Gil's Arena - LeBron BENDING The Knee To Luka FIRES UP Gil's Arena

Episode Date: January 7, 2026

LeBron James BENDING The Knee To Luka Doncic FIRES UP Gil's Arena as the Gil's Arena Crew reacts to LeBron James finally admitting that Luka is the Los Angeles Lakers franchise player and that he & the team need to bend their game around him in order to be successful. They break down what this means for the Lakers roster as they aim to build around the Slovenian superstar and analyze how JJ Redick has been coaching his superstar duo this season. Next, they react to reports that Trae Young is headed toward a divorce with the Atlanta Hawks as their franchise player has demanded a trade and debate what team is the best fit for the sharpshooter, before breaking down the mid-season resurgence for Kawhi Leonard & The Los Angeles Clippers, sparking a discussion on if this Clippers squad can right the ship after their rocky start to the season. Finally, they break down the Detroit Pistons' BIG WIN Over the New York Knicks and debate if the NBA's Eastern Conference runs through Cade Cunningham and the Pistons before reacting to another quote from Steve Kerr reflecting on the current state of the Golden State Warriors where the hall of fame head coach admitted the dynasty is no longer on the level of the top teams in the NBA. PLEASE give us a Like and Subscribe!! Today's Gil's Arena Crew : Josiah Johnson, Kenyon Martin, Rashad McCants, Brandon Jennings & Nick Young Gil's Arena premieres every Wednesday & Thursday at 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET. Sign up for Underdog HERE with promo code GIL and play $5 to get $75 in bonus funds or bonus entries https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-gi... SUBSCRIBE:    / @thearena0   Join the Underdog discord for access to exclusive giveaways and promos!   / discord   Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ & MA) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369) 2 Min Countdown 0:00:00 Show Start 0:01:50 Trae Young's Days In Atlanta Are Numbered 0:05:13 Jaylen Johnson Is The Hawks' Future 0:30:28 Kawhi Leonard & The Clippers Got Their Grove Back 0:37:42 The Eastern Conference Runs Through The Pistons 1:00:54 Best Guard In The East Debate 1:13:45 Can The Pistons Make A Deep Run In The Playoffs? 1:23:40 LeBron Bends The Knee To Luka Doncic 1:26:31 MostlyFans 2:00:41 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Gills Arena presented by Underdog Woke-Wo! Whoa! We had a minor accident in the arena prior to the show started. Look at my shirt. It looked good though. It's like I can go with that. It's like a little splash of the 80s. The Swaggy Man had too much wine.

Black couch. That's all good. We'll make it work. How are you feeling today? Good. Good, good, yeah. Straight, man. Straight, man.

Get some sauce or water on there, you might be here. Yeah, right. Good to go. But this is Gil's Arena presented by Underdog. Woo-Woop. I'm merely a host, Josiah Johnson. Sadly, Gil is still not with us. But should be back in the arena soon.

We put out an APB for him. We searched near and far all throughout his house. I expect to locate him soon. He'll be back on the couch. But we do have a legendary crew with us today. We're joined by NBA Champion of the World Swaggy. Nick Young. Feeling real swaggy in

2026. Feeling real swaggy. More swaggy than 2025? That's hard to top. That's kind of hard to top, but, you know, I think I could do it. Okay. See the next to him representing

tough crowd in a car carrying country club member. We got Mr. B. Brandon Jennings. And I'm going to my sophomore year in college, so Tough Crowd University Slam, part two dropping in March. So going into my sophomore year. I see a lot of tough crowd there. You could probably go back to college and who, too.

I know, I saw it. Somebody just did it. On this side of the couch, we got the distinguished gentleman from Oak Cliff former number one pick Kenyon Martin back here with us. What's that, man? And last but not least, the man they call Cemetery Larry, NCAA championed world Rashop McCants. He's on time. He's like, yeah, like. Championship Larry?

I like it. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, it's the, you know, warehouse five. I was talking with Larry sweatsh. I was trying to figure out, why am I seasoning on there? I am Switzerland. I am neutral. You were part of the ingredient. No. No. The ingredients. You know what I'm gonna me? Set the vibe, right? You know? For sure, for sure. Appreciate you well. We got a lot of things to get into the show. So here's what's cracking in Gil's arena today. The Pistons. Smack the Knicks in their first meeting since getting eliminated by Newark in the 2025 playoffs. Does the East officially run through Detroit now?

Kauai is back to looking like an all-MBA-level player, but should the Clippers still have faith in the fun guy or look to sell high? And LeBron says Luca is the Lakers franchise player, and the team needs to figure out how to fit around him. How far can the dynamic duo take the purple and gold this season? Before we get into all that, as always, this show is brought to you by Underdog. If you're new to Underdog, now's the time. Get $75 in bonus entries when you play just $5 with promo code Gil.

To celebrate Wild Car Weekend, Underdog is dropping a gimmie pick on a quarterback of your choice from any wildcar game. Plus, there are surprise promos all weekend long, so make sure you're checking the app. Support the show, locking your bonus, and start playing today with Code Gill. And if you can't watch the show live with us on YouTube, we have audio versions available on Apple, Spotify, wherever you get your podcast. So we're going to start this one in Atlanta. Trey Young's days in the ATL appeared to be numbered, so according reports, the four-time All-Star and his reps are working with the Hawks on a trade before the deadline. Ice Tray is making $46 million this season with a player option this summer for nearly $49 million. So Young was a part of a draft day trade in 2018 with Luca Donchick after getting picked fifth, has spent his entire career in the ATL,

averaged 25 points, 10 assists, nearly four rebounds, and 493 games in a Hawks uniform, while leading the franchise. playoff appearances, including an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2021. So the Hawks opted not to offer Young a contract extension this past offseason. And Trey has dealt with leg injuries this season appearing only 10 games so far. So Atlanta, 2 and 8 with Trey Young in the lineup, 15 and 13 without him. As Jalen Johnson has emerged as a bona fide all-star, free agent addition to Kiel Alexander Walker, averaging a career high, 21 points per game. So reports are the heat, Wizards, Lakers and Celtics are Young's preferred.

trade destinations, with the Wizards appearing to be the frontrunner at this point. So Travis Schlink, who drafted Tray Young when he was the Hawks GM, is currently the Wizards Senior VP of Player Personnel, so that move would make sense, with the Wizards projected to have around $80 million in cap space this offseason. But Swaggy, we're going to start with you. Would Tray Young be a good fit with the Wizards in their young core? I don't want to see Tray Young in another bad place. Man, like, it's just going to be more bad press, more bad media.

For me, when people go to the Wizards, it's like they last stop, you know, so I don't want that to happen for him. For me, I would like to see him go to, like, a winning organization. Like the, I like Minnesota. But another place I like, I think they should. The lift, the booth, the booths Atlanta up. I think you said trade straight up for John Morant. Ooh.

Mm. Try Marant. Trey for John. Straight deal. Do you think Jai would be able, going from Memphis to Atlanta? You got to get one. You got to give him a chance. Let's shift over to you, Mr. B.

I think the Wizards would be a good fit for Tray. They got a solid, you know, Alex Sar, leading the league in block you right now. No. A situation for Trey, you know, I said. The nation's capital. Yeah, but I see, like, I mean, a team like Milwaukee can use them, you know, if you're trying to keep yonters. You know, I think the way he plays, you know, is definitely different from Dame because he likes, he does pass the ball a lot. But going to a place like the Wizards is just you're back in the same situation than you've been before.

So, you know, to me, you got to be looking at got like a team like Minnesota, Milwaukee or something like that where he can, you know, elevate his game to another level with another superstar. Okay, let's shift over this side, Cemetery Larry. Looking at this Trey Young situation, obviously reports that his team in the Hawks is amicable right now. I think both sides realize that Landa probably not the best fit for Trey anymore, despite him spending his entire career there. Do you think the Wizards would be a good fit for Trey Young? Looking at the history of how the Hawks do business with their star players, you know, they got rid of Joe after a loan.

tenure there, it was semi-successful. You know, they had a great season, one good season. They made it into the playoffs, consecutive years, stuff like that. Trey Young is a delicate piece because you should be able to get pieces for him. So if you're going to move him, you need to move him for pieces. And you need to move him for pieces that are going to be complimentary to Jalen Johnson, who's going to be or should be your franchise player. He should be your building block.

He's averaging 26, 10, and 8 on 52% from the field. So with a guy like that, you don't wanna, you don't wanna oversaturate the talent around him. You wanna be able to still let him do what he's been doing without Trey there. So for Trey particularly, going to a winning organization, It's tough because most of the teams who are playing well have good point guards, have solid point guards.

And so it's going to be tough for him. I mean, it's one of them situations where if he do go to Washington Wizards, he's going to have to revitalize that system and have to show that he is a star player that can change and turn around an organization. But on the other hand, if he goes there and he becomes a graveyard for him, it's going to be different. So you look at Minnesota, like he was saying, Minnesota probably the best situation for him, but then he's going to be second tier. He's not going to be Trey Young than he was in Atlanta. He's going to turn into a Mike Conley type where we're looking for you to make the right plays more than just be yourself.

You look how Dame was when he was in Milwaukee. That wasn't a suitable situation more than we thought it could have been. So a lot of times when you've got a good player that can play, know, make the right plays, to a position like let's say Phoenix it ain't going it is not it don't fit as much as you think it would pushing Dev into the two having a solid point guard that can pass and shoot but then and just everybody won't shoot the ball so it's it's a tough situation for him I'm uncertain with where he should go specifically but I know that they Atlanta playing better without him for sure yeah

like 15 and 13 without trade the season two and I with them so let's shift over to the distinguished gentleman so came yesterday on the show you said trade of the Rockets wouldn't be a bad move Milwaukee as well you think think him and Janice could coexist together yeah I do his past first guy left the league in the system yeah but yeah either one of them teams man I think if Houston you know with Fred being out they're trying to make some noise yeah tray is a plug and play kind of a guy you put him You surround him with other good players. I think he'll play better.

I think it's he's a much, he's an advanced Reed Shepard. I think you get more right now because he's been in the playoffs. He's playing in big games. He's been on the biggest stage playing in New York and different things like that. He's won playoff series. So to. have that experience now with Katie and what you are building. I think it helped.

But teaming them up with somebody like Yannis as well. Yeah, I think that that'll be a decent fit as well for the way Yonis plays. And it'll help the Yonis being half court a little more playing off the ball, right? Just being able to get the roles and things like that because Shred's a hell of a pass. So, you know, I think that can benefit both for them. And then when you look at this wizard squad, obviously. Young quarter, they got him Cabin, Spade. I'm not sending nobody to Washington, bro.

No, with his size, can you win a championship with him? Yeah, because he's not your best, he's not your best player. So he has to be the second, third option? Yeah, that's cool. That's cool. So you don't need him average in 25 and 11. You need them to average 19 and 11, 18 and 11. Okay.

Like, I think that's suitable. Because you got Sangoon, K. You got Katie still, you got Thompson still going to do his thing. You just need him to come in and run the show at times when you need a good possession, a shot. You need somebody that's been there. That's what I'm looking at. I'm just looking at how when we got Chauncey in Denver,

it slowed things down because he had been there. So Chances had been on the biggest stage. He knew how to play in the half court. He knew when time, score, possession, how to defer when he needed to the mellow and different things like that. No, I just look at it in a similar, I ain't saying he's Chauncey, but in a similar light, he's been there. He hasn't won yet, but he's, like I said, playing the big playoff series, winning playoff series, been around and left the league and assists.

I just think it'll be a decent fit. So just to get a... Yeah, we're not sitting in Washington. Not sending him washed. No, we're not sending him to watch. No, we're not saying the boy. For the bread. Look, how do you...

That's... That's... Maybe more yet. Just move with furniture. You just moved from... That's bad, though. bad, though. From Black City to Chocolate City. Like, it's just

from Black City to Black City I don't mind. Maybe that's not Tray's will well shit if he go to Houston, same shit but when you look at Trey, you know, there's been reports he has negative trade value. I think a lot of people knocking his game kind of for the defensive side, but what he brings

offensively, do you feel like Trey gets a bad rap from people in the league? I don't think he, well, he played for Nate McMillan. No, I think he's, well, he played for Nate McMillan. Is he the last of that position? The small, like we said, Chris Ball. He's the last of that, right?

I mean, when you look at the dynamic of what he brings to the table and then what he don't bring to the table, you know, especially when you talk, you know, full rotation, effort, energy, sense of urgency, all the small things that kind of give you the benefit of the doubt with the coaches, with the assistant coaches. when you're out there being a vocal leader and you can back up your talk. I don't think Tray's ever brought that to the team. I think that's what his knock is, is the fact that he goes out and does the things that the coach will ask of a point guard, which is passing and shooting, but when it comes to team dynamics, defense chemistry, being a leader, he don't bring that. And I think that's the knock that Pat was saying about him,

that kind of got him riled up, taking his team, over the hump getting them together to rally pass first round second round exit um he did he did he did 21 had that nice run so when you look at washington you like all right washington is a situation where you might be able to build around him if you take him to washington compared to all the other places where his character his personality we don't know about it so you take him him to Houston, it could be a surprise for them where it just automatically don't fit in comparison to Washington where they have to adjust to him. Like he's there.

This is him. Ain't nobody bigger than him here. We got to adjust around him compared to him having to spit in with other superstars and guys that might not like him. Well, maybe that's what he knew. It's a risk. Because he's been the man in Atlanta. It's a risk.

It's a risk for him. So like for him it's like, what do you want? What do you want? Do you want to be the man or do you want to contribute towards the championship? I don't know. Labels. I hate when people get labeled because you never can shake it. And most of the time it would be like the GMs and coaches.

That's the worst thing you can put on the player because you're going to be fined at the rest of your career no matter where you go. So I was your third time All-Star, you know, did not get an extension offer from the Hawks kind of right. from the Hawks kind of writing was on the wall this off season they were going to wait and see we went down obviously done with leg injuries now but are you saying I mean do you still playing at the all-star level does he now need to try to take a back seat if he wants to be on

a winning franchise yeah I don't think you like we stayed on this couch multiple times for you to win we don't think a small guard can be your best player like we that's just what it is in this league we've stayed at time and time again

like you can he's a hell of a player. Like, small guards have been hell of a player in this league. But to be your lead, to be your number one, it's tough. Yeah, I just think it's from a defensive person, I think people put too much emphasis on defense in the league that don't play defense. Like, if that's what people are saying about him, if that's a nog or he's a bad guy, he ain't ever been put in a different situation, but to be in Atlanta, you don't know how he's going to reacting in a new locker room in a new situation where he has to reinvent himself has to take a backseat to certain people him going to Washington you're building around him it's the

same shit that you did in to him to next one it's the same shit that you did in fucking Atlanta right put him around better pieces and I think you get a different person do you get a better person you get a different person do you get a better person who was the first time made it to the Eastern Conference finals who was that person yeah said again Who was that person that made it to the Eastern Conference? It was the style of play that allowed him to be him on a team where he could be a 25 and 10 guy. That was a my team situation.

Yeah, we don't know what the situations are there for, too. His history shows us that star players who go play with other star players and have to take a back seat do not become better players. Who said better? Who said better? Who said better? Who said historic? I said, I asked that question.

I said better. You said different. I said better. That's what it is. So that's, you put him in a different situation. You get a different person. But that's what I'm saying. You're not going to get a better player.

If he's going to go somewhere else and not become a better player, why not go somewhere where you can become a better player? Where is that? What makes you a better player? Where is that? If he's in Atlanta and he's getting 25 and 10 and he goes somewhere else and those numbers drop, does he become a better player? If they're winning.

If they're winning. That's the best player. Now, if they're not winning. And he average an 18? And you basically sacrifice those points. If he's not winning. What is he sacrificing? Okay, y'all just said yes if he's winning.

So say no when he's not winning. So what does he sacrifice? Make sure we're all on the same court. So what is he sacrificing? He's sacrificing the risk of going to a team regulating his shit like a dame Liller and they're still losing. That happened. And then you have to go back to a situation where you're going to be the man again

so you can get your shit back. That's not. That's a risk. Basketball. We look at Mello. You look at Mello. You look at Paul George. It's a risk going in there.

You look at Bradley Bills. You look at all of these different guys who went to places where other guys were good. They didn't become better versions of themselves. What are you talking about? Mello made all NBA team when he went to New York. I'm not talking about New York. Well, that was his, that was his change. No, I'm talking about after that.

I'm talking about Houston. So that ain't, he was. He went from Denver to New York. He went from Denver to New York. He wasn't all-car. This is Trey's first move. This will be Trey's first move. I'm not talking about that though.

So we took this is- First move. But I'm not talking about that. I'm not talking about that. I'm not talking about that. No, I'm talking about what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about that. Get out the conversation.

I'm talking about that. We don't talk about that. So I'm talking about that. We're talking about facts. When Mello went here. He went to New York next. When he left. When he left the motherfucking Pacers,

he was our MVP. His first move. Regulated. Because who was he playing. He had his best years, but he wasn't the better version of who he was in Indiana. He didn't, I mean, he finished third in MVP voting. He wasn't the better version. He was PG in Indiana, so he got him 90 million.

That's what got him the money. It's what got him recognition. So was he, did he finish MVP vote? Did he finish MVP voting in Indiana? I don't remember. So he finished well, if you don't remember, the facts are he finished MVP voting in OKC. And what happened after that? That year and ain't okay, see what happened?

So what are you saying? Did he go lower after that? So what are you saying? Did he go lower after that? He went, he was in the MVP conversation. After the MVP conversation, did he go down? So your point is what? So you talked about an old mellow.

So your point is one. I'm like, come on. How old is Trace? Yes. So the same age. No. Same ages. No.

And he had a touring. Mellow with him. Melo. Regardless. Turn 27 in September. 27 in September. Tell about their first move. Listen.

Talk about their first. Regardless as when you go to a team with better team, with better teammates. Ain't no regardless of nothing. Your actual performance is going to, it's risky. It's risky for you to go up or go down. History has shown it. Okay. Period.

Okay. Period. So he has a risky choice to make to go with a team like Houston and regulate his fucking stats and his performances to a risky-ass situation. to a risky-ass situation where it's like, man, are you still the Trey Young that you used to be? The same shit that's where he can shoot every shot.

That's what you're saying? Yeah, basically. So you get every shot, don't get that your performance is better. So what was he doing in Atlanta? What was the reason he was a four-time all-star? Because he made him. Because he's what? He was hooping.

Y'all-Dick, this is so weird. He was hooping. I just said. Who was on his team, though? So they made him an old. God damn, man. He was doing his own thing. He had his own style of play. He made him an all-star.

Yes. His teammates had him in his team. Nobody was on his team. He was just Trey Young Show. He was 11 assists. Yeah, he was. And 25. And they were, yeah.

Listen, bro. You have a 25 and 11. They went to the- What did that win? They went to the Easter campus plan. What did they win? What did they win? What did they win?

You're going to shrug your shoulders and deflect. What did they win? They went to the East Conference. What did they win? It went to the east of the conversation. I'm talking to a goddamn brief ball. Just giving you information.

Trey's first year is an all-star. What did they win? Who else won? Trey's first all-star game. Hawks were 20 and 47. Obviously, Tray was leading score on that team. Had John Collins, DeAndre Hunter, Kevin Herder. Say him again?

Who and who? He was on that squad. Who and who? He carried them, right? So he was an all-star. I'm carrying them. So who made them an all-star? Because it's my style of play.

Who made him an all-star? You had John College after I thought you just said his teammates did. No, I didn't. That's the fuck you did. He didn't have a team, nigga. You just said this time. I said the team made an arm's like he said yes. He, his style of play made the team.

You said yes. Oh, I didn't. Yes, you did. Oh, my God. Did this nigger say yes? No, don't ask around. Because we can rewind it. We got these say yes.

How many times if I've been right? Sebastian, how many times about that? Sebastian, please don't listen to this nigga. This nigga said yes. Don't feel compelled to be bullied. to answer the question. Don't be, don't be compelled. I heard.

When I asked the question, I'm sitting over here talking to bring walls, and I'm And you said yes. Y'all niggas shake y'all head no before I finish the fucking statement. Y'all I'm not listening to y'all niggas. Y'all didn't finish the statement. Y'all already saying no. I said if his team. No, no, no, no.

Come on, man. I heard him say that. Listen, his teammates did not make him. He made the All-Star because there was no one on his team. I literally said that. He was the system. them. And I asked y'all who was on the scene. I asked y'all who was on the team and y'all sat there. Y'all sat there like this. Uh, and then you said what?

Then you said what? John Hunter. So am I, am I tripping or did you not do that? But the thing is, Trey needs a certain type of player around him, obviously. Players. Players. What type of players are those? Did he have that he said? Guys, he could just throw it up to that's going to catch a yam it.

Do you talk about the same players that helped him get to the Eastern Conference? No. Nick. For that stop. Nick, you're talking about them guys? He made it, right? With those guys, right? Who are those guys that he made it with?

Are they All-Stars? No. They are the same niggins that are the same thing to the Washington Wizards. Nah. So what are you? That he can go to the Washington Wizards and still build around him. No, you can. He can be the centripeas, which is where he was successful.

We have Alex Sart too. Obviously, I'm just, I'm just, he was most successful doing what? He was a winning from looking to build around. He was looking to build around a young guy who they picked. He was most successful doing what? You just made the point. He made it to the East of Contrapinal.

He made it to the East of Columbanum. He made it to the East of Colorado. So who did he win with? He won with nobody. John Collins is nobody, right? Where's John Collins at right now? A beautiful city of Los Angeles. So let's go back to the point I was trying to make before, right?

I'm still confused. You can go. You all are confused. Paul Jordan. That's all moving the gold pole. That's called, bury these niggas. Let's go back to moving the goalpost where I thought I had a chance. I'm asking you a specific question.

We moved. We moved from that. So you said Paul George went down when he went to OKC, but he was not in the MVP conversation when he was in Indiana. But when he went to Oklahoma City, he was in the MVP conversation. So he went down? No, he didn't go down. So what was your point then?

I wasn't making no point. So Mello left his first spot. then went to New York and scored more and made first same out of NBA so what was making no point so you brought up an old so you just talked

I just raised baby you you just talked who's raised baby no there's no because you're moving that into the conversation no no you brought it up yeah I know

you bought for George I just brought it up for what for nothing exactly for nothing the conversation was when superstars

leave their team do they become better when they play oh do you want to sacrifice to be on a good team when your numbers are going to play on a winning level franchise

or do you want to go somewhere like Washington when there's no expectations. And you can still get your number. When Bond went to Miami. But from an individual standpoint, I'm getting my bag and still making all stories. So let me just update, y'all.

Shams just posted a tweet, said that Tray Young has a Washington Wizards is the top preferred trade destination. So that would be blue. I think C.J. McCollum has an aspiring contract and that would be a big colleague. He said, Trays, Tray's preferred? Tray's preferred destination.

Preferred? Preferred. Trey Young's preferred places to go to the place that I'm talking about? The Washington Wizard. God damn. It's our opinion what we thought. God damn! But the thing is, he wants to go there.

This thing got nothing to do with opinion. This dicker want to go to the place I'm talking about. It does go to the pit because he was asked. But he's going to get his back. The Wizards have a bad. We were asked if it was a good fit. So we was asked about our opinion. So what are you talking about?

All that shit is nothing. Yeah, but him going there still doesn't mean that he's going to. Now it comes out after Josiah asks us our opinion, now it comes out. I said that in the re-came, that the Wizards were looking like the front-runner. But now it comes out that Shams has reported. Yeah, and then Trey had them in his top corner. So you just said this after you asked us the question, right?

He said y'all niggas up. He said y'all niggas up. I did not set up anybody. Josiah is a teammate of mine. We talk about this shit diligently. Josiah and I give him you the wink, wink, go ahead and throw the stink, stink on these things. As you know, I'm Switzerland, I'm neutral. I'm not getting it anymore.

He's making fine chocolate. If he goes to the Wizards, he's going to be better. It's a wild wild wild west on here. There's a bunch of fucking rules. There's a wild wild wild west on here. He's going to be set up. They already do it. So what would be better if when he go to the Wizards?

He got to average 30, right? That's the question for you, gentlemen. People have to average. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. If he averaged the same number. But from your own standpoint, you're in Trey Young Shoes. Do you want to go somewhere now where you're going to sacrifice your numbers to be a part of a winning basketball team? Or do you want to go to go to the

Watch your Wizards. Well, it ain't about what we think. There are no expectations. He knows it all. If there are no expectations, you can get your friends. What's your thing? Oh, he want to get paid. I think he can go to the East of Conference Finals with the Wizards like he did with Lennon Hawks.

How far would you think that that is from happening with you? I'm just saying based on Nick's It's fact. You can do it. You want to settle for the Wizards to shoot. That's your thought process. I get it. He settled for the Lennon Hawks.

He was drafted there. He got them there doing the same shit you're talking about. He settled for them? He had to. He got drafted there. The fuck are you talking about? Man.

Women's Rock landed on him. What did he do with no choice? What did he do with no choice? What are you talking? He settled for the letting out. No, they picked him. Okay. What is he saying he wanted to go?

He said he want to go to the Wizards. Allegedly. Okay. Allegedly. That's what he prefers. According to Sean. I ain't heard Trey Young say he wanted to go to fucking watch.

So it's allegedly. God damn it. But let's keep this thing moving. Trey Young ain't say anyone to go there. We will see what happens on the Trey Young front, but let's talk a little bit more Hawks, specifically Jalen Johnson. Got to give him some love to the fifth year forward.

Established himself as a star in this league. Johnson took his game to another level in December, averaging 26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists in the 12 games he played while joining LeBron, Yolkich, Luca Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and Wilt as the only players in league history to average a 25 point triple double in a single month.

So Jalen Johnson averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists in 34 games on 52, 37, 80 splits. So this season, during a recent episode of his Mind the Game podcast, LeBron Liking Johnson to Scotty Pippen, but added he has a long way to go. So when you look at what Jalen Johnson was able to do this season, how impressive has Jalen Johnson been for these Atlanta hunks? He's their feature.

He's their number one. That's why Trey on that block. Yeah. Six nine. Six-nine point, doing all those shit, all these other tall guys doing shit. Hey, put tra-ass on that block, man. That should say enough right there, right? I mean, it's where the game is going, though.

You know, like I said before, like that's the last dying breather of the point guards. Like, the point guards now are your six-nine guys that can play pick and roll and play the perimeter and do different things. So, you know, they have their future right there. They got their, like you said, six-nine. What Joe Johnson was was with six-eight, six-nine when he was over there, too. So they got that type of player that they need. The small guards are hollering back?

Yeah, it's just tough. It's gonna be really tougher for small guards. You gotta be, like, special at something. Like, you gotta be really elite to be a small guard now to, like, it's, yeah. Like, AI, like, like, you just gotta be a, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta do some. Howley, I mean, I'm Indiana. Not that kind of a guard, yeah. Yeah, that's all.

Who, Holly? No, no, no, he's a big guard. He's a big guard. He's not small. He's six six. Yeah, you're not small. He's skinny, but he's not. Listed six, five.

So, yeah, I would say he's on the upper echelon. Yeah. We talk about the CP3s and people are there. Yeah, six three. Six three and under is, six three point guards and under, you got to be, yeah, elite. Go sit in the corner. Yeah, you got to go. Tyree shit, right?

Yeah. You got to go sit in the corner at this point. We don't really, we're the corner to do is now. the 6-3 guys. I mean, Nah, Kyrie. You put the ball

in Jalen Johnson's hands, man. You got Tyrese. You still got Tyrese. That's what you got to be. He's special. Like, so we're not saying anything different.

You know, you got to be averaging, yeah. Donovan Mitchell, you got to be doing them. Him, Jalen, Jalen Brunson, Maxie,

him, Donovan Mitchell, you got to be, yeah, putting that thing in the basket like them at a high rate. That's crazy. Donald and Mitchell was in there.

And he's a two guard. Right. Box three. Banging them. Getting it done. But back to Jalen Johnson. Y'all think he has potential All-Star All-N-B.A. level.

Getting that not, fifth year, still under 25 years old. I guess the team you play for, man, it matters. Like, you can be putting up them numbers and they don't, people just overlook you because you're playing in Atlanta.

Y'all are not winning. I'm saying. That's, that matters. Him individually doing his goddamn thing, but. Rashide, I see you. That's, that's, yeah. Who's, who's putting up numbers like Jalen Johnson right now in the NBA? Who's doing it, Rashon?

I think Luca. I don't think, yeah. Let me look up, look in the book. Lucas is putting up numbers. Denny from Portland. Is there any idea? It's 26, 7 and 7? What?

Hmm. So yeah, only one, really. Luca Dantich is the only one putting up numbers like the young fella. Well, how much be real? That's for the month, though. 26 is for the month. No, that was, that's his... It's average for the year. It's 24.

It's 24.10 and 8. 2410 and 8. 23.7. We rounded off here. On 52, 37. On 42, yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think it's more than remarkable for a young player who find his drive. I actually watch them play.

I love what he brings to the table. He actually demands people to come into the lane and help where he actually finds the next player. He plays traditional basketball. He's very athletic. He has a soft touch. He's not afraid to shoot the three. He's always trying to touch the paint, and he would smash on you. He was smash on you.

He actually remind me a lot of his hops and his exoner. progressing, it's like KJ, like how KJ would attack the basket and get in the lane and anytime you're around the rim, he wants to dunk it and they got the same type of size. And his touch and him being able to handle the rock and transition, him wanting to do that is special because I don't think he's worried about where he's playing. He's just hooping. And the guys around him give him confidence, especially Alexander, Dyson, Dyson, Daniels. They got a couple shooters out there that catch a shoot. It makes them very explosive.

They're just young and they don't have a center that can actually compliment what he's doing out there. I think the O'Congoa, whatever his name is. He's cool. He's not consistent enough. If he had a Mitchell Robinson out there with them that can roll and be a presence down there or a Stephen Adams type, I think they would make a run. I think they play good defense. They got a solid core. It's Quinn, the coach. Quinn Snyder, though. Quinn Snyder's the coach.

Oh, five. I like him, too. He's not tall enough. I don't think he don't demand defensive presence enough. He can shoot it. I like that he can shoot it, but he's not in the pain enough. And that actually clogs it up for Jalen when he's trying to do a lot of driving and it's five out so they can actually reach.

And it's a lot of stuff that kind of messes up there. offensive flow, but Jalen has figured out how to get his numbers, just like Luca, and he plays defense. He plays both sides of the ball. So I think it's special for him to actually go out there and keep doing what he doing. I don't think it's about being in Atlanta. I think he can turn that franchise around. I think they just need a big. I need a big, and probably another dynamic guard, kind of like a, like a, I'm not going to say like a Caldwell Pope, but kind of like a Cam Thomas. Give him a Cam Thomas out there coming off the bench. Somebody like that that can get out there,

just get buckets like a normal pile type. They can turn some shit around. Anything you can win with Jaylen Johnson as your start player? Yeah, I do. Jaylen Johnson is like the next, he's like a LeBron. It's gotten better every single year. Numbers increase every single year,

but doing this thing. All right, well, let's shift over to the Western Conference. So Clippers have been a hot pack of mid for most of the season. But after missing 10 straight games earlier this season with ankle and foot sprains, Kauai Leonard has bounced back and given L.A.'s other team some reason for optimism. Clippers have won seven of their last eight games with Kauai averaged in 35 points, eight rebounds, four assists in that time frame. He had 41 on the Rockets, franchise record time 55 on the Pistons, which was his first career

50-point game and 45 on the Jazz New Year's Day. Kauai has appeared in 25 of the Clippers 35 games so far this season, including 19 straight games while averaging 28, 7 rebounds, four assists on 49, 36, 96 splits. So Mr. B, is it good to see Kauai getting his groove back? Yeah, of course. You know, I'm happy that he's playing well. You know, I just want to hope, hopefully he can just keep continuing doing it throughout the whole year. You know, especially the way the clippers are right now.

They're up and down. And if I'm the clippers, I mean, you know, you need all faith in Kauad. you know he's on he's on a $50 million deal that you know he can't be traded or anything like that so if I'm the clippers you are you're definitely happy that you're seeing this and you want to you want to you just got to keep the faith and that he can stay healthy throughout the years so Kauai has this year next year on his deal so it's 50 million this year 50 million next year yeah so but it's a good I mean if I'm the clippers I'm just happy you plan so you know just as long as he

can stay out there healthy let's shift up here can you're good to see Kauai Guy getting his group back, I said Clippers 7 and 1 during this latest stretch, had his minutes restriction lifted, played in 19 straight games, center of all the injuries he's dealt with. That's the most impressive part of it, him playing 19 straight, playing the back-to-backs and things like that. Trying to wheel his team to wins knowing that they haven't been playing as well. Yeah, no, there's no doubt about it when healthy.

Kauai is one of the best players in the NBA. no question about it. And unfortunately, health has, injuries have gotten away of that. He works extremely hard, he cares about his craft, and to see him back discipline at a high level is very gratifying for Clippers fans, I'm sure, in the basketball community. So yeah, no, it's a great thing, man, and he, yeah, it's, it's a, it's a testament just the work that he's continued to put in on and off the floor, right? Most people, a lot of athletes in this situation get frustrated with the situation and don't continue to put

that work in like he has in order to make it back. And yeah, that's just a testament to his hard work, man. So you got to tilt your hat to that hard work and that dedication to want to get back and want to continue to play. Sure. There's a situation where he could tank it for the year. So him coming out there playing every night putting up big numbers 51 game it's amazing to see after all the injuries he's been through for me seeing kawai on the court is you always got a chance with kawai you got a what the most scariest players to play against on the court always got a chance you got kawai on the court got a chance to win the kawai second team all NBA 23 24 season

He only played 37 games last season. Like I said, 25 games so far the season, 25 of the Clippers, 35 games at Rashide's. He missed the first 10, right? Huh? No, he missed the, he played a couple of them. He missed 10 right. He missed 10. Gotcha.

What, do you know the date, what game did he start his little run for this, what did they eight, the seven and one or eight one? Seven and one in the last eight games. Hmm. It's interesting. I would say mid-December particular day you're thinking about

not a particular day okay you know just particular team adding up I'm adding up the timeline here Chris Paul got dismissed December 3rd there's a question of leadership

um Kauai Leonard came out and said that you know I don't know what's going on but I ain't have nothing to do with none of this shit Chris is one of my guys and I have conversations with Chris and he has respect for Chris. I believe that Kauai Leonard took this personal where their record was the challenge Chris Paul was presenting to the team on what needed to happen for them to turn it

around. We need y'all to step to fuck up regardless of how it needed to be said regardless of who took it the wrong way. I believe Kauai Leonard is one of those guys being a Popovich, a guy who knows that criticism comes in different ways. I think that him being that type of guy to take it from not a personal level, but an optics level. Looking at the optics, man, we trash as fuck and I'm healthy. I need to do more. I need to do more. And I think for the last eight games, he's taking that challenge, whether it was up to Chris Paul or not.

not, but I look at it like the timeline telling me that once this happened, he went to the crib, initiated the challenge to the team and everybody around, like, yo, we were way better than what we're playing. Y'all need to step this shit up. Kauai, you specifically. And he's a lead-by-example guy. I believe that he's doing that now. He don't have to go out there and say, he don't got to rah, rah, rah. He'd go out there and say, look, I'm leaving it on the floor. I'm trying to get us there. So you're playing better that Chris Ball not there? Yeah. He's playing better than that Chris Ball is.

do that. What's correct? So, Chris Paul helped him, but he called him out. Called him out. No. He planned better that, because he called him out. Yeah, or he's not there. Because he called him out.

Because he walked past Chris Paul party and just kept going. But he said in the press, he took it personally and walked past. He said in the press conference. No, no, I'm just saying. No, no. Of course you are. Of course you are. Because you don't want to talk who.

Yeah. Look at my book. Yeah. Be gale today. When he walked back. past the party. When was the party, Nick? What date?

That's the day you said Chris Paul? What date was the party, Halloween after the Pelicans game? When is Halloween? What date is Halloween, Nick? Do you know your months? No, I'm just saying. No, don't just say.

Don't just say, you say Halloween. This is say December 3rd. This is supposed to say Halloween. You said something crazy. You don't want to look. What's crazy? So they parted ways before the Hawks game December 3rd, so the Clippers won that game,

but went on to lose their next five, and then they started this run. Basically, basically when they sent Chris Paul home, he just started. He just started hooping. Like that, like we said before. They was tired. How much he was averaging?

They was tired of hearing it. They got rid of him, and then he just started hooping. That's all. It was all three of y'all against what I was just saying, because I didn't ask, okay. I was just making sure, because I was just making a statement. I wasn't really making a debate point. I was just making my statement when he asked me the question.

Oh, no, I was going to say that. My only question was they only had eight games since they released Chris Paul? No, they haven't. Oh, okay. That's what I said? Like I said, they went one in five. So they won that first game, then lost the next five. Then they've gone seven to their last eight since that point, starting with a win.

They hooping. Well, I'm not going to say they hooping. I'll say he's hooping. Yeah, he's hooping. The team has stepped up, though. He's hooping, for sure. Beat the Lakers Rockets, Pistons. Some good teams.

In that team? Be some good teams. Yeah, sure. Also beat not good teams like the Warriors. Got to beat the, yeah. We got to beat them. They're not a bad team. They're mid.

They're mid. They're mid right now. A pack of mid. Getting closer to mid. This is good. Lakers good. Houston's good. Can you not?

As far as your record, y'all good. Okay, thank you. I just want to make sure. Yeah. Now, what y'all record are, y'all consider one of the better teams in the West? The third in the West right now. Yeah, I'm not, not, I ain't gonna be a lot of these. Nah, no, don't do that.

I don't do that. I don't look at the rest. Yeah. I'm saying? I'm just not going to do that. Like what y'all be doing with them. Like, it's just not, let's not go that far. Being supportive.

Yeah, that's all. It's important to be supportive in 2026. But looking at Kaua, so you've got 50 mil this year, 50 mil next year. I don't pay that man no more. I think paying the way that he's playing right now. Don't pay him no more. There will be some expectations. I mean extension.

That I can get some bread up out of y'all. Some more money would. Oh, Lord. We sure feel nice right about now. Meadow most. I don't play 19 straight. Braves been looking clean and crisp. Hanging out with Snoop Dog.

Let him off the hook. Bringing Snoop the game into a dumb rocking. So a question for the couch. Should the Clippers still have faith in Kauai or try to sell high right now? There's been a lot of reports. The Clippers are looking to move players around. They have no choice but to have faith in them. You have $50 million left on this.

Yeah, they do. They caboose hooked up to that horse. So, hey, they go as he go right now. They need to have all the faith. They need to have all the faith. That boost is hooked up to that style. Talking reports about Clippers, potentially trying to move some pieces.

Zubox name has been thrown in some trade reports, but what's you going to get back now? Tracy McGregory made a great point last night about the Sacramento Kings with the pieces that they have. They are older. They don't have any piece to build around if they would decide to get rid of the older pieces. They don't have a centerpiece, a center block of a young talent.

I think the clippers are in the same boat. I think they're in a situation where you got Kauai, James, in a zoo box who are older, who've been there, been in the lead, been doing their thing. If you want to break this thing up, you're going to have to now go out and get a younger piece, which is not something that you have been investing in in the last four or five years. It's a younger piece to build around Kauai Linder or James Hardin. So if you're going to move on from James Hardin and Kauai Leonard, like what's going to be left after them? Like you don't have a Luca, you don't have a Cooper flag, you don't have a VJS comb, you don't have none of those pieces that are you like, I'm going to sit with this, we're good with this.

So they're in the same position with the Sacramento Kings where they need to make some moves and they need to make some hard decisions. but it's how much can you get are you going to get a piece can you can you go do something with okay see because they looking like they might get a j vansler they might get some some more dynamic pieces in in the draft so you need to go get something that can get you some assets because right now them in sacramento are they don't have nothing to stand on if they're going leave kawai and james there and they're not going to take you to the next level perceivably so what are you so you're saying somebody need to trade for them no i'm saying that they don't have anyway they don't have two more years on these deals they don't have now or two from two years from

now i'm saying two years from now they're not going to be left with anything so what do you i'm confused still are you saying they should trade them now I'm at or wait for two years from now because if you trade them now so you can potentially get something that you can build around if you wait for two years who's taking you still don't have anything who's taking them i don't know nobody has made a trade request nobody has put them on the block here at this particular point there is not a trade market unfortunately for james harden nor koai lennan i think harden more used to kawai i don't need to I don't even think. Hard in Houston. For what? For what? For what?

Did you trade Hardin for Trey? No, for what? Because James will help Jaylon Johnson, I think. Oh, he won't? Way past and all that. It's not his growth. Nah. You don't like James in Houston?

James in Houston? For who? For who? Right now? I mean... Right now? This Houston's Rockies team? No.

Not a good fit. Point guard? No, no. Not that point guard. Trey in LA? in L.A.? But he's a past, like he's a past, first point. I didn't think about that.

He only 26, too? 27. I thought because he's bigger. That takes the ball out of Sangu's hands. Franchise guy, you need, all I'm saying is you don't have a piece to build around. I don't have a piece to build around. Don't have a piece to build around. They can do what he doing the way.

Okay. Because they've been putting the ball in Thompson's hand and let them be a player maker. They put the ball in San Goon and let them be a flag. You bring James in that to their situation. James is going to play defense. It stunts their growth. That's a. So,

My thing is, where can he go? Right now, has had a hell of a career, has been playing great for the clippers. But where can he... Who, James? Yeah, that's my... And Kauai.

James can fit anywhere, though. No, he cannot. Nick? Why he can't? He's a ball stopper. He needs the ball in his hands to be effective. The average tennis is. Yeah, not no more.

That don't mean shit, man. He's a ball stopper. He needs the ball to be effective. So you don't think he could do that in Houston? No, he let Kauai go. Damn, I think it'd be easy. Go to Atlanta, man. He can go to Atlanta with them boys Jayley Knopfing and them boys in Atlanta.

Man, James. So both of them go average 10 assists? No. Yeah, everywhere. They don't have to. They don't have to. They don't have to. They don't have to.

He averaged 24 and 10 rebounds in 8 assists. And he's averaging 8 assists because Trey Young is not there. So if I put a trade young in this position, I don't need to average 8. I'm averaging 24 and 10 That's good enough for all Sorry I don't have to worry about all that

And is 50% from the field Of the 24 10 and 8 The 8 is the most impressive thing in that Why? Why? Why? Because assists are more Come on man How many dudes average 20 points in this NBA? That means you're responsible for points

And the reason why you're responsible for those points because we don't have Yes, we don't have our 10 assist guy I mean he can still average 6. James Harden can get ten assists and allow that boy to do his thing. I'm saying he'll still average a lot of assists though. It's not going to go. Yeah, he's not going to go because he plays good traditional ball.

He knows how to make the right play. Man. He'll go down a little. He'll maybe five. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. 25, 10, and five. Yeah, maybe. Happy in Atlanta.

Hey, James would be happy in Atlanta. He wouldn't change to be. He got what, three more, four more years? Oh, yeah, that's nice fit. Trey Young in L.A. You can still be like the weather. There's a young guy that can get built around and then get another big. You need another big.

Get somebody just coming in and drive big. Man, I like you for the Clippers. Let's get back to the Clippers. So back on December 20th, when the Clippers were sitting at 6th and 21 in Damner at the very bottom of the West, Tailu had this to say about his team's. goal for the remainder of the season. Unfortunately, we haven't won the games. We don't have a record we think we should have right now,

but that's behind us. And so just talking to our guys today, our main focus, our main goals, try to be 35 and 20 the rest of the way, and just keep stacking wins from there. So 35 and 20 the rest of the way. I think we might have scoffed at that at that particular moment at that point in the season. Clippers are now 13 and 22 within range of the playing. So how much faith you have in this Clipper squad to right the ship and at least

make the playoffs. 7-1 their last 8 game? They're one of those teams I was talking about that if they turn it around and get it going late in the season they could make a run. Just beat the Warriors. They started out real slow.

They could catch the Warriors for sure. They catch their stride. They could eight it. They can eight and nine it for sure. Play in. Play in, play in, play in, make a run in the playoffs. but I mean we'll just see after that they good enough they have play into the playoffs they're good enough if they make a move in the trade before trade deadline

if they make one especially they good at two and a half games right now behind the Grizzlies for the 10th seed I think three games behind the Blazers for nine and five games behind the Warriors for the eighth see with 13 wins that's probably the most realistic far they can get some wins to get up there to about eight but just beat the Warriors like I said beat the Rockets beat the Lakers beat the Pistons. With the next five games, shit,

they can catch something. They can catch something. Yeah, they got to go within, like, look at the 10 game stretches, right? Mm-hmm. 8 and 2, 7 and 3s, and them can't, like,

if you're doing that, you can't have 10-game stretch with you 3 and 7, and 2 and 8, like you can't have no more of them. Like, you got to put some streaks together. You got to 4, 5 games in a row, drop one, another 6 in a row,

Louie, yeah, you can't lose three in a row. Things like that has to happen. I'll give you the Clippers next 10 games. We'll see how we feel about it. And this is before All-Star? So, yeah, this is their next thing again before All-Star break. So tonight they're at the Knicks. Nix have lost four straight games, if I'm not mistaken.

Then they're at Brooklyn. At Detroit on the second night of it back-to-back. Then they've got the Hornets and the Wizards at home. Okay. And they're at the Raptors, at the Wizards, at the Bulls. Hold on. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Go back. Go back. Go back. Go back. Go back.

back. So they on the East Coast, right? Yes, can you? They're... For three games. So New York, Brooks, New York, New York, then to Detroit. So three games. Yes. Then come home to play Charlotte and the Wizards. And the Wizards. Who are also Easter Conference team within... Within the travel plans of that...

A nice one hour... So that's two games and then go back on the road to play Toronto. Toronto, then to Washington, then to Chicago. Come on, man. Damn, that's a sick schedule. Like, so they worried about their travel and their... health and all this year, right? That does more harm than just leaving them out there and playing the five games.

Hey, it's a man's league, man. Get you put to strap your boots up, man. Because if they can win eight and one on there, if they can win, that says a lot about them, even with the schedule, them traveling, having to go back and forth, come home, play two East Coast teams, go back over there and beat their ass again.

Like, that says a lot about their team dynamic, I believe. I believe they, if they do that, they're showing. and Kawhi by all-star playing good. By all-star break, they're showing the league. Hey, listen, now we... They can get back around 500.

Yeah. They can get back around 500. Remember, where were they, what were they predicted? It would be one of the best teams in these. Number two. Yeah, they can get back on 500. That's actually. Before all-star, they just got to...

We had them high. Of these next 10, it's tough, but because of the travel and the team that they are playing. If you win seven and three at ease, you back right? They can get at least... They can get half. Of those? Five and five. Oh, that's shit crazy, though.

They give something. Yeah, yeah. Let's talk about this travel, though. That's crazy. Let's talk about the, like, just had them play the five games and make it a longer road trip. And it's the Grammys. The Grammys coming up. They're having to do that trip, too, don't they?

The Grammy trip. Oh, the Grammys is coming up? Yeah. Oh, that's Staple Center. I mean. Yeah, they got their own place now. They have their own trip. Yeah, they got their own.

Yeah, they got their own. We do have the All-Star game coming. That's why they're on their way back here. Ain't no excuse now. Ain't no excuse. Yeah, coming back and play at home. Hey, guys, you got out off at that time. Ain't that bad.

Ain't no sharing the gym no more. You got your own. All the games, that's a back. Bring your ass back when he's doing. Get your out of back home. No, so day in between it. Oh, God, that's funny. So next Monday, next Wednesday, they got the hornetson.

No, they really, you know, we used to have. You know, we had seven games in 10 days, bro. five games and seven days, shit like that. Yeah, I'm looking at it. Ain't that what they got? No. What's their turnaround? Back to back, right?

So they've got Knicks tonight, Nets on Friday, back to back with the Pistons the next day on Saturday, back home on Monday for the Hornets Wednesday, against the Wizards. Day off, then they're at the Raptors on Friday, then play at the Wizards again on Monday. And then back to back that next day with the bulls on.

They were, what's that? That's like. Yeah, so when's the last, yeah, the last, yeah, the last, yeah, the last, yeah, the last, yeah, the Tuesday maybe before all started. Yeah, we got like 10 games and 18 days. 18 days. Yeah, 10 games and 18 days. No, we used to play, come on, man. Like, that's just, yeah, I just.

They can get them. With that schedule, they could get them. So sure. 18, that's a lot of time off, a lot of little first days. You can get them. And Tyloo already ain't practicing. They ain't doing a lot of shit anyway. They're just trying to get their shit.

How much more time? They got a chance to go into an all-star break. He just came back to the game of the day, right? On to that momentum. All-Star weekend in LA. Take that. But he'll be a favorite. That's what you were saying, I think.

Could be a favorite. Hey, hey. He got to make a move, though. I ain't. But where? But where from the bar position? He played 33 minutes against the Warriors. I like Dunn right now.

Dunn is doing his thing. It was 11 minutes, 21 minutes. Collins. He's solid. They're paying solid, but I think they just need more. Zubak is not just going to. He can't get it done. What biggs is out there that you've done?

Drumming. This man played out his mind last year. He's just having a damn year. No, I'm saying not to move him. I'm saying they need somebody else with him. He's by himself. Oh, I'm about to say, yeah, because he had a hell over year last year. He's solid.

He's just been there too long to be the one guy you depending on all the time outside of them two. You need somebody that's going to back him up. give him some rest at least so he can got them come in fresh sometimes what they went and got the 37 year old niggil brook lopez for yeah i forgot he was out there fucking like a drumming like a drumming yeah reoffice and rebounder you need somebody go in there and get them boards we will monitor the clipper situation see if they can get back head in the right direction see what moves they will make in anticipation of the trade deadline coming up in a couple weeks but let's shift back to the eastern conference uh pistons and nicks

met for the first time this season Monday in a battle of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Detroit was looking for some revenge after getting eliminated by New York in six games in the first round of the playoffs last season. Pissons were down two starters with Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, both missing this one. And on the second night of a back-to-back

after beating the Cavs Sunday in Cleveland, but Kay Cunningham put the team on his back once again and beefs through show what curiosity did to the cat. Let's take a look at some highlights. If we can, please. Cunningham came through with his 20th, double-double this season, putting up 29 points, 13 dimes in 29 minutes. Jivante Green scored 17 points, and Jayne Ivy added 16 points off the bench for Detroit.

Pissons did their thing on the defensive end as well, holding the Knicks to 36 points in the second half, season low, 90 points in the game. So Jaylen Brunton had 25 points. He was 10 for 21 from the field, but had no assist for the first time this season, along with the season high tying 6 turnoff. McHale Breeders and Deuce McBride with the only other Knicks players to score in double figures. Got it. Beef stew had Cat in the torture chamber. Cat finished with six points and six turnovers in 23 minutes of action. So after the game, Cade had this reaction to the Pistons' most lopsided win of the season.

It's a new season, you know, so trying to put all that stuff behind us. Obviously, we knew that there was a little extra to this game. We weren't beat them. There's no high net, that's stuff in the room, like you said, but just trying to continue what we've been doing all year. They tried to keep our momentum. We had a great win last night in Cleveland. Down with a lot of our guys, so we just wanted to continue that momentum. I did have a great win in Cleveland.

I'm sure some of us watch that game, and we're not happy afterwards. But what statement did the pisses make with their 30-point blowout win over the Knicks? Said that they run the East right now? As of right now, they run the East. They run Adam Silver's Eastern Conference. And J.B, he needs to get a lot of credit, Coach of the Year. I mean, in my opinion, so far. Don't give him that award.

They fire you after they give it to you. I know. But he's just, you know, he got them young, you know, he got his young corps playing at a very high level, man, and they're really buying into him. I got a chance to talk to him in Milwaukee, had dinner and just how he talked about his team and how everybody's come together

and, you know, Kate's taking the next step. So, I mean, they're in the perfect position. They're feisty, they're young. They got, and they're just, they're nasty. Bigger stuff called that an identity win for this team. I think what was most impressive about, you listen to all guys, beef stew, K, the rest of the crew, we're happy about that, we're excited about that game,

had it marked on their calendars, but no, there's still work to be done. Weren't treating that like they won the championship brandy thing, but didn't want to send a message to the team that eliminated them. And we talked a little bit about beef stew yesterday, shot you said he deserved to be a defensive player of the year. Contention only played, I believe, 17 minutes in that playoff series. I said that.

You did. Only played 17 minutes in that, That first round playoff series, Pistons fans seemed to think things would have been much different and he played more. But came out there, him along with Paul Reed, big on the defensive end, locked up cat.

Like I said, only two Nick starters scored than double figures. Deuce McBride, the only other player. Watching the game going into the third quarter, you could see the discrepancy was the scheme. J.B. did a great job of scheming against them, both offensively and defensively. If you could see how Kay was taking advantage,

at the small guards and all the ones that want to switch on them. He's just a bigger guard. He can always do what he wants to offensively. But defensively, they could switch everything. And you look at, Stu took the personal challenge of making sure Kat was not going to be a factor period. And then Paul Reed, keeping Robertson off the offensive glass, it was very important to them getting second chance points. All those guards on Detroit are bigger than Brunson. Like we always say, you put a bigger guard on Brunson, he's going to struggle.

You're switching everything, you compacting the paint. A lot of J.B's schemes come from his experience as an assistant coach watching other coaches make mistakes. I think that's the one thing that makes him such a dynamic coach is that he's seeing all the mistakes you can make in the league. And he now refuses to make those mistakes. He holds his guys accountable. He coaches them along. He's a coach's guy. He understands what the players need and what they want to hear.

here and Kate Cunningham is playing at an MVP level. If he's not number one, he should be number two. He's one of the guys that goes underrated. I have him in my book of appreciation. Pull it out a little later. Different book? Different book. Oh, completely separate?

Well, it's a different page. Different chapter. Different chapter. I appreciate it. But he's one of those guys that can lead the team. And he's showing his leadership, going to get one in Cleveland, come in here, get one against the Knicks. And then I want to see what they do against Boston.

Yeah. That's what I really want to see how Jalen Brown responds to Detroit coming into Boston and them going there. They see that matchup? That's going to let you know where the east is. I think they got a strong hold on Philly, that type of thing like that. But Detroit has shown it. It's hard to be the team that's know they got an identity.

They know what they're supposed to do on the floor. They know who's going to take the shots. They know where they're supposed to be. And they're comfortable and confident in that position. They're going to be tough to beat, for sure. Got a nice little bench. Yeah. Like Marcus, Marcus, Seward, whatever.

Dallas, boy. Are you sorry? Going soar. I know him, but. I like him. Yeah, I like him. Come on, man. Yeah, so like I stated, like,

rivalries are made in the playoffs. I don't know if the Knicks got that memo, but Detroit put them on notice with this game. that we're looking at y'all is that y'all put us out of the playoffs yeah so every time we see y'all it's gonna be this so they better get ready town's like stop they don't yeah it's gonna be that it's gonna be that absolutely so and and yeah not a thing oh oh so like it's like almost knocked over the wine for the again again let me crusty ass hands boy you can't control them Shit, just throw the shit on the nigger.

Like one of them old Thai commercials, one of old this one of this one. Let's see the difference. Right on your shit, yeah, sit and get this out. Can you get this out? Bet you can't get this out. Oh, fucked up friend. Come on with that just so whine on your shirt for no reason. No reason.

How fuck that white-ass shirt, nigger! You think you're wearing white today, huh? You think you fly. You're going to be a fine. Golf for today, huh? Not today, not on my wife. Not today. I got wearing no tie pens, though I got you.

Do those actually work? No, I don't. Okay. It just seems. Towns have six points yesterday. Six points. Six points. It was on Monday, Monday.

Monday, Monday. Yeah, Monday, Monday. One for four from the field. Players would have had eight, ten. Six turnovers. OJ. You had to know, we have five points a day. Detroit and Nix?

That's a good. That's not a good matchup, though. For the Nix. That's their worst nightmare. They're down the line. I see it. Yeah, I see it. They took them boys six games, and they first trip to the playoffs.

They was not. With no beefs too. Yeah, they wasn't expecting that. It's a rivalry. The O.G. ain't going to get nobody's face. Pistons and Nicks. They made it one. They made it one.

Pist and took their personal. They made it one. So, like I said, did nobody tell the Knicks that before the game? But the Knicks got tough for sure. That boy Sasser would be out there, like, he don't get a fuck who out there with him. He'd be out there whooping, and hollin and hollin. And they were hooping, bro. Mm-hmm.

Yeah, his own game, his daddy, like bucket getters. Yeah, he got that, he got that. One went to Texas Tech, the other one went to SMU. All you got to do is getting into the Knicks. toughest person is what six feet brunson think about what you got a ball through at his head and shook through hand and laughed at it towns you know towns what's towns what do you mean we know towns i'm not with the nigs no more out of the tongue yeah but i'm just saying cool it seems like things have taken a slight turn since the oil these have changed since the oil change this is slightly

took a little bit of time for it to recalibrate now it's like they everywhere they go they hear that We know the cat's out the bag. Yeah, they're strange now. You told everybody. Told everybody our secret. Now we can do that way. Now it's like energy weird. You can't take it back now.

John Paul. Checking that man all in public, man. That's why your cat ain't left. You ain't checked mine yet. You're waiting on to get his shit. You see, shout out to the legends over at Ryan Comedy, over the Hudson brothers.

That shit was hilarious. So you ain't going to do me. A very out of pocket. Yeah, but very, very good comedy over there with the ride comedy. Just we're checking oil around here. I think I'm all out of oil. My check oil light came on. See?

So we feel like, is this kind of like the Spurs with the Thunder just in terms of look? No, they're playing the grass. I'm saying, but just like we're taking it serious now. We're going to let y'all know what time it is. We're not worried about all that. With the Spurs? No, I'm saying with the Pistons now. But you're saying that's the way the Spurs is...

How they were looking at the... Like, y'all might not think... Yeah, I just want to make it... Absolutely. Minus the playoff series previously. Absolutely. 1,000%. And Cade letting it be known he's the best player in the East.

Okay, so let's bring you my next point. So, Cade is averaging 27 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, 1.5 steals. He's 12th in scoring. Second and assist, 10th in steals so far. Cade coming in him making his case as the best guard in the East right now. You got a signature.

Mr. Shoe? Yep. Yep. I think just the way he's running that team. I mean, the fact that, you know, he didn't feel like he played his best in the series last year against New York and then coming back this year and actually, you know, putting the team on his back and they've been number one and they've been playing well. You know, not just his scoring, but his ability to rebound, his ability to be able to defend and also be able to get his teammates involved. You know, he is, like I said, I keep saying, he is going to be the 2008 point guard for the USA team. I mean, we're really. looking at him. We see him walking in the game with Grant Hill, obviously. Yeah. No, man. That man, that man with 24 years old and doing what he's doing, the future is only brighter than it. It's, yeah, he's forced to be reckoned with now.

He plays the right way. He don't get up or down. He's competitive in the way you need him to be. So, now, Detroit got a good one for a long time. really shifted the culture over there. I mean, his approach, obviously not like super outspoken, but we'll talk his shit when he needs to talk to. Yeah, it's just his play, though.

Like, he plays, like, it's, he don't have to say much because he plays aggressive. He plays forceful, right? It just, something about being from Dallas, man, just making it just. Something. It's up for a debate, I think.

What, Best Guard in East? Yeah. Looking at the matchups between him and Jalen Brown. They're pretty close that day. They won and one. We're talking about. They won and one. I said guard.

Oh, no, no, no, no. Jalen, not a guard? What is Jalen? Jailen Brown? Jail is still number one now. Jalen Brown is not a guard? Jailen is still number one now. But he's not a guard, though.

What would you, there's, there's no forwards? Stop it, Roshab, that shit. Two guard, right? Who, Jail Brown. Is a two guard? So what is Jason Tadam? He's a two guard. He's a four, three, four.

You just said he wasn't, there's no forwards. So which one is it all? So he's a guard. Jason Taylor's a guard. So both of them, so they get, so both Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown are guards. Yeah. It was a guard. The two, three, three, four.

Yep. That's how it was. But what I'm, my point, my point being is Jalen Brown and Kade have shared one in one throughout the season. Jalen's been averaging about 31, 32, K's been averaging about 35. And, you know, Jaylen Brown's always going to be like, well, I guarded him, he guarded me, I had what I had, he had, he had what he had. We sharing one and one. I'm about to say, I don't think. Cade not guard him.

But Detroit been number one or? And that's the difference. But who's number two right now? No, no, Boston is. His conversation is going to be like, no, he still got, you know what I'm doing what I'm doing? No, fucking. And Jayon Brown ain't no goddamn guard, man. Let's stop that.

What is it you mean? He's a fucking forward, man. No. Yes, he is. He's six, six. Jalen Brown is a forward. No. How's he's a forward?

He's been a guard, bro, all the time. He's been a two guard. Kobe was a shooting guard. Yes, Jalen Brown's been a shooting guard, y'all. So when Jason Tate is a who? Yeah, yes. Come on. Dalin Brown is the two.

No, he's not, man. Okay. So when Derek White starts them up, so what is it? So what is Derek White? So what is Derek White? So what is Derek White? So when it was Drew Holiday, Derek White, Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, and Porzingeris,

who played, who played, What? Jason Tatum played the four. So you just said he was a guard. They all guard. If we're a position, so if it's positionless, if it's positionless. It's not positionless. It's not positionless.

It's not positionless. So we're not positionless. So we're not position. The main line that the South is rolled out. Payton Pritcher at the one, Derek White at the two, Jalen Brown. So he's not a guard. He came, he's a guard. He didn't come in as a guard neither.

It was, what? He didn't came in as a guard. He's always been a small forward, man. It was a small forward, man. It's a small forward, man. He's a guard. He's a guard for sure. Of course, you're a two guard.

He's a two guard. He knows all the same height. No, he's not. No, he's not, bro. The two, three are interchangeable position. You say, two, three. Interchangeable don't mean it's the same position. And then we're a guard.

Interchangeable doesn't mean it's the same position. So the one guard is the same. Is interchamble as the three? No, it's not, no. No, we said the two and the three and the four. One, two, three, four, five. The one and the two can be interchangeable. One, two, three, four, five.

Why do you call a combo guards? You call them combo guards because that's interchangible. That's a one and a two. That's a one and a two. Two and a three. Two and a three are entertaining. That's not a guard. He's a small.

He's a small. When we run. When we run five, you know, two, three. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Slash what? So what is SF? I'm a guard.

What is S.F? I'm a shooting for. It's a couple. It's a shot. Small sports. I'm a smaller version of. There's no forward. There's no forwards, but it got slag small for it.

Shut up. That shit, man, ain't no guard, man. He has played shooting guard from time. Hey, okay. Yes, when it got certain lines on the floor afterwards, Josiah, man, he gets a shooting guard. I mean, I was the shooting guard. A push, sure, no, he's not.

For sure, sure, like, so, wait. So, in today's game of one, two, and three, aren't entertainable? side they are. Interchangeable. 100%. Interchange was not the same position. What is that, what do you mean it's not? Interchangeable, it's not, just because you can play one position, don't mean you

just you can play, it's interchangeable. Interchangeable literally means same position, Ian, literally. So, okay, drafted a small four, but has been, as a shooting guard and small for throughout points of his career. Most recently, though, is a shooting, a small for the past couple. So how many years has he been in the NBA? This is, of his 10th season of what I'm sorry? Of his 10 years, how many years?

in the list as he's been listed as a small forward one, two, three, four, five, six, according to pro basketball reference, six of the ten, he's been listed as a small forward, okay, all right, all right, cool, all right, cool, he's a guard. Is a small forward? Is a small forward a guard or not? Small forward that can play the shooting guard, okay, cool. Is a small forward a guard or a four that can play the five for what? Michael Jordan and Coles.

No, you can ask that question. A four that they play the five and the five that can play the four is what? Hmm? Okay, let's just small, you got shooting guard, point guard, and then you got Yes, one, two, three, four, five. Bigger guard. One, two, three, four, five, is the smaller. Okay.

It's the bigger guard. Taysan Prince's, the fucking big dog glimmer. You're the bigger guard. You do what guards do. You're just taller. Hold on. So you named, did you just name two small forwards? So what are you saying?

So on the team that you just named, Big Dog played the three. What was T-M-Daw played the three? What was T-Mack? What was T-Mack? What was T-M-M-C-M-Cobie was like? They were a guard there. Shooting guards. Okay, cool. So what are y'all? What's the point? Because Team Mac is a small forward.

That's what? When he played on the team with Vince, what was he? When he played on the team with Vince, what was he? Team Matt. What his rookie here? Yeah. He was a rookie here? What was he?

Exactly. So you know. He was a guard! You niggas just be talking. So you named Ben Dobbson, he was the three. Sam played the one, Ray out and played the two. He was the three. Chansy played the point. Rip was the two.

Sean played the three. What the fuck are you talking about? They all were interchangeable. No, they was not. Tayshan Prince came off the pin down just like real. Who was the two guard? Just because they came down off the screen don't mean he played the fucking position. They're interchangeable. Just because he came off a pin down don't mean he played the fucking position.

I came off a pin down in Jersey though. It was our fucking two guard. Before they start playing small. The five screen down for me in Jersey was so I'm a two guard now. Because they ran a pin down for me. When they had Kyrie, who was? Who was it Kyrie, Jalen, and Tatum, Kyrie, Jalen, and Tatum, at the one, two, and three. One, two, and three.

So at times during his career, he played the shooting bar. But this 10 years, he played small forward. He's made small forward six times. So it's Tatum a power forward? Yeah, is Taylor four times? Is he a power forward? Is he a power forward? When who's on the line?

Who's on the floor with it? Is he a power forward? Who's on the floor with him? But is he a powerful? No, he's not. Okay. What would he be considered? He's a three that can play some for it because he's 6'10.

So they both play the three? So they both play the three. What is it? I just said he can't. He's a small forward that can play shoot guard. What point of this fucking statement don't you all understand? Okay, this is the point we don't understand. Jason Taylor and Jalen Brown play in the game at the same time.

There's only one slot. Cool. Four. Small forward. Cool. Small four powerful. You got two small forwards. Out home's on the floor.

Who's playing what? Jason Tatum's going to play what when Jaylon Brown's on the floor? You're going to play Power Forward? 3-4. Like I said, he's a 3-4 that can play the 4 because he's 6-10. Jaylon Brown is a 2-3. No, he's a 3-2. I just said it.

No, no, you said 2-3, motherfucker. No, don't feel the people. His position is of his 10 years. God damn, you fucking. You just said a 3-2 and I just said 2-3. So his first position is not shooting guard. But he plays guard. Of his 10 year, of his 10 year career.

But he plays a year. Of his 10 years, he's played small forward six years. So shoot guard has been listed as four. So he's a small forward first that could play some two guard. Interchangeably. So, and it's not the same position. But you're saying it's a three-two. Interchange was not the same position.

Well, this was a Pistons discussion. I appreciate us very long, but let us head back to Detroit. I'm confused, man. It's fucking simple. 3, 2, 2, 3 is not the same thing. No. Not the same thing. It's like 6-7.

It's not the same number. It's not the same thing. But it's not 7-6. It's not 7-6. It's not. So what the fuck the corner you make? It's like, you think it's simple. No, it's not.

They're the same numbers and the same numbers. No, they're saying 7-6. There ain't no kid walking around talking about 7-6. No, short bus kids, but that's not their hearing or there. And I'm glad you brought that up. God bless America. And God bless you bought short buses into this conversation. God bless shooting guards and small forward in all positions.

But let us work our way back to Detroit to these pistons. Shout out Haha Davis and all the other defined Detroitians out there. How much confidence. It's insane. And he's fighting it. He's fighting it. And it's obvious. Don't make me go with a goddamn.

If it's obvious, I would hate to do that. I would hate to do it in two, three, and two, shooting guard, is he a guard or not? So we asked the chat, we asked the chat, is Jalen Brown a guard? Brandon. It's saying Jalen Brown is a guard. 67% of the chat said Jalen Brown is a guard. Brandon. 6.7, you said 67% of the 10? 6% of the 10? 6 more than 4? 6%? 6% of the 10%. 6%? 6%? 6%? 6%? 6%? 6%? 6%. 6%?

I'm just six more than four. It's holding firm. I'm just asking the question. It's six more than four. Yes. Okay, cool. So if I do some six times and I only do it fourth. The majority would be the majority would be down.

So ten of a power four is fast. Cool. Is the center? I don't think he's ever been listed as a center. I don't think he's ever been listed as a center. They go small. Has he been listed as a center? He plays it.

Has he been listed as he says? Has he been listed as a center? I didn't say. I didn't say that, nigga. All right. You're right. I didn't say it. Has it been listening as a center?

I'm wrong, baby. I know you are. I know you are. I've never been right. That is not. Yeah, what was the fact of statement? Hey, Nick, guess what? That is not a far-fetched statement that you've never been right.

Back to the Detroit business. That's not a far-reach. I know. I just admitted I was wronged him yesterday, so I'm not always right. So I'm not always right. So no. Just admitted I was wrong with him yesterday. Back to the-law.

Chapter 17. It's not the same thing. Back to the Detroit Pistons. How much confidence do you have in this Piston squad to make a deep playoff run this season? A lot. I have a lot. Long as Cade is out there running out one position.

And they got them dogs. They're going to be fine. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised. I mean, I can see Detroit Pizzards to get to the Eastern Conference Finals for sure. I mean, they're all the number one seat in the east of that split. You know, I mean, just the way they're playing. Just the way J.B. has those guys. though, they locked in.

Like, you know, they still, they're number one in the East and we still really don't talk about them a lot. Like, that's the scary part of it. Well, they don't really get... As you know, we are not obligated as part of our contract. They're still number one, though. Like, we're so worried about OKC not winning games and these guys over here

literally, like, putting belt to ass every day. But me, you talk about OKC defending champion, Pistons, got knocked out in the first round. They have shifted the culture. Kay Cunningham has been a large part of that, but, you know, from the worst losing streak of NBA history down to... I told you what it is.

Yeah. Four letter word. Dallas? Oh no, curse words from J.B. Bickers stuff. Yes. No more Phil Florin, Florence. Yes. Filt the floor.

Felt the Florida. Felt the Florida. Yeah, no, they'll be all, man. Of course, it's all the predicate on matchups. We know that. But the way they built now and why they're playing now, wouldn't be surprised they're making to these conference finals. Okay.

So for all the Detroit people out there who've been harassing me lately saying, we don't talk enough about the Pistons, they're just, you go that's your piston segment slip it off of your mind just and so hold on to it now shout out to the piston shout out to what Kay's doing over there I still think it's Knicks I still think yeah I know I know I know I know I know I don't think they get past the calves too you don't think to get past the calves I think calves are yeah they don't themselves to be they got bucked boy oh boy just for them I'm not saying that easy work with the whole like just for the pistons I think if the Knicks

can get past who they need to get past to get past to get there they're gonna have to play against them it can go six or seven you know what happened to what happened to Orlando what happened to Apollo ain't show up this year yeah he took a back seat this year he beat no j he's still averaging 20 but it's just numbers mean it's nasty yeah bane average internet can be a very cruel place at times but magic's still in the mix we'll see a lot of basketball left me play, but let's shift this thing. They do play in the east, man. Lakers are looking to bounce back from a nasty showing in December,

which the team went five and seven, losing four out of their last five games to close out the year. Things appear headed in the right direction to start 2026 with the purple and goal, getting back-to-back, home wins over the Grizzlies, that same grizzlies that beat the Spurs for all you out there who wanted to hate. On Tuesday night in New Orleans,

Luke and LeBron put on a show in the Big Easy to make it three straight. Let's take a look at the highlights, if we can, please. The Lakers were down seven entering the fourth quarter, but not before LeBron got that windmill dunk off at 41 years old. So Lakers down seven entering the fourth quarter when they caught fire going on an 18-4 run to take control of the game thanks in large part to plays like this as LeBron handling more playmaking responsibilities in recent games and doing his thing from beyond the arc.

So LeBron came through with his second 30-point game since turning 41 on December 30th, finishing with 38 and 8, going 10 and 19 from the field, three for six from deep and hitting all seven of his free throws. While Luca had 30 points, 10 assists and two steals, 11 for 22 from the field. It was Luca's 20th 30-point game this season. DeAndre Aiden, after saying Big Man can't feed themselves, 18 points, 11 boards on 9 and 16 shooting. So Trey Murphy, bright spot for the pedal, dropping a career high, 42 points,

including 20 in the third quarter. Lakers outscored the Pelicans 32-17 in the final frame. and proving to 13 and 0 in clutch games this season. After the game, LeBron was asked about continuing to build chemistry with Luca and how much they needed to bend their games around each other, had this to say. No, Luca don't need to bend this game. Luca is, how is it, 27? He's our 27-year-old franchise for this ball, because he don't need to bend this game.

It's up to us to bend our game around him and figure it out. So, you know, we just try to be dynamic work off of him. We know he's an unbelievable picker role player, unbelievable shot maker, commands the defense that four eyes sometimes six eyes on them so it's us it's up to us to put ourselves in the right position so it's not a it's not the it's not a problem for me you know it's not an issue for me to be able to do things that I don't know I just don't think people watch basketball oh shot I see you over there a minor smart no chapter 20 28, LeBron appreciation.

Later in the book, the most pages, I wish your reaction to LeBron saying, Luca is the Lakers franchise player and the team needs to bend their game around him. There's been a lot of reports, a lot of talk going on. Amongst people close to LeBron Circle

just about the Lakers' offense being stagnant. LeBron himself said, obviously you can't win at a high level just playing an ISO ball. So what's the... Buying it. LeBron acknowledging previously, obviously when AD was there talking about wanting to give the keys up, we know that Luca came in and take those keys and took them all the way to the Backstreet Boys concert in Las Vegas this summer after signing his extension.

But at least refreshing to hear LeBron say that obviously this is Lucas team and he can get in where he fits in with this squad. Hmm. Yeah. Well, I don't think him trying to get in what he fits in equal wins. wins Brown. He has to be him. We think it's Luke, well, we don't think we know it's Lucas team for the future because the other guy is 41. So, um. Brown's also said he has no holes in his game. That's been his. Okay. No holes in his game, he can adjust whatever's needed of him. He has to. I mean, I mean, I would need him to act in space jam. He can do that.

Yeah. I would hope that for it. Yeah. I thought he has to be playing long than anybody. Like you said, he has He had the most points ever, the most minutes ever, the most be a game. Yeah, so, yeah, I definitely would hope that you would be able to adjust your game around somebody else at this particular point. No holes in this game. You've had to do it before to a certain degree with D. Wade and Karee to a certain degree. But, yeah, no, it's... I think the Lakers got to figure out when there's all three of them out there. They always play good with one of them's out.

Like, I think they've got to figure out that chemistry and where who's going to be that second guy. Who's going to be the back seat for Austin Reeves or is it going to be LeBron? I think LeBron just got to figure that part out. You know, right now he's the second guy. Ain't no worries. He could do whatever he won't.

They play better. Ain't no focus on trying to get somebody else shots or trying to force shots. So when you... So the thing, LeBron going to be the one to take the backseat to Austin Reeves? I think so. He should.

No, see, that's the tall. Him doing it for the first team all-N-B-A guy is like, hey, cool, like, I can do it for him. But you asked me to take a backseat to him, like, ah. If you want to win. We ain't going to be able to do that one. Like, I'm going to get that shot before him. LeBron's reporting $40 to shoot 50% at this age,

like hitting open shots, doing what you're going to shoot the three balls. You need to carry the game off. All of those things are absolutely what you're saying. But he's not taking the back seat to Austin Reeves doing none of those things that you said. Oh, hell. The man known is women, daddy. One of them got to figure it out. That's why they're losing.

Who? One of who? Loofing what? They are in the Brown. No, it ain't one of them. You know who it is. But that's why, yeah. It ain't a question who it has to be.

And, you know, since he said that, hopefully, you know, he's been this game. And he has to if he want to win. For him, bend his game for 77. That was a question asked to LeBron. They needed to bend their game for each other. Brown was quick to say, no, we don't need to bend our game for him. We don't need to bend our game for him. We will ban our game for him.

He is the franchise player, the face of this franchise. So they didn't ask him like, hey, you're going to bend your game for AR? But that was a part of the question. Well, all three, he went on to say that they hadn't get, he was hoping to get this summer and obviously training camp time to work with all three of them and figure out that chemistry. Yeah. We're not able to do that as he battled the skyatikas. Yeah, but no matter if they, if they could have been able to work through it through preseason training cap, all those things, yes. A.R. still number three.

So I don't. Austin Reeves, number three. Yeah, he got off to Hustalkers, Brown wasn't there. Not right now. He needed somebody out there to do it. He did. Wait, Austin Reeves not number three. He held down.

He, listen, he did exactly what he was supposed to do. being number three. I think they got to be number two is out, number three steps up. Number one is out, number two steps up. To me, it depends on the night. If I got it, then, like, you got to be on that type of stuff as you're older. Like, you ain't out there trying to carry the whole offense, get 20. You're not trying to carry it.

It's Lucas too. That's why you got to take the back seat. He did. Two guys. No. Yeah. No, he's in a passenger seat. Lucas driving, he's in the passenger.

Is it not a student driver with two steering wheels? You want the old school, so you want the old school deuce in the quarter with the big seat in the front. Three people can fit it in the front seat of the deuce and the duisle of course. How did y'all, how did y'all do it? Three people can friends. They knew, uh. Let them honk the horn one time. But they knew KD staff.

Yeah. And let him in. I was going to be like that for sure. Yeah. Looke control the gas and brake. LeBron can hold the steering wheel. Can we talk? Can we talk.

Austin Reeves can adjust the radio? Can we talk hoop for a second, man. All oldies. There's enough points out there for one. Can we talk hoop. There's still enough points out there for all of them. Nicholas, can we talk who for a second? Who, government?

When all three of those guys on the floor, are they contenders? They should be. All three of those guys on the floor, the Lakers are contenders. Okay, yes. Boom. Okay. Who did they play last night? A very gritty, New Orleans Pelicans team.

Which are, where they are in the West? They're trying it a little bit, 80. That's the last. Have some interesting wins, though, this season. All right, LeBron felt good after that. Who they played before that? They played the best of the ass. The team that beat the Spurs.

I said it. The Memphis Grizzlies twice. Beat them twice. The Grizzies went on to beat the Spurs. Wait, let me finish. Winfee 30-piece. They beat the Grizzlies twice by six points. A win is a win shot.

We've been told out. Six, six, the last game and seven the last game. So 13. All right, cool. Before that, was the Pist. Smack by 20 A tough guy Before that

Kings Where the Kings at Sacramento Hamer last Yeah okay cool Beat them by 20 Had a lot of good shit To say after that game

Kings were beating the Rockets Before that game they played the Rockets I said the best Christmas asses Smack by 20 Smack by 20 It was Christmas though Back by 20

And then before that The Suns Smack by almost 30 Before that The Clippers. No Wi-Fi on the plane. Before they had the Clippers. Smack by damn their 20 again.

Clippers backs against the wall. Ty Luce said they need to go 35 or 20 from that point forward. They rallied behind a gritty win. To me, they've been playing to the level of their competition when they play the teams without AR, when they're the contending team. They can compete with those teams, the teams that knocked them, knock their heads off.

But it ain't going to be, with AR playing number three. AR is averaging 30 a game almost. Almost on the counts of horseshoes and hand grenades. Okay. So what is it? Almost means like 28? Almost.

Is he 28? Okay, he's averaging. Let's say he's averaging 28. All right. It ain't almost. 27. 27 a game. 6 and 5.

27 a game. Me, coming into this season, focused and determined to be the number two. a brown average in 21 when we are me and me and Luca when I'm I mean A.R. And it's me and Luca we We own our shit

we on our shit I step aside I give my little shit and then we losing the teams that we're supposed to be contending because I did say they're contending but when you got a guy calling plays on the sideline just calling plays for the team

that ain't the coach not Jonathan Clay Reddick I'm just And then you got JJ complaining about Hey man guys ain't running the fucking plays And I'm telling him to run But LeBron also supported J.J. I'm not saying nothing about LeBron

I didn't say it's name I said JJ said And LeBron supported that These guys are not running the plays that I'm running I don't know what the fuck to do And then somebody comes out and says I told him to run a play He ran that shit and it worked

So to me, they're not only on a one accord, it's somebody else working their magic behind the scenes. And when AR come back, it's going to be somebody saying, hey, listen, he's a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-e. Keep him at nothing, no, man, you got to move A-R-N if you're going to move a man. You can't have a side chick outside in the guest house. You've got to have a ring where she can cook the grits and shit.

So the side chick is cooking the grits. She's inside in the number two bedroom. She can't be outside in the guest house. You got to leave her inside. You call her from the hallway. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Right now, they got AR in the guest house. He's tripping.

He's trying to move out. You want him to take a lift, money? He's going to stay in the big house? You got to fix. You all want to be signing me, right? I'm just saying. New Orleans Pelicans is cool. Guess what?

You win against the Pelicans. It's cool. Yeah. He's going to get his money. He's proven it. A.R. is number two for sure, bro. By the numbers, I hear you. For sure.

Regardless of what LeBronfield, like, hey, listen, that young fellow come back out here, he didn't went through the hard work, he didn't pay his dues, he did his time. They didn't shortchanged them before. Short change. I took the little cast for y'all.

A.R. did too much, yeah. A.R. did too much? They've been waiting. They've been waiting his time. They've been winning with him? Yeah, they have. Yes. Everything that you're saying, listen, Nick, yes, I'm agreeing with everything you said, Nick, yes.

Everything you said, yes. But the fact that that 41-year-old man still puts that jersey on and plays, it's a no. You're saying for him, it's a no. Yes. Yes, yes. The fact that I'm out there, I'm not taking the back seat to Austin Reeves if I'm LeBron James at no point.

You're going to continue to be the best of the ass teams. Okay, that's cool. And that's what that just proved. You're the best of the ass. You beat all the ass teams on the West. 16 and 3 versus teams below 500. Yeah, hey. 13 and O and clutch games, though.

Cool, hey. Clutch with the C, not with the cast. 13 and O. 13 and O. Keep winning. Five points and less, they winning them all of them close games. Hey, more power to them. When times get tough, LeBron and Luther?

This is LeBron last year on the Lakers deal? He has an expiring contract, Swaguer. That is correct. And you think I'm going out, taking a backseat to him? What's that? That's what they're going to do in a minute. When? What?

After the season? Cuts out. Hey, listen, that could happen, Nick. Absolutely, I'm with you. Hey, guess what? But guess what? But guess what? LeBron is smart, man.

Yes, absolutely. Swaggy as the chat is pointing out, and you guys say they're the best of the ass teams. So they were beating ass teams without LeBron. LeBron came back. They continued to beat ass teams. Yeah. They didn't get belted ass from the ass team. Best of the ass team, like he said.

Top three in the way. Also, Reeves playing his ass off when he's out there. Absolutely. But it's just the fact that this guy has still here. That's it. You want to win. You know what to do. LeBron knows what to do.

He ain't crazy. What does LeBron need to do? What does he need to do? You know what he needs to do. do. What is that? He knows what he needs to do at 40. That's all I was going to say.

He's doing it. He's going out and playing. No, he could do this for sure. A.R. is out. But when AI come back, you got to. So he knows what to do at 41 years old. Turn 41 December 30th. Obviously, same birthday.

The Stingles General from Oak Cliff, Cany, Martin. But LeBron continues to dominate father time of year 23. In the 12 games, since having his double-digit scoring streak snapped, LeBron has averaged a 26.6 assists, six rebounds. That's insane. That's insane. I'm not insane that I was struggling to get 10 points and then all of a sudden I'm averaging 26 Facilitated made the correct basketball player.

What did I say? He can do this shit anytime he won't. He'll cut the shit on and he can be LeBron. Any time he wants, he's fucking playing possum out there. Dealing with sciatica. Guess what? 14 games missed. He ain't had no training.

No training. He said weak, man, because he can do this shit. He can still do this at a high level without this 41 shit over his head. one shit over his head. Fuck all that you, LeBron, bro. So you're saying that, right? And me knowing that, y'all saying that he know he can go out and do this. And his, I know I can do this and you want me to take a backseat

there y'all? Come on, man. If I can go out of the same amount of points as him and you want me to take a back seat to him. But do it, though. That's the thing. That's what we said. We're like, yo, do that. My point is, I think he is. Because if we all three can average 20 plus,

bro, we're definitely going to, we get real contenders, bro. Luke is getting his 33. You other two niggas figure it out You know what I do You're fighting for two I'm not dipping below 30 Unfortunately but y'all got it from there

Because we do need more points You call them those side booze out here fighting Yeah, y'all got it Y'all figure out who making the group That's the thing man motherfuckers be thinking is hate But it's expectation for motherfuckers Who can see that you can steal who There ain't no all man

You're hating on LeBron It's like my nigga listen I know how good the nigga is A lot of people don't be knowing how good the nigga is. Like when you're this good and you plan for this long and motherfuckers be like

oh he's 41, what you expect? I expect what I'm paying for. I'm paying this nigga super mega star bread give me LeBron James, bro. And then he know he's not on his way out because he ain't never had no crazy injury that is going to diminish his,

he ain't got no motherfucking jumpers knee and none of that other shit that niggas is old guy. This nigga out here We're milling on the break. Are you serious? In New Orleans. Come on, bro.

He still got the jumper going. He still got... He can get to where he wants. He's still strong as fuck. These little niggas don't know what to do with this shit. Still 41. He can be 45 and still doing this shit. Nah, he ain't getting past no young guy.

But as you... It ain't about getting past him. What did Mike do when he got to... I turn my back on you. I turn my back on you now. That's all you got to think. I fade on you. I get 20 fading on y'all niggas.

Easy. Back door. I can still pass the ball. Bro, slow the game down. Let me come down here. Give his points without trying to have the ball and his hands off. He's going to have his, he's got to. I'm giving the man of credit.

Like, you steal LeBron, bro. It ain't never. Oh, man. Get off. It just didn't sit no court. It just doesn't register. It's not. It's never going to register.

It's not going to register. That's why he has to go to another team. It can't happen here. Okay. Because we got a young fellow that's here. We need him to keep going up. We can't have you here still being LeBron James and keeping him away from being who he's going to become.

Well, I mean, we're saying it right now. It seems like you can't have your cake and eat it too. No, because he's not playing right now. Oh, with Austin Reed. Austin Reed. I'm saying with all three of them together, LeBron, I'm not trying to come down if he's not diminishing. I'm going to give you a little history lesson real quick.

I don't know if you know this or not. But you know, that saying, that cake and eat it too you know it's not that what cake is it you know I have a dirty mind cake no it ain't even that it's caked

like a woman and Edith oh you can have Kate and Edith too ooh I had an Edith she was older though that's an old ass name

she's older yeah that's an old ass name 55 yeah Edith is an old name that's some 60s 50 shit. 55. I eat it too, though.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You remember, baby. You Google me?

I am tracking. You remember, baby. Yeah. And I eat it too. Sick, bro. Mm. Hmm. 55.

55. And I eat it. Come on over here, eat it too. Come on over here, please. Shout out your cake and eat it. Because if you think about the same, like, your cake, just your cake, you don't want to eat it. Like, the saying makes no sense, right? If you really think about it, you can have your cake, your cake, and you want to eat it.

Like, somebody gave you a cake. Of course, they expect you to eat it. But it's just an old English proverb. No, you're right. It's my cake. They're supposed to eat all of it. It's mine. I want my cake and eat too.

So it's the Kate and eat it. That may even more sense, though. It's no. Y'all well. Thank you, Kate. So let's, yeah, welcome. Back to LeBron just quickly. Back to LeBron.

26 points, six assists, six rebounds, 55% from the field, 35% from the 3 in the 12 games since snapping his double digit scoring streak. And in the three games, since turning 41 years old, at 4.39 p.m. on December 30th, Brown is averaging 29, 8, and 8,

on 59, 35, 91 splits. So after the Pelicans game, JJ Reddick was asked about his approach coaching LeBron this season. I know LeBron, I know how much he puts into this. I think it's just recognizing game to game what he has. You know, he's Greg Maddox

at the end of his career. You know, every night he doesn't have his best stuff, but he has enough to win. And you just got to feel, you know, I'm his catcher. I've got to figure out, you know, how to call the pitches. Sometimes he tells me to F off and he calls his own pitch, which is fine too. But it really is, to me it's that.

It's like what's the best way to kind of utilize him tonight based on the opponent, based on the coverage, based on how he's moving. You know, we have conversations sometimes in games. How's your three ball feel? Okay, all right, I'm going to run the softball play for you. Or I'm going to, you know, put you in this spot versus the pick and roll because I know that you'll end up with the shot. And it's really just that ongoing dialogue with him.

To me, what he's doing at 41, what he did last year at 40, it's greatness. It's just a different form of greatness. Greg Maddox, famous pitcher. JJ, Reddick said he's the catcher. Sometimes he may call a pitch, and Greg Maddox may veto that pitch. He said he was the catcher. Called it. He caught it.

Catch him this. He's going to eat it too. Can't eat it too. Do you understand what JJ is ready to say in regards to his approach to coaching LeBron this is? Yeah, I'm sure older guys go to the, like I don't have it today. I feel great today. Like it's one of the, it's not rocket science at this point.

At 41, playing a strenuous NBA season is taxing. We know that. So being honest with the situation and with yourself helps the team. So I think that's the best thing that they can have is that dialogue before the game starts. You shouldn't wait until the game start. How are you three ball feeling? It's a little too late for that right now. I think having those conversations prior to the game is helpful, so you know how to go about it, I think.

You can read his body language and energy once the game starts, and you figure out how to manage his minutes and different things like that, whether you need him late and you're picking your spots and all those things, yeah, I'm all for them having that dialogue. But I think the conversation beforehand will be very helpful on, Amy, how are you feeling today? I'm pretty sure they are having those conversations as well. Yeah, yeah, because I remember when I first came in, I played with Kurt Thomas, Jerry Stackhouse. They were older, and Scott Scott's used to come in and ask them, you know, how you guys feeling? Like, in practice and things like that and, and, but, yeah, I just think it's a respect factor, too, you know. You know, I do think, you know, you do need to ask your older, older vets because they get you out of running and they get you out of things.

But, you know, today they don't practice. Like back then, you know, that would mean a lot. You know, one of our older dudes came in and said, you know, I ain't got it today and maybe we ain't got to practice. Yeah, I think he's approaching it the right way, though. So you should tell your number two how you're feeling? You got to ask him how you're feeling every day? No, no, no, it's not your number two. It's the fact that...

You know, when your number two is 41 years old? Yes, period. No, no. When the number two guys is 41 years old, absolutely. Yeah, yeah, but that's what I said, even with Kurt Thomas. He's talking dialogues every day. Make sure he's 41 years old. Absolutely.

Number two. Yeah, I mean, we had that with Kurt Thomas and certain guys. If it's that respect factor, like, you're going to ask certain guys that, I mean, and then come to find out, Kurt Thomas had to play the whole first round of the playoffs. Like, you know when it comes to things. So you're asking them, yo, you're ready? And then next year you know, shit, we take Atlanta to six because he. Thomas was your number two?

Huh? Kurt Thomas was your number two. No, he was damning my number, damn there was number three at that, at that time. We had me and John Salman's and then he was our starting center, so he was the one setting picks. He was after the double double. Was he number two? And he's number two and he wasn't two and no, no, no, no. No, but it's not about him being the number two or number three option.

It's the fact that he's the older, he's the older vet, and he has a lot of respect. Please help him make his point. I get you. I get what you saying. Can you please help him? He's trying to get you to say certain things? I'm not. I'm talking to you. I'm talking to you. I'm not talking to Brandon. You're talking to Brandon.

You said it's okay for him to ask how you're doing all that. Because his number two is 41 years old. He just, he just cares. There's never been another number two that's been 41 years old to have them conversations with. So, yes, I think it's appropriate for him to have his number two guy right now to have those conversations with him, how he's feeling, absolutely. So if you can point to another point that somebody's talking about that, you're okay with that. Is it okay to hold him accountable to? Yes, absolutely.

Uh-huh. Yeah, of course. Yeah. He's out there. Yeah. Oh, but y'all said that. He's 41 years. They need to keep that shit to his cell when holding players accountable.

Remember him when. If he ain't going to say it to them because he didn't. Remember the meeting? We were talking about the meeting that JJ wanted to have with the players, y'all said, don't be meeting with LeBron. We don't want you to meet with the Bride at 41. Remember LeBron and Lucas said we needed some more defensively?

And I said he wanted to go do shit. I said, I don't believe he's going to go into practice and say nothing to LeBron. I said that shit, I didn't think he was going to do it. I thought y'all was saying that he shouldn't be held accountable. Jay J.J. should shut his ass up and let these niggas do what they want to do. No, under no circumstance. Jay, head coach, they should always have a good situation with the coaches.

But Jay Day was frustrated. I do remember he was up there sweating and shit. And he was turning red and he's like, ah, I don't know. We ain't going to watch this for another three games, right? Yeah, it happens. That happens. That happens. The offense is being fucked up.

Maybe it's just, I'm tripping. I'm tripping. I'm tripping. I thought. So it's that conversation, right? I'm just saying that he's not going to watch it for another 53 games? Offensive accountability, execution, but it wasn't just LeBron-centric. He said, yeah.

But LeBron is also acknowledged. I know what Nick's saying, when Nick's point is like, all right, if I got to check in with this nigga to see if he's ready to play, I still be able to hold him accountable, too. That ain't what he's saying. I know, but he's not what I'm saying. That's not what he's saying. That's what I'm right. Don't put words in his mouth.

That's not what he's saying. Hey Mark, you're so right. He didn't say that shit, so don't put words in his mouth. He's right, Kay Mark. I know because you didn't say that. You're right, Kmart. I'll just get a long stick together. To the point that you're trying to make a shot is.

I'm not going to say a word. You can definitely hold him accountable if you're going to, yeah, absolutely you can. Yeah, but I said he wasn't going to. Don't come to us, the public, and the people talking about what you're going to do. And Saturday's practice is going to be tough because I wasn't buying it. That was my statement. That was a build-up of him being frustrated. Yeah, he said, I'm not going to watch this for another 53 games.

I've been trying to tell you motherfuckers to do certain shit. And I tried to tell you the dude running the play, and you over there talking to the other team and shit. I can't even talk to y'all. Because De Andregan came in and said, y'all bought that? That's because he told him he didn't have it that day, so he would talk to him if he ain't had it. Oh, that was it. Yeah, he didn't have it. He didn't say that to him.

Yeah, yeah, that's why. He wasn't. He was just out there. My point. He wasn't going to say to him to him. It's your number two just out there talking to the other team. It's Lucas' team, though. You know how much I hate you?

You know how much I hate you? That much. Luca, 26 years old, turns 27 at the end of Black History, my. Lucas team. 26 years old. Jesus. He is doing his thing. So as the leader of the team, the franchise players, LeBron said,

shouldn't this accountability all be on Luca to drive this engine? Luca eight? No. You said shouldn't it all be on Luca? I'm saying he's now the franchise player of this squad. That's what y'all said. That's what LeBron just said. We have to bend our game around Luca.

He does not need to change it. Sounds like a deflection. He runs this shit. I'm 41. I still won't get my shit off and beat me, but look, everything on him now. Leave me alone. Which is cool, because he's older. I'm gonna give you my 38.

Stop giving us flashes of this motherfucker young. Just stop giving us the little shit that you can still do your shit out there. That's all I can do at 40. I'm 47 years old, that's all I can give you. You're giving me 30s. Huh? You giving me 38 and 8, bro. What are you talking about?

Against the Pelicans, though. Talking, stop talking to me like we're not watching the same game. I can't do it every night, man. No, he can't do it every night. I got, I got, I got, I got, I got, I got a lot of miles of that body. Yeah, and he ain't playing back to backs. It's a lot of miles on that body, man. You got to, hey, you might play a back to back.

Do what you was doing when you even want to break that record. Give me 11, give me 10, give me 9, you know what I'm saying? Give me the 12s and shit. Now we're looking, we like, the brown on his way out, man. It's finally, damn, right, no wrong. Then you, a 34. Then you give me. 38, 37, huh?

So, LeBron, questionable tonight against the spurs with left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica. They said making up shit, boy. No, uh, uh, that joint arthritis is a no, uh, you got to use that. You got the arpriters in this shit up. They can just say it's in sciatica still, right? That's like, just get a sciatica. I got a right, left foot arthritis. I can't sit here.

I got left foot, arthritis. Don't do it. Yeah, man. You're wearing the soft shoes now. Don't get to wear the soft shoes with the velcroest. Don't do that, man. That's the hospital, dude. You see with the straps.

Yeah, loud as a fella. You can hear it. Foot surgery. You got walked off. Yeah. Gum bottles. You can hear him coming all the way down the hall. You can hear him coming all the way down the hall.

You can slide around. Yeah. As the Brown pointed out last night against the Pelican, against the Pelican, then post-game comment said every back-to-back for the rest of the season is TBD. I'm 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history. All right, who we put, who, oh, no, I said we, damn, I'm tripping. No, you're in his week shot.

You let 40s. Who aren't they playing? No, no, go ahead. You're on the bandweds? We were playing the San Antonio. We got a couple months left. We got a couple months left. You spoke very positively in a lot earlier in the session.

You thought you weren't here. You thought you were talking to somebody and you forgot you was here, right? Thought you was around your other people. Who they played in that? Who they played? They play the San Antonio Spurs. Oh, he's going to take that night off. And then who to play after that?

The Lakers beat the Spurs. They play Janus in the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. He'll play that game. Here at Staples Center. You'll play that game. Mr. B will have his media credential. Yeah. Rolling around Staples with the rest of the media members.

Rolling around in the back. You may see me in the suite. Oh, can I take the time for a second, though? I do want to appreciate it. We are getting close to the conclusion of the particular episode. We have all the time in the world. Time on Social Construct. The Book of Appreciation is Chapter 32.

This is a thing is crazy. Russell Westbrook. We have to appreciate that he created a milestone for himself at the most points. Yeah, we're going to give Westbrook his love on tomorrow's episode. All of those things. Trey Murphy?

Tray Murphy, 42-point career high against the U. Ballin. But did lose. Ballin. Dillon Brooks, Jalen Johnson, Isaiah Stewart, Denny. I don't know how to say his last now. Avidia, Dini Avia, bawling.

Israeli legend. Norman Powell, bawling. Tyrese maxi, balling. Michael Porter, Jr., unfortunately, on the wrong team in the wrong time, but he's bawling. But somebody here, he's in the right place. Up there in Toronto right now, bawling. Got them in the top five of the East right now. When you just talk about guys who go underappreciated sometimes, I mean, it's not up to us to shine.

a light on them, but to give them some hope that they can keep bawling, keep going out there and feeling some type of appreciation outside of the star guys that we do highlight. There's a lot of other guys out there that's also bawling that we didn't mention, what I didn't mention, but Jalen Brown, of course, is one of those guys. He tried to me. He tried to. No, no, see if you're repeated. No, no, no.

And we looked over that name a few times. But, yeah, I just want to appreciate those guys. And, you know, like you said, we're going to talk about Westville tomorrow. So they want to leave him out. Well, Gonte George. On that note, your shot at the key. Dallas is walking, but. They both have a porter guy.

Anthony Black is work. We go to Dunkerville. We go to Dunkerville. They kicked their ass. At 27. And that whole little Texas crew, Cakeson Wallace, that whole crew, I was at the Iris and Classics with all those dudes, and they were going at each other and the scrimmages talking crazy to each other. Yeah. But getting to work in the league right now.

DFD, a Metroplex, baby. A fine airport, very large, though. Yeah, and this is assuming resonance transmitter just helps, you know, calm the vibe in my field, so you guys stop treating me. I was wondering what was going on. Yeah. Turns into a portal if I tap it. I didn't want to tap them, y'all, niggins. Oh, gee, I don't want to be determined.

You know what I'm saying? A dead body started coming out of the fucking ground and shit. And I was like, nah, not yet. Y'all keep fucking with me and we push the top. Well, on that note. Let's move on. Let's go, man. Let's go, man.

To my favorite segment, mostly fans. Just quickly, presented by the good people over at Underdog. Go ahead, download the app use promo code Gil and take advantage of all the amazing bonuses going on. and hopefully players will not betray you like they have me as of late coming up one port short not hustling letting the people down

making me waste my $5 still $5 but I dig it maybe that's what I should have been doing all that time he should only go to like two to three pick them but then I just start hitting him like oh he could do that I can go ahead and get a triple double like Luke is going to make five threes

Luke is not going to make five threes not today as much as I pray out you put that shit in Then the game started missed the first three. As soon as you put that shit in. As soon as you don't, I'm cool. Can't fans are not getting 15 drops 20s. Okay, I'm good.

But we got a question from underdog user, 1-4-flat. So what's the starting five for the 2028 Team USA Squad? You said, Kay Cunningham, it should be earlier. Yeah. Maybe the starting point card on the team. What is your starting five for the 2028 Team USA Squad to bring home gold in America, our favorite country for some? Cade, Aunt Edwards, Jalen Brown.

Do you think he accepts? Cooper Flagg? I think he does. I think he does. To win gold, Ryan. No, 4-5 is, I don't know. Super flag, he said. I mean, I think Cooper Flagg in there, for sure.

Cooper Flag's in there. Two years from now? Yeah. Yeah. Starting on two years from now. You're right? In 2008, yeah, the Olympic team. The Olympic team.

Who else is out there to play in Los Angeles? That's a great question. There's five. With Jaylon Johnson? That five. I could go with Jaylen. I think Jason's from now. Two years from now, for sure.

For sure. From Wisconsin? I mean, the national, listen, we are playing international basketball. You got to have a big or two. You're going to do. You got to go with a big or two. I ain't saying, I don't know who they're going to be, but we're playing the national basketball.

If you go against friends. You think swing? You go out there fucking match up against friends, nigga, the big guy. Need side, you're going to need a lot. I think you're going to have to go with Chet. You don't have to. You gotta go with Chet.

Yeah, for sure. Who else American born five? Not displaying at that level. That's what I'm gonna have. Two years. I'm looking at that. In two years or now. I'm looking at two years.

Yeah, that little matchup between him and win me. It should be, we should be looking at some, all right. But there ain't no other bids sitting out there. It's like to look forward to. Did you bring, uh, Zion Jackson. Mowbly? Mowgli. Mowgli, I'm just saying.

Jaron Jackson, Mowgli, maybe. Mowley got to show some progression. Bam will probably still be there, huh? Who? Bam. Man, bam, I was about to say something about it. I was going to appreciate Bam, I forgot he ain't really been doing shit. Yeah, bam.

He's a married man now. Yeah. He still got to bring him. Yeah, Bam, Evan Mowbley, Chet. That ain't enough. Go better? Yeah, I'm just saying to them to be. I'm just saying, I'm not speaking big.

I don't know. So, see, this man's question. I don't know who to start five reasons. You still got Brunson. You still got Donovan Mitchell. Tyrese Maxie. Tyrese Maxie. Oh, yeah.

You still got gar-heavy. Gar-heavy is hell. We always guard heavy. It's just our bigs. Tatum, shit, man. I know. You ain't got no K-D. You ain't got nobody that's K-D-ish.

Well, Tatum could be. Man, KD still might be there, dog. Yeah. He's still going to be there, dog. Chad has suggested Jalen Duren as a potential option. Jayland Dern would be a good five. He's solid. He's solid.

But it still ain't. We're in trouble. They're solid. They can make him run for it, though. Paris ain't going to lock it around. I'm just thinking about the big situation. And was in two years. Mostly locking up.

And Ed was in a seven years. Yeah, Moby-Logging. No to Geron Jackson. He ain't locked shit. So I'm saying, both of them do. I'm saying as far as it's as big as bodies as both of our guards. Be on the lookout for Jamaica. Who's going to guard art?

What? What? He's already a monster this year. Aunt Edwards. He's going to be that guy. 100%. Two years? Two years.

Shit, next year. Right? I'm just on a far. He's showing. He's showing what we're going to see. As far as the Olympics, man. Two years, I'm thinking about this summer in two years. He didn't want to the, he didn't win.

He didn't win. He went to the bag and watched those guys. He'd been watching them guys. 27 then. Jamaica's winning a medal. Mark my word. He'll be 27. And that would be 27 then.

That's what I'm saying? That's perfect timing. I like the Jalen Brown, though. Yeah, Jalen Brown and and Kaye cutting him, too. I do know they shitted on him. He took Derek White. Y'all do know that, right?

No, I think he take that. He take that invitation to prove something. What about O'Boy from BYU? He's coming. He's locking out too. Oh, AJ? Yeah. He's gonna be nice.

Two years? I mean, they might add him. I'm saying, I don't know two years where he's going to be. I'm talking about the guys who we see. Yeah. Because you said the starting five, he's not going to start. So the question is who we do, who the starting five are going to be? Where do you think Cooper is going to be?

I think Cooper starts. Cooper in two years. I think Cooper flag starts for the USA team. Yeah. Mm-hmm. He's playing what? Bro. Yeah, I know.

What about VJ then? You say, Cooper, what about VJ? His position, his position, he'll have to go in there to beat somebody out. He's going to get his aunt, and he's going to get Jay Brown. He's going to get his team-made, so that's the only issue with that. But for skills and all they might be there, but I'm to like, for as. But his demeanor, I like him for the USA because he don't care and he's like with him and together.

Or he might not play, hold on, but what's his, he might play for his home country though. He's not. Oh, he's Bahamas. He's not from him. He's not America. Oh, yeah. He also got sponsored twins. Jamaica's trying to get them.

I'm going to Jamaica's trying to get them. I'm going to California. Yeah, I think they might go the opposite way just to make the competitive. Yeah, the twins go there. Just switch the halftime. Yeah, everybody move around and just make it competitive. Go play with their home. Mm-hmm.

Like Joel should have. Yeah, exactly how he should have been. Well, I haven't qualified, by. On that note, appreciate you, gentlemen. Another spirited day. Gil, if you're watching this, we miss you. We have sent out a search team to come find you. We're asking you, bring you back home.

But until then, shout out to everybody in the chat. Shout out to everybody on this couch. This has been another episode of Gil's Arena, presented by Underdog. Whoa, whoa. We will see you all tomorrow.