team.
And you know, if you're Philly, you know, Maxie, if you're V J Edgecombe, You know, how much of a back seat do you want to take to LeBron? And does ego getting involved? I mean, there's a lot of factors that can come into that, come into play with that.
So I think I do believe LeBron's smart enough to make something work. It's just a matter of Figuring out exactly what makes sense. And I don't know what, I mean, I think Philly, I think the two teams that make the most sense are Philly and Minnesota. But Yeah, it's one of those wait-and-see type deals, but I think that that is a legitimate thing to wonder. Is that I think the one thing about Philly as well is that, I mean, with Joel.
He's not a guy that's probably gonna play seventy-five games, you know Right.
So maybe that will kind of alleviate some of that as well. But, you know, I think, you know, I don't know what Jalen's going to do, but. I think Jalen's going to be on a tear next season.
So, yeah, it's going to be tricky wherever he lands. And oddly enough, to me, The b Kind of like the best place for him to land would have been the Lakers. A bandwagon fan. The biggest insult in sports. But this summer, during the FIFA World Cup, it's an invitation, America.
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Plus receive four times O Rewards points now at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Coverall delivers long lasting shine. Visit your O'Reilly Auto Parts store or O'ReillyAuto dot com. Yeah, no, that's a great point you bring up. It probably made the most sense for him to just stay there rather than now put himself out there.
But, you know, he's talked about it to start the interview. The Eastern Conference probably makes the most sense in terms of a path to get to the finals in what's probably going to be his last year. Jason Jones, writer at the athletic, joining us here on the Rich Eisen Show. Dan Schwartzmann in for Rich. But here's the thing: you know.
We talk about how you incorporate LeBron James into Philly. Let's talk about how do you incorporate Jalen Brown. If he's going to be on a tear next year, that means others aren't going to get the ball as much. Maxie? Imbiat, if he does play even 60 games, and they'd be lucky to get that out of him.
And Edgecombe obviously is going to make strides in year two after a very, very solid rookie year.
So, how do you envision Jalen Brown fitting? Forget LeBron. How do you envision Jalen Brown being able to fit in? When there are other really solid players on that team that may not want to give up the basketball, Jason. No, I think that's gonna be a rest.
Good luck, Coach. That's going to be, I think that's going to be a situation where they're going to have to just really play fast. Which I think was, you know, just maximized possessions, get up and down the court. I mean, Maxie can run. Edgecombe, great athlete.
I think Jalen will sit in that. I think they open the floor up and just try to just run. Try to just generate a lot of possessions, you know, because they don't have that quintessential point guard who's gonna go out there and play and get eight points. 12, 15, assist. Little God, they're all scores.
Which is why part of the reason why I think someone like LeBron could fit just because LeBron could then. be kind of the de facto point guard and pick his spots on offense. And so I think that's, I think, and I also do think with what like what like you know, with that. The experience with the Lakers last year would help LeBron. because he did kind of play that third role a lot.
And I think that I think that would allow him to allow Jalen to kind of do his thing and Give him a give him a bit of a break.
So I think they would, you know, but it's gonna be an interesting fit. I think they have some, you know, kind of a little runway because Not that Paul George had the same type of season as Jalen. Paul George has been a scorer in his career.
So, maybe they can lean on some of that, how they figured that out. But either way, it's going to be some grown pants. It's going to be tricky. Yeah, Jason, and while all these teams are beefing up their roster for this upcoming season, the Knicks are the champions of the NBA. They're still in the Eastern Conference.
They re-signed Jordan Clarkson today. They've brought back a bunch of really good role players that were essential for them being able to get through the postseason and ultimately win the trophy. That said, though, Mitchell Robinson stays in the East. Goes to the rival Boston Celtics. The Knicks go to, well, rival Philly and they bring in Andre Drummond.
Now, is that a big drop off in your mind? Or do the Knicks do a good job of addressing the loss of Robinson by bringing in Drummond? I think it's a I mean, especially for what you're paying Andres Roman, it's a good pickup for them. Um I think Drummond can still play some decent minutes for you in a backup role. The only time that becomes a concern is that if Kat's in a lot of foul trouble or if he has to miss some time, it does really alter that.
But that was the same case with Mitchell. It's not like you're going to swapping those two guys out is going to really affect how that role works for them. I think Drummond's smart enough to figure it out. I think that was a, given the kind of the thin landscape at center, you know, once you got past Kessler and Durin, it was not like there was a whole lot of bigs out there.
So, I think to get him, unless you're gonna say go with somebody like a looney, you know, I think to get to get Drummond. The guy who knows that conference, a guy who they know well from just the last couple of seasons being in Philly. I think that was a a real solid pickup for them. I like what the Knicks have done. you know, they're they've they've got the ability to kind of pretty much run the same team back.
