Games with Names - Untold March Madness & College Basketball Stories with Basketball Legends

Episode Date: March 19, 2026

Best March Madness and College Basketball stories from legends including Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas, and Paul PierceSupport the show: http://www.gameswithnames.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi, it's Joe Interesting, host of the Spirit Daughter podcast, where we talk about astrology, natal charts, and how to step into your most vibrant life. And today I'm talking with my dear friend, Krista Williams. It can change you in the best way possible. Dance with the change. Dance with the breakdowns. The embodiment of Pisces intuition with Capricorn power moves. So I'm like delusionally proud of my chart. Listen to the Spirit Daughter podcast, starting on February 24th, on the audio. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcast. I'm Nancy Glass, host of the Burden of Guilt Season 2 podcast. This is a story about a horrendous lie that destroyed two families.

Late one night, Bobby Gumpright became the victim of a random crime. The perpetrator was sentenced to 99 years until a confession changed everything. I was a monster. Listen to Burden of Guilt Season 2, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Good people. What's up? What's up? It's Questlove. So recently, I had the incredible opportunity to have a real conversation with an actress and producer, Jamie Lee Curtis, from routines to recovery, true lies, and a certain Jermaine Jackson music video. Jamie's

real and raw. And it's something I really admire about her. I am so happy that I'm the head bitch in charge at six. 67, that I have the perspective that I have at my age, to really be able to put all of this into context. Listen to the Questlove show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ready for a different take on Formula One? Look no further than no grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the under-explored pockets of F1, including the story of the woman who last participated in a Formula One race weekend, the recent uptick in F-1 romance novels,

and plenty of mishap scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful, decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to No Grip on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton Eckerd. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor. But here's the thing. Bachelor fans hated him. If I could press a button and rewind it all I would. That's when his life took a disturbing. turn. A one-night stand would end in a courtroom.

The media is here. This case has gone viral. The dating contract. Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love Trapped on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Games with Names. I'm Julian Edelman, and we got a brand new compilation highlight reel starting now. Now, Antonio Gates on his elite eight run with Kent State during March Madness. Walk us through this elite eight run, bro, because I mean, I just remember we were talking about, I was there like, what, five, six years after you? Yeah. Four or five years out, six, whatever.

We were talking about the, I was like, yeah, we had the elite eight run last year. Yeah. We used that last year because of you were like, ever. Yeah, man, it was, Man, that was the thing about being in college and, you know, making a run like that, it's nothing to do with money. It's all about relationships and friendships and friendships and pride and playing for one another. That's why that was one of the most special moments of my life. That was the first time, not the first time, but that was really the last moment of when it had absolutely nothing to do with finances and business. It was just like, dude, we are all trying to get somewhere special and we're all trying to. to do something special.

I remember we playing Pittsburgh, and I was just remembering like, these dudes are some dogs. Pittsburgh had some tough, tough players, man. But we had that, you know, that, you know,

that it's a dog and you too. Yeah, but we got that. Still, y'all think because we at the Kent State that y'all better. And I'm here to tell you from going to the Big Ten and making that transition to the Mac,

the only difference is that it's just a size, it's a fit thing. you know what I'm saying they wanted a guy 68, 6, 9 to play the wing at Michigan State at Kent State

these dudes are 6 5, 6 4 but when I got there and you know this man playing the Mac you like these dudes can play Yeah, late bloomer's A lot of late bloomer These dudes can play, they play hard And that's the catch too

They're pissed off They play hard every play So I felt like going in the Mac and playing in the Mac was easier than making the run In the lead 8 I felt like the dudes The Theron Smiths

The Brandon Hunters the Keith McLeod's of the world the freaking Marshal had Blackshear you know what I mean they felt harder than the guys I was going against and these big programs

because they were still like you know what the chip on the show they mean they can put it on the floor they can hit the mid-range they can hit you from three they can make the right pass they were strong enough they was quick enough

just weren't tall enough or they didn't have the you know off-the-charts jumping abilities when you see them play they didn't do the they didn't make you you why it wasn't the wild play yeah and i think you can you know obviously you played and you moved

on same thing it's like guarding you know on 308 you know yeah but once you get out there you're like he can go left he can go right he actually he can beat you deep too if you plan around he can beat you then you'll see a guy that make a big play and you're like okay he's going he's the he's the first pick in the draft but when you get out there it changes the dynamic and i believe i use this word and they asked me how I would describe myself as how I would describe you too, Julian. I think we were just ultimate competitors. Fierce, bro.

