First Things First - Wemby makes MVP case, Lakers winning streak snapped, Travis Kelce signs extension, King of the Hill

Episode Date: March 24, 2026

(0:00) Victor Wembanyama wants the MVP, Lakers snap winning streak (25:40) Travis Kelce signs extension, Will Aaron Rodgers return to the Steelers? (40:20) Should Stephen Curry return this season? (45:55) King of the Hill (01:04:09) ‘Sleeping’ on Pistons’, Lakers loss something or nothing? (01:14:05) Peter Schmeichel joins (01:25:10) Top 10 Tuesday, Wemby ‘cockiness’ a good thing? (01:49:56) Ricky Proehl talks UFL kickoff (01:58:35) How does JSN’s contract impact Puka Nacua? (02:07:22) Should the Jets draft Allar or Beck? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from New York. It's a show that's just trying to, gosh, not take any credit for it. Just trying to make moves like the second guy in the Godfather. What's his name? Hagan. Tom Hagan, the Ossie, Eric. That's me. That's you?

Just out here whispering how to do stuff. I think I really unintentionally, brew, upset wild. No, it's just a missing. misunderstanding of the creative process. I did. It's a misunderstanding. It's a misunderstanding. KW.

People thought that I, that I, that I, that Bru and I were upset with each other because of our spirited sports. I was that with both of you. People really think you're upset. I know. And I was like, Brew and I, the only person who could have been upset by that was KW. Brew and I loved every second.

This is competitive sports debate. That's occasionally a fun hang. It's not competitive sports debate. Sometimes it is. Occasionally it is. There was some red lines over there. when you were like, if you watched the game, I didn't say that.

If you're not, basically, you were right there on the bird. I was careful not to say, you don't watch the game. Look, I'm watching the games. I'm not playing cards. I was very careful not to say, have you ever seen Whitney play? I really don't think you've seen any play. It was right there. I'm like, please don't let that one bubble up.

Right under the surface. We're talking, Wemby. It's going to happen again. It's going to happen again. Better have watched that game. You better to listen to every. I pulled that on Wilds today. I was like, were you really watching Spurs?

I'm like, no, I want it. It's like, you watch the highlights. He's like, he's like, whoa, the highlight. He's like, well, the highlights. I watched the miss. Everybody's highlights look awesome. The Holmes Kelsey back for 2026. That'll be interesting.

And finally, a special edition of King of the Hill, featuring Luca Donchic player of the week. And one more player of the week. We're not announcing it. The NBA announced it, but I don't think it makes enough waves. So I'm giving this guy the attention that he so richly deserves. He could make a name for himself in about a month. Yeah.

Oh, yeah. Sadly, he's not going to make it out of the play. I also have an announcement coming up in about an hour and eight minutes, potential first things first road trip. Oh, can't. Great idea. Great idea. Philly Hornets playing game?

Hornets at Barclays. Oh, in the regular season? You would actually go with us? Yeah, you would like to be seen like royalists prices out there. We started in Miami, Wembe dominant. 26 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks. Only 26 minutes, bro.

Guy didn't get to 30 though. Spurs Cruz. After the game, Wemby was asked about the MVP, and he laid out his case. Sure did. I have thought about it. I think right now there is a debate, you know, that should be, even though I think I should lead the race. And I'm trying to make sure that until the end of the season, there's no debate anymore. My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is

undervalued so far in the MVP race because I believe I'm the most impactful player defensively in the league. Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season and we dominated them three times with their real team and four times with more rotation players. And my third argument would be that offense impact is not just sports. I've never seen that before, Brew. did you like Wemby making his MVP case? This is tough.

Yeah. Because I am, of course, the Wimby guy. We both are. We both are. Not unquestioned. He's the president. You're his vice president chairman. I'll take that. Yeah.

You're just a clerk in the... God. I wouldn't say vice president. I'm around, though. That was too much for... All right. I don't see SGA doing this. Nope.

Or Luke. or Yokic or Jalen or Kade for that matter. Historically, I have never. Or right, MVP's in the past. Yeah, so I don't like it. I listen, I got Nick too. And Vinnie Goodwill, I saw y'all get up trying to steal my bit and stay in your lane, Vinny.

Don't be biting my style, all right, all right? Wow. I love this because Wimby is here for the smoke. He wants it all. He just said SGA, we beat y'all four out of five. We dominated. Yeah, yes, exactly. He said Luca,

Yokic, y'all don't play defense. All right? Whimmy is not here to make friends. He is here to dominate the league. And he didn't give a PR answer, politically correct, none of that. He said

what he felt and I'm cool with it. And here's the thing, Nick. I ain't get mad at Muhammad Ali I was around when he said he's the greatest of all times all right I didn't get mad at Money Mayweather Floyd

when he wears the TBE hat the best ever even though I disagree with him I ain't get mad at him he can do that you see a lot in boxing I'm not mad at LeBron for saying he's the goat

even though I disagree with it I'm not mad at it so how am I going to get mad at Wembe for saying I think I'm the MVP I've talked to MVP candidate this one-on-one. And they all think they should win it. All right? So, like I said,

if I can't crush those guys I mentioned, I'm not crushing Wimby for this. So I also am not going to crush Wembe for this because I have been long on the record that I personally prefer from athletes, honest arrogance, rather than false

humility. Some guys are by nature just very humble. But a lot of times, guys, are pretending. They think they're the baddest son of the gun. And somewhat I get it because, you know, it's the polite thing to say. And in most media corners,

they know they would get criticized. Yeah. And that's what I, now, Brew, you have been consistent on this where I haven't, we even doing the show together a long time. And there's, you haven't done a lot of like scolding guys

for where they think they're awesome. But there are a lot of, folks in the media who do, who seem to have a little carve out for the 22-year-old French kid. Like they're okay with him? Yeah, well, they were okay. There have been a lot of, I think, interesting wimby double standards that I've seen dating back to when he and Chris Paul cheated in the skills competition and people were like savvy. We are all talk about how All-Star Weekends broken.

These two guys just throw away the skills competition and try to win it. Everyone's like, that's how much he wants to win. I'm like, I thought that was actually kind of a crummy thing. I don't think there is a player in the league that before he played in a single playoff game could have gotten away with at the beginning of the year being like, well, they don't play the right way, but we do. But he did. I certainly don't think there are many guys who before they have won anything

could talk trash essentially about the defending champion and defending league MVP not in to make the case as to why his team is great but why he should win MVP like what he just did and not get criticized and Wimby's not going to get criticized for this.

I thought that was a compliment to OKC that we've dominated. That we've dominated them. That's why I should be the league MVP. Yeah, but it's like they're the best and we beat them. So I, so I don't, but he, this was not a we, this was a me. This was not about make the three cases is why the spurs can win the title. This was make, give us your three points.

Now he was asked. He didn't just bring it up unprompted why you're the league MVP. And it is, listen, I, it's just a very unique kind of, media acceptance before a guy checks any of the boxes that historically we have needed for guys to be able to talk this way. But he plays, he's unique. I mean, he's thoughtful. He plays so selflessly.

And he's just, he's just, we've never seen anything like this. I agree. It just never, I mean, just his size is obviously what changes it. And I think that is part of it. I also think this, Nick, I wonder if some of this, he's from France, obviously, and I wonder if some of this is naivete, like, because you're right, most guys would not come out and make an MVP case for themselves. I wonder if some of that is just naivete, not knowing how it might be taken,

or I've seen coaches in New York in particular do that, and then they start seeing stuff on the back page that they said in just, Being honest and didn't mean anything, but it was put on the back page and become something different. I mean, he had three reasons. He almost had a full screen. He's like, Dusty? He got my P.E.R. So like, but don't.

So on that note, brew, I do, I also think, I almost feel like I know the media would not be accepting of something like that from a domestic player. I do not think who, who's, that if A.J. DeBanza is the number one pick. and three years from now it's like, man, he might be the MVP already. And he is out that year, you know, staking the case for himself and saying the things he said, I think there will be a lot of, again, I don't think from this show because we're not really scolds, but a lot of go win something, young fella. And Wimby has just kind of been graduated to a place of we're also certain he will win. We're also certain he one day will, if he's not already the best player in the world,

that there is a lot of stuff that he has been kind of given the runway to do that typically young, unproven, not just ringless, but accolade-less players aren't allowed to do. I don't know if you guys might remember. You remember when LeBron, I think it was his rookie year, I guess, when he didn't make the All-Star team and they were talking to him about, being an alternate and he was like I'm not an alternate or something like he wouldn't go if do you guys remember that I don't remember if he was criticized or not I don't remember that but that was unique mb's not domestic I mean he played on team USA but he's from Africa he uh remember he and that's

the other thing imb campaigned openly for the MVP award and won it and I voted for him not because of his campaigning but because I thought he had a great year and deserved it But a lot of people do feel like he won it because he campaigned openly. And this could, this actually I do think will, now I don't think he'll, I don't know if he'll, I don't think he'll win it. But I think this could help him because, again, it helped him be. But don't clearly help him be. And I know we want to talk about whether or not he should be the.

No, but I feel like that's where I like does this sway you. Well, so the, I feel like the guys we've seen that have camp, Because we have seen guys campaign for themselves before. Typically, it's guys who have come close multiple times and fallen short. Like Kevin Durant, if you remember, the cover of Sports Illustrated was, like, I'm sick of coming in second. I was second pick of the draft. I was, I think, you know, second in MVP voting. We came in second in the finals.

Like, this is the year that I come in first. We've, Embed, had repeatedly run into the wall of Joker and that. And listen, I know I'm going to come across, and I'm going to have to wear probably four years being called, like, anti-Wimby. I'm not. I am not as pro-Wimby as that side of the table, or I would say the majority of the media. But I, right now, if I had a ballot, I would have him third. Like, Brew and I went to war over Luca v. Wimby yesterday. I think our, maybe I'm wrong.

MVP ballot if it existed would go Shea, Luca, Wimby, Brue's so drastically different, would go Shay, Wimby, Luca. Do I have that right? Luca or Yolka. Oh, right, but yeah, they're right there. But yeah, Shea Wimby. I got Shay right now. So that's what I was going to ask. You still have Shea. Yeah, look,

I think there's an argument for Wembe. I mean, he made some, there's better, like, I think for him defense, and I think Nick, and maybe I'm misreading it, but you've talked about it like, okay, he's great, he's the best defensive player in the world, but that's never generally majored

than big. But I think that's down playing his impact defense. He's the best defensive player I've seen. I can know, I've said, I only could think about comparing him to Bill Russell. When Bill Russell came into the league, it wasn't as big, so he was unique to some degree in that regard. It was an unwritten rule. You kept a certain, you know, only three, four, maybe five black players on the team.

So it was all the best players in the world weren't in. in the league. So Bill Russell was just incredibly dominant defensively. This guy is the best I've seen. So I don't think he's already better than Pika King. Well, defensively, yeah, like over, I would not, if we, if he didn't play anymore, I wouldn't rank him ahead of the team. But you think his defensive impact. Yeah, I think it's unlike anything we've seen because he can, now it's different.

Akeem was obviously more inside because the game was more around the paint. But Wimby can get out there and guard guards on the perimeter for everybody, a perimeter in the post. I don't think this is Dennis Rodman or Elijah. This is something we've never seen. So I think it weighs a little heavier. But he's also a very good offensive player. The thing is, Nick, his 24 points a game, which you kind of harp on,

he's the only, he plays 29 minutes a game. He's the only top 20 score in the league who plays less than 30 minutes. And so if he played more, obviously, you think he would score more. So that's something. But all that said, I think Shay right now is in. I would love to see Winby winning. But I got to be honest to myself and my voting. Right now I'd have Shay.

I like that he said there's only 10 games left roughly. He said it's my job to make it not a debate over the rest of the season. I don't know if he's got enough time, but he's going to obviously go out there and try to really put something in your mind. Could he do anything to. leap Shea? I mean, look, if they became the number one seed somehow, that would move him ahead. Because my main thing for Shea, obviously, Shea's got great numbers, all that. But, and he's also a good defensive player.

But the thing is, his second best player has missed two thirds of the season. Well, now he's back, so that probably hurts him. But it's only like 10 games. And they're still the number one seed. So I got Shea right now. I guess if Wimby goes crazy over the next three weeks, then maybe. But I'd have him. second right now. Do you want to go or can I? No, I wanted to get to LeBron, but go

to have final thoughts. Yeah. So I do take very seriously you saying that you think right now he has, his defensive impact is higher in your mind than peak Akeem. I, you know, it's not just because we did the Wimby Akeem thing back when he was drafted, but I have, and I think I said it to when he was on the show. Like I believe Akeem, Malajuan's the greatest defensive player of my lifetime. I would agree with that. And the Russell is the Duncan was great. Duncan was great. Garnett was great.

