The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Alley Oop 6: Kawhi, Big Ellie, and Indiana Fever with Ros Gold-Onwude

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

Juju Gotti and award-winning basketball commentator and former player, Ros Gold-Onwude talk about the NBA Playoffs including the Rockets, Clippers, Knicks, and who looks good in the WNBA. Alley Oop is all things hoops and hoopers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey folks, it's Mike Ryan and if you're watching our show, you've probably known your boy has undergone a little bit of a body transformation and I gotta tell ya Peloton has helped me on my fitness journey. It got the ball rolling for me because I watch my wife on the Peloton, she takes all these great classes, she has her favorite instructors, I listen to the music, I'm a big music guy, gets me fired up, makes me want to take part in this fitness phenomenon known as Peloton. Peloton offers a variety of challenging classes from four-week strength building classes to running cycling and everything in between. Peloton will help you achieve your goals and maybe you'll have some fun

along the way. I know I have. It's backed by thousands of members whose lives have been changed. Be part of that group. Tell telling you I'm better for it, have it in my office, sometimes I can put on the baseball game, sometimes I can put on a soccer match, some other times I'm totally locked in on an emo playlist. Find your push, find your power with Peloton at OnePeloton.com. It's a classic but don't play that in the car. If you ride around the car, this is all we do is win. Call 911 on that car.

That might be a serial killer. Ain't nobody normal just driving around listening to all I do is win. Rise, Gold, and Wooude, thank you so much. Rize, you are my sister. I will always consider you family. You feel me?

Oh, I definitely feel you. And that means a lot to me. And I'm really thrilled to see that you're building out this lane and this show for yourself. When I heard that, oh, Juju's doing something new and cool and his own with ball, which also you do, I know you do the men's and the women's, I was like, oh, I wanna pull up. Like, so I'm so excited for you, congrats, and keep doing your thing, keep being you.

Like, I think that's the difference, right? Yeah, we got playoff basketball happening right now. We got the Knicks, Pistons, we got Warriors, Rockets. What series right now like entices you the most? I live in California so I was up watching you know the West Coast series. I was watching the Clippers and the Nuggets last night and I know, I know. You know I've always got my eyes on the Warriors. You know, one of these things that stands out to me in in the playoffs is that in the calendar year of 2025,

like the vets still vetting. They still got it. These old superstars. They still them guys. They just know how to win, you know, like look at Kawhi right now. You miss a whole year. Come back and look like you never missed a beat like

right. People forget to Kawhwhi is returning to form, but Kawhi is in year 14 doing his stuff. So even a healthy guy in year 14, holy moly. The vets are vetting, especially over there in the Warriors. That's what they got versus the Houston Rockets and all the other teams. What you think about that series? As soon as the Warriors lined up against the Rockets, I was like, I know the Rockets got to be tired of the team. What you think about that series? As soon as the Warriors lined up against the Rockets, I was like, I know the Rockets gotta

be tired of the Warriors. I know they gotta be tired of the Warriors in the postseason because they just keep knocking them, just one team. It's different generations of Rockets being tired of the Warriors. And now you got this new era of Rockets, these young guys trying to bust out and the old guys won't let them in Geraint Mons, Steph and so, you know, I just think at this time of year What what's showing is experience still matters? knowing how to win still matters and also being Steph matters like You know his period right?

being Steph Curry helps. Nah, but like going up against the defense of the Rockets against him was physical. It was athletic. It was youthful. It was eager. And like what impressed me was Steph's cuts to the basket off the ball or with the ball. You know, we're going to watch all the highlights of Steph shooting threes when it's all said and done and making tough shots and actually coming out of that game making some tough threes. But for me, it was the reads against very physical, tough defense to the cup. Steph's always been really nice off the bounce to the basket and finishing.

Right. Let that be a lesson to the kids out there. It ain't all about the highlights that Steph be doing. You track Steph from the check ball down on the side, he be running through 17 screens, getting his jersey grabbed, fighting through it, then end up with the ball still having enough energy for that switch. So get your conditioning training in together, you feel me? That's what being a big boy is. Whether it's Jimmy Butler or Stephen Curry or even Draymond Green or somebody coming up with the play or a stop or just a read that makes sense. And so at least for game one, the Warriors had the Rockets card, but I do think that

the Rockets youth growing experience, hunger, their athleticism over the course of a series may wear on the Warriors. I think that was a really tough, I think it was hard work what Steph pulled off. That game was physical against him and he's going to do that throughout a series. Hell yeah, speaking of hard work, holy moly, the Mecca. New York City has been rocking for two straight games. Let's go. I know you've been in that building a lot. Game one, the Knicks, they found a way.