They've got some continuity because the core group has been together now. This will be their third year together. Yeah. So I like them. I like them not trying to disrupt it.
You know, not trying to break everything up. What's the ton of roll? We had. know build on the chemistry that we showed during the playoffs and Thinking you go back to back, for the first time in almost a decade, no one's gone back to back. Chatting with the athletics, Jason Jones here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Dan Schwartzmann in for Rich on this Thursday. You know, Jalen Brown goes from Boston to Philly. Really, a surprise that they kept him in the east like that, traded him to a rival like Philadelphia. But. What does it mean to you in terms of?
We know he's a great player, okay? And statistically, the numbers are there, but. Does he take somewhat of a shot? Does he get dinged up a bit because Clearly, there was something there with him and Tatum, right? If everything was kumbaya, he doesn't get moved.
Did we learn something about Jalen Brown this offseason that we didn't know before in terms of who he is? Because of the fact that Boston got rid of him in his prime coming off a big season, and frankly, probably didn't get good value in terms of an older Paul George in four draft picks. Because If everything was great, he doesn't get moved, he d does get moved, what does that mean about him? I don't I'm I'm not really sure what it means about him just because this hasn't this hasn't even been the weirdest trade in the last year last fourteen, you know, year and a half or so. And I think What it says is that teams are signing part of it is they're signing guys to extensions.
knowing that within a year or two they're going to try to move them. before they have to re no, to you know, I think even though they won't say it, I think this is definitely partly financial. Right. I do think that part of it is is that Jalen is, you know, it's kind of the discourse about him, you know, was he too smooth. To me, that's all kind of just doesn't really matter, and it's not really relevant.
I just think that there's. To me, there's definitely other things at work here. that we that we'll probably understand, you know, in three, four months when there's some in-depth, you know, unnamed source story, breaking down the behind the scenes stuff. But it it's still on its head, doesn't I it until there's more known, it's kind of hard for me to say that this reflects on Jalen.
So much. Because there still hasn't been anything that I've heard or read or seen that says he was like a bad person. He was ruining the locker room. That's and that you know, and and that's why I kind of lean toward the I think a lot of this is financial. I think they did not want to have to be in a situation where he's eligible for about seventy million a year.
And they're in a position now where they don't really want to pay him that. No, I think you bring up a great point. Yes. I think that has a lot to do with it as well. But no no one wants to say that because, you know, Boston's a team that should have you know, has money.
This is not, you know, some small market team without tradition. you know, but I mean, it's it goes back to the the CBA, I think. This is probably an unintended result of the of the CBA. You're gonna you're gonna see more trades like this down the road. As long as this CBA is in effect.
I think Luca's tr the trade of Luca was in part The CBA. You know, if I have any doubt, do I want to pay that guy $70 million? Let's get rid of him now so that in the next team to get to him, He can get a he can sign a new deal, but he can't sign for that.
So, I really want to see what else comes out of this Boston situation. But right now, to me, it doesn't reflect bad on Jalen at all yet. That's a great point you bring up about how much of this this is due to the CVA and the economics of basketball.
Now, that brings up my last question here: is the Bucs were on a show-me. Freanis, right? Show me that we're going to keep competing. Show me that we're going to make the moves and we're going to go back to being competitive. That I feel comfortable signing an extension here and finishing my career in Milwaukee.
And the Bucs failed that, and he's now in Miami. Is Denver in a situation similar with a show me to Nikola Jokic this season where he's got to see that they can kind of keep this string going of being a very good team that has a shot every year because he's not signing that extension and he says it's going to be next offseason, but if this team struggles and they take a step back, He could go elsewhere. Is it a proven year for the the Nuggets? to yoke it should show that they're in the right direction. I think so because they're kind of in the similar situation that Boston was a couple of years ago.
And some of the other teams that have won, you know, you get that championship team together, you know, you commit to an Aaron Gordon, you commit to Jamal Murray. But because of the way things are financially, there's not a whole lot you can do around the edges anymore. They've committed about the Christian Brown. You know, so their team is kind of their team now. And so you have to see what you can do to move some of that salary.
Can you make some changes? Because So it's the way the NBA is now. You know, you win a championship with a group. you pretty much have a cup a year or two and then it's like, okay, decision time, do we still believe in this group or not? And I think he's the next guy to watch because if they have another first round exit, I think there's going to be some people wondering, okay, where could he be the next guy to get moved?