Robin was great. I think Akeem was so dominant. With that said, his apex domination, I was a toddler and then eight, nine years old when he was winning his titles. So I do rely on a lot of what I've read, people I respect that I listen to as, you know, as much as you go back and want.

So I, if you are that level of a defender, it does change the math on how much defense should matter in the MVP. My, sorry, go ahead. My hang up right now for Wimby on MVP is not that, I

think you're necessarily wrong, that he could be a more dominant offensive player, he could be putting up gaudier numbers. But because he hasn't yet in his career, and he's not right now, and then you add to it, the three other major candidates are all having

truly historical offensive seasons, whether it's Shay breaking Wilts' record while averaging 32 a game. Shooting 55% from the field. Joker, like you said, the triple double while leading the league in rebounds and assists. Luca putting up this close to 34 a game,

which only five guys in the modern era have ever done, and Luca doing it on the same efficiency as Wemby, that when we talk about, it's never been easier to score. 24 points and three assists compared to those guys' offensive performances, the defense for me is not enough to close that gap. And it sounds like even for you,

it's not quite enough to close it with Shea. So, but I do, listen, what I am really interested in, and then we move on, I don't think they can win the title with him at 24 again. He's going to play more minutes in the playoffs, and he's going to, I think, have to be more dominant offensively,

and I think we'll get a test in real time. I mean, remember, they have eight guys scoring in double figure. But I just don't think that will. They got two other fairly big scores in Castle and Fox. But don't you, I just think for them to win four rounds, there is, he is going to have to carry a heavier offensive load that I believe one day he'll be able to. Maybe that day is this year, but that part I don't know yet.

I would love to see him ask him to, because I don't think they ask him to. Spurs in Memphis tomorrow. Lakers winning streak ends in Detroit last night. Lucas, too late shots, can't find the bottom of the net. He ends the night with 32. LeBron didn't score until about six minutes were left in the third quarter. He was asked about it and said, hey, man, I get in where I fit in. My word's not his.

Here's his quote. It's the role that I'm playing for the ball club. In order for us to win ball games, it's the role that I'm playing. It's just how the game is wrong. Your reaction on LeBron. I mean, he's absolutely right. Like, this is the role. I don't think it was, some people think it was passive, aggressive.

Maybe you do that look in your eyes. LeBron was telling the truth. And the fact is, since he's come back from his little injury and been playing like this, they're six in one. I'm not tripping over a loss. I get it. Kay Cunningham wasn't there. I'm not tripping over.

What do we say? They were due. Sure. Right. You're going to lose games in the NBA to lesser team. game in eight days. Yeah, I'm not. I mean, I this is, they should continue on the path. Now, I, I'll have some things to say a little later. We talk about Luke and all that stuff.

But this role where LeBron is the third offensive scoring option and doing all the other things, because here's the thing. He had 10 assists and 9 rebounds. All right. So his shot was just off. He was 0 for 5 in the first half. He ended up four, so four for five in the second half. So I, but I, but I, I think this is the best chance the Lakers have of doing something special in the playoffs. And so they should stay this, keep on this path. And I think LeBron understands that. I'm surprised that didn't, his postgame comments didn't hit your radar like they hit mine.

Yeah, well, tell. Well, the whole, during the win streak, the vibes were out of control. LeBron was happy for Luca celebrating. Luke Conard, he was super pumped up. And this was the first time that he could have easily been like, hey, you know what? We were due for a loss. We were down. we came all the way back, but he was very short in this interview.

And we talked earlier how LeBron wears his emotions on his sleeve. And I am willing to reconsider how happy he is in the third fiddle role. It's like you used to be the actor, now you're best supporting actor. I'm not convinced that he's thrilled with this. November through February, where he was already, you know, not the star. It was at 16 field goal attempts a game. In March, he's at 12.6. Last night, Luca took 29 shots, LeBron took 10.

In Orlando, Luca took 30, LeBron took 13, and Miami. You know, Luca took 30, LeBron took 12. I'm just not convinced he's as thrilled, and I don't know how you could. Tell me what you're taking away from the post game. I vehemently disagree with you. And I'm, we didn't talk for the show about this. I didn't know that's what you thought. It's very interesting.

You know, the passive, was it being passive aggressive, came up. I'm not saying he was less thrilled than we had lost. Well, now they're coming off of. They lost. I mean, the only reason I mentioned that is because I think it was Dan Wojke, whoever is the article, I read it in the Athletic.

So the Lakers writer for the Athletic. My apologies if I got the author wrong. Put LeBron's quote that we played in the story and then specifically wrote, and to be clear, this was not passive aggressive, LeBron. This was LeBron who understands and his pull-out. in the direction of where the team needs to be. Now, I mean, you saw it differently. Everyone's in time of their opinion.

I pulled the room, I'm like, I mean, because I didn't want to just take the quote. I'm like, let me watch the full interview. And I've seen him more optimistic post losses. So this one landed differently. So I, listen, this is the first time in his entire career, he has played more than 38 minutes and taken 10 or fewer shots. So it's the, literally the fewest shots he's ever taken. in a game where he played that long.

It's the first time in a decade, he's played 35 minutes and taken 10 or fewer shots. I don't think LeBron would be thrilled with taking 8, 9, 10 shots a game. You know what I mean, moving forward? So I think the combination of even in the third option role, this was as low usage as he's going to get, plus they lost, plus the way they lost, which was they could have just let go of the rope. They were down 18. They fought all the way back, got a lead with 30 seconds left, and then had bad defensive possession and then back-to-back bad offensive possessions, I think probably bums you out a little bit.

Did you think the final play was something? That was a terrible play. Well, can I tell you what I think happened there? I think Luca, understandably thought the pistons were going to, because they were up three, we're going to try to foul, and it screwed everything up.

Like he, instead of just trying to, like, get into a shot, was like trying to avoid letting them foul him, and then all of a sudden, the play is a disaster. And so. I will say this while, and I don't agree, I think LeBron's fine. I think he understands this is the best chance we have of winning and it's fine for him.

look, we all talk about how high his basketball IQ is, historically high. There's no way LeBron is sitting there watching Luca shoot 30 shots and miss two-thirds of them thinking that's smart. Yeah, and take a turnaround contested jump shot while you watch. Now, I'm not saying, I definitely am not saying he has any issue with Luke or anything. But he's watching this. There's no way he thinks that's the best way to play basketball. I will say that. Okay.

And I think he realizes, though, this is the only way we can win. If I deplete myself the way Duane Wade, not this much, but did a little bit for LeBron, this is the best thing way we can win. But he knows, that's not smart basketball. And that's why, as great as I think Luca is and Nick I said the other day, very few people ever been better offensively. But it's not the smartest basketball, him gunning all the time. More on this later.

Mahomes and Kelsey are back. That's next on FS1. The Fox Sports Channel at Sirius XM. Missing football, good news. We got the UFL coming up. New season of pro football this spring. Kickoff weekend starts Friday, 8 Eastern and continues Saturday at 4 on Fox.

We also have, they're going to have halftime concerts. Ludacris is going to be here. Yeah. And most importantly, Houston back to be in the gamblers, like they're supposed to be. instead of the rough necks. Switch the name back. Oh, yeah.

I liked the rough. No, for a while. The gamblers. The Houston gamblers. I used to live there to name the team after me pretty quick. UFL, kick it off. Travis Kelsey signed a brand new deal yesterday. He's back with the Chiefs and Mahomes.

Called him during the contract sign. It's a nice moment. Take a listen. You got company. Who? Yes. Doug. Oh, you see?

What's up? one five patricio petricio let's go baby home sweet home you know what's saying home sweet home look the beard too man the man's ready to go you already know dog hopefully rehab's going good baby yes sir i think that's the USA goalie jersey here was Kelsey's year last year amongst tight ends no wasn't Kelsey ask but top five and a lot of stuff, reception yards and targets. Are you expecting a great year for Mojones and Kelsey? I'm expecting that level that we saw right there or better.

And I, so I just want to level set, if I may, for a moment, the year the Chiefs had because I think it has been misremembered a bit because it was such a truly disastrous end. Okay. At the exact midway point of the season, this was true. The Chiefs had just ripped off five straight games where they averaged more than 30 points and an average margin of victory of 17 points, including games against teams that we thought were, you know, Baltimore, Detroit, their demolition of Washington kind of ended Washington's hopes for the year.

In that game, the midway point was. which was the game against Washington. Patrick had 3.30 and three touchdowns. Travis had six for 100 and a touchdown. And the very next day, Patrick was the favorite to win league MVP and the Chiefs were the favorite to win the Super Bowl. What was their record at that? Five and three.

Okay. From that moment, so they had lost their opening two games. They played the game against Jacksonville. They lost the very end. They'd won everything. They'd won five of their last six with the one loss being the Jacksonville game. From that moment forward, everything was a disaster. disaster. And they, the game where Patrick blew out his knee, they were six and seven, down three on the fringe of field goal range against the Chargers with two minutes left. Patrick blew out his knee. And they were just dead from that moment forward. What is, what has bristled me about Bruce's pessimism about my beloved cheese. I am, I am pessimism.

Is, so again, they're six and seven in the game. Patrick blows out his knee. They lose that game. They're six and seven. They're six and seven. They're six and seven. and eight. I mean, they weren't, I mean, they're down three past midfield, in field goal range when Patrick blew out his name. I don't know if they would have lost. You don't think it's fair to say they were six and eight with Mahomes. Well, I mean, they were going to lose. They were outplayed most of that game. Okay. So be it. The rest of the year, they then lost to Tennessee and Vegas. And then the game against the Broncos where they 13, 13. Yeah, I don't even count those last. Right. But so that's why that's, that's where I'm getting at. So Baltimore won eight games.

I think you believe in to them. Cincinnati was three and three with Joe Burrow. Forget their overall record won't hold it against them. And the previous two years with Burrow, they were 14 and 13. They've been around an eight, nine win team with Burrow. The Chiefs, I think, as bad as things were at the end of the year, if Patrick doesn't get hurt, finish eight and nine. I think they beat Tennessee and Vegas.

Like, if you call me crazy, I think they do. I don't know why teams or throw the lions in as well. who collapsed at the end of the year, who I think you have some faith in for next year, why those teams deserve more confidence that last year was an outlier year or just a down year than the chiefs do. And I feel like that's how I think both of you potentially feel.

And so that's my argument. Well, look, it's true that I guess the first half of the season, we all were believers in the Chiefs. They look great, right? They beat Baltimore. Like you said, they beat Detroit. They crushed Detroit. They crushed.

They look great, but it wasn't a good year for them. Obviously. And I think even with Mahomes, it wasn't good. Even if you want to say six and seven instead of six and eight, that's not good. Now, some of it's probably because they've been the standard and we're judging them against their old team. But I also think a lot of people are looking at the year before when they had a great record, but so many of those games were close. Then they get into the Super Bowl and get annihilated.

And then the next year, they're six and eight, six and seven with Mahomes. And Mahomes, I want nothing more than to see him back to when he was putting up these video game numbers. But we haven't seen that in three years. Even when they've won, he hasn't put up those numbers. And so that I'm just, I am surprisingly even to myself, a bit pessimistic about them. I think some of it, Nick, also is their division. I think the charges are really good. I think Denver is a good team.

I think some of it is that too. I'm stunned. You have more faith in the Chargers than the Chiefs. I'm stunned. Yeah, I think the Chargers are. I think they got. Last year they had a good year. Obviously, didn't do anything in the playoffs. But they had two of their offensive linemen, which is important.

We've seen Mahones without his offensive line. And he struggled. Now, Herbert's a question mark. We haven't seen him do anything of note in the playoffs. And I didn't think the Chargers made great, like, massive offs. Yeah, I'm giving McDaniel. lot of, I'm thinking he's going to help Herbert. I give you that. And I have a lot

of faith in Hardball, too. Yeah. So I won't be shocked if they come back and get back to that contender, you know, top contender status. But right now I am, even to myself a little bit, eh, I just don't see it happening. Are you confident in the Chief's defense?

