The Herd with Colin Cowherd - NBA draft, Zion Williamson, Knicks, and the Warriors

Episode Date: May 14, 2019

It's NBA draft day and Colin explains what the New York Knicks should do if they get the number 1 pick, why Duke F Zion Williamson is valuable, what to expect from the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, and who his top 10 sport families are. Guests include Chris Broussard, Bill Raftery, Chis Haynes, and Rick Barry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you're. know is somebody coming after me listen to kingdom of fraud on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts wife is full of hurdles so how do you keep going on hurdle with emily abody we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes coaches

and olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward at our level at this scale being able to fail in front of the entire world like i can do anything thing. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an acapella band with their Between Songs Band. 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. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart

radio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sportsport. Radio. Oh, Tuesday it is. We are loaded live in Los Angeles. This is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. We're on IHeart Radio. We're on Fox Sports Radio. We're on FS1 for what will be the most exciting night of the year in the NBA. I kid you not tonight. Ping pong lottery and Warriors Blazers Open Game 1. Joy Taylor is joining me. I am so excited for it not only tonight but today's show. This is a, I can't believe how excited.

No games last night. I watched hockey. Went out with a fan for dinner. Got kind of a night off. I'm so excited for tonight. There are a lot of things on the line tonight. People have already started, you know, praying and lighting their candles. I'm all on board on the conspiracy.

Okay. Well, I saw this morning. I saw this story. Let's start here. Keep the number one pick if you're the Knicks or trade it. What? Trade for what? Anthony Davis?

He's boring. Not all stars are fascinating. Carl Anthony Towns is boring. Anthony Davis, been in the league seven years. I don't rush to a TV to watch Anthony Davis. I rush to a TV to watch Zion in college, where I don't know 95% of the players. The kid's a star. This is A-Rod to the Yankees.

This is Jim Harbaugh to Michigan. This is Kevin Garnett to the Celtics. It's Shaq to the Lakers. When you get a star and you put them with a huge brand, you don't, from an ownership standpoint, and I would never be a meddling owner, I'd walk downstairs and say, fellas, trade, not happening. Zion is staying. Not all stars are fascinating. Steph Curry is crazy fun.

LeBron's bigger than life. KD's a personality. James Hardin's controversial. I think he's interesting. Yonis can be captivating. But, you know, it's not like Kauai. It's not like I'm rushed into a TV set for Anthony Davis, Carl Anthony Towns. Zion to the Knicks is a once-in-a-franchise opportunity.

It's bigger than Ewing in 1985 because of social media. You can talk about kids now 24-7. You don't watch a game, go to bed, and wait for the next game to talk about him. The emergence of opinion shows, the emergence of cable television, the emergence of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. this is bigger than Ewing in 1985. College basketball no longer furnishes us

with known commodities. We finally meet John Morant for March for a game and then he's gone. Used to be Ewing came back three years. I mean, Ralph Samson, Leitner, dominating players. Duncan came back for three and four years. Now college basketball

is an airport. You land and you're looking for the next flight to get to the next city. It's the apartment. It's the apartment complex. Nobody with talent wants to long-term live in one. You want to buy a house or a condo. I read a story this morning, the Knicks would see more than a 70% increase in their sponsor values the minute they get the number one pick. I don't want to hear a trade for Anthony Davis. I'll get to why in a second, but the first reason why is he's not captivating. Nobody's rushing to their TV set to watch Pelican games. You were rushing to your TV set. I saw the numbers to watch

college basketball this year. The kid can also plug and play right now. He'll be very good, very early. And he also has a magnetism where I wouldn't be shocked if he ended up in a New York, veterans like, I don't want to play with that guy. There are a lot of guys who want to play with LeBron early. Zion is in a very unique class. Eric Lindross in hockey, Bryce Harper, Tiger Woods, LeBron James. Yes, he is. He's in that class. When LeBron entered the league, there wasn't no Instagram. Facebook wasn't this big. The Twitter wasn't this big. Cable TV. I mean, it's opinion shows.

Talk radio. It's big. It's robust. You know, Bryce Harper is only a 270 hitter. How many big series is Bryce Harper won? Not even the best player in baseball. He has just signed a, you know, a $350 million contract. From a marketing standpoint, you just don't get this.

You just do not get this. Do you think tonight, this trade talk, do you think tonight when the Knicks when everybody's sitting in bars around New York and they're going to take shots all over, right? Like you'll see the video. And if the Knicks won this and all those bars explode, do you think they're exploding because they're all saying, wow, I can't wait to trade for Anthony Davis?

No. People in New York this year, I saw the ratings watched more Duke basketball than they ever had. Why? Because they like Coach K? No, Zion. And they have a 14% chance to land the number. one pick. I don't want to hear about trading him. You don't get this opportunity. You just don't get it. And even if he's just like Bryce Harper good or Eric Lindross, which is a star, but doesn't win at the end of the season as much as you thought. It's all worth it. Because Anthony Davis isn't winning either, and he's not captivating.

Let me shift to this. Speaking to New York, I saw this story yesterday. Got off the show. Kevin Durant is going to miss game one, and it appears he's going to miss game two, and he may miss game three. And you know what I thought about? I thought about the Knicks. When KD got hurt, it created this fascinating storyline with Steph and the Rockets. It made it a different series. Right in the middle of the series, the series got even more. interesting. Oh my God, the dynasty's over. Oh, Lord. Can they win without? Oh, is Hardin not going to be

able to? I thought it made this series more captivating. There was more drama. And everybody acknowledges, including Marcus Thompson, writing the KD book, that Kevin Durant can be swayed. He was on our show a month ago. Listen to this. I'm not buying it at the last moment. He's sitting at a meeting with somebody and he can't be swayed. Either way, to stay or go. I just... Because that's his personality. Yeah.

He could think it's done right now, whether that's staying or going. I still think later on, like, he can be swayed. Like, he's a guy. He feels everything. He sits in the room. He's present. He's got away this stuff. We still have three or four more series, if they win a championship, of data to

insert into this equation, right? Like, I don't know, I don't know if, even if he thinks he thinks he's, he knows the answer, I don't think he knows the answer. I'm not buying it. Okay. If that is true, and Marcus Thompson knows KD as well as anybody in the media, I'm just going to throw this scenario at you. Because, you know, with Kyrie and Kauai and Kevin Durant, it's like every day the news changes, right?

Oh, Kauai had a big shot. You got to stay in Canada. Oh, all right. Kyrie's recruiting people. Oh, all right. I saw a picture of KD celebrating the Warriors when he's staying. Oh, all right. So I'm going to throw this scenario out.

Let's say Kevin Durant, and I saw this story yesterday, misses games one, games two, and then the Warriors win both games against Portland at home. And the Warriors say, why playing for game three? What's the point? He's 90%. And then they play game three, and the Warriors win game three in Portland. They're still really good.

