Nightcap - Nightcap - Hour 1: Wemby out for season, KD All-Star weekend thoughts, LeBron sits out ASG

Episode Date: February 22, 2025

Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson recap the top NBA stories of the week. Topics include San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama being ruled out for the season with a life-threatening blood clot, Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant says All-Star Weekend should be canceled and they should let the players rest, Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James sits out of the All-Star game for the first time ever and much more!03:52 - Lakers under pressure with Luka10:16 - Victor Wembanyama out for the season19:00 - Adam Silver gets called out by GM27:26 - Steve Kerr isn’t mad at Kevin Durant for rejecting trade to Golden State36:47 - Mavs wanted Luka to use injury time for conditioning52:00 - Victor Wembanyama is a super max eligible player54:44 - Kevin Durant expresses thoughts on the All-Star Break58:52 - LeBron James sits out All-Star Game(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #Volume #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. The Made for This Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being, and then climb that mountain. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify, the thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle. Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A lot of times, big economic forces show up in our lives in small ways. Four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding. But the price has gone up, so now I only buy one. Small but important ways. Four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding, but the price has gone up. So now I only buy one. Small but important ways. From tech billionaires to the bond market to, yeah, banana pudding. If it's happening in business, our new podcast is on it. I'm Max Chastin. And I'm Stacey Vanek-Smith. So listen to everybody's business on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on good company.

The podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. It became known as the Iran-Contra affair. The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you. Please do. To hear the whole story, listen to Fiasco, Iran Contra

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to get Luka resigned. He never said, I want to be a Laker. There are dozens of players over the years who have made it crystal clear they want to be Lakers. Luka never said that. This hit him out of nowhere. Ocho, can you see the Lakers not resigning Luka in LA? Well, absolutely not.

Listen, they need a superstar. They need, LeBron only has, what not. Listen, they need a superstar. LeBron only has, what, maybe one, maybe two years left? There has to be a superstar to put butts in those seats. And who is that? That is Luka Doncic. That is exactly what he's going to do. At some point, once he gets in shape, once he gets in rhythm,

once he gets his legs and feet up underneath him, we're going to get to see the same Luka that we saw in Dallas. Averaging 29, averaging 30, doing what he normally does every night, and he is the future for the LA Lakers. And absolutely, at some point, they're going to start building around him as a star.

They're going to have to pay him, but when do they pay him? When does that happen? Well, I was reading the other day, Ocho, they said that Luka could sign a two-year deal. So what is this, year eight for Luka? Asher, this year eight for Luka? He signed a two-year deal. That gets him to year 10. Now he be in line and he makes the all-NBA team, first team,

one of those two years in the contract. Now he's eligible for a Supermax, and now he can get that $400 million contract. Is that how it goes, Ash? Let me see here. Is it year seven? So he... Okay.

So signs a two-year extension, Ocho. This is year seven. Next year, sign a two-year extension. So three years, he can sign. That'll be 10 years. Get him to 10. And now he's eligible for a Supermax. This is very important because here's the thing, Ocho.

Remember now, you traded the guy that you really thought was going to be the succession plan to LeBron, AD. You bring in a guy that's five years younger and say, now, instead of having maybe four or five years with AD, we could possibly have 10 to 12 years with Luka. Now, you've already traded AD. You lose

Luka, now what? Well, I don't think you're going to lose him. You're not going to lose him. Obviously, he knows he's going to be the centerpiece and be the focus. There's a lot, he knows he's going to be the centerpiece and be the focus for the future. There's a lot of other teams he can go and be the centerpiece. There are a lot of other teams he can go and be the centerpiece. You know he's not leaving L.A.

Come on now. You know better than that. Listen, the historic franchise. They didn't think Shaq was going to leave Orlando. They didn't think LeBron was going to leave Cleveland. Did you think LeBron was going to leave Miami? Did you think LeBron was going to leave Miami? Did you think LeBron was going to leave Cleveland a second time?

No, you didn't. He promised him something. He gave him what he wanted and then he went on by himself. Did you think LeBron James was going to leave Cleveland? Remember, he was born an hour north of Cleveland in Akron. He left. Nobody saw it coming.

Nobody. I'm trying to think. You don't just up and leave a franchise like that. Not an organization like the Los Angeles Lakers. Not when you're the main focal piece of everything. You are going to be the face of the Lakers. Not when you're the main focal piece of everything.

You are going to be the face of the Lakers. You understand that. He understands that. They traded for you for a reason. Ocho. He wasn't Wilt. He wasn't Kareem. He wasn't Shaq.

He wasn't Bob McAdoo. He wasn't LeBron. He didn't request to go there. He didn't make it. That's my destination of choice. Hold on. Come on now. Let's be sensible, right?

You're in Dallas. You're in a great place. They shocked you with a trade. You go to a historic franchise, a winning franchise like the L.A. Lakers with the Kobe Bryans in play, with the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in play, where they're going to worship you, where there has to be a star. You are that star.

And you think when the time comes he'd rather go somewhere else? Where else is there to go? So let me ask you a question. If Luka went somewhere else, he wouldn't be the star? He wouldn't be the center of attention? Yeah, he would still be the star, but what better place is it than L.A.? Ain't nothing better than that. No disrespect to other places, though. That's not for him.

Does Luka strike you as a guy that's in awe of that kind of stuff? Remember, the European players are different. You look at Nikola Jokic. He's like, when can I go home? We got the parade. Oh, man, I can't go back and get to my horses. They don't see. See, you're looking at it through the lens of an

American playing for the Lakers. That ain't, that ain't, that ain't. So, you don't think Luka values the franchise and what it brings to him? The brand of playing for the Lakers? The brand of playing for the Lakers, the brand of playing for the New York Yankees,

or the brand of playing for the L.A. Dodgers, you don't think he understands that? And Miguel Soto left the Yankees and went to the Mets. That's right around the corner. That ain't them the Yankees. That's not the Yankees. So, look, I'm not saying that he is, but I'm not saying

it's not a foregone conclusion that he will resign. That's all I'm saying. And I agree that it's not a foregone conclusion that he's going to sign. But I think it's very incumbent upon the Lakers that they're hoping and praying, and I'm sure

they promised him the heavens and the earth because if they lose him it's over because remember they ain't got no draft picks they just traded the 31 and I think they got what a 27 and a they just traded what they traded the 31st or the 29th but I don't think they got one you know top lottery pick or unprotected

pick so they ain't listen listen I'm um you done been around the game a very long time very long time and you know one so do not somebody like one so do one so do even even though even though even if he european players don't have that same feel for playing for historic franchises like the lakers you know goodwill he ain't going't going to see the Spurs. Yeah. Now they're shutting down Victor Wimby Yami, Victor Wimby Yama,

excuse me, down for the remainder remainder of the season with a deep vein thrombosis. The San Antonio express news reported that the Spurs are optimistic that Wimby will be ready for next season and that they're not as serious as the issue with Chris Bosh dealt with. If this is an isolated incident, the Spurs believe that it will be closer to what Brandon Ingram dealt with six years ago. Remember Ocho in 2019? Ingram was diagnosed with a deep venous thrombosis in his right arm. That ended his 2018-19 season, but he went on to win 2019-2020 Most Improved Player.