Are we in a scenario where the defense isn't top-notch? So Mahomes has to do more? I think the Chiefs, the best-case scenario for the defense is the situation the defense found themselves in in the year

they traded Tyreek when at the the NFL films clip from the Super Bowl win over the Eagles when they allowed 35 in that Super Bowl where the Trent McDuffie is saying to I think Jalen Watson two guys who were gone he's like he's like

man we won the Super Bowl we didn't even know what we were doing out there where it is a very young draft pick-heavy defense that gets better, that peaks in the playoffs. Because that year, that teams, that year that we won the Super Bowl, the defense in the Super Bowl struggled, but it had been good in the playoffs and it had been good at the end of the year. So the next year, the defense was excellent.

That was the year it had all the drops, and then the offense was great in the playoff run. I think the defense is going to have to be a work in progress over the course of the year. I also think a lot of that will be determined by is the ninth pick and the most talented edge rusher, the chiefs have had, you know, of this era with respect to Brent Clark, or is it a wide receiver? Right.

Or depending on what they use that ninth pick on. Because if they do take an edge rusher in the top 10, that guy, those guys, if you hit on the pick, step in and immediately make an impact. Yeah, the draft is huge for him. Obviously, they lost so many guys free. A new Steelers pass catcher Michael Pittman doesn't know who he will be catching passes from. He joined Kay Adams and talked about his potential QB who he hasn't spoken to. Aaron Rogers.

Take a listen. Obviously, the whole quarterback thing is going on. And I, and like, she's like, I don't know nothing. Michael. I haven't talked to Aaron. What a way to put it. What a way to put it? Hold on.

The whole quarterback thing going on. What do you mean you haven't talked to Aaron? What does that, what do you mean? So I'm trying to give him space, you know, because Aaron's a guy. He likes his space. He likes to get, like, refreshed. Like, I didn't want to just get signed and then blow him up and be like, hey, Aaron. Like, what's the deal?

Pitman not speaking to Rogers to give him some space. Something or nothing. Nothing. I mean, he's Michael Pittman. He's a big acquisition. With all due respect, he's Michael Pittman. What? Huh?

Has he ever made a pro ball? He's a good. receiver. He's a good receiver. It's not C.D. Lamb coming in there. It's not Jamarch. I mean, he's a good receiver. And not even D.K. Metcalfe coming in there. I imagine, I have little

doubt that if one of those type receivers was going to Pittsburgh, Rogers would have been in touch. So before he calls that, hold on, let me pull up pro football reference. See what your catch rate was. No, he's a good player. I can dial nine numbers. I'm not saying he's not a good

receiver. He is a good a receiver, but he's not a star receiver. Well, he's not with the team yet. He doesn't have a contract. He's told us that. They haven't offered him. This is wild. I think he's coming back.

I think there's nothing because I think he's going to play for the Steelers. Go ahead. This is just raw meat for you. It's just obviously something. And it's Michael Pittman hasn't played with Aaron Rogers before. Correct. He was a cult. No, he's a steel.

Yet he's been told the talking points of, He's a guy who likes his space. He likes to be refreshed. Listen, you can't bother Aaron Rogers in his private time. Can Patrick Mahomes text, you know, FaceTime Travis Kelsey when he's signing him? He's Travis Kelsey!

The, the... Can Drake May show up with his beard to Foxborough to welcome everybody in and their families? Brew, here is my... He ain't Aaron Rogers. It's all due respect. No, Drake May is at this point dramatically better than...

This is just normal behavior for the leader of the team. Aaron Rogers is a Hall of Fame. Look, I'm not trying to defend him because I agree with a lot of, you know, your stuff about his shenanigans. I'm just saying he's going to be the Steelers quarterback. Okay. If he's going to be the Steelers quarterback, then why, then why does everyone, it is just an extra little drain on everyone involved with the Steelers that you have to deal with this charade? And so it is because here's the other thing.

And I don't know Michael Pittman at all. I'm not trying to accuse anyone of lying. But I owe the audience honesty. There's a part of my brain that thinks, yeah, of course they talked. Oh, interesting. But Aaron, but he's not allowed to say they talked because Aaron's not officially a stealer yet. And so it's either they talked and he felt the need to lie about it or they haven't talked, which is again

not pulling in the right leadership direction in my opinion. And I understand if you are Aaron Rogers' friends or family, probably more likely friends, and you see this, you think I'm picking on him or being unfair.

I just don't understand why this has to be so difficult. Why the Steelers for the second straight year have to

operate as if a player is their starting quarterback of their team but without the player committing to doing it. Now the Steelers are opting into that. I think that organizationally, right, they own the accountability for not

having enough organizational self-respect to say no, we're not doing this. But I remember was it Art Rooney? It was somebody, I think it was somewhat above Omar Khan, but maybe it was Omar Khan, that in the end of year press conference told us that this wasn't going to drag on like last time.

Well, it's late March. It's late March, and right now, Will Howard's their starting quarterback. Like, that should have been the question. If you talk to Will Howard, he's the starting quarterback of the Steelers. And so I just don't get it. I don't know who benefits from it, Brew.

That's the other part. I don't know why Aaron benefits from it. Well, that's just his thing. his personality, whatever, it would be great for the Steelers if this was something. Because then maybe if it was something it would mean, you know what, Aaron's not

going to be your quarterback. Which I think would be the best thing for them. They're not winning anything with Aaron Rogers. I've said it every time we talk about them. I don't know what in the world the Steelers are thinking. I don't want to make this first of all, only KW can make Edits on the show. So I don't even have

license to do it. But I, and I don't want to do anything flippantly, especially because we do have some Are you about to put an editorial? I really would like to, I would like to have a meeting about putting an editorial halt on any Aaron Rogers stories until the Steelers, until he signs with the team. Because it feels like, I, you know what I mean? I feel like the audience sees this and feels like, all right, just pull the court on Nick, he's going to talk about how selfish and bad this is, and that is what I'm doing.

I'm in reruns on it. You're not wrong. Because he's in reruns on it. I don't call them. You know what I call him? What? Greatest hits. Thanks, buddy.

You didn't even play one of my favorites. Can I make a request? Yeah. What about the cell phone service, dude? Oh, yeah, that's right. Pitman, does Pittman know he has to FaceTime him? Great point. Changoon was great last night.

The Rockets lose to the Bulls. Check in on the Warriors. They beat the Mavs last night. Moody led the team with 23 points before suffering a scary knee injury. Hope he's okay. Steph was supposed to start five-on-five practice this weekend. But that has been pushed back. Here's Steve Kerr on Steph.

We are squarely in the playing no matter what we do. So the bottom line is if Steph is healthy, he's going to play because that's what we're here for. and the chance to get into the playoffs is a big deal for us, big deal for Steph. 38. Don't know how many more chances there are. So you go for it.

Looks down. Yeah. He does look down and a little weathered for Steve Kerr. It just feels like the last few years of worn on it. And it's like, this is a big deal for Steph? Like, is it? Well, I mean, this is going to be, listen, I respect Steph and Kerr for the mentality.

We're pro basketball team and pro basketball players, and if he's healthy, he's going to play because this is what we do. So good for him in that regard. I think they're drawing dead in the play-in. Like, I think they're going to make the play-in as the nine or the ten, and this will be the fourth time. Plans only existed for six years. This will be the endemic year. Right, yeah. This will be their fourth time in the play-in, and I think.

think their third play and loss. And I know there are some rumblings, if you will, that this could be bronze destination next year, which I think would be fun and cool, but not not going to win the title.

And I just don't, I think it's going to be a quiet close to Steph in Golden State. Because if bronze there, it won't be quiet. Next year, it'll be a big show.

That would be great. But without him, I don't think Jimmy Butler at his age coming back from an ACL moves the needle substantially. I don't think they're getting Janus. And Steph is still great, but he is 38. He is a smaller player. And he is dealt with injuries all year now where he's going to play half the season. He's played 39 games.

Which is why I'm fine with him playing if he's fully healthy. If he plays into play, the days of Steph, you're right, unless they get. get Janus somehow. LeBron would be a circus. It would be fun. It would be great. But they wouldn't win the championship, we don't think. The days of Steph, like, playing for championships are over.

Yeah. This is generally how it is. Larry Bird, Michael Jordan. I mean, this is typically how it ends. I mean, magic, you know, had unique circumstances. But so if Steph is like, look, I want to play. I want to see. He should go out there.

play. He could get hurt in practice. He could get hurt in warm. I mean, so if he got hurt, came back and played and got hurt, it's just probably he was going to get hurt anyway. He's 38 years old. So what happens next year? Well, next year,

hopefully they can make some moves that make them at least interesting. But if he's going to have to be the number two guy, don't you need another huge star to go along with him, like the LeBron path? Like I said, I think there are days of competing for championship. are over unless they make a blockbuster.

Yannis is really the only kind of guy out there that I think could change their 40s. And I don't know if that would be enough. Really? I mean, if Butler was back, you got Drey Mines. No, but I, but, some of this has to go for Yonnes. But that would, they would be into, that would be, okay, you'd feel like they had a shot. Sure.

I just don't think they're going to be able to make the best package for Yonis. I think this is the better, the, the, the, the happy. way to view this last few years for Steph and the Warriors. Their last moment, and by the timeline of basically every small player ever, other than John Stockton before Steph, it would have been really the last moment, was the title four years ago. That was the, oh man, they had one more great run in them. That was it.

Since then, they've been knocked out in the playing twice, and they've had two seven game round one wins only to be quickly dispatched in round two twice. Like they have not, that was, and by the way, Steph was 34, like that's old for NBA guys. And the fact that he's still, right, that's NBA guys his size. The fact that he was still 28 a game when healthy this year

is a remarkable testament to who he is. But the Warriors didn't handle the commingam, Moody, Wiseman, asset properly to try to be able to somehow have a third or fourth, whatever phase of this. And so it's going to kind of go out with a whimper.

Like that's what it is. Rough one. He's a great player. One of the greatest players ever, but that's how it ends. Maybe Yonis shows up. Maybe. Nice. Look at Shaq. Kobe. Look how there is it. I mean, this is what happens. Right. Look at Mike Evans.

Mike Evans is going to be a change on Mike Evans. Mike Evans got out of... In Tampa Bay. Yeah, but he's leaving. Maybe Steph should leave. That's what you're saying. Live from New York, it's a show that's talking about Steph Curry going to Charlotte.

It's a great idea by you. It's not my idea. Other people have kicked it or longer. It would be nice. I mean... Really? I would rather see Step. If Step's going to end his career on a non-contender,

I'd rather be Golden State than just because his dad played there. his dad's on the radio. They might be interesting in the East with Steph. If they could keep Cogniple, Brandon Miller, and Lamello, Steph adding shooting. They already shoot it. They got a bunch of shooters.

Steff is not enough to turn the 10th best team. I'm not saying they be the best. But next year, they're not going to be the 10th best. Maybe 11. Maybe 6. No. They'll be in the 6 rain.

I got to see if Lamello's taking any road trips this summer before I'm ready to limit. Second hour. first things for us today. Lakers losing to the Pistons, something or nothing. Do for a loss. You're going to let the tiger out? No, there's nothing. You think it's big. No, it's just an astute observation. Okay, but if you had listened to guitars for 20 years, I'd be like, oh, that guitar's out of tune. Okay. That's all I'm saying. I'm just saying. I'm a LeBron quotes expert. Okay. I don't know if I agree with that. Well, if you're just,

done anything for 25 or 30 years like I have, you just accidentally become an expert. Okay. You do. I got, I was an expert at how long even doing weird and wonderful? You screwed that up 10 minutes ago. Honestly, only three or four years. I guarantee you 20, 50. I'll be crushing that day. 79 days until the World Cup kicks off its World Cup Wednesday on a Tuesday. Uh, we are a little over three weeks away from the NBA playoffs. Playoff seeds are being planted. Oh, wow. What a legend you are. MVP, debate is sprouting.

It's time to combine both. In today's episode of King of the Hill. Seeds, get it? Yeah, we get it. It's like a spring thing? No, well done. Only a couple guys off the hill from last week. And I'm just being honest with the audience.

If your team is in the tankers, I'm not considering you for the hill. Thank you. Like, no, at this point in the year, early in the year is one thing, but at this point in the year... Michael Porter, Jr. Right. That's a great example. If your team is trying to lose games, if they're bummed out when you play great and get a win, you're just, sorry, not your fault.

Maybe it's a little your fault. You know. You're not eligible. With that said, here are the people that slid off the hill from last week. I'm in Thompson who... That team doesn't seem to really be pulling. in the same direction. Scotty Barnes.

