The Deep 3 Podcast - Every NBA Player Who DESERVES to Be an All-Star | Ep. 182

Episode Date: January 26, 2026

We made our own NBA All-Star teams! #nba Check out the TD3 merch: https://the-deep-3-shop.fourthwall.com/ Listen on Spotify!: https://open.spotify.com/show/3elbbqVumwqz8wlIdknsLW Listen on Apple Podcasts!: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-deep-3-podcast/id1657940794 Follow us on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedeepthree Follow us on Instagram!: https://www.instagram.com/thedeep3podcast/ Isaac's twitter: https://twitter.com/byisaacg Mo's twitter: https://twitter.com/Mojo99_ Donnavan's twitter: https://twitter.com/Dsmoot3D 0:00- Intro 2:25- West All-Stars 20:58- East All-Stars 54:30- NBA news roundup 1:29:56- tiktok time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mo, on a scale of 1 to 10, how upset were you that Jalen Johnson was not named an All-Star starter? You know, League B. Hayden, it is what it is, though. Maybe like a 7 or 8, can't be too upset. Donovan, on scale 1 to 10, how upset were you that Carlithy Towns is not an All-Star starter? Zero. Is he going to make your All-Star team if it was up to you? Let's not. Hell no, AT's not.

As you guys see about title, today we are here to make our official. NBA All-Star list. We're going to do this building off of what was announced as the starters. We're going to make a group list where we take turns drafting a spot. We have seven spots for each bench, which are now position lists,

and then three injury alternates. So we'll be selecting 10 all-stars for each division outside of the starters. And we'll see if one of us messes up for everybody else. Like I said, is it group list that we're going to take turns. I have a few guys that I think

I'm very, very sure that it should be on my list. I have a feeling you guys disagree, so it should be interesting. Okay. Let's see what we're thinking. After that, we'll go. through all the weekends news like always on these Monday episodes.

Appreciate you guys coming through after this episode. Once you guys check out our All-Stars, React to the News, make sure to check out Friday's episode in which we, what are doing Friday's episode? Why am I blinking? I can't remember. Oh, it was a good one. It is a bit a while.

What do we do? Thursday's episode, actually. I forgot. We post on Thursdays now instead of Friday. That's why you can't remember. It's been the next year. We talked about one thing we got wrong about every single NBA team this season. It was interesting.

That was the episode. I didn't remember because I wasn't there because I don't get shit wrong. That makes so much sense. Okay. There we go. I forgot. All you do is all hits, no misses. A couple things have been changing since then.

Clippers keep going crazy. They keep going crazy. Hey, man. Maybe we're right about them in the first place, put them from five to seven. They're back. No. We'll say, listen. They played well.

I saw somebody say it's like, if they go 15 and three during any stretch, I'll print this tweet out and I'll eat it. And then somebody quoted that tweet with a video of Kauai. And he was like, well, you know. Hang on. On that note. Maybe we'll see some clippers featured on this list. Cue the international music. Let's talk about our NBA All-Stars for 2026.

We're throwing it back. That's crazy. He was bragging. I hope you didn't say it. The cranium is crazy. Oh, my God. Crown eaters rejoice. So let's jump straight into this by doing the Western Conference first.

We'll go through the entire conference there, than the entire Eastern Conference. And I'll go first in drafting the first name on the list. I have to pick somebody I think is incredibly obvious. Somebody who I think was incredibly obvious as an all-star starter, who lost it because the popularity contest, because the player who got picked above him, is the most popular player in the last 30 years of NBA basketball.

I'm putting Anthony Edwards on this list. Hell yeah. Okay. He probably should have been a starter over Steph Curry, I think. Yeah, yeah. Makes sense. Anthony Edwards is having a career year every year we've been saying this for the last like two years or so.

And clearly this year, he's taking the leap specifically, especially when it comes to like his finishing ability. He's developed a mid-range game, still wildly efficient from the three-point line. Yeah, he should have been a starter. Yeah. And I mean, Curry's also been amazing.

Curry's shown that he's of that old class of three goats of him, KD, and LeBron. He's the only one that's so top 10 player. So I'm not like horribly mad as Steph Curry getting there. We can understand the popular brother comes into it and he's close enough to Ant that it's not crazy to me. Yeah. But if all things are equal with how great Ant's been

and improving like you said, how the fact that the Timberwolves are meaningfully better than the Warriors, and in large part because of carrying an offensive load, he's pretty clearly starting to me. Okay, so I think that's a good question. When it comes to, like, considering who should be an all-star, what does that, like, mean to you? Yeah, we should probably talk about that.

So, I don't care about team context quite as much I do for all NBA in terms of, like, team success, games played, especially with how everybody gets hurt now. I really don't care that much about games played these days. It really is mostly individual excellence to me, and, like, there's still some element of team success

as like tiebreakers, like, we're not going to give a 11 C, three all-stars, you know, that thing in our head is still going to be there. But I don't care

about that stuff nearly as much I do for all-NBA. Okay. I feel like it's honestly for both, it's still a little bit like consistent for me.

I don't think that there's a major drop-off between the, the criteria between like all-NBA or all-star. You know, I, it's different because like, obviously,

like you don't have like fans voting for all-MBA. So all-MBA is, it is like more prestigious, especially because it's like across the whole season. but not basically like if you if your team is playing well I will look at certain teams and be like yeah they probably they probably should have you know multiple I'm not going to force it but that's

most of what I mean right but that that's like that is kind of like my baseline there yeah I know there's always like so-and-so team deserves X amount of all-stars I hate that talk I know normally I agree but for some reason putting like deserves to it I'm like we don't have to do that because the two C you know so but we're pretty much in line was there any while we're on this topic anything else you guys disagreed with from the starters? From the starters, nah, Luca makes sense.

She's undeniable, obviously, and Wembe and Yokich are undeniable as well. So I think that fairs for me personally. Okay. Now, Don, Mo, your turn.

We'll go around the room this way. Who gets number two? Anthony Edwards is obvious. From here on, maybe there'll be a little bit more debate. Who is a clear-cut all-star to you? Clear-cut all-star number two. This is hard.

I think personally, I have to go with now I think it might it might be like a little bit too early I'm not necessarily saying he does it he's like the second best player right behind it the Edwards on this list but Jamal Murray has to be an all star this year man

okay I think he's like top of mind when it comes to guys who like certainly deserve it when we're talking about what like having a career year means Jamal Murray has been doing that throughout the entirety of the season and he like whatever we've seen throughout the last few years when it comes to him being in the playoffs It's carried on here. He's coming to the offseason for the first time, healthy as ever.

There's been so many questions, so many people like me, you and everybody else on internet criticizing how much he is or what type of player he is without someone like Nicole Yolich who just amplifies everything. And he just continues to just level up, be a above average passer, be like an actual, have been ending himself offensively, while also not declining as a score and being able to be a focal point. of a team, which is a lot, and not a lot of people can't do that. Yeah, I don't think it's crazy. I think outside of, outside of it, once you start going through these reserves,

if you're, if you look at me and you tell me that Jamal Murray has had the best, the best guard season remaining, okay. Like, like, we can, we can talk about it. And for all the reason that, like, the leveling up and the fact that, like, we're getting, we're getting playoff Jamal Murray all the time now, every, every single night. Yeah, we show these. numbers in our last episode when we talked about one thing we got wrong about every single team because the thing I said I got wrong about the Nuggets was to what you just mentioned,

I completely doubted Jamal Marie's ability to be the main engine of a team without Nicole Yokic. I said, once those dribble handoffs from Nicole Yokich has 300 pound chest go away, what happens to you? Let me see. They've been gone for a long time now. It's been three weeks since he got hurt and he is having one of the most efficient scoring seasons in the NBA. 44% from 3 is ridiculous. You add in the 47% from long mid range and 45% from short mid range. Just an amazing three-level scoring season. Yeah. Yeah. And like, I really can't exaggerate how insane it is. They really meant to stay afloat while losing Nicola Yokic. Yeah. And he's been, he's been that special.

He's been that special. One of the things that we've always like constantly talked about was how, oh man, whenever Nicole Yokich is on the bench that let us know what type of player that Jamal Murray wasn't, they would always constantly like lose the Jamal Murray minutes. Now, of course, we're not going to act like the Nuggets didn't just get better all around. Yeah. But Jamal Murray is like the epitome of why there's so much better without you hope it's on the floor. Look at this chart here of the best shooters

in the NBA this season that automatic NBA made. It's total points added on pull-up threes, catch and shoot threes, free throws, long twos as of January 19, 2026. And it's an aggregate

of all those stats, right? Steph Curry is obviously toward the top of the list as you'd expect. Shea's high up there, con can't nipple, Kevin Durant, Tyrese Maxi. Above all of those names is Jamal Murray at number one.

By a wide margin. By a huge, by 40 points added by, I'm assuming that's like per 75 possessions. that's crazy. Yeah. He's been on top of his game.

So I think like the Nuggets right now, I mean, and again, like we talked about it last time, kind of moving into OKC has their spot, but I picked Denver at the beginning of the year to come out the west. They might be in the driver's. If he's playing like this going into the playoffs, I'll probably go in there saying like they are the favorites over OKC.

Oh, especially with how Bainab OKC is. Like a JDA doesn't come back at 100, And obviously, Hardenstein and Caruso are hurt right now, too, which is also a huge reason why they've been losing games. Just dropped two games at home for the first time back to back since 2023. Uh-oh. If they're not going to be fully healthy, the nuggets are on their ass. Thanks. Who is your first pick, Donovan?

Thank you. You made my pick very easy. I would take Kevin Durant here. Nice. Okay. You know, I'll double up because they have two All-Stars. I'm going to go Shingoon. Let's double both them together.

Thank you. First team with two All-Stars. Yep. They get to Don, Don, why Kevin Durant come to your mind first? it's Kevin Durant like he's going to wake up and he's going to give you the most efficient 26 27 points per game that that you will ever see he's still shooting 40% from

from three he's still like for all the all the things that we talk about in terms of like oh wow Katie's taking a step back yeah from being one of like the three best players in the world one of like the three all time scores that we are 80% of Kevin Durant is still better than 90% of the league yeah and every

single night, you see just how much, especially in in moments where Sangoon has been hurt, you see just how much Houston relies on him for their offense and how much that he has leveled them up. If you look at the way that Houston played last year and the strict, like, we're going to get out the bud and like our offense is 100% based on the fact that we, we know we're going to miss shots too. Yeah. So we have to figure out a way to combat that. they got Kevin Durant so that they can no longer miss shots. He's been doing a great job of that. So he's hands down like a pick.

Yeah. Very weird team right now. They're feeling the effects of losing Fredman Fleet. The same thing we thought would happen in preseason has really borne fruit. They're a strange team that is obviously very high mid-range attempts when you have a guy like Shangoon who isn't a high volume three-point shooter. And the most at-will rim finisher, he's going to have his Florida range shots. Kevin Durant is Kevin Durant.

They play through a style of play you'd expect With those two unique talents And I think a lot has been made Of the weaknesses of this team That might come playoff time But nevertheless, they have these two guys Carrying the load offensively 100%. The fact they can flank them

With so many elite defenders The fact they can start a point guard That can't shoot And can't handle the ball terribly well Says a lot about these two guys And the load they can carry offensively Obvious All-Stars Yeah, I agree.

Including Shengun. Shingun is just as clear of an All-Star. We're focusing on Kevin Durant And I know Shangoon missed some time Of equal importance to this offense. And I think like for shingoon, it's, it's cool seeing the, seeing the rise and the ascension for him because like KD, anytime you think of All Star, he, he's just going to be on the list until he's like done playing. Right. He is in that, in that Steph Curry combo.

But Shangoon for the last couple years, been a guy where it's like, all right, well, is he going to make it? Like, he's right on that line. And now for this season, I don't think that if you, if you don't have Shingun on your on your list, I genuinely think that there's a problem with your All Star list. And so I do think that he has moved into that territory where he is a no-doubted All-Star for the way that he's playing. I'm going to see what you just said. If you don't have Chet Holmgren on your list, I think your All-Star list is wrong and I think it is not valid.

I am so glad you didn't force me to have to pick him. I thought you might disagree. I'm so glad I didn't have to be the one to go out to bat for him. Now, you guys know, I'm not going to say I'm not the highest on Chet, but compared to you too. No, I think you think he's like less than a human being. I think you think he deserves less rights.