We all know this, 30 and 4 when Katie doesn't play. Well, then you just don't play. play him in the series. There's no reason to play KD in the series. So the Warriors win tonight without KD. And then they win again. That's not unheard of. It's hard to win there. And they decide not to play him for game three. And as they win, why play him in the series? Just get him healthy for the finals. He had nothing to prove, right? And then KD returns for the finals. And Milwaukee beats them. And Milwaukee beat the Warriors by 20 in Oracle earlier this year. They match up pretty well with them. No freebies at the bucket with Janus. That's why I thought of the New York

Knicks. That would be the impetus to go, okay, KD's out. Because that narrative would be, they're like 36 and 4 without KD. They're worse with it. That would move him. So I just, when I saw that story this morning, KD to miss game one and probably game two, first thing I thought of was the Knicks. Because I've said all along, I don't think it makes any sense to go to the Knicks. I would never tell my wife, honey, we're moving to East Coast. My wife would say, oh, more money, no, less. Oh, better company. No, way worse. Why? I just want to be the man. She punched me in the forehead. So I don't, I don't really get the move. But beat Golden State without him, just beat Houston without him, come back, lose to Milwaukee, then I think he's gone.

Now, I want to throw this out to you. This happened 10 minutes ago. This happened 10 minutes ago. An NBA veteran, you know how they call it, Joy, sliding into your DMs? You know, when people do that? Somebody you follow, you follow them, they slide into your DMs. Does someone slid in your DM with some small day journalism? An NBA veteran player.

I follow all sorts of people. an NBA player very, very connected. Been around this league for a long time. Told me 15 minutes ago. KD to the Knicks is 100% done and he has made calls to other players. Ooh. I do not have it double sourced.

I don't. I'll just tell you, I don't. But he's somebody I respect. He's smart. And I'm going to put it out there. Because I believe this is what we, in our show, Double-sourced, big J journalism. Right.

Single-sourced, small-J journalism. Sometimes that gets run over by a truck. So I don't have a double-sourced, but I got it 10 minutes ago. That's interesting. I'm telling you, I told you all along. I think he's going. You know, you are on the going thing. I am a one-percenter.

Okay, coming up next. Coming up next. There are, I'm going to count this real quick. 11 teams with a chance to win the lottery tonight. Now, I'm not going to count Charlotte, Miami, and Sacramento. They have 1% chance. So there's 11 other teams. There are five or six teams I'd be really interested to see Zion land, New York number one.

But if he lands, there are some teams, it would be a complete buzzkill tonight. So I'll tell you the five teams, I actually have six, I actually think it'd be kind of fascinating and I'll put him in order. That is coming up next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeard Radio apps. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect.

We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking. criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levan this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive?

The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts. or wherever you get your podcast. 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. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose

on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free. iHeartRadio app search learn the hard way and listen now life throws hurdles big and small the question is how do you conquer them on hurdle with emily abody we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness professional athletes coaches and olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going from the wmba standout kate martin and rising hockey star leila edwards if a boy can do it i don't see why a girl can't like i've never understood that like it didn't make sense in my mind brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world, like, I can do

anything. I can, like, I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. So great to be in. Bill Raftery next hour, Rick Berry, final hour. Rick Berry was Larry Bird before Larry Bird. I just can't get over tonight how excited I am.

So listen, I'm not trying to hide it. I'm not trying to BS you. I took out teams with 1% chance on the NBA ping pong lottery tonight. Here's the 11 teams with a chance to land him. New York, Cleveland, and Phoenix have the best odds at 14%. Chicago, 12 and a half, Atlanta, 10 and a half, then Washington. Then it kind of bleeds down to the Lakers and 2% chance. Listen, I like big.

In the Fiesta Bowl, I'd take Ohio State Notre Dame every year. It's nothing against TCU and Boise State. I like big. I like big moments. I've been doing this for 30 years. Regular season baseball games don't feel urgent. I like World Cups. I like Super Bowls.

I like star players. I like big stuff. It's not that I don't watch, you know, random, you know, regular season college basketball games. But when you've been doing something for 30 years, you're looking for a little juice in life, right? Zion to New York is juice. So let me give you the sixth place. Because some of these are a buzzkill. I mean, the guy ends up in Memphis.

I'm turning my television set off. I might not even watch the NBA next. year. I'd be so disappointed. Let me give you the six places that makes sense to me and that feel big. Number one, obviously New York, Madison Square Garden. It rejuvenates the franchise. It's got a Patrick Ewing, 1985 feel. If you've been to the garden, New York is just a different basketball environment. Loud, obnoxious, raucous, intense, urgent. It literally would be the biggest story in the league, along with Katie to the Knicks, if that's. That's true. Number two, don't deny it, Lakers. LeBron plus Zion, LeBron plus the next LeBron. Of course, it's huge. Lakers are still the biggest brand in the NBA. It would kind of rejuvenate LeBron's final destination potentially in the NBA because it feels, as Joy said yesterday, it feels after that Frank Vogel hire like it's just a bunch of nothing. Number three, Dallas. I'd like to see this. I'd be very excited if that happened. Maybe not LeBron, Zion excited or Nix, but I would get Luca Dantage.

I'd get Porzingis. I'd get a good coach in Rick Carlis. Crazy popular owner in Mark Cuban and Zion. They'd be really good, really fast. That would be a top four seed in the West. I've always thought Dallas, I've never kind of understood why Dallas isn't a more popular franchise for free agents. No state tax.

You can live right next to the arena. It's right in the middle of the country, so you never have a six-hour flight anywhere. It's a nice place to live. I've never figured out why Dallas is not more popular in the NBA with free agents. I think this would be great, and they'd be great for the next 10 year with Zion and Luca Dantzsche. They'd be great for a decade. Number four, Chicago. Chicago is never been the most brilliantly run organization.

They can wear me out at times. But Zach Levine, Lori Markinen, they got some shooters. And there'd be some comps to Michael Jordan. I mean, we've seen Chicago when basketball is big. It is a big Midwestern heart of the country right in the middle of it. And we all still have memories of Michael. It'd be fun. It'd be fun to see Chicago, great American city.

you know, be fascinating. I'll say number five is Phoenix. You know, they could work with Jaa Morant or Zion. Jaws a better fit. But you know what? Phoenix has Devin Booker, a legitimate young star, kind of a Damian Liller, doesn't get talked about early, but great. You got a max contract.

You got the DeAndre Aitin from Arizona. And then you throw Zion in. You're like, okay, people forget this. Phoenix was a really good NBA franchise. Won a title years ago. Gar Hurd, and this is not a dead. franchise. They have been good before. They were good for years and years. Number six is you'll be surprised by this. I think Cleveland would be okay. They have their point guard. And I, you know what,

I've seen LeBron there and it made it fun. And it would be fun to compare, okay, the next LeBron replaces the last LeBron. It gives me a lot of shows, a lot of topics, a lot of segments. I don't think it would be bad for the NBA. And Cleveland has a weird way of winning this thing all the time. And then number seven, eight, nine, ten, I would be miserable and no fun to be around if those happened. I don't want to see John Wall's injury and bad contract with Zion. I don't want to see, can you imagine Zion in an Atlanta Hawks uniform? This is simply not good enough America. Out of the teams that are left that we've excluded of the one percenters, that is the most tolerable situation.