Another thing against them, both good, young players. A couple other guys were more deserving. And then there's the injured and eligible with a sad addition. Janus, now on injured and eligible. He's just, he came back, but then got hurt again. He's now fighting with the team about is he coming back? So he's just off the hill for the time being. And honestly, maybe for the rest of the year, by what I just said a moment ago,

which is if your team is upset when you win games, you're not going to be on the hill. That's where the bucks are. Everybody knows Yonis still top five player in the world. Might be down to fifth on that top five. I think he, in fairness, probably is, but that's where we're at. All right, seventh row.

Couple of those guys brew you always talk about as blue chippers. There's all these great young players until we needed to promote his best player in the world. Now all of a sudden he's just carrying these pumps. No, you know why those guys are on there. You know why they're on it. Why? To take away from women.

No, that's. I think they're great. But I'm just saying. Beal on there and brew. Are you going to sit here and say? Next week, a champagne is going to be on there. Bro. Are you going to sit here and act like I have not been America's leading Deeran Fox proponent for years?

Yes. I was lighting the beam. I haven't heard Nick mentioned Deeran Fox since he was in Sacramento. No. You're the number one Dier and Fox. I am the number one Dier and Fox guy. I told you a story about how I watched him score 40 and a half against my son's AAU team. I've liked him since high school.

He's playing great. He's on the hills. Topon Castle, who is, we talked about being all defense eligible. I'm just saying they've got a really good team. Wimby's got a ton of help. He does have a point.

Castle actually says the reason he can be such a daring defender because of him. Oh, that part I totally agree with. I do think Wimby's gravity defensively helps all of them. Paolo drops a bit as his team's in free fall. Diniavdi and Evan Mowgli stay where they are. And two wilds guys back on the hill for the first time in a bit. Chet Holmgren, who this year, but this year, buddy, just because the guy said he doesn't read,

doesn't mean you're going to abandon him. He's a professional basketball player, not a library. I actually have to, you know, he's only a champion. He's been the second best thunder this year. Yes, but now J. But now J.D.W.'s back. Yeah, but he's been the second best thunder. and they always plan for him to be the second best thunder.

Jadav ascending pass and was surprised. Lamello, they've been winning some games. Oh, yeah. Roe 6, a lot of guys that had to move down. Listen, we're all going to be patient with Jason Tatum. I think it's great that he came back. I'm not freaking out by the fact that he's not making his jump shots, and that's really all it is.

He's rebounding great, which speaks to the fact that he actually, some of the athleticism maybe has returned quicker than it's thought. But the jump shot's been off. He drops. Donovan drops a bit. Bam gets back to probably where he needed to be. Bam was like fourth last week. He should have been. No. He was seven. He was like one level up. He was a far drop. Roe five. He was seven. He was seven. Or maybe he was four. Seven through ten. I think it was two weeks. Whatever. Bam moved up. He scored 83 points in a game, guys. Barely. Barely 83? No, he barely moved up and now he barely moved down. Okay.

But he should have moved down off. He's doing it. I don't know what you want for me, man. I don't know. I'm trying to make this. Whimby's out there catching lobs on. We're not too wimby yet. And you know how you know when I'm supposed to talk or when you're just supposed to talk?

When you're in the little box isn't on there. That's a cue. It's a cue in the box. No, man. Boom. My time. Jalen Johnson moves down. Austin Reeves and Braun, even though evidently Brown's sad now because they lost.

The stays where they lost. stays where they are. All right, even though there's teams in a bit of free fall, much like when Bam scored 83, you pass Michael Jordan on a list, get a little bump up. Kevin Durant, back up to row five. Feels fair.

Jalen Brunson missed a game, only 20 a game this week, moves down just a bit. Then three guys scoring, Jamal Murray moves out. James Hardin. Danny hasn't been talking about as much lately. but Hardin's played really well this past week in particular. He moves up in Carl Anthony Towns, who's been really good offensively and rebounding the last few weeks.

He moves up. Roe 4. Cade's not going to miss enough time to fall in the injured and eligible. I was surprised Cade still. And so I don't really know how best to handle it. He dropped just a bit. Devin Booker, who I almost started war on this show. saying I thought he's a better offensive player than Wimby.

I think he is. Devin Booker moves up a bit, even though the team has fallen, lost a few in a row. Jalen Brown stays where he is. And I thought Jalen Duren, you know, they've won their games without Cade. He is trying to prove like, hey, we did have a second All-Star. It was me.

We're going to hold on to the one seed. Move them up. Row three. Joker and Aunt, if you're watching, probably going to move down next week. We gave you one week grace with the injury. If you don't play by this time, next week, we're going to have to move you down.

And Kauai is back and playing awesome again. Kauai this week is 29 a game. Kauai this season is close to 28 a game. I think I'm very curious who you guys think. If it's suns clippers in the play in, who do you think the thunder are rooting for? Like who do they want to win so they don't have to play it.

Probably Phoenix, I would say. You think they don't want to play Phoenix? That's what I'm saying, exactly. They would rather play Phoenix. Right, they would want the clippers to win so the clippers get locked into the seven. That's what I think, too. I just think Kauai by himself can maybe scare you further.

What about Dylan Brooks that way? But I tell you what, Kauai would be interesting for San Antonio. Oh, yeah. Because his experience and their end experience. It was all grudge match. Oh, right. And San Antonio. That's a good point.

All right, row two. Wimby stays where he is. Shea, even though they haven't lost, and he's playing awesome moves down, not because he did anything poorly, but because since we did the last hill, and honestly, since we have the last couple of hills, over the last few weeks,

last night's one loss notwithstanding. The best player in the league in March has been the guy atop the hill, Luke Adanjich. Back in my day, guy giving you 34, 9 and 9 was all we asked for. Now it's like, I want that and you to fight through picks better. I don't really care, Luca.

I am. And so he is for the first time all year atop the hill. Oh, I like it, but he doesn't take enough charges. Exactly, right. How's he doing out of bounds denying the ball? Back in my day, scoring champ on code efficiency was all we had for from our superstars.

Yeah, but how many shot clock violations has he drawn? I'm going to jump into passing lanes. I'm going to drop some knowledge on you two guys to move Luca down. Oh my gosh. And I don't care if you put SGA or Wimby on the top, but Luca shouldn't be on the top and here's why. He has been on a tremendous heater. Yeah.

But the heater may be over. Oh, from one day. And he doesn't know it. Oh. Wow. What's going on? What's every reason? His last two games, last two games, which are a narrow win over the Eastern Conference's eighth seed, Orlando.

Yeah. And a loss to Detroit missing its best player. Luca has shot 23 for 59. Yeah. 39%. 6 for 26 from 3. Mm-hmm. 23%.

And there is no. No way anyone should be taking 30 shots a game when you're shooting 39% when you have LeBron James and Austin Reeves on your team. Luca in his last two games has taken more shots than Reeves and LeBron combined. He has taken more threes in the last two games than LeBron is taking shots. What are we doing? You were on an amazing I get you taking 30 shots

when you hit 18 of them and score 60. Well, how do you know how many you're going to Yeah, you know it, you know you're off. All right. And so that is just not smart basketball. And I'm not saying LeBron has an issue with Luca.

But LeBron is one of the smartest ballplayers we've ever seen. He knows. If I know, he knows. You're sitting there. watching a dude gun. And I told you last year, I said Luke is a gunner. No, you said ball hog.

A ball hog. If you turn to the camera, you're like, I have an announcement. Yeah, he's a Hall of Fame Ball Hog. He's an all-time great ball hog, but he's ball hog. And LeBron

sees that. It's just so, I can't look, Nick, he can't be on the top of the hill when he shot 60, 59 shots his last. The last two games is a lot. It should. It's ridiculous.

It is worth noting. Even if you're shooting wildest a lot. But he takes fewer shots per game than Jordan, right? Who is the, and Jordan was. Jordan was more efficient as a two-point shooting. He didn't shoot many threes back there, but as a two-point shoot, he's always around 50%. No, I understand. And Luca on twos is always around 50%.

The reason he doesn't have a good. I'm just saying, to be fair, Luca's efficient. You can't compare. He's not that efficient for today's game. He's a gunner. I mean, I'm going, he just shot 11 for 29. I mean, I. And the game before that, he was.

No, I, I under, yeah, I know the last two games. What's the hill for? The whole season. But your indictment of him would seem to be more than just the last two games. And I'm saying like, you can, you can, there are, you can win with a guy shooting as much as Luca wins. You can win some. Well, that's why I brought up. grown up Jordan was they had so much

You can't compare the way Jordan played to the way LeBron Luca played. No, they did win nine in a row, bro. No, I'm not saying he's not a great player and that they're not playing well. I'm saying he shouldn't be atop the hill coming off two games where he's taking 59 shots more than his next two options combined

and his next two options are really good players. And he's shooting 38%. That's all I'm saying. Okay. I'm not, he's an awesome player. All right. I also take issue with. I mean, that's your words on the bottom line, bro.

I'm going to go Lukelier on this. You got to keep your eye on Dusty. He's getting way out of pocket. Who allows this? Dusty came in. I have my, you can put mine up, Dust. The one that I wrote. Because we have to write it in the Google Doc.

Okay. I wrote Lamello and Luke are the players of the week. Yours are so plain. I have to as a counterbalance to Dusty's wildness. He's like, we'll just build both. I'm like, you don't need to build both graphics, Dust. What do you mean both? I don't know if he built.

You know what he built some. He built some line that's like an escape room. You're like, have to search around to figure out what's going on. In any of that, mine's straight down the middle. Lamello and Luca are players the week. I agree with Luca being number one. One nine in the row, hitting game winners, doing all sorts of amazing stuff.

Vibes are great. Are you just shot down the vibes? Well, the vibes were great until last night. Yeah, but these, these. I was just saying it's Player of the Week. But they're a little different, these two stat lines. I just see Player of the Week. One guy plays in the west, one guy plays in the east.

That's all it is, okay? It's just NBA does two players a week. This guy's on the top of the hill. This guy's on the bottom of the hill. Doesn't seem fair. Just want to move them up a little bit. Let's dig into the numbers since the last hill. Because I don't even know how the week goes, to be honest with you.

Since the last hill, undefeated, 26 points, five rebounds, seven assists, shooting 50% making threes. Now, the argument that we had upstairs was, are the Hornettony? Good. Well, they're 37 and 34, which for the Hornets is. They're the 10 seed, buddy. But rising. I mean, they're definitely, he'd have lost five in a row. The magic have lost five and a row. And they're still the 10 seed. The Sixers have lost one in a row. Their next games. That counts. Yeah. Their next games. Hold on. The first one's easy. Then it gets a little harder. Home, Sacramento. That's easy. Dub. Home against the Knicks. That's tricky. Home against the Sixers. They're going to lose.

That's a W. Home against the Celtics. I know you would think luck. Crushed the Celtics in Boston. They play well. And then on Tuesday, look what I'm thinking about doing for the group. I don't know if you can see this. You can't.

We're not going to a net net. Nets are. Are you saying? Well, when the tickets are dinner, Nick's bought lunch, 52 bucks I am. You would never. Can I tell you something?

You would never sit in a $52 seat. I know you, buddy. Get us some good seats. Yeah, I'll tell you what. Feed on the wood. And we'll be there. That's expensive. You make a lot of money.

143 for pretty good. Okay. Will you sit there? 274? Yeah. Will you sit there? 274. If you'll go.

But not all, you know. All of us. If the three of us, Danny and Gianna, no, I think it comes with like hot dogs. Oh, I get good enough seats that we can have soda. Oh, there it is. Hold on. I would like.

It's Lamello. I would like that to happen. No, it's La Ameam. La Mee to have balls. Oh, it's lame to have balls. Oh, low. Again, and this is a final thing we've got to go to break. Exactly.

A lot of what we were talking about, LeBron's workload on offense and defense, Wembe's workload, offense, defense, you can conserve some energy on offense. Luke is taking the shots. Use it on defense. Who knows what this show could be? could be if we reallocated all of the energy we had and spent towards puns. Who knows where we could be? It could be a great.

It could be a top 20 show. Uh, I, I can't move Lamello up any higher at the moment. We'll see where he is in a week. We'll see where he is in a week. I'm gonna bring the grass to Barclays. Yes, and this. I can't wait for this album. What was that?

in football? Well, good news. The UFL returns with a new season of pro football in the spring. UFL kickoff weekend starts Friday 8 Eastern, continues Saturday at 4 on Fox. It's going to be a great year. Some teams have been renamed. There's musical concerts, big superstars too, bro. Ludacris. Yeah. DJ Khalid. Goochie Maine. Goochie Maine. Yeah. And the rules changes I'm very excited for. Yes. I'm a big. I'm really excited about that. No tush push. If you're a fan of the tush push, you are square out. It's a nice way to experiment with some of these new rules.