Nah, nah, nah, not, not, not, not. Not as bad, but you're not far off. I'm just kidding. But yeah, I look at Chet Hongrim and I'm just like, yeah, dude, I don't know how someone like him can't be an all-star if the season was to end today. He's getting my vote, technically speaking, based off of games played when it comes to

defensive player of the year. Obviously, it's him and Wemby, but Wembe's a whole different other conversation. Chet Honggren is O'KC's defense and seeing him just get progressively better offensively year in and year out just by a tad is impressive to me and when you have someone who can do so many things on the court cover all all layers and all levels of the defensive end while also continues like being one of the better stretch bigs mean something now of course I think a lot of people or at least okay see fans right now as you speak aren't necessarily the happiest when it comes to his progression and how his

handle isn't still allowing him to, like, access certain spots on the court. But nonetheless, I still think he's one of the more valuable, one of the five valuable players at his position in the entire league. So he deserves to be an all-star. Without him, like, O'KC's there, he's a big part of their identity. Yeah, I mean, he's a highly efficient, 22 points for 75, I think, because his minutes, he's at like 19 points per game or he's like 18. I forget exactly, because he doesn't play. He's 17 points right now. Okay, because he plays 29 minutes per game. So per 75, possessions, 22 points your game at 65.5% sure shooting. To be a DPI-Wi level player and to have that efficient of a 22.75, that's crazy.

That's a clear All-Star. If any other player of his caliber defensively was averaging those type of scoring numbers with 38% from 3. So like you said, provide real stretch-five abilities. Clearest All-Star ever. If Evan Mobley did this offensively, we'd be thrilled. And All-Star is really interesting because, like, like, up until this point, we get so caught up in like the game to game and like the progression or like are you meeting whatever

expectations or standards and these these like ideas that we thought that you could be coming into the season and then you take a step back and you look over the last like 40-something games and you're like oh you're like you're actually pretty good if yeah yeah yeah you're a pretty solid dude for your role as being a bum man yeah you're like for being a big man next to an MVP guard that's in charge of the defense and to be everything you want from a big next to that type of guard you really can't ask much more. Well, obviously, if you want to be one the best players in the world, you'd ask for him to have the strength of Shangoon, the handle of Kevin Rand, all these things that

would be nice to see him progress to. This is a pretty goddamn good floor. And also, one C tax. You're getting, you're getting too often. You're getting a second half. And with J-daup taking himself out of the running, it's pretty clearly chat. This is not really, not really any conversation. It's not close at all. Now, Scottie Barnes did put him a body bag with the game in the line last game. But that's because Scottie Barnes is one of the strongest human beings on the planet Earth.

Scotty Barnes is a ridiculous feet of strength but okay Chathonger in there number sit five two spots left of our reserves me and Donovan both have one

Donovan Donovan where are we going we will go the shooter James Harding James Harding I'm going to Jim Harding Dan you put me in a tough spot Hardin okay

I'm going to hard You put me in a tough spot you know why Why Kwite Leonard has to be on here Quay Leonard has been obviously better than James Hardin now and I'm sure the game's played

is your main reason You can talk about it. I don't want to put both them on there because that means somebody gets a good us left off. Two all stars? Kauai has to be an all star, I think. And I think that that's, I think it's okay. But I think that when you, when you look at this, at this Clippers team and the fact that

to my, to my hate, they are rising up the standings again, 21 and 24. They're in the 10th seed right now. They are, have eyes locked in on Portland to get the ninth seed. and for a team that and it's weird because when Hardin was playing at his best, the team sucked. Yeah. And then now obviously it's tailed off a little bit and, you know,

Kauai has came in, done his thing. The team has elevated a little bit. But those, that first half of the season was legitimately amazing stuff from James Hardin. And it was a level, it was a level above what we saw last year when we were like, hey, James Hardin is actually rejuvenated. And I do think that,

now that Kauai has helped him out a little bit and made the case a little bit better for this team that's three games under 500. I think for a majority of the season, James Harder has been one of the better guards in the Western Conference. And that's where, that's where I'm going to go. I was going to have James Hardin as my first alternates. And to everything you said, it's completely fair. Like, he's very worthy of the case. And it's such an awkward thing to be the guy who held his team afloat when Kauai wasn't there when he wasn't 100 percent and did a damn good job of holding that offense together by strings, when he was keeping them afloat,

they were sinking. So, like, if that was just a part of the season we were looking at, it would be like, okay, so this is a guard on the Kings. They were one of the worst teams in the NBA, and they turned around because of Kauai, and I'm like, logically, it doesn't make a lot of sense,

but we do know he's James Harden, and we do know they weren't bad because of him, and it's not like he's been playing poorly as of late, so I understand it. I get it. He kind of has been, he's been playing poor as of late. Okay, yeah, I just, I didn't want to say he felt completely, but it's not the same.

14 games. He's been averaging a cool like 24 points, but on 37% from the field and 27% from the three point line. I didn't know it was that bad. He's tailed off. Now, Mike, for James Hardin standards, and this will be in defensive him, we gave up on efficiency a long time. Oh, my God. We're talking about can you get, can you get, can you get by the man? Can you fuck this list?

Now, I will say, like, when it comes to the physics and James Harder, it doesn't, it doesn't necessarily matter because he does so many other things, his ability to just get up shots and create. for others is what's more important, but still sixth pick is kind of nuts. I've got a lot. You fucked the list because I think Quaill Leonard to the level he's played on. He has to be on there. I cannot let Devin Booker not be on here after how good that he's carried the sons to, which he's carried too is the wrong word. They're really good because of a team defense and Jordan Othonson's still the amazing

principles. And they play through Devin Booker but not entirely rely on him as a score. So not to say he's carrying them individually, like a Shea carries their offense. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Put them there. But the sons deserve an all star, you know, for doing that deserve thing.

And Devin Booker's played good enough in that role that requires a lot of him. You can do this because why don't you put Kauai as 7 knowing that he's not going to be there? And then we could put book as the alternate one. That's essentially the next five. In reality, that's fine. But in like the spirit of it, if we're caring about who deserves to get the first knot before an alternates, they both 100% deserve it, I think. Say it then.

No. I don't know. That's nasty. Put book there. So how much you value team success? Because if you look at the side-by-side production, 57.8% true shooting percentage for Devin Booker 63.3 for Kauai on four more points for a 75 possession

It's not even close more efficient from pretty much every spot of the court He's been insane He's the better player easily like Kauai's been playing at a top 10 level again 100% he is he's played I think 26 games right now Mm hmm 300 less minutes than Devin Booker That's meaningful that's not the biggest difference in the world No, not at all

Devin Booker's actively hurt right now Yeah I mean he he rolled his ankle against the Atlanta Hawks and had to leave like I think the late third or early fourth. So by the time they're also going to close around, those minutes might even out. Actually, no, 300 minutes. That's about 10 games. Never mind.

He's not going to miss. Well, he might. They're going to revaly him in one week. That's an ankle sprain. How often have you seen a player come back from ankle sprained in one week? That's true. So it might be longer.

But as of today, he's played 300 more minutes and a better team. Say it. I can't do it. I'm sorry. I'm just going to go Kauai and Devin Booker. I'm sorry. Blame Donovan for putting James Hardin on there.

I can't not acknowledge his Kawhi Leonard run. just because I don't know how many more we're going to get of this. I don't know how often we're going to see Kauai be one of the best players in the world like he is right now and I have to acknowledge it. So here we are. Kaua Linder gets the seventh spot. Devin Booker is down to injury alternates.

Don't blame Don't know. You're fucking up this list. You don't take this shit serious, man. That's a goddamn issue. Come over here on a fucking money just to ruin our goddamn list. I have no intentions of making good stuff, man. Fuck. So, Devin Booker, your first ultimate?

it. He has to be. He can't be like number two at all. I can't let him just lie continuously. Fuck. I had different plans for this list. God damn it. Right. All right, Donovan, continue to be a list terrorist. Where are you going with Ultimate Two? How else will you fuck us? Um, now I have to play to the crowd and try to win support back. We're going to go with your man. Leave me alone. Mr. LeBron James. Oh, you're bogus. You're bogus, man. Okay. Okay. So, so. So, okay, real talk, real talk. Because the actual thing is like, are we going to put LeBron in and have, like, are we really going to have an all-star game without LeBron?

Yeah. Or are we going to give Austin Reeves a nod here? It hasn't played up games. My line was 25 games they need to play. So Austin Reeves can't get there for me. But if you want to, I'm already dispelling games played to some extent. 25's not a lot. If you want to go all the way, Austin Rees has clearly been better than LeBron.

Because it's like, if your line is 25. And I understand. That's your line. That's your boundary. We have to acknowledge it. He's at 23 games, right? So it's like, it's right there. And he's coming back, I think, on Wednesday against the Cavas is his first day.

He can get the 25, five games. And so that's my only question of like, and we can talk about it whether or not, like, LeBrona actually gets this pick or not if it's LeBron or Reeves. Because Reeves, we've talked about it all year. He, like, it's weird because he's like a Laker. And at the beginning of the year, it was very, very clear because he's scoring really crazy. I think we've all acknowledged that Austin Reeves has gotten, like, marginally better. I don't know if everybody has acknowledged his actual standing in the league.

And so looking at him and saying, you are a top 25 player, top 20 player, whatever it is, that's something that is right now. It's like, yeah, whatever. Like, that's cute. It's like, no, like, sit down, actually think about it. Think about the ways that he can score. Think about the offense that he can lead as a score and as a playmaker. about the fact that he can be the second fiddle to Luca.

And if you put him in line with the other second fiddle that he's had, it's Jalen Brunson, it's Kyrie Irving, and it's Austin Reeves, and he's right there. So if you want to go Reeves over LeBron, I'm cool with that. And then if, you know, if Adam calls up LeBron, it's like, yeah, we'll make a spot for you. Then we can do that. But I do think that Austin Reeves deserves to be an alternate. I think an injury replacement.

He can have that. So in terms of practicality, Austin, who used it at the comeback on Wednesday and play every game until the all-star break. So he finishes with like 20 to 30 games. I don't know how many games you left before the all-star break, but probably like six or seven, I'm guessing. So that would have to happen and we had to legitimately get down to one or two alternates for them to actually pick him.

That's not impossible. And I guess for our purpose of our list of deciding what we want to do, this doesn't matter any actual rules. Do you want to reward LeBron James for being the goat and for getting it together after that first month and being important to this team, some gains being more important than Luca in the fourth quarter? or reward Austin Reeves for clearly making that leap

and they got robbed from him by a bad injury but we know he's at that level. Either one is kind of some like intrinsic like participation award type thing. Who would you rather give it to in terms of what you think matters for representation? Me personally, I'm going with LeBron obviously

because I'm going with NBA history. You've seen Kobe get all-star games super late in his career when clearly like no one would say he's like an all-star level player but that was also... And which to me is one of the more interesting things is that

with like Kobe and with a lot of the older guys like they were getting in either because one it's their last year they announced this their last year and the NBA is like okay now that you have said it we'll put you in LeBron didn't make it on the fan vote which was that's the most interesting thing to me

where it's like oh wow listen man you really don't run these streets and you know it's kind of weird because they had that year 23 patch in all his jerseys they're treating every year which is so food A's A's, by the way. That's the, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's actually lame. I thought about it.

They're going to do it again for your 24 and you're 25 and it's going to be a thing where like, nobody's ever played this long. Every year you get that commemorative thing. I kind of don't hate it. At first I was like, why 23? He hasn't said this last year. It's so weird. Yeah.

But if you just keep doing it, like, you just keep continuing to acknowledge the unprecedentedness. All right. Why is it for Gagee? Because either, either way, like, I think the only way it would not be food. is if one, they did it from the start of the season. Okay, I understand that. The fact that it was like midway through the season, they're like, okay, we're going to make this patch.

That's one. Two, also the lack of announcement that it's going to be your last year, then like if you, if you say it at the beginning of the year, cool, I'll live with it. Starting to try and do this like, I'm going to live with it either way. But like, it doesn't matter. It's fun. Fugazi for a patch is a hilarious stance. It is just so, like, so.

like just propping yourself up like i don't know i don't know if he decided this i don't know if he's the one yeah like he was in a lab but clutch yeah give me a patch i promise you somebody probably came to him with the idea he was like oh yeah that's tough that's yeah yeah i'm sure the league office is like we'd like like to commemorate this what do you think about this but i don't know if it's self-aggrandizing is if anything is glazed from the league it's so glazed it's so glazed he didn't decide it deserves it too why not i know if you're ever going to glaze anybody it's the end of lebron james's career First of all, stop glazing yourself. He does not run Nike or the NBA.

I promise you if LeBron said, nah, I don't want to wear the patch. They're not going to put a gun to LeBron's head and say, wear the patch. It's not self-aggrandizing and say yes to an idea. It's not like he made it up. Yes, it is. What? Your participation in this idea is self-aggrandizing.