Like, dude, me and you right now can probably start playing something and it would get real, get real high to hit. Right, that's what I'm saying. Eat it. Fears competitor, man. That was what I brought to the table. That's why I played the game in basketball.

It didn't matter. I made the adjustments as I went. If I felt like you was too slow, I'm going to take you on the wing. I'm going to penetrate you. If I felt like you was smaller, I ain't shooting no jumpers on you. We're going to the block every time.

We're going to pay the fact that you're smaller, and that's how I played the game football. That's how he played. Next, Baron Davis tells his crazy story about going one-on-one with Kobe at UCLA. I do got a funny story. So we played, I was at UCLA. I heard my knee.

We're practicing. Now, I can't practice. So UCLA team is practicing. It's the lockout year. About 8.30, Kobe was. walks in with his trainer and so you know everybody on the team like oh shit that you know like it's kovia's the lock i was like oh he probably got the gym for after our practice to like work out and he came early so he was like you know sort of practice walked through very respectful went on the side

and was just like shooting i was like damn dude Kobe over there so i just like start Hoping. Making my way over to the side. And then I'm like, Coach, can I, you know, let me rebound for him. Ain't nobody there to refound. So he's shooting. I'm rebounding for him.

You know, he just, he ain't even really doing nothing. He's just like, you know, he's just talking. And I passed him the ball, and I just do the fake close out. About a fourth time throwing the ball. And it's like, bro, we are in a full-on-one. game? Hey, bro, we're in a one-on-one game.

I was like, man, I got to get this one-on-one thing. When I look up, the whole UCLA team stop, and they're watching me and Kobe play one-on-one. And I was like, man, he beat me. He's hurt, though. You're hurt. Yeah, I'm hurt. That's the only, and we used to argue all the time we've seen each other.

Every time we see each other, I'll be like, bro, you know you can't beat me one-on-one. He was like, bro, I already beat you. He's like, bro, I already beat you. I was like, come on, duh. Like, you know, I was hurt. You know, I was, I don't know, I beat you. I was like, all right.

And so we were supposed to the year I got hurt and my career ended, we had dinner in New York before, like during the Lincenity. I was like, hey, bro, Jeremy Lange going to bust your eyes. I'm telling you, we were sitting at dinner. He was like, come on, you know, chill. I was like, all right, bro, I'm telling you. Like, he on the road. Do not, do not let this dude bust your ass because I'm telling you.

He, everybody is coming in here getting their head cracked. Come on, BD. I said, all right, dude. And so we made a bet that after the season, we were going to rematch the one-on-one game. And if he beat me, I came to the Lakers. You know what I mean? And then I was like, well, if I beat you, you know, what do I get? He was like, man, I come speak at your basketball.

Now, now. Hey, bro. And then when I thought about it, I was like, well, you know, shit, it is Kobe. Like my whole career is projecting on him beating me. And like if I beat him, he's going to go speak at my basketball camp. That'd be a hell of a basketball. Yeah, come. Come up.

Next up, Joe Missoula on his final four run with West Virginia and playing for Bob Huggins. You played at West Virginia. Yeah. Went to a final four. Yeah. Explain this. Like, how was that experience? You got to play in a fucking final four.

That's insane. Yeah. I mean, I think, uh, who, it was something. It went by so fast. It does. It went by so fast that the week leading up to it went by really fast. You know, first, like, college, I had two great coaches. And I started out with Coach B-Line.

It was great. And then I, you know, and then I started. And then I went to Coach Huggins. It was phenomenal. And we just had great teammates. Like, and that year went to the Final Four. It kind of all came together. But that was when I realized that, like, man,

winning is not as fun as people think it is. Like, it wasn't an easy year. Like, we were in the, I think we were in top, top 10 most of the year. I think we finished 31 and 9 or something like that. But 31 and 7, yeah. 31 and 7, but it never felt like that. It felt like we were 500 the whole year. Yeah. And that was that, that prepared me for kind of where we're at now and the healthier approach to like nothing is ever going to be good enough when you have a responsibility to greatness. And so like, I just remember like practices being miserable. Like, it was like,

man, this, this responsibility to winning goes beyond the joys of winning. And you have to fight for perspective, but you also have to take on that. That was the biggest thing I learned. Like, we lost the game on New Year's Eve to Purdue and we got smacked and you would have thought the season was over. And yet I think we were like still top 10. And so it was a great balance of learning, you know, what comes with success and how you have to handle that throughout the season. And, you know, we had great guys that were able to just bring us there. Now, who would bring that mindset of mediocrity, even though you guys were above media, you guys were fucking 31 and 7. Was that Bob Huggins? Oh, yeah. How was it playing for him? He's a ledge. He is a legend. Um, very misunderstood

guy. Uh, but he was the best. I mean, he was very, he reminded me and my father. Um, but he, he was the best to play for it. How? How did he remind you a father? Uh, just no nonsense. Um, had innate ability to, like, fuck you and I love you became synonymous. And you couldn't tell which one was which. Yeah. That's the best way to describe it. Like sometimes when it was fuck you, I was hearing I love you. And sometimes when I was hearing, I love you, I was hearing fuck you.

Does that make sense? It does. It's bad that I know and understand that. And so like my dad and coach hugs were like the same there where it was like, I just couldn't tell what it was that day. But you knew it was to get the best out of you. It was the only thing he cared about was like getting the best out of you. And he'll go to any measure.

possible to get the best on you. There was no restrictions towards that. But the best thing he did was when the game or the practice was over, he never brought that energy. He never brought that energy from what he was doing on the sideline to what you were doing off the court. I mean, I think that's a huge balance for a coach.

Yeah, that's, I mean, people don't, what goes on in a game is different than that. I think that's what the good coaches and players relationships. Like I remember there's a few times, you know, with my chatty O'Shea, my receiver coach. We're fucking each other up, you know, on the sideline. After the game, we get the win. All right, yeah, all right, man.

That's just how it goes in battle. Yeah, that's it. But I think you've got to be able to take the cap off, though. You have to be able to. And I think that's the biggest thing I learned from him was he was able to take the cap off more times than not of, like, you know, how I hold you accountable on it's because I love you, but then this love kind of looks different when you're off the floor.

And he was amazing at that. Next, Robert Rory, on his decision to play, college basketball at the University of Alabama. Now, you were Alabama player of the year in high school. Correct. Grew up in Bama. Was it a given you were going to go to Bama? No, I wanted to go to Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech. Yes, I wanted to go to Georgia Tech. And because I went to a high school that was, they didn't give us pep rallies, they didn't do anything. Our football team was decent, but they weren't as good as us. And it just pissed me off, each of them that they didn't respect basketball. And so I'm like, I'm not going to Alabama, man.

You know, Alabama is football, football, football. I said, I want to go to the ACC. I want to play for Bobby Cremlins and Georgia Tech. So how much do they pay you to get you go? No, here's the funny, nobody ever gave me anything. Someone, I'm not going to say who, offered my mom a car. And my mom says, I don't want that shit. She said, because I don't want to feel like I owe you anything,

just in case my son decides to, you know, leave that school. And so my mom wouldn't take anything. and she heard that I took $500 from someone. She was like, you need to get that money back. I said, okay, I didn't give it back, but I said, okay. But for me, it's just Georgia Tech, the ACC basketball conference. When you say ACC, basketball comes in mind. You say SEC, football comes in mind.

So I was like, I want to go to the ACC. But, you know, my mom, she gets mad when I tell this story. My mom said, well, if you go to Georgia Tech, you probably won't see me that much. If you go to Alabama, you'll see me a lot. And so I went to Alabama. Oh, that's how. Yeah. But back by the way, though, I was also

academic player every year in Alabama, too. Academic. Yeah. Mama had them right. Yeah, my mom was a school teacher. My dad served 18 years in the military, so I had a lot of discipline in my life. You know what I was going to ask?

He was 10 minutes early. I was going to say, you got family in the military zone. I swear to God, I was thinking that. Yeah. Okay, so ACC basketball. SEC football. These were good Georgia. These were final four Georgia Tech teams.

Yeah. Kenny Anderson days. Yeah. I got a game real quick. What comes to mind when you say a pack 10? Basketball. What comes to your mind when you hear? Big Ten.

Big Ten. Football. And most importantly, what comes to your mind when you hear the Mac? Baseball. Baseball? Yeah. Who's out of baseball? I don't know.

I just want to get baseball some love. Now, Paul Pierce, on his first time. meeting Magic Johnson at UCLA. The first time I met Magic, yeah, I met Magic a lot of times. The first time you met him, though, as an L.A. kid, were you in the league then? I think I was in the league.

No, no, no, no. I was in college. I first met him because he used to play at UCLA pickup games. Yeah. So they used to let me play when I was in college. I was like the only college kid that could play with the pros.

And so that's when I first met Magic. But I didn't have no camera then. And we didn't, you know, there wasn't no iPhones. So, but I met him in a pickup game and got to play against him, guarded him. So, you know, but now I always see magic. I feel like, you know, he goes to the fitness club over here of Supervado I'd be going to. But like, it's kind of cool to, like, meet your idol.

Hell yeah. You know what I'm saying? Now, Brian Scalabrini and Jules reminisce about the Pack 12 in their best Bill Walton stories. Pack 12 now, I wrote it. How sad is that? Pack 12 now. I don't. Pack gone.

Once you go to college and start, and it's not just the institutions, the money, the players, it's like, it's not college anymore. No, it's pro.

It's pro. Kids are staying in high school for like six years and then going to prep school just so they can get some NIL money when they get there because like some 18 year old kid is not getting NIL money.

Yeah. So it's way different now. But no PAC 12 RIP. I'm West Coast kid. Loved it. Loved watching. When I got out here, I'd put on fucking, you know, a pack 12 game that started at 10, 11 o'clock at night. Bill Walton's over here talking about fucking mushroom trips.

He loved Bill. I love Bill Walton. I mean, he's had the reason I watch. He's great. R-I-P. You got any Bill Walton stories? Yeah, because Bill was a friend because he would come and do all the games, right? So we'd get to know him.

And then, funny thing, one time I was at all. and we interview Bill Walton, right? So, like, this interview has been great. We're going back and forth. You say something. I say something. But Bill, so, Bill, how is, man, my life is so great. That's the greatest life I've ever had.

At this point in time, I couldn't live a greater life than this. And I think back to the days of John Wooden and his life, it was great. And he made my life great. And he just went off for like 27 minutes. Yeah, your Bill Walton impression is amazing. That is amazing. That was fucking Bill Long. And you were like, what was like playing in Boston?

Boston is the greatest city to ever have a basketball team. And if I never, ever thought I would ever finish the season, and I finished the season two times. In both those times, I was blessed enough to win a championship. And one of them was right here in Boston. Next up, Shane Badiere talks about his early college days at Duke. Take us back to the year 2000. You're in Durham, North Carolina.

What was young Shane Badiah like? I was very serious, very, very serious. I was always very, very disciplined, and I had one goal. I was going to make the NBA. I burned the ships. I was making the NBA, come hell or high water. And my freshman year at Duke, I roomed with Elton Brand, first pick of the draft, Liam Avery, played a few years in the NBA.

And I'll never forget going into Coach Kempel. office about three weeks into school. And I said, coach, I can't live with these guys. You know, I need my sleep. You know, I'll get my school work done. You know, I was a bit of a square. And so Coach Kay said, you know, just relax and have fun. And so, you know, luckily, I had a great time with Elton and Will.

The rest of the freshman year, I loosened up and learned to live a little bit. But I was very serious, very driven. And, you know, I was there to make the NBA. And I didn't care about any other details. Did they try to get you to party? Yes. I had fun. I had fun.

For me, I was having fun, you know. But again, I was, it was a mission. It was a mission trip for me. It wasn't a party time. How do they ease in a shame baddie in a drinking? Is it like beer pong? You're like, well, at least it's competitive. Like, what's the move?

You know what? I didn't drink until my senior year in college. Wow. I was, I was, I was psycho. I was super, super psycho. go. And, you know, my wife of 20 years now, we dated in high school, she actually dumped me for the quarterback because he was fun and he would want to go and go to parties. And I would, I need my rest. I need to go to the gym. So, you know, like, she came back around. They all come

back around and I loosened up and now I'm the life of the party. Glue guy. Straight glue guy. That's the competitor in him. He was like, I'm down for the count, but I'll get her. I'll get her back. I'll get her back, dude. They all come back. You know, sometimes you got to let them, you got to let a bird fly. You got to let a bird fly. And then when they come back, you know, you know. Yep.

Now, Gilbert Arenas on his hatred for Duke players in the 2001 National Championship. We got to ask you because we had Shane Badier on this podcast, actually. And we talked about the Duke Arizona game. Straight trash. Straight trash, bro. Yeah, what was, what was, what? What's your relation like with Shane? You know.

You were hurt though that game, right? You were hurt. I was hurt. I just hate all Duke players. Like it's just one of those things that you just, if they came from Duke, you just naturally just hate them. And he was on a team that defeated us. He was a great leader.

You know, he wield that team with his leadership. You know, that and the refs help. But, you know, he was a great, he was a great leader for that Duke team. Now, did that beat us? Did Coach Kay come try to mentor you guys after you guys lost to them? Because he wasn't even, he was known to like go into losing teams like locker room and say, hey, guys, I just want to say you guys had a great game, great game plan versus us. And you all are extraordinary young men.

No, no, I don't think he was coming into the Luke Walton. I mean, the Ludoosin locker room, you know, making a. that type of speech. Thanks for listening. Remember to tune in every Tuesday for a brand new episode and every Sunday for another games with names highlighted. Hi. It's Jill Wintersen, host of the Spirit Daughter podcast,

where we talk about astrology, natal charts, and how to step into your most vibrant life. And today, I'm talking with my dear friend, Krista Williams. It can change you in the best way possible. Dance with the change. Dance with the breakdowns. The embodiment of Pisces, Intuition. with Capricorn power moves.

So I'm like delusionally proud of my chart. Listen to the Spirit Daughter podcast starting on February 24th on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcast. I'm Nancy Glass, host of the Burden of Guilt Season 2 podcast. This is a story about a horrendous lie that destroyed two families. Late one night, Bobby Gumpright became the victim of a random crime. The perpetrator was sentenced. to 99 years until a confession changed everything. I was a monster.

Listen to Burden of Guilt Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Good people. What's up? What's up? It's Questlove. So recently, I had the incredible opportunity to have a real conversation with actress and producer, Jamie Lee Curtis, from routines to recovery, true lies, and a certain

Jermaine Jackson music video. Jamie Serreal and Raw, and it's something I really admire about her. I am so happy that I'm the head bitch in charge at 67, that I have the perspective that I have at my age, to really be able to put all of this into context. Listen to the Questlove show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ready for a different take on Formula One?

look no further than No Grip, a new podcast tackling the culture of motor racing's most coveted series. Join me, Lily Herman, as we dive into the under-explored pockets of F-1, including the story of the woman who last participated in a Formula One race weekend, the recent uptick in F-1 romance novels, and plenty of mishap scandals and sagas that have made Formula One a delightful, decadent dumpster fire for more than 75 years. Listen to No Grip on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton Eckerd. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor. But here's the thing. Bachelor fans hated him. If I could press a button and rewind it all I would. That's when his life took a disturbing turn. A one-night stand would end in a courtroom. The media is here. This case has gone viral.

The dating contract. Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love Trapped on the IHeart Radio app, Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.