So yeah, I think that's definitely one to watch, especially with Jamal Murray since on a big contract. Christian Br you know, maybe Christian Brown's the guy that gets moved. Yeah. Maybe Aaron Gordon. I mean, they're going to have to probably do something to try to shake things up, but I just think.
the way the finances are around the league. We're going to see a lot of this now where teams are looking to probably break up groups much sooner than we're used to. I think the Lakers are going to be watching that situation closely. They have always had, well, everybody wants a Jokic-type player, obviously, but the Lakers have always kind of been important as a landing spot for him if he was ever going to leave Denver. Jason Jones of the Athletic.
Jason, appreciate the time, my friend. No problem, thanks anytime. Awesome stuff there. I love talking to NBA. It's a great time.
But the Lakers are going to be watching that Nugget season very, very closely. There's always been that inkling or the thought that if Jokic was to ever leave Denver, the landing spot would be Los Angeles. You put him and Luca together for A few years What's left of Jokic's prime? That could be a very, very interesting European combination of success. Keeping the Lakers right there in terms of relevance and being a top organization.
So. That would be an interesting pairing if it happened. And by the way, I think it's the case. Denver is on a show-me-deal here. Yoki's just telling them, Show me.
Look, he's going to make money wherever he goes. Yeah, he'd have to leave money on the table because. The money's not going to be as much if he goes elsewhere and signs an extension than if he stays and signs a supermax with Denver. Five years, $360 million in Denver. He would give that up for a lower max deal if he went elsewhere in a trade and then signed an extension.
But you're still talking hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars. He's not going to be begging for cash on the side of a highway, okay? If he wants to win again, he doesn't think Denver's giving him that avenue, and that's why it's a show-me season for the Nuggets organization. Rich Eisen here for Gusto. On my shows, we talk a lot about what happens in the spotlight: the games, the highlights, and the moments that get replayed and debated.
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Loans originated by SoFi Bank NA, member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply, NMLS 696891. Fast funds terms apply at sofi.com/slash debt play. What's to say he doesn't bolt and go elsewhere? Giannis did it, and I think most of us believed.
The Yannis Anto de Cumpo would be a Milwaukee buck for life. He'd be one of those guys like Kobe or Jeter. Or Rivera, right? One of these guys that has played his entire career, Dirk Nowitzki, for one organization. And that's the only jersey you'll ever remember them wearing.
I mean, Tom Brady in a Tampa Bay uniform, even though he won a Super Bowl, is still awkward to think. Because if you're going to envision Tom Brady, it's always going to be in a Patriots uniform. But I think for Jokic, he's going to be watching that organization and seeing what they do because they better make the right moves here. Every move, better hit. 'Cause if they don't stay competitive against the Spurs, against The OKC Thunder against the Timberwolves.
If they don't stay competitive against the the big boys of the west, There's a good shot Jokic bounces and he takes his talents elsewhere potentially. To LA. All right, speaking of LA, UCLA, a big move in college hoops. But what gets me about it isn't exactly that a kid decided to go play college somewhere. It's the language used in terms of how you talk about a kid picking a college these days.
In the day and age of NILs. That's next here on the Rich Eisen Show. Dan Schwartzmann in for Rich on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Into the Hyundai Getaway Sales Event and get away with the deal so right, it almost feels wrong. Right now, you can get great deals on our most popular models, including our adventure-ready SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Santa Fe Hybrid and the Tucson or Tucson Hybrid.
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UCLA has just signed this really impressive. seventeen year old basketball protege. He's from Serbia. And this is how it's written.
Okay, and this is what NIL has done to college sports. It used to be you pick a college because, well, Nice campus. Best opportunity for playing time. Good-looking co-eds, whatever your motivation is to go to college, it was not money. Maybe there's a little booster under the table money here and there, but that was hush-hush.
But you went to college because you had a chance to play. What made you a better player to where you potentially could be a professional in your respective sport? But I love this first line.
Okay, I'm going to read you this. It's Fafyspn.com. Serbian Ford Nicola Kusturica. has reached a multi-year agreement to play for UCLA. That's all I have to read.
And that was a stunning line to me because, sadly, it's incredibly accurate. Because now, even deciding where you want to go to college. is a business decision When you you are a top high school or international recruit. He reached a multi-year agreement.
Now, it's a multi-year agreement. Because this kid is just 17 years old. He turned 17 in April. And to enter the NBA draft, I believe you have to be at least 19 years old.
So it's multi-year because he can't go and be a one-and-done player at UCLA. He's got to stay in college. For two years, unless he wants to go for one year, then go play in another league and then enter the draft. But it's all about the money now.
So when a kid's playing or picking a college, What's in essence happening is he is legitimately getting offers financially. It's not. We have a great business school here at UCLA or. You know, we have this amazing journalism program at Syracuse, or we have an amazing pre-med program at Miami. That doesn't even factor really into the equation.