Yeah. Atlanta had five all-stars and got swept by LeBron. I'm saying out of the choices that I don't want, that would be number one. Yeah, when I was a kid, out of the choices I hated, Raisin Brand was the best cereal. But I wanted honeycomb and Lucky Charms and Count Chocula. I can toss some sugar on Raisin Brand and make it tolerable. Barry just was, my mom was into this whole health thing,

and I was like, I got Count Chocula staring at me in the cupboard, and you're making them eat Raisin Brand. Joy with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So Jeannie Buss took over as president of the Lakers after her father's death in 2013. That year was also the last time the team reached the playoffs. And yesterday, Bill Plashke said on the Dan Patrick show that some of the Lakers' minority owners are growing impatient with the way that Jeannie is running the team.

Their business side is tremendous. It's the best in town. It's the best in the world of pro sports. They signed the best DVD on the history of pro sports. They're making a ton of money. But the thought here is one more year of this nonsense, and it's going to start to really affect the brand and affect the partners and affect the season ticket holders and all that.

Just don't forget, she took over the team in a coup from her brothers. So the team can be taken over in a coup. That could happen. I don't see that happening until at least they see what happens this summer and see what happens next year. They're going to give her another year. But no, people are upset. So the Lakers, yeah, they should be.

The Lakers ownership group consists of the Buss Family Trust, which owns 66% of the team, which he's of the six children holding his share. Then Philip Anshutz, who owns A.E.G., which owns the Staple Center. Yeah, he's a rich dude. Yes, Edward P. Roski and Patrick Sunshion, who owns the L.A. Times, who is also...

Those are like... Those last three guys could be the three of the five richest people on the West Coast, yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's... They're very influential people. They're not the ones that you want to upset, even if the bus family owns 66%. of it. I mean, he is right. The business side of the Lakers has never been in question, though.

The brand of the Lakers survives on its own no matter what's going on. Joy, we just saw a story. You and I, I think you did this in a herd line about three months ago. The Nicks are still the highest valuation team in the league. And they've been not only uninteresting. They've been poor. It's functional for 20 years. Right. The winning has not been a part of that equation at all and they're still the most profitable franchise. So the Lakers business side's never been in question. But this is getting a little bit ridiculous. I mean, this, I mean, as pathetic as that protest was, that should not be happening with the Lakers. You know what? And we can all make fun of that protest. But those fans, that went viral. Yes. And you can make fun of those fans all you

want. But they got a lot of national play. Those fans put their faces out there on it. There's a lot of anonymous Twitter nerds. These people put their face on it. And it made a lot of noise. I give them credit because they do care. And if there's even a small fraction of fans out there protesting what's happening, you're clearly not running the franchise properly. I mean, we just don't know who's in charge, and that

really is what it comes down to, is that it feels like there's no direction. And there is talks out there that players are actually disappointed as well. I mean, I'm sure LeBron is furious with the way that things have been going. So Steve Kerr has confirmed that Kevin Durant will not play in game one of the Western

Conference Finals against the Blazers tonight. He will be out for game two. There's sense he could be out even longer than that, especially after Kerr gave us this update. Everyone needs to slow down a little bit on the Kevin stuff. He hasn't even stepped on the floor yet. Maybe people have gotten the idea that he's going to come back and be Willis Reed or something. He hasn't even stepped on the floor yet. He still has pain. So

there's some time ahead of him on the rehab process. So We'll have a more detailed update on the Thursday. I think we all need to sort of accept we may not see Durant for the rest of this postseason. I think that's possible in the conference finals. But God, the finals are two weeks away. I mean, who knows if he's rushing back from a cap strain? He's not going to be 100% either. I mean, I'm sure he's going to want to come back.

I'm sure they're going to try and aggressively rehab it as much as possible. Well, you know, you know. When I saw it, I assumed it was over. If they win. Because everyone thought it was an Achilles, but I still don't know if I will see him. If they win the first to an Oracle, you and I know, they're just going to keep pushing him. They're just going to keep. Every time they win without him, that gives them the license.

They're going to absolutely like, because clearly it's not, he's not on the floor yet. Right. I mean, that's telling, though. Like the rehab process really hasn't even begun because he hasn't even stepped on the floor. Everyone does need to calm down. Finally, sticking with Durant, the Knicks are clearly prepared to do whatever it takes to land two of this off-season's biggest free agents, according to

ESPN Stephen A. Smith. Nix owner, James Dolan, will effectively give Katie and Kyrie a blank check. Stephen A said, Kyrie Irving is headed to Madison Square Garden with Kevin Durant. I am told that James Dolan himself basically said, whatever the hell you want, I will move the hell out of the way. I will give you whatever you want. It doesn't

matter. I'll take care of you to the Kyrie's and Kevin Durant's of the world. And as you mentioned a few minutes ago, the Knicks are worth $4 billion, which makes them the most valuable NBA team for the fourth straight year. Well, if Kevin Durant and Kyrie and Zion landed, you're worth $4.5 billion, because there's no question LeBron going to Cleveland,

elevated the net worth of Dan Snyder significantly in him leaving with Colin Sexton and Kevin Love, they're not as valuable as a franchise. Here's the thing, though. And while I do hope that does happen, because I think it's going to be good for the NBA, and it's going to be fun, and it's going to elevate a cornerstone

brand of the league, I'll believe this when I see it. The whole owner that's been meddling and the dysfunctional franchise. All of a sudden you get the three biggest, three of the biggest stars in the NBA and all of a sudden you're just going to fade into the mist.

We'll see. Yeah, we'll see. He likes, well, I mean, James Dolan's like in a band. He likes to be front and center. Right. I mean, that's just not believable. Now, if he's going to make a concerted effort, not to meddle in the basketball side of things, I guess that's promising that at least he's saying it. Right. But.

Yeah. Joy, good stuff for the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. The ever entertaining Bill Raftery next hour, Rick Berry, Chris Haynes. Let's bring on my buddy, the Dugger Doug Gottlieb, Fox Sports Radio right after our show. Great seeing Doug Gottlieb. Good show. Listen this week, folks.

He knows all his college basketball and NBA stuff. All right, I said this. Listen, there are things in sports that I'm excited for. When Harbaal went to the Michigan, it's better than Brady Hope, just because it's bigger. And I like Michigan. I like big brands. When you're my age, you'll wake up in the morning and you don't want to watch the Twins Angels on a Tuesday. You want big stuff, right?

You're still in that young, adorable stage. When did you become Grandpa Colin? You used to be Uncle Colin, now you're Grandpa calling. Okay. I would never, if I was an owner, I wouldn't be meddling. But in the case of Zion, I'd be like, fellas, step out of the way. This is Lindross, Bryce. Like, this is going to make me money, too, and I own the team.

Can you envision a team trading Zion if they got him? No, no, especially many of the teams need a drawing card. And he's a drawing card. I mean, there's an argument to be made that you would draft John Morant ahead of Zion Williamson because he's a freak athlete, he's a dominant ball handler, he's the kind of guy that will, his usage number rating will be much higher. Good point. And though he may not have the initial impact of Zion, I think Zion's going to be initially

very impactful even though he needs to improve his jump shot, I think John Moran has a chance to be a dominant guard for years to come. Yeah. But he puts butts in the seats, and that's one of the hardest things in sports. I'm going to disagree with you on Atlanta. You're wrong about Atlanta. This is actually, and look, I don't love the Atlanta sports fan, but the Hawks' GM is a former Warriors guy.