Yeah, some of them will come to fruition. Yeah. UFL starting Friday on Fox. Afternoon headlines, sponsored by Hilton Garden and Hilton. It's for the stay. Lakers win streak stopped at nine. Lucas final shots, no good. Then he had this turnaround three.

LeBron just kind of watches. Yeah, they weren't look. But it was also, I mean, screwed up from the get go. Yeah, no, it just, I don't like that. If I'm LeBron, I'm like, you know what? I should have had that. I'm just saying, I would have felt. LeBron was one rebound away from a triple double,

but he also didn't score until there were six minutes left in the third. Was this loss something or nothing? If it was anything, I think it was something good. Oh. But first, let me, I just want to say something about Luke at the end of the game. Because, listen, Luca, the, it was a little dirty pool, saying Jordan takes more shots than him because it is, while true, Jordan's one of, I think, two guys in league history who takes more shots per game than Luca.

Luca obviously is a super high usage, super high volume guy. However, that shot, the game winner he made in the game where Austin missed the free throw intentionally and got the putback, so that was against Denver a week and a half ago, was the first potential game winner buzzer-beater he's taken as a Laker. He hadn't, because the story was... I remember he passed up to one up and threw it to LeBron when he said it was too...

Right, said it was too late. And so I am not acting as if Luca is not a super high-fall you my usage player, but he has not been a, I have to be the one to take the final shot. Austin's done a lot of that. Austin, in this game, the possession before the highlights we showed, had the ball, the whole possession to give the Lakers their first lead of the entire second half. So I don't think that the end of game stuff, LeBron feels like this is outrageous. I just don't feel like that.

I don't think that on the end of game stuff, I agree. But throughout the game, you don't, I mean, LeBron's got to be looking at some of this. Well, I, but again, up until two games ago, you. Yes, the volume was insane. He also had been averaged 40 for the month. And they were winning every game. And he was on a second night of a back-to-back. He scored 60.

Like Luca was running hot even by his standards. The reason I said I think this is, if it is something, if something good is two-fold brew, is I don't think all of a sudden LeBron's bummed out about the direction of the team. And I do think the fact that the Lakers, in a game they didn't have to have, their fifth game in eight nights all on the road,

down 18 could have just said, okay, we ain't got it tonight. You know what, which teams do all the time. And Austin said the difference between this game and games in previous earlier in the year was they would have lost by 100 was once they got down. The fact that they fought all the way back to me shows a team that is getting itself into playoff mode. I think that's positive. And the other thing that I think is positive is just for us evaluating the Lakers from a 9th, perspective, so to speak.

I think it is a reminder, and this is a very dangerous game to play, but this is a team that cannot sustain a Marcus Smart injury in the playoffs. Yeah. And that is a, listen, he's an older player, he's been injured, but I think he is in a weird

way, depending on the matchup they have in the playoffs, could be more critical for a few games than like Austin. Yeah. Because if Austin were to be out for a couple games, LeBron just takes on that role instantly. They have nobody to take on Marcus Smart's role,

and I think JJ Reddick said as much after the game. Yeah. No, I agree with that. And look, it's mostly nothing. They were due. They had won, what, nine straight or whatever it was. But there are a few red flags, and you kind of alluded to it with Marcus Smart,

but somebody named Danis Jenkins put 30 on it. Yeah. Now, two months ago, he was a two-way player, meaning G-League and the end. NBA and he goes and gets 30 on you. And because he was quick and able to create, you know, space and things like that, they also, Nick, they hunted Austin and Luca to a degree, which is what is going to happen in the playoffs team, especially over a seven game series.

People were going to hunt them. And then, like I said earlier, Luca, I get, he was on a phenomenal heater, but you have to be able to read it. Like you've got two other very capable scores. And I'm not saying he shouldn't have taken the most shots on the team, but when you don't have it going and you've got two other guys that can put the ball in the hole, just read it and get them the ball, get them going. So I think that he does not need to be shooting 30 shots a game on average.

And that's what he's done the last three games. And he was hot three games ago. He scored 60, but the last two, he hasn't been hot. And he was the game against Orlando. I think he was like eight of 10. He was the first half. He was 18 for 30. He was 18 of 30, but he finished one of 13.

So what does that mean? So you know what I mean? So that the, he was something, he started incredibly hot and then was just awful down the stretch. He can read the game better. He's smarter enough from a player to read the game better. Other side of the ball. Jenkins goes for a career high 30 in the bucket that would prove to be the game winner. Pistons are in first place.

Four wins in a row. Five games ahead of the Celtics, five and a half ahead of the Knicks, 11 games left. Have we been sleeping on the pistons? We felt like we cooled on them post Cade Cunningham injury. I don't think so. Look, they can't do anything in the playoffs without Cade Cunningham, at his best. Okay. but this maybe could be a blessing in disguise for them

in that Jenkins, who's averaged 26 in his last two games on like 60% shooting, I'm not expecting that to continue, but maybe they're discovering in him another guy that can at least create his own offense and create offense for his teammates. He's at eight assists in each of those games too,

who can come off the bench, give Kay to breathe, or just creates some stuff for the second unit. During, as you said, has played really well. And I just think they're 8 and 2 without Cade this season. Okay, they've won their last three without him since he went down. So maybe this gives them confident.

The other guy some confidence that we can do something when Cade is on the bench during those moments. So it might boost the confidence of the other players. But they definitely will need Cade to be at his best to even, I think, probably to win the first round, whoever it is, whether it's Miami, Orlando. Philly or Charlotte. If Cade is not playing or is not really able

to do his thing, I think that's going to be tough. Atlanta also possible. Atlanta, yeah, Atlanta, which has been playing great. Go ahead, KW. No, I was just, I think we have been sleeping on the Pistons. I feel like I want to jam this topic into the show because we framed everything around the Lakers' loss.

We're like, oh, maybe it's time to start thinking about the Pistons. Maybe we've cornered. like coronated. Coronated the Celtics way too early. Pistons are in the first place. As far as like, well, I'm a Hornets guy.

I would love to play the Pistons in the first round. Without Kay. Without Kay. Without Kaye. I'm a hornets guy. That's a, isn't that a contradiction? Well, if Kate is just me. If that's just the hornet, I'm just trying to be the Hornets guy.

No, but if you're the Hornets, hold on, but wait, just real quick. If you're the Hornets guy, Kate is back, let's just say. Would you rather play the Pistons or the Celtics in round one? The Pistons. So was that little thing all for show? We all just did we coordinate the Celtics too early? Like I don't know what you want me and Brew to say other than things we believe. You know what?

Are we sleeping on the Pistons? The answer can be no. Okay. Okay. Then the answer's no. Well, that's just a question. There are a good team that's had a good year. I would be stunned.

I would be more. What if Kate is back to himself? If Kate is back to himself, I believe they are good enough to lose in the conference finals. If Kate is not back to himself, then I think the Cavs can get them in round two. But you don't think they can win it? No.

I think the Knicks Celtics series in round two that we're going to get is the Eastern Conference Finals. That's what I think. The Knicks do not want to see Cade healthy. beat him in the playoffs last year. They won't issue if they play it with Kate. Joining us now, the Great Dane, Peter Schmeichael,

all-time great goalkeeper. Nick called him a goal tender and was yelled at during the break. It was a bad move by you, a bad way to start the interview. So I personally apologize on behalf of the show at large. I didn't yell.

I just said, please, please, don't use that term. There's such a bad. Peter. And we just saw Polisic. What are your expectations for Polisic this round? I mean, you have to think if the U.S. is going to do something in this World Cup. He has got to play his best game.

He's got to be on top form. He's an unbelievable player. He's had some incredibly big performances this season. Probably the best he's played for a very, very long time. And, you know, it's his stage. It's in the USA and he is the biggest player in that U.S. team. So he's got to step up to it. He's got to take that responsibility and I expect him to do that.

So you helped carry your home country of Denmark to its best performance in the World Cup. 1998, you guys made the quarterfinals. The United States, a slightly larger country than Denmark, our best performance also is the quarterfinals. I'm curious, the feeling even almost 30 years later of pride you take from that, that the best you guys have ever done in this tournament was that performance. And then I guess the second part of the question, the chance you give the U.S. of at least equaling their best performance, which would be a quarterfinals appearance. Yeah, I mean, for our country to to meet a quarterfinal, being knocked out by Brazil, Brazil,

as it was, coming off the game really annoyed that we didn't win the game because it's one of them games. You play against a reputation. So Brazil, obviously, probably the best country in the world in terms of World Cops and their performances and the players they've had. And then you come off the game, understanding that you were probably the better team in the game

but didn't win. That was very disappointing. But of course, for a country like of our size, to keep producing, results like that is you know that's we're very proud of that and the thing is we obviously we've got a tradition in this sport so has most of the European countries where you can talk about the the USA a building on that but it's quite new so for you guys to be in the quarters it's very very good and of course being at home

being you know in your own country with your own supporters and living through the atmosphere that that's going to create is always going to lift your players. And, you know, if I was a US fan, I would be taking some comfort from having POTCH as your manager. He's a very, very experienced coach. He has played, obviously, as a player himself at the highest level. And he's coached at the highest level.

And he's probably one of the most sought-after coaches at the moment in world football. There's a lot of empty seats in his business. and his name is always very close to the top of the list. So you put all that together and I think there is a good, that's a good case to be made for the U.S. to do really, really well in this tournament. So you mentioned a new coach and all of that stuff. Is the quarterfinals still kind of the ceiling for the U.S.? Or is there any realistic chance of them maybe even getting beyond that?

I mean, one thing is you never jump the gun on anything. You've got to take every game as to come. You've got to be very, very sure that you get through your group. And we saw what happened in the Concaf, was a Concoff two years ago at home soil as well, which wasn't great. It was very disappointing. Obviously, a lot of changes have been made since that. But just think about, if you go back to the World Cup 2018 in Russia, the Russian team, they had absolutely no confidence in what they could do in that tournament.

They hadn't won a lot of games in the build-up, and they hadn't played well at all. And then all of a sudden, they hit that home ground, home support thing in their own country and create that atmosphere around the team. And as I said before, once you feel that as a player, it does carry you on a little bit, and it helps a lot. So get through the group, create that atmosphere, and then you get into the knockout stages

and you get to a point I just talked about, you know, Denmark, Brazil there, you know, we probably should have won that game. Obviously we were not in Denmark at the time but if you think about if the US come into that kind of situation and they have all that backing from

everywhere they are, everywhere they move in the country at the time that's going to live you lift you a lot and you know anything anything is possible you know but it requires that the team is ready for the tournament.

It requires your best players. I mean, we talked about Christian before, that he's playing to his level. Western McKinney, we saw him with that pass for the Pulisich goal there. All of these players, they've got to step up to the plate and really, really perform to the top level. And from then on, anything is really possible. I feel like the U.S. goalkeeper position,

you have a chance to become a star. My brother was a goalkeeper. we had a poster of Tony Miola. You see Tim Howard has a podcast and his star really rose. Right now, I think we're carrying four goalies in the first cut down of the roster, but

it's Matt Turner and Freeze are sort of competing. Do you think either one has the advantage? Who do you think is going to be our goalkeeper? Well, I think Freeze, because he's played is 11 games now that he's placed. And the thing about that position

and that one position is that you cannot have a competition situation in that position because if you do that, you will have goalkeepers trying to prove that they're better than the other one. So I always give this advice to managers. Pick your number one, stick by that number one regardless of what happens. And if you are contemplating a change, it has to be because it's not worked out over a number of games, not just one game. The thing about the goalkeeping position is that it's the only position on a football pitch that's not proactive.

It's 100% reactive. So you are not in charge of anything. You don't decide anything. You have to react to what is happening, what somebody else is doing. Whereas if you play out field, you get the ball, you can decide what you want to do. So what you don't want your goalkeeper to do is to actually start looking for situations that will show you, show the manager. You're a better goalkeeper than the one that you're competing with. So Pott just played his freeze for, I think it's 11 games now.

So he's made his choice. And I think that's, you know, wise. Now, who's a better goalkeeper of the four? You know, I don't know. I mean, it depends on how the team is going to play and what the format they're in. But it kind of feels like he's made his choice. I want to stay on goalkeepers for a moment and move it outside of the U.S. and again, for our audience that is maybe not quite as familiar with the history of English soccer or the World Cup,

the man we're talking to is at least arguably, and some would say inarguably, the greatest, let me get this right, goalkeeper, not goaltender, in the history of soccer. And so when you look at the full field, is there a particular country that you feel like if they go on a special run, it will be powered by their ability to hold teams to clean sheets because of what a great keeper they have, that could maybe excel past where people expect them to based on the strength of their goalkeeper? In fact, it's a great question.