21-0 run in the fourth quarter. Oh, goodness gracious, against them young Pistons. But last night, Cade stepped into that road. Dennis Schluder stepped up and hit big shots. You ain't know I spoke German, you feel me? I'm really outside. Well yeah, talk about the magnificence of the New York Knicks, the perseverance of the Pistons.

What you thinking about that series, sis? The Pistons are one of the great stories in basketball right now. When you just look at the overall body of work over the course of seasons now. They just really did a nice job of snagging one in the garden, right? But I'm from New York.

Queens get the money. I'm from New York. Please get the money. I'm from Queens. So you know who I'm rolling with. And there is nothing like the Mecca in the garden and just feeling that energy. And it's always exciting when New York basketball is good. So and I'm getting texts from like, it's also a family moment for me. You know, as much as I cover basketball, I try to make sure that I'm still enjoying it with passion, enthusiasm and like a fan.

I guess it's okay to say that people have fandom as professionals, but like I don't want to lose that joy. And so like it's a family moment. Like when, you know, I'm getting a text from my sister or my group chats going crazy or, you know, my group chat thinks there's a conspiracy from the reps because there's no fouls or, you know, and I think like that's,'s you know what makes it special. Right and then when it comes to the dream that's why that's why I show my loyalty. These are letting a dream out my heart you feel me. I stuck with them when it was nobody in the building just me, Renee

Montgomery and the owners and them cheering them on. You were there for some of the dysfunction you stuck around as a fan. Yes, Kennedy Carter. I see you Kennedy Carter finds a team like, you know, a career season in Chicago, but I know that Atlanta's also it's personal for you You know the players like they and they rock with you, you know Big Al Lisa Graham, I love. Lisa occurred the ring. You feel me? She's engaged. We love you. Yeah, I seen it.

Congratulations, sis. Congratulations. So speaking of rings, so I covered the New York Liberty in the summer. Okay, here we go. No, no, no, they won their reign. They won a championship. It's a little sad.

Yeah, I see you got your sad jersey. All I'm trying to say here, this isn't just a plug that the Liberty won and that Atlanta didn't. We love all teams. I happen to be the color commentator for the New York Liberty, but I also grew up on a Liberty. Like my mother took me to the games when the WNBA started and I had a Rebecca Lobo Jersey. And like when the Liberty won the championship, like it was, I mean, so I like I did the formal professional stuff at Barclays, five games. I leave, I mean, so I like I did the formal

professional stuff at Barclays five games, I leave, I get my people and we hit the streets. Like we are out in Brooklyn in the streets like the cops are out with us banging on garbage cans like people are dancing the street the music is up people are honking their horns. And it like it took 28 years it It took the entire history of the WNBA to get the Liberty Championship. It was me, my sister, like old friends from back in the day, college friends. We was just outside and like I was dancing. I was doing all sorts of stuff. I was salsa-ing and it just felt so good.

You cannot walk around the city or walk around the streets without loving Big Ellie. Big Ellie gonna make you feel like, look, I like the Liberty for this game. Talk about the energy of Big Ellie. Ellie, honestly, might have had the biggest year ever. I'm trying to see who had a bigger year than Ellie. Because Ellie had a bigger year than some of the WNBA players. I've seen them on the State Farm commercial with Jake. Ellie's unapologetic. Ellie speaks to the people.

I hosted the championship parade for the Liberty and we didn't even know if Ellie was going to be part of it. It was game time. So we didn't know. I have a script. We're working with the city. There's thousands of people outside at City Hall. We've got the mayor.

We've got the players. We've got ownership all on the stage. I'm kind of like I heard Ellie might be part of it. I wasn't sure. All of a sudden they're like Ellie's here. Just just announced her. I was like, and guess who's here? Like, I forgot what I said, but I was just like, Ellie, the elephant.