They have their own Steph Curry, and they have John Collins, who's a young burgeoning star. This would give him their own Draymond Green, if you will. Like, again, I think the league would love it if he's in New York. Right. They wouldn't hate it if he's in Chicago. It'd be ironic if he was in Cleveland, but I would move Atlanta more up the list.

You put him with Tray Young, and I'm watching. I'm watching every night. That would be entertaining. Atlanta fans may not watch because they don't only show up for their home team, but I would be watching. You know, it's interesting about this a Warriors thing, and we talked about this before, is that you were a pass-first point guard, and if you would have been a greater shooter, you may not have been as effective as a leader in that it's hard for fans to wrap their arms around, but sometimes the best player on the floor does stop the ball.

And listen, you can't deny the numbers. I'm watching Golden State. They're 30 and 4 without KD. And with Steph, they look different. They're more fluid. Not saying long term, it's better. Actually, you just did, but that's okay. Okay, but I will say.

You're saying they're better without Kevin Durant. They're different. They're different. They're different. They're different, but they're better with Kevin Durant. You can't, you take the numbers of 30 and 4. What games did he not play? Who did he not play?

This is like plus minus. Who else was on the floor with him? you when your plus minus was better. Look, it was incredible what they did Friday night in Houston. Incredible. One of the best NBA games I've seen in years. Not just that, but a coaching masterpiece. You know, going through, cycling through your entire bench in the first half,

completely changing the way in which you played, you know, using big guys, using Andrew Bogut and Kavanaugh and using Jordan Bell, who'd been very deep, deep, deep in the doghouse and bringing him out, running through offensive sets you hadn't used in a game in months. and getting good looks for the Quinn Cooks of the world. And I thought that exhausted Houston. And Houston, they didn't lose the game in the first half, but they could have won the game in the first half, and they did not. No question.

But if you listen to what the Warriors are saying, they're like, look, we can do it for a night. We don't think we can do it for. Now, look, they get a bit of a pre-playing Portland. Yeah. Who I just don't think this is a good matchup. Like, they like to play fast. They like to play, you know, their guard dominant.

Like, they're a slightly lesser version of what the warrior. like to do and they don't have a Draymond Green. Right. But let's let's not take what was a masterpiece on Friday night. Think about this. Andre Aguadala hadn't hit more than four threes in a game. Hey, since 2011. 2011.

We're 2019 now. I mean, you want to talk about competitive greatness. How about a guy who is seen as a non-shooter? He is left open. Hits five big threes. And then the biggest play of the game, he actually passed the ball to Clay. But to the people saying they're better. without them. They are different. The ball does move

differently. But based upon how this team is constructed, they need a Kevin Durant to carry them through most nights. And occasionally, they're going to get a Clay Night in Game 6, and they're, of course, going to get Steph Curry, who's a little bit up and down, but he can give you 30 in a heartbeat. I want

to say this. This weekend, Friday and Sunday, I watched the NBA, and I just had a ball watching it. And there are so many players I like to watch it. And I know Toronto, is not good for ratings because it's the third biggest city in North America, but they don't count for our listeners for our ratings because it's in Canada,

just like Detroit wouldn't count for Canadian Stanley Cup numbers in Canada. So I know the Eastern Conference Finals is not going to get a good rating with small market Milwaukee and Toronto. That said, I'm just going to speak anecdotally. I have had so much fun watching these playoffs. I think Milwaukee's fascinating. I think Boston's drama was infuriating. The Golden State Houston series, when Katie got hurt, got more.

fascinating. Portland's a neat story. There's a lot of young stars. Now Zion's coming in. Now Katie's probably moving. And LeBron's not here. And I watch my ratings every day. I've been up 30, 40%. I think, I'm not saying

the league is better without LeBron. But I do feel like he's no longer the lead story in the NBA. My show is fine without him. We went a month and talked about him. Philly's fans. You did not go a month of that. Well, not much.

There's not a chance. I don't feel like yesterday, Joyce had something on the show, and I totally agreed. She's like, after the Frank Vogel hire, she's like, God, I just don't care as much about the Lakers. And I was like, 2-0 on that. I agree. I don't think the league is beholden to LeBron as much as all of us think. Well, look, I don't think we're going to find out this year because he is going to be back. I think it's going to be fascinating to see the Frank Vogel thing, the Jason Kidd thing.

And I also think we're, a lot of us are looking at it is this, he, Jason Kidd was hired. to be that, look, I don't know why you would hire Jason Kidd as an assistant. He's never been an assistant. The idea that he was a mentor towards Lonzo Ball. I think there was one phone call between the two, like just kind of a little bit of a do-better talk. I do think that he could be a very good advocate for Lonzo Ball. I personally think that Jason Kitt, look, he's represented by Jeff Schwartz, so too is

DeAndre Jordan, so too is Kemble Walker. I think that's a little bit more what this is about than about any sort of coaching masterpiece. I think Frank Vogel's a good coach. He's a grinder. I think it'll be fine. I think they'll be better defensively, and they have to reshape that roster and get more shooters around him. But, look, America loves a comeback,

and I still think LeBron has one last push in him, and this might actually be the best thing for him. This might give him a couple extra years on his career that he's not playing right now, not beating up his body, and he'll shut it down this summer. But I do think the league is

better positioned for LeBron's ultimate exit than it was for Jordan's ultimate exit. Because for people who have forgotten, when Jordan left, there was talent, right? There was Vince Carter and Tracee McGrady and Alan Iverson and Rashid Wallace. Marbury. And Marbury, but Marbury couldn't win, couldn't get along with anybody.

You know, brought back twice to New York City and he couldn't function. You know, Alan Iverson was a mess off the court. And he had the one finals run but wasn't consistent. Right. And, you know, didn't necessarily buy into being coached. You know, Vince Carter never won enough. Tracy McGrady never won a first round series.

They just kind of struggled until they found that guy. And then that guy has been the picture of consistency. I think with Steph, with Janice, with Kauai, they're better positioned, but the league still needs LeBron. If LeBron was playing and now we had the Lakers and the Warriors, you would see a ratings bananas and let's not kid ourselves. All right, Doug, stick around. Got a lot of things to talk about.

More on Zion. There's a trade possibility with Philadelphia that's kind of fascinating. So don't go anywhere plus Bill Raftery next hour. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending. Opinions are flying.

And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking. criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levan this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcast. 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. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free. I Heart Radio app, search Learn the Hard Way and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout, Kate Martin, and rising hockey star, Layla Edwards.

If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone

and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard.

Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Discover Alertch, if they find your social security number on any 1,000 of the risky websites. I used to think it was just darkweb.com, but Joy told me there's many bad websites. Free for card members, sign up online, discover.com slash free alerts, limitations apply. Apparently, there's all sorts of scary websites out there. So Doug Gottlieb joining me, the Dugger.

Okay, I want to start with Kauai, the shot heard round, at least Canada, not the world. I'm going to throw you, and we all saw the picture, what we had Fred Van Bleed on yesterday. It's amazing, congrats. And a lot of people are like, oh, he's staying in Canada. If they get blown out by Milwaukee, it doesn't mean anything. He's already been the NBA finals MVP, okay? It's not the biggest thing in his life. Let me throw this at you, the shoe deal.

