The Herd with Colin Cowherd - All Ball - Gottlieb and NBA Insider Ric Bucher Dissect the James Harden Trade, Title Expectations, Kyrie Toxicity, and Potential Pitfalls

Episode Date: January 15, 2021

In this episode, Doug and guest longtime NBA Insider Ric Bucher dissect the James Harden reuniting with KD in Brooklyn, if Brooklyn is a legitimate title contender, how Kyrie fits into the mix, and how he can potentially derail the entire experiment. Make sure you download, rate and subscribe here to get the latest All Ball Podcasts! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Hey, what I'm up. Welcome in. I'm Doug Gottlieb, and this is all ball, all basketball, all the time. Well, sometimes we talk about the sports as well. So glad you downloaded and subscribe to rate it. Write a review. Probably a good one. Hopefully you enjoy it. Let me give me a quick thought on the James Hartraig. So this, this pod, Rick Buecker, dear friend of mine, longtime writer, NBA insider, Seam on Fox Sports One, has his own podcast. We're going to just chop it up and talk about the hardened trade. I want to get into it with this one thing, something to think about.

Well, I'll talk about this with Rick that I believe that KD is a bit of a lost soul. He's searching for that. And maybe like, I don't know if this is. Fair, unfair. It's like that the father he never had, right, the love, the, he wants the basketball community fans to love him and respect him for the unbelievable player that he is. I'll also say that I've never heard a guy who played with him say a bad word about KD.

How about that? I've heard about LeBron. I've heard, eh, the step thing is just like some guys like, look, you can be a little hard to play with Steph. I've heard it about like, I go through all these players and there's lots of guys. I've never, all they ever says like, that dude loves ball,

loves to compete. I loves ball. He's a baller. And he's unbelievable, like an unstoppable, unblockable, crazy weapon. And he's all about basketball. He doesn't really, like Rich Kleinman's trying to have him, have other interests and he has all these investments,

but I don't think those are really easy. He's not like Kyrie. wants to make movies. He wants to be the best basketball player who ever lived. And you know what? He's not crazy far off. Now, injuries have derailed two of his seasons. And really three of his, you know, three of his seasons because he could have won one championship and he didn't get to play last year. And then he had the foot problem in Oklahoma City when he lost 51 games of that season. But, but I think that the thing he's searching for is that respect and admiration, not necessarily from his peers, some from his peers, but also from fans. He wants to be in every conversation of being the greatest basketball player on Earth. And I think that's why he went to Golden State. I think that's why he left Golden State to go to Brooklyn. And I think it's still out there for him. And you may ask yourself, how?

How can you say that when this guy's bringing in as two other, first of all, he didn't say I need two other stars. He said, I'd love to play with James Hardin. They went and got him. But when I ask you about this deal, will it work? Most people are like, nah, no chemistry. You know, Hardin doesn't play defense. you don't know when Kyrie's off the reservation.

He doesn't play defense. KD's gotten to where he's become a good rim protector, a good defender, but he's not, he's a very good defender for a scorer. I don't know if I like it. I love it. And then the three of them together, no, Kyrie feels like he's, again, off his rocker.

James Hardin is, he likes to hang out. He's a hangout guy. And KD's kind of searching for that feeling he had in Oklahoma city where it was real team and this isn't going to be a real team. But if he can figure it out, if he can be the leader of them because he's actually the best player, if he can get them to fall in line and play good enough defense and share the basketball, I think then people would, or at least I will give him more respect than anyone has ever given because I'll sit here and tell you as a naysayer.

It's not about how much talent. It's about talent combined with playing as a team, playing as one. It's a beautiful thing to watch when teams come together. So that's my thoughts heading out of this trade and heading into the rest of the NBA season. Let's get the thoughts of Rick Buecker, who joins us now. All right, Duke, look, I threw this out on Twitter, and I think it's a great question. But it's very, very nuanced. But let's start with this.

Will it work? Now, again, part of it is what does work mean? Right. Like to me, I don't think it was championship robust this year for the Nets before they made this move. Right. But you're basically on a two-year window now, right, with Hardin's contract. And you got rid of all the future parts, which I actually don't think are nearly as valuable as they were last time the Nets made this type of move for the Celtics. We can give you that.