He has not dealt with clotting issues since. Also, Ocho, since he's being shut down, he's going to be ineligible for winning Defensive Player of the Year because he won't meet the mandatory minimum of at least 65 games.

Right. What you thinking? I have a question. How are they able to diagnose how much the severity of the issue is and they're saying it's not comparable to what Chris Bosh had? They say their hope is more in line to what Brandon Ingram dealt with

and not with Chris Bosh. Remember, Chris Bosh tried to play again, and it reoccurred. Because normally when you have blood clots, Ocho, you have to take blood thinners. That's something that you stay on for the remainder of your life. So there's a problem because of the cuts, because the clots, you take blood thinners, you don't get clotting. So what does that mean?

You get a nick, you get a cut, you could bleed out. So there's always that. There's always that scare. Also, probably I think you have a greater chance of a heart attack or something of that nature. mother was on blood thinners uh because she dealt with clotting and she ended up she ended up uh ending up having a leg amputated uh just below just above the knee and uh but like i said ocho she was on blood thinners for the rest of her life and that's normally if i'm not mistaken serena williams dealt with blood clots also so it also depends on the severity where they are you start getting them in your lungs and boy boy, you got something to deal with.

Any place with a blood clot, Ocho, could be a very dangerous situation. But they're saying their hope is more in line with what Brandon Ingram dealt with. He missed the remainder of the season. He was able to come back when most improved. Hadn't had an issue with it since. Not like Chris Bosh, what eventually led to his early retirement now now one of the things i do want to ask you being that obviously i'm not a health expert i don't i don't really know the background when it comes to things like this is this something

that's hereditary uh does that does it just happen that regardless of age uh well clearly he's 21. Chris Barnes was probably what, 30? Yeah, 30. So my grandmother was in her 60s when she dealt with... So what deciphers whether it happens regardless of age? Is it diet, nutrition? I mean, when you think about somebody like Wimbum Yama, you think he eats healthy. He always has. I saw something earlier on Twitter today.

Someone be slick at the mouth and say, I guarantee you he probably got the vaccine. I'm not saying, I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I'm not sure if that has any type of effect on whether you get blood clots or not. Listen, you've heard stories that it does. It's caused people to have blood clots that didn't happen before.

After getting the vaccine, you think it's something that's probably in the family DNA. Other people have probably had clots that were part of the family and it trickles down to everyone else. Without me knowing anything, Ocho, it's really hard to say.

It says that blood clots are solid masses that form within the bloodstream when platelets and fibrin, a protein, stick together, which cause the clot. You need some clotting because, hey, you get cut, you want your blood to clot, you stop from bleeding. Sometimes you take blood thinner, it thins your

blood, there's nothing there to clot it. Okay, boom. That's another issue you could have. Obviously, you get blood clots, you have a heart attack, you have strokes. It leads to a number of other underlining conditions. So, Ocho, without really knowing, I mean, that would be something that you'd have to have a health expert to be able to, someone in cardiothoracic medicine or something like that, be able to give you a more of a detail to look, what, what,

what do they think led to it? Um, is this something that is hereditary? Um, Ocho, I really couldn't tell you. I mean, what seemingly is a 21 year old healthier male?

Uh, yes, sir. And boom, like I said, Chris Bosch was probably 30, uh, when he got it.

Uh, my grandmother was in our late sixties, early seventies when she got it. Like I said, Chris Bosh was probably 30 when he got it. My grandmother was in her late 60s, early 70s when she got it. So I don't really know the rhyme or reason. Serena Williams got it. She was in her 20s. And I think if I'm not mistaken, y'all can correct me if I'm wrong, I think Serena might have had it in her lungs, had one in her lung or something. Maybe it was a calf. I'm not sure.

But people get them in a variety. Sometimes they get them in their thighs. Sometimes they get them in their arms. They get them in their lungs. I really don't know, Ochoa. It's really, really hard to understand. Some things are hereditary. I'm not necessarily certain that blood clots are something that aren't hereditary.

Right, man. That's tough. That's tough for him. That's tough for the Spurs. That's tough for the fans. I'm not necessarily certain that blood clots are something that aren't hereditary. Right. And that, that that's tough. That's tough for him. That's tough for the Spurs. That's tough for the fans, obviously in San Antonio. Hopefully I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for him.

And he's able to come back strong next year and, and, and continue to dominate in the way he has so far since he's entered the league, a phenomenal talent, very good. And I'm prayers, prayers to him and his family as well. Yeah. I think, far since he's entered the league uh a phenomenal talent uh very good and um prayers prayers to him and his family as well yeah i think i think serena because i think it happened at wimbledon i think she stepped on a glass a piece of glass or something she was

celebrating uh her victory i think i could like i said it's probably been 20 years ago so i'm just going off the top of my head made it even longer i think it was like 20 something years ago. So I'm just going off the top of my head, made it even longer. I think it was like 20 something years ago. And she ended up getting a blood clot, if I'm not mistaken, in her lungs. I think that's what happened, Ocho. Like I said, yes. As you're saying, yes, that's what happened. I think she stepped on a piece of glass,

ended up getting a cut, ending up developing a blood clot in her lung, which was very, very, very, very serious. So hopefully, like you said, Ochoa, thoughts and prayers go out to a speedy recovery for Wimby, 21 years old, such a bright, bright future in front of him. So hopefully this is only a temporary setback for a major comeback. But you really, like I said, they're hoping one thing. You didn't know. I can assure you, when Chris

Watts developed his, no one thought that this was going to force his early retirement. An anonymous NBA GM called out Adam Silver. Adam Silver is obsessed with tournaments. Lay in, in season, not all-star. They've not proven to benefit our league. Ocho, what you think?