New Balance went all in on him. He's their guy. He's not much of a talker to be. begin with. If you don't have much of a talker and I get all my chips on the table for Kauai, I'd like to at least have a market talk for you, Los Angeles over Toronto. Like, I don't know what he's doing, but this shot didn't mean anything to me long term. I would, I would, I generally agree. First, the shot itself, I've never seen that. I've watched a lot of basketball in my life. And, you know, synthetic basketballs are using college and in high

school, sometimes they have bizarre bounces. But to see when hit the, front rim twice, then the back rim twice, and then go in. Like, I've never seen that. That's an unbelievable shot in addition to over Joel and Bede, falling away into the bench, doing the old squat and watching it. Like, the whole thing, but I've never seen a shot. Maybe it's because I'm not a shooter. It's a shooter's role, right? But I agree with you. I don't think it changes if Kauai stays. I don't think he cares. I think he likes playing basketball.

I think he likes that he's the guy. But I don't think there's any sort of affinity towards Canada. I don't think it has anything to do with New Balance's shoe deal, right? Like I'm sitting here wearing these new Kevin Durant shoes, right? But, you know, they were selling them in Oklahoma City. They'll sell them in Golden State. They sell a guy because he's marketable. I don't think that matters, especially the idea of going to the Clippers.

When the Clippers were rolling and they had Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, Chris Paul is a Jordan brand guy. It's not like people were running out in droves to get his shoes. If you win, if you're successful, if people want to emulate the way in which you play, if you have a little bit of swag, they'll buy your shoes. It's really that simple. I actually think Canada would be a better spot to sell shoes because it's unique. It's a huge international market.

It's actually a huge kind of basketball wellspring for a lot of talent for the present day and the future in basketball. But I don't think this has anything to do with New Balance. Like New Balance is the perfect shoe for Kauai, right? Like New Balance makes basketball shoes? Yeah. And their spokesperson is somebody who doesn't actually speak. That's great. Let's go back to Zion.

You know, the two things I see, I think he has a, from the smile and the love for the game, there's a magic feel. As a player, there's some Barclay and some Larry Johnson where he just looks bigger and stronger than college kids. And he's got that Barclay where for his size, even though he'd be a four, he's about 6'6, and he just runs the floor for a big guy really, really well. And you can throw some Blake and some Carl Malone and all this stuff. But the love of the game is very magic and the style of game is very Barkley. and Larry Johnson. Let's just talk. Steph Curry love of the game, too.

One of the things that draws us to Steph Curry, Steph Curry seems to be having a good time out there. I think that really matters. What worries you about his game? What worries you? His body is 285 pounds. He's 6'5 and 3 quarters bare feet. That's a lot of weight.

And if you saw the torque that it put on the shoes, it's incredible. That's the torque that's being put on his ankles, his knees, and his hips and his back. So, look, I think here's what people have to remember. he's perfect for the new NBA Yeah perfect Long arms

Great lateral agility He has When he turns it on He's got a pretty good motor That was the big questions last year He's a little bit heavy And he didn't necessarily Always have a great motor

And he couldn't really shoot He's improved as a shooter He's improved his body And he's improved his motor To which he plays hard I think he benefited greatly From playing at Duke Around their culture

And I think he fits in And do you remember the movie Weird Science John Hughes movie, right? Where they're, you know, was it, Anthony Michael Hall where they're cutting up, you know, they're cutting up the favorite things they like the different models.

And then poof out comes a woman, right? That's exactly what is. It's Larry Johnson, it's a little LeBron. It's, you know, a little Barclay, a little Blake Griffin, a little Draymond Green. And that's, he'll be a better offensive version, more athletic version of Draymond Green. But the only fear is, I guess he's got to continue to develop his jump shot.

and his body, right? Like he's big bone, he's thick. He doesn't look like a basketball player. His legs are football thick. Yeah. Can you thin him out and not change who he is? Yeah, God, I love why. I just absolutely, my favorite college play.

No, and as good as he is to watch on TV, you go watch him in person, and he just, his jaw drop, and you can't stop watching him. He can score in the post. He likes to pass. His teammates like him. He plays hard. Like, there's nothing not to like about the kid. Yeah, really easy to root for. I'm going to throw this at you.

You know, Philadelphia, I think, is fascinating. Outside of the Warriors, they're my favorite team in the league to watch. And, you know, part of it is there are a little bit of a hot mess. Simmons and B don't work. Butler doesn't get along. Reddick's the only guy I know what I get. Tobias wants to get Max Money's a B player. It's just, it's fascinating.

They're going to have to make choices. You know, somebody proposed today, I'll just throw this at you. LeBron could get out from under the Kobe shadow. Right now he's got Frank Vogel and C guy. I'm going to throw it at you. Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and a top 10 pick for LeBron. They're not trading LeBron James. You just talked about how you played a clip earlier about how the business side of the Lakers is still going well via Bill Plachkey at but one more year.

Like the whole business thing is built around 23 wearing a Lakers uniform, bringing them back to prominence. They're not rebuilding. They're not scrapping it one year in. It's not happening. Like, it's not really, people who discuss that, like it sounds great. the reality of it is LeBron just moved his family to L.A. He's not moving his family to Philadelphia. But they could trade him. I understand. But in league,

a player like LeBron, he doesn't have no trade clause, but he has no trade clause. I'm not going. Trade me wherever you want. I'm not going. So what's Philly do with Ben Simmons? I think they just have to improve him. Like, you're not bailing on Ben Simmons. I saw Chris Broussard say, well, they trade him for Chris Paul's contract. Like, Houston has no value for a guy who can't shoot

who needs the basketball. They have the best guy with the basketball in the NBA who can shoot. They don't want him. I think you just have to get it better. Joel Embed has to dedicate himself to working on his body. And I think Ben Simmons has to dedicate himself to working on his game. You don't bail on guys in their rookie contracts that are all-stars. It's his second year in the NBA.

Look, track anybody's second year in the NBA. I granted third year in total, but there's a ton of room for growth. My issue with Ben Simmons is it's not just the shot physically, it's the shot mentally. he's almost too smart for his own good, and that he knows he can't make it, so he won't take it. Whereas Yonis didn't have that type of basketball intellect early on, and he would take a lot of threes that he couldn't make,

and eventually he's gotten to where now, occasionally he'll make two or three, and you have to guard him. So I think next year, that's what they're going to have to do. They're going to have to lose some games during the regular season because Ben Simmons is going to have to take those shots, but I think ultimately he will. So they'll move, they can't sign all four of those guys.

No, no. And look, I don't know if they want to sign Butler or they don't want to sign Butler. My guess would be they try and retain Tobias Harris. You know, Butler's the type of guy that could very well end up with the Lakers. Yeah. Tobias is big. He rebounds well. He's a big body.

He's going to want more money than I want to pay him, though. Sure. I mean, they're all going to want more money than you want to pay him. That's kind of part of the deal here. That's the business. I mean, to me, they have, the reason they lost that game was not Kauai's shot. They had three empty possessions late. That's exactly right.

That's the big thing. And Embed's got to be in better shape. They got to make better decisions. And yes, Ben Simmons has to learn to shoot the basketball. I love watching them play. I enjoy it as well. I love Philadelphia. Okay.

Rick Berry, Bill Raftery's next hour. Doug Gottlieb, it's the Dugger. His show is right after ours on Fox Sports Radio. Coming up next, Zion or a current NBA star? Who would I trade Zion for if I land him at number one? Next. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours in.