Oh, my God. You are self-glazing to a ridiculous level. Okay. You might be clinically ill. It's ridiculous. You need help. LeBron James, ultimate two, I guess. We'll go there.

We'll side with history. Last spot I have on here. I don't want to get doxed. I don't want to have my life ended. I'm going to put Denny Avdia at number seven before they come from me in the conference. And this is what I was trying to. You said I messed up the list on purpose. This is what I was trying to avoid.

I was trying to have something to where maybe even we can have Austin Reefs here. Because I don't think that Danny Avdia should be an Austin. Yeah. I don't know. I don't feel good about it either. But as a third alternate, that's like reality. You know, he was really high in the fan vote. Yeah.

Adam's over. There's three alternates. He probably gave it to Dennyovdia. So I mostly didn't consider him for the top seven. I just don't think he's that good. But he's done a good job with managing his usage and taking on a difficult role. Not everybody can step into that usage. I know everybody says you give any of these NBA players, 20 shots a game.

They'll produce so and so. Not really. Not everybody can do that. It's hard to maintain decent league average efficiency while scaling up like that. So third alternate, I'll give. a nod. That means he's the 10, the 15th best player in his conference this year. I can live with that.

You want to talk about Fugaisiness. That's this right here. He does just run to people a lot, but you know, I don't know why. It's not unimpressive. I just, I just noticed that. No, it's Bush League. It's crazy.

There's plenty of players that have reckless hit on themselves and the people that we don't hate. So I'll give him alternate three. The one thing I noticed about the game that I just can't stand right now. Bro, he has no left hand at all. It's a straight, bold, nosing. to the right every single time.

It really is like 2017 Yonnas but you're smaller. So it's like great player. Yeah. Still, but it really, it is an astounding level of throwing your body around. Yeah. The, the way that you joked and then also became serious about

like, I don't know, Tray Young hasn't been the same since they changed the foul baiting rule. Then he's a different player since they changed the rules to allow people to throw your shoulder into people. Oh, you're right. Going downhill. Did you see that thinking basketball video? Yeah.

Where he was talking about how this season, they've really allowed offensive players to use their elbow, use their shoulders, completely manhandle people going to the rim and like create contact. Yeah. That has birth, Denny is a 20-pop-re game score. There's so, there's so many plays where you have, you have this style of basketball where, like, and the game is so wide open. You're getting so many, you have so many opportunities for people to have just straight-line

drives one-on-one situations. And you're able to create contact like never before. And so Denny is taking full advantage of it. So one, if you are going to scam, scam within the rules and he's doing it. So shout out to you for doing that. That's why he's there. Exactly. I do understand that.

However, I do hope that like our list has some sort of like ethics committee so that we can take this out. This is ridiculous. The hard part is that. A lot of people do that. Like obviously Shays killing people with that. Tyrese maxi is doing a lot of that too throwing his elbows into people. But those guys have secondary skills. They're gifted scores extremely like the speed and like technique of Tyrese maxi as a driver is also there.

good three-point shooter. She's one of the best mid-range shooters of all time. Denny really is hatbacked dive-man right now. Like, he really does. But he's also a talented driver that creates good driving angles. And like you said,

that's the rules that he takes advantage of it. So again, I will give him alternate three. Okay. But there's a reason we didn't talk about him for the top seven, which some people would want us to. You could never live in the 90s.

Come on now. Oh, no. He's definitely if you could have played in the 90s. For sure. Without those rules, without the engaging contact, he's like, he's definitely what people think Shay is.

No, I just. But again, the rules allow and he's done a good job of it. I don't like it. I'll give it to them. It fairs. Moving over to the East, Moe, you're up next. Who gets your first reserve spot in the Eastern Conference?

First reserve spot deserves to... Try you. Do you want to die today? Donovan Mitchell, congratulations. He's having like 29 points in game so far this year. Five assists. Wildly efficient still, of course, as usual. He's shooting like 10-3s a game on 30% from there as well.

Like, he's just insane. the backbone of the Cleveland Cavaliers. I saw a stat the other day where when he scores like 35 points, something like that, the cast was like 10 and 1 or 11 and 1 or whatever, which obviously is like, you know, Nipiq a little bit or whatever. But still, like, regardless of the fact, through all the inconsistencies that the cast have faced, whether it be through guys like DeAndre Hunter or even bigger than that, Daegers gone, continues to be in and out.

Jared Allen and the Ebson Foles that naturally his game over the last fucking, his entire Cleveland Cavalier's career, really. And then the whole Evan Mobley question is always looming people. waiting for the quote unquote leap. Donald Mitch is going to answer the question every single time, be the face of this organization, give you constant buckets and do whatever is necessary, really, to lead you to wins.

That tweet was so, it was so funny because I saw somebody quote that tweet and they were like, wait, so that means that when he doesn't score 35, they're 17 and 19. They have to have, they have to have an all-time D-Mitch season

in an all-time D-Mitch game for them to even, and be competitive. And I think, like, moving forward, I, like, we'll see, we'll see how the, how the calves progress. Like, they've, they've played better as of late. The sky is not falling. It doesn't feel like it's falling as much as it did, like, really, really early in

the season. But at the same time, if we have the second half of the season and you still need demits to score every single point, especially with Darius Garland, who's probably going to be battling a toe injury for the rest of the year now, how does that really stack up, team-wise, I don't know, but Demitz is like, I think there's a small there's an argument for him to have been a starter. Over Maxie?

Yeah, I think there's... Maybe. I could understand that. Is the Cavs are a better team and they lived up to the hype of what they should have been before all the injuries and before the clear subtractions talent-wise that we didn't account for? If they were the top three seed, he would have got over Maxi. But Maxi's playing 40 minutes a night, averaging 29.9 points, so he's going to get

up there. How long do we think that they can last, by the way. Like 40 minutes is insane, I think realistically. I don't know, like, he's done it for 50 games. He probably can do it for 802. Now, playoffs, would he burn out? I'm sure, because schedule gets condensed, it gets harder. But I think you can clearly do it for you, too. You've shown that. He has

pretty gifted fatigue stamina. I was like, what's the opposite of fatigue? I couldn't remember. He was pretty gifted stamina, clearly. Fatigue resistance. Yeah, I was going to say that legitimately. I could remember what I was going to say anti-fatigue or whatever.

But no, if you can do it for the games, you can probably do it for A2. With an All-Star break coming up, why not? Okay, that's fair. It's outrageous. Okay, so Donovanment is a clear spot here. To me, there's a clear next one that you're picked Donovan. After that, it gets pretty gross in the Eastern Conference. I'm not going to lie.

The rest of the All-Stars after this one are going to be pretty sick. I really don't know where to go here. Really? There's one. There's one. There you go. That's the obvious one to me. Scotty Barnes has to be on here.

Okay. And from here on forward, oh, man. we are going to have some sick conversation. There's just some guys for the rest of this list. Listen, man, I don't like the way you all talking right now. Okay, so Scotty Barnes is on here. They're an incredibly great team defensively that we talked about it when they added Brandon groom

they're going to slot Scottie Barnes into a better role for him offensively where he isn't tasked with nearly as much half-course shot creation burden and I think has played dividends. He's gotten more efficient than last year. Again, the team construction is better. Amazing, brilliant defensively. Just got them a win over OKC with a clutch defensive possession.

he's that guy, one of the best two-way players on this list. It's funny, every time we talk about the Raptors, it never feels like we're overly positive. And then, like, I'll go back and I'll watch the Raptors. I'm like, hey, like, look at them, they won the game. Yeah. And like you look up in there, they're the three seed right now, half a game over the Knicks, like half a game behind the Celtics for the two spot.

Yeah. It's tough because, so we started the season pretty positive of them, acknowledging them. And then we had a couple episodes where we were talking about some flaws that came out when RJ Barrett was hurt and like some general fits up with their back contracts that the conversation skewed negative and made it sound more negative. And of course, Raptors fans noticed because they're Raptors fans. So I understand we're not nearly as negative as a sound for those couple episodes.

But we were also in the point of those episodes we were explicitly talking about negative things, like questions for the team and stuff like that. But yeah, we're not negative on them. It's also tough, though, because they're that three seed, because some of the teams we expect to be better just completely fucking fell apart. So they've kind of felt like they're a somebody asked to be the three seed, but they do their job. They're a great defensive team.

They're well coached. The Brandon Ingram thing worked. Manuel quickly is playing well over the last week Momu's one of the best value signings in the league this season as a rookie, not rookie, as a veteran minimum, being one of the best stretch bigs in the league. Solid, solid team. I'll tell you.

And Scott and Scottie Barnes gets the clear nod. Number three, like we said, now it's just some guys. Yeah. That I'm gonna do. Joel Embed. Okay, I was about to say. Joel Embed, who?

26 games play crosses my threshold that I created only for him. You wonder where the 25 games came from? It was to get Joel and Beat on this list. Joe Wendibald and Beat is once again playing like one of the best bigs in the league. He is scoring incredibly well. He'll probably never move quite the same defensively to being elite, but he's not bleeding value left and right there to make up, to take away what he's done offensively.

He's been incredible. He's getting to the room again. He dunked a couple days ago first time of the season, I think they said. Shooting really well, being a force, drawing double teams, has a great chemistry with Tyrese Maxie and the dribble handoffs. And for the rest of the list, being a lot of guys who either didn't play a lot of games or aren't that good, I'm going Joel and Bede. Hey, man.

And my, like, started to feel crazy in a year full of disappointments all around. in the Eastern Conference, could this be the year where they just make it to the finals? Is that like an asinine thought? Asinine thought, no. Just because, like you said, there's a lot of disappointments.

The Cavs can be got. If Tatum doesn't come back, the Celtics are... No, it's crazy. If Tatum doesn't come back, the Celtics don't have the big men talent that I say for sure they have to win. They're probably the favorites,

but they can be got clearly from a talent level. The pistons have their flaws and sounds like they're going to stand pat and not get any more shot creation or shooting. It makes them getable. Everybody is just getable enough

that if to, well and beat's healthy and Tyrese plays really well. There's a world where it can happen. They're not the most likely. They're probably like the fourth or fifth most likely. But this is definitely a season where the fifth most likely team can win this conference. I don't know. I feel like they're solely going towards the top for me. Again, I think overall I also have a hardline taker stance. They are probably around fourth or fifth. But you can convince him you third with the way these guys are playing once Vijay just starts getting more consistent. Tyrese has been an all-star. He's an all-star starter, obviously. And he's very deserving of that

spot, Joelle Embed and all the other pieces around him just make sense more than ever once again. It's hard to not think to not think of them as like finals contenders in this conference. Using that word makes it sound icky because they're not finals contenders level, but with how open it is you're right. Joel and B.L.N. B. B.J. has crushed to the Ricky Wall. He's a legit, very good defender for regard, good with fighting over screens. Feels like the most clutch three-point shooter in the world. Every time they need a big shot on the fourth quarter, I feel like he hits it, including this game against the Knicks, which was a great game that we saw. And the one underrated thing about them, I've been paying attention to this a lot as a

Lakers fan because it is the worst thing about the Lakers. This team has a lot of athletic wings. Yes. They have some size. Paul George is still 6'8 with a big wingspan and still defend. They have a lot of guy, Quinn Grimes, VJ Edgecombe, Dominic Barlow, Trent Watford, Kelly Ubre. Yes. They have guys between 6-5 and 6-9 that can all move and defend and run in transition.

When they're healthy with Dwell and beat clicking, it feels like a good supporting cast there. And that's what I'm saying. I think they have something that every single other team in the Eastern Conference don't necessarily have to this degree, which is a plethora of very quality wings. Obviously, you have the star players. But Kelly Ubrey makes a difference to me. Paul George, obviously, when he's healthy and he's in the right mindset too, makes such a tremendous difference.

Minds it. Makes such a tremendous difference. And then whatever Veed is going to get you alongside the star system of that Maxie and Bede, who's obviously like the biggest X-Factor fucking probably be a big of. NBA history matters. And this is how people get addicted to stuff. I mean, we're just saying to the fifth.

I'm sorry, man. My expectations are growing. Because it starts with like, yeah, you know, fourth to fifth, the best odds. And then we're going to wait a little bit long. And it's like, well, you think about it. If Embedd's healthy, they really have like the third or second best odds.