The head guy saying that the tournament's trying to create excitement, trying to create viewers globally as well, and it's not benefiting the league, it's not benefiting the players, how is it not? The in-season tournament. Isn't the in-season tournament allowing the players to make extra money and benefit them by having it being played in-season? Well, I guess they're trying to drum up support.

Because here's the thing, Joe look you got 11 you got 11 what 77 billion over the next 7 11 years and so we got it because here the thing is kind of like soccer you man you know soccer got all the tournament they got you the copa and this one and that one

yes champion so yes yes so I think that's what you know out of the commission is trying to get a play off that. The play in tournament, I mean, people didn't like that. People thought, look, I remember one time when the three-point competition was thought as gimmick. I mean, the three-point shot. They're like, man, it's a gimmick. Now, look, everything is a gimmick. I mean, the three-point shot. They're like, man, it's a gimmick. Now, look.

Everything is a gimmick until you get used to it. The forward pass was a gimmick. Right. Yeah, the forward pass, like, what are you doing? That's a gimmick. Ain't no day gonna be... Now, can you imagine

a game of football without the forward pass? Wouldn't make no sense. Made for This Mountain is a podcast that exists to empower listeners to rise above their struggles, break free from the chains of trauma, and silence the negative voices that have kept them small. Through raw conversations, real stories, and actionable guidance,

you can learn to face the mountain that is in front of you. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle. This is the thing that's in front of me. You can't make that mountain move without actually diving into that. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to conquer the things that once felt impossible and step boldly into the best version of yourself to awaken the unstoppable strength that's inside of us all.

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A lot of times the big economic forces we hear about on the news show up in our lives in small ways. Three or four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding. But the price has gone up, so now I only buy one. The demand curve in action. And that's just one of the things we'll be covering on Everybody's Business from Bloomberg Businessweek. I'm Max Chavkin. And I'm Stacey Vanek-Smith. Every Friday, we will be diving into the biggest stories in business, taking a look at inside the boardrooms, the backrooms, even the signal chats that make our economy tick.

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that looked like it might bring down his presidency. Did you make a mistake in sending arms to Tehran, sir? No. It became known as the Iran-Contra affair. And I'm not taking any more questions in just a second. I'm going to ask Attorney General... I'm Leon Nafok, co-creator of Slow Burn. In my podcast, Fiasco, Iran- Contra, you'll hear all the unbelievable details of a

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your podcasts. It would make zero sense. So, look, I get what Commissioner's trying to do. He's trying to do anything he possibly can to get eyeballs to the

television, to watch these games. And so to play in tournament, I mean, to play in tournaments are always good. You know, teams like, look,

normally one through eight, you made the tournament, you know where you are, but now eight through 10, you got to play. What? No, no.

Yeah. No. Seven. No. What play what? No, yeah, no, 7. No, what is it? 7 play, 10, and 8, 9 play, and then that winner, those two winners play each other. So whoever wins, they're the 7th seed, and then the next two

is the winner is the 8th seed. but I get what commission trying to do I get what I really do Ocho you got to try something I mean you got this kind of money at stake you got to try something I mean the only thing

I can deal with all of the only thing I don't like the all-star the format is not what it should be and the GM that's complaining the GM that's complaining about what what Adam Silver is doing why don't the GM All-Star. The format is not what it should be. And the GM that's complaining, the GM that's complaining about what Adam Silver is doing, why don't the GMs have ideas as well? Why don't they have ideas to continue to grow the game? Why don't they have ideas that they run by Silver to say,

listen, I think we can do this. The players will benefit from it. Us as owners will benefit from it. And those that are watching, they'll enjoy it. Instead of saying, oh, non-masaurus, complaining about what Silver Edge is actually doing. Well, rest his soul, David Stern. You're like, look, y'all are going to either play

or we're going to claw back some of this money. Which one you want? It's really that simple. You shouldn't have to beg guys to play hard, Ocho, if you're making $150, $200, $300 million. I don't really think it's asking too much. I really don't. Now, I could be wrong, Chad, and y'all might be totally disagree.

Oh, the season too long, and yada, yada, yada. I get all that. The season isn't any longer than what it was the last 50 years. How long have they been playing 82 games? Forever and a day. So this notion about all the games, well, no, it's not. No, it's not. These guys should be in better shape because they know better.

They got better training. They got better nutrition. They got better supplementation. They got around-the-clock phys nutrition. They got better supplementation. They got around the clock physios and trainers and yada, yada, yada. They got chefs that prepare their food and cook whatever. So there's no excuse to play hard, to ask you to play harder. You make it $300 million, don't you?

Damn. Man, listen. I got a coach. Let me get it. I don't even need $'d you give me one give me 150 i don't play hard because i because you know what joe i remember working hard when i was making five dollars a day you never never lose i remember work i remember working hard making $10,000, making $16,000, catching 1,000 chickens, making $1,000,000, catching 16,000 chickens, making $16,000.

I worked hard for that little bit of money. What the hell you think I do for $10 million, $20 million, $30 million, let alone $300 million? If you think about it, I think if players, when they make that kind of money, if they understood and never forgot where you came from before you had that kind of money and what you did to get to where you are, I think sometimes they lose sight of that. I really

do. You know, money, money, it changes now. It changes. Sometimes it changes you for the better. Sometimes it changes you for the worse. I think sometimes money makes you more of what you already are. What are you? Ocho, at your core,

what are you when you don't have it? Because now when you get it, it exacerbates what you already are. That's a good one there, boy. That's why people, you know, they haven't even, bro, if you got an eating problem and you're on's why people, you know, they had to even, bro,

if you got an eating problem and you're on a college budget, what happens if I give you 10, 15, 20 million dollars, don't you? Hey, what,

ooh. Yeah, money, oh, he changed, we got, no, he wasn't.

He was always that. He just needed the money for y'all to see him in his true self. That's all that was. He changed. He's always been this. He or she, I'm not going to say he or she.

He or she. Women as well. Sometimes it ain't got to be money. Sometimes it could be attention. You know what happens when you get that? You never had it before. And you start getting it from everywhere.