Today, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo.

Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo SlicLife 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levan this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway 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, Tript Fantine, 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.

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them?

On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't belong.

Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning.

It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Ah, here we go. This is The Hurt, Hour 2 live in L.A. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me. The first hour flew by 15 minutes from now.

Bill Raftery saw Zion play as much as anybody in college basketball. basketball. Legendary basketball announcer will be joining us. Rick Berry, Chris Haynes, all stopping by today. It's absolutely great to have you in. Joy, how are you? I'm great. So we flew through hour one. Tonight's the ping pong ball lottery. I will tell you, I'm going to start the hour with this. I had an NBA veteran who's very smart and connected, been around this NBA for over a decade, slide into my DMs tonight and say Kevin Durant through New York's 100% done deal. And Kevin Durant is calling guys now. Don't have it double-sourced. Small. J journalism have it single sourced, but it's somebody in the NBA I have trusted for a long time.

And this morning, 10 minutes before our show, he sent that to me, KD to New York. It's done. I don't necessarily think it'd be the smartest move, but it would be probably more engaging for the league and for a lot of fans. And it would be fun, and I get it. But I wouldn't do it if I was him. I think if he wins a third championship, you're staring at a fourth. Michael Jordan couldn't do that. LeBron couldn't do that.

Shack couldn't do that. Kobe couldn't do four in a row. I think it'd put you in a, that'd be a new category. It'd be a new category, but whatevs. But I thought this morning, because I'm just into this Zion Williamson kid, and I've said it before, the longer I've done this business, I like juice. I like big. I like Tiger with the Masters.

That's the stuff that moves me. I've seen a billion games. And I saw Zion Williamson on the internet about five years ago, and I'm like, oh, he'll be fun. Then he goes to Duke, signs, and all the other stars in college basketball follow him. He's got a magnetism. And I watched him playing. I'm like, okay, this doesn't look like anything else.

in college basketball. This is Larry Johnson meets Barkley meets magic. This is a once-on-a-generation talent. I think people that don't see how he fits in the NBA don't get it. College basketball is all clogged up in the middle. You can play zone. You can't in the NBA. And the centers are mostly European skinny guys and he's going to barrel over him. I mean, Westbrook can score at the basket. You don't think Zion will? He's built for today's NBA. So I thought, I told this morning, we were talking on the staff about like, people are like, you just love this guy. And I said, there's almost, who would I trade him for? And so the game is like Zion versus who.

Where you want to get started? So let's get started. You give me the star. Okay. I have Zion. If I got Zion and I had to trade for him, who in the NBA currently? All right, Zion? No, let me just say this.

I don't buy in young NBA players. I don't. I'm for veterans. So I've never been about, I mean, I'll watch young guys. Right. But, I mean, Damian Lillard's been in the league now a long time. I am for veterans. By the way, outside of Andrew Luck and John Elway, I've said it forever.

I would trade the number one pick in the NFL draft every time to just get more young players. I think in the NFL, Belichick, Andy Reid, Sean Payton. You watch Sean McVeigh against Belichick in the Super Bowl? Young guy got taken to class. I am for veterans, Breeze, Brady, experience. So I'm generally not into young guys. coming into the league and doing anything, I think this kid's going to sell tickets,

going to be fascinating, going to average 18, going to be a real plug-and-play guy in the NBA. So this is a very, I'll never do a segment like this again. You put the stars up and I'll guess. Which one would I take Zion or the star for the next whatever year?

Zion versus Anthony Davis. I take Zion. First of all, I think Anthony Davis doesn't sell tickets. I think he's boring. He gets hurt. I don't think he has big leadership qualities. I think he's a really talented guy that gets you buckets. And there's value in that.

I don't feel he's a leader. I don't feel he has a magnetism. I don't think other players follow him. I think Zion walks in. He's more fun. He sells more tickets. He's more powerful. And I do think players will eventually follow Zion wherever he goes.

Zion versus Janus. Not as easy. Yonis is young, relatable, loves the game. NBA's best rim protector. Let me get back to that one. Okay. Let me get back to that one. Zion versus Kauai Leonard.

I would take, again, I would take Zion. I think he's a better passer. Again, I got about seven more years of Kauai, who's a tremendous two-way player. But he's an odd personality. Do other players want to play with Kauai? I have no indication of that's true. Now, LeBron does because LeBron's getting into desperate territory with the Lakers. But I don't think there's a magnetism about his personality where guys wanted to play with magic.

They wanted to play, you know, they want to play with Steph. Kevin Durant left a good team. I don't think there's a magnetism there where people follow him. I just think he's a great two-way player. I take Zion. Closest thing to M.J. All right. Zion versus Damien Lillard.

Love Dame. I think he's great. It is a guard league. He doesn't play a ton of defense. Again, who's going to. for 15 years, change the league. Now, Dame has changed the Blazers, but he's not even changing the Western Conference.

I'd go Zion. All right. Zion versus Paul George. Pretty easy one. Paul's a great player. I feel he's a little bit like a lesser version of Kauai Leonard. Now, he's had a couple major injuries. He just had a shoulder issue.

Break a leg in Indiana. So I got a couple injuries that worry me. That also worries me about Zion. I always feel like Paul's, like, the best number two player in the NBA. Like, I don't necessarily want him as my guy. But, like, Pippen, he may be the best number two in the NBA. So I would take Zion over Paul George. Zion versus Kyrie Irving.

Easy one. I think Kyrie's a little flaky. I think he has a history of getting hurt. Look at his career without LeBron James. I don't, I think he's great. I don't know who see him playing with a ton of joy. I think he's kind of difficult to coach. This is an easy one.

I'll take the bigger, stronger body, who I think has a magnetism that a lot of people want to play with him. I'll take Zion over Kyrie Irving. That's an easy one. Zion versus Jimmy Butler. Again, this is a pretty easy one for me. Jimmy's talented, but he's not as young as everybody thinks. Jimmy's got about four peak years left.

Let's be honest about it. He was the best player for Philly in this series. He doesn't play necessarily well with others all the time. He really struggled Minnesota and Chicago. I think he can be difficult to coach, though not impossible. I like Jimmy Butler, but Jimmy Butler is now 30. one. Zion's 19.

That's a lot of tread on those tires. I'm taking Zion over Jimmy Butler here. All right. This one will be interesting. Zion versus Ben Simmons. You know I love Ben Simmons. You do. And Ben Simmons can't shoot, but Zion can't hit a three either. And the NBA is going very much to a shooter's league.

And I can make the argument, Zion shoot a better three now than Ben Simmons. The other thing is, Ben's got an odd personality. Australia didn't put him on their national team, and he was easily their best young play. He's hard to coach. He shows a reluctance to put in the time to be a shooter. As much as I like him, I always feel there's a quirkiness about him, and I'm not a big fan of quirky. I know exactly what I get with Zion.

Energy, passion, body, size, work ethic, love for the game. I'll take Zion over Ben Simmons next 15 years. All right, this one will be interesting. Zion versus Joelle and B. By the way, both players, there's a. concern about size and diet and body. The difference is one guy's already missed two years with injuries and has missed like 62% of games since he's played.