Or, you know what? a four year degree from this university will really help you in the future, right? Like come to Duke, come to Virginia, come to Michigan. This four year degree is going to really help you later in life when you want to join the business world or whatever the heck you want to do.
Now it's okay. Nicola? We're going to give you a two-year, twenty million dollar contract to come play for us in college. Or are we gonna give you two years and 15 mil, and there's a playing time, but I don't even know what they're doing anymore. I don't think anybody understands this anymore.
I think the college game and the Ansible A has become so irrelevant now. I mean, it was the Sorby situation in Texas Tech where a judge is telling the NCAA, hey, by the way, you can't bench a guy who's been gambling. You know, I mean, come on. That was unbelievable. But he's not going to play, thankfully, 'cause he shouldn't.
But here's a situation now where these college kids Are actually these high school kids, seventeen-year-old international prospects. are picking colleges based on a contract that they're being offered financially. You know, I do think the players were being exploited. Don't get me wrong, you know, when. Alabama or Ohio State football is bringing in a hundred million dollars a year.
It's not because people just like the helmets. It's not just because people, you know, just like to watch. Sports, it's because they're watching players, right? The players of the the revenue generator. It's the players playing in an Alabama uniform or Ohio State uniform that's bringing in the revenue.
Because they're a really good product, you're going to sell out. Ohio Stadium or Bryant Denny Stadium, right? You're selling it out. People buying the merchandise, it's a hundred million dollar a year deal. And it really isn't fair.
The players get just a full scholarship for it, and that's about it.
Okay? It's nice to have a full scholarship and a meal plan paid for and you don't have to pay for your books. Yada yada yada. As a college kid who owed a little money when I graduated, yeah, well, sure, college being free would have been great. But when I'm actually worth something, and people are paying money for my jersey or my number or our.
You know, coming to watch, and the university is making a fortune off of me, then maybe I should make some money. And I get it. But there has to be some sort of a happy medium here, right? I'm not sure what we have now is the best system in place that makes the most sense. Where now Kids are going and playing multiple at different at multiple colleges in their four years.
Because you're chasing the dollars.
Okay, you're a freshman at UCLA and you have a really nice season. Then you get a phone call from LSU and it's, hey, We're going to pay you this much. You go, you know what, UCLA? Peace out. I'm going now.
Used to be used to, you know, you'd have to sit out a year after you transferred. It's not the case anymore.
So think about this, right? A kid could play at UCLA one year and then get a bigger offer to go to Texas the next year. And then after Texas, Michigan boosters are paying him more and he plays his junior year at Michigan and then he goes somewhere else for a senior year. Forget where he's getting a degree from in credits transferring, that's not even part of this equation. And he's just facing, you know, he's running after dollars.
Remember, Tennessee football had that situation where their quarterback left to go to UCLA because he got a better offer. even though he had just played a season at Tennessee. The system has gotten so flat out ridiculous. That unfortunately the accurate Sentence to open a paragraph is. A 17-year-old has reached a multi-year agreement to play for UCLA when its college hoops, sadly, is accurate.
And to me, this is a big problem. I know the politicians want to get involved. and maybe they should at this point. But something needs to be done because, look, I went to a mid-major program, I went to Ohio University in the Mac. And it's a mid-major program.
And over the years, we've lost players who were very good. And who could transfer? You know, O'Rourke, Nathan O'Rourke, the quarterback, I think he's in Canada now, but he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. And then he went to, remember, he went to Indiana. And had a big season a couple of years ago.
He transferred from my school, so we lost him for a year. Our kicker went to Wisconsin. We had a top basketball player a couple of years ago. He ended up going to a bigger program. It happens.
A running back went to Minnesota, then came back. But these guys are chasing money, right? And I get it. I understand it. You're a college kid.
I mean, Couple of dollars in your pocket as a college kid's pretty cool. I did radio on college for sixty bucks a week. I mean That's pure money, but not enough. This is some serious money we're talking about, these guys. Six figures.
Some guys are making seven, eight figures as college athletes. The system, again, just needs to be redone.
Something has to happen here. Because this is not sustainable. Mid-market teams, mid-major teams, just do not have the resources to compete. You have the top twenty or so schools that have the money to do so. And that, unfortunately, is going to be it.
The power structure is just not going to work out any more. Nathan O'Rourke plays for the B C Lions. There we go. Playing in Canada now. Ohio University, but graduated from Indiana, I believe, is what it is.
All right, next up here on ESPN Radio, Freddie and Harry. It's been a blast, as always. Nick and Ryan, great job on the other side. Dan Schwartzmann, again on a Thursday, The Rich Eisen Show on ESPN Radio. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
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