And next thing you know. But would you agree to that statement? Wouldn't that be true? If the crux of that wasn't, if Embedsts stays healthy, then like then yes but knowing that if I take this drug I'm gonna go crazy

and I'm gonna lose my mind we're we are putting ourselves right back What if you plan to take it around like a trip and you know that something's gonna happen you kind of like make sure you're in a nice confined space you're admitting that you're sick you got somebody with you

somebody with you? Yeah I don't think exactly I think we're being pretty conservative with our glaze I think it's fine to say He just asked if they can make the finals. That's not, I don't think that's crazy. Again, this is an indictment on the Eastern Conference. This is not fully 76.

I do, I do think it is. It is truly a horrible conference right now. In the past when you said that, damn, at least had the Celtics being dominant, Lashes the Cads on 64 games. There are straight shiters out there and then a team in the Pistons that scream, we need to get another shot creator

or we're going to go out like a normal young team but doesn't have quite enough front on their star. There is no reason to be confident anybody at the Eastern Conference. Yeah. I'm not. Still, even in, bad conferences making the finals is really really hard and it is like a it's a deep playoff run and i don't

know if i have the utmost faith in in imb and his health or just paul george like if mb does does go out and he's not healthy can pa george now elevate himself again is v jay going to be finding his first playoffs like there's so many questions that i have around the sixers making a deep run for this year to where I do think even the idea of asking the question can they make the finals is I'm not even saying the answer is yes you hate the idea of asking the question

it's just a question yeah we don't even disagree you just feel the need to put the fucking knife in your heart and drive it in who's the next all-star? It's a lot. Man, okay so this is clear hating it's hilarious next all-star who also I'm happy that we stole the game all Sunday

that was great. That was a great game was crazy. You guys tried to lose it Saturday next all-star To no surprise, I'm taking Jalen Johnson. He's fully back. He survived the catastrophe of C.J. McCollum. He went on a run of averaging like 13 points, 12 points, 13 points, or whatever it was over the last week.

And this week he's been fully back. Bro, the last three games, he's been averaging 28, 16 and 8, slight shit. You know, he ain't too much. You know, 40% from three. Yeah, it's not too much. What's up? When Jalen Johnson, when Trey Young got traded, we agreed to stop talking about the Hawks. Donovan, who's number five on this list?

Listen, man. Fuck all that. He's restoring my joy and happiness. And I'm glad you got your 30 seconds of joy and happiness. Donovan, who's next? We're going with Jalen Durenne next. Oh, okay. I forgot about Jalen Duren on my list.

I'm glad you remembered. I don't know why I forgot about him. Interesting. So once he gets your second All-Star? Yes. Okay. I think that's one of the main, like, for everybody else, it's like, I'm not really sticking to these hard and fast rules.

The one seed, that's probably the, those two teams every year. I'm like, okay, you probably do deserve. deserve to have to. And Duren has genuinely played his way into All-Star conversations with the leap that he's taken this year on both sides of the ball. So

I, yeah, so Cade and Duren one of the best two-man games in the league, I'm taking them. Okay, now we're here, and now we're going to through this as a group, because I have no fucking clue who to go with. You know who to go with. I really don't. I have a guy. There's a guy. I don't know, I've, I've never few. But to decide which one. Franz Wagner hasn't played a lot of games. He's not put less games in Palo Van Caro by a good amount. I'm not going

pilot, Ben Carroll clearly. Franz is like, he's been good enough that you want to give them a slot. Like, I'm not, like, mad at it if you pick Franz. I don't feel inclined to be guaranteeing him a spot. Evan Mowley has a 57.8% true shooting, which is goddamn terrible for a big man. But that's not horrible for the usage and everything all considered. It's not like it's tanking, still a great defender. Do we go with Evan Mowley?

No. I don't want to go with Kat. Can I throw out a name? That should be no doubter. No doubter. Okay, so whom are I forgetting. If there's no doubter, I'm clear you forgetting them. MPJ.

I think one, if we're talking about the Eastern Conference being as bad as it is, and you look over and you see what Michael Porter Jr. is doing and you see the number of buckets that he's getting on a nightly basis, we all have acknowledged the fact that MPJ is not getting fraudulent buckets that he's getting real buckets out here. I think in terms of the top seven, maybe it may be a bit early. Maybe it could have been seven. I think that MPJ, I think that MPJ should be on this. If you think that I am picking an All-Star from a 12 and 32 team,

that went down by 50 points twice in the last week. You've lost your fucking mind. They scored a total of 66 points at a couple of days ago. I'm just saying. And you played the whole game. He wasn't hurt. He was like four for 12 from the view. Who's a part of the reason?

This is the part. So people can't have bad games anymore? No. No. No. No. You can't have games and you scored 66 points in 2026. I've never seen the All-Star level player.

Ever do that. We've seen way more 66.5s this year. We've seen countless 66.5s. That's normal to score 66 points and a half a whole game. No, that alone you cannot be on my All-Star team. Now, I won't write his name on this list. There were specific circumstances that led to that. You did have players only meeting Jalen Brunson and the Knicks just ready,

ready to come out. And beat whoever. They just lost the Bly the Clippers by a million. The players only only happened. He was three for 11 two. Come on. It's like a shooting star. It happens once you have to be there to watch it.

And then after that, it's gone. It's not, it's not coming back for another 94 years. That's, that is, that is the situation. 94 years. I guess I'm going to Evan Mobley.

I guess. Yeah. Somebody has to get it. Evan Mobley isn't horrible or anything. He's still good. It just didn't take the leap he wanted. With disrespecting. He's here for good defense.

I would like to see him of a more efficient season. It's been disappointing as a shot creator. But the offensive ecosystem is an amazing run him by any means. We'll still go here for defense. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. Like,

If I'm being honest with myself, if I was to start an organization today, I'm picking Evan Mobley over someone like Jalen Duren. It's just different when it comes to the level of expectation that we have for these two. Jalen Duren was always like a cool idea. Evan Moby was also like an actual. A cool idea. Yeah. And Evan Moby was actually like a productive player since day one.

Jayland has been a vibe. Yeah. Of course he is. But you guys are crazy. Who's number seven after Evan Mowgli? Are we going band? or Norm Powell? I feel like

Norm Powell. I feel like that he should have somebody. No, I don't think we need to go Norm Powell. I was like

the start was good at the season. I don't think Norm Powell is an All-Star. So Bam? What? You don't think Norm Powell's an All-Star?

23 points. If you want to go Norm Powell, I suppose, I don't think we need put Norm Pals in All-Star. And I will say this. This question would directly lead

to relocation and conference realignment in the NBA because we should have these conversations. Norm or MPJ? NPR. NPR.

better. I would go on PJ. I think he plays in a more important role for his team. His team's obviously worse. But his efficiency in such a bad ecosystem is more impressive to me than Norm who, you know, when he's averaging 27 first two weeks, like, oh, okay, I guess that's all-star trajectory. Now it's a cool 23, which is like solid on good efficiency. It's not like it's amazing or anything. It's not like his mind-blowing. It's his worst in four years. I don't feel the need to put a player who's a shot taking specialist shooting guard that isn't a playmaker, isn't a defender. I don't I think we need to put them on here for a 10 seed. I only feel like we can't have Bam out of bio on this list.

I would definitely sooner go Bam. But honestly, they're both going to be alternates that they make this list. Bro. Neither one are making my top seven. Bam is shooting 44% from the field this year. Now, of course, I will say, like, he's a jump shooting big now. He's taking like four or five threes a game, which is crazy. But again, it's still also a brilliant defender.

So he's much better than Norm. I think I'm letting my expectation get to me when it comes to, like, being disappointed with Bam out of Bionis production so far. For me, my next three names on my list are Kat, Ingram, and Bam. Okay. This is just straight up who has the best vibes so far. Like you can't put Norm over Ingram to me, who are both the shock creators of their team.

One team is a lot better, and Ingram, I think, has been playing better. Now, that's a debate I've never had in my head ever, so I don't know, maybe people who can disagree that Norm Powell is better than Ben and Ingram, not invested in that, but maybe the team's success and the importance of Ingram to that team

and how he's the only half-core shot creator like that in the mid-range. I would go there. I'd go with Ingram out of, out of those three, I'd go with him. So why's are the best of Ingrams? I'll do that. Okay, so Branding is number seven. Yeah, I don't think Kat has played at an all-star level this year.

I think the offense is clearly taking a step back from where it normally is. And then the defense is, it is what it is. Yeah. And even then, there were times last year where you could see Kat's defense like, even at the beginning of this year, moments. We was like, hey, maybe he's trying. It's gone off a time. So alternate one, do you go cat?

Or do you just say you're not making my team under any circumstance? I may just be too close to the situation. Okay. So I'm gonna let you. I'm gonna let you make that call. Not your alternate one? Who's ultimate one?

He's not making my alternate one. Don't pick him then. Wow. Maybe Pam here. Yeah, I suppose you could go MPJ here if you really wanted to as an alternate. No, I'm playing. He's not a no-datter.

So there's two guys on just like bad teams that I have for just like vibes and like fun consideration of like let's just get crazy which is the conversation between MPJ and con con carn wow that'll be so hilarious and just saying like you know what every single tier in the conference is going to get some type of acknowledgement the tier for the bottom five would be and really like the bottom three who are a tier of their own would be like an MPJ versus Khan versus Siakum type of thing that's that's kind of where I were like my last last alternate would go so for alternate one though we'll go bam we'll give their the heat their credit and we'll give it to their you know best player I honestly love

the idea of putting con on this list because he is one of the first humans in NBA history to be like yo the Charlotte Horowitz I changed their life like yo I I kind of set things straight and I let these guys know, not even let these guys know, I like set a standard for what being an NBA player is because since, bro, they're not trash. Around this time of year, no one ever wants to talk about them at all. Like, of course, they had a year, a couple of years ago where Lombello was in All-Star and they were like hovering around 500 or whatever. But no one's really taking them seriously.

And this is the most positive production that they've had in such a long time. So I kind of want to put comment on this if we get freaky. Well, we both have one spot, look. Don't put on your list? I don't know if I want to stand on it, man. Sometimes I'll just be talking. I just be talking. Well, we have two spots left with me and you.

I guess I'll just, should just put cat? Like, it's probably like, Cat doesn't deserve it. I mean, like, I think for Kat, what's the case? The case is that he's still a 20-point bring him score that's been for his standards and efficient. It's not like he's out here having a 50% true shooting. He's not horrendous.

We just know him to be incredibly efficient. And the defense, it's not his worst. defensive season or anything. He's not like sinking them. Now, he'll never be a good defender, so it's not a plus. But it's not like he's been an active disaster in either end of the court, is what I'm saying? So while he is disappointing and it is a problem for the team that wants to win a championship, for a regular season, all-star type of award, they're a good team. They're the best team left that doesn't have two all-stars.

Some teams below them do, like the Raptors. I suppose he's not horribly different than Brandon Ingram. I think I'd rather go with Franz than Cat. Oh, I forgot about Franz. Yeah, Franz's on here. There you go. Thank God. He said, oh, thank God, me.

There you go, yeah. Franz Vagner is on this list. I forgot about him. There you go, Franz. Now you get one spot left. I just explained the case for cat. Pretty similar to Brennan Ingram. Do you want to go there?

No. Okay. He is not on. He's not on a host. You can go Derek White. You can go Seaccom if you want to reward a player trying hard on a bad team. You can go Porter Jr. If you want to reward buckets on a bad team.

Or can go con can't con canipal if you want to reward whiteness. I could go and to kill Alexander Walker. about that. I will not write that on my list. One of the more valuable world players in the entire NBA 20 point. Great point of attack defender. Yes.

Damn, good for him. He's been average 20 for like the entire entire year. Good for him. Oh man, this is the worst pick to have ever. Like, this is the worst pick to have. Derek White isn't a bad pick. Or just Katz. I'm not picking Derek White to be an awesome.

I just can never do that. It probably is Kat, but like my. It's our list. We don't fuck that. Who cares? Right now, I'm between Cat and MPJ. Personally, I think I want to put a con,

bro. I think he's a generational rookie in terms of efficiency. He's a nipple alternate number three for the All-Star game. Yeah, man. Of course, like, if this is a regular year in the Eastern

conference, he's obviously not going to be an All-Star. But for the sake of the state of the league right now and how everything just laid out and how he's just also like, he's legitimately made it so hard to think about who's going to win rookie of the year. Normally, like,

with years like this on the top of year, that Cooper flag has been having. You give him, you give him the rookie of the year award two months into the year, but it's like actual debate and seeing how historically efficient he is, how he's getting to the rim with like a couple of simple moves. He kind of has this old man game. I was watching this interview a couple, a couple of days ago where he talked about how his dad used to play him in old man basketball leagues when he was like 13, 12 years old or whatever, you know, and he had to

just really focus on super fundamental moves. He's shooting 48 percent from the field over 40 percent from three giving me the all-star why not okay I mean listen it's all-tron three those guys don't there's not going to be through all the fence in both conferences that'd be crazy so he won't make the all-star team in our scenario but if somebody had to get a nod there for a spot that would be

a deep cut either way I respect it Eastern conference man what the fuck is happening if yonness goes out west good lord you can't happen man it can't happen is it Jalen Brown's America Jaylon Brown's America he's not the best playing the conference he's not at all.