You get your big head. You start feeling yourself. You start overvaluing the boy. So, yeah, I get what Adam is trying to do. Adam is trying to grow the game, because, you know, soccer have these in-season tournaments and all this stuff. We saw

what? Hockey just had the, what is that called? The Nation 4? Four Nations or something, what do you call it? It was Finland, Sweden, Canada, and the US. See? But one thing,

hockey, they be playing hard. They be at it. Once you touch that ice, you strap up. You strap up. You strap up. They, they, they,

they, listen, you know what time it is. I, I think, Ojo, I think, I think a lot,

I think the difference, Adam, Adam, and the players, he views the players as players, as partners. It's their,

you know, their partner. I'm partner, I'm partner with the, the owners. We, we partners. It's their reunion of that partner. I'm partner with the owners. We partners. Y'all employees. Just like the NFL, the partners

are the broadcast network in the NFL. The employees are the players. And they don't let you forget it as such. And if you do forget, they will remind you. They remind you. They remind you.

Yeah, yeah. They definitely remind you, Ojo. Steve Kerr told ESPN he wasn't mad at KD for rejecting the trade to Golden State. I don't blame Kevin one bit for not wanting to rerun things here. It took so much ish for like, oh, you're jumping on the bandwagon and he's finals MVP two years in a row and he still gets

criticized. So why would he want to face all the BS again? That's not the reason why I didn't want to come back. I just didn't want to get traded midway through the season. Do you believe KD? A little bit. A little bit of me believes him. Obviously, I think

even though it was made way through the season, I think through the experiment in Phoenix, I don't think it's worked. I think it's failed. Obviously, thinking of the... Oh, you don't think? You think it's an absolute failure. Brooklyn was an absolute failure. That was too. And I think, I mean, for KD,

I would... I don't want to, I hate calling it ring chasing, but I would have went to the better situation, obviously going back over there with Draymond Green and stuff and trying to run it back and trying to run it back again. And I think the missing piece for them to get them over the hump and probably give them the opportunity in the West would be KD going back because what's going to happen right now in Phoenix? Where are you going in Phoenix? Nothing. Nothing at Phoenix? Nothing.

Nothing at all. Nothing? Nothing at all. But I think you want to stay there. And if you know KD, know personally, and you've watched him from afar, and you know his story, he loves the game of basketball. He loves the game of basketball. If he's going to be behind the eight ball, he's going to do,

he's going to scratch Carl and do everything he can to have success down there in Arizona and leave out the right way. I think the thing, why KD was so successful, he didn't have to worry about anything but ball. You see, in Brooklyn, he had to be a leader. You see, in Phoenix, he has to be a leader. Steph took care

of that. Draymond took care of that. Clayton took care of that. So now he just gets to do what he really wants to do, which is ooh, I don't got to, we have no pep talk. I ain't got to say pick this up. I ain't got to do what he wants really wants to do which is oh i don't gotta we have no pep talk i ain't gotta say pick this ish up i ain't gotta do none of that i come in i do what i do i go home and chill that's what he wants to do got no problem with that um a part of me part of me does believe that he didn't want to get uh traded during the season say he want to you know ride this lot with his boys, ride out what?

I mean, what do you think they're going to get? They started it off. They thought it was going to work. They thought the trio would build. Devin Booker and him would work some magic

out there in the West. It hasn't worked itself out, but I just think the fact that he's bounced around from Brooklyn, you know, went to Golden State, he didn't want to continue

that same trend and be like, here we go again. You know, at some point, what's going to happen? At some point, when your relationship's on, you get tired of moving on, man.

You get tired of moving on and sometimes you're like, you know what? I'm going to just stick this one out. I know it ain't working, but I'm going to stick it out and do everything I can until it's time to leave.

And I can tell you when he's leaving, in the goddamn summer. Okay, so what'd you do? All you did is lay the inevitable. You was miserable for another three, four months. Because they're not going nowhere. They're not doing anything. They don't have any defense.

They're just like the Lakers. They got no defense. They got all those scores. I mean, you got two guys that really is the Lakers. They got no defense. They got all those scores. I mean, you got two guys that really is the same guy. Booker's more athletic now, and I think he's a better player. I don't think he is. I know he's a better player than Bradley Beal,

but that saying, you got all that scoring. Where your defense at? Now, they get hot. You got on a given. Not even any of those guys can go to 30 or 40. Now they've relegated Bradley Beal to the bench because they were hoping he would wave his no trade clause and then they could trade him and get Jimmy Butler. But he's like, nah, I put that in there for a reason.

I put that in there for a reason. I don't want to go anywhere. I'm not going anywhere. So, whether you want me or not, you know what I'm saying, Ochoa? Hey, sometimes it's cheap when it's cheap. That's crazy how players, you see the leverage NBA players have when it comes to stuff like that?

He has a no trade. He don't have no leverage. He got a no trade clause. He and LeBron James are one of the two players that have no trade. So if he didn't have that, he's got it. That's why I said leverage. That's all I meant. You mean to tit at me?

You don't want me because I'm not as playing as well as you thought I should I'm trying to do everything I can obviously injuries are hampering me performing to what we're used to seeing me play like and I just got here and you trying to get me to uproot my family man child please put this no trade clause in there

it's in there for a reason there's a reason why because there's a chance they got a man coming off the bench. They got him coming off the bench, aren't you? Yeah. That'd be like you. They're like, man, we want to move. You're like, nah, I ain't going. Okay, aren't you?

You the slot. You're the third receiver now. Third who? You the third receiver now. You might be talking about Madden. Third receiver. You got a no trade you don't and they want to trade you you don't want to go

okay you the third receiver I guess you going there I guess you going there catch your get your little three four targets Sunday and come on home

hey hey young that's a lot of Hey, that's a lot of cardio, boy. That's a lot of cardio. Uh-huh. Damn. I never looked at it like that. Oh, you're making that kind of money.

Oh, you want me to play what? Wait a minute. Let me look at this. How much I'm making? And that's all you want me to do? Okay, bet. I mean, the competitive. Yeah, I mean, that's. Yeah. But I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize.

Right. That money. Right. Oh, yeah. I mean, Bradley Beal probably making $45, $50 million a year. Couldn't it? So, okay. Hey, this is all y'all want me to do is get y'all 28 minutes a night,

30 minutes a night, and ain't really no strain on me because I'm coming off the bench. I mean, look, he's going to get me coming off the bench. A lot of times you coming in there, you know, that's the second. You're going against the second unit. So, I guess they say you can get your points that way. Because, you know, the ball is going to go to KD first. Those are your first two options.

Bradley Beal has never been a third option. He's always been. He was one, two when he had John Wall. When John Wall left. It was him. You know, I guess he had. I think he had Russ. No, he had Russ for a year or two.