When I say it was like Beyonce herself came out. There was like a dance routine dancers. Ellie going to come down with the door like this. And the crowd goes wild. And I was like, okay, you better go ahead. You are so silly, but I'm here for it. Man, salute to big Ellie. Also salute to one of my favorite players ever too. Y'all just got her back. Maureen Johannes, the sniper, the killer. Y'all gonna be looking good. Oh, Antasha Cloud. This shit off. Look, I'm about to throw up. Y'all got embarrassment or riches the We know the links gonna be good. Yeah, y'all gonna be kicking it. You know, I know I'm out dream I'm biased on the dream, but what team you think gonna make one of the biggest leaps this year biggest leap the Indiana Fever

Caitlin Clark and and and now a squad full of like they smashed the offseason over there They really crushed free agency and supported her with champions, with experience, with vets, with talent, with real, like, you know, very high level weapons. Indy really ramped up and I'm excited for Kaitlyn Clark in year two. I think she is the real deal. I think she absolutely lived up to the height and I think she'll continue to meet or even exceed expectations. She's very talented.

Right now we're going to move on to the segment where we take a couple of calls and give some of the listeners of the show a little bit of advice on whatever they're calling about. Crazy or not. Well let's go Ms. Rebecca. Sup Juju. This is JP from Autonia Caller. Juju's asking for some of the music recommendations. Yeah, guys out of Atlanta, preferably, but if there's anything new that you've been listening to, take care. Look man, let me find out the city,

checkin' out the alley-oop. Man, that's the second call from the city. Lithonia, I see ya, man, come on, man. But I might be the wrong person to ask this, because I still find myself listening to all old music. Like, my sister right here, I listen to Ma Deep still, Nas Queens in the building, you feel me? Queens in the building.

So I listen to a lot of old school hip hop, the boom baps of the world. You got some new recommendations for them sis? I do love, you know, an old school record or old school Sunday, but I will say like right now I'm listening to R&B in my mornings, in my car, I'll be listening to it, working out. I hope I don't say his name wrong, but I love everything he's doing. Elmene? Elmene?

Elmene? Elmene or something? Yeah, like all his music I love. He's beautiful music. Kehlani, I enjoy. I can get down. Sometimes, what I'm tapping in sometimes to my inner toxic queen.

No, but she's so talented. I love Thames. That Mutt song, Quiet is Kept, I like the original version more than the remix. However- Chris Brown? I like the original version more than the remix. However, I like the original better. Although when you have a chance to put Chris Brown on a track, I guess you gotta do it. You gotta do it. You know what I'm saying? How dare you not?

But I did like the original and the way it made me feel. There's a couple of songs of a season that stand out and like that one does, you know? Yeah, I like the fact that right now, getting in the shine in the spotlight, a lot of the old Atlanta dance music coming back right now. Like, ain't I on a hill, ain't I on a hill. You feel me? You got to know.

And Rich Kits, We Gon' Ball, all the stuff making this rounds, you feel me? Swag Surf never left. You go to every building and you see Swag Surf still going. So that that? College? Right. It's a classic but don't play that in the car. If you ride around the car, this is all we do is win. Call 911 on that car. That might be a serial

killer. I'm happy to see my boy make his money. Who's that? College? Right. It's a classic but don't play that in the car. If you ride around the car, this is all we do is win An arena Marathon racetrack, I can't even think where else. Hot dogging competition or something.

A college graduation. Right, that is it. Well, yeah, man, on that note, man, we gonna get up out of here, man. Thank you so much, sis, for joining me today. Always a load of fun when you around, man. Like I say, man, without you and your encouragement encouragement I don't know if I would have been the same spot to be doing what I'm doing now so always flowers to you every time I see

you. You got any elastic messages you want to get out to the people? No keep doing your thing Juju. And that's like that we're gonna catch you next week the same back channel at the same back time. Yeah diggers! much Miller Lite means to me. This partnership, it's real, it's documented. For almost 20 years Miller Lite has been a partner of the Dan Levatard show with StuGots and now Miller Lite is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I've had so many great moments with Miller Lite, so many great activations, so many great events presented by Miller Lite, a great partner. Cheers to them. Cheers to 50 incredible years. And for you at home, you know that Miller Time always means a good time. From game night to parties with friends or a special anniversary, celebrating important

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