It's so fun to like acknowledge Jaylen Brown's leap, but the way people have taken it to be like he's the reason the Celtics are good like we've got to calm down a little bit don't make me hate. Don't make me hate.

The team is great. Yeah, obviously Jaylen Brown has a lot to do with it. Of course. Come on now, y'all. Do you reason? It's to me it's a Joe Mizzou accomplishment more

than a Jaylon Brown accomplishment. Exactly. And Jaylen Brown's a very important part but the way people are like treating it like it's quarterback discourse and he's the end of BLB-all is so annoying. Yeah, yeah, I agree.

Honestly, like, the Celtics being this level honestly fuck that we should put Joe Missoula as ultimate number three because the Celtics being like this this good in the Eastern Conference this year obviously the East is the East but being this good regards to the fact with having such a

almost like a lot of one dimensional players on your team while also just like having a very specific scheme and fit elevating Julian Brown and putting all of the other guys in the perfect position possible elevating guys who really ain't get no burn at all or play any like meaningful NBA minutes

It's just turn them into use of players overnight. So wildly impressive. And these are our NBA all-stars in each conference. Let us know what we got wrong. Let us know what you said die because we didn't put Denny Obdiya top five. I'll be reading the comments. They are tapped.

They're going to attack us. They're going to start tapping our phones. At least you don't leave Shengunov so we didn't have two nations coming after us. That's funny. These international fans do not play at all. Like anytime we criticize Luca, international fans do not play.

Next thing we're going to do, let's get into the news of the week across the NBA, everything we missed this week. Let's start off with the fact that Charles Barkley is upset. Again? Charles Barkley is upset that he is not working.

He is upset that they were only on two times in the past few months. They were off for two straight months, he said, not being on ESPN. As you guys know, inside the NBA was saved by ESPN, and they were placed rather sporadically across the NBA account, under and Charles Berkeley is mad about it.

He said, there's some fools at home and on the internet saying we were talking bad about the players so they made us work less. Shut the hell up. How do we feel about this? Listen, man. And he's kind of true. Fish out of them. Yeah.

Like, I think every time that Adam Silver has had an opportunity to talk about like the state of like NBA media, he never, he never went out of his way to give these like glowing reviews inside the NBA and he's just been like you know what they've been around for a long time shout to them they're there right there they're there but this is not the stuff that inside the NBA does that's not where Adam Silver wants and so he definitely made that call and I I was I was a little bit more on their side I think as like the media rights stuff was going on I was like I mean there's a place for him and then we did that segment last year we're truly seeing everything that Shaq had said compiled I was like oh last week was so embarrassed

I'm not going to lie. That was the most uncomfortable I've ever been in this set and there's been so many crazy things like said ever throughout the history of this show but that's Shaq yes that's Shaq compilation that we did

so bad. I could have made you way more uncomfortable I could have pulled out what he said about Angel Reese I could just pull out way more uncomfortable Shack moments. I kept the light on you in terms of uncomfortable guys.

I think that's the point is that knowing that there's more there's more than that and knowing that that's like at the at the top and all like honestly Adam's would probably had a problem

point very similar where he just had all the things that like jack and charles barclay were saying he was like i don't like that i don't like that i don't like that so it makes sense why why they're here and also just like very other like niche niche like media stuff that's just not how espan works or like the things that that they want to prioritize like yeah that's just not the the way that inside the NBA works is not the way that like ESPN works or wants to operate so it's like it makes sense why they aren't on tv all the time Yeah, I think they did them, like, did them and everybody run the league who loves them a solid by even like saving the show. You know, like they, they're under contract to TNT. TNT didn't get the rights.

The show could have just died. So bringing them in any capacity is like gravy, I feel like. But I do understand why he feels this way from his perspective. But like you mentioned from ESPN from Addis Silver's perspective, it all makes sense to me. I've long accepted that I'm not the target audience for this show and that there is a target audience who enjoys seeing their funny uncles make fun of whatever they make fun of. Not my type of thing. So I'd never been one that was like, we gotta save it. But I understand many fans do like it and probably do want to see more of it.

Yeah, like I understand. Like for me personally, there were the target audience when I was 15, 16, 17 years old. Exactly. And they're like a good part of, they gave me so many good memories, so many random late night and last at like 12 a.m. 11.30 p.m. 2, whenever I would see them after the games and all that. But it just comes to a point to where they're slowly phasing out of what the NBA and really. really like the community has a landslide overall just value. And their jokes are cool still, but bro, like they're not, it's not the end of B. It's very similar to the first takeification of ESPN, where when first take was this novel thing

that was in contrast to a sports center, to sports nation, to numbers never lied, all this stuff. Having this debate show was an awesome, cool, innovative thing. Yeah. When it became the main thing, when it came the only thing, it's like, damn, now I don't want candy for dinner. That's how I felt about the last two years of inside the NBA. It's awesome. when it's the face of our league,

when it's the face of discourse, when it's the main characters, I would like some contrast there. And we do have that now. So I think one, all good things come to an end, two, something shouldn't be the main character

of media. I think we're kind of an okay place. Yeah, that's fair. And he also, Charles Barkley made this joke when they were talking about the Wizards versus Hornets game. He said,

if you went to the game, you had nothing to do today. And Kevin Rans to say, did you laugh at this? Honestly, yes, Kevin, I did laugh. That was kind of funny. I actually, listen, it is, it is okay to make fun of like two bad teams. Like, it's perfectly fun.

Like, I know everybody has, like, you know, nice fun and, like, interesting players. For the average person, if you are watching Wizards Hornets, you're a sicko. And you could if you went to the game. You're watching them in person. That's just funny. Like, those tickets are probably extremely cheap. This is the point where I think you can make these jokes. Yeah.

When it's like the MVP's a weak bitch you didn't deserve it. That's when it's a little different. Yeah. These slight jabs are okay. no one needs to be up in arms about two of the worst teams in the league playing each other, it's fine. This shit was funny as hell. But I also understand why someone like Kevin Ratt would be like, ugh, enough. That's how I often felt.

Yeah, I understand it's so funny because he was like, yeah, bro, he was complained about how they said, we talk bad about the players today in today's game and they just directly shot on in the same fucking, in the same fucking week. He's so hilarious. Yeah. Speaking of hilarious, Costco is going viral for selling Sacramento King's tickets in bulk. you can go there and buy two tickets for the upper level for $59.99 in package deals at Costco. They have a bunch of these up here. Nice.

Smart. I don't see anything wrong with this. I know a lot of people could view this as like embarrassing. But hey, man, in my mind, this is great marketing. This is great community building. Oh, it's also embarrassing. Why so? Why?

I mean, save money on tickets. The need. Invite. Doesn't vote well. I mean, they should be doing this. Yeah, I think. I hope a lot of teams would do. this more honestly.

Sure. Teams that can't sell their tickets. You wanted to call them broke boys so bad. If all things were equal, they wouldn't have to do. It would sell them full price because things are going well for the business. It doesn't exactly spell well for their long-term goals or short-term goals. It's a bit funny.

The next to a baseball tickets here, which baseball has a million games a year, so there's always some leftover tickets. It's only 41 of these games every year. The baseball ones are the more... That's the one where it's like, there's 81, 81 home games a year. You, you, like, those tickets are cheap as well. Yeah, exactly. So I'm saying.

So, like, we have half the inventory and we're next to them. Next new story. Janus, after the MRI, they'll probably tell me I pop something in my calf and probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks. I'll be out. Yonis, once again, is a cap train that he diagnosed himself in the locker room and said, miss me for four to six weeks, which was funny. Never seen the player do that.

He's like, I've been here enough times. I know what's coming. but again another cap train for yonis another injury to his lower body coming before the trade deadline when the team was floundering I think it was after I remember correctly another loss the vibes keep getting worse and worse

and now he's injured through the deadline might not play another game for this team before the deadline which take any implications you have there interesting it's over shake he's getting bad and the bad and bad and bad and bad

the season's over I don't think he's going to get traded at the deadline But I think The door's open. It is. Nobody wants to open it though. He's saying the same thing. Y'all isn't saying, yo, the door is open, bro.

But nobody's right enough to push that bitch through. You feel that draft? I see the crack. That shit crazy, bro. The two cap strains in the same season is legitimately, like, worrying for me. Yeah. Where, like, we obviously know what it can lead to. And, yon is, like, he's not super young.

and if you trade for Yonis and worst case scenario happens and now he's gonna now like you're gonna give all of these assets he's not gonna play for you again until he's like 33 that's insanely scary so that's why I do feel like

we kind of have to wait into the off season nobody should take a gamble on training for Yannis in the middle of his second cap strain recovery of the year but now for the bucks perspective this is you never want to see a second cap chafram from Yannis

with everything you just alluded to, with how scary catch trains are in the modern NBA. If there was ever a time for Yonis in his six weeks, though. Now's the time, because we said last week, I think the reality here is he's not going to request to trade. They're going to do it in the summer. That's one will probably be moved. If things go as the way this situation has gone

every single other time in NBA history, he will probably be a new team next year traded in the summer, right? But if he's not going to rip the bandit off this year, the best case scenario for this team is to sit him down and say, listen, man, you're going to ride this out. Let's take a gap here.

Let's shut you down. Let's get a high draft pick because this is the one of the rare years we have control of our pick because the Pelicans are worse than us in the swap situation. If we get a top 10 pick, we'll probably keep it.

This helps them do that. And I don't know if they get luck in the lottery and get the fourth pick, I don't know if that's enough to keep Yonis there, whether it's trading that pick or getting a young star, I don't know,

but it'll be good for the long-term goals of the Bucks franchise with or without Yannis to maximize this pick. Brother, if they get good lottery luck and they get the fourth overall pick and they trade it so that they can be like, be like,

Janice, please come save us. Everybody should lose their job on site. Especially in the draft class. There's like six all stars in the draft class on paper. They just take one.

Yeah. Honestly, with the way things are shaking out because Atlanta's also in the conversation too when it comes to having partial control of both of these picks and having whatever's more favorable,

they're in the situation to where like they have potential to receive their pickback. And if that's the case, cool, that's amazing. nothing would be more mind-numbing than the scenario you laid out in my head just now. If they did go ahead and empty out the clip and trade it for, I don't know, some other like random star who can play alongside Janice, man, oh man, this front office and their brains cells need to be studied. And I'm not talking about Yonis.

Let's talk about the most important player in the league. Mack McClung has retired from the dunk contest after winning three straight. He was the first player to ever do that. And now he's hanging it up. He is done with the done contest. How do we feel on this sad day? He's out of dunks. He emptied a clip.

That's it. Listen, I understand. Do you have three classics? Why would I put my legacy on the line to go out for a fourth time and potentially lose? I'm not doing that. Who was going to be in the dunk contest this year? I have no idea. I don't think they've announced it yet.

Vijay Edcombe was like, I'm too cool for that shit. Yeah. I saw some other player like decline it or at least, I think it was Jalen Johnson. They asked Jailen Jons if he was going to be in it. He was like, I don't know. want to speak on that. Pretty clearly, he's not going to be in that shit either, which I didn't expect. Am I remember?

Did he do before? No. Why do I feel like I remember John Johnson? That was John Collins. Who was that, like, the last Hawk to do that? I don't know why I felt like I remember Jane Johnson doing like two years ago. I don't know why I saw my head. Did you see that the internet bullied Luca Donchin should be being insecure?

What happened? He did a jersey swap and Nigel Marshall. And he told him, let's do the locker room. I don't want to show my body. They gave my goat body dysmorphia. This is unbelievable He said back there I don't want to show my body

And you rub his belly They gave my guy Body dismorephemy They ruined his self-image Come on, Luca Did he ever go shirt at least before? Doubt it Players usually have like a tank top underneath

Yeah, I guess he wasn't wearing one this day Maybe he never does No beating That's crazy No tank Come on Look at my guy Look what you did to my guy

You are solely responsible I actually don't ever think that I called him fat But see how easy to it was It was a raw for tongue just now Oh my gosh You know you didn't have an issue with it It's not my fault We alluded to this earlier

Devin Bucker has sprained his ankle Somebody tweeted out It'll be a four to six week timeline There's yapping They're going to re-evaluate him in one week So now re-evaluate does not say he will be returned to court in one week. They're just going to look at him again.