But if I said, the end. The NBA finals are making it work. Does it work? I don't believe that they will get there. As talented, as powerful as they are offensively, for the same reason that we saw it not working with KD and Kyrie in a microcosm. I mean, I know you're adding another really big piece, but the fact of the matter is KD has been playing really well.

I mean, he's come back. He's not showing any indications that the injury has taken anything away from him. Kyrie has been in and out, but when he's played, he's played well. The problems aren't with their star power or the connection between KD and Kyrie. it's what kind of game do they play as a result. And the chemistry with the other pieces and the defense overall has not been good enough to overpower teams offensively. And if you look at some of the teams that they've lost to, they should have at the very least been able to overpower them offensively if overpowering opponents offensively was a, formula for being the last team standing.

And yes, the playoffs are a different animal, but they're an animal that relies on your ability to stay in games at times when you are not scoring. And so that's why I just, even though I look at the east and I don't see the team that I would pick to, you know, the definitive team that I would pick to, to knock them out, I think it could be an array of teams, a Miami Heat team that just plays together and plays better defense. And I'm not even in love with Miami. I just, Miami's formula last year is a reflection of you don't have to have the most talent and you can still be the team that comes out of your, out of your conference. No, I mean, listen, it's a great point you make. I mean, because if you think about it,

the two teams that play the NBA finals, the two best defensive teams. in the bubble, right? That's really what happened. And we do this thing in broadcasting, where every boss I've ever had starts like, hey, you know, I love you because you're not, you're no cliches, right? And then in society, we have moved so far

away from stereotypes. But like, look, and not all stereotypes about humans are accurate, whatever. But some things, like cliches are used because they're true. Like, you know, when the going gets tough, the tough do get going. Defense does win championships, right? And in basketball, you have to be, you have to be a cohesive unit.

That said, I think as much as I despise the way that James Harden has no desire to play defense, and I find it really, really difficult to believe that Steve Nash, who wasn't a great defender in his own right, is going to hold him accountable. One of the most underrated parts of James Hardness, he's a spectacular pastor. Now, there's a litany of things. Between he and Kyrie,

Kevin Durant is going from a organization where before he got there, they led the league in passes, and there were times when he was there, they led the league in passes, where I don't know how they don't lead the league in dribbling with those two. And if you've ever been on the same team as a dude who's, no matter how good he is,

you're just like, pass the ball, dude. Right. The other flaw in the construction, Joe Harris is going to get a lot of shots, but Joy Harris is not a 3-&D guy. DeAndre Jordan fits. If it was, if the team was built with the rest of the team collectively was all defensive-minded, But then I'd be like, you know, I kind of like it. Because then you can mix and match pieces.

Because I feel like in the NBA, at least it's been told to me, is you can have one guy. You have one guy who's who, but like that's Steph, right? But Steph at least will fake it and Steph will go for steals. James Hart doesn't even fake it, you know. But you can have one guy. You put two guys out there who can't guard? One and a half. It's one and a half.

Yeah. You can have one guy who can't guard. If you have a second guy who's just mediocre, and again, we're talking about trying to win a championship. Right. Because once you get to the playoffs and you're playing seven games, you're playing against the best and you're playing against the best coaches and you're playing against the highest basketball IQ teams.

So they're going to be able to manipulate your defense so that you're always being exposed by the weak defender and the weak help guy. And the other part of this is that the expectations are going to be so high that the friction within the team when they don't get there is going to be an influence, is going to be a mental factor. And to your point, like, I think of the Philly team that went to the finals with Alan Iverson. Like all defenders and Alan Iverson. Yeah. All of those guys were brought in with the idea, this is the guy and we have to, like, he's offensively, he's going to take care of us. The rest of us have to do the dirty work.

We don't know when we're going to see. Same thing with LeBron. When LeBron went there. Same thing when LeBron in Cleveland, right? Exactly. And so, but guys went there or guys understood from the very beginning, that's the role that I'm going to play and I'm going to get a ring out of it as a result. So, okay, you understood that coming in. This is the reason, part of the reason that the Nets made the deal is because they had too many guys that showed up with the Nets and they had the, hey, you know what?

Nobody thinks we can do anything. And they made the playoffs. So you had a lot of guys with the attitude like, you know, I haven't won a championship, but like I did, I played a role for this team that wasn't like, I'm just, I'm a caddy for the stars. I'm a part of the team that accomplished something. So their mentality when Katie and Kyrie is like, yeah, I know you guys are better. You guys are better. But like I'm still good. Like I still can do things. And it's what they were treating. It's what derailed, right? It's what derailed, though, Kyrie when he was in Boston, right? Is that he got hurt and they probably overachieve. And then when he came back, they're like, yo, look, we got the Eastern Conference Final without you.

We don't need you. Exactly same thing. You fit in with us. We don't fit in with you. Exactly. The Kyrie element is really interesting. This is, real quick, this is important for me to put there because I think you feel the same. I think Kyrie is a brilliant basketball player.

Like, truth is, I love Steph and what he does. If you just said actual skill set ability to do everything, Kerry's probably a more talented player. I was thinking about that this morning. I thought the same thing with Rashid Wallace and Tim Duncan. if you said just pure basketball skill. Yes. Rashid Wallace was a more...

Was the best player in the league. Then Tim Duncan? Yes. In the NBA. Yes. Now, for the same reason that you... Like, if you ask me if I'm building a team, would I take Steph or Tim over Rashid or Kyrie?

It's like, it's the intangibles, the leadership, the ability to mold their game with other guys, just the spirit of them, I'd say, I'm going to take that guy, I'm going to take Tim, I'm going to take Steph. But if we're just talking about basketball ability, Kyrie's the guy, like in a moment, in a pinch. Right.

No, he's unbelievable. Okay, so. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

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You might have seen The Skinsk. skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

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Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. There's a bunch of, there's a bunch of, bunch of elements to it because I do think on some level, like he was right last year. He just, you can't say what he said about not having good enough teammates, right? Like you can,

it's one of those, you can feel that way, but bro, you don't say it. Right. You can feel the way, you can feel the way you say about a coach. Like,

we don't only need a head coach because we're just going to, we've been doing this long enough, but that doesn't mean we, that doesn't mean we, you'll say that about a coach who just started, like you're undermining his authority. but here's the part I do like is truth be told Kevin Durant can tell him to shut the fuck up right and James Harden is unaffected by anybody although James Hardin has they both have a they

everybody has a pout button right and LeBron has it they all have that pout button that they that they hit uh James's the powd button though is it a little bit and so is chari's like they'll they'll pop more than than than anybody else will Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this valentines with 1800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more. Surprise your valentine with 1,800flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $39.99, or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1-800flowers.com slash tune in.

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Where is he? What is the deal? Like just what the fuck? Kyrie Irving. I've said this. Does anybody definitively know? You know what? Marcelus Wiley on SFY

asked me the exact same question. And I said, you're asking me to go into the mind of Kyrie the artiste. It would be like asking me, why do you think Basquette did that? Or or Picasso? Like, why did he?

like somebody who does something that is you look at it and you kind of like you're fascinated by it but you don't completely understand like you need to have a conversation with that person to understand what inspired what they're doing and even then you may not understand it or if you understand it you're like wow that's coming from a strange place this is look kairie I can't, I end up sounding like Dr. Phil. I mean, a bad version of Dr. Phil when we go into this. I've talked to people who know Kyrie. I haven't had like, there's certain guys in the league that over time I've been able to sit down and have a conversation with.

Like, I am dying to have a conversation. I know I'm kind of diverting here, but I want to have a conversation with KD because, and I have. I've had a number of like where we could talk about like what's really going on with him. And I've had a better understanding. And it makes sense to me. I don't agree with it, but it makes sense to me. I've never had that with Kyrie. But I believe I'd love to explore this.

Like I think the KD is doing his post game. Like I'm just going to give you short answers. I'm barely engaged in answering post game. because he looks at answering these post-game questions, it's not the person that he's talking to. It's that the talk about it is so banal in light of what's going on in the country. Like it insults his intelligence

to have to talk about these things on a platform. I think Kyrie's battling with the same thing. I think there's a lot of guys in the league right now that are looking at what's going on in our country, and it's carried over from the bubble and the boycott that they're struggling with playing basketball in this time. And I think that's what's happening with Kyrie. It's interesting because it's like one of these things to where you want to tell the guy that's like, that's the job.

Right. Like, look, I totally get, I understand it. Hey, I'm a radio host. So I'm sitting here hosting a radio show. and I see the shit going on in Washington, D.C., and I'm appalled by it. I'm embarrassed by it. I'm mortified by it. It's a country that I love. It's the country that I tell people all the time, that I've lived overseas.

I've traveled overseas. And the one thing that I can tell you that is that everyone I know is consistent when, no matter how beautiful a place you go visit, matter how wonderful the food is or incredible the people are. You get out the plane, you steal glory, you're like, hell yeah, I'm home. This is the best place there is. And not only that, not only that, but a vast, you know,

a big part of the world thinks that we live the most charmed life. They're not in love with the way we operate, because when we operate in their countries, we're kind of, we're jackasses. You know, we've got this, we've got this approach that not everybody looks at America

and the way we operate and says, wow, you guys really, you got it, you got it nailed, right? No, they love the byproduct.

They would love to live in America, but the way we export it. We're not, we're not all that in the world. I, I, I totally agree, I wasn't really the point I was getting to.

The point I'm getting to is I love this country, but I'm hosting my show when that shit goes down in D.C. And I want to scream. I want it like this is, it's basically what all of us told you. It's the embodiment of all of the years of lies that empower these people who are easy to be manipulated to do these things, right? But I host a sports show.

That's not the job, right? It's not. It's the same thing as coronavirus. Like I, you know, you want to talk about it because that's kind of what guys, everybody's talking about all these different things, right? That's not the job. And the point is that the hard part to let these guys understand is, yes, of course you're more than a basketball player.

But the heart of things, you're a basketball player, right? And, and it's not just when you're playing ball. It's kind of all about like, you got to kind of be about the job. Sorry. And that's the deal. But, okay, so was this move to bring him back in? Or was this move to protect themselves if he's already gone? I don't follow. You mean Kyrie?

Yes. No, I believe it's we've hitched our wagon to this approach. And we're just going to keep going in the same direction. We can't try to shift it one way or another. So let's try to put another big personality, another big talent in the room, and see if that can push out the problems that Kyrie is. You know, whatever's going on with Kyrie, if we can put another big entity in the mix, will that balance things out? Or will we be so good that it will push out the noise? I mean, I had one GM who basically said, in so many words, like, this is almost a cover for Kyrie.

Like, big, like, okay, you know, the, the, the, the, the, the, uh, the bass player is drunk. But you know what? Let's bring in a horn section. And everybody's going to be like, wow. Let me guitar. She's going on a long solo. You solo at the end of every, right? Exactly.

Like, man, the band is really, just to distract you from. what's going on with that piece in the orchestra and hopefully or the band and at some point like he sobers up and you come back together and oh what was that happening oh yeah you know it was just one bad night i mean that to me is what i'm hearing is what they hope it will ultimately ultimately be but it's it's honestly it's the same thing as when it first happened like we we talked about it can this really work like Like, can KD and Kairi, can that work with what else they have and how that limits what else they can do? And we had our doubts that it could come through for a lot of the reasons that we've since seen play out, right?

So, but how do you say no? If KD and Karee want to come play for you, it's real easy for us to sit back and go, yeah, I don't know if that's going to work. But if that kind of talent says they're going to come and play for you as free agents, like they want to play. play for the Brooklyn freaking nets? Like, are you going to, can you say no? And if James Hardin wants to come play with them, can you say no? You kind of know where it might take you, but you're like, what's the alternative that we're just the Brooklyn Nets and we have the, you know, I mean, attendance doesn't

really matter right now, but we're the like the least popular team in the league, even though we've made the playoffs, it's, when you kind of step back, you just go, I don't know if it's going to work, but I have to find out. Yes. Okay. I got two more for you. I think Katie is happy. And I say this because

here's my belief on the Golden State. Okay. I felt for him when he was in Oakland City. He was in, I know they had a 3-1 lead. I know he played shitty in game six. I put a ton of pressure on himself and he didn't play well. But I mean, it was, dude, is two on five.

There was no space. Oklahoma City, they tried, they kind of created that same model, really, where you had three defenders, right? And then two offensive players. It just didn't have enough shooting. So every time he got the ball, there was two guys in his lap.

And he said to himself, I can't do it, but I want the space. And when he got the space, he was magnificent. I think he was the best player in the way. I know LeBron has dominated the nethered, narrative, you know, because he won the championship last year, but, and it's always got to have, you know, Katie's got to have two superstars. Like, hey, what the fuck do you think Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were when, when he was there? We make it out like Golden State had had this incredible

list of Hall of Famers. Tristan Thompson and Draymond Green. Same role, Draymond just a little bit better at it and obviously a much better passer. Right. But, and then you have, you know, again, they're not piece for piece, but it's kind of the same sort of plan only when Kevin Durant was guarded by LeBron James, Kevin Durant was better in those finals. I won't argue to anybody otherwise. So he didn't get the respect that he thought he deserved, right? I mean, this is what everybody has said and what kind of I saw is like, now I went two championships. And had he been healthy, they won a third championship. And he's clearly the difference maker against Toronto, for example, the limited game that he played, which is obvious how much different it is.

So he's searching for this, you know, affirmation that he's as good as, I think everybody knows him to be, but he can't win, he can't win the narrative. He's actually the best place. He can't win the hearts and minds. Right, right? It's like, no matter what, he can't, like. So he goes to, like, so he's kind of lost, kind of a lost soul. I mean, that's, I mean, like, rich climates. You could stop there.

I mean, that's what I really feel that KD is. Okay, so, so last night, for example, last night he destroys the Knicks as like a one-man band. And I think it was probably really, really fun. Like it was really fun. And now he's, he's got this karee nonsense. Now he's got James Harden, who he knows, and I'm sure he likes, and nobody says James Hardin's a bad dude, right? Like he's just, actually, his problem is he has too much of a good time. But do you think this is what his soul was searching for?

I can't imagine that it is because once again, it discounts him, right? Like it was K.D. and Kyrie, oh, that's not enough. And it's not that you went and got pieces, like, ancillary pieces. You know what? We need more this, need more that. Trevoriza, yeah, yeah, yeah. it's we went and got James Hardin. And that's what I still am waiting to see. Like we've talked about.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, the Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next

we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jette. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. person. Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free Our Heart Radio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. The pieces outside of the Big Three, what's the pecking order within the Big Three? Because this is, and I will forever blame Bill Simmons for this,

this idea that Darry Mory pilfered James Hardin from the Oklahoma City Thunder James Hardin didn't want to be in Oklahoma City because he was the sixth man he was the third wheel

like James was ready to become what James is now I want to be the guy it's the same thing with KD like I want to be the guy I want, and I want that more than I want to be part, yes, I want to win a championship, but I want to win a championship as the guy, or at least one of the two guys. I don't want to be the third guy.

And that's ultimately why they had to move him. They couldn't, he wasn't, he didn't want to be there in the role that they had for him. So it was either move Russell or KD or James. And so I say all that because it's become like, that was the start of Darryl Morey being a genius, is that he somehow got James Harden. Well, how's it going to work in Brooklyn? Like, Kyrie in his way, has been looking for the same validation

that KD is looking for. You know, yeah, he hit the shot in Cleveland, but he wasn't looked at as a peer of LeBron. He was second class citizen. So he goes to Boston. I want to lead a team. They don't understand. So you know what? I'm going to go and I'm going to be the stuff because there were other guys that were already established there.

So I'm going to go someplace where I'm a foundational stone. And that's going to get it for me. Okay, well. Now you've got a guy arguably in James Hardin, who many will look at is Kyrie's the third wheel now. He's the third guy in the pecking order. And where are James and KD? Like, they have to sort that out. And this is not like Boston, as you mentioned, in terms of KG, Ray and Paul Pierce,

because of a number of factors. One, they hadn't had any success independently at the level. They hadn't won a championship. and they were at a point in their careers where they needed to get that. It's not the same as Golden State because all those guys hadn't accomplished anything and they found it and they got it together. So I just think the dynamics are troublesome, both inside the trio and outside when it comes to the collective of the team.

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And you could be me for just one hour. If you could find a way to get inside. other's mind. Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in my shoes. We've all felt left out. And for some, that feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that. Learn how it belonging begins with us.org. Brought to you by the ad council. Walk a mile in my shoes. What grows in the forest? Trees? Sure. Know what else grows in the forest? Our imagination, our sense of wonder. And our family bonds grow too, because when we disconnect from this and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discovertheforest.org.

Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the Ad Council. I'm going to wrap this in a second, but let me just, I'll give this short dissertation. I think it can work, especially because it's like one of those, if you don't like the Nets tell me who you do like. And neither of us can really find that team, right? Like Boston, we all love Jason Tatum, but like he kind of settles. He, you know, he, I don't know if he's a superstar yet. And Kamba's knee, the rest of that roster, just haven't seen it yet at that level.

That's the X's and O's. That's the talent. But there's also, like, there's such a, there's such an absence of real leadership. in the league today. That's why LeBron is killing is because he has that gravitas and he has the experience. But there's very, I mean, look around.

How many, I asked the GM the other day, like name the leaders in the league. And we had a hard time coming up with five. You got 30 teams. Chris Paul. Well, part of the problem is this is the issue with not going to college. Is of the things you don't,

learn to do. You don't learn to go from being young pup to being a leader. If you go to college, you go for a year and you can't be a leader when you're a freshman. Like there's a very, Kade Cunningham might sort of have it. He kind of has that, that it to him. But outside of that, we don't, we don't foster that with how we've constructed these players, with how we, the foundation by how we built these players. So, so here's the thing. I agree with you. They're totally different. They're not past their prime. They weigh the way, the big way, and by the way, like, please don't

tell me Jason Terry is anywhere near the level of, you know, Garnett and Pierce, whatever. I love the jet, but stop. Right. But those guys are past their prime. And you're right that there's a hunger and a desire when guys haven't accomplished it. That's my question to

KD. That's my question to Kyrie. That's my question of James Harden. Is James Harden specifically you know, he says, I've done everything for the city. No, you haven't. You wouldn't come in in shape. Okay? You wouldn't work with new teammates.

You wouldn't try and change and evolve. So I don't see it. Now, it doesn't mean it can't happen that he can't get there and go like, hey, this is my last shot to erase the narrative that I'm not aware of him. Harry Irving, he's already won. And he has the balls to say, like, I don't got to anybody can hit a game when he's shot. Like, dude in Cleveland was pretty good, bro. Anyway, like everyone's doubting me.

Let's see what you got. Kevin Durant. Now Kevin Durant, I think, has that. Kevin Durant is a, that's why I love the slim reaper nickname. Because he is a licensed assassin. He wants to kill everybody. He wants to win every game. So I think he has it.

The other two, I'm not, I'm, I'm, I'm, that's really kind of where we are in terms of I need to be true. This is going to be awesome. In a league which no one has really given a shit about because players don't seem to give a shit for the first half of the season, this makes it incredible. How can people download your podcast?

You can go to iTunes or, I mean, basically wherever you get podcasts, it will be available there, Buker and Friends. Have you read all the books? that are behind your over your shoulder? I would say probably about 98% of them. Do you annotate them?

I do not because I had for a long time, I cherished books where writing in them was defacing them. So if I was going, if I had something that I appreciated from them, I would write them down in a notebook separate from the book itself. I like it. My dad always annotating books. And I was like, do you ever go back? He's like, very rarely, but he used to annotate it.

Yeah. It's something about, you do want to acknowledge when you find a sentence or a phrase where you're like, Yes. Oh, that's. That's really good. Really, really, really good. Really good. All right.

I appreciate it. We'll talk soon. Okay. Sounds good. All right. I appreciate you. Join this. I appreciate Rick Buecker.

That was fun. That was fun. Got a college pod for you. I'm coming next. You're going to love it. Make sure you go through our catalog of podcasts. This is your first time listening to All Ball. We tell stories.

Some are mine. A lot of our other people's. We give background. And sometimes we have some takes. So that's the take on the James Harden trade to the Brooklyn Nets. It should be fascinating. Give you a reason to watch an NBA season, which so many of us have had a hard time watching thus far.

A reminder of the Doug Gottlieb show is 3 to 6 Eastern, 12 to 3 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. You can listen to the IHeart Radio app on SiriusXM217 or 203. The Fox Sports Radio.com is a great place to stream it if you're working from home. And don't forget to subscribe, download, write a review for us as well. I'm Doug Gottlieb, and this is All Ball. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this Valentine's with 1800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more. Surprise your Valentine with 1800flowers.com.

Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $3999, or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1-800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1-800flowers.com slash tune in. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guide, not quite. on Humor Me with Robert Smygel and Friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel,

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal,

but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to and learn the hard way with your feet. favorite therapist and hosts Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing.

How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. That was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me.

I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.