I always look, there's always Germany. I always look at Germany in these kind of tournaments and their ability to produce wins. Now, when you look at how they, play, they play very much like Bayern Munich are playing at the moment, scoring a lot of goals, but also conceding goals. Not so many, but they play with high risk, they play with a high line,

they are conceding chances. And of course, for me, it's one of the best goalkeepers ever in the German goal, Manuel Noier. I don't know if he'll be fit. At the moment, he's injured. But even though you have the best goalkeeper in the world, it doesn't mean that you're keeping clean sheets. And at the end of the day, in a tournament like the World Cup it comes down to more than just keeping clean sheets

also the number of goals you can score so you have to look at what they have in the team going forward and you know with a team like Germany they have incredible striking players with Bayern Munich I always look to Bayern Munichs they produced one of the

I think he could be one of the biggest stars in the tournament Leonard Carl he only just turned 18 and he's already established himself in the Bayern Munich team. And he's an incredible player. And you add, you know, the Musialas and all these players to that equation, that would mean scoring a lot of goals. Now, if they score two or three and concede one, they're still winning games.

So it doesn't necessarily come down to keeping clean sheets. So when I'm just top top of my head thinking about the teams, the favorite teams, you know, you're all. obviously need good goalkeepers. So the current world champions, Argentina, they've got Emmy Martinez. And if you think back to the final in 2022, he actually won the final for Argentina because he made that big,

big save in the last minute. So obviously you need high-quality goalkeepers, but it has to be a team effort. That means you've got to have players scoring goals as well. So staying on the subject of goalkeepers, it's not, you don't point to one goalkeeper and say, well, he's going to win the World Cup for his country. Because I don't think it works like that.

Well, thank you very much, Peter. 79 days until the World Cup kicks off on Fox and FS1. Appreciate it. We'll see you all throughout the summer. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for having me. Cheers. Have a good day.

Thank you. Thanks, Peter. We're first things first after the break. Live from New York, first things first overtime. Power pack today. Starting with, do we like Wemby making his MVP case? I sure do. A lot of people didn't.

Meanwhile, UFL season kicks off Friday on Fox. Lots of concerts we just discussed, and we have an early preview. Some new rules parking is going to be great. And finally, of course, it's Tuesday, which is time for Top 10 Tuesday. Sweet 16 edition. We liked your last time we were on Top 10 Tuesday, you laid out like the storylines of the people that would decide Top 10 Tuesday. And then we all are doing a bracket except Brew, who didn't want to risk a reputation.

I did my final four. And they're all still alive. But we're all in it right now. It's been very chalky. Yours, do, Danny? Yeah, of course. How is your, where are you in the rankings of the office? I was told I'm in the top 17.

There's only 19 of us in it. That's very top seven. Where are you guys? What? I'm seven. What am I? I think I'm. I think I heard you were 14th or something like that.

No, I'm like 12. Totally 12. My bad. I got you. I didn't want to shortchange you two spots. I have no. Watch out. out when Duke comes alive. Also can we change them? No. No. On the air you can change

them in the office pool now. Feels like we should be able to. We're starting in Miami everyone. It's top 10 Tuesday. Wembe was dominant, 26 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks, four lobs. About a baker's dozen plays that made me say this guy's the best. Spurs rule after the game Wembe was asked about the MVP. There was his answer. I think right now there is a debate, you know, that should be, even though I think I should leave the race. And I'm trying to make sure that until the end of the season, there's no debate anymore. My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race because I believe I'm the most impactful player defensively in the league.

Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season, and we dominated him three times with their real team and four times with more rotation players. And my third argument would be that offense impact is not just sports. This was just this guy was just crushing first things first yesterday. He was watching. I love that. I love that.

That's not important, huh? Your reaction, Danny. I find it wildly compelling. Like, is Wemby cocky? Yes. Wimby wants to smoke, which I love. Yeah. I think we all do.

Yeah. Who, like, right? I mean, cocky, arrogant, offensive, abrasive. Like, there's maybe a thin line there, and it's open to interpretation. But, like, some of the most popular athletes in the history of sport walk that line and talk that talk. I heard you mentioned Muhammad. A lot of the least popular, too. Sure.

He ain't going to be on that list. Yeah, right. He ain't going to be on that list. But that's kind of my point is that, but it is universally compelling. You got to back it up. Yes. Ali, Floyd. Terrell Owens, Michael Jordan.

Who cares? Like, whatever name, Dion Sanders, like, whatever name you want to put on it, it's just like, it makes you more interesting. And I agreed with, like, Like, a lot of what he said. Not all of it, though. Like, I believe I am the most impactful defensive player. I think we all completely agree.

Yes. Defense is 50% of the sport? Eh, probably not. It is more of an offensive game. So we can quibble on that one? Well, can I just, can I say, have you real quick? I mean, I feel like it's 50%. It's 50% of the possessions.

And it's 50% of a team success. It is not typically 50% of how we evaluate an individual. individual player. But that's what he said. I mean, he's technically right. But we just have. He said, and it's not, he says it's actually 50% but it's not being viewed like that.

Right. And I think it is maybe he will change how, and let's finish, how defense is valued, but it is correctly not viewed that way, which is why guys can be, Dennis Rodman can be year over year with the pistons early in his career, the best defensive wing in the league and not make even all NBA. Right. We didn't say Rudy Gobert should be the MVP of the way. His argument is that it should be 50-50.

And it's, and that would be wrong. I don't even know if that's, like, if he was averaging 13 points and eight rebounds a game, I don't even think he would be thinking he's MVP. So that's the thing. He's still a very, 24 and 11 is nothing to sneeze. In 29 minutes. Right, right. So he's a good.

He's a very good off as a player. He's a phenomenal defenseist. But he's a very good officer. And then I thought the head-to-head argument was ridiculous for MVP, but really compelling for the playoffs. Like we've never cared about regular season head-to-head in an NBA. Like Charles Barkley beat Michael Jordan head-to-head in a game. But did you beat him in the playoffs?

But the fact that he said we dominated OKC, he thinks they're going to dominate OKC if they get them in the playoffs, which is not something I agree with, but very, very, very interesting. I don't know that he thinks that. This was not a question about why the Spurs can win the title. This was about me, Victor Wimdeniama, why I should be MVP and Chey Gilgis Alexander should not be.

And that's fun. We played in my team one. I think that's a fair. No, I'm not saying it's not. I'm simply saying I don't know that it is. He was giving a predictive statement about what will happen in the playoffs. He was giving a historical statement about why he should get the award for MVP of the league. But have you ever, like, have you ever factored that in?

And I guess you're the voter and you're the historian on it. Have you ever once said head-to-head regular season that matters for my vote? Like, team record overall. Like, if you say, like, if the Spurs get the one seat and have more team wins, totally fair. But like, head-to-head. You generally don't, because there's so many. games they play and then there's injuries or there's back to

backs one team was on a back to back one team four or five nights in the past but I did when I voted for MB he dominated Yokic in their one-on-one matcher now he did it statistically Wimby the first couple

games he was coming back from injury of this OKC he played like 20 minutes 23 minutes something like that he played well but his minutes were limited because he was getting back Joker and Embed's same position guarding each other. Right. Which is different than Shay.

Can I ask you, it's the last thing he said of the third point. I agree with it, but I don't know how it helps his case. When he said offensive impact is more than just points. Oh, yeah, definitely. Like you're Steph Curry, like people are guarding you so far from the basket. Or you're, to use the guy I mentioned yesterday, Tyrese Halliburton, you are creating everything. I don't know how. Jimby is an amazing shooter for a guy who's 7-6.

He is a good shooter for anybody that's over 6-8. He's just a good shooter. He is not, he doesn't have the gravitational pull, though, at least as of yet, that great shooters have. And he's not even an above-average distributor. He might be for his size, but as far as, like, creating points. So I don't know what, I would have loved a follow-up there on, like, All right, so what do you mean about that third point? Like, what of your offensive impact is not showing up in the stats?

Because I can see it with certain guys. I don't see it. And maybe this was part of our argument yesterday about where the, I don't think he has like, oh, there's so much of Wimby's offense. I think there's a million things about Wimby's defense. They don't show up in the stats. Shots, people are afraid to turn. Not even altered, not taken.

Shots not taken. I don't know what part of his game offensively is not showing up in the stats. Well, one, the defense has to really account for him everywhere he's at. But beyond that, the ability to score 24 points. He's fourth on the team in minutes. Fourth on his team, and he leads him in points, rebounds, and blocks.

But the ability to score 24 points on efficient shooting within the flow of the offense, it's not built around you is huge because that allows Castle and Fox and Vassell and Champany. That's why they got eight scores and double figures versus, and I'm not critical, versus a Luca or a Hardin where everything is focused on you. You create everything. That's one reason Lucas numbers are so huge because he creates every single thing for the Lakers. And so that in and of itself, like these guys on the Spurs would not.

be getting those numbers with Luca or Hardin or something because they would be dominating the ball. So I think that is a huge impact. And it allows that team to be so dangerous because any guy feels like they can go get their offense. Right. He doesn't have the ball on his hand as much. The usage is lower. The per 36 is higher because he's not even playing 36 minutes a night. The idea of making your own MVP case was interesting to me because a lot of people just let us do it or let history do it. So I try to do it this way. And this kind of combines stats and history. And so I wanted to show you guys this and tell me if you like it.

So this is 24 or more points, 10 or more rebounds, four or three or more blocks, and your team won 50 or more games. Been keeping the block stats since 73, 74. So those are the last 12 instances of it. And half of the guys won MVP if you won 50 games. The Spurs have won 54 games. But they have real quick. But they got 10 games left.

maybe they don't catch the thunder, but if they go six and four, and they get to 60, only three times ever has the lead guy been 24, 10, and 3 on a 60 win team. And all of them won the MVP. So even, because I would give it to Shea,

because Shea is, to me, doing exactly what he did last year, this year, and he's done it without J-Dub. So I would give it to Shea, and he's got more wins than Wembe. But to me, that's how I would make the case. So can I, let me, if I may just for a moment, push back on that graphic. Please.

I am fairly certain all of those three guys, definitely Shaq and definitely Robinson, and I think, Kareem, their 60 wins also was the one seed. So they didn't have a one seed that they were like somebody, because MVP, whether it should or not, MVP has been for a long time, it was very closely correlated to best player on best team. But we often don't have a lot of. seasons with multiple 60 wins. No, I agreed. But I think you could do a very similar graphic on for Joker, Shea, or Luca about Team 1X and player did Y, and everyone who's done it's won MVP. I think for Shea, be the one team with 60 plus wins, average 30 plus. I bet every single one of those guys ever who's done it. It's probably Michael Jordan a few times. Steph, the second year he won it. Gordon won, like, guess what was the MVP?

For Joker, average a triple double, you know what I mean? But not with wins. What do you mean? Well, I'm saying, like, the Luca parsing this year, you wouldn't be able to do it with. Sure, you would. 50 wins and average at least 33 a game since the merger. That's going to be, you win 50 games, you average 33. Jordan didn't win it.

He averaged 37. They didn't win 50 that year. That was year three for him. And so, you know, and my point is, like, I, One of the things that I think fairly is going, and all three of us have Shea as the MVP. Yeah. I don't know if you have Wemby second. Yeah, I have Wemby second.

So our whole disagreement comes down on the fact that I have Lucas second and Wembe third. And you guys have Wembe second and Luca third or fourth. Right. We're parsing. No doubt. But I think that the offensive, Bruce says a lot correctly, like offensive numbers are inflated. You know what I mean? Now at this point.

Well, when we use that to say, so a guy, you know, Shea averaging 31 a game, keep in mind it's easier to score 30. That then also means, I think, Wimby's 24 is not quite as impressive as David Robinson's 24 30 years ago when it was harder to score. Akeem's 24 30 years ago when it was harder to score. And when you have three guys who are having, in their own right, historic offensive seasons, I think, it's going to be really hard for Wimby to win the award. And I think it's fair that it's going to be hard for him to win it. I think him saying this, though, will help him. And it hasn't swayed me, obviously.

I still feel like a Shea. I'm open, though, to these last 10 games. I'm very interested in how Bruce Ballot plays out these last years. I would love personally, I would love to see Wembe get it, but I got to be fair. Right now, I think it's Shea. But this helped Joelle Embed when he said it. This helped him, you know, win his MVP. So it'll be interesting.

I think it's just making people rethink some things. I think Brew's ballot on the show is going to be hurt by the fact that Brew has an actual ballot. Because I think your respect for the history of the award is going to lean you heavily towards Shea. And I think that if you didn't have an actual, if you didn't have an actual impact on who was going to win, I think you might be like, ah, tie goes to Wimby. But the fact that you have a real ballot, I think actually is going to impact that. We'll see. Find out on Friday.

Bruce Ballot. It's Tuesday, which means it's time for Top 10 Tuesday. Last week you did the top 10 players that would impact or define the tournament. Several of those players now watching at home. That's an impact also. Yeah, 100% right. So now we're talking about the top 10 impactful characters, Sweet 16 moving forward. Yes, people, players, coaches, and people, because as you'll see, there is a caveat here for one of the spots in the top 10.

Now, guys, I don't make the rules, but I do enforce them. Iowa, not a Cinderella. Not likely to go to the final four. But you deserve a spot in top ten because the tournament is made of stories. So Alvaro Fulgaris, this is the one shining moment. Like, the buzzer-beater to beat the one seed, and you don't run and celebrate with your team, but you run into your mother's arms because your father passed away when you were nine, and she flew in from Spain.

and it's only the second time she's seen you play in the U.S. and he's crying. This is the type of thing that gets the country talking about this tournament. So it is not a typical Cinderella story, but it is a uniquely March story. And we'll see if you can keep it going against Nebraska. Speaking of Nebraska, coming in number nine, Cornhusker fans. I don't know if you guys saw this on the broadcast, but Nebraska fans, obviously, the first ever tournament win, then they get two under Fred Hoyberg.

They made the drive to Oklahoma City where the Thunder play. Decible reading, loudest that arena had ever been, besting the number for the thunder in last year's playoffs. Will Cornhusker fans travel all the way down to Houston? Of course they will, but Houston also playing in that regional. You're going to have a ton of Nebraska fans, a ton of Houston fans in the same location. Should be a wild atmosphere.

Coming to number eight, had to have Arizona represented here. Tommy Lloyd, the coach of the Wildcats. they are a powerhouse program that hasn't won a title since 97, haven't been to the final four since 2001, two double-digit wins, should continue to advance. But a very tough path having to get through, what is it? They've got Arkansas coming up and Calipari and then Purdue, who is preseason number one. So a tough path for Tommy Lloyd in Arizona to get there. At number seven, Kingston Fleming's. This is the dream when you're in the region where the one seed loses.

So Florida loses. You're on Houston. You're playing the Sweet 16 in the Elite 8 in your home city, which is a tremendous break because Rice is hosting the regional. You have Illinois in the Sweet 16 game might be the game of the weekend. Top offense against top defense. Kingston Fleming could be a top 10 pick. Best offensive player on Houston. Can he keep up with the fighting alina? Come in number six, Rick Petino. I mean, maybe the best coach if you needed to win a single game in the history of college basketball, trying to. to get his fourth program to a final four, which would, of course, be a record. He's got to go through Duke and if it goes on the way on the other side, it would be number five, Dan Hurley, his arch rival at Yukon. Now, he has to get through, of course, Tom Izzo and Michigan State. But Dan Hurley already looking ahead a little bit. Don't know if you guys saw this with Rick Petino. Take a listen to Dan Hurley.

It'll be a live building. I would only probably, it's probably a little bit early. But obviously, I think we've got to try to support each other. It's pretty brutal on Twitter, I think, and social between our fan bases. But I think we've got to kind of try to come together on Friday night against our opponents so that then we could have a bloodbath. He's such a troll. Because if you've ever been to an NCAA tournament regional, the fans of the team that's playing in the next game,

like usually root for the upset in the game before and they turn against each other. So he's asking St. John's fans to be rooting for. for Yukon and Yukon fans to be rooting for Duke. Interesting. It'd be the fourth time. No, Yukon fans are rude for St. John. You got fans rude for St. John. Do you think that's legit that he wants another shot at St.

John's or he's scared of Duke? He would rather play St. John's. He would rather play. He'd rather play St. John's and avenge the Big East tournament loss where they got blown out in the final, not have to play Duke. And it's just you need some good old fashioned rivalries in this tournament. I love that. Coming in number four, John Shire.

Man, get your team ready to play. You're the coach of the number one overall. seed and you're losing by double digits to Sienna, almost losing a 116. It would have been the biggest upset in the history of the tournament. Then you're tied with 14 minutes left against TCU. Get your team ready to play. Like, argument for John Shire to be number one. But coming to number three, the Michigan Biggs, they were my pick.

I said if you watch one second in Michigan, you just realize they're huge. Lenderboard, Johnson, and Mara averaging 52 points, 20 rebounds, and five blocks between them. tournament games. They just impose their will on everybody. They're averaging a will. Yeah, but in a 40 minute game, it's pretty impressive. Coming to number two, the Big Ten. There's always this like who is going to be the power conference in the NIL world, who has the most money.

It's obviously worked for the Big Ten in football or the SEC. They've got to win it. Big Ten has not won a title since Michigan State in 2000. They have six of the 16th. left in one of the regions they have three of the four. So there is a ton of pressure on the most lucrative conference with the most resources to cut down the nets at the end of this tournament. They have to be well represented in the final four and the title. And then at number one, he was on the list last week. I'm moving up a lot this week. Darius Acuff. What a run.

Reebok announces a signature shoe. Bill Simmons compares him to Kyrie. Look at what he's done SEC tournament and NCAA tournament. He's averaging 30 in five postseason games. Is he the best NBA prospect left over Cameron Boozer? Can he be the third pick in the draft? Can he be the second pick in the draft? We always talk about the springboard that this

tournament gives a guy. If he cuts through here and comes out of this very tough region into the national championship game, Darius Acuff, to me, could define the rest of the tournament. All right, I don't say, am I first, I don't say this often? great list.

Great job. Mark the tape. However, you have a lot of coaches, yet you've left out two that I think are noteworthy. So I'm curious about Tom Izzo and John Calipari. So a little pack stat for you on a Tuesday. Love it.

Every coach who has made more than five final fours has multiple titles, except for those two guys. Denny Crum went to six. He has two. Adolf Rupp went to 6, he has 4. Petino, who's on there, has gone to 7. He has two titles.

Roy Williams went to 9. He has 3. And then Dean went to 11, has 2. John Wooden, pretty good. Went to 12, has 10 titles. Coach K went to 13, has 5. Tom Isles been to 8, has 1. Coach Cal's been to 7.

He has won. I feel like maybe is it because you think both of them are getting clipped this round? that I mean if Dan Hurley can be on there, if Rick Patino can be on there, I wonder where Tom is on John Calipari. So I didn't want to do all coaches for it. So there's only 10 spots. There's 16 teams left.

Cal's represented to me by Acuff. Right. He's there. And then Hurley can have three titles in four years. That's historic. Petino also can do four programs, four final fours, but he would have to go through Kansas and then Duke and then the winner.

So like his path to it is a little tougher than isos, which is also tough. So yeah, I mean, listen, if there were 12 spots, I mean, you put the entire big 10 and three players from Michigan. You could have combined Pettino and early into one. Michigan states also. I mean, you could have put Nebraska's fan base. You've got 10,000 thousands of people on your list. That was an unbelievable story.

You can't get it. If it isos kind of incorporated in number two with the big 10. Yeah. Well, look, Dusty came into my office. today offered me food and drink and begged me to put this is fair point guard braden smith on there yeah so so that's it i went with it bradden smith who is the all-time leader and assist at division one a two-season yeah i mean and they got 11 seed texas should they should yeah they should get to the elite eight chance for

him to shine he's a senior you know experience and be a nice run. It's totally fair. I consider them sorry Dust. I didn't know that my top 10 list offended you. But again, ticked off. Only 10 spots.

Oh, he was mad. There's tens of thousands of people on your list. You'll be getting some dirty looks from Dusty. Okay. I wanted to shout out the Congress. I love this list. I just like to tell you that the top four are my final four. Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, and Duke.

And as a bonus, you con. You and I are just. locked and locks. You get no props if Yukon gets there. I'm sorry, you picked Duke. I've been on Duke for months, but I know, everybody knows I love Yukon. I don't know that.

You didn't love them enough to stick with them. Right, exactly. It's not like they were bad. They're the two seats. It's like you and what you want in your heart and what you actually see. It would be like next year if the Chiefs make the playoffs and I'm like, I'll go with Buffalo.

And they come out of the AFC. You are quietly doing that. No. I'd love for you to do that. So I can take Baker, you love Rams. Yeah, okay. You've done a little bit. You like a lot of team.

You were talking about Josh. They missed the playoffs. Never mind. We're taken away from Danny's time. Good job on top 10 Tuesday. UFL preview, new rules, brand new season coming, starting on Friday. We preview it next. Ricky Prol coming up.

First things first overtime. Welcome back to first things first. Danny Parkinson, Willie Colon out here. The 2026 UFL season kicks off this Friday. 8 Eastern on Fox. And joining us now to talk about it, St. Louis Battlehawks head coach, Ricky Proll.

You can catch the Battlehawks in their season opener against the Defenders Saturday at noon. Ricky, thank you so much for the time. Now, you played in the NFL for 17 years. You've been around this game your whole life. There are a lot of success stories of UFL guys to the NFL, Kvante Turpin, Brandon Aubrey. But now you've been in the UFL for a while.

Can you tell our our own? audience who are trying to get into this league and more familiar with it, how high the level of play is in the U.S. I mean, it's, it comes down to, you know, of reputitions, how much time you get in training camp, these guys can play. And the level is so high here. It's, it's just a fraction below. They just need time. They need reps. And I think that's the hardest thing is some of them haven't had the opportunity to showcase their talent and skill set. And even when they get into camp, sometimes that, you know, coaches training camp is so different than when I played, you know, it's having those opportunities.

And a lot of these guys, they just haven't had the opportunities to do the things that they're capable of doing. And therefore, that's why they haven't made the team. Coach, your team has the fifth best odds to win it all. Do you feel like people are sleeping on you guys? Absolutely. But that's okay. you know, that's kind of a good place to be, you know.

I'm really, you know, I'm excited about our football team. It's, you know, obviously it's a process, and it's, but these guys are so much fun to coach. They come to work every day. They want to get better. They want to learn. And that's why we coach is to try to help these guys get another shot, get that opportunity to get into another camp and showcase what they can do. And now I think it's more specifically as what I spoke about earlier is trying to put them

in a system that they can excel and strive and showcase their talents. And, you know, me coaching in Carolina a couple of years ago, that was the biggest thing for me is certain guys have a skill set. And as coaches, it's our job to understand what that skill set is and to put them in positions to have success and showcase their talents. And that's what we're going to try to do this year with our team. So I love the creativity of the U.S.L. We're going to put this up on the screen here.

These are some rules that you would not see in the NFL, but maybe you will one day. One day. If you kick a field goal over 60 yards, it's four points, not three. And maybe the greatest rule of all time, no tush pushes. This isn't rugby.

We're trying to play football. So the tush push has been banned. If you get past midfield, don't be a coward. You're not allowed to punt unless it's the last two minutes of the game. Kickoffs move back to the 30 yard line, more returns. And I like this,

you can have the one point, two point, or three point conversion attempt. So I got a lot of thoughts on these coach, but you know, you're the coach. What is the best UFL rule that is not there in the NFL? Don't forget the fourth and 12 too. Yes. Oh, wow. Because you know, outside that we, a couple years ago, the battle hawks, we went for fourth and 12. We scored, I think, 16 points in a minute and a half because of that rule. And so that's if you score a touchdown, if you score a touchdown and you want to not go for an onside kick, you can line up for a fourth and 12 penalty to keep the ball or fourth and 12

play to keep ball? Yes, yes. I love it. I think it's, you know, especially now with these kickers, how good they are. I mean, kicking 60 yarders, I mean, it should be, it should be four points. I mean, that's going to add the excitement. And we're, you know, let's be real. I'm an offensive guy. I kind of, I kind of feel for defensive guys. I mean, it's, it's all about offense, scoring points, but that's what sells tickets. That's what gets ratings on TV. And, you know, who wants to watch a 10-7 ball game? We want to see the 42, 38 overtime games. And, you know, that's what this league does.

That's what it brings. The new rules, I think it's, we're on the cutting edge of changing the game. And obviously, the kickoff, you know, has changed. It's now incorporated in the NFL. And it's, but it's also about player safety as well. Coach, you're in St. Louis. What would the local support from everybody around you guys mean to you? It's, I mean, we're the, we're the staple of the league.