Hopefully it's not a terribly severe ankle sprain that is like a four to six week. But something to monitor as a team that is currently a top six team in the Western Conference, I think clearly needs Devon Booker to remain there. If this is an extended period of time, issues. Yeah. I mean, if he's not there, and especially if he keeps missing time, we're going to have to give his spots of Dylan Brooks. And keep having, you know, some sons.

That would be bar none the funniest all-star appearance in NBA history. Dude, Dylan Brooks is that. He would take 25 shots. If he's there and LeBron James is not. Oh. Oh, my God. He won. He won.

Oh, victory. Oh, my gosh. Victory. Like, yeah, it's victory over an old man that you sucker punch. But, like, so be it. Victory is victory. I'm sure he's okay with sucker punch victories. Yo, man, Dylan Brooks and all star.

Andrew Rose is not there? Victory. Oh, my God. I can't. Which, oh, I have to pull up. Let's talk about that. Dylan Brooks has been on a media tour. It's been hilarious.

I've loved every second of it. First, a couple days ago, he was on, I think it was. was agent stream? And he said that he can, he can yap to LeBron. Maybe four or five years ago I wouldn't have been doing that. But these days,

not the same. Let's say what he wants. Funny to say that out loud, clearly true. And then on Agent's stream, they were at dinner and he said, the Raptors couldn't get over the hump.

Agent said they did get over the hump, alluding to the fact they won a championship and were making deep runs in the playoffs. Brooke says, yeah, you know why? Because they got rid of Rosen's ass. He wasn't pulling his own weight.

It was his fault. I'm just keeping it real. Leading to Raptors fans, being like, hey, leave him alone. And non-Raptist fans being like, facts. Dylan Brooks, I'm not going to lie. He's been fucking cucking, nothing but the truth right now. And people hate it.

I've never seen a play with you this honest, while being active peers of these guys. He will see DeMard de Rosen many times over for the next three years or whatever DeRosons is the league for. And just being like, yeah, he was the issue. The All-Star, bum. I mean, yeah, you're right. I remember there was a quote by DeRosen, like,

back in 2016 or 17, you know, one of those years. And he was like, yeah, man. After he got his teeth kicked him by LeBron. He was like, yeah, man. If we had LeBron James 2 on our team, we would win. Yeah. What are you talking about?

That would do great in the future documentaries for LeBron James. And we build up the mythos of his era on how all stars were actively scared of him. That'll be great. For Raptors fans, I would have hated hearing that. Yeah. That is hilarious. Yeah, I mean, listen, Brooks, the history says Brooks is right. So what are you going to say?

Yeah. It's also interesting because I thought that like the way that he was talking, I was like, okay, maybe he was like, like in high school or in college or something like whenever this is going down. That's why like that's why to him it may feel differently. He was a rookie. During Lebronto, he was a rookie in the league. I didn't know that. He was already out here. I defended DeRosen.

It was a lot differently defending Kauai. And also I remember I saw another clip I'm related to this where they were asking him who the hardest players to guard were. And he mentioned Kauai. So maybe he just got his really, really, really respects Kauai. He's just like the Rosen does not touch him. Probably this is also crazy. He's so real. It's pretty baffling to see this.

I need De Rosen and give him 40. That'd be great. He's so real for that, man. So real. Yeah, it's like baffling because you don't see players act like this. And in some ways it's like, is this in bad taste? I don't know. But then I'm like, I don't know.

He's a villain on the court. Clearly villain off the court. I guess he's just consistent. Fuck it. Go for it. Man. So was it his birthday? Whose birthday are they celebrating?

I don't know. I had that dinner? I thought they were like in and out or something. That looked like Waffle House also too. I saw a man, I thought it said happy birthday. It probably was Woffel House. They're in Atlanta, aren't they? Yeah.

Probably was Woffel House. I just can't read it. The Washington Wizards came out with the youngest lineup in NBA history with an average age of 20.6, 4 years old, starting Trey Johnson in this lineup with Will Riley. Look at these beardless faces. Good grief, man. These are some young players.

Holy shit. No one in the scene. team could buy alcohol except for Kishan George probably. Damn. Their average age of their team can't buy alcohol. Damn. That's crazy. That's nuts. One thing that does make me happy is seeing Trey Johnson get more opportunity, though. He's a stud.

Isn't this draft class crazy? Dude, it's insane. Don't get to fuck about Trey Johnson? It's that deep. If he came in last year, he would be like the runaway work in the year. It's hilarious. The draft class is ridiculous. That Trey Johnson's an afterthought. Yeah. Are they better off? it's better to have a vet like C.J. McCollum who is actually throwing games or better to just not have vets.

Well, when you have a top eight protected pick and you really want to get number one. No, no, no. Forget about that. I'm talking about the actual player. Is Trey Johnson's development better now that C.J. McCollum is not there. Sure. Trey Young's there, though, on the sideline. Yeah.

That's fine. Give motivational speeches. Come on, guys. No, no. No, no. No, no. Species. No, no.

Not, no. Trey young. He's a bunch of cool handshakes. Come on now. He's celebrating these guys off the bench. C.J. McCollum, he'd do it like that. And, you know, for damn sure. Chris Middleton ain't doing that shit either.

I'm sure Cesar McCollum gave great tax advice. Maybe. Maybe. That's undeniable right there. I bet he gave him great tax advice, told him when to buy cars, how to ride it off. I bet he was useful. Speaking of other injuries, before we mentioned them,

we were talking about Devin Booker and so forth. John Morant is also hurt once again. John Morant will be out for 3. Three weeks before he is re-evaluated for a UCL sprain in his left elbow that will not need surgery, but puts him out through the All-Star break. I said I was back in on Thursday's episode. Scammed. Now, I said I was back in because of culture and because of attitude. I am back out because of injury once again.

Get him out of here. I can't do this. It's so funny. Do you think that's going to stop? Every time someone gets hurt this time of the year, they're like, well, that complicates things for the All-Star for the trade deadline. I think if you know John Morant's going to miss the first week on your team, I don't think that really affects your decision to trade for him or not?

He would have missed it anyways. I honestly don't think it would have mattered. You bake that type of thing regardless. Exactly. When it comes to trading for someone like John Moran, you bake in at least like three to four games missed every two weeks. You have to.

That has to be a part of the game plan. And if you are trading for John Morant, unless you're like the bucks, you're probably going to be in a situation where your team sucks anyways and it probably behooves you to have a better draft pick. So you do what the Wizards, did, which is we're going to trade for you, and you're just not going to play.

Yeah. Let's talk about the other side of the 2019 coin. Zion Williamson's shoe deal with Jordan Brand is coming to an end. His contract is set to expire this year, and he's a potential sneaker-free agent. They were saying you couldn't even sell Zion shoes at the Nike outlet. That those bitches were sitting on every shelf around the nation. I've never seen him in real life. I've just seen them on the show.

You're right. I never seen him on the show. You're right. I never seen him mention besides us. mention them for being whack. Zion obviously hasn't been the most markerable athlete in the world. I'm not trying to be like Zion by any means.

So I understand why they're not doing that contract again. I think we're in an era where everybody gets a signature deal. Everybody gets a signature shoe. Then that shit expires. He has one opportunity to link up with somebody else and get like a major, major shoe deal

before he's going to be over there with leaning and anti and all them and like the second one. I don't even they would want him. He would fucking sign with DC or some, right? He's skinner shoes, man. No one wants him as representing them at all. He's been saying

Pay less. Do you get some air walks? Airwarks? What are we going to do? What are we going to do? No, he's going to go to like Anteau or something or like maybe New Balance on the high end. He's dealt with them from your brands.

Why would any of the big, what is it, big four, Nike Adidas, if you count Jordan brand as a separate, and his Nike, uh, Under Armour? Why would any of these biggest brands want Zion Williamson? He can go to Under Armour. Under Armour doesn't have anything, especially now that, now that Steph left, what basketball

if you're pivot from Steph Curry says on Williamson? That's a bad brand PR. You can't do that. I think they'd rather just not have a basketball entity. Yeah, I'd rather than that. That's terrible random. Just don't put marking dollars in a basketball. If we're getting everybody, go over to, go to Puma.

Okay, I can see that. I can see that. Him and in Lamella be in the face of Puma basketball? you're just being the face of like the most unsurious basketball brand yes but now we make ourselves and listen this is free game puma but now you make yourself like the like youngest most flashiest

and you have lamello like it's straight high like highlight basketball but it's better than what you have yeah I guess so we're puma and our brand we stand for fuckery in all aspects Tyree's Halliburton admits he didn't travel to OKC for the recent game

in which they beat the thunder because he was wasn't ready to go back after his NBA finals, game seven injury was there. He said there was some like late leaked text. He basically said, I want to go back when I'm ready to know get revenge essentially. Makes sense. Good storyline. I fuck with a heavy. Damn, man, you got to just who like, this is a good storyline.

Yeah, I love it, bro. This is a good, one is good honesty. I mean, I'm sure it is traumatic. So like I get it in terms like a human level. Good romanticization of your career. To be like, yeah, I'll still put it in there. I'm ready for my get back. No sooner, no later.

Now. They better women who comes back. Yeah, exactly. He comes back. Two points. Because clamped by case in Wallace. They're going to bring this up again. Cannot have that happen.

But I do understand it. Some people were like, you're a millionaire. Go over there. All right, man. It really doesn't matter if he's there or not. I think it's fine. If he stays home, like, I get it. He, like, first play of the game.

Do you get that tip? I don't care. Where you are on the court, that shot's going up. Pull a point of half court? Yeah, pull it immediately. And immediately start pouring the shade, you ain't nothing. You ain't nothing. So we didn't really talk about this, but there was that report from, I forgot who wrote it.

Was it? Baxter Holmes? Yeah. Wrote the big thing diving deep into the Lakers dysfunction and the sale of the team and really family drama, the secession S story of Jeannie Bus, pushing her two brothers out of the team to sell the Lakers to Mark Walter. I think essentially it boils down to the brothers wanted to put the team onto the open market and try to get a hire. sell price, the $10 billion they got, they believe they can get 12. Jeannie Bus was cool with Mark Walter

and was like, I'll sell you the team right now if you keep me in charge for five years, and Mark Walter was like, bet. So she left some money on the table to retain control of the team and push her brothers out because they all fucking hate each other. In this article,

there was a point where they went over the last five years in Jeannie's relationship with LeBron James and how she didn't appreciate that he was viewed as the savior of the team. She reportedly tried to trade him to the Clippers in 2022. She felt like he needed to be more grateful

for them draft aftering Brani James, a whole lot of hooplaub drawing in LeBron's name into it for one paragraph. That was the only part that got aggregated. Well, Rich Paul and LeBron are set to meet with Jeannie Bus to clear the air after a bombshell report claims she's been fresher with him over the years. This is extremely funny because the second most important player on the Lakers is meeting with the second most important owner of the Lakers to hash it out. This is nothing.

First of all, love that story. Messy as hell. It was messy as hell. It was. I was sitting there reading it. I was like, man, this is good. That's a good television. It's a journalism.

Yeah, that was awesome. And then also, Jeannie was, she's just, to feel those feelings, I can understand why, why you would feel those feelings. However, I only understand those feelings if she's talking to herself in the mirror every single day. Yeah. Okay. And saying like, oh, LeBron, he should have been grateful. Like, there is a certain reality of y'all sucked. And y'all had the number two pig.

in the NBA draft three years in a row. Yeah. And weren't going anywhere. And then LeBron came in. And everybody also... Did they really happen three years in a row? It was Ingram, Lonzo, and then... And Delo.

Forget about D. Randall was pick seven. Damn. Yeah. They picked it in the top ten, like four out of five years. Damn. Four in a row. Four straight drives. Yeah.

So it was awful. And I think... Like, people like me, who is... I was jealous that Lebron pick the Lakers because I was like, they haven't been on anything for seven years and you just went and just blessed them because you can just go. That's really the prevailing sentiment. And it's correct.

The Lakers did not deserve LeBron at the time. And they were not in a place where they were honestly going to contend until LeBron said, I'm here now trade for my homie and we're going to do the same thing that I've done the last eight years. And then we can win at time. Well, I will say that last part you said is why they're in availability to contend. That summer they got LeBron, they could assign two maxry agents. Paul George Thomas came with them

but then he snaked him last second and stayed with Russell Westbrook to run it back for one more year so they were a position to have a deep young core with all their picks plus being able to sign of LeBron and Paul George so they weren't this like he wasn't going to like

today's Warriors post Steph Curry retiring where there's no talent no picks like they did have all those young players Were you getting Paul George without Lebron? Maybe yeah maybe maybe maybe maybe maybe he would have more likely to come if it wasn't there I don't there was a whole thing going into why he decided to stay

with Russell Westbro for one more year for unfinished business that's a whole thing but there was a lot noise that Paul George want to come home and play for Lakers at that time. So there's a, if that OKC season goes a little bit more poorly, if him and Russ don't like each other, we could have seen Paul George come with him and then they trade for AD and have a big three. So like, there was a nice team to be molded in the same way there was when he went back to the Cavs. So I don't think he just did it out of the, out of the, just like kindness of his heart to restore the Lakers.

It was a good opportunity for a start to come in and be the guy. Either way, either way, LeBron is blessing you with his presence because you, you either. have this idea of like, oh yeah, we can go get this big three. And at the, at the core of it, it's going to be powered by LeBron who's in his prime right now. Or you tell LeBron, we, you know, we're here. You have a clean slate. And obviously, people know how, how you operate. Yeah. Exactly. We can go get your man's and free him out of New, out of New Orleans and bring him here. And either way, it worked. And most of the time, whenever you see the best player in the world, a majority of the time, they're not going to go to a team that has picked. And,

picked in the top five for the last five years or three of the last five years. That's not necessarily how it goes. So I do think that in terms of that specific feeling, she was probably out of line. Yeah, for sure. Also, like, people, I wonder if like the Bucks owner feels the same way about Yonis and be like, yeah, like, he should be grateful that the nonsense is here. I think every single owner probably feels some part of this because they're billionaires who are used to being the main characters and think they're the guy that made this all

happen because I own the team so I should get all the pride and joy of this team. We saw the resentment Dan Gilbert had with LeBron left. We know what happened with Donald Starling and him want to be main character. This probably happens all the time. They just don't have the microscope that Genie Bus does. And they don't have two brothers who are going around the media outlets and being like, listen to what this evil sister said when I was there before she fired me. There's a specific circumstance of drama that makes her feelings be out there.

I've been most of these billioners feel similar sentiments. Probably. They were saved though. He did save. Sure. for sure. Yeah. I just think they probably

would have got saved by that Kauai and Paul George if he wasn't there. Yeah. But hey, they got the best outcome in general.

The clips got saved by Kauai and Paul George. Yeah. When you're not allowed you get saved. That's what we call being a good free agent destination.

You're going to get saved eventually. But I brought this up not to really go dive deep into the genie busting. That's about week old now. LeBron was asked

about this and asked about this general relationship with the team. He gave some good regular PR answers. And then the one interesting part of this post game press conference

that that was interesting. is this where you want to finish the season? And I can't show you the audio, but you can see his body language. He just said, I'm good several times or rubbing his face. I'm good. I'm good.

I'm good. That's how he said. I said, I'm good. I'm good. Their heart is help. It despise me, man. So, like, the tone of voice, either like, I'm good.

You're going in, bro. So, like, I don't really know what he means. I mean, I mean, I, I think it's probably I'm good on answering that question. I'm good here. But the tone of his voice, it wasn't like a resounding yes. It was either dismissal of the question or dismissal or just like frustration with the situation. It's kind of hard to tell.

Sounds like he's just like completely sick and tired of this whole situation when it comes to just drama in general. He's had so many questions that were asked of him when it comes to whether it would be like, how you feel about all-star break, whatever, how you feel about X, Y, Z thing? I think he's just like so tired and fed up with all the narratives that's happened over the last few. You were basically throughout the entirety of his career. And now this like bomb so dropping on his head to just, I think he just has no energy for this at all. Yeah. Yeah, no energy for this at all.

That's definitely, that's definitely the answer. I just wonder if it's a frustration with the parade of it all in the media or frustration with Jeannie Bus and the Lakers, like where the real issue is. And if it becomes anything. It's probably a little bit of both. The same way that Jeannie felt, I'm sure LeBron is. looking at himself in the mirror. He's like, how dare they treat me after I came here and saved this franchise? Like, he probably has a little bit of that as well.

And then, like LeBron has told us at every turn, hey, guys, I'm old. I just want to be at the house and chill and golf. And I don't want to be out here playing these games on these big marquee moments. Like, you've been in the league for 23 years. It probably is starting to finally start, starting to get old. Like, he's 41. This can't keep going on. and I wouldn't be shocked if he's just tired

or if this is just like the last year that he plays for the Lakers and then trade deadlines in two weeks come on now it's not story broke in an opportune time nothing's happening man I know I wonder why I'm just saying

but yeah it does feel like the summer he's 100% gone like people are talking about it now Brown Winters on TV laying out the outcomes which was a funny statement did you see that he said there's three ways

this can go for LeBron James in the situation he can stay with the Lakers he cannot be with the Lakers or he can retire A stew observation, Brian. Now tell him we the three options for every other free agents. Keep going.

I didn't even see that. I didn't even see that. There's three options how this can play out. Stay with the Lakers on cheaper contract. Go somewhere else to retire or retire. This is important anymore. Yeah, he's gone. He's gone as fuck this summer.

Perkins was up there like word, word. Like, that is true, Brian. Do you think? So feels like, retirement tours coming up next year. It has to be. Did he do it for the minimum and like ring chase with a great team? No. No, I think he probably goes back home to Cleveland. He's better do it for the minimum then like, or mid-level exception like 10 million a year? I think LeBron would, I think he knows that if he

took the minimum and went somewhere, it will be a stain. If you took the minimum to ring chase, it will be like. Is that a stain though? I do think so I get what you're alluding to. I think in your final year in your legitimately goodbye story to try to contend one more time and say I would sacrifice the money to build a great team

because it's either Cleveland Cavaliers or Lakers, right? Either way, you would assume if it takes a minimum, that'd make them a real contender with the final year of Bronn averaging 23 points per game on the minimum contract.

I feel you can say like I made the ultimate sacrifice that was still great. Like I think there's some nobility in some way to spend that that it wouldn't be a stain necessarily. It's maybe maybe.

Okay, so two things. I can one, I, I, I disagree with you, but I don't think that you're crazy in thinking that. I also do think that, like, it's him. So if LeBron takes the minimum to go to the cabs, even if the Cavs missed the playoffs this year and LeBron goes there, people are going to look at Abron and say,

oh, you are so lame, you ring chase, you did all this, and treat him like the worst person again, and he's going to be the villain going out. I feel we're past that era of LeBron criticism, though, to that extent. Like 10 years ago for sure. He hasn't done to move like that is the thing. Yeah. We haven't seen a star, regardless of where we put LeBron in top 20, top 25, whatever.

He's LeBron. We haven't seen a star like that who can still play at a pretty high level. Take the absolute minimum to go do this. So it would be, it would be like the first in an NBA cycle. Yeah. I understand that. I think regardless of if he was to do that and go to team like, I don't know, the Rockets or the Warriors or whatever, whatever like crazy imaginative thing that people can paint in their heads.

At the end of the day, like his legacy is cemented. Him winning another ring or not winning another ring does absolutely nothing to his legacy. It's not additive at all, nor it does it take away. It's like cemented. I think it could be a good thing for him to do the minimum thing. If like, especially if it's with the Lakers, I think, if they do that cap space plan they have and let's just say they sign Payton Watson and Quinn Grimes. And they bring them in with that $55 million, split it up between those two.

and the Bronx comes back for the minimum and they have like a legit team now and like they're an actual contender because that's a deep team now that actually like had the best of both worlds and God forbid they win a championship when this farewell tour with the Lakers like bridging the eras

I think that could be like a good legacy play maybe only on the Lakers or the Cleveland Cavaliers oh 100% no if you goes minimum to the Warriors yeah that's like gross even even on the Lakers just with all of like the drama that's been happening and shout out to Quinn Grimes

shout out to Peyton Wards shout out to Peyton Watson If I miss out on $50 million for y'all and we don't win a title, I would be sure. Well, that's the thing. He's not missing on $50 million. No one's paying this version of LeBron James $60 million. Yeah. How much?

I think it's marked rate would be maybe like 30 or 25. How do you even quantify that? 42-year-old LeBron James? Like, I don't even know. Like, not max. I'll tell you that. Like, just all things considered. All-Star level, maybe like, 35, 37.

No more than like, if I miss out on 30 for real. 35 for y'all too and we don't win a ring. Well, here's the thing. You're not missing out on that for me. You're missing out on for you for wanting to romanticize your final year and being when your preferred destinations. That's the price to pay. If you want to retire storybook wise in one of your two homes, you get no money for it.

You can go get $40 million in the Brooklyn Ness. I'm sure they'll love to have you for one year. That's nasty. Exactly. That would hurt his legacy right there. The money isn't worth it. So they're not, he's not doing them a favor.

Yeah, I lied, man. No, I mean, he would be doing them a favor. But he's doing himself a favor because he wants to retire with the storybook. It's a mutual favor. Sure. That's a good deal then. A mutual favor is a good deal. That's adequate value for both sides.

Not a good deal. I'm going to need some money on the back end too. Before we end this show, I have three TikToks to do for this abbreviated TikTok time. Let's do it. First thing we're going to do, last week on Monday we did, you guys guessing, the heaviest player in the NBA at every single position. You guys did a pretty good job. Yes, sir. Now you guys are going to guess

the lightest player in the NBA at every position it's a little bit harder. Point guard through center Again, we're going to have NBA.com listed weights that I think it seems rather accurate

but I don't know. Point guard. Who do you guys think it is? Smallers dudes. Rob Dilliam. Ooh, that's good. You would think. Rob Dillingham is listed

at 6 foot to 175. Does somebody under 175? Yes, there is several point guards under 175. It is not Robert Dillingham. It's not Trey. It is Tray Young. What do you think Tri-Yog listed as?

I guess 162. My guess is 170. 164. Whoa, man. That's light as fuck. You know, there was an article one year, like, way earlier in this career where someone said, yeah, you gained 15 pounds of muscle. What?

Yeah, it was disgusting lying. There's no way it was 150. I know. That's just straight a line. Well, I do believe he was probably 150 at one point in this career. High school? Six to one-fifty in the league? Six-two, calm down.

It's starting to make sense. Shooting guard What do you think is? It's a true shooting guard. True shooting guard. Not a point guard. He's a shooting guard. AJ Johnson.

Wow. Yes, it's AJ Johnson. Oh, wow. Okay. What do you think he weighs? I think he's like 170. He listed at 160.

What? Y'all need to get in a gym. Y'all need to pull up. Forget, forget, like, forget, like, forget, planet fitness. Anytime finish. You need to go to the diamond gym. with them yelling

I'd rather fucking die You need to run the hill Bitch I'd rather die That's funny Small forward Okay small forward This one's really hard Next two are very hard

I'll tell you it's a rookie Give you a fight a chance I was gonna say McHale Bridges But never mind Hell no, that's not McElbred That's a grown man A rookie A rookie

McHall Bridges was the lightest That'd be crazy A rookie though Riley Yes it is Will Riley You're on this You're hooping 180 pounds

chefares and six foot eight six foot nine it's pretty lights he's so small man power forward not a rookie but a young player again he's a power forward

so these are true power forwards no small forwards if I was doing a small four it sometimes plays a four it could have been jada macdniels who's listed at 185 see I think like could it be chet

that's that's a thing but he's also tall so like chest the center there is there's some weight there young player though yes

you you probably not can get this one. He's a young player in a rookie contract. Not super relevant, but you know his name. Johnny Furfee. Not Johnny Furphy. That's not a power forward. Damn. This is a true four that plays on a good team that you probably forget he exists. On a good team. Maybe somebody like on the Celtics. He's on the best team. You probably forget

he exists. Oh, so he's on O'KC. Ah, a young four. For the fours. Brendan? This is Ujman Dang. Man. You forgetting about him. 185 pounds. I didn't.

Okay. That makes sense, I guess, but I feel like this kind of off. I don't see him as like a frail dude at all. Yeah, but fours are bigger guys. So, I mean, I guess a lot of light fours probably listed to three. He just, he just super lean. He just looks strong. I don't think he looks strong, but I don't look at him just like, yeah, he can't lift

20 pounds. I don't think of that. But 185 isn't too light, so there's just not a lot of small power forwards right now. Okay. Center. Chet. Chet is listed at 208 pounds. Which is insane.

There is somebody at 205. Someone lighter than him. It is not yet. Someone who's lighter than that. Who are the sticks? I will say it's a player who's had two. It's a player who's had three teammates on this list so far. I don't know if you notice.