But he was the first scoring option even though Russ had the ball in his hand. So he's never been like this. He's never been in a situation where he's not used to being able to get as many shots as he wants. He's third option. No matter how you look at it,

oh, he's one of the best third option at the end of the day. You're still a third option. You know what? Even as a starter, and I'm thinking about if I was a starter as a number one,

let's say I was the number one in Cincinnati, same scenario. I go to New England and I'm the third or I'm the fourth guy because the options in front of me are better at that time

in that specific system. That does something to your psyche. You know that, right? It does something to your psyche. I would take your word for it. I mean, I wouldn't, you know, I wouldn't know like that. I wouldn't does something to your psyche. I would take your word for it. I mean, I wouldn't, you know, I wouldn't know like that. I wouldn't know third option, Ocho.

But I'd take your word for it. I believe you. You know, some situations. I can't. What you want me to do? How do you want me to? I can't empathize for a situation I have a bit. I have empathy for you.

So you know what I'm going to do, Ocho? You don't have empathy. Empathy requires you to divorce your ego. Separate your ego and see yourself in a similar situation. So you know what, Ocho? You know, everything requires you to divorce your ego. Separate your ego and see yourself in a similar situation. So you know what, Ocho? I don't have a third of an eye.

Pretend you're Bradley Beal right now. I go from somewhere where I'm able to play freely. Now I'm coming off a bench where I can't take a high volume of shots. So now I'm messed up up here. Not only am I messed up up here, when I do get on the court, sometimes I might hesitate

because I'm not in rhythm. That means my shot efficiency and shot selection has to be that much better. It does something to you. True. Well, look, I'm going to tell you what,

because I think when I got back, I got back to Denver, Rod was clearly the number one Easy Ed was coming off a severe leg injury so you know it was basically me and Ed fighting for 2-3

but I mean there were some games So you have been in that position where you were the 3? No I was always I finished no I never finished

when I was on the team I never finished no once I became what I became I never finished worse than I was on the team, I never finished. No, once I became what I became, I never finished worse than second. Okay, I understand that. But when Ed, when Ed. Yeah, I'm just saying. I hear you talking from a statistical standpoint,

but I'm just saying you were the three no matter what, how you. I was not the three. I was two. Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey were the ones. Were the one and two. And Rod was one. I was two. And I was 2A. And Rod was 2B.

I don't know what you're talking about. It sounds good. It sounds good. Hey, they know y'all better. You better check it. You better check it. Hop, hey, you tell me the time you seen a third receiver

get 214 in the game what happened when somebody hurt I mean what third receiver you know just saying okay let's get right into it

The Athletic dropped an article today about the Mavs the Mavs wanted Luka to use the injury time off to improve conditioning. According to the article, in November, Luka missed five games with what the Mavericks announced was a right wrist sprain. That injury classification was not entirely true, being reported.

In reality, Luka was supposed to use the time off to improve his conditioning. Team sources said it was one of the straws that broke the proverbial camel's back. Wait a minute, so because he decided not to use the time off for conditioning, that was the straw that broke the camel's back? That's what's really reported. This will be Luka's first season

playing fewer than 60 games. Now, here's the kicker where everybody's like, well, hold on. Wait a minute. On the other side, AD is six years older and has failed to compete in 60 games four of the last six seasons. Well, something ain't making no sense, huh? Something is not making any sense because you're trading for somebody.

You trade your better player that's played over 60 games for most of his career outside of that one, and you're bringing somebody player that's played over 60 games for most of his career outside of one. And you're bringing somebody that hasn't played in over 60 games for the last season. So something may make a difference. That's why, that's why I think, and I still think today,

whatever the true reason is that they traded Luca, it hasn't been said yet. I believe two things can be true. I believe they had grown frustration with trying to tell Luca about his conditioning. I also believe they didn't want to pay him $450 million.

Hey, even though I just started watching basketball, when you name the top three players in the NBA right now, is Luka one of the three? When he's at his best, yes. I don't need to hear no more.

Hey, hey. Let's just say for the sake of argument, let me ask you a question. Let's just say for the sake of argument, Coach Belichick, he resigns Tom Brady's in year five he's already won three Super Bowls

but he resigns Andy Reid at the last year said you know what I'm good you don't think people would go like well hold on why you still got a guy that's in his prime? What's really going on? And I think the thing for me, my attention, I got like, hold on.

You mean to tell me Rick Carlisle has a guy that's 23 years of age and he don't want to contract extension? He'd rather go coach Indiana? And it don't make no sense. Because even if you do go to Indiana, even if you do go to Indiana, you still don't have a player like what you got over here in Dallas.

Especially at that. Now, as a coach, as a coach, you notice, whether it be football for Andy Reid, he had Donovan McNabb. We never had a Patrick Mahomes, though. Yes. Players like this come around every so often,

especially one as special as Luka. You don't leave and go somewhere else because of problems with conditioning. Things that can actually be fixed, especially when the product itself, when it touches the court, it gives you that kind of goddamn production. But they don't, but see see you said it can be fixed they were wanting him to

fix it and he wasn't fixing it that's the thing Ocho what happens if the team if the team says Ocho we want you to be here on camp we want you hey at some point in time they're going to get tired of telling you now if we let's just fast forward right quick to Aaron Rodgers.

What did Aaron Rodgers say this year? He said at the beginning of the season, if we don't get this thing right, we're all going to be out of here. Joe Douglas is gone. Robert Sala is gone. Nathaniel Hackett is gone. Aaron Rodgers is gone. They're looking at it like, hold on,

if we don't get this thing right with Luka, we're all going to be up out of here. When it comes to the game of basketball, you know, basketball, when it comes to any sport, it's all about what? Your superstars, and they have to do what consistently? Outside of updating your resume, you have to perform. You have to perform. At any point in Luka's career, have his number decreased?

No. What are we arguing? What are we talking about? Conventioning, too fast, too slow. The numbers have remained the same and have been consistent. I get that.

But everybody, see, everybody keeps saying, do this, do this. That's easy to say when it's not your $450 million. See, it's easy to say, I would do this. It's not your money. People leave a restaurant and don't go back when they don't get good service on a $60 tab. What you going to do when you got $400 million and that money is fully guaranteed? Because a lot of times if you get a bad meal, Ocho, they'll say, you know what, Mr.

Mr. Johnson, we're going to take this off. This one's on us. When you sign a $400 million contract, players are going to give you an ish back. The one thing players are players are played based on performance on the hardwood. On the hardwood. His performance has always been the cream of the crop.