I mean, we've got, you know, close to 25,000 season tickets. You know, it's just, it's a great atmosphere. St. Louis is one of the best sports town in our country. I mean, they support every sport in that city, and the Battlehawks are no different. When we were with the Rams and doing our thing, it was a great advantage. That dorm is so loud. And in the U.F.L, they've been for five years straight, they've been so supportive. And it's, they've adopted this football team.

And it shows every Sunday. Every time we're playing, they're there, and they're making noise. And this is their football team, and it's exciting to be a part of. So, you know, I mentioned earlier you played 17 years in the NFL. You've played in Super Bowls. You're on the greatest show on turf team. Like, Dick Vermeal, Mike Marts, my guy, Dave Wonstead, John Foxx. You've played for a wide list of coaches.

And I know I'm leaving out plenty of big names there, coach. But, like, you've now made this transition. your first time head coach, who do you model your coaching style after or do you take from all of them? Probably, you know, I think, you know, when you're on teams that don't do well, you learn a lot about your players, your teammates,

your coaching, your leadership, you know, good and bad. And I've taken a little bit of all of that. And that's why I'm here. You know, those guys, the Dick Vermeels, Tony Dungey's, John Foxes, my position coach Al Saunders, I mean, those guys impacted me in such a positive way that when things aren't going great, how do we respond? You know, what are you doing?

What defines you as a player? It's consistency. It's come to work every day, whether you win or lose. And, you know, I had nine years of losing, a lot of four and 12, three and 13, but I learned a lot through those years. And, you know, just what it takes to be a successful team and it's playing together. It's playing selfless. And when I experienced in St. Louis and what Dick built. that culture. We loved each other, man.

Not just as teammates, but as a brotherhood. And that's what we're trying to build here. It's just teaching guys how to play for each other and be selfless and go to the next level. Play, you know, from a receiver standpoint, blocking down field, opening holes

for the running back, keeping the safeties off them, you know, turning 10-year runs into explosive runs and defensive run into the ball, you know, creating turnover, scoop and score, all that stuff. It's just playing fast, but having fun. That's the biggest thing is we all play this game because we love to compete, but we had fun in our youth playing this game. And at the end of the day, we got to have fun.

And obviously, women, and you have fun, but it's playing together as a team. All right. So, Ricky, I got to ask. We were reminiscing before you came out, before we came out in the air about the 97 Bears. Thank you for the seven touchdowns. Eric Kramer, it was fun. But now I know what it's like to have Caleb Williams. I have to ask your impressions of Caleb Williams as someone who I know still follows the league and his story. It's great story. I mean, I'm rooting for, you know, the Bears is such a great sports town as well. You know, you like to see them well, do well.

I love the season they had. I trained. I did train in prior to this position for the last eight years. I've been in Orange County working for Excel Sports Management. Right there, Roma, Dunez. I trained Rome. Big fan, great kid, works hard. He's going to continue to get better.

But they've got, they've got. they've got the nucleus and obviously now they've got a great head coach who's done an amazing job that understands the skill set of players and how to have success and they bought in real fast. And so listen, I wish nothing but the best for Chicago. I had a great year there, loved playing there, great fans and great venue to play. Well, Ricky, thank you so much for joining us. Good luck against the defenders in your opener on Saturday. The opener for the league is Friday.

night, 8 o'clock on Fox. Thank you so much for the time. Good luck, coach. Appreciate you that. Thank you guys. Appreciate it. Thanks for hanging out of the O.T. Still got Willie Colon out here. Let's go to Seattle. Lovely place. I've never been, but it's probably the top American city that I haven't been to. That's not why you called. Jackson Smith and Jigba got a huge payday yesterday. When asked if JSN is the best receiver in football, one of the two of us, Willie Colon, at this table said no. It was Pooka Nakuha. Facts. Entering the last year of his rookie deal and will become a free agent in 2027. So Willie, we put together the career comparison of these two guys. Very, very similar. Obviously, the yardage goes heavily to Nakuwa, yards per catch, same number

of touchdowns, the total number of catches goes to JSN. How do you see JSN's record setting extension impacting Pooka and Nakua? Oh, there's no doubt Pooka's going to get the bag. And I'm pretty sure his agent of family are doing backflips and running down the road, screaming, in Hallelujah. I think what I'm more interested in is how this deal is structured. Follow me. And then I'm going off because of their play style. If you're the Rams, do you offer Pooker more in the short term?

Considering that, hey, man, they use Pooka like Cooper Cup, meaning he's more physical. He's not a guy who's going to, like, run out of him. Like, JSN is one of those guys. Gets the ball gets down, or he's tried to get as he can, and he's going to get out of bounds. Pooker's a more physical receiver. So that means there's, you're talking about a shorter career. when he's at his elite self. He's also talked about not playing forever.

He's a very young guy, but he has already given some credence to, he's not going to play for 10 more years. I just look at Pooka's game, and it's more like what they asked Cooper clip to do in reference to being the answer on third down, being handling the dirty work a little bit more. JSN is more like a finesse, elite, streamline runner who can make plays after the catch. So I'm interested in how they work that deal out. So I think everything you said makes perfect sense from a football standpoint.

Right. But if I am Puka's agent, I am doing very simple math. And I'm saying, okay, JSN got 42.2 million a year for four years with 120 million guaranteed. You're going to have to give me at least $42.5 million for four years with $121 million guaranteed. Like my guess is these contracts basically mirror each other. And Pooka... You don't think Pooka's going to fight for $1 more? That's what I'm saying. I think it'll almost literally be $1 more.

I think it will be four years, $170 million, with $121 million guaranteed. I think you will beat him by hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and a million dollars guarantee. They are so similar and they are the same age and they are in the same division and the numbers are so close. Like the, the RAMs situation is just. Well, Jason has played more games than Puka.

Yes, yes, he has. But, I mean, they are, they are, they are very, and the total touchdown numbers are very close. Like, I just, I think that they are similar enough production and age and draft time and timeline and all of that that I think these contracts are going to, it's like when we did the Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase thing. It's like, they're kind of the same guy. They're both clearly number ones.

They're both clearly, you know, top. the conversation for best receiver in football. So even though their styles are very different, I think the contracts are going to mirror each other. And yes, they should be doing backflips in the Nakuwa family. Is there a chance that the Rams franchise tag? No. I mean, listen, he's got another year.

They got to pay Fisk. They got to pay VERS next year. So they got a lot of guys coming up. I would be floored if they drew a hard line on Puka. I'd be floored. Well, the reason I ask is you want to see, listen, you double down to see if he's still. that guy.

Yeah, they don't have to do that this year. I think it happens. I think the contract comes this off season and they play hardball with somebody else. But, you know, it's always possible. To Pittsburgh, hey, we got Willie on here. Let's talk Steelers. Michael Pittman Jr. hopped on with Kay Adams to talk about the upcoming season and what they called the quarterback

situation. Who they could be referring to in Pittsburgh. Will he take a listen? Obviously, the whole quarterback thing is going on. And I, and like, like, just like that. Like, I don't know nothing. Michael. I haven't talked to Aaron.

What a way to put it. What a way to put it? Hold on. The whole quarterback thing going on, what do you mean you haven't talked to Aaron? What does that, what do you mean? So I'm trying to give him space, you know, because Aaron's a guy. He likes his space. He likes to get, like, refresh.

Like, I didn't want to just get signed and then blow him up and be like, hey, Aaron. Like, like, what's the deal? The whole quarterback thing going on. My apologies. I call it the situation. What do you make of the fact, though, that Pittman and Rogers haven't talked. Well, this is not him ignoring the team. This is Aaron Rogers taking his time away from football. And this is what he does this time of year. People hate it. It's very on brand of what

he does this time of year. We know one thing is true with Aaron Rogers. He cuts the court, right? Like, he separates himself. He goes off wherever he goes off to. And he regroups, resets, and then he makes a decision. Yeah. Yeah. If you're a young receiver, not young receiver, he's 28 years old, but if you're Michael Pittman, sure, you would like a call, but you're dealing with a different quarterback. You're dealing with a different dog. So you just have to humble yourself. And when the man makes his decision and lands back in Pittsburgh, you can have as many conversations as you want. And I, I get that to a point. There's something to detachment. As a leader. Okay. As a leader. Don't you owe the guy a congrats text?

Aaron Rogers owes my own pitman nothing. Okay. I mean, what, what, isn't it the right thing to do? He's not a hostess. Like, he's not welcoming him into Pittsburgh. No, he's the starting, a yellow, he's not a pan of pierogies in Iron City and a yellow towel talking about, hey, welcome to Pittsburgh. No, Aaron Rogers is a hired assassin. Like, he's very own brand of who he is. So Michael Pittman will get his welcome to Aaron Rogers world soon enough. It just, it won't be happening any time right now. Okay. Then it's just. And I heard Brooke, can I say something? I heard Bruce, can I hear Bruce comment talking about, well, if this was CD land walking to in the building.

Aaron would call. If that was Justin Jefferson, I don't think so. I think Aaron Rogers is that smug enough to be like, hey, man, this is my time. This is my me time. You will respect my me time. Okay. As long as we're both willing to call it smug, you know what? As long as we're both willing to call smug.

100%. Because it is not, listen, say he signs in a month and then he talks to Michael Pittman and there's plenty of time before the upcoming season. I get all of it. But it is, there's rules for 31 quarterbacks and then there's rules for Aaron. It's always been there. There's rules for 52 players on the Steelers and then there's rules for Aaron. And I got to be honest with you, when he was throwing for 45 touchdowns and six picks.

And at that moment was the most talented quarterback that these two eyes had ever seen to play the position, I would have been like, yeah, man. Do you? But when you don't beat playoff teams and dink and dunk and are in your early 40s. 24 touchdowns. I only had seven interceptions. 24 whole touchdowns.

That's what Mitch Trubisky threw when he made the pro ball. But at the same time, I don't consider that washed. I didn't say washed. But how many quarterbacks were better than Aaron Rogers last year? 15, 20. He was in top 15 in my eyes. I know.

In your Steelers eyes. I guess my point is, Like, it is one thing to have the Jordan rules when you're Michael Jordan. And it's another thing to have a little bit of self-awareness to be like, I should just be a good teammate. The great Mike Tommy used to say, I will treat you all fairly. I just won't treat you the same. You know what I mean? Aaron does not treat himself the same.

100%. So whether we adhere to it or not, this is what it is. And listen, this time of year, we all sit around and say, what's Aaron going to do next? This is what we've been doing for a long time. So Pittman is just falling in the line of what the league and fans and everybody around the NFL universe has agreed to. We all bend the knee and wait for error.

It is what it is. Would it have annoyed you? No. Yeah, you don't hear from your quarterback when you join a new team? What would he say? Hi. Yeah.

This is where you get the best sandwiches with French friends. Something, a little something? I'll see you when I see you, homie. Okay. I need to be good. recorded. All right, let's head down to MetLife.

We got former Jet Willie Colon out here, and your old team worked out. Former Penn State quarterback Drew Aller. Other reports say they got their eyes on former Miami quarterback Carson Beck. Now the Jets have the second pick of the draft, not saying it would be with that pick, obviously, but they own nine total draft picks. Willie, would you be okay with the Jets using one of those nine picks on Aller or Beck? Yeah, it's not a high pick. You know, I think if you feel like you have a guy that can obviously add some depth in the quarterback room, sure.

I don't know much. Listen, I have watched Carson Beck for a good portion of his career. I think he shrinks in the big moments, but he's an efficient quarterback. Hopefully he can upgrade that at the next level. Adler, I didn't watch much of us, to be honest with you. But nevertheless, man, if you're the Jets, your goal going into this draft is structure, right? How can we continue to build on the structure we have right now? They've done a great job in free agency, out of pieces, but they need quality depth, not just.

just guys. Because that's what the Jets have done in the past. They get guys, they don't get quality of depth. That's what covers you into January. So if they feel like they got a guy that can help them late in the season, sure, go get them. So I wouldn't love it because when the Browns drafted Dylan Gabriel and Shador Sanders, I was like, you used a third and a fifth round pick on quarterbacks when you didn't have the team around you. Like, what if one of those guys was a great special teamer and the other was a starting offensive lineman? Or you got a linebacker and align me. Like, Bill, if you don't have a premium asset to use on a quarterback, build your team and then draft the quarterback. So draft the quarterback that you actually love.

I'm not sure that Al or Beck for the Jets solve the problems. Go be Team Gino. You know what I'm saying? I'm Team Gino. I know you are.