Four of these guys are on the same team. Okay, so it got to be someone on the Wizards. Saar? This is Alex Saar. No, I can't buy that. He's 205. I don't buy that. The lightest seven footer in the league.

Who is about seven footers? Bo, bowl. doesn't count he's on the league. Damn, Bobo's out the league. Damn. Chet's three pounds heavier? That's, I guarantee you, that's a 110% cap.

Alexar's got a small. He's not crazy. 110% cap. I guarantee you he's more than Chet. Nevertheless, four Wizards is hilarious. Yeah. You need to start wearing a jersey one size, too small, make himself look bigger. The Wizards are not supplying

the muscle milk. They're not supplying the protein powder. None of it. Me personally will mail you some P.D.S. This cannot happen. That's actually all of y'all. On the team bus,

Diamond Jew. Diamond Jew. Next thing we were going to do. I'm going to say a sentence. I want you to fill in the name. You'll see what I mean. It's a question with a fill in the fill in. You say the name that comes to mind.

Tell me why. Okay. People forget that blank is a problem. People forget that Brandon Roy is a problem. Okay. You're such an old head. No one thinks like that. You have to have time.

That's what people forget. That's the point. You have to have time passed. Exactly. Exactly. People don't forget that Steph Curry's a problem. People forget that Michael Red is a problem. People definitely, people underage of 18 do not know who Michael Red is. People will definitely forget that Michael Red is a problem.

Come on, man. Come on, man. I don't think so. These days, people are thinking people forget D. Rose was a problem. These days people are thinking... The MVP who just got his jersey retired? People would forget that, yeah. You're a crown eater.

People would forget that. You're like those guys in TikTok. You're like elite ball knowledge pool and it's a Michael Kiggo-Kirst. No, that's crazy. That's an indictment. Is Kelly Rubber? Brandon and Rodmacher read it up. Any time people will get a chance

to overly glaze D-Rose, they're going to take it. So that is a valid sentiment. That's the opposite of people forgetting, though. But people are going to overly glaze. That's the point. That's the opposite of the point. People are going to always try to mention D-Rose

in these sentiments. You're naming the opposite of the point of the sentence. Even if it's not true, people are going to say it. That was what I'm saying. Okay. It doesn't have to be true. I guess.

They're going to say regardless. You know what? Fares. How you got it? You know what is so good on? I agree with it. Going to a new age player. People forget that Ben Simmons was a problem.

People treat him like he was always garbage. Yeah. People shed on him. People forgot that he was actually good at some point because the negatives really, really outweigh the positives. He'll be so good and I hate to say it in today's league. But man, just was a couple years ago. He played at the days of least. He's in the league nine months ago.

God damn. Number two. It's time to have an. honest conversation about blank. Wow. We're going to start a dialogue. My bad, bye. We're going to start a dialogue.

It's time to have an honest conversation. What was that commercial about? Probably something important. He had a show on TNT for like a summer where Charles Barkley was like going around to like town halls. And like he was like hosting town halls. and like talking about like the so the socioeconomic state of the world. The social political state of the world? Chuck was.

Oh Chuck was. Have you seen that meme or says we're going to start a dialogue? Yeah. It's from that. I think that's what it's from. We're going to start a dialogue. Ew. Who is the time to have an honest conversation about?

Let's see. We've already, we've talked about Palo all year. We've had many honest conversations. On the more positive end, it's going to be Kishon George. Hey man, deficiency. What is doing at the time? the rim. Real uncomfortable conversations will have to be had about him and where people see him

among like one of the best guards in the league. You know, in this very moments, it's time to have an honest camera conversation about Stefan Castle whose numbers eververted back to being exactly with the Warriors or rookie. That blip of him dominating O KC and being like an all-stars kind of came to the wind. Give him time.

Yeah. So I'm not talking about the goddamn Eastern Conference. In general, in the state of it. Let's have an honest conversation about the fact that Janus might leave the East and it might be the worst conference in any sport ever. Unbelievably bad. Yeah, I have no money. Yeah, I don't know.

Adam Silver. We got to keep having this conversation. Never let up. Okay. Why does everybody pretend they like Blank? Why does, oh, I said that weird. Why does everyone pretend they like Blank? Dremont Green.

2025, Drayvon Green. Why are people being honest themselves? Yeah. I don't think anybody pretends to like. like Dremont. I think everybody says they don't like Dremont. Maybe internally they pretend to like him. Steve Kirk for show pretends to like him. I can see a world and wear like

10 years from now they just don't talk at all. Curries, his patience is running through. Yeah. Cool for this. Who knows what's this? Why does everyone pretend they like a blank? I think that's probably like why does LeBron pretend he likes Luca?

That can fucking fit because them two as a duo don't fit at all. Yeah. they don't fit why does Steve Kerr pretend that he likes Jonathan Caminga but he no longer does that Oh no that's blatant as hell Now he's like I hate this guy

He would tell you this publicly himself I'm feeling like a trade target That fans all This really applies to like a player that stinks But other fans think they don't Um Listen maybe this is hating But why

Why does everybody act like they love love love love Larry marketing. Like he's cool, but I do feel like because he is like one of the top trade targets, everyone was like, yo, he would just change lives.

It's like, I think you would. I don't know. Yeah. I'm not, I'm not 100% sure. I'm thinking like jerseys or some kind of like

off the court thing. Oh, for that. Listen, you know I have a lot. He's got to be a player. I thought we were sticking players. Do I give whatever you want. Why does everybody pretend they like blink?

Why does everybody pretend that they like just mismatch colors? all the time. It's too many colors. We talked about it the other day. There was a game because of the new world that we live in where there was two gray jerseys on the court. Oh, I have a better one.

That was also gross. Why does everybody pretend they like the old physical defense in the 90s? Anytime a team comes out today and they play that physical defense, you fucking hate them. You guys love the crayon eater high octane offense basketball with all these points. Don't pretend otherwise. That couldn't survive in the deadball era. You would have hated it.

One runner test comes to league today, you would run him out. I mean, not really. Lou Dord is still employed. And they hate him with all their hearts. You guys enjoy watching the threes. You hate physical defense. Just own it. If Lou Dora ever did, nobody's ever been as crazy as wrong.

The man threw it. Oh boy. That shit was so crazy. Like, maybe he would have deserved it. That shit is so crazy. Okay. Is time to admit, blank is better than blank? Hmm.

it's it's time to admit that con canipal is better than lamello been admitted that I've been on that I like that I like that I like that I like except for that week one is it time to admit Franz Wagner is better than Palo Bankero I think Magic fans are slowly starting to get to that point right as of today palo we keep saying this palo should be better than him so you should pass him back up but as of today it's time to admit that it is very like awkward it was awkward for me to hear if you know it might be the truth that

Yeah, Austin Reeves is better than LeBron right now. Oh, yeah, we've been accepted that. Fly High, Sweet King. Does the league wide know that now? I don't know. You know what people should know? Is it time to admit that Scotty Barnes is better than Evan Mobley?

Did the Raptors win that war? They get the rookie of the year, get back? Such a poverty war, man. There was wars last year that were getting stomped out by the Evan Mobley FC. All right, who's the worst player that we can say? We're putting over BAM. Over BAM?

Is it time to admit Jalen Dern is better than BAM? Listen, that's the one that we have to start the dialogue. How many more years can we go saying, I mean, he's bam. What does that mean? What conversations does that put us in? I need clarity. Is it time to admit to me as Kada is better than bam? Oh, wow.

Come on. Too far. Is it time to admit Jordan Walsh is better than O.G. Anobie? That's way too far. That's way too far. Blank looks like he can't fight. Oh, it's a long list.

There's a lot of guys who look like. Jalen Johnson looks like he can't fight. Come on, man. Do you not be seen a... You're not fazed by the Kadoosius? Come on now. He's Kudu's man. Jaylon Jophan Kadoos.

Yeah, for sure. That's his signature move every time he gets to Andrew. Dude, he's like a Mario character. That's what he does, right? He never gets to know. Real Scope. He just looks at some. somebody's like

Jalen, bro, Jalen Brunson will get pissed up. He's no wets. Jailen bruns and Josh Hart both. I think Josh Hart would stand a chance, but Brunson, nah. He's Josh Hart going to come from the back.

He's a dirty fighter man. Listen, everything's on the table in the street fight. He's, thumbs are flying I don't know where they land As long as I'm walking away And you're not, I'm winning And that's what Josh Hart is about

Blank needs to lock the fuck in Jamerrant needs to lock the fuck in So many players John Ryan needs to be locked in more than DeAndre Aden needs to lock the fuck in Nobody in the history of athletic sports Has ever needed to lock in more than DeAndre Aiden Hmm

Like have you ever seen a player who's one missing beast is not being locked in like that. Like he really is next level unlocked. I mean, he really like let us know from the start of the day one of his career. He's not trying to be locked in at all. I'm not. I'll lock you for four years and I'm done. Yeah. So maybe he's honest.

But I've literally never seen a player whose main detriment is not being locked. I mean, Yudoka needs to lock in. I think he needs to lock in. He needs to really see the value in. And read Shepard and let him loose up a little bit. Jan Satenacupo needs to lock in and he needs to lock in and accept that he's not going to be the fan favorite forever. I mean, Cat

cat needs to lock in. Oh, for sure. I said the Arndrayan is at least locked in in player every scene. Maybe we have a rival. Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness. I can't explain to you

the level of not locked in that I have seen. I can explain them just fine. Also, Mikhail Bridges needs to lock in too. Oh, I saw people say he doesn't miss any games, but he takes games off.

He's not locked in every night. He plays, but he's not playing. Blank is the goat If you really think about it If you really think about it Who's the goat? I think of anything

Whatever that means to you Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. We do have to have to think about this. Honestly, Kauai is the goat. I think the same thing, yeah. Being like halfway there, halfway not, always finding himself, seeing people talk about him as a top ten player

for random spurts every single NBA season. He's the go to that. James Hardin is also really the goat, if you think about it. After, I mean, after OKC, it's Houston, it's Brooklyn, it's Philly, it's L.A. Like, I'm just living in good cities the whole time. Also, along the same lines, Joe Johnson is the goat, if you think about it, in terms of the cities that he lived in. It's like Atlanta, Brooklyn. Like, he only lived in cool cities.

Yeah. Who else? Who else can be the goat? Michael Ford Jr. is a goat right now. He fucking single-handedly dismantled the narrative around him just being like a MP stats player, potentially before the season started. People were talking about him being an all-star? All right, MPJ.

People. Last thing we're going to do. You guys cannot say a word. Shut your traps. Until I name a player better than 2022, Steph Curry. 2020 Curry. That's finals MVP Curry. It's going to be hard.

No more words. 2018 James Hardin. Start off hard. No hesitation. Okay, no lips are moving. 2017 Russell Westbrook. Player worse than Hardin. I get it.

Still quiet. I understand. No, put the hand down. Put the hands down. Be honest. Okay. 2024 Luca Donchich. You want to talk about points rebounds assist.

22 staff couldn't keep up. No, okay. Thumbs down. Resounding. We're going with Impact Man. We're cool, gravity, man. No words. 2026, Wembe.

Best defender on the planet. Damn, you're killing Wemby? Did you beheading him? Good Lord. I said, don't talk. I didn't say destroyed. 2019, Janus. Or 2020, the one where he won, the DPOI and MVP.

But no ring. No Larry, though. No Larry, though. 2014, Kevin Durantz. One of the greatest scorers of all time at his athletic beach. You're having some hot flashes. 2007, LeBron James. My time has come.

Ooh, you're young LeBron. You're not saying anything, though. He's still quiet. Young LeBron. now, man. Young Brahmael was still amazing. Two-way impact. Took him to the finals. So it wasn't there, but still didn't fucking matter.

But he wasn't as developed as 22 Steph. Still special. 2006, Kobe. Come on, man. He's still quiet. He's still quiet. 2023, Nicole Yokic. Yeah, I got to step on this. Oh, there we go. We got to stop here.

Nicole Yokch got it. Yeah. Wow. You got to stop here. Oh, so? Wow. No jumper? No jumper. Didn't matter. No jumper to get to the finals? No jumper.

That's the original like, we're going to come in here. We're going to build the wall against him. He won't score. No jumpers are ridiculous. It's crazy. And that's end of this episode. If we're still here, comment who you think is better. 2022 Steph Curry or 2007 LeBron James.

And we'll see y'all next week. Actually, we'll see y'all on Thursday for this week's episode. I will tell you the topic, but I haven't decided it yet.