I can't roll the dice on that. Now, I do think Zion's injury concerns, I had a number two guy to an NBA team tell me six weeks ago, he goes, those ligaments for Zion are not going to last 15 years in this league. Those knee ligaments, there's too much torque with Zion. First thing I do is take 15 pounds off him tomorrow because you'd still. get the power and the speed at 2.65 that you'd get at 280 to 285. But I take Zion here because he hasn't, he doesn't have an injury history like MB. All right, Zion versus James Harden.

Now, now, this, you would think for me, I'm not into floppy McFlopster. So everybody's like, oh, Colin hates Hardin. The NBA is built for James Harden. Right. I mean, it's, it is a three-ball league. and analytically, he's the future of the NBA. Can I just pause? This is bad for radio because radio people can't watch this, so at least TV I'm giving you some visuals here. Can I just get five seconds? I just got to think about this.

Five seconds. I got to think about this. All right, five seconds. Hardin. I just changed my mind. You changed your mind. I think the NBA going forward. I get more guarantees with Hardin.

I'm going to take Hardin. Okay. Zion versus Steph Curry. But I'll tell you, Hardin. Start playing defense. Okay. What's next? Zion versus Steph Curry. God, I love Steph.

You know what? This is brutal. I think this is obvious. Well, you've got to go with Steph. He is small. He gets hurt. But you know what? And by the way, he's already been in a league like seven years. This body's not getting better. Oh.

Okay, time out. Can I have five more seconds here? You can have five more seconds. I'll take Steph. Okay. Good choice. Okay, that was hard, though. Zion.

No, no, like, you know, Zion, Zion, you're building for the future. Okay, okay. All right. Zion versus Kevin Durantz. Easiest one so far. Kevin Durant. Okay.

Best player in the world. Now, I'm only going to get, he's been hurt too. I only get four years of Kevin Durant's prime, but you're talking about the best basketball player. You're talking about, with his shooting ability, I could have seven more years of Kevin,

four prime and three. where he's still effective as hell. And I also think he's a personality. I do think, I think, I think there's a, there is something about Kevin Durant's personality. I like him. I'm fascinated by Kevin Durant. So if I'm fascinated by him,

I think players are. And I also think Kevin, because he watched the Warriors recruit him, I think he'll be a willing recruiter with other players. He watched what Steph did. And Kevin's smart. Kevin's like, that recruiting thing works.

Westbrook wouldn't recruit. Steph did. And Kevin was rewarded. by Steph's recruiting. And I was told this morning that Steph's already getting on the phone with guys. So this is the easiest one, Durant over Zion. All right. Zion Williamson or LeBron James.

Now, first of all, I'm going to get a lot of pushback on this. LeBron's in year what? You're going to get pushback. LeBron is not only in year 16 off an injury. LeBron's moved into a different stage in his life. His kids matter. His business matters. He's not, he's somewhat distracted.

I would take Zion. You think I'm nuts, don't you? I have 16 years in. You can make an argument for it. You know he's not in his, LeBron's going to be great next year, but he's not in his athletic prime anymore. Even LeBron would tell you that he can't play,

he gave up playing defense last year. He just stopped. He stopped playing defense last year. Yeah. His game changed a little bit last year. It's pretty obvious. I feel like, with LeBron, I feel like, this is difficult.

What else we got? Well, you needed some more time on Janus, so we will end with asking you again, Zion or Yonis. Just one more time. I need five seconds. Okay. I'll go Yonis. Good choice. Okay.

So in review, I took. Janus. Yonis. K.D. Steph. And James Hardin. And Hardin. God, you know what?

I am starting to have buyer's remorse on the Hardin thing. Yeah, I thought that was a strange choice. Come on. Could I have a show of hands on that? Did I butcher it? What would you do? I'm going with Zion over Hardin just because I think we've seen enough of Hardin at his highest level.

They haven't been able to capitalize and win. So he's fun. He's a superstar. He's going to sell tickets and jerseys and merchandise and shoes. A game for the next six years. 30 a game. And he rings? He doesn't get hurt.

He gets tired. I get tired. I don't get hurt either. We all get tired. He gets tired. I can't kill a guy for a guy for. getting tired. I'm exhausted by hour three. I think you should stick to your convictions. I would go with Zion, personally.

Let's do a double green. I'm going to go. I'm going to go with James. I have a feeling. I'm going to, this is going to end up on old takes exposed. No, no, I'm not going Zion. I'm going to go back to. I'm going to do this. We can do two. This is the hardest one for me. You could go back and forth on this. You could go green, green, green, green, because this one's a tough one for me. We do strong opinions around here. You got a good choice. Yeah, I'm all over the map on that.

Okay. There we go. I got Bill Raftery coming up next. I love him. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed the game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happens. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear.

The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer-beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slico Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth.

He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met, Levant, this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody? coming after me. Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcast. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway 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 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. 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 iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them. going from the WMBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't.

Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like you don't feel like you don't feel like you don't do it. An Olympic champs, Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals.

level at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Hi, welcome back.

One of my favorite people in broadcasting, I've had the pleasure to meet him a couple times. Just, you know, the national treasure is overused, but Bill Raftery is a Fox College basketball analyst, coached for over a decade at Seton Hall. It's called the last five final fours, called all of Duke's tournament games, and actually was drafted by the Knicks, never played in the NBA. I didn't know that. I wonder why that is. I wonder why he didn't, Bill Raftery is joining us in his office, I guess, in New York City. Why didn't you play? You got drafted, so you were good enough to get drafted. Why didn't you play? Red Holtzman didn't like me. He was a good job. By that way, he was a way. By that way,

was a great judge of talent. I always say that I was the 800th draft pick. But back in those days, there were eight teams in the league, and I think they carried 10 men. It was amazing. So there were 80 guys in the league at one time. And then, of course, the ABA started two or three years later, I think,

and things jumped around a little bit. And, you know, franchises, I think Chicago came in. They had been in that kind of stuff. Yeah. At any rate, it was a great, one closer on it. And when I got cut, I was leaving the building. I went and got my gear. And Richie Gurren, who's in the Hall of Fame and Tom Gola, who's in the Hall of Fame,

they were on the team. And I got cut at lunch, so I ran up to get there before everybody showed up. And as I was leaving, Richie Guren denies this story today, but we're leaving. And he said, where are you going? I said, I got cut. You know, I mustered up as some strength. I got cut. And Richie Goren says, gee, I'm sorry to hear that, Billy.

But if you need tickets, call Tommy. and I take that as a great life is over. You better start moving along here, kids. But Richie denied it. It was a little touch of reality. I want to ask you about Zion. Does he remind you of anybody? We know he's going to be a good NBA player.

Who's he remind you of? I told one of your guys, nobody. But the closest I could come up with is Randall, Julius Randall, simply because he's got that six-nine size, but he's only 250 pounds. And I don't think we ever got to see a great. You're out in LA, so you got a little bit of it. But he was always injured.

I broke that leg the first year, then at hip, then at a hand. But physically, I have never seen anybody like this that can do so many things. Of course, everybody says, well, like LeBron. You know, he's like LeBron in that he's positionless. And I've got my Duke notes out here from doing the game. And in three different spots, I put down deflection. He's got an uncanny ability to get a piece of the ball. He plays both ends of the floor.

