Gil's Arena - Michael Rubin Schools Gil's Arena On Sports Business

Starting point is 00:00:00 We hope you're enjoying your Air Canada flight. Rocky's Vacation, here we come. Whoa, is this economy? Free beer, wine, and snacks. Sweet! Fast free Wi-Fi means I can make dinner reservations before we land. And with live TV, I'm not missing the game. It's kind of like I'm already on vacation.

Starting point is 00:00:20 Nice. On behalf of Air Canada, nice travels. Wifi available to Airplane members on equipped flights sponsored by Bell Conditions Supply, sieracanada.com. Whether it's a family member, friend or furry companion joining your summer road trip, enjoy the peace of mind that comes with Volvo's legendary safety. During Volvo Discover Days, enjoy limited time savings as you make plans to cruise through Muscogee or down Toronto's bustling streets.

Starting point is 00:00:47 From now until June 30th, lease a 2025 Volvo XC60 from 1.74% and save up to $4,000. Condition supply, visit your GTA Volvo retailer or go to volvocars.ca for full details. Welcome back to Gills Arena, presented by Underdog. Whoop, whoop, whoop.

Starting point is 00:01:08 How everybody feeling today? Tuesday. Love late Tuesday here in the arena. It's taco Tuesday. Burrito Tuesday. My God, that Casa Vega. Casa Vega. Uh oh girl, you're messing up. That was you. Not me. But this is Gills Arena presented by Underdog. As always, we got the legend Gilbert Arena here with us.

Starting point is 00:01:32 What up, what up? We got the Hall of Famer four-time WNBA champion of the world, Cheryl Swoopz, back on the couch. Swoop, swoop! Swoop, swoop! I need y'all to be better with that. Go ahead. Sure, we workshoppin'. It's day two.

Starting point is 00:01:47 I know, I know, I know. We improved from day one. That's all we can ask for. It is much better than yesterday. We are progressive in the right direction. On this side of the couch, we got the man known as Money Make It Sunny, NCAA Champion of the World for shoppin' cans in the building. Representing the great nation of America,

Starting point is 00:02:05 head to toe United States. All right now. I mean all white now, all white now, all white now. And last but not least, representing tough crowd, tough crowd, University, we got Mr. B. Brandon Jennings in the arena. And for all the fans out there, we still got two viewing options for you,

Starting point is 00:02:25 our traditional version, mobile vertical version. Pick whichever one you wanna watch. Just make sure you support the show. Here's what's cracking in the arena today. The Knicks are looking for their next head coach, and Jason Kidd has emerged as a top candidate. Should Kidd dip from Dallas to take his talents to the Big Apple?

Starting point is 00:02:42 Still under contract with the Mavs. It would require some compensation if the move was to be made. Jason Kidd, Jalen Brunson have a great relationship. Could he be the next head coach? Cooper Flagg is expected to be the top pick in the NBA draft, but will he be the next great American star? We gotta talk about it.

Starting point is 00:03:01 We'll see. And with the final shift into Indiana for game three, which players on both teams will be the X factor? Series tie one one. Thunder looking to take home court advantage back Pacers trying to defend their home court. We got a lot to discuss but before we get into all that, as always, this show's brought to you by Underdog.

Starting point is 00:03:19 Download the Appu's promo code, Gil get up to $1,000 in bonus cash plus a special pick up. So Gil, you had a WNBA theme partner pack yesterday. So proud to announce that the pack hit last night. Let's take a look. D'Erica Hanby hired 45, she had 20. Kayla Thornton, she said, we're gonna get hired 5.5 rebounds.

Starting point is 00:03:42 She had a limb. Kelsey Plum, she said we're gonna get hired 2.5. I told She had a limb. Yeah, Kelsey plumb You said we're gonna get hired 2.5. Yeah for sure. You did say that was easy work Usually I don't have my wings up there. I'm at 89% Ain't enough to put nothing in the gas tank When five point five nine times his bread with that partner pack. You bet $1,000? Yeah. How much did you bet?

Starting point is 00:04:10 Huh? How much did you bet? What did you wager? 300. 300? You didn't. About 300? You won 300?

Starting point is 00:04:17 You won about 300. You won about 1,500? OK. Look. And I lost a little something else. OK. I'm going to tie it up. Hey I lost a little something else. Okay. I'm gonna need to tie it up.

Starting point is 00:04:26 Hey, but man, fuck all that. Fuck all that. What happened? Whatever. Don't do that. What? This one right here? What?

Starting point is 00:04:34 Caked up? It's from the Easter. Caked up? She's caked up on the act. It's from the Easter egg hunt. But I can't, anyway. But I can't. Caked up over there.

Starting point is 00:04:42 Yeah, you gotta play. You can't just take it out. I'm trying to play. You can't caked up over there You can't just take it out No, no, she's trying to play she can't okay caked up is in Just says keep What you mean? You mean? Yeah. Take up on a Tuesday. What you mean? It just says keep contact support. Oh when you try to every time you try to. Okay, well support Cheryl will be contacting you in the near future.

Starting point is 00:05:12 Okay, let's try for an encore here. So you have some more WMA picks up in your partner pack on the underdog app. Let's take a look if we can. Now Ryan Howard higher 3.5 assists. Kelsey Mitchell higher 1.5 three-pointers mate. Sabrina Neskul higher 3.5 assists Kelsey Mitchell higher 1.5 three-pointers mate and Sabrina Nesco higher 4.5 assists. This is an added boost pack Gil. Uh oh. And if you use it you can win more than five times your bread on the underdog app. Cheryl are you rolling with Gil's picks for this evening? A hundred percent. Oh a hundred percent. Easy bunny. That's easy bunny. easy bread again. Just keep nickel and diamond. How's the rest of the couch feeling about Gilbert's?

Starting point is 00:05:52 I'm making a bet right now. Mr. B, you are adding the partner pack on your underdog. We've got contact support. Support if you are watching this show. Don't even, don't let Cheryl contact you, you contact her. Texas support if you're watching this show You got to come off off the bread The point is just sitting there so good for no reason we asked the chat for your show if they're riding or fading with your WNBA picks for this evening.

Starting point is 00:06:28 70% of the chat riding with these picks. That's a record. That is a record. That is 81. That was you, 81? If you like these picks, head over to Underdog Avenue. You should let them go. How many lost yesterday because they didn't ride with me?

Starting point is 00:06:42 Like 30%, 40%? It was not a sufficient amount of losers. People did not have their mind right in their game type. But if you like these picks, have your underdog app, add Gil's Partner Pack. If you don't have underdog, download the app. Use promo code Gil. Get up to $1,000 in bonus cash plus a special pick them.

Starting point is 00:06:56 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 podcasts. So we're going to talk a little Puerto Rican hoops to start this show. Four-time NBA All-Star Demarcus Cousins hooping in Puerto Rico these days for the Guaybano Mets in the Balancesto Superior Nacional.

Starting point is 00:07:12 Yeah. Thank you, sis. Damn. I passed Spanish three in high school. Yeah, you closed that. So he was known for having a bit of a temper. Spanish three. Spanish three in high school, girl.

Starting point is 00:07:22 Damn. Spanish three. What do you mean Spanish three? Uno, dos, tres. It was Spanish one and two Spanish three. What do you mean Spanish three? With no dog stripes. It was Spanish one and two. What the fuck do you need the extra shit for? Yeah, you went to public school.

Starting point is 00:07:29 You went to public school. You went to public school. You went to public school. You know, I like living in Spain yourself because I'm pretty sure you just need Spanish one for Mexico. No, es negra. No, es negra. No, you need Spanish one just for here. Yeah, you need Spanish one just for here

Starting point is 00:07:48 To for Mexico Three years for them countries Some curse words a little bit of everything But uh, so Boogie was not having a little bit of a temper on the court during his playing days in the league. Last night during the game against the Bayamon Baqueros this happened. You can see cousins ejected after he was close to scuffling with fans court side. Oh so after a fan hit him with the crybaby gesture, Boogie grabbed his junk and nearly threw a

Starting point is 00:08:25 punch before being escorted off the court. You can see his teammates including Theo Pinson Jr. having to hold him back from the fan trying to calm the fan down. So according to reports, Boogie also grabbed a lollipop out of the fan's mouth during the melee. An important piece of information he said it? he's smiling like a punk and as he was leaving the court you can see fans

Starting point is 00:08:50 giving him the middle finger, calling him Bendejo amongst other turns puto you can see a fan toss his beer boogie, boogie reacts by trying to go in the crowd took five men to hold boogie back, five able-bodied men

Starting point is 00:09:08 in the Puerto Rican basketball league, popcorn, beer, all types of food items. Then he tossed that Boogie as he exited the court. So luckily the conflict did not escalate after that, but we do see Boogie here with some policia. And other men. Appears to be a vendor as well. Boogie walked off the court obviously.

Starting point is 00:09:35 They were in the backero, Zarina. Not to be confused with Gil, Zarina. But what do you all think about Demarcus Cousins crashing out on Puerto Rican fans like that? Was he on the road? He was on the road. Great entertainment. I'm on Baquero.

Starting point is 00:09:59 They got a good show? Sometimes you know you got to entertain on the the quarter when you get kicked off off the court I mean, I mean obviously like he wanted to really punch anybody because the dude in the front row He could have slept him easy work so, you know the dude he did take a lollipop out of his mouth, which is a Was it a tootsie roll? It's a cheap shit. It's a no-no in Puerto Rico You don't disrespect another man by taking taking his love What it is, is it the Tootsie Pop

Starting point is 00:10:29 or is it the one he got about six of them in the end? Sour Apple, what we call them? Sour Apple. The Blow Pop. The Sour Apple, yeah. Blow Pop, yeah. I don't know about the Tootsie Pop. Blue Raspberry.

Starting point is 00:10:38 The one with the Tootsie inside. Got the chocolate. We were unable to confirm what type of lollipop, but snatching a lollipop out of a porter. Very disrespectful in their culture as it is in America You gotta be careful over there in them countries man Oh, no, what y'all be thinking over there man, that's how you get your legs cut off Or you get kidnap?

Starting point is 00:11:03 Yeah, I'm about to say get kidnapped. We almost got kidnapped, man. You gotta be friendly. That's from Rol-Roy. That's all cartel. All of them. Every single one of them. What are you doing, dude? You can't come back. Whoever with you better left.

Starting point is 00:11:21 Yesterday, they was big on. Puerto Rico, an unincorporated U.porated US territory shout out to all the Puerto Ricans Watching the show working on this show I've been there that I've downloaded the underdog app. I played over and use promo code good. Yeah, it gets turnt up out there What all they do is foul and hack and cuss? cuss all every all every single play cussing and fuck you and feature

Starting point is 00:11:44 and all that. All of that. Oh, so it's fun. Yeah, it's love and fun. It's fun. Yeah. Till you cross a line where you fuck with one of the locals or you do something like that.

Starting point is 00:11:55 You better have your team better love you. Your team better love you. If your team don't fuck with you like that, you on the island, literally. Literally and figuratively. Yeah. Shout out figuratively. Yeah. Shout out, Puerto Rico. And just as an update, he didn't grab the lollipop

Starting point is 00:12:08 out of the fans' mouth. He snatched a lollipop out of his hand. Equally offensive, though, in Puerto Rican culture. Did he eat it? There's no update if he took the lollipop with him. It's just curious. It may have fallen during the melee. That's the more disrespectful, take it out and just.

Starting point is 00:12:21 Yeah, gimme. Yeah. Watch out. Sure, what do you think about boogie crashing out like that during the puerto rican basketball game i mean i i've played in other countries too you you got to be very careful when you're not at home i just regardless of the situation, but I also think fans, they cross the line at times. I'm not saying what he did was right because of where he is or was,

Starting point is 00:12:55 but I mean, fans, they do. They cross the line sometimes, and it makes you wanna do that. What was the craziest experience you had playing overseas? Was anything similar to that? Um, just throw, they threw stuff on the court. Like they would warm up coins and just throw the coins on the court

Starting point is 00:13:17 and try to hit us with it. But I didn't have those types of experiences with fans. So it's like if we were beating them by, you know, 20, 30, they got mad and start throwing stuff on the court. So you played in different countries around the world. What's the most turnt up country that you played in? You ever have a situation? Turnt up.

Starting point is 00:13:40 Lebanon. My brother played in Lebanon. Well, Venezuela was almost died in Venezuela. so I guess I have to say that. But that was just, it was in like third world country stage then, so all the people was looking for targets. Couldn't have shit. How did you almost die in Venezuela if you don't mind me asking? A local set us up.

Starting point is 00:14:03 What happened? Yeah, a local teammate set us up. Who was shot in? A local teammate. Your teammate? Our teammate, yeah. Set you up? Yeah.

Starting point is 00:14:12 What'd he do? Shit, the taxi driver sent us into a little trap. They robbed us. Ooh. At gunpoint. Damn. Yeah. Don't shoot.

Starting point is 00:14:24 Did you leave? Right here, right afterpoint. Damn. Yeah. Don't shoot. Did you leave? Right, yeah, right after. God damn. It was your own teammates? Yeah. And the other team told us. Right? Oh, the other team told you that your teammates?

Starting point is 00:14:34 The other team snitched on my teammates. Damn. Damn. Have you seen any of those teammates? No, that's not. They're in Venezuela. They was off on their own. They're in Venezuela.

Starting point is 00:14:42 Oh my god. They have not yet to leave the country. Yeah, that's what they do to fit, they scare you out. If they don't, if there's some players playing good. Local players. Local players that are stars, all stars, you come in, you're in a position, you start taking, he ain't playing no more.

Starting point is 00:14:59 Rotation, minutes go down. No minutos. Amen. They having them conversations at the crib. What we need to do? I've seen Hector and them over there. Joker and Baby Joker. Yeah. Mr. B, what do you think about boogie crashing out like that? I mean it happens. You know my experience overseas I've seen, you know I went to Serbia, some hostile environments, it gets hostile in there, you know, fans can get a little out of control but I mean you're in their country so you know they're going to do anything that they can

Starting point is 00:15:34 do to try to get you, you know, out of your game or or not be at a place so I just hope this doesn't hurt Boogie, you know, coming back because you know know, he does have a big face right now in media and things like that. So, you know, I just hope that whatever, he can just get through that and just, you know, move on from it. Most definitely. So just correlating this to your guys' own personal experience, what's the most upset

Starting point is 00:15:58 that you've been on the court? I think it's the whole, Uh-oh. If I'm a fan, don't, there shouldn't, why do I have rules? I'm in my area. Like the court is the no, we don't go on the court, right? And you don't come in the stands.

Starting point is 00:16:17 That's the only rule that we have, right? Unfortunately, if you say something to me that your boss don't like, you get fired. Me personally? You're fucking, this is what I'm supposed to do. I done practiced what I'm gonna say to your black ass all week. You know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:16:41 For sure. With the middle finger though? Yeah, what? I do it all the time? No, I mean, yeah, but is there a certain but color like the fan shit are here to go like we have rules and regulations here in the United States Depending on what city you you look at the pan say he had to say something else Yeah, don't spit don't throw shit If you're mama ugly, you're mama ugly.

Starting point is 00:17:06 What's the what? Dicks and stones and break my bones with words, you never hurt me. Bullshit. Never. Yes. Ever. Yeah, I'm about to say bullsh-. Ever in life.

Starting point is 00:17:16 I'm about to say bullsh-. Ever in life. Shit, because maybe Sam's cut the Westbrook. Nothing you can say can hurt me. Nothing. You battle tested. What is a word? Nah, man, somebody talk about your, somebody talk about your wife or something. They don't know her, and they don't know her. I think it depends on what they say. And what you gonna, what you gonna do? And they don't test it. What is a word? Nah man, somebody talk about your wife or something.

Starting point is 00:17:25 They don't know her and they don't know her. I think it depends on what they say. What you gonna do? They don't know her. The fans don't know your wife and your kids or nobody. Why would I entertain that? Unless she's OnlyFans, then we do know her. Then we do. We both know her. So for the people that say something about Westbrook's family, LeBron's family, it's okay?

Starting point is 00:17:44 Because you know, you know, but what are you gonna do for somebody saying something? That's five seconds of your Reaction to something that you can control like boogie just tried to do you can control that That's five seconds of an impulse that you can control me. He ain't talking to me like that He don't know me. But again what as a fan, what is my actual job as a fan? Please don't say just go there and watch the game. Heckle. Don't go there and watch the game and enjoy you. There's a way to heckle without being personal.

Starting point is 00:18:17 But that's not, but you don't have that when you walk in the room. When you start attacking, like he said, it's happened so many times. You're attacking somebody's wife or kids. Like that's crossing the line. Where is that on? We just saw it. We just saw the hip hop. But when you walk in, look, when you walk in the door, right,

Starting point is 00:18:33 is there a list of shit you can't say? Nope. Is there a, hey listen, when you say that- You can say it, but I also have a right to respond. Right, also. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Say something back. No, no, say something back.

Starting point is 00:18:45 Everybody's rebuttals are so trash. That's what I don't like about people. You want to be funny? Let's be fucking funny. You want to fucking give me an insult? Let me give you one back. Okay. And then we're going to walk away. But somehow somebody's insult is stronger than mine

Starting point is 00:18:58 and I got a fucking problem with it and I can't say nothing back. So I want to be mad. Well, the person that usually gets in trouble is the person that says something back. Yes. So, people don't... Yeah, yeah. So, I'm saying, so I want to be mad. Well, the person that usually gets in trouble is the person that says something back. Yes. So I'm saying, so it's not that, no, what you said, yeah, but me now saying back, well, I got to be looked at

Starting point is 00:19:14 as a bad person. You must have just said something strong enough. I did say something strong. So I'm saying that... You did something strong. You went a step further. By responding. You didn't say nothing back. You just went, you went a virus that further by responding didn't say nothing back

Starting point is 00:19:25 You just went you went and you you wanted to uh No, he said he responded by saying something right so he went He went right in there and put his hand in his face right right right the same thing He did so he would like that so okay. I was fine. So that's my response okay, but when you cross the lollipop across the line Snatch the lollipop. I see the there's a lollipop. That's crossing the lollipop. There's a lollipop snatched crossing the line. Where's the lollipop? Did we see him snatched the lollipop? Wait, hold on.

Starting point is 00:19:50 So the guy is sitting down. The guy is sitting down. Listen, you get paid 20 million dollars and more. To chill the fuck out. To play a game. I gotta pay to watch you and root for my team we hate you if

Starting point is 00:20:08 I can get a 40 to 20 million dollar nigga upset to the point where he's engaged with me what and he's off his game what we win we won I wanna did my job my money is worth it you're're not getting me off my game. I'm buying a jersey, I'm spending money to be me. You get paid 40 million to be a professional. If you can't be a professional and I can knock you off your rocker, cool. You're not getting me off my game. I'm just saying, I'm gonna respond though.

Starting point is 00:20:37 I'm gonna respond. Okay, and I'm gonna still go out there and go get my- And I'm gonna keep poking until you get loose. Can I ask you all the questions? The same people that was poking at Ross, what he was doing, triple-double every night. Triple-double every night.

Starting point is 00:20:46 So you poking the wrong bear. Who is Clipper Darrow? Clipper Darrow is a fan of the Los Angeles Clippers' gotten situation at Staple Center Security. No. He's friendly. He's friendly. He's friendly.

Starting point is 00:20:58 But he ain't over. But he could be. Yeah, he can go two tones loose. He could be. And he don't sit front row. He don't sit in the front row. He could really be. He could be. He could be. And he don't sit front row. He don't sit in the front where he could really be. He is really calm, but he one of them over there. He's a clipper.

Starting point is 00:21:12 He one of them, like proud. This my city, my little town, my little hut. Shit. We can't wait till you come in town. It's seven of us. Can't wait. But do we be cursing? Do we be cursing? You know how many times we gonna say

Starting point is 00:21:28 n****s today? This is our first time we get to say n**** all year. Cause you here immediately they are going to get him off his game. Yeah, get me kicked out. Immediately. You know what I mean? If you don't like what I'm saying just get me kicked out. That's all you got. You get me kicked out that's that's all you got if you're talking if you're talking crazy that

Starting point is 00:21:50 doesn't mean I'm gonna just go crazy get kicked out I'm gonna say what I gotta say and get back to what I gotta do what happened though no no but this is but this is over see we're talking about guys in the NBA oh we're talking about that game overseas whatever I'm trying to silo just whatever kind of game overseas whatever I'm trying to see when the lollipop gets in there that wouldn't happen in America. This guy is the guy Right there that guy right there. Look. Yeah Yeah, let's go did the guy did have something He snatched his lollipop girl

Starting point is 00:22:18 I'm just saying that's I think that's crossing the line everything else. I'm fine with but you can't So but oh boy stood up like he wanted to do Rewinded back come on. You're my space. You missed the first 10 seconds in America I saw that but my point is if you standing up like you want to do something then you're standing over me I'm standing in my seat. I can stand I got I got what I'm supposed to be I want to I want to actually listen here right if I you gonna hit me don don't hit me. I'm sitting down. You see them white lines? I think they call it out of bounds. He didn't.

Starting point is 00:22:47 He, but Boogie wasn't trying to hit him. Cause if Boogie wanted to hit him. He don't know what. If Boogie wanted to hit him, he coulda hit him. But if I'm five, if I'm five, six, and that's Boogie, I'm in my chair, even if I stand up, it don't mean shit. See? There was a lollipop.

Starting point is 00:23:03 He started. No, it was a lollipop. He was holding something in his hand. He had something in his other hand, girl. It appeared to him. It wasn't the other guy. He jumped up once Boogie's teammate grabbed him. Pal, can you start it from the top one more time?

Starting point is 00:23:16 He really didn't want them props. They just hostile over it. That's their job, though. They job is to do that. Just go slow. They got guys they subbing in. Them dudes subbing in the game. That's Ronaldo right there. Once we found out there was a Over there is cuz this ball that's as Ronaldo and all in there on the same team

Starting point is 00:23:40 Yeah, yeah, they said the bill McGee plan to Finger that's two fingers. That's that's something in his hand. That's two fingers Not that guy is yeah That's when he's leaving out watch I'll show you Now fast forward all the way to the that would never happen in America in a NBA game like you're not That's why I said this is like NBA game like you're not I love it Yeah, get it get it get him out get him a body here so we can win the game My job is to win a game. I'll get fuck what y'all feelings are. Well, who won the game, huh?

Starting point is 00:24:20 Obviously the other time Boogie seemed to not win the game. Yes, he by I'm on back at him. So this guy Obviously the other time Boogie seemed to not win the game. Yes, he by I'm on back at him. So this guy by my Was it this guy right here? No, he's middle finger. He had nothing by a moon. Oh, they and they and Sam Oh, yeah Drinks on it. Hey home To cuz I'm because I got that I got the rail right there. You can't jump that high. I'm getting up out of there. I'm not.

Starting point is 00:24:48 Cool. I'm getting up out of there. Yeah. I mean, we talked about Miles and the Pals back in the day. We had Jermaine O'Neal on the show last week. But as players, do you guys enjoy these type of moments where fans try to cross those boundaries? I do. And think that they can step to you?

Starting point is 00:25:01 I love it. I love the engagement, man. I don't want wanna fight no fan. Now you know how impactful you have to be for them to focus on you? I'm pretty sure no bench players had this problem. They come near to root against you personally. Nobody hackling Caruso.

Starting point is 00:25:24 He ain't gotta worry about none of this right here.. They going after the people who can impact the game. So yeah, if you got the fans rowdy like that, that's a good environment. Yep. You thrive for those. It's better than a low energy crowd like we see in some of the shows. Because they really, it's confused admiration. They really love you because you're the threat to their happiness right now.

Starting point is 00:25:43 We came here to win and cheer, but this motherfucker right here is getting on our nerves. He's scoring every time. They really, it's confused admiration. They really love you because you're the threat to their happiness right now. We came here to win and cheer, but this motherfucker right here is getting on our nerves. He's scoring every time. So if you start to entertain that, and you start to be the like villain of it, you win both sides because if you win the game, they hate you, but they actually love you

Starting point is 00:25:59 for giving them a good game. Like it's all camaraderie at the end of the day, especially over there. They might really, really hate you, but then you walk through the mall, they're going to take pictures with you. They're going to let me get your autograph and all of that. Ain't no real hate cause they love the entertainment. Except when you have teammates that try to set you up because they're assaulting.

Starting point is 00:26:16 I'm glad they didn't find out about that. They would probably did something to them, but it is what it is. And we talked about this a little bit earlier, but is there certain words that should not be said that could trigger you? We talk about Westbrook being called Westbrick by fans and that being a triggering word for them, that seems a little extreme.

Starting point is 00:26:32 That's not trigger. No, that's not triggering. But like the M word or things like that. You talk about somebody's personal family. That's triggering, so. I think it depends on the person, right? Like they're saying that doesn't trigger them. But if you're going to be disrespectful

Starting point is 00:26:48 and talk about my kids, my family, my wife, like for me personally, yeah, that's triggering. Yeah. I love it. I love it. No, no, no, I'm not saying that he doesn't love it. No, I'm saying I love that it's triggering. I love it. No, no, I'm not saying that he doesn't love it. No, I'm saying I love that is true. I love triggers

Starting point is 00:27:11 I mean, well sir, I mean you got to be careful some people don't play about they found yes You do you could pull the wrong they'll be pulling that trigger. Yeah, that's cool. Cool. I got 20,000 fans in here 20,000 fans in here. Okay. It's 20,000 verse one. You're awesome. If there's a Blinky collection as we saw on Unsold, we are streaming on Netflix. Blinky in the game.

Starting point is 00:27:32 That's therapy. Movo get that triggered. He needs therapy. Yes. You are too wound up, brother. Okay, a little wound up. You need to relax. You care about your family.

Starting point is 00:27:43 You need to relax. In a basketball game? He don't know your family. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, relax He don't know your family. No, I'm no, I'm no, he's don't know your family I'm all he never seen your family or never see your family, but he know I got the family That's why he said he know you gonna get upset. That's why you out here. Hey, listen. Hey, come here y'all. We bought them piss this I got it. Y'all just cheer me on while I'm doing it. I mean, you could piss me off, but that trigger gonna, you know. Yeah, but we win.

Starting point is 00:28:09 We win. For some people, there are some things though that I'm personally not gonna allow to happen. And that is me having my wife's back, my husband's back, my kids. That's the line in battle. When you go into battle, when you put on them boots

Starting point is 00:28:25 and you put that motherfucking, you take that gun and you say, yeah, we ready. You just signed up for war. You're going to tell them not to shoot me in the legs? But that's what it is. Look, my legs are off limits. Don't shoot my legs. For you, it doesn't bother you.

Starting point is 00:28:41 Like, if they came for your wife, for your kids, or whatever, you're like, all right, cool. That's what you're supposed to do. Because it's war. They're going to come for you. For you, it doesn't bother you like if they came for your wife for your kids or whatever you like alright cool That's what you suppose because it's war they don't know it doesn't matter for for Brandon. It's totally different I mean, it's gonna turn me up for me. So now I'm gonna but it's go crazy on you. There's nothing different in war It's it's that a war that's not what it is. Huh your team verse much for them. Yes, it's us against you That's not real. These are our pawns in the front. They the front line pawns. If the front line pawns can take your fucking queen.

Starting point is 00:29:13 Huh? I'm just saying. Game over. I'm just saying, you can say something and then they can, you know, they can up they play too. I'm not saying you gotta. They can, but that's, they don't get that, but that's, but that's the point of being a fan. No, no, no, I'm talking, well. Like Dre Young in New York, but you think they hate him because they're winning, but that's what I'm saying

Starting point is 00:29:29 They're they're they're starting they're making him like if they just don't say nothing He probably won't but what I'm crazy, but like they hate they hate him more Because when they get to going he gets to whooping off in the ass So they're trash talking to him don't affect him and he doubles down. That's how you're supposed to be. For sure. Really they do it. You don't have to say nothing.

Starting point is 00:29:53 You just kill him. You just killing him. Because he's killing him. Yeah, for sure. But when you getting killed and we triggering you, now you got to respond and react defensively because you're not up to par with the battle you lose in the battle So if you're still playing and your wife is at the game and she walking through the crowd or whatever in the crowd They know that's your wife and they whatever they turn around they disrespect for a call or whatever

Starting point is 00:30:17 Touch or spit on her. Yeah, you see her up there. Yeah, you see that that doesn't trigger you. No, that's what we got security Yeah. You see that? That doesn't trigger you? No, that's what we got security. So that doesn't trigger you? No, that's security. That's they just... So I'm supposed to what, jump out the game and be unprofessional and go up there? And you saying who's doing this?

Starting point is 00:30:33 Yeah, my wife is up there. The fan. My wife is up there. The heckler. The heckler. Somebody went on there and somebody might take off. I'm gonna just sit up there and say security. We got the fuck out of here. We've had that. Yeah, yeah, we got the fuck out of here. I don't give a fuck about the professional or nothing. The hacker is fucked up. The professional is fucked up. The professional is fucked up. The hacker is fucked up. The hacker is fucked up We've had that. Yeah. We got that. Fuck out of his name. Go run. Go run. Go. That's all.

Starting point is 00:30:46 There's nothing. I had that fucked up. You just gonna leave your wife there. No, that's what the team security security gonna get. That's what they do. They go. They grab. They kick him out. They make sure she's alright. The fuck am I gonna do? Go up there and do what? Have team security. Pull him out. Do the same goddamn job anyway. Okay. But the only thing that changes is I got suspended and lost millions. As you got out of your life. Because I went into the crowd.

Starting point is 00:31:12 Well, I'm gonna get suspended then. I'm not getting suspended for no spit. Are you saying that she spit on him? You ain't get suspended for the spit. You get suspended because it's your wife. Well, you talk, yeah, we went from words to spit. Y'all tripped me. That's that move. No, that's what she said first. She said spit. She said spit.

Starting point is 00:31:29 But that's, but fans also do that. But we not. They throw shit on him, food, shit, everything else. We said if they spit or throw something, that's different than words. This is sticks and stones break my bones. Words will never hurt. No, that's what she said.

Starting point is 00:31:42 But if somebody throws beer on you or popcorn. That's after all the shit happened. That's after all the complications. you or popcorn that's after the all the shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been.

Starting point is 00:31:53 That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been.

Starting point is 00:32:01 That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that shit has been. That's all that though, because you already didn't did what you did. So now, my thing is I'm about to get up out of there. Man, in college when you played at Duke, bro, you seen, you felt the energy of the crowd heckling you. But did you look at them and say, you guys are nerds, and I'm not really fat about that?

Starting point is 00:32:14 No, you knew it. Like he said, if they heckling you, you that nigga. If somebody in the crowd is trying to get you off your game, you should be like, oh, OK, I got one of them, and a nigga guarding me. He's trying to get me off my game. And the ref, they looking for me to, nah, I'm not going to crash out.

Starting point is 00:32:32 So it's OK for them to talk reckless, but when we talk about basketball players and everything like that, we got to watch what we say. What are you talking about? So like, when we're talking about a certain, when we're talking about certain players, about how they play and how they, and they get sensitive and mad, but we got to back off and be. Because we're talking about a certain where we're talking about certain players about how they play and how they and they get

Starting point is 00:32:45 Sensitive and mad but we got a back off and be because we're players But you saying we like I like I've never backed up never They were fuck about what these niggas think about what I say. No, I'm just saying in general players on a court when we're battling First of all, let's just be honest. We're talking about when we're playing the game itself inside the lines We say worship to each other Then anything can say That's in his mind. Especially when we get upset when we get up. It's fine

Starting point is 00:33:19 Cry baby now you want to go all Now you want to go all And then just go irate all for seven every time. Yeah, it's a bad game Yeah, I'm out of here if you think I'm bullshit and go to every Westbrook spaz out I guarantee you none of it was him playing well Yeah So what that's how it works we just the reason we go at the fans is because they're entering into something that's not part of it. Right, right.

Starting point is 00:34:07 One fan did do it to Westbrook when he flicked him off, I'm telling you. And Westbrook was losing. He was getting the ass whooped. So that means you hear everything when you hear your ass whooped. Everything. Yo son heard me, what?

Starting point is 00:34:19 He cried. Who touched him? Man, I see. Somebody in the full 100 and you heard all that. Yeah, you heard all that. You heard the binoculars out, you're like this nigga up here is throwing a birdie at me. We sensitive when we losing.

Starting point is 00:34:33 So you said you've heard worse stuff from your teammates? That's called being a sore loser though. During the game? From your teammates, opponent. What's the most reckless thing you've had a teammate say to you that was actually offensive to you that made you wanna fight him? Your girl. Other than other than past your girl to work where you think she was like What are you talking about?

Starting point is 00:34:54 Team a set no Opposite team has told you your girl is the work Well, you think she was there last night I would hope in bed preparing to come for me. You think that baby yours for real? You better get a DNA check. I heard you asking questions. He looked just like me bro what you mean? She named him Rashid. Well that's his fault that he's a hoax. It ain't no way I'll be on the court and that baby ain't mine. So if I'm trying to do it, you gotta kiss me. Hey, what little Rashid want for Christmas this year? What little Rashid want? At the free throw line.

Starting point is 00:35:32 You good? What little Rashid? Well, I'm gonna send the packages this year, bro. That's what I'm saying. It's hot. If you believe it, woo! No, if he... Human!

Starting point is 00:35:42 That's... And you looking up there in the family section. You looking at the family section like... That's his fault if he believe that. Because he ain't gonna get the DNA. I don't know where that bit is. That's his fault. Whoo, human that's you looking up there That's his fault if he believed that because he that mean he ain't gonna get the DNA I don't know what Where was she at last week for real? She said she went on a girls trip Brick, brick, brick, as soon as you miss. I'm like, yeah, you can see it now, can't you? You see it?

Starting point is 00:36:09 It's all on live. It's all on live. Niggas be screaming, oh yeah. Say whatever, girl, it's war. You sensitive about something, let me find out, please. Am I sensitive about something? Anybody, anybody, I'm going up again. I'm pretty sure you heard words from girls

Starting point is 00:36:26 on the women on the court versus the fans. Y'all just played basketball? But to think about a player, you got to be careful, because that could just turn her up. I'm not saying like she's going to go off on a player, but a fan is kind of like, yo, you can't even do what I do. That's why you kind of get sensitive. But for Cheryl, if I'm going against Cheryl as a woman,

Starting point is 00:36:49 I'm trying to get at Cheryl, I'm probably, I got to be careful what I say. This is not somebody that, first of all, this is somebody who's like. You know who you can talk to and who you can't. I mean, I don't think it would be smart to talk to Cheryl Supts when she's in her like, oh. Depends on how she. If she's playing really good.

Starting point is 00:37:05 Well, for a time, maybe a 10, I think you should be very careful. But if she's playing really good, right? But if the player did it, that was very different. Yeah, but what I'm saying, like, if you're playing really good, she got 25. I wanted players to play. 25 and a half. You got 25 and a half. The players I did, for me, the fans fans are the fans cross the line at times.

Starting point is 00:37:27 And that's the part where. That's it. If I'm a fan, I'm crossing the line. Yeah. Cheryl, look, you got 25 and a half. No, I don't care. So our job now is not to increase that to go to 50. As fans, we've got to figure out how to cool you down.

Starting point is 00:37:45 How do you go? By talking crazy. We haven't said nothing to her though. We haven't said a word to her. She just going crazy. Now all of a sudden she here and some wild shit that got her at the free throw line like, what the hell? You never played in Boston?

Starting point is 00:38:02 No, no, no. Have you played in Boston in the playoffs? Okay, okay. Have you played in Cleveland in the hell? Hey, you never played in Boston in the playoffs? No, no, no. Have you played in Boston in the playoffs? Okay, okay. Have you played in Cleveland in the playoffs? Yeah, but he's 25 and a half, so you think you saying something like that is going to make me just be like, getting me off, I'm about to go crazier now. What just happened to Demarcus Cousins? Yeah, like that.

Starting point is 00:38:16 Like, that doesn't, like, when you're losing, it only hurts when you're losing. What just happened to Demarcus Cousins? We don't know how much he had. He was losing. But whatever he had, he's going up against Galanari and Ronaldo Bauchman on the other side. Do you think that his team needs him to play? But what happened?

Starting point is 00:38:29 We don't matter. But that's what I'm saying. It's all about time. It's all about the timing. That's what we have to point. That's the point. All we can see is a video. Like we don't know what he did.

Starting point is 00:38:38 We know nobody was touched. OK, can I ask you this? Nobody was touched. You did not touch him. But he could have said something that boogie was like, oh hell no Okay. Now one now now now, okay. Think about think about you're on the road. This is not home. You're on the road Do you think those fans feel they won? By getting him kicked out or lost

Starting point is 00:39:00 I'm sure they feel like they want so they gonna say what they have. It don't matter what it happens If they got to the other chain, they're not irritated and he left that's what I'm sure they feel like they want so they gonna say what they have it don't matter What if they got a little bit change? Irritating and he left that's what I'm saying. But for some people That shit doesn't matter if you want to loss like if you're disrespecting me to a point where I'm like I'm not cool with that then I'll give a shit if I get kicked out. Well, you're not restore your respect You know, we don't know you're not gaining. You're not getting respect. Oh, and I don't care either. You're not gaining respect though and I don't care either you're not gaining respect you're saying someone but I'm not trying to gain nobody's respect you're saying someone disrespected you so if someone disrespects you and you don't get no respect back and he

Starting point is 00:39:39 what is the gain you're not gaining respect by attacking I'm not trying to gain your respect You're not gaining respect by by a kind of gain your respect But I'm also not gonna sit here as a a person as a human being and let you personally Disrespect me. I don't know what clearly the man says something. It was more than just I'm gonna grab my nuts But it sounds like you're saying I'm demanding respect. You're saying I demand respect. No, no No, you can go but you're just going too far. Sometimes you go too far. People can go too far with you.

Starting point is 00:40:09 Can I ask you something? Why don't you just sit there and let somebody just stomp on them? That's not what the work do. The work just let you just stomp on them. Well, you want to come this weekend? You want to come? That's what the work do.

Starting point is 00:40:19 You're not finna just keep, I'm not a weekend for, Like, shit. That's what you pay her to do. You pay her to come here and stomp on you. At one point you gotta wake up and be like, okay if she's doing it for free you fucking up You put what happened? So so he got kicked out of this game for some words what you think happens the next road trip What do you think those fans going and they see? You think they want him to come in half 50 and 20? No, we're gonna talk the same shit

Starting point is 00:40:46 Would you say it's not gonna work the next time okay, you got me okay, but I'll let y'all know like yo back everybody know now Well, we like we know that we say you don't get kicked we know we can we can get him over there That's what we do know. We know we keep going you gonna get you know that yo you can okay? All right, I mean you remember you remember the Philly Philadelphia with um, I mean I don't think the market's cousins gonna get kicked. I Remember IT situation when the fan wanted a frosty. Yeah, but what he was saying, you know I mean when he was saying to him talking shit to him and he went in the sand about the little frosty Every every road trip they're gonna do that now. And that's what happened.

Starting point is 00:41:25 They started personally fucking with him, getting them all fucked up. He already identified that that's a problem for him. He can't stand it. That's why they kept doing the Westbrook shit. You can't say this. Once he said something, it's just like, I'm just like, I'm just calling him Westbrook Westbrook.

Starting point is 00:41:42 That didn't trigger it. It triggered him. It was him, it triggered him. It triggered him. It triggered him. He responded to it publicly like, yo, I need y'all to respect me. Put some respect on my name. My family's in the crowd.

Starting point is 00:41:52 Y'all disrespected me. But that was a, they put a price on his head right there. OK, well that's, OK, I don't know. Basketball, I just said the personal stuff. Now, basketball, you could call me whatever, say whatever. But that's his name. I'm talking about the other stuff. He talking about respecting his name and his legacy.

Starting point is 00:42:07 I mean, top 75. So why would he have a problem? I mean, I don't know why. Because it's personal. It's a trigger. That's what I'm saying. If it's a trigger, and I know I could say this, and you going to lose your mind.

Starting point is 00:42:19 Right. Bro. Yeah, but they were saying more than just Westbrook. They were saying more than just Westbrook. Well, he came that's not good. I mean I hear what you said. That's not a good That's they were saying more than just what he came out, but he's dressed that he said he doesn't like his last name played with Oh, yeah, he's got a hair. That's okay. Okay. Well, I mean he's just he's a different. I mean, that's him. Why it was different No, hey with the gist is just here we know what no one that's just Everybody no, are you just speaking? No's the different things trigger different people. Are y'all speaking for everybody? Or y'all just speaking?

Starting point is 00:42:46 No, I said different things trigger different people. And as a fan? That triggered him. And as a fan, what is my job to do? Figure out what triggers you. That is your job. No, that's fine. That's fine.

Starting point is 00:42:55 That's fine. But my job as a person, not a basketball player, my job as a person is to address things that I feel are disrespectful to me. Yes. And as a fan, watching the game at the game, and if you're going to address it and get out the game, I'm going to make sure you address me then. As a fan, I paid my ticket to hackle you so my team has

Starting point is 00:43:21 a better chance of winning. That's my job Cleaning in the playoffs you think they was nice That's where they found all the dirt on the whole team. We we sit in there reading boards like Didn't know that Didn't know that either your wife your wife used to be a stripper Like we sit there whispering because people people got, we sitting there finding out everything about our teammates.

Starting point is 00:43:46 Man. It was to the point where we ain't even, nobody wanna even look in the stand no more. We just, we just looking red in the game. We stopped looking red. You said when y'all played against Cleveland? Yeah. And what happened?

Starting point is 00:43:58 Woofless. And what happened? Whooped our ass. They whooped our ass. Okay, they whooped our ass, right? Yeah, yeah, to the point we couldn't even, we couldn. OK. To the point we couldn't even go to the co- All the heckling didn't do anything. It did.

Starting point is 00:44:08 They was heckling us. Turned them up to where they whooped y'all ass. They was heckling us. He was in Cleveland. We was in Cleveland. Their fans was heckling them, bro. Their team was heckling. We couldn't even-

Starting point is 00:44:18 Did he just say- No, they was heckling us. They was heckling them so they don't turn up. They making sure y'all motherfuckers- We couldn't even go to the- Y'all, this, y'all, that. Thatall that that's it was a rich. It was a rich man It was a rich hotel next to the mall Cleveland Cleveland even going to mall. We couldn't even go in the mall Why could you go in the mall cuz the fan was there? Oh, oh Cleveland did it to you right just random

Starting point is 00:44:41 Sitting that there to make sure we can't go go into Georgia. So we were stuck to the hotel. All right. Well, let's keep this thing moving because we got a special guest. Got a very special guest making his first appearance in the arena. A businessman has built several multi-billion dollar companies, current founder and CEO of fanatics, former partner with the 76 before he sold his stake in the team in 2022 to focus entirely on fanatics. He's also a board member on the Fanatics Charitable Foundation and serves as a co-chair of the Social Justice Organization Reform Alliance. Here to discuss the Fanatics Fest going down in New York City from June 20th to 22nd at the Jacob Jopits Convention Center.

Starting point is 00:45:18 Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social justice advocate, Michael Rubin. Welcome to Gill's Arena presented by Underdog. What's happening guys? Good to be here. social justice advocate Michael Rubin. Welcome to Gill's Arena presented by Underdog. Whoop, whoop. What's happening guys? Good to be here. And definitely the most thorough introduction of me ever known. We keep it thorough brother.

Starting point is 00:45:34 We keep it thorough around here. I love it. We're gonna get to Fanatics Fest shortly. But first we wanted to ask you about a likely number one overall pick in the upcoming draft. Cooper Flagg signed a multi-year trading card and memorabilia deal with fanatics earlier this year so what did you see in Cooper flag that led to fanatics creating this partnership with them yeah look at fanatics we're lucky to work with the best athletes of the

Starting point is 00:45:56 world we actually have about 5,000 athletes that we work with today that we have a huge investment in and you know, Cooper's as special as anybody. So you know, I remember when I flew out to France to get Victor and Binyama signed and you know, a few years later, it's like, you know, we're just so focused on Cooper. Obviously, Victor's turned into everything we'd hoped he'd been and more and was so bullish on that. I think with Cooper, we're just, you know, we think he's a special person that we can build with. And one of the great things about our trading card

Starting point is 00:46:28 and collectibles business, different than where I started, because everyone thinks of me for, you think about me for the merch business, right? That's where I started. You think about me for the NBA story. You think of me for fanatics. You think of me where I started. And the great thing is that was all about the all-stars,

Starting point is 00:46:41 right? Memorability, it was about how do you have the biggest stars in the world. In the trading card business, it's really about starting with people much younger in their career, when they're rookies, when they're in college. And so we've had to deal with Cooper for several years. We've seen him do incredible. And we're honored to work with him. We actually have Cooper, we have Dylan, we have Ace, all exclusive Fanatics athletes. And we're honored to have that. We're also launching NBA for the first time, 10-1 of this year.

Starting point is 00:47:07 So, you know, Tops is obviously the most iconic branded trading cards, but to bring the NBA and then have Cooper, Ace, Dillon all as our partners, something we're super excited about. Let's talk a little bit more about Cooper. Flag, NBA draft just a few weeks away. Flag moving close to becoming the first overall selection to the Dallas Mavs. Duke freshman has been the spotlight since

Starting point is 00:47:27 high school with while coach K no longer running the show at Duke he's synonymous with the program he made it clear that he thinks flag is the greatest freshman player in Duke history so I wanted you to take a listen to what coach K said recently in a serious XM radio appearance? Grant is the best player to ever play at Duke. The late and the most accomplished. And we've had great, great players. Cooper in his freshman year is definitely the best freshman that has ever played.

Starting point is 00:48:00 I work for the NBA now, and that's just after Board of Governors meetings and one of the talks I had with a couple owners was, you know, we need to have those American stars. You know, we have a lot of international stars, you know, I think five of the last six, maybe six out of six. And Cooper can be that and Cooper can be that Cooper can Can can be that he will

Starting point is 00:48:30 his future Hopefully stays hungry and healthy his future is will be Incredible So we heard what coach K had to say but Michael want to ask you do you believe Cooper flag is the next great American basketball star? Look we are super bullish on Cooper. We are a big believer. We have thought for a long time he was gonna be the number one pick in the draft and I think nothing has changed. Again going it's one of the funnest things for me

Starting point is 00:49:07 is being on these journeys with these guys since they've been young people. So to see, you know, the journey, like I said, we've been on with Victor now to be going through it with Cooper. We're really bullish. We think he's gonna be a giant star in the NBA. And, you know, we're investing in him that way

Starting point is 00:49:19 and we're gonna make him a big part of fanatics and everything that we do, not only in the collectibles business, but across the entire business I just want to open up to the couch too quickly You guys agree with coach K saying that Cooper flag is the next great American basketball star American the couch is quiet. Yeah Wait American or white American American American

Starting point is 00:49:45 Red states blue, the United States, Gil. Red, Fisk, blue states. What? Huh? The USA, yeah, the USA. The next American star. So, I mean, how many years do we have? Like, how many?

Starting point is 00:50:00 No, we don't have no years. You know what I'm saying, is that this year's drive, last year's drive, I mean, there's so many young next stars, I don't know. years. Know what I'm saying? Is it this year's draft, last year's draft? I mean, there's so many young next stars. I don't know. I'm caught up. I'm still caught up. Will be the next great.

Starting point is 00:50:10 Not next star, next great American star. I'm caught up on the freshman. The best freshman at Duke. That's why I'm still stuck there. Shawty, you're not agreeing with Coach K saying he's the best freshman in Duke history? I'm going to just say, yes yes he's the next great American star. Yeah. We can't say anything. I'm gonna say I don't know. No, no, no. Okay the confusion is this. We have the old stars that's

Starting point is 00:50:37 getting out and then we have upcoming stars that that like Jason Tatum and all of them they're American too right? There stars though so which what is the category the last three years I'm not currently a star but next in line to be a great American then yeah you're talking about stars already in Jason Tam olympia gold medal yeah that's the whole setup it sets him up where so what is the what is the mellow ball? He should be a star. So is he a star yet or is it next coming? It's a coming star. It's a coming star. The last three years.

Starting point is 00:51:11 Yes. Mike, what do you think? Yeah, can you make it clear for me? I mean, I think the question was pretty open and it allows us to go with absolutely yes. We said, will he be a big American star in the future? I think that's a definite yes. I don't think we qualified. will he be a big American star in the future? I think that's a definite yes I don't think we qualified will he be the number one star will he be the greatest ever said is he gonna be great? So I think that's an obvious. Yes, you know, that's the way we're looking

Starting point is 00:51:39 Next representing the future We say the only we said will he be a great star in the future. Oh, he's the future. Not currently, oh no. We didn't say the only. We didn't say the only. We said, will he be a great star in the future? Yes. Why couldn't you say it like him? Yes. That's why I'm not a billionaire yet. OK.

Starting point is 00:51:53 OK. All right. Sharing is caring. Let's go. It's all about being really. It's the wording. Yes. I agree, too.

Starting point is 00:51:58 But my question is, what makes him a star, potentially? He's already a star. What makes you? Yeah, so in theory what he's saying is he's already a superstar. He has already a superstar name. So it's influence. So his influence is big like superstar. That's the main metric is how influential can you be in the future? You know I I think you guys really wanna know? Is he gonna live up to the expectations that people have for him? Because expectations are really big.

Starting point is 00:52:29 So that's the real question asked differently. Is Will Cooper Flag live up to the high expectations that people have for him? Because you watch the hype around Victor Raminama. It was huge. I'd say he's living up to that hype. I mean, do you guys agree with me or not? Without question.

Starting point is 00:52:44 Training with Shaolin monks, chest in New York, in addition to everything he's living up to that height Yeah without question training with Shaolin monks Chess in New York in addition to these all the court also the question too is did we give him time? Well, he's gonna have time. All right, we need victims got a lot, but he's already killing He's only a few years. He's two years in two years So wasn't it like the second year where we were like now we did it the first year We thought we question him in summer league. It was a lot of criticism. He got dunked on.

Starting point is 00:53:07 Yeah, he got a lot of criticism. It was up until like fifth or sixth game where he started to show like, OK, this could be something. He was run up a defensive player. But the hype was that would Victor Rimanjama be in five, 10 years the next giant NBA player? And people said he would. I think he's living up to that hype.

Starting point is 00:53:24 He's on that trajectory for sure. Right now the question is for Cooper, will he live up to the hype? And by the way, I'm gonna say I think he will. It's a bad known thing. Now let me also say one more thing. No, no, yeah, no. All of you know a lot more about basketball than me.

Starting point is 00:53:38 Yes. I agree too, yes. Okay, Gill, we have agreement. So we asked the chat if they believe that Cooper Flagg is the next great American basketball star. 52% of the chat said no, 48% say yes. We're also asking the chat will Flagg live up to the hype? That's very close, Sheriff, for our chat, no-nators.

Starting point is 00:53:54 They're, you know, a lot of people don't like Duke. You just gotta, you gotta. Right, so it sounds like it's just like a political ad. It sounds like we have politics, the best. The country agrees on nothing. But yeah, we did ask the best every that the country agrees on nothing Live up to the height currently 60% of the chat thinks that he will live up to the height right you see that I'm a good interview. I can't Know I got

Starting point is 00:54:16 But he won't be the next Again our chat very very fine people, but that's why you can't ask two fucking questions They torn and time figure out which one's gonna get help them to win. It's not a win All right, but let's shift this over talk a little bit about fanatics fest So last year fanatics fest 2024 over 70,000 fans showed up across three days There's activations where they got to meet their favorite athletes across the entire sports world So tickets for this year's event are moving fast. Be sure to grab those now at fanaticsfest.com.

Starting point is 00:54:48 But how do you plan to top last year's Fanatics Fest in 2025? Well, I'm a masochist, so I've got to figure out how to do that always. I mean, this is something we do. It's a complete passion project for me. I mean, obviously, my day job is running our, you know, fan gear business, our collectibles business, and our gaming business. And for us, what I realized, and I'm sure you guys all know this,

Starting point is 00:55:10 there wasn't a sports festival at all for sports fans. So it was like, I've been to a hundred music festivals. I've been to South by Southwest. I've been to Comic-Con. You're like, why do you not have this in sports? I think the answer was, there was no one that could convene everyone together, and it was easy for us because we work with a thousand sports properties and five thousand athletes.

Starting point is 00:55:28 It was easy for us to be the company coming to get the NFL and the NBA and baseball and hockey and WWE and UFC to come for our initial launch. And then this year we've added onto it Premier League, FIFA,, USDA, Nike, Dix, sporting goods, but then you've got so many incredible athletes that come to us, so you say, how do you kind of beat it? Last year we had 70,000 people show up for the first time, and I had no idea what was gonna happen.

Starting point is 00:55:56 I'm telling you, because I'm always blunt, three weeks before I'm like, how the fuck did I get myself into this thing? This is so hard, but then you're like, do I wanna do this or not? Then you're like, but, like, I'm not a quitter. Like, of course, like, we gotta give it everything we have. And maybe it will work, maybe it won't. And then, like, I remember I didn't sleep

Starting point is 00:56:14 for like two or three days, because I can go pretty, you know, I can go, I got pretty good endurance when I need to. And the second night I was like, holy shit, like, this is, you know, there were so many people, and there's so many happy faces and generations of families coming together and you see people, you watch Tom Brady

Starting point is 00:56:30 throwing passes to kids and you watch KD and Aunt just coming back with the Olympus with their gold medals to talk about what they did and you realize like, man, this was right on. So we actually lost 15 million bucks doing it the first year, but who cares? It was like, you know, in this grand scheme of things, it was marketing for Fanatics and you know,

Starting point is 00:56:46 we're just honored to do it. So this year, I think we think we're gonna have double the amount of people. This year for the first time, LeBron James is coming this year. Victor Umeyama is coming back from his trip. He'll be there. James Harden is coming.

Starting point is 00:56:58 Kat's coming for the first time. KD's coming back. We moved it from August until June, so we can get all the current nfl players so like cj straw jaden daniels caleb williams russell wilson michael parsons tarik hills cd lamb and there's so many i think there's 50 current nfl players coming um kevin hart he's definitely not an athlete druzki definitely not an athlete um jay-z, Travis Scott, so it's just like a great collection of people coming together and it's so fun.

Starting point is 00:57:28 And then we created the Spanatics Games this year. We've got 100 people, 50 athletes, celebrities, artists, and 50 fans competing against each other for a million dollar cash prize for the best athlete, half a million dollar Ferrari for the second prize, and a quarter million dollar LeBron James 2003 trading card for the third prize. So that's going to be fun. A lot of people talk a lot of shit about who's going to leave with a bag of money this year. a quarter million dollar LeBron James 2003 trading card for the third price, that's gonna be fun.

Starting point is 00:57:45 A lot of people talk a lot of shit about who's gonna leave with a bag of money this year. Oh wow, lost 15 mil last year, you know. That was, you know, cause it's shit. I ain't never seen 15 mil, but I respect it. But you just named off a long list of- It's marketing for Fanatics, you know. It's like, we wanna invest, like it's our responsibility

Starting point is 00:58:02 to invest in the fan. I wasn't trying to say that in a, a great more like it wasn't a good business It was more like something we were really excited to give back to the fan Oh, no, we get it we get it and these things take time Obviously 2025 is gonna build on 2024, but you just named off an impressive list of athletes curious Are you in a group chat with any of these athletes? And what is that like for you as a sports fan to be able to hit these dudes and get them to respond to you? Yeah, of course.

Starting point is 00:58:28 I mean, the amount of shit that we talk to each other on a daily basis is insane. I just actually hung out with James Harden. He was telling me how he's going to win the games. Michael Parsons called me a bunch of times saying, I'm taking that bag home. I hear KD's training for you. I love this. I'm like, listen, I'm a shit talker. My friends and I, we just kind of abuse each other every day and we just make fun of each

Starting point is 00:58:49 other for a living. So I'm generally, I'm in for the banter. So yeah, it's like, look, I have the greatest job in the world. I do this 17 hours a day. It's all I do. It's the only thing I'm good at. I love it. And to work around such incredible athletes, artists, celebrities, sports fans, owners

Starting point is 00:59:07 who like helped me, give me the opportunity to build fanatics. It's the greatest honor in the world and I'm learning from them every day and we're trying to give back every day. And so it's a blast. So if you lose a bet, do you own up to your bet? Like if I beat you in tennis, you're going to bunny hop until I say stop? Bet buyer, better than anybody. No one pays the bets better than me and you know what that's obviously a well-known story you know Meek and I were in the Bahamas together

Starting point is 00:59:33 four years ago and he says to me let's play tennis together. I'm like there's only two sports I have a chance of beating you in, skiing and tennis. And by the way because I'm a shitty-ass athlete we all know the pitch that I put. By the way, the reason I put my pitch online was I want to show people you can actually be a shitty athlete. By the way, I barely made it out of high school. I got a 7 and 80 combined on my SATs, barely graduated high school, went to college for six weeks.

Starting point is 01:00:00 I like to show people you can suck at everything and be good at something else. That's me in business. That was actually why I posted that video of me. I actually had good pitches I didn't post. I like to make fun of myself. Beak and I were in the Bahamas. He's like, yo, let's go play tennis. He's like, I'm going to whip you. I'm like, Meek, you're not that good of an athlete to start with. Stop talking shit. We went to play. I'm like, what do you want to play for? I figured he's going to want to bet me money. I really don't want to take money from my play. I'm like, what do you want to play for? Like, I figured he's going to want to bet me money. And like, I don't want, I like, I really don't want to take money from my friends. I'm like, he's like, I'm like, let's do pushups.

Starting point is 01:00:29 We do a hundred pushups. He's like, let's do bunny hops. I'm like, what's a bunny hop? He gets up, he shows me. Well, the tennis match was crazy because we're both so fucking bad. It was like a game of like, who was worse. And somehow I just like, it went back and forth on game set point so many times and somehow I won and then I'm talking so much shit so like growing up around like like meaks been my brother forever like you know people

Starting point is 01:00:52 think everyone's always talks about like when I helped me get out of you know prison when he should have been there people talk about that like when we met like meaks been my boy since 2014 like we've been out hundreds of times before so when he's like showing me here's how you do the bunnyhop and he's bunnyhopping around like I don't think anything of it so I put it on my social media and then like you know years later people want to make a big deal out of it you gotta be look you gotta be thick-skinned the better you do people come for you you know I know in my heart Meek knows in his heart like I'm always trying to help people do

Starting point is 01:01:20 good so you know sometimes you wish you had a filter of someone to say hey you shouldn't post that for this reason but But the reality is like, I've done bunny hops with me 500 times. And by the way, he's put me on Instagram, but nobody cares when he makes me do buddy hops. Hey, I just want to make sure you pay your bet. That's all. I was thinking bunny hop abuse right now. So it was actually a good learning story. But I will say I pay my bets faster than anybody. I've delivered a lot of bags of money because I'm a shitty athlete. You want to bet with me because I generally don't care and I'm generally not, it's generally

Starting point is 01:01:57 good odds to bet against me. Shit, shit, we need to bet more then. How do I get this good? Where's this guy right now? I got a couple of athletic skills I want to bet more then. I hear you, like how do I get this good? Where's this guy right now? I got a couple of athletic skills I want to bet him in. I did say meek and I do have a bet in skiing that he's now scared to do with me. He said, I've never skied, I'll beat you in skiing, as I want to take you up that lift and see you beat me in skiing.

Starting point is 01:02:16 That's the only sport I really have a chance at. Why, I ask you this, Mike. Who you got winning the championship? Well, I see the shirt that's being worn there. I it look I'm with the popular group I love I love Tyrese Halliburton He's great. I think he's such a good dude. I like a couple guys on the team personally. I'm on okc How about you guys hmm you got Cheryl Don't be shy You got Cheryl I got okay seeing I got okay seeing six. Yeah Yeah, I got okay seeing okay. See I just bought the t-shirt cuz I thought it was cool

Starting point is 01:02:58 Mmm, I like that t-shirt but it's kind of weird cuz it looked like he got a ball and she Yeah, my little league champion like you got a ball and chain around his neck in his mouth I'm going paces and said maybe the only ring that he's a shirken seven. All right. What do you want to bet? Paces is seven. What do you want? I got nothing. I'm broke baby. I'm broke, baby. I got I'll give you some good odds on that one We can bet see let's do the 100 push-ups. I like the push-ups. I was gonna say, you know what?

Starting point is 01:03:27 The push-ups is a good bet. I like that. How about you take Pacers, I take OKC. Next time we see each other, we do two sets of 50. Hopefully it's at the white party, man, because we're all white just for you today. Say this America, we back. Sean did wear his finest white,

Starting point is 01:03:44 his host of the day of the white party. Shit, I'm trying to win my way into the fucking roster, shit. Oh by the way, that was one part of the party. I pulled the cars up too, Mike. I just want to say one thing that you gotta really be like, you have to have true athletic skills to be able to have the endurance to make it through that party. That party starts at 5 p.m.

Starting point is 01:04:03 It goes till 6 a.m. And by the way, the biggest it ever was was three hundred and eight people. There were still 250 people there at 5 a.m. So this is, and everyone gets there right when it starts, it is a, it's a blast. We do it every other year now. So I alternate it with, we have the Reform Alliance casino night that Jay and me and myself and Robert do together. That's this year. And then next year we're back July 4th for the white party. But you got to know, you got to be training for that.

Starting point is 01:04:30 You have to build up your endurance. You have to be strong. You have to be the top of your athletic career. That's not an easy thing to be able to make it through. I thought we broke Brady the first year. I remember seeing him at like 4.30 in the morning. He's like, I'm not built for this. I'm like, no, you're not

Starting point is 01:04:47 Yeah I've been waiting to be invited Bored I am out here. They don't got the type parties out here Mike our parties a little earlier Listen, I'm not I'm not as young as I used to be but what I commit I commit like I used to have like 20 days a year now I'm down to like five tape with this five to eight days. I'm gonna make them count, baby Physically here with us in the arena, but I can tell you that Gil is a huge sports memorabilia fan We have jerseys all over the set. He has a bunch more that we haven't even found room We have four he got something you don't even know in that drawer He got a lot of grab a bomb a chair from a Wizards game

Starting point is 01:05:26 But who are some of the biggest sports memorabilia collectors that you know? Well first let me say my favorite piece So I've really got into collective memorabilia the favorite piece of memorabilia Which is not what you asked me that I have is We've all talked about what a horrible athlete I am and actually the miracle of me winning that tennis game, by the way. But we had a football game on the beach

Starting point is 01:05:47 that you guys probably saw a couple years ago right before the white party. And CJ Schrod said to me, he drew me this route, he said, here's exactly what to do. And I went out, I ran the route perfectly, turned around, he fricking threw me a bullet. I caught the ball right on OBJ. And like everyone was stunned because you expect me to drop

Starting point is 01:06:06 it and it hit me in the head and it to be terrible. I caught the ball, it was the only athletic thing I've ever done in my life. And CJ signed that ball, I said, Rub, the only athletic thing you've ever done. That's my proudest piece of memorabilia. Oh, that's fire. I want to start with that. That's a good piece of memorabilia. It's actually sitting on my desk here in the office.

Starting point is 01:06:21 But look, memorabilia is so amazing because you memorialize the great things that happen. And that's like, honestly, like it's one of the reasons we started Fanatics Fest is like, you bring together all these great people, these great sports. We're gonna have the biggest memorabilia museum ever assembled. Next week there's $350 million of memorabilia

Starting point is 01:06:39 between trading cards. By the way, like we have Brady's 28-3 jersey from his comeback. That's insane. You know, I think we have some of 28-3 jersey from his comeback that's insane you know I think we have some of his rings there from his Super Bowl rings like it's like look I ain't shit without you guys you you're the people that do all that you're the guys do all the work you're putting on the court on the ice on the field doing what you do for me I'm lucky to be around you know incredibly athletic people the opposite of me it gives me the ability to build

Starting point is 01:07:03 you know finesse the way I do. But I, you know, like I love to celebrate and memorialize the things that amazing, you know, athletes like you guys have done. And hopefully I just get like a 1% rub off for one day. I get a teeny bit of hand-eye coordination. So I mentioned earlier, he recently had ownership stake in the Sixers

Starting point is 01:07:23 before selling that. Still a Sixers fan, I imagine. When you look at the squad this year, dealing with injuries, the situation with Embiid, not being able to make the playoffs, how do you feel about the Sixers missing the playoffs this year in the state of the franchise moving forward? Yeah, well, missing the playoffs this year sucks.

Starting point is 01:07:39 There's no other way to say it. Look, I think when you own an NBA team, you have one responsibility to that city, which is to do everything you can to win a championship. And each year that you don't win, I think you failed. And I think, you know, when you own a sports team, you better take that responsibility that seriously. So, you know, for me, like, I love the experience of, you know, kind of being the third largest owner of the Sixers until 2022 and everything I learned. It was it was so in the way of me building. So it was it was way past the time of me

Starting point is 01:08:10 needing to move on and put all my effort into fanatics, which is what I just love more than anything doing. But I think that, look, the Sixers, you know, Joelle is obviously, you know, an incredible basketball player. You know, they had as much injury issues as you can. I'm just looking forward to them getting help. Like, look, you hate issues as you can. I'm just looking forward to them getting health like look you hate to say it but I'm just looking forward to these guys getting healthy and doing what they're capable of doing.

Starting point is 01:08:29 I will say one last thing and I think all of you will appreciate this. We're all in the sports business. That takes the fandom out of it like I root for my friends. I root for the people I'm invested in. Like I can't say I bleed Sixers. The day I sold my ownership stake I think the way I feel about the team is probably I'm just not as big like I'm rooting for the people I'm invested in. I'm rooting for Cooper Flagg. I'm rooting for Victor Imbayama. Like there are a lot of games I can't even go to because I'm so conflicted for the people. Like you know I'm at the Knicks Celtics you know and I'm friends with people on the Knicks

Starting point is 01:09:01 and I'm you know friends with Jason Tatum. I'm there, you know with wick there and Robert crack to me Just like I just you know kind of root for good games of my friends to do well So I don't seem lame as shit But it's almost the truth and I know each of you know the second you went from one team to another you're like Fuck my old team So I mean with all respect to the Sixers I love him But like I can't say I'm, you know, bleeding the way I used to bleed because, you know, I'm in the business of working with

Starting point is 01:09:29 the greatest, you know, athletes on the planet, the greatest sports in the world. And, you know, I root for my friends. The Sixers are my friends, so I root for them. But it's not like, it's not like I have, not like the third-largest donor anymore. So I'm sweating every detail and having FaceTimes with Joe and James and talking about the different stuff. Like, I'm sweating every detail at Fan FaceTimes with Joe and James and talking about the different stuff like I'm sweating every detail fanatics fest right now. Most definitely. So born in Philly like you mentioned you went to Villanova for about six good weeks before you made your next move your best move became a

Starting point is 01:09:55 full-time entrepreneur so anytime Villanova is mentioned these days the New York Knicks come to mind with that Nova Knicks crew Brunson Josh Hart, Mikhail Bridges. So as someone who went to Villanova how close are the Knicks come to mind with that Nova Knicks crew, Brunson Josh Hart, Mikhail Bridges. So as someone who went to Villanova, how close are the Knicks to being a title team in your opinion? Well, let me say first, it's wrong to associate me with Villanova because the six weeks I was there I was in the parking lot buying and selling footwear, clothes outs and going to the bars in the night times.

Starting point is 01:10:19 I'd say I was actually attending school for six weeks, but I'm not sure that actually attended the classes. They dug up my report card a few years ago. I think I had a 1.89 average for the short period of time that I was actually attending school for six weeks, but I'm not sure that I actually attended the classes. They dug up my report card a few years ago. I think I had a 1.89 average for the short period of time that I was there, which is- That's solid. That's better than me. I was consistent with my SATs at least.

Starting point is 01:10:34 Look, I don't know. I mean, the thing that the Knicks have, and you guys tell me, because again, you guys know like not a hundred times more, but probably a billion times more about basketball than I know. I think they have great chemistry and chemistry matters. Like the one thing we all know, how many times have we seen a team of superstars come together

Starting point is 01:10:51 and it doesn't work? Because there's, you know, hey there's only one ball and it's hard to get people to work together. The amount of bullshit that we've all been part of, but trying to get people to work together that it seems obvious on paper, but you know then you get to the reality of what's on paper doesn't always work in reality. I think what the Knicks have is a low ego team that works pretty well together. I think it's pretty special so I'll tell you like for a guy who barely made it out of high school I bet on my work ethic and my will and my ability to bring people together over

Starting point is 01:11:23 a lot of other things. I think the Knicks have a lot of those traits. So I think the Knicks can go places based on the chemistry and teamwork that happen. What do you guys think? So you are a resident Knicks fan here on the couch for the time being till free agency kicks up in a couple of weeks. You think the Knicks are close to winning the title?

Starting point is 01:11:43 Relax. I think we're definitely close. Got that soul glow. Yeah, I'm just trying to glow over here. I think with the new improvements that we're gonna make, we're gonna be in position, you know. I didn't think we would get rid of Kat so easily, but I think with certain people being up for trade discussions, we can make some moves and those moves are gonna be contingent whether or not I'm still the Nick fan or not. I gotta say one thing, you gotta be happy

Starting point is 01:12:13 because if you look where the Knicks were a couple years ago, people thought they were always a team that was a joke and they pulled that together. Leon Rose, all those guys, they've done a great job. You gotta give mad respect to what they've done. And by the way, Nickix fans are for fucking real like I was I like I was last weekend I was at the champion league finals sitting with the owner of PSG and I put out on my Instagram Like US sports fans got to step it up. I think I had like

Starting point is 01:12:40 500 nix fans trying to kill me for just accusing them of not being good enough fans As I was giving the PSG and Inter Milan fans props for being such crazy soccer fans And I think the Knicks fans are ready to kill me those fans are serious man. You guys are great fans So in addition to work you've done with the NBA you partnered with Jay-Z Patersona Robert Kraft and others to co-found and co-chair the Reform Alliance which focuses on social justice advocacy So how did the creation of the Reform Alliance, which focuses on social justice advocacy. So how did the creation of the Reform Alliance come about? It's actually cut, look, a lot of people know this story, but it's kind of insane because obviously,

Starting point is 01:13:14 me could have been a really good friend of mine before that November day of 2017. I remember like it was Jesse called me and said, hey, Rube, can you come to court with me on Monday? I'm like, why is like, I want you to see what happens when a black person goes to court. Like, you know, like meek has had moments where you just feel like he's being dramatic and you don't know. And so I'm like, you really need me to come? He's like, Yeah, I need you to come. I didn't think anything of it. I canceled. You know, I canceled my meetings. I lived 20 minutes, I came to court, and it was the, it was probably one of the most surreal moments of my life

Starting point is 01:13:51 and one of the most smart things he could have possibly done because I came in there and I'm like, Meek, this is a probation hearing because you popped a wheelie on a motorcycle and broke up a fight in the airport, there's one 60, 250 ticket like you got nothing to worry about. And look, I thought this would be fifteen minutes, like two hours in the court hearing, they give us like an intermission for a baton break.

Starting point is 01:14:14 And I see all these cops walking, the sheriffs walking, I'm like what the fuck is going on? And I come back and literally they ask me, hey, can you speak for Meek? I'm like, sure. I get up and I talk about my relationship with him. And I talked about my mom who was in her 70s at that point and the relationship she had with Meek and the relationship that Meek had with my daughter and how many times I've been out with my friends and around with me with everybody.

Starting point is 01:14:42 How will I know this guy's like, look, he's not perfect. He grew up in a very different situation than I you know I grew up very middle-class. He didn't grow up that way, and you know and the judge won't even make eye contact with me and Obviously everyone knows the story she sent some two to four years I looked at meek and his mom and I said I'm not stopping till I get you in a prison which by the way I had no idea how hard it was to get a black person out of prison for not doing anything man Is that shit more complicated than I thought. So, we spent the next five and a half months

Starting point is 01:15:10 between Jay-Z and Roc Nation, Desiree Perez and myself, working to get him out of prison. And there was something that happened right at the end where the current governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, who was the then attorney general, said to me, Michael, this can't be about your rich, famous friend Meek Mill. This needs to be about the everyday Meek Millers. You got to do something about this.

Starting point is 01:15:30 And that's when just like my entrepreneurial instincts kicked in. I said, you're right. These probation laws and parole laws are completely fucked. They're entrapping people in the system. We got to fix that. We can't go person by person. We need to fix the underlying laws. And so I went to Jay and the Meek and the Robert and we said like, hey, we gotta start

Starting point is 01:15:50 a criminal justice organization to fix the probation and parole laws. And we started that early 2019. And we basically funded most of it ourselves from the board members and we've now got 850,000 people either out or on a pathway out of probation and parole that would have still been stuck in the system if we not changed the laws. Like an example is, in California, there used to be not limits, take Pennsylvania, there weren't limits on how long you'd be on probation

Starting point is 01:16:21 and parole, so a guy like Meek had already been on probation for 10 years and he had like another 10 or 12 years left and that means you get a speeding ticket they can put you in jail. You pop a wheel in a motorcycle they can put you in jail and it was a trap in him in the system. So now we're putting you know caps on how long you can be on probation and parole. It's now one year for a misdemeanor and two years for a felony in California. It's like an amazing innovation in the law. And it keeps communities safer. Because if you put someone in prison,

Starting point is 01:16:48 that shouldn't be in prison, you're actually hurting, you're making the community less safe because then bad shit happens. So it's been an honor to have started it. I still spend a lot of time. We're doing this big casino night, which is why I'm not doing the white party this year in September.

Starting point is 01:17:03 And I'm kind of blown away by the progress we've had so far, and I think we're just getting started. So that's kind of the background of how we got into it. Well, Mike, we appreciate you. Now you gotta- Wait, wait, wait, did you say 850,000 people? 850,000 people, on probation and on parole,

Starting point is 01:17:22 that today are either out or on a pathway to be out because the laws that we've changed we've changed 20 bills in it's I think it's 12 states it might be 11 states either 11 or 12 states we've changed 20 bills and we're fixing the underlying system and it's like it's amazing because there's so much stupidity and I'm sure you guys have friends that have been affected by this you have you know like look there's a law that says if you're on probation, you can't be around somebody who has a felony conviction. Well, if you grow up in a underprivileged area, how many people do you know in

Starting point is 01:17:54 your community that have a conviction for a felony? Probably a lot of people. Okay. So that's like, they can put you in prison or jail for anything. And so changing the laws and getting the stupidity out of the system has been, honestly, it just took a little business person entrepreneur to say, I'm not accepting this stupid shit. And that's what we've done. And we've made a ton of progress.

Starting point is 01:18:16 And we've got a great organization. We've got 60 or 70 full-time people led by Jessica Jackson. We've got a great board. And we're unrelenting on this. And she's great. The team's great, Jay's great, the rest of the board members are great and 850,000 people so far. I'll tell you the greatest story.

Starting point is 01:18:32 When we came up with the idea, someone said, I said you need a numerical goal to come up with how many people are going to get out of the system. And somebody who I don't want to throw under the bus, who's very well known, who I have a ton of respect for, said 10,000 people is the right number. I'm like, 10,000? I'm like, there's four and a half million people on probation for all, there should probably be a million and a half, two million people,

Starting point is 01:18:51 so we should probably get two and a half or three million people out of the system. They said 10,000, you'll definitely hit the goal. I'm like, fuck that, a million. They said, you're never gonna hit the goal. I'm like, great, we'll die trying, who cares? And so we just made up, we went like this, like put the million number out

Starting point is 01:19:05 and that's how we came out with it and there was no thought other than this two and a half, three million people that should be in the system, in the system, so we came up with that big bowl goal and we've got 850,000 so far. So it just tells you, you know, you just gotta go for it, no different than Fanatics Festival reform,

Starting point is 01:19:19 we're just like, I'm very good at going for shit and I've failed many times and I don't really give a shit and a lot of times, you know, we accomplish pretty bold things that no one would have ever tried for. But it's, it's, we're proud of the work we've done so far. A lot more to do. So, Mike, I have a question. If you don't go to court with Meek,

Starting point is 01:19:36 is your perspective different? Not like 99% different, 100% different. I would have never believed all the things he said to me over the years next time you see me just ask him what all the things you said to Rube between 2014 and 2017 He tell me all these crazy stories like the judge is crazy You know she asked me and Nicky to you know to you know write her into a song You're like it almost sounds like it's out of it's out of a movie that can't be true.

Starting point is 01:20:08 So I'd say he told me all these things, but I think I either didn't believe it because it seemed so unbelievable, or I didn't hear him and compute it. And so had I not gone to court that day, would I have given him money to help? Absolutely, as in the charity. Would I have said, like,

Starting point is 01:20:23 here, I'll help people with this issue because it's important to him. I would have financially support I would have never spent one second. That changed my life. Being in that courtroom seeing that witch of a judge and she was a witch okay. Janice Brinkley sentenced him to two to four years for property rule and a motorcycle. She had no regard for his life, for his family's life. How about this a guy who his kid lived in New Jersey, ten minutes from where he lived, I listened to him one time he called the probation officer. He said, hey would I be allowed to go pick my kid

Starting point is 01:20:53 up from school in New Jersey? She's like, if you go there I'll put you in jail! Don't you dare leave! She's flipping out, I heard the call myself. So, you know, the reality is had I not been in that courtroom, had I not seen this stuff first hand, I would have believed none of it. I would have believed that 99% of people who were in prison or jail were there for the right reasons. What you learn there is, look, the government wins 95% of the cases and people don't have the resources to fight them. So, you know, are there a lot of people in jail and prison who belong to be there? Absolutely.

Starting point is 01:21:27 When someone commits a real crime, do I believe they should be in jail? Absolutely, or prison? Absolutely. But do I believe that we want to help rehabilitate people and that we shouldn't trap people in a probation and parole system that just puts people back in jail, prison that shouldn't be?

Starting point is 01:21:40 20, I'll give you the craziest number. 25% of people that go to prison or jail each year is because of technical probation or parole violation. They didn't commit a crime. That makes zero sense. There's no logic to it. So yes, Cheryl, I had to see it myself to believe it, and I did not see it myself. I wouldn't have believed shit. You have to, like, no one can explain that. You have to see it with your own two eyes.

Starting point is 01:22:04 Well, Michael, we appreciate you. We know you got a lot going on, man. We really appreciate you taking the time out of your schedule to pull up the Gills Arena presented by Underdog Whoop Whoop. Whoop Whoop. And again, as a reminder, Fanatics Fest going down in New York City from June 20 to 22 at the Jacob Jobbis Convention Center.

Starting point is 01:22:18 Be sure to get your tickets right now, fanaticsfest.com. 100 push-ups, Mike. Let's go. 100 push-ups on the way. Paces in seven, baby. I want, you know know your mind should be 50 and 50. Yours need to be straight because I just feel like you're much better at letting your opponent go. I agree. I agree. I agree. And it's on the spot too. It's on the spot wherever we're at. Let me tell you what happened last time I made this bet and we'll close on this. I was sitting

Starting point is 01:22:39 next to Gronk at the Tyson-Jake Paul fight and he said to me I guarantee you Mike Tyson's going to win. I said I love Mike. He's a to me, I guarantee you Mike Tyson's gonna win. I said, I love Mike. He's a great guy. I guarantee you Jake Paul's gonna win. And we made the bet. It's 30 push-ups, three sets of three. I can call him anytime. So I just remember when I see him at Fanatics Fest, he's doing the first 30 on the spot.

Starting point is 01:22:58 You're gonna see that go viral. That's my first 30. He's gonna deliver. Mike, we appreciate you pulling up the Gills Arena, man. And look forward to Fanatics Fest in New York coming up in the next few weeks. Thanks for having me, guys. Much love. I look forward to seeing you guys live soon.

Starting point is 01:23:13 Yes, sir. So we talked about the Knicks earlier. Let's get back into that. So after firing Tom Thibodeau last week, the New York Knicks are in search of a new head coach. Well, yesterday it was reported by ESPN's Brian Windhorst that there is mutual interest between the Knicks and current Mavs head coach Jason Kidd. So in order for this to move forward the Knicks have to ask the Mavs for approval to

Starting point is 01:23:31 interview Kidd which the Mavs could deny. So it's now being reported by Mark Stein that the Knicks have asked to speak with Kidd and are awaiting an answer from the Mavs. They got the New York Daily News to go with this headline. Kidd in play, shout out to all the house party fans out there. So Kid has a strong relationship with Nick's captain, Jalen Brunson from Brunson's days with the Mavs to start his career. Also to be noted that after a finals appearance last season, Kid signed an extension with Dallas that takes him through the 26-27 season.

Starting point is 01:24:01 Any move to a different team will require some compensation. A kid was actually dealt from the Nets to the Bucks for two second round picks back in 2014 So this has some precedent But when you're looking at this situation should the Mavs let the Knicks interview Jason Kidd for their head coaching position Yeah, I think so if you're moving into a different direction. I mean, you already let Luca go. Don't you think Mav said, hey, if you don't want to be here, you can go and explore? Yeah, I mean, it's just an interview. But, I mean, who knows what the future is with the Mavericks.

Starting point is 01:24:35 I mean, it's going to be a lot of pressure on AD next year anyway. So, I mean, I don't know. You know, you don't have Kyrie. Kyrie's probably going to be out for half the season so I mean yeah. Does Cooper flag make a difference in that? Not without Kyrie. I still think you need Kyrie and I don't even know who Cooper flag is gonna be yet so I haven't seen the play. So that's the question mark too. Facts? So, Sean, obviously a Knicks fan for this season. Should the Mavs let the Knicks interview Jason Kidd

Starting point is 01:25:12 for their head coaching position? Of course. It's Jason Kidd. So if you're the Mavs, you got Kidd extension through 2027, you'll let him explore some other opportunities and options? As Jason Kid did well with coaching Biggs, right? So you look at he's a guard coach, he's a point guard, he likes dealing with guards.

Starting point is 01:25:36 He was in Milwaukee, was it a guard heavy? Yonis. Yonis was young though. Yeah, Yonis, yeah, Chris Middleton. Chris and who was over there? Sessions? No that was Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe. Right yeah so I mean he's used to he's used to dealing with guards and I think that he goes up and deals with Brunson it could be you know one of those things where you bring Mike

Starting point is 01:25:57 Malone down to Dallas you let Malone deal with AD and you try to read you know rekindle that but then you looking at Cooper, like do you have a coach that can develop a young star into what he's supposed to be? So if you're looking at Dallas, they're looking at him like being Dirk Nowinski. This is a dirt play. So you would need somebody that can actually bring him

Starting point is 01:26:24 into that greatness. Someone has seen it before. I think Mike Malone probably more. Yo, but if they do interview J.Kid, right? And I mean, I don't know how Yannis and J.Kid's relationship was. And I know, you know, Yannis is going to be out there in trade talks.

Starting point is 01:26:41 If they do get J.Kid, do you think that would be a possibility too? I mean, but I don't know their relationship though. I think years have passed and like Kenyon was saying, that they put him through the wringer when he was first there. So it's a possibility that it could be a lot of respect because he became what he was putting him through. So, you know, New York is one of those things where it can be a good thing for

Starting point is 01:27:05 Jason Kidd because he played in New York. He understands it. No, for sure. You know, but then again, it's like you got Mark Jackson. Mm. So if I had to choose between the two, I'm picking Mark. So you're picking Mark Jackson over J.K.? Yeah. Well, let's look at this from the math standpoint. Obviously, you feel like you've got your coach to at least take you to the next future next couple years made the finals last season Now you got the Knicks coming through asking if they can holler And you just gonna be cool with that yeah good like as a team

Starting point is 01:27:39 As the maps in this situation the Madison higher How'd you think it? as the Mavs in this situation? The Mavs didn't hire Jason Kidd. But he is their head coach. I gave him an extension. But he didn't hire him. That was all Mark Cuban. So that's the conversation.

Starting point is 01:27:53 I mean, so they don't have any loyalty to him, just like they didn't have any loyalty to Luca. Just like any new business man that comes in, he wipes shop. So within the next two, three years, all of Mark Cuban's people will be removed from the organization. That's how it works.

Starting point is 01:28:11 It's worked in every business. Like, this is how your team functioned when you had them. This is my team, I gotta see everything that's going on, so all these people are in place still, and then eventually they'll start being removed for his friends and family and the people that trust him and the people that gonna report directly to him. Right at this moment in time,

Starting point is 01:28:34 all these are moles to Mark Cuban. So if you're a Jason kid, you really have to consider taking a job because unless you believe you will be there when your contract is up if you don't think you're gonna be there when your contract is up you might as well try to take a job now and secure that job because they're hiring it hiring you this one is you got one two years then you probably won't have any more years in the league. So, you know, this is now, do what's best for you.

Starting point is 01:29:12 This is not, this has nothing to do with, we gonna win a championship, you can win a championship, but you ass gonna be out of there because whatever they got in plan is already in play. You're not my guy. Yeah, you're not my guy. I don't really rock with, they the Babylon energy that they got when they basically was like, Mike,

Starting point is 01:29:26 we was gonna get rid of you whether you won or not. And you talking about J.Kid, not necessarily a fan of the Luca Trey. We saw his response in that press conference afterwards, blindsided, just like everybody else was. So go to your point. You've got Mark Cuban, guys, but if you're a smart businessman,

Starting point is 01:29:41 you saw how Cuban built up that franchise, right? You wouldn't want to utilize some of that has it ever worked in any business. Mm-hmm That's why I say with the bucks when the bucks wanted it was under a different owner now It's a new owner. The next owner up is gonna try to I could do it better put my imprint on it Say well, this is a Watch it now. Like this is I'm the man King Kong does not have anything on me. But you think.

Starting point is 01:30:07 I mean, because any new business, man, they got their way of doing things. When you're buying another company, you have to literally strip it down and redesign it to what you like. You keep what you like and you get rid of what you don't want. Absolutely. I like the floor. It was nice. it was marble. Everything else can go.

Starting point is 01:30:28 It's like when a new coach come in every time. He's not gonna have the same three assistant coaches. I don't know them. Even the trainer nigga, man, listen, I don't like the way you stretching my niggas over there. Oh my god. That shit ain't even working, bro. No, that's facts.

Starting point is 01:30:41 I don't like it, it's facts. Better be friends with the goddamn owner for you to keep your job. You talk about this mass organization I don't like it. I don't like it. Friends with the goddamn older. You talk about this mass organization not afraid to make what many would think are crazy moves in trading Lucas. So historically, we kind of coach trades go down as for second round picks exception. Doc Rivers. When he went to the Clippers, I believe the South has got a first round pick. What?

Starting point is 01:31:03 When Doc Rivers, I believe went to the Clippers the South has got a first-round pick in exchange for his services. Oh for his services? Yeah. So you can trade picks for a coach? When a coach is under contract there's compensation that involves. Oh it's cat, so they usually do cast considerations? The second round picks usually are given. Oh shit. So the Knicks but now the Mavs are in a position of leverage right we know you want our guy. we got a wonder contract for a coach. Yes. Yeah, you can trade code leverage the No, it's the contract he's saying That money's there just like a player because the coaches are getting him paid. That's the money on the contract

Starting point is 01:31:41 You can't just take that's not money on that. That's not money on a salary cap books,. You can't just take it. But that's not money on a Saturday. That's books. But you can't just take our guy. We got him under contract. You got to break bread and give us something. You got to give us something for the coach. But I'm giving you a future pick. Sometimes more than once. For a coach?

Starting point is 01:31:59 If he's a good coach. That's crazy. I never knew. Did that just start? It makes sense. No, this has been going on for a while. If they really want the coach, they they're gonna try to do some dumb shit Like so when jk with the Nets went to the Bucks they got two first round or two second round picks

Starting point is 01:32:11 That's crazy. What we will look that up for you. There's in the Bucks He was with the Nets with KT now, so who was the Bucks pick that? came in for jk That was Matt Conaton? Pat Conaton. And who else? I don't know. For Jason Kidd?

Starting point is 01:32:33 That's insane! That's insane! That sound crazy! Yeah, we'll take him for them. Yeah, just give me the guy that ain't gonna play him. Yeah, we're gonna cut him. Okay. Okay. Jeez.

Starting point is 01:32:47 All right. Shake shit up a little bit. Now remember I said motherfuckers can go. And back in the day, Nick's got a million dollars in a first round pick for Pat Ridley to go to the heat. And who did that turn into? ABQ. Wow. Let's see.

Starting point is 01:33:02 That's crazy. Back in the day. Steve Kerr, man, packaged that nigga already. That's crazy. I can imagine. Leave Kurt, man. Package that nigga already. Who the fuck? Man, why y'all still got him over there? Get him out of here. Wow.

Starting point is 01:33:12 Man, package deal. So is there any limits? Know what I'm saying? Is there any like, let's say a future lottery pick? Can they do that? I mean, a first round pick, I don't know if they can put protections in place, that's generally how these things work, right?

Starting point is 01:33:26 Boston. You get second round picks or like in Doc Rivers case, it was a first round pick that was exchanged. Pat Riley's case, same thing. Million dollars and take this first round pick. Okay. That's insane. All right.

Starting point is 01:33:39 Did not know that. Ah, from Butler. Was it Georgia? Butler. Georgia State or? Georgia State, was it something like that a Georgia Butler, Georgia state or George's was it something? Georgia state yeah, let me double-check the kid and his dad was the coach. Yeah From number that's a double-check. Okay Coaches on the top line. I'm thinking I gotta go on with With kid, you know to see where his future is.

Starting point is 01:34:06 It really... Especially, we talked about Mike Malone being, you know, his roots and his connection to New York being an object for the Knicks, but he is available now, so... They want kid. But I'm saying, could you see the Mavs pulling some shenanigans and being like, all right, we'll let, we'll trade kid over there. We'll by Malone Bring in a straight up trade. They're not even a trade. They're not even a coach. They're about to do a coach for coach trade

Starting point is 01:34:32 Trade the coach there get a player and then sign Mike as a free agent. Yeah sign them as a Best available free edge available man got that man off the chopping block Laquan Dickie, man, they got the best free ages down there I like Mike Malone Dallas though me too got a big got too big. Playoff him and Joker. I don't know how he gonna get Kat. Nah. Like I said they gonna have to change some things up there. And do you guys think Jason Kidd will be a good fit for the Knicks as their head coach? Got a relationship with Jalen Brunson already?

Starting point is 01:35:12 I mean, yeah. He's a point guard. He's a point guard coach. Well, you gotta get somebody in there that Rick respect because his dad. You ain't gonna listen to Rick. It's gonna be some shit. Shit.

Starting point is 01:35:32 Well, will Rick be on that front row? Yeah. He gonna be on the front row. Oh, yeah. That's why J. Kid. If he already got a rapport with J. Kid, they done had the conversation. We need J to come up.

Starting point is 01:35:42 I don't even know why they even beating around the bush to go get a coach. Listen, Brunson Senior is the coach. Rick is the coach. His son took what kind of pay cut for this franchise. What's the point even having a regular coach come in? Just hire him and just, you know what I mean? You done paid for it with having Brunson take that big ass pay cut.

Starting point is 01:36:11 That's where you want. Yes. You want so much money in him signing. His dad convinced him, this is what you might as well do. And see if he can get the job done. Cause all that's gonna happen is you bring somebody in, it's gonna be undermining in, undermined in any way. They keep their control.

Starting point is 01:36:28 They say there are some players though that don't. They don't like that. Like Rick, they don't like, yeah, some of those guys that's not playing. Yeah. The ones that aren't playing. Yeah, or not getting the ball as much. But that's a team thing.

Starting point is 01:36:42 All right, you think that, oh wait, that's a decision they're going to have to make then? It depends on who's complaining. Who do players that's complaining about having Rick... Who do you think? Who do you think though? 200 million saved? I don't give a fuck who's talking.

Starting point is 01:36:56 No matter who's saying what. Y'all can go. He took a play cut. Right. You can go. And what you doing? Who are you complaining? Who you complaining? Are you putting up 30?

Starting point is 01:37:06 Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Better buckle up. I'll tell you when we get there. Did J.K. and Rick play together? I don't know what you're saying. Rick was, Rick played for New York? Yeah, he played for New York.

Starting point is 01:37:22 He played for New York. He played with Johnson. He was on the last 99 ECF team from Namaste. Yeah 99-2000. Spree Well and him. Yeah 99-2000 and 2001 as well. So they never crossed paths? I don't think so. We'll figure it out. I hope they give Mark Jackson a chance though. A chance. Just somewhere? Well, just to be in the coaching hunt.

Starting point is 01:37:47 Somewhere. If you put him in the coaching hunt, somebody else would be like, well, he's up. Y'all considering him? Yeah. You know, let him go do some interviews. I don't even know if he'd still want to do it, but... Where would you like to see him though? Like what team?

Starting point is 01:37:59 He doesn't even have an assistant coach either, so that's weird. He's been out for a minute. I know. He should get a chance. Brooklyn, I mean, if it's, yeah, Brooklyn. It's a start. Might go somewhere where you can start, fresh start. Bring in your system and your mind

Starting point is 01:38:18 into what you want these kids to show that basketball is all about. I think just give them opportunity, shit. So we asked the chat, should the Knicks hire Jason Kidd? 66% of the chat says yes, we do have a lot of Knicks fans in this chat. Do we? They'd be supportive.

Starting point is 01:38:33 Yeah, people on the East Coast. You know they ain't doing shit right now, it's 418. Motherfuckers wasn't Knicks fans when I was a Boston fan. It was all Lakers. Now we switch over to Nicks. I like it. Nicks for clicks as they say. But let's keep this thing moving.

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Starting point is 01:39:50 Game three, slated for Wednesday in Indiana. Let's talk a little bit about some key role players on the Thunder side. So Alex Caruso, been an important piece for the Thunder during their playoff run. Caruso didn't score 20 points in a game all season, has done so twice in the playoffs, including the Thunder's game, to win. Through two games in the finals, Caruso's averaged 16 points

Starting point is 01:40:08 and five rebounds in nearly 28 minutes per game. So after OKC's game to win, Chet Holmgren had high praise for what the 30-year-old vet brings to this Thunder squad. Chet, how would you explain or describe Caruso's energy levels for a 30 year old man? Don't disrespect our goat like that, man. He's one of those guys who you know is gonna bring it every single night, whether he's 22 or 30, it doesn't matter. He's gonna bring it and I feel like as a collective, we really feed off of that. And then also his ability to kind of process things that are happening out there and relay it and communicate it

Starting point is 01:40:53 to everybody else is really important for us. So hopefully that doesn't fade away as the years go on. Cruz only 30 years old. Shout out Chet. As a reminder, he likes Jamaican food. Do with that information what you will. But talking about Coruso, 30 years old, won a championship with the Lakers, and what many consider to be the hardest championship

Starting point is 01:41:18 in NBA history in the bubble back in 2020. Made an all-defensive team when he was with the Bulls, was traded for Josh Giddy, obviously. So how important has Caruso been on both sides of the ball for the Thunder this postseason Mr. B? He's been very important. The fact that like you said his experience of winning with the Lakers in 2020 and you know I think he does all the little things you know for the team that other guys don't do. So him being able to contain Siakam in these first two games

Starting point is 01:41:49 has been definitely a big difference. I know it's 1-1 now. But if he can find a way to just keep him contained, yeah, man, Caruso, he could be playing into, well, not finals MVP, but he's definitely going to be a big part of this. and just like he was with the Lakers And it just seems like you know certain guys that play with Braun when they win a championship They go off to you know him KCP. You know those role players around whatever they learn from him

Starting point is 01:42:16 It seems like they take it with them championship pedigree if you will get jobs off on them. Yeah Those other places move to the side of Count Sherrill. When you look at Alex Caruso, obviously not the biggest name in this finals, but been a very integral part of what the Thunder have been able to do, helping them even the series came through with the 20-piece in game too. So this is impact and contribution to the Thunder's during this playoff run. Yeah, I think role players are important and especially, well at home, but especially on the road, if he's able to continue to do the things in Indiana that he's done in the first two games, I agree with Brandon.

Starting point is 01:42:52 I think he's a huge part, he will be a huge part of OKC being able to win it all. And regardless of the age, I think there are things that he brings that you can't teach. Just the effort, every single possession, he's always ready. Doesn't matter who he's guarding. He steps up to the challenge. I think he's been really big for OKC so far in the finals. You know, I've talked to Caruso before. You weren't the biggest fan of his championship really big for OKC so far in the finals.

Starting point is 01:43:27 You know, I've talked to Caruso before. You weren't the biggest fan of his championship experience, but only player on the Thunder roster that has the championship. Like I said, made it all due to some team previously. Seen him guard Joker in a series early in this playoffs, but just being able to be thrown out there and what he's doing on the offensive side. What do you think about Caruso's contributions

Starting point is 01:43:44 to the Thunder during this playoff run, especially these last two finals games? I mean, you know, what he learned from being on our Laker team young, right, he's done, you know, changed his game. He shoots better. He backdoors. Like, he does a lot of things that he's learned over the years, right? You know, you can yell out championship experience, but it's just basketball experience. Knowledge, right? You know, when we had him, you know, corner guy who couldn't shoot, you know, hustled.

Starting point is 01:44:17 He's gotten better on a shot. Defense turned up. He's just a wiser player now, right? He's just a wiser player now, right? The experience that he's bringing is his experience. He went over to Chicago. He was a different player than we had here in the Lakers. He looked better over there. He did.

Starting point is 01:44:37 So that was a very, very smart trade for them because he's impacting this team to win a championship, right? He's just not a guy on a court that's here and there playing minutes. He's impacting the game. He is a reason that if they do win a championship, he is a reason for that championship, right? You know, scoring 20 points or, you know, scoring five,

Starting point is 01:45:02 he's impactful, you know, on the floor and he's impactful on the floor. And he's done an amazing job. This shot we're talking about Alex Caruso, his impact with the Thunder so far averaging close to 16 points per game through these two NBA finals game coming off the 20 piece in game two. Spread it down. What's the question? What do you think about Caruso's impact on the Thunder during this playoff run, especially in the NBA Finals?

Starting point is 01:45:33 Well, it's obvious that Mr. Intangibles should give enough credit that he's been discredited for. You know, we talk about pedigree. You talk about experience. And we talk about young players trying to figure out where to get experience and wisdom from. And you go to a Caruso. Caruso is a guy who's going to tell you, look man, you got to go here, you got to prepare here and do this, right? But he's also going to go out there and show you. And I think that's the number one thing for them is to see their vet go out there and show them what we would

Starting point is 01:46:05 consider garbage minutes and show them into valuable time. You're going in for a specific mission to go in and take down Joker. Fuck him up. Embrace that role. It's an intangibles. You see the fanatics fest is not gonna be for guys like Caruso. So that's why I'm creating, you know, the corner boy fest for guys like Caruso. The guys that's gonna get created, like the Neam Hearts and the Neishmifs. Cause that's what the pedigree of a team

Starting point is 01:46:38 is built on, the intangibles. The stars are always gonna be the star, but you need them corner niggas to make sure the corner cool when you come around the corner. We talked earlier before the final starter about Thunder, Pacers team, but more so even the Thunder just having the blueprint, a recipe of what a team is supposed to look like. You got an MVP in SGA, got another all NBA level player in Jalen Williams, got Chet obviously, who many would consider to be the third option on that team,

Starting point is 01:47:05 but got a very, very strong supporting cast. Deep bench, they roll with nine to 10 guys throughout this postseason. But having somebody like that at your disposal, again, a player who made an all defensive team recently, coming off the bench and able to help defensive mantra, top rated defense in the league. Yeah, I mean, we talked about for a few times

Starting point is 01:47:25 that Caruso and Harkinstein, you know, one starts, the other one comes off the bench, plays heavy minutes. You put them at the end of that bench and you say, these are the two guys that we got at the end that can come in and give us something, that's a win-win for you. We're talking about Harkinstein not starting, we're talking about Caruso, the last guy on the bench.

Starting point is 01:47:47 So they have not only just the depth, but they got guys that's willing to sacrifice and give it up and do what they need to do. Sacrifice and still stay ready. Yeah, and definitely be ready. Isaiah and Joe might not see two straight series and come in and hit four for four. Because the preparation of the leadership,

Starting point is 01:48:05 the trickle down effect, stay ready. You're going to get your shine, you're going to get your credit. Just do the same thing. That's where I think we're getting to with the league is just the intangibles. And the guys buying in too. That's rare to see that many guys. Caruso getting 20 points in the NBA finals. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:48:25 Mm. Mm-hmm. That wasn't an expectation. So if that was the game swing, how much they lose by? 16, 14? 123 to 107 in game. We didn't game plan for Caruso hitting 20. At all.

Starting point is 01:48:42 So. But he wasn't proving to our policies that he can knock down those shots? Well, Gil said it. He wasn't doing it when he was with the Lakers. That's one of the things that kept him in rotation because now I gotta hit that shot. I gotta figure out a way to stay on the floor.

Starting point is 01:48:55 Other than just defense. So like I said, no 20 point games at all during the regular season. Had two so far in this postseason. That's insane. Including one obviously in the NBA finals. He's stepping. Including one, obviously, in the NBA Finals. He's stepping it up, right? Mm-hmm.

Starting point is 01:49:07 Stepping up his play, but like these young guys, I think second youngest team with the potential to win the NBA Finals, having a 30-year-old vet like that, an old man on this roster. Old? Old man? For this roster, yeah. For this roster.

Starting point is 01:49:24 I'm like, damn, 30 is old? 30? For this roster. Not for the universe. 30 very young spry for the universe. For this roster. It also speaks on finding other ways to get yourself going too. So that 20 point game is like is this going to happen through the flow of basketball because you've been getting yourself going on different other occasions, different ways to score, different ways to be involved in the game. So now they're not even looking at you. Now you get that chance. It's like, oh, this shot is it. You know what I'm saying? I'm out here. So it just speaks on how to find your ways and get yourself going.

Starting point is 01:49:57 So your teammates having that confidence in you to knock it down. Yeah. Wiggins like yeah. Wallace. So most of so Alex Cruz as I mentioned only former champion on the Thunder roster as a reminder he won the championship with the Lakers in 2020 in the bubble. His all-NBA teammate Jaylen Williams showed respect to Caruso's championship experience just before the finals began. Let's take a listen to what he had to say. It was a big ring, so that was motivation. I think just the message,

Starting point is 01:50:29 he had arguably one of the tougher rings, the bubble ring. Just what goes into a season, I think when you look at that one, for them to win and have all the ups and downs of that season and still kind of stay focused, I think that's been our biggest thing, being able to block out noise. Obviously there's a lot of stuff about us being young and I guess too happy or whatever the case may be for us not being ready to be the next level.

Starting point is 01:50:58 I think the biggest thing with him getting the ring was just how to stay focused through whatever we're doing and just grow as a team. That's what really stuck out to me when he brought the ring was just like how to stay focused through whatever we're doing and just grow as a team. And that's what really stuck out to me when he brought the ring in. So, Dan said he brought the ring out, said it was one of the toughest to win. Gil, do you agree that the 2020 bubble title is one of the toughest ever? 100% of every player who played in the bubble said it was tough. We did have Danny Green on this couch recently. I mean, because all you can do is think about basketball.

Starting point is 01:51:31 Right, most people, you have to be built a certain way to just only focus on that, right? Just pure hooping, right? If you think about everyone who actually performed well in the bubble came out of the bubble and their careers took off are you talking about Yokey you're talking about Luca you're talking about you know Devin Booker right you're talking about, you know, Devin Booker. Right? You're talking about Jamal Murray. That's where he's talking about Donovan Mitchell. Right? LeBron James.

Starting point is 01:52:09 Um, you're talking about... Who... Who else? I mean, Yannis. Right? You know, you know, we got to see who these guys were in that in that bubble. That was when we first seen Luca when he was given the Clippers, the business in that first round, right? We see what Mitchell did, like it's because that's all it is. There's no, there's no home court advantage. It's just you and your

Starting point is 01:52:39 thoughts, right? There's no distraction. So if you easily distract her, you need, you know, comfort, you need people to praise you. You need cheers from your fans and say, come on, get it together, right? Then the bubble wasn't meant for you. It was a mental battle. And you can see who mentally was, you know, prepared. You know, and that's, you know. So when you ask people, you know,

Starting point is 01:53:06 players who were there, it was, they didn't have family and friends. It's like boot camp. You know, just play basketball and, you know, go in your room, come out of this practice. Strong to survive. Sean, do you agree or disagree with Jalen Williams saying that the bubble's one of the toughest rings to win?

Starting point is 01:53:26 I don't know. He was just distracting me because he looked like AI, like somebody's playing, like talking, why he's talking. He doesn't seem like an avatar. Trying to figure out if that's really him or not. He talks like that. This is confusing. What? That was it. Um, yeah, I don't want to get into all that because it's neither here nor there. Caruso should be respected and that's what I think that they they have some

Starting point is 01:53:56 respect for him bringing in the chip and saying this is how it's done. This is how we're gonna get it done. You know, I think that's just pretty much the main messages. But as a player on that's just pretty much the main message is. But as a player on that squad who hasn't experienced a championship, to see somebody pull out the championship ring, show them what it looks like, it seems like that's something, there's a motivational factor, hey, I want to get one of these too. Could be, could be.

Starting point is 01:54:20 I think whatever it is, they got to show it. You know what I'm saying? Like, they got to take it over the top to get rid of all the notions of you're too young, you're this, you're that. Just prove it. Now we have to change what we talk about. I agree. For sure.

Starting point is 01:54:38 So in that song, we just heard J.W. mention criticism of the team being too happy to succeed on the championship level. We heard Draymond make comments about it earlier in the season. Too much buddy-buddy, key-keying, post-game interviews, everybody pulling up. But if this team is able to win a championship and be successful with that particular style of camaraderie, the power of friendship, if you will, will we see more teams mimic OKC's personality in the future? Of course. You think so?

Starting point is 01:55:06 Copycat League. It is a copycat league. It is a copycat league. You know, when Steph Curry was shooting crazy ass threes, he was talking shit about that. You know, guards that do play like that can't win. When he won, whole league turned into that. Right? turned into that. Right, so now that you see these guys are having fun with each other, having fun, you know, on and off the court, right,

Starting point is 01:55:33 being happy about the game itself, being happy about each other. It, it's showing a different side of how you can approach the game. So these guys, you know, win this championship, 1000%, you're gonna see the attitudes of players and how teams are put together shift.

Starting point is 01:55:57 They're gonna start doing more buddy buddy shit. You're gonna start seeing copycats around, they're all in groups, you know, doing the interviews at the end. you're gonna because it shows success. What kind of teammate are you? Yep. But is that something that, you talk about copycat league,

Starting point is 01:56:13 it's easy to tell a guy, hey go shoot more threes. It's a lot harder to be like, all right, go be buddies with your teammates. No, it's not. Did you notice? That shit is genuine though. Did you notice when Miami started doing two people doing interview, two stars

Starting point is 01:56:28 doing interviews at the same time? Have you noticed that's been the motto since? But nobody's picked up on it? Before that, it was just that star. Ever since Miami and D Wade and LeBron done it, everyone starts to do it. That is now the new thing. Both stars up at the same time.

Starting point is 01:56:43 Before that wasn't a thing. You didn't go in groups in the podium. You had to go individually so they can ask you different questions and shit like that. Now they all sitting there together. So you can't, there's no conquer and divide system. A lot harder to do with both of them sitting there neutralizing the media.

Starting point is 01:57:02 Oh, Gil said this, you know. Think about this though. If there Gil said this, you know. Think about this, though. If there's a war against being friends. You like it better this way? Being friends. Hm? Team mates being friends. It's like, ah, you see it, and you see it's being successful.

Starting point is 01:57:17 The people who don't like being friends with everybody are going to be like, man, look at y'all. Y'all too happy. Y'all not too serious. Y'all this, y'all that. And then we would say, well, y'all should be more friends, maybe y'all would still be in the playoffs. Maybe y'all get back to being friends

Starting point is 01:57:31 like y'all was when y'all was winning. Everybody gonna have to figure it out at this point, because the team chemistry does affect the winning. You're out there passing the ball to who you like and who you don't like, and that guy that you don't like is open, can't hit the shot, you don't wanna to throw it to him because what he said in the locker room or whatever it is team chemistry matters so if those dudes on

Starting point is 01:57:51 OKC have a riff with one another you probably would never even know it. I mean we've seen teams be successful both ways all right historically. I'm about to say we've seen the Bulls Mike and Tiffany get on them. Saw the Lakersakers Shaq and Kobe We're never know it. You never knew it never knew Dennis and Scotty never hung out with Mike Off the court couldn't tell yeah sure. I was a four times social media four time WNBA champion of the world How close were your teams and we hit this lightly previously but Friends are just look we're friends on the court and I'll see y'all when I see y'all.

Starting point is 01:58:31 I mean, we really hang out like that. On the court, we came to work to take care of what we had to take care of and outside of that, everybody had their own. But were you friendly on the court with each other? Was it okay? Yeah. I mean, when we were playing, it was us against the world. Practices were a little different because we went at each other in practice.

Starting point is 01:58:54 Our practices were usually harder than the competition that we were going to play again. That's how good your practices was. Yeah. That's the poor element, right? Thunder can be friends. They can do all the post-game interviews, shenanigans, hijinks, all that good stuff. But at the end of the day, you roll that ball out. But there's a big difference between the homies

Starting point is 01:59:16 and your brothers. Try to tell this to my homies. Your homies and your brothers? Your homies and your brothers. Your homies can disappoint you. You don't talk to your homie no more. He ain't my homie no more. This my brother.

Starting point is 01:59:31 No matter what he do, that's my brother. You good, bro. We going to shake hands. We going, ah, my nigga, you cool. You my bro. But the homie can stop being my homie and go over there and be homies with the n***a I'm enemies with.

Starting point is 01:59:47 Brothers don't do that. True. Most of the time. They should. Most of the time. 99.9% unless the daddy told him that, hey, that ain't your brother, that is your brother. Every once in a while you get a friend over in the mix. You fucked it up, you know what I'm saying?

Starting point is 02:00:00 But outside of that, bro, I see brotherhood. That's what I see. That's what we used to be with the NBA, where brotherhood didn't matter whether you was first team, second team, third team, or all NBA or MVP. Everybody hung together because everybody fucked with each other. But now there's such a divisiveness

Starting point is 02:00:16 because you don't make no money, you ain't made this, you ain't got enough points, you ain't got enough minutes. You can't sit at this table. Okay, see like, man, what's up? I'm bringing the, OJ, you bringing the mashed potatoes. Man, I, see like, man, what's up? I'm bringing the OJ. You bringing the mashed potatoes. Man, I'm bringing the hoes. What's good? You know, Zerrano, you said something

Starting point is 02:00:32 that Shaq and Kobe, you're missing the rest of the element. There's still 15 players on that team. Right? The two stars ain't got to like each other. The rest of the team, it's still the rest of the team, just like Boston, right? They all got along besides one.

Starting point is 02:00:51 So they got a problem with one for some. But if you look at the rest of them today, the same five or six are still cool, right? Ray Allen, like, you know, Ray Allen was the one on the hour. Well, he made a decision to go win a championship with... No, even before that him and Rondo didn't get along. Yeah, they was, yeah, they was... They're still at it, but Rondo, KG, Paul Pierce, they got along, right?

Starting point is 02:01:15 So, you know, when majority, it's still, it's still, there's, there can be one bad apple, two bad apple, but, you know, for the most part, if there's a group that it affects winning then that's all that matters. I'm not even talking about bad apples per se but you got two stars they may just be on two different islands. There's one and two. Pick a side. But if three, four, five, six is fucking with one or the other that's if you got five different people thinking five different things then that's when you have a problem. That's what I'm saying. Or when the whole locker room is divided between the two. That's the problem. But if you know if it's just one that don't get along with them but these four or five get along with him then that's... When it feels like with this Thunder team, SGA squad, everybody else fall in line, get in where you fit in.

Starting point is 02:01:58 It's normal leadership though. There's a hierarchy when you come in. There's the guy who wants to be the leader and then as a guy that everyone makes the leader So the guy who wants the leadership position, he's trying to prove that he could be the leader to the other Three four five. So usually if this if there's a buffalo, it's between one and two. Yep, right and usually Three four five six seven eight nine usually goes with one. That's the better player. Yeah, he's Assuming now now usually goes with one. That's the better player. He's the assuming leader. Now if two can get, if number two got three and four, and then four and five is with one, then that's where you have dysfunction inside the team.

Starting point is 02:02:34 And that usually happens when probably number one, had the team and then he missed some time. And then two basically convinced this. Rallyed everybody together. Yeah, we gonna do this. Rallyed everybody together. Yeah, we gonna do this. Now, when one comes back, now you got a divided locker room. That was Mello in New York.

Starting point is 02:02:53 With Jeremy Lin. Jeremy Lin? Jeremy Lin came back. It wasn't so much the team, it was Dantoni saying, this is what we, like, we gonna go this direction. Nah, it was the team too. Both of them. Because you gotta remember remember when Amari started my must amari god You got you got all those guys. They're like now we we rock and we rock and with he sharing the sugar

Starting point is 02:03:13 Yeah, we're rocking with Jeremy. They shared right with Jeremy Lynn right now You know what I mean? Just a lot of come on Just get in and jump on board with us and you know, let's figure it out So we get the shit from China man. Man, the work calling back. Shit. KTV. KTV, Alibaba. Shit, we on Alibaba and shit.

Starting point is 02:03:30 There's a lot of benefits for him right here running this one. Yeah, I mean, you know. We getting straight. We got the direct source. Before the Terrence. That one and two. Pre-Terrence. And if you got them other guys, they all looking like,

Starting point is 02:03:43 who's the leader? Like what you say at Boston. If the riff is who we gonna pick the leader is but we already know so whoever's established leadership already we already know who the leader is. They're trying to tell us we need to pick who the leader is. But like you said there can be changes in leadership sometime and the previous leader comes back ready to take over his leadership role and now he got it's what it was that conflict up in okay see with with Katie and uh Russ yeah no if you look at the shit you went down when it when Katie went down and Russ stepped into that role and he was having success and you know he got his boys playing great basketball also remember this when KD is involved.

Starting point is 02:04:26 It's a pecking order right when the new leader steps in there's a different pecking order. Now, let's say he averaged 8 under KD. He was fine with it. Now Russ comes in now. He's averaging 15 man. Who you think sign he own? Huh?

Starting point is 02:04:42 Right. So now you got two people now now KD is fighting against two people now. I'm sitting over here in this corner and I used to just barely get a pass and a half from KD. I'm coming over here. Four, five. Happy though, like hit it. He's like, hit it.

Starting point is 02:04:57 Two in a row, here. You just. I ain't got it and then he throw it to me with two seconds left and I gotta shoot it. Yeah, so that's what happens that, you know, the number one guy is no different than, you know, the Dallas owner. He comes in, he got his own pick and order, how it works for him.

Starting point is 02:05:14 So he's going to start giving the ball to who he likes. That's the Kobe Luke Walton. Right. Luke is my guy. No, no, no. Shaq Luke was my guy. Both is. So now when Luke Luke is my guy now no Shaq Luke was my guy Cuz you know Lucas passing that shit Shaq like this and cold like hey man listen all that lob lob city I won't jump like that man. It's a just you know, you better chase the passes up this ain't big to be

Starting point is 02:05:39 You know, I mean so and that's that's what ends up happening where the shift is when one goes down other one takes over then it's ripple effect Yeah, I think just team best they do it right now because it's it's a it's a real pecking order like it's It's so it's so far, but it seems like that pecking order can sustain For the next couple of seasons at least But what I'm saying is you can't see it. I don't see Jalen Williams coming through

Starting point is 02:06:07 and be like, no, it's my team now. No, no, he not gonna say that. But he's saying, like, the interviews I'm seeing, I'm seeing, like I said, he don't look real. Like an avatar, he's setting some shit up. Like, yeah. I'm a mastermind this shit. And if any, he better not let the foot off the gas at all

Starting point is 02:06:24 or I'm coming for it I let you say like crazy Che go down and then you know, you got Jalen Williams average in 30 and then check average in 25 Double-day and they look like a little you know, I mean you are you sign average in 17 like you start. Yeah, are we winning? No It don't matter. Do you care at that point? Once you taste it once you taste it Well, then it would matter though cuz then when he comes back right and they start winning then we were like, yeah That was fool's gold. Yeah, chill out once you taste that that one time that wagyu Can't go back. You can't go back. There's no hamburger. You gotta remember this hamburger helper

Starting point is 02:07:01 Go hamburger helper with the what What about the dining table? Hey, that's the only issue with them because they're young and if they do win it this year how they gonna come back? You know how they gonna come back? No, they gonna come back when I'm just saying once you taste that once you taste that next level of something it's hard to rewind

Starting point is 02:07:20 back. Even if you're losing. It's hard to rewind back. The Boston Celtics. When I'm averaging 25, there's a price that comes with that. And once I started looking at a price that says you get a four-year 150 and then when the star comes back and I go back to my original role and that original war is four year 35. There's no ring man. There's no ring talk no more.

Starting point is 02:07:47 That's family legacy talk. And it's hard. That's what fucks teams up every time. It never fails. It ain't shit that ever changes. There is a decision to be made at that point. It's always, it's always for the- Do the gentlemen Brunson or do you the red blue blue or do you that's

Starting point is 02:08:07 what you got a brother I see this team maybe moving in the I don't know obviously if I'm sure I want my bag I'm MVP I'm taking no but the bag is already she's getting never the star I'm saying he getting here never we ain't worried about him it's never the star but we saw Brunson do that with the Knicks I'm gonna take it never to star player so player. The star is the star. Yeah. But when I'm saying like, let's say OG. Brunson goes down and OG becomes cat.

Starting point is 02:08:33 And he's averaging 25. And he's looking at a certain type of money. And Brunson comes back and he goes back to the 15, 16. And his money got chopped to 75% he's the one that becomes the problem but that's what I only if they lose it remember I said that no you lose that's the benefit that winning doesn't give that winning personally don't give me 75% gives Brunson but I'm saying Divin Shinzo what happened what did I say that was gonna happen to Divin

Starting point is 02:09:02 Shinzo he tasted something that wasn't sustainable When everybody got healthy Who become disgruntled? But remember what we said though. He has to go back Remember we prepared we prepared for that was like look you can be happy with the wagyu tasting your mouth Oh, you fucking want to my nigga. You're not at this table as a reserve. This doesn't say reserve for you. You came with a plus two, bro. You tasted that just cause it's Tuesday.

Starting point is 02:09:30 Look, it's Wednesday now. Go back, ramen noodles, Kool-Aid. And what if a very fine meal, if it's even correct. What end up happening? He had to accept that this is where I'm going to be. He was mad, he was disgruntled, then they had to get rid of him. Now he's coming off the bench and I'm doing the same thing. Like, don't you taste it.

Starting point is 02:09:51 When they got rid of him, they got somebody like him that can accept the fact that you taste wagyu sometimes, bro. But the other one already tasted wagyu. He was tasting wagyu in Brooklyn. He was tasting wagyu. He know his spot, right? This guy tasted wagyu for the first time and tasting wagyu. He know his spot, right? This guy tasted wagyu for the first time

Starting point is 02:10:06 and he was like, yeah, yeah, I don't want to go back to that. But see, Bridges on the phone. And he was like, yeah, we don't care. Look, when you taste the wagyu, Bridges is like, look, when you taste the wagyu, bro, listen, it's fire. You got to have the palate for this. Don't go crazy, bro. You got to have a balance. Yeah, you got get some as a tailor just order order order medium. Well

Starting point is 02:10:31 It ain't well done yet a little medium Go crazy you get addicted to it and it's hard. I know but You got you got girl you got wise XYZ and girlfriend still trippin it 20 years later about some Wagyu that go to use the tastehmm. It's third line. They over there, no. He's still over there in Nobu with his new girl. I take this thing with his fire, though. People waited hours to get that chicken sandwich when they first got it. Dry ass sandwich.

Starting point is 02:11:14 Very moist. It's good. Dry, fritter, popular, belick. That shit was fire. Attical moisture. That shit first hit. That shit was fire. That shit was crap.

Starting point is 02:11:22 That shit was good. Then you start seeing chicken sandwiches everywhere. That shit was good if he was from the hood. Yeah, he was from the hood. If he was from the hood. What chicken sandwich? If he was from the hood, the chicken sandwich was the shit. Saw several Caucasians waiting in line,

Starting point is 02:11:34 multiple packs, reselling. If you ate real chicken sandwiches from real chicken sandwich places, you know it came with condiments. You went to the wrong Popeye. I got my shit, it had bread, sauce, and a pickle. Well, pickle well my lettuce tomatoes and where's all that? Placity go I'm not the chicken is the chicken is the man. I'm not said it. I don't eat bread and chicken Fucking plain bread and chicken also known as a deal with my cold path

Starting point is 02:12:00 Bread and chicken. Also known as a chicken sandwich. You a psychopath. You have the sauce. You a psychopath. If you eat just bread, chicken, and some, a dot of sauce, man, if you don't put the motherfuckin' spread, a good dollop of cheese. A good dollop of the sauce.

Starting point is 02:12:15 Hey, something we was talking about yesterday. You get a dollop of the sauce in the new- Nah, y'all need the cheese. You eat a chicken sandwich with Popeyes, you still got gas two years later. All right. Something we was talking about yesterday. Holding their stomach together right now.

Starting point is 02:12:28 Mr. B, what's up? So we was talking about a bag, right? You said great players don't have bags, right? It's like more fundamental skill, right? So what does that mean? No, no, no, no. Great players all had fundamentals. Right, right, for sure.

Starting point is 02:12:41 Their fundamentals was elite. Okay. And then bags are on top of that. And it's the bag for you. But how kids talk about bags today is the Jordan pool. Right there. Okay, that's okay. He has this elaborate bag. He don't have the fundamentals of it. So his bag is irrelevant to anyone that played basketball He's at the old school great. Okay, didn't really have that Okay, like Isaiah Thomas didn't have like a like we wouldn't say he would he had a bag He got to where he got to what was his bag

Starting point is 02:13:20 You can't start any do it Did he do anything extra outside of getting to the point like we see the bag is this I didn't hit you with a crossover You done shifted there I didn't did a step back for you to come back here for me to do this to do a step back The fuck did you need you already got rid of them? Like when they do this, they do the side step pump one dribble pull right right right? That's a normal basketball, right? pump step back double step back,

Starting point is 02:13:46 to another side step, extra bags. Did Pete Maravich have a bag? No, yes. So that's one. So to me, I have a totally different perspective of what a bag is. But the fundamentals of passing was already elite. It it's fundamentals of passion was already elite. It's the fundamentals first.

Starting point is 02:14:07 Okay, okay. Right, so when you're talking about bags, like everyone has a bag. Everyone has a bag. What's in it? What's in the bag? Some people just say, hey man, I just need a knife and a grenade just in case

Starting point is 02:14:26 That's it Some people need shit. They not they're not confident with themselves. I need to use he got extra shit I got all this extra like some people are just Right these one two moves. That's all I need cuz they can't stop me So you be like, oh man, you you sitting there with your whole loaded roster of shit You got going on, you looking my shit and say, yeah, this nigga's shit playing in the bitch. Yeah, because the bag to me growing up was Anwar Mix Tape. Yes. Like Ray Frost. And that's the first Anwar Mix Tape

Starting point is 02:14:54 was like that was a bag to me. Like, oh, he got. And that's what they think a bag, that's what the little kids think a bag is that, that those things. Extra jelly and shit. I got the layup here, let me sit here and swing it, spin it off the top, that's a bag now. And a lot of problems. Exactly why the game is the way it is now. To me a bag is a book. It's not a bag, it's a book. Page one. What you gonna go for first? Page two. You stupid. Watch you go for the page one again. And then it goes further and further and further on building up on what two, what page three,

Starting point is 02:15:36 page four. KG taught me this is counters and moves and how to make the defense shift and what they react into, what they got to foul you on. When I open up page one, if you don't get nothing done in page one, you're gonna have a long night. Cause if I gotta go to page two, it's a lot of shit in there.

Starting point is 02:15:54 That's what people talk about the bag. Going to bag, I can pull this out. I got the spin package, right? I got the half spin package. I got the between between package. I got the between behind the back package. I got the between between package. I got the between behind the back package I got the between cross package. I got the Hesley package. I got all the packages I don't ever have to pull none of this shit out because you ain't that good of a defender to make me

Starting point is 02:16:13 But I got it and that's what the normal people don't understand Everyone has a bag remember I said I said You need a package for different defenders if you're an elite scorer. Right? Yes. If I'm going against a guard, I have a package.

Starting point is 02:16:30 If I'm going against someone who's stronger than me, I have a package. Someone taller than me, I have a package. But for me to do any of that, you have to stop my basic bag first. Yeah. My basic, my gold too, man. Being right past you. If you got me doing all this irrelevant shit, you're winning. You ain't got no bag.

Starting point is 02:16:55 Right the bag, for a basket, not a fan. Fan thinks bags are different. For a basketball player, simple first, if we can't make you count, if you can't make me count like Shea, you can't make him shoot a three, cause he knows you can't stop his layup package. So to you, you don't have a bag.

Starting point is 02:17:18 To him, I don't need it yet. I don't need to pull out option two because you can't slap option one. Jaylen Brunton, You can't stop option one I'm trying to get to that that rim stop it first for me to do something else. These guys today are stopping themselves Yeah, they're stopping themselves already when the elite says I'm gonna just keep I'm gonna make 50 fucking layups before I shoot a jumper Show me you can stop my first move. I'm not gonna just automatically go to two and three Why is that if you can't but that's what they do, but yeah, that's what they do

Starting point is 02:17:54 So like somebody like LeBron does like yeah, he don't have a bag What 50,000 points he didn't need one because you didn't stop fucking just just I'm gonna drive right in front of dunk You cut me off. I'm gonna drive right and try to dunk you cut me off I'm gonna spin they ain't stop that yet so what the fuck does he need to add three four five keep doing it yeah I'm gonna look at my hand shot right a bag shot a very effective move he you never even made him do this step side step a dribble is back he started doing that later that side step but he tell you this coming though that's the crazy thing and nobody blocks it. I mean look at V cutting, right?

Starting point is 02:18:31 Fundamental. It sets you up for what? Triple threat. Catch the ball, triple threat off a V cut. What's the first thing I'm thinking about? Going right past you on the catch boom right away now if you catch up to me on my first move which is going by you Shade Alexander what he does on the first move two dribbles hard come here yeah

Starting point is 02:18:56 snatch back rule number one is if I go on the catch real fast he's got try to beat me to the spot and I'm gonna stop and then drop over down right there pop pop every time now let's just say he just me to the spot and I'm gonna stop in a drop of a dime right there bop bop every time now Let's just say he just happens to say alright. I see what you're doing Snatch back Bop you this time I could do whatever that's the book that I'm talking about. That's page one catch and go Either let me go lay it up or you're gonna have to try to stop me Hey, he's too. I'm all paying attention to all this shit

Starting point is 02:19:24 I try to explain this shit on Out the Mud, but you know, you got it misconstrued, but a real scorer analyzes not only, like you said, the defenses of different strategies are trying to stop me. This kind of guys like to push up, this kind of guy, he want me to shoot him, he want me to bail him out. Nah, we're gonna attack, cause we got a bag for that.

Starting point is 02:19:43 We got footwork for that. We know how to make you foul us. We know how to bait you if we want to. But we want to show you that you can't just come out here and play me any kind of way. It's just. It's just weird. It's just weird basketball now.

Starting point is 02:19:56 Cause you drive. What's the first thing you do? Swing through drive. Next one is what? Swing through, you overplay snatch back their first move is The swim through step back side step on the same moods going the same direction Like that's your first move like you didn't go

Starting point is 02:20:16 I got two moves you already did your third counter before you even did the first move like like like I always Don't shoot a three for your first shot can't be a three. No. Your first shot always gotta be attacking so he feels that he needs to be on his back heel. Right, that's true. Right, so if you come down, and I ask them, I said, why is your first shot dimmer from half court?

Starting point is 02:20:40 He says, I always shoot a far three first did let the defense knows This is what I'm pulling from so now his defense has to start here So my pick and roll starts to start a half court So now I have all this space to run what a three at for the for the three and so not a big man Has to play this longer game and I was like, okay that makes sense His first shot is gonna be damning by the half court so he can establish where he's shooting from tonight. So now you got to pick up from there so that when he does the pick and roll, he has this

Starting point is 02:21:12 whole thing he can run at the goal. If he says if he shoots the first three, they're going to pick me up there. Now when the pick and roll comes, instead of three, I have no space. And the coach is saying pick him up earlier. And he's going downhill now. Don't let that first one go in. But see now, I would know that unless I talked to him. So now I ask, what is your reason for this? He has, he can explain it.

Starting point is 02:21:34 And I was like, okay, that makes sense. I think about how the coach could get that fucked up if he don't know that strategy. Dane, why you pull up every time you pull from, you don't see how they play me the rest of the game? Now watch when I come back down. Right by him. If not, same shit.

Starting point is 02:21:49 Everything, all this shit is just strategy and mathematics, man, I think it's just go back to critical thinking, bro. X's and O's is not like building a Barbie house. You got to really go in, man, and build that bitch from the bottom, and you gotta really go in man and build that bitch from the bottom and understand what pieces go where so it looks a certain way. Like they getting away from all of that because the X's and O's matters, your book matters, what you have in your book and in your bag, it fucking matters. And if you're lying, we're going to find out. You

Starting point is 02:22:20 ain't got that. You ain't got that. You ain't working on that, man. Hit it again. on that man. Here's again. Oh my body he with us He with us. That's the fact My favorite thing to say that's just it's very hurtful. We are on the court. He with us in the middle of the shop Oh, I'm on a different team. Oh Respectful right there Rebound that's the type of thing that'll get a lollipop Soon as it goes up. Rebound.

Starting point is 02:22:47 Rebound. Get that out. Rebound. I go like this when they shoot. Hell no. She with us. That's funny. Yeah.

Starting point is 02:22:55 No, that's funny. Oh shit. Let's move on to Mostly Fans. I shoot it and it go in. You are not with me. Presented by Underdog. Download the Underdog app. Use promo code GIL.

Starting point is 02:23:04 Get $1, dollars of bonus cash Plus a special pick them Somebody got an open pass It was my root was about first year and they swung it in the corner and the guy in the corner couldn't shoot He's like he can't shoot shit. He can't even shoot a gun Now that would get a lollipop Right side of the Backboard like a bugger boom like God Damn. Wow. Now that would get a lollipop snatched out of there. I was like. He probably, he probably slided over. He hit the side of the backboard like,

Starting point is 02:23:27 what the fuck was that? Boom, like, god damn. So we are now in our MostlyFans segment. We have a question from underdog user RGZ1018. Which team or coach would you not want your kids to play for? Which team or coach would you not want your kids to play for? What team? Want your kids to play for which team or coach would you not want your kids to play for? What's good you don't have to answer this because you have a Child who will likely be in the draft next season

Starting point is 02:23:54 That team-made right and look at all the poor coat where that player is in his his career right, so like Like Elijah I rather him play for a Stan van Gundy when he gets into the NBA because that's the type of coach that really relies on detail, uh, work ethic discipline. So you're rather your, you know, your earlier years to be disciplined and understand what it takes to be a pro. Right, so he's gonna work the shit out of you, right? You ain't gonna have time to be going nowhere, right? Your shoot around is your goddamn practice.

Starting point is 02:24:36 That's a practice, that's not a shoot around. There's no coming in there with your shit not tied. Like that's, like when you play the game, that's the second game. That first practice is brutal. You playing, it's a two a day damn near, right? So I'd rather have a coach like that the first couple of years,

Starting point is 02:24:52 and then eventually move on to like player, player coaches types. But if you get a laid back coach your first couple of years. So bring you back to the question, what team or coach would you not want your kids to play for? A player, laid back player coach would you not want your kids to play for? A player, laid-back player, coach who you got to be... He fucks with veteran professional type of, you know, guys. I don't know.

Starting point is 02:25:13 Larry Brown, per se, or somebody like that who may not give the younger guys an opportunity. No, no, no, no, no, no, because he's strict. I don't want a coach that just... There's no practice, right? You don't really got practices like that as you come in and get some shoot around and nah, like somebody who's dealing with,

Starting point is 02:25:29 like a Steve Kerr type, right? He's at a point where he's done had veterans, they've done one championship, so this blueprint is based off of them. So a young player coming in. So a young player coming in thinking, this is the real NBA and you don't know what Kerr and Curry and Clay did at the beginning of the career?

Starting point is 02:25:47 Yeah. That's how you know players and kids don't develop. Let's move over to Cheryl. I don't know. With team or coach? You don't know? Why? Because you saw. You didn't mean the coach didn't matter huh? The coach didn't matter huh? You don't want him to play right now? I don't want him to play right now? I don't want him to play right now? That's the coach now. You talking about my son? You as the coach. Of course. I want him to play.

Starting point is 02:26:12 You as the coach? No, I was not. I mean, I agree with Gil. Like, if you're asking me to pick a particular coach right now, I'm saying I don't know, because I don't know. But I don't want my son playing for someone who is not going to, I said I don't know because son playing for someone who is not going to, I said I don't know, cause I got a man. Like make him, that's not very disciplined.

Starting point is 02:26:30 That can't like teach him the game, the fundamentals of it. Like I want him to play for someone who is one, gonna make him a better player, make him be disciplined, help him grow in the game and just make him an overall, not just a better player but someone who can actually teach him how to be a better man. Because I think that's all part of it when you're playing the game. I don't know who that coach is by name. Okay, so let's shift over to this side of the couch.

Starting point is 02:27:00 Mr. B, what team or coach would you not want your kids to play for? Or potentially a trainer you wouldn't want your kids to train with? Definitely not a trainer. I'm just messing with you. Definitely not a trainer. I'm just messing with you. Don't get him going. Just coach or team.

Starting point is 02:27:16 You're like an old school car, one of these just to crank it up, man. I know how to do this. This is, this is, this is, this is. That motherfucker start going. It's like a train. I know how to do me. Sacramento Kings. The Sacramento Kings would be the team that you would not want to play for. Yeah, we want to stay away from there. Stay away from there? That's a team!

Starting point is 02:27:51 That's what he said. Team or coach? Team or coach. Sacramento has seven chilies in the metropolitan area, just as a reminder. That's fine. Very fine dining experience. Don't want to go to Sacramento. Old school Americana.

Starting point is 02:28:03 Damn. Who's supposed to go? Def Tre Old school Americana. Def track. Def track. Def track. Now the Def track there. Let's move over to Rashad. What team are you coachin'? You're saying the team, not the Doug.

Starting point is 02:28:11 Just the team. Just the team. Nothing Doug or Chris. These days you gotta separate it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know you coach here, but not you. Yeah, not you, yeah. The team.

Starting point is 02:28:19 Rashad, what team or coach would you not want your kids to play for? Well first, I'm going to tell my kids, we ain't playing no damn basketball. We going to the front office. We trying to be next to Michael Rubin and them. Yes, fanatics fest, if you will. Hey, hey, all that playing and shit,

Starting point is 02:28:40 we won't go play it cool. But we learn how to move these pieces around Steve Kerr probably be the only guy that I'm like, yeah Yeah, let's jump him In the parking lot Okay I'm gonna be coaches. I mean owners. Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah, we we're not we're not entertaining them all. Okay So we got one final question shit no more entertainment wait when you say Sacramento We know it's not the coach the team or the city both

Starting point is 02:29:11 team answer you What if it was Sacramento? What's it like bringing the beef though like just like if the franchise relocated to Oakland would that change your opinion? Yeah, okay, okay, so it's Who's going down there to play bingo? So, Fish and Sacramento slum for this season. You see how we, you know, so like the Sacramento King fans, the basketball fans, we're not talking about y'all. You ain't never played bingo before, bro.

Starting point is 02:29:36 I don't want to. You don't know how fun it is. Yeah. You don't know. Wait for that number to pull up, bro. B-16. Man, you don't know the feeling. B-16. Bingo feeling how much is the winning way never said bingo school you don't know the feeling grandma nigga 65 bingo let's take your ass to the casino 15 000 she hit for at the bingo at the bingo no 15 000 no what and bingo 15 000 wait hold on they got bingo no they got money like that time Bingo

Starting point is 02:30:12 No, they got money like that I'm being go where go maybe at the night what be 22 she going crazy Man everywhere. They'd be driving 10 10 20 they go 15,000 a bingo Bingo She wore the lucky hat. You don't see the big squeezes. They be squeezing that sit down on that thing. I got my lucky hat on with my beads and all that. You don't even know if she rich. She been hitting bingo 17 times this month. An expert bingo player. Let's move on to our next question from underdog user, bromance07. Gil, this question is for you. Bromance07 wants to know, Gil how crazy was it seeing AI hit your teammate Antonio Daniels with a double crossover in person?

Starting point is 02:30:50 We have the video for you to check out. Oh, oh, bingo. Bingo. Man, I wish they'd play it past this. I wish they'd play it past this. Tell them what happened. I dunked on Chris Webber and Dallin Burke. Oh, right after? He dropped them and they were like, oh, then I came down there.

Starting point is 02:31:22 Oh, so you saved the play there? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, nigga. You saved me. He played it. It was a save, it was a play. Can we watch that one more time? Yours was an in one, right? Was yours an in one?

Starting point is 02:31:34 No, it wasn't an in one. So it didn't stop the play, you were watching it. It was Chris Webber and shit about how many the dollar is. I do see you going to get the in-bounce pass, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going to the ball. I didn't give a fuck where you got what happened in,ounds pass right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going to the ball. I just fucked where you got what happened to him, boy.

Starting point is 02:31:46 You better get up. Get up. This ain't the first time he done dropped you. Damn, man. Damn. Macarena. No. He was playing Twister.

Starting point is 02:31:55 Oh, no, no. The fucked up part is that's all they did on the bench. Hey, Macarena. Yeah. You remember when I said it too, when I said a dude came in there different. on the bench. Hey, Macarena. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You remember when I said it, too, when I said a dude came in there different? Uh-huh.

Starting point is 02:32:10 Because we didn't see him on the road. Hey. He started moving a little different after that. The Hey Macarena. I don't think he's ever been the same. No, it was, the bad part is that's not the, he's been hit a couple times. No, I think that's when he was cool.

Starting point is 02:32:28 Like he was niggarding and he knocked all the cool out of him. When AI came in, legs got a little wobbly every time. Every time. So whatever happened early in the career that made the legs a little wobbly so you can get a little jumpy. I just wanted to say though, I wore the USA because it's USA, you know?

Starting point is 02:32:50 And it's the type of nigga they gonna need to beat the Euros. Who wears number nine? Michael Jordan. Yeah, they gonna need them. And they not coming through the door so them Euros gonna have to figure it out. But it's USA.

Starting point is 02:33:03 Talk about for the- Next year, all-star going to 20. Oh Mm-hmm, I thought you something about 2028 Americans the head to toe USA proud American proud proud American proud. They have no chance, but they have no chance without that man right there is what you say money-making son. Oh, yeah, he coming back though. You don't remember the NBC. You get the memo NBC.

Starting point is 02:33:34 Yeah, Mike. Mike come back. Okay, so next year is the the gimmick right? If the USA team beats the world team do you think there will be that in 2027 is that it's 2027 2028 20 no 2026 is gonna happen the all-star game so they do the same format USA if USA wins so do you think the USA players will will be will want to do it again? What will be the...

Starting point is 02:34:06 If the game is close and it's competitive and entertaining? So there's only one, so you're like me, there's only, it has to be one outcome for this to be moving forward. If not, it's just a one-time thing. For sure. And then you're back stuck. Yeah. But you've never really back stuck because you know what worked in the past. You can always go back to the original

Starting point is 02:34:26 Format like I try to do anybody like it in that's why I was true. That's that's why I see here Like now you're your experiment you go. You can't go back. You can't go back. You can't go back anymore Once you do this, whatever happens is if USA wins They're not gonna want to do this again And I am and fuck all that, that shit is weak. If they win, everybody's like, well, they didn't play hard against them anyway. So what do you do after that?

Starting point is 02:34:51 You gonna have to change it up again. You have winning, US or international? Right now, I know at least six people that was like, yeah, man, fuck that dumb shit, This is a gimmick. We're good So what they're gonna have do American players? The Americans gonna concede to the internet. There's there's two euros that was like So the euros also said two of them So so do you just cancel the all-star all-star game then so that happens because I said because if you're not gonna play this then that means if we go back

Starting point is 02:35:25 You definitely ain't doing it. You're too good. You're too good. Okay, listen, yeah, I'm cool on so you have to okay Look at the stars. We got look at it from forget the fan standpoint Look at it from the player standpoint, right? Okay. See we're all talking for what the fans need Look at it from the player standpoint. It's not like they're asking the committee of possible All-Stars, what do y'all want or need for this to be a successful thing? No one's asking them. You're just telling them what it is

Starting point is 02:35:59 and then they're looking at it like, yeah, that shit's weak, right? That's what's going on. So what ends up happening is this? also weekend comes right For the player themselves, this is money-making time, right? This is when you're meeting sponsors going to party mingle and doing this right the game itself is irrelevant to you You already got the all-star nod Playing in the game to do what exactly if I'm not going forward the MVP

Starting point is 02:36:26 what am I really there for like like think about it hands like but again take the fans out of it. What does the player themself like you talk that's what I said. You guys keep using fans thinking it's going to make them play harder. But that's the only reason we're having an all-star game is because of the fan. Okay, fan vote fan appreciation mid-season celebration for the guys who've been playing well up until this point. This is for the fans to enjoy.

Starting point is 02:36:53 That's why we've been off, like we hands off with the experience because they just trying to entertain the fans. The fans are complaining now. This is not entertaining. Okay, so that's what I'm saying. You're using the fans logic. Now this if you're not gonna put yourself in a player's perspective then you're gonna always have this. I came here I've already did this now I'm here enjoying my little weekend and then I got to get

Starting point is 02:37:17 ready for the upcoming season for the name that's here right for the name that's here we're we're the number one seed we're this this this or we're we're a bottom seed team trying to get a push right so you you want me to come out here after I've been doing all this to go play hard to prove what I win here I go out here to do what does not help me in my real life. All-star is fantasy. It's a fantasy. This is not my real life here.

Starting point is 02:37:49 I play for the Lakers. The Laker fans need me me going out there playing for an All-Star group for the fans themselves. That's not in my best interest. You got a representation of your team as the best player going up against the other team's best players in a game on whose best players are going to win. We want our player who's on our team who's representing our team to look and play as if he would in our regular season. No you don't. Nothing should change. That's a lie.

Starting point is 02:38:23 It's not. Because as a fan, you didn't buy season tickets to the All-Star game. Because they're too expensive. But you bought season tickets to your team. They're affordable. So what happens if your player breaks his leg in that game, going all extra hard? It's unfortunate.

Starting point is 02:38:41 You got a whole city fucked up because of some dumb ass all-star game. Well he could do it the first game back. He could, but I do it on my dollar. So why haven't they took the game out then if that's the risk then? Because they've been doing it for business. I'm like yo we've been doing it for so long. Because it became a business. So the all-star game was never really a business? It was a game for the fans. It was a game for recognition first. Now it's big money business now. So it's not like the NBA themselves can say, all right, let's rip the All-Star game apart.

Starting point is 02:39:18 It's too much money involved now. And the players are like, yeah, cool, but... All they ask is... Too much money involved. But they're never gonna... Because of that, they can't get rid of it. And the players are like, yeah cool, but all they ask Because of that they can't get rid of it they can't get rid of it And then why don't you put money up there don't want to play and fans don't want to watch What if you put bread up say you can win? I don't know say you know the world burst the mayor Americans You know it could be three million five million dollars at the end of the day at the end of the day

Starting point is 02:39:45 Just pink guys who want to play Want to play I was gonna say I mean you're picking guys who don't want to play we pick them right Now let's me the guys who said man, I wouldn't be on that shit We'll leave them niggas off the list and bring me them young motherfuckers would be like hell Yeah, what you mean? And that's the only thing you do I gave this turn was so as the fans. No, they started in there as the fans We pick our all-stars

Starting point is 02:40:13 Is it okay that we replace them they get their awards because this is what it is the best all-stars and then Are do you mind if we pick 24 players that's gonna go out there and play hard? They're gonna say no we can watch regular season for that bullshit We still want to see LeBron James. I still came all the way here to watch LeBron James anyway No, you just got to figure out a way to convince LeBron James to come in here and play hard. That's all Yes, you got it. That's all Exactly. So why would that be a problem for the fan when we need the guy we want to come see play hard Don't want to come play hard as a fan. All we can do is be like yo, what's wrong?

Starting point is 02:40:50 Come on, bro We pay for you to come play hard the other side got to convince this guy like yo look We know you're tired of this This is 20th year and got to find another way they motivate you But the guys one day we want to see you play a little bit harder who do the fans the fans because everybody played hard an all-star game no or did they just show or act like it no they just know they they did what they did at the beginning entertained and if the game is close at the end they played harder at the end whoever's trying to win an MVP he's

Starting point is 02:41:20 going he did go hard yeah right so for the most part majority of them go hard If they're not they're gonna win MVP because it's not the style ain't them Like Yogi's probably would never go hard because the game how it's played goes out of his hand He can't control it the way he played. So for him, he's probably he's probably not gonna go as hard as he does for Denver But the issue is this Until the game venue starts taking a hit from the fan base, there's nothing gonna change. See, if 25,000 people that know no one's gonna play hard

Starting point is 02:42:01 is showing up, them kids, kids. It's a kid thing. It's a festival. This is a festival. The kids, they're here having fun, seeing all the stars at one place. That's what it really is. It's a festival. Yeah, taking pictures, getting a pass.

Starting point is 02:42:15 That's all. What you can do is you have a choice to watch it or not. That's your choice. Just like it's their choice for me to spend $10,000 for a seat, knowing that they're not gonna play hard. That hasn't changed yet. It's still sold out every city. People are driving from city to city every time, right?

Starting point is 02:42:35 Only people who's complaining is the people who's watching on TV. Don't turn it on. The game is still gonna be played. The fans inside are still gonna cheer. They're still gonna show, the game is still gonna be played. The fans inside are still gonna cheer. They're still gonna show up. They're still gonna be live. The niggas still gonna get robbed.

Starting point is 02:42:50 Shoes are still gonna be sold. The jersey's still gonna be sold. They're gonna get robbed. Right? They get robbed. I guarantee you, I guarantee you. Are we getting your pockets, y'all? If the NBA decide to stop showing it on TV,

Starting point is 02:43:04 I guarantee you, the people start to play it. Oh, man Well, why are you leaving us out? As you was complaining like you say you didn't want to watch it so we didn't show you But the game itself is not gonna change just like the dunk contest went down Just like if I'm gonna sign you it like for dunk contest if you sign up for the dunk contest You got to be in it for three years. Unless you're physically hurt and you gotta be hurt the last game.

Starting point is 02:43:31 Three point contest, right? It's still names. Why ain't Curry, Clay, Kawhi, Dame? Why are y'all not all in it at the same time? That becomes a different game if they're all in it that gimmick shit they did in Indiana with the girl it was good but why didn't curry shoot in the big one with with the other guys like we want to see who's the best shooter some of these guys is winning they're not the best

Starting point is 02:44:01 shooter you're not the best until we see all y'all together going. It was just the best available. Yeah, I don't like the best available. All in all, the complaints we just discussed all result from decreasing viewership, which is why the NBA viewership is down. Because of the All-Star Game being the number one catalyst for I don't want to watch this shit.

Starting point is 02:44:25 So the viewership is down all year because of that? Not because of it. Just maybe a slight contributor. Just putting it out there. If the numbers are down and the All-Star trying to figure it out, got to figure it out around the board. That's all I'm saying because it's down, it's down. So we need to figure it out. Get these guys out here playing doing something because there's a little gimmick that we about to pull Probably gonna pull in more viewers than anything because it's a gimmick For the first year and then what I'm saying is what like anything gimmicky and new is good the first year

Starting point is 02:44:59 It's how do you sustain it? That's the that's the issue here. How do you sustain? You're not fixing the problem. The problem is they as a collective group are not playing hard. How do you fix that? We will see you thinking their egos is going to get excited because they're playing against the country like these two are competitors going for MVP they not playing against each other hard but you just because you put a group of world players together oh we're doing this for our country did 90% of the people that doing for our country only play on a USAT the fuck did they only play on a USAT like you're never gonna fucking pick me now you think Jalen Brown is gonna look oh

Starting point is 02:45:43 yeah you're Rose I'm gonna go play hard and go for my country. No, nigga, y'all ain't picking me on that team, fuck you. When the heat is on and motherfuckers is watching, it's a different type of challenge. Hey look, we about to play y'all, yeah, just like the group chat shit, right? If you don't respond in the group chat, you a punk.

Starting point is 02:46:00 He said he gonna wipe you. Yeah, what you gonna do? Hey, that's what they said. They said that the USA team ain't got a damn chance. Hey Jaylin and Jason What y'all gonna do? What y'all think about that? We will find out What you think about that drew that do him and Brandon say he saying you can't you can't fuck with him at all Drew they do Helen Brandon say he's saying you can't you can't fuck with him at all Charles Barkley had the USA He had the euro team and he said it I'm going with the euro. He said it out loud of his man

Starting point is 02:46:31 I'm going with the euros Charles Barkley look at his team. I'm going with the euros We will find the ass whoop February 2026 That is a good place for us to stop today. Appreciate everybody in the chat. Appreciate everybody on this couch for another spirit of discussion. Shout out to Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. Make sure y'all pull up to Fanatics Fan Fest. My 30 pushups. June 20 to 22nd. We will see who wins the push up battle between him and Shot.

Starting point is 02:46:57 Who's going to hold the push ups. But this has been another episode of Gills Arena presented by Underdog. Whoa! We will see y'all tomorrow.

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Gil's Arena - Michael Rubin Schools Gil's Arena On Sports Business

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