He's always been top of the list in almost every statistical category. So you're not going to. OK, you can't say it because they actually did it. You're not going to tell me me. That's why I'm not a GM. That's why I'm not in that position. That's not why I'm sitting in that seat, in that high seat, making judgment calls on who I should keep and who I should play.

Because there ain't no way in hell I'm Trey Luka, and nothing when it comes to producing on the court is going wrong, whether he's fat, whether he's skinny, whether he's out of shape. Because if you're doing what you're doing while you're out of shape, imagine if I could get the right people with you or convince you to get in shape. Man. You had the right people.

You do realize that when they hire a superstar, when you get a superstar, they bring your people on. They let you bring your people on, right? You do realize that. It ain't like football. Tom Brady had a very unique circumstance where he had his guy right there with him. But most football teams You do realize that. It ain't like football. Tom Brady had a very unique circumstance where he had his guy right there with him. But most football

teams don't do that. NBA teams allow you to do that. You know what I can't say? Mike Macias traveled with LeBron. He always has. Randy Mims traveled with LeBron. Always has. So you said the right people.

He's in the right place now. He's in the right place now. He is in the right place now, but with someone like him. Sure. Well, I hope he looks at LeBron like, well, damn, this man played like this in year 22. He didn't even let him take no shortcuts. Not over there. Absolutely not. Not only are you able to watch, but you're able to see someone that's done it for 20- some odd years at the highest level and is actually the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Luka's looking at that. LeBron is talking to him. You know they're going to have that talk. I know he had that talk before because all the rumblings through the media. I would love that conversation. I would love insight on how you've been able to do it this goddamn long. How about I do, you know what? How about I change my routine?

How about I tighten up on my discipline and my structure and the way I do things and my approach to the game? Well, if I'm already great and I'm somewhat lazy in a sense in my approach to preparing for the game and I'm playing extremely well, what happens if I tighten up the motherfucking... I almost curse. What happens if I tighten up the motherfuckers? Almost curse. What happens if I tighten up the bolts and approach the game of basketball

the way LeBron does? Ain't no telling what I can achieve, and I'm already great right now. But everybody doesn't have that mindset, Ocho. I think LeBron came in. I think he had a couple of goals. He wanted to be considered the best player to ever play the game.

He wanted to play as long as he possibly could. So he took the steps very early on. If you hear people talk about when LeBron was in high school, you hear people talk about LeBron when he first got there, how everything is so routine, is so regimented, from his rest time to his nap to his stretching, getting to the arena so many hours early, getting his work, getting his lift in,

getting his shots up, everything for 22 years. Structure, structure, structure, structure. Discipline, discipline, discipline, discipline. Everybody doesn't want that. I understand coming out of high school,

the odds were stacked against him. All the pressure was on him. The expectations were out the roof. So he had no choice but to approach the game of basketball, being the chosen one, coming out of high school. Hell, he's in 10th grade. I think you said it yourself. 10th grade, he could have came and played in the NBA right then and now.

I think a situation, when you look at Luka, Luka had been a professional since he was 16. He had a lot of expectations placed on him. People thought he was going to be good. I didn't think he was going to be this good. Because everybody said, no, he can play. I was like, bro, he played. When he said it's easier to score in the NBA than it is in Europe.

I said, this kid out his damn mind. And lo and behold, he ain't making me out to be a liar. He never averaged the amount of points he's averaging over Europe as he's doing here. He's averaging 29 points a game for his career. He's averaging the second highest playoff scoring average. Do you think over in Europe where he was playing, I can't remember where, I don't remember exactly where,

do you think they played better defense? Do you think that's what it is? Are the dimensions of the court a little smaller? There has to be some type of difference. I think the thing is, Ocho, is that the game is not as free-flowing as it is here. I mean, you run plays.

They don't let you do a whole lot of ISO over there. So, you know, it's kind of like Coach Smith, Dean Smith or Coach Smith when he's at North Carolina. The only guy that can keep Michael Jordan under 20 points a game was Coach Smith because of his offense. Then they allow him to get loose. Nobody saw Michael being able to do what he did in the NBA based on what he did in the NBA based on what he did

in college. Same thing with Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis was a defensive player at Kentucky. I didn't see this kind of offense from him. Now, he was a sensational defensive player. I'm surprised he doesn't have a defensive player of the year already, considering the way he can slide, the way he can challenge at multiple positions, guard multiple positions, tremendous in the pick and roll, weak side health.

I'm surprised he doesn't have one already. But it's his offense that's been most impressive. He went to mainly a putback dunk, long player, to now he has a mid-range. Now he can take it all the way out to three. Luka, you look at that Luka, you're like, well, yeah, he getting some points. He getting 18, 19 points a game, but look at how he's playing against. Will he come over here and play against grown men? He averaged 34 a game.

Tell me if I'm wrong. So, when I watch Luka play, all his damn moves look like it's in slow motion. Or am I tripping? Not only do his moves look like it's in slow motion, they work every goddamn

time! He has no... He doesn't have quick twitch fibers like a Kyrie, or... I'm trying to think. Or who else is really explosive? Russell Westbrook. Obviously, he's a bigger man.

John Moran? No, you don't have that explosive like those guys. No no he doesn't have they work every time and I swear maybe it's because I'm watching from TV it look like it's in slow motion yeah yeah he is and that's why you can't time him up because while you don't jump he ain't left the ground yet and when you're on your way up when you're on your way down he on his way up so now he gonna get a hand one or he's going to get you to fouling. So he plays at his pace. He's not going to allow you to speed him up

and make him play at your pace. He's really good. He can get off any shot. He's a lot bigger than you think. Made for This Mountain is a podcast that exists to empower listeners to rise above their struggles, break free from the chains of trauma,

and silence the negative voices that have kept them small. Through raw conversations, real stories, and actionable guidance, you can learn to face the mountain that is in front of you. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle. This is the thing that's in front of me.

You can't make that mountain move without actually diving into that. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to conquer the things that once felt impossible and step boldly into the best version of yourself to awaken the unstoppable strength that's inside of us all. So tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being and climb your personal mountain. Because it's impossible for you to be the most authentic you. It's impossible for you to love you fully if all you're doing is living to please people. Your mountain is that.

Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A lot of times the big economic forces we hear about on the news show up in our lives in small ways. Three or four days a week, I would buy two cups of banana pudding. But the price has gone up, so now I only buy one. The demand curve in action. And that's just one of the things we'll be covering on Everybody's Business from Bloomberg Businessweek. I'm Max Chavkin.

And I'm Stacey Vanek-Smith. Every Friday, we will be diving into the biggest stories in business, taking a look at what's going on, why it matters, and how it shows up in our everyday lives. But guests like Businessweek editor Brad Stone, sports reporter Randall Williams, and consumer spending expert Amanda Mull will take you inside the boardrooms, the backrooms, even the signal chats that make our economy tick. Hey, I want to learn about VeChain. I want to buy some blockchain or whatever it is that they're doing. So listen to everybody's business on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your

guide on good company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi, for a conversation that's anything but ordinary. We dive into the competitive world of streaming, how she's turning so-called niche into mainstream gold, connecting audiences with stories that truly make them feel seen. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. It's this idea that there are so many stories out there, and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Get a front row seat to where media, marketing, technology, entertainment, and sports collide and hear how leaders like Anjali are

carving out space and shaking things up a bit in the most crowded of markets. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. Did you make a mistake in sending arms to Tehran, sir? No. It became known as the Iran-Contra affair. And I'm not taking any more questions in just a second.

I'm going to ask Attorney General... I'm Leon Nafak, co-creator of Slow Burn. In my podcast, Fiasco, Iran-Contra, you'll hear all the unbelievable details of a scandal that captivated the nation nearly 40 years ago, but which few of us still remember today. The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you. Please do.

To hear the whole story, listen to Fiasco, Iran-Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's a lot bigger body than you think, and it's stronger than you think because you're looking at it and you're like, I don't see not one definition. The only definition I see is that if you got a dictionary in your hand, definition is in there. That's the only definition I see. But it's the same thing with Yoke. When you look at Yoke, you don't see no definition, but he gave me a 30, 20, 20, 18.

Every time I watch Denver play, why he always look tired the whole game? It look like he breathing hard the whole game, but everybody take a shot. It's going in. Move me, baby. It's going in. Move me, baby. It's working. But look, I think the thing is that's a lot. I mean, look,

we're going to see. I'm trying to think the next guy that's available that's really good that can get this kind of money. You said Shea. But Shea can't get a supermax like this because he got traded, remember?

See, Ant-Man has been drafted to Timberwolves. Ant-Man or Wimby? Wimby definitely finna get it. He definitely finna get it. Ant-Man ain't no reason he should get it, too. I know the Wolves ain't finna pull no slick stuff over there.

They ain't got no choice but to give it to him. Wimby Yama becomes a Supermax eligible player, meaning his rookie extension base salary will be 30% of the salary cap instead of 25. When he enters his eighth year, he'll be 35% max eligible as opposed to the traditional 30%. So, whatever the cap is, he's

entitled to 35% of that. Damn. So, he's available for 30% of it, of his rookie extension. Hey. That's what... So, he's going to be worth 35% of that. No, hey, that's what,

so he's going to be worth 35% of that. No, he's worth 30% of that. He's worth every penny. Hey, Wimby is everything advertised. Right. Everything advertised.

Every bit of it. So whatever penny he get, he's earning every bit of it. Watch an Ant-Man play. Every penny he's going to get, he's worth every bit. Yeah, Wimby is definitely going to be the first $400 million player. And speaking of, remember I told you I was going to start investing in going to the basketball game so I can be better suited.

Jason Tatum about to hit that. I've been thinking about it. Jason Tatum, he just got $320? He's $0.20. He's $0.26. Jason Tatum just got he just got three what 320 80 20 cents but that's what about those next four years it's 455 he'll be 31 so what's his next contract going to be?

His next contract might be, hey, he might hit that $400,000. He just got $320,000. It's hard to see a scenario. He's going to be $31,000 for him not to get another Supermax. That's nasty work there, boy. That's nasty work that's nasty work it's great money

you got to understand you're one of the best in the world you're one of the 1%ers and that's what I meant to tell you before we go on I just got courtside tickets the Timberwolves play the Heat

March 7th March 7th. Yeah, March 7th or March 6th, something like that, whatever it was. I'm sitting right next to the bench. I'm sitting right next to Bam, right? I'm going to chirp at Anthony Edwards the whole game. The whole game. The same way Spike Lee do. And I want to make sure I'm better suited to talk about basketball

so I can sound like Tim Legger, so I can sound like Doris Burke or George Sedano. And when I come on here and you wonder what the hell happened to me and why I'm talking about the game the way I am, as if I played it all my life, you know why. Okay, Ocho, so you know the discourse about the NBA wouldn't be complete without KD chiming in. KD, this is what he tweeted. I think it's more fun to complain about the NBA than actually watch it.

Crazy. Cancel All-Star weekend. Let's just give everybody a break since we're so miserable around this time. Oh, Joe, what you got? I understand KD's frustrations. I wouldn't even call it frustration. I think he's more so, listen, it's All-Star break.

We ain't trying to hurt ourselves. We've tried to create different formats to appease you as fans, to appease the viewers. And it's not working. You know what? How about we just cancel all this? Because no matter what we do, we can't make y'all happy. We failed at it. Adam Silver has failed. The players have failed. We don't want to play because I think, for one, as much as the players make in anything that you do, whether it be in the corporate world, whether it be in sports, anytime money is involved and it's incentivized, it makes you want to do whatever it is a little bit harder. Even though they make so much. That's why that was my suggestion yesterday.

Have some type of format where it's incentivized, where they can make a huge chunk of change, even though they make millions during the regular season. Because outside of that, they already have a few money. So trying to get in the play of the All-Star game ain't going to happen. That's why they're shooting 100 threes and throwing 200 alley-oops.

That's what you're going to get. Look, obviously KD was being sarcastic. He's tired of hearing the criticism about the All-Star game and the all-star game format. And,

uh, and, uh, about not playing hard and things of that nature. KD is one of the ones you hear what people saying, and it's his product. And he's proud of the type of game that he plays, but everybody is not proud of the type of performance that a lot of the guys give at the All-Star

game. And, you know, they voice their displeasure. It'd have been interesting to see. I would have loved to have seen had Twitter been around in the 90s, early 2000s, what would have been said. I think now, because you have

social media, Ocho, and we don't have to wait. We don't have to just get our information because we can go online. If we got a problem with something, how could I? If I didn't like something, how could I say it, Ocho? I couldn't say it, but at the barbershop. Now I can get online. I can get on the player's profile, his timeline. Yeah, I can talk some trash.

Man, you suck. And honestly, I think it's a great thing. I think it's a great thing. I think it's a great thing. I think it's a great thing for fans. It gives everybody a voice, gives everybody reason whether whether right or wrong, whether right or wrong. And for those been for players, especially athletes, elite athletes like a KD LeBron as well. Sometimes they engage back. I think for people that are fans of certain players or just fans of whatever sport you play,

just knowing that you can, even if they don't respond, knowing that you can ask someone that you like or dislike and send a message,

whether they see it or not, I think that's one of the greatest feelings in the world. I think it is. I really think it is. I mean obviously I agree I agree

no I'm saying I agree with you you know some guys don't pay any attention KD is one of those guys that he's going to respond if he thinks you've been I mean he doesn't respond to all things but he responds to enough of them he's one of the guys that probably responds more than anybody,

maybe any professional athlete that I know. And not just any athlete. We talk about one of the best to ever play the game. You got one of the best to ever play the game that's great right now that takes his time out to engage with people, whether it's negative or positive. That's a good thing. That's a great thing. And I wish

more players were like that. And most of them that have accounts, they have other people running their account. You know, all they do is post stuff that is promoting things that they are doing. Sponsors and endorsements and stuff like that. Or whatever. Clothing or whatever it may be. But people like KD and LeBron

at times, they actually chirp back and forth. LeBron sits out of the All-Star game. It's his first time missing an All-Star game in his career. Year 22, he's a 21-time starter player because of lingering discomfort in his left foot and ankle. Do you

agree? LeBron accepted knowing he probably wouldn't play. Absolutely. But he'd have been there 20 times before that. Okay. He's earned the right to be able to sit out knowing he probably wouldn't play. Absolutely. But he'd have been there 20 times before that. Had nothing. Okay. He's earned the right to be able to sit out in the All-Star game where they're not going to be playing serious anyway.

It's okay. Exactly. Sit out. Now let Norman Powell get an All-Star game selection. Just like Giannis. Giannis knew he had a little slight injury. He pulled out. Now Trey Young is a four-time All-Star selection.

That's the problem that I got. You're right. He earned it right. But he didn't get it until Saturday. You know you're not going to play? Why you block somebody else from playing? That's just like you, Ocho. You know you're not going to play in the Pro Bowl.

Some of you are first on to it, but you go over there. Hold on, man. Now, hold on. Now, what if not going to play in the Pro Bowl. Something, your first alternate, but you go over there. Hold on, man. Now, hold on. Now, what if LeBron, even though he wasn't playing, wanted to be there and be part of the team? Giannis was there. Did you not see Giannis in the uniform? Okay, I see what you mean.

I see what you mean. He should have pulled out completely in general. Yes. He could. Obviously, they still don't let him come. He's still the biggest biggest

name in basketball. Sure. They're going to love to love to have him come let him walk get introduced in year 21

a year 22 or 21 time starter NBA starting for LeBron James give him that let the fans see that

bro. Come on, man. Norman Powell deserved it. I thought Norman, he didn't deserve it. He earned the right to be there with the way he's played in the first half of the season. Now, I ain't breaking news to the chat. Y'all know I'm the biggest fan of LeBron's biggest supporter. Being that.

But I disagree. I wholeheartedly, wholeheartedly and stringently disagree with the decision to make this announcement the day of the all-star game

he knew he wasn't gonna play y'all think LeBron just made this decision today really nobody thinks that and honestly

I can't even be mad at him because we talk this is LeBron I we talk this is LeBron I mean this is LeBron if there's one person that you know what if I'm not gonna play

I've earned every right to decide Sunday morning or decide Saturday morning No LeBron James is not bigger than the game of basketball I didn't say he was bigger than the game of basketball So you're talking about

he's earned it right? No he didn't say he was bigger than the game of basketball. So you're talking about he's earned it, right? No, he hasn't. No, he hasn't. No. Oh, no, no. I vehemently disagree. Now, I vehemently disagree with you on that. If LeBron James, the all-time leading scorer in the NBA,

decides, you know what, at the All-Star game this Sunday, you know, I don't want to play. He should be able to. Oh, Joe. No, see, no, no. I'm not saying he doesn't have that right. I'm saying he doesn't have the right to do that Sunday, the day of the game.

Make that decision on Thursday. Wait, you're telling him to make the decision on Thursday just so someone else can come? You leave Shaq's team. Now Shaq's team only has seven players. They're down a man. Oh, seven players, five players, four players. They ain't even playing for real. They might as well play one-on-one.

You just said it yourself. They just shooting three. They might as well just play horse. Okay, so he can't do that? He couldn't do that? Okay, do what Giannis did. Giannis says, I'm not going to play. And guess what? Trey got to come

Norman Powell would have got an opportunity to come what if what if it was a lingering issue and it didn't flare up until he got there

man stop it Ocho I'm just I'm asking a question that's a possibility it did so let me ask you in Lincoln so what did he do

to cause it to flare up? You know, you know, should be acting up now when you hit your 40s now. What did he do to cause it to linger? Did he play basketball

in between Wednesday night? He just played. Wednesday. Wednesday. He played Wednesday. Remember? So, Thursday he was off. Friday he remember? So Thursday he was off. Friday he was off.

Saturday he was off. Sunday he makes an announcement that he's not going to play an All-Star game. So I'm just trying to figure out what did he do in between Wednesday after the game and today that caused the flare-up. That's a good question. That's a good question. I would text him and ask him. But, you know, I agree and disagree with you, honestly, because it is LeBron.

And the fact that he's made the all-star for his 2021st year, if I'm not mistaken. 21 straight starts. You know, and he wanted to actually be there, even if he didn't play. And I think that's why he didn't pull out. Ocho, he could have. Giannis is there. Giannis is there. We talk about LeBron. LeBron doesn't want to do what Giannis is doing.

But you said he wanted to be there. He could have come and do exactly what he did. Nothing. Well, listen, I agree with you to an extent. And there's another side of me that doesn't agree with you. So I get what you're saying. That's what Ron's supposed to do. I'm just trying to figure.

That's all up Ocho. But I'm saying, you know, I don't want to play. But don't show Ocho. You know good and well, if you've been sick for three days, why you show up on them people's job and then walk into work, I ain't going to be able to come to work today. You could have called in and do that. So we could have had somebody come in

and fill up your job. Now you leaving, we ain't got nobody to fill the spot. Why did you come tell Ocho? Why did you come tell me you're not going to be able to work today? You could have called and do that. I just like I said, look, hey, y'all know how I feel about LeBron, but I don't disagree with him on this one.

He don't disagree strangely and vehemently on this decision. The volume. The Made for This Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being, and then climb that mountain. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle.

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