And I guess more importantly, he's a great teammate. You know, we sat in meetings with the five starters a couple of times. And he commits his, got a nice way with his teammates. And then talking to Mike, Mike said he was just a treasure to be around. So I think this kid with his foot speed, I think the shot's going to get a lot better. There's nothing wrong with it. Just we met, I mentioned Red Holesman before when Walt Frazier came. into the league. I said, and I had seen him in the NIT. I said, you know, Reddy doesn't have a great

stroke. He said, we practice every day. Like, we'll work on it. And I think that this kid will become a great, not when I say great, not a step three-point shooter, but more than adequate. But he can play any place he wants to. He's got foot speed. It goes either way. Same hand change. He's got a handle. You know, he can post up and physically he's so imposing with that. frame and he's got that killer attack of the rim that, you know, the great one seemed to have. If I told you, you could have him for the next 12 years. But are there a handful of guys in the NBA? Like I said before, I probably only have four more prime years of Kevin Durant. I have eight more prime years of Yannis. There's a handful of guys I'd take over him. But not a ton in

terms of marketability, pleasure to coach and play with. What, I mean, if I said stats to you, do you think he's a triple double guy? Or I kind of think he's built for the NBA. I think he's going to score a lot. What kind of numbers do you propose or submit we would get with him? Well, to praise, he's the stats. I don't think he, listen, I think he'll get 20 points easily. He's a double, double machine.

I just think he's a perfect teammate. Davis is another name that keeps coming up. would you take him and, you know, trade the right? I wouldn't train it for anybody because the Knicks, for example, from what I read, have a lot of money available. Yeah. You mean to try and jack up 25, 30 shots. If you can get a couple of guys around them, you are going to have an instant success

because he gives it up, as I mentioned, the ability to play any one of those spots you want. And that's what the NBA has become, big guys that can step out. outside as we'll have a middle game. I like the fact that after the injury, and that was a real daunting moment, I didn't think he'd come back. I thought, oh, kid, don't, don't risk it. You got a $100 million Nike contract potentially. I was shocked and very happy that he came back after the injury. Were you surprised?

Well, in talking to the Duke people, that was never, ever in the picture. I mean, he wanted to come back. I mean, it was, I, listen, I'm not inside that office when Mike meets with him, but I think he's just a gamer. He wanted to play and he loved his teammates. So he wanted to be part of this run and ultimately it fell short, but they wanted to win another title. You know, get a ring for Mike. He needs one. He only got five.

This kid is, I think just the personality besides the ability. He's a charming young guy. And I don't know him intimately, but enough where we've talked and discussed things at our little sit down with Nance and Grant Hill. I was very impressed. As well, Tracy Wolfson interviewed him. He had a funny line, you know, the crazy end of the Central Florida game. And so what do you attribute this to me?

And he points at the microphone. He says, March Madness is on the bike. It was like pretty cute, pretty clever for, you know, spontaneous. Yeah. You know, you live in New York City and you're aware, and I've said this before, I've been to the Garden only a couple times. There's nothing really like it. I can't explain New York City. You know, Vegas and New York City have an energy. I don't think you can duplicate. I mean, I live in Los Angeles, but it's quiet. It goes to bed at 10 o'clock. I think New York is just unique for Zion. He feels he's a juice player. He's an energy guy. Do you think he would transform the city a little bit and become. that big? They fill that poker team. I just think it's almost like tigers when they have to be that. And every meeting, hire playing in the old

garden and then coaching in the new garden. You come up that elevator and like, you know, you feel pretty good about your shine at the greatest stage in the world for Michael Jordan, you know, the comeback game. And they just love being in that building. And I remember in 69 when the Knicks won at all, I mean, you talk about Bucci Row there. Yeah. It's kind of a lightning rod in a lot of ways.

So it's an opportunity, I think, to show people marketing capital of the world. Yeah. So, I mean, this kid, forget about the salary they pay. I think he's going to, you know, he someday could have Michael Jordan's money. Yeah. Bill Raftery called all the Duke's tournament games this season, one of the all-time greats in our business. Bill, thank you for showing up this morning for us. We totally appreciate it.

You bet Bill Raftery. So, you know, one of the things Bill said, he goes, I looked over my notes. He's in his office and he saw deflections, deflections touching the ball. That was always a great Pippin quality. Scotty Pippen was so long. He just got his hands on the ball. And, of course, any steel meant Michael got the ball back. And Michael shot about 50% in his career.

So I don't get the people questioning Zion. I don't see what there isn't to like. The size, the explosiveness, the willingness to get better, the passion. I don't get it. The critics are overthinking the room. We've had this before, you know, where people overthought the room. When Andrew Luck came out, people were like, well, his arm strength. And I'm like, folks, he's not perfect.

He's 21 years old. These kids aren't perfect. You do practice, as Bill said, you practice every single day. You're going to get better when you're 20 years old, 19 years old. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

Well, Carvey Irving's done a little criticism for his foreplay in the Celtics five game series lost to the bucks. And appearing on ESPN this morning, Terry Rozier had some comments. He praised Kyrie's leadership. They also suggested that Kyrie's in-game style resulted in the Celtics straying from the intended game plan at times. We had come into game and it would be a different game plan than what we kind of expected it would come and went through in practice.

He's a great guy, great leader. You just have to adjust to his style. Whatever Kyrie wants done, he's going to show it. That's what he wants done. and you have to adjust to his style of play and how he goes about every game and every day. Well, I mean, so that's a lot right there. We'd have a game plan and Kyrie would say, we're going to do what I want to do sometimes. That's not the easiest thing for, and forget Kyrie.

That's not always easy to play with. Well, I mean, I think that's what he's saying. He does have leadership qualities and he is a great teammate, but it's kind of Kyrie's way or the highway, which, look, I mean, it was LeBron's way or the highway for the most part. when you're the guy or you're supposed to be the guy, you kind of make the game plan around that talent. But I think the Celtics issue is there was a constant struggle between what Kyrie's style of play is and what Brad Stevens' system was.

And obviously the year before, it was just Brad Stevens' system because it was a lot of young guys and they didn't have Gordon Hayward or Kyrie Irving. I mean, last year's playoffs with no Kyrie, Rozier had 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and shot 40.6% from the field and 34% from three. This year, six point four points and one point nine to six. Now obviously didn't get the same amount of playing time because it was more spread out.

But that was our concern after last year's playoffs. How are they going to fit Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving into this already solid roster that seems to be moving? We see the Warriors without KD are capable. Kyrie off the Celtics, everybody will step up. Jason Tatum disappeared. Rose Ear sort of disappeared. I don't think they fall off the cliff.

I think they're a fine team without him. I don't think they're a championship. They don't have a closer, but I think Celtics are fine without him. And I do think we see this in sports all the time. The best player changes a dynamic in the room and in the huddle. And sometimes it's good, sometimes short term. It's not good.

I don't think that Kyrie is there next year. And I think this team looks completely different. And I think they end up with Anthony Davis. So there's going to be a lot of moving pieces there. So Jimmy Butler is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He became a Philly fan favorites after getting acquired in the trade during the season. Now, the Sixers have to make a call on Tobias Harrison free agency and can offer Butler a five-year deal worth $188 million, and he is confident he will land a max deal. I think he will.

I think I'll knock on wood, hopefully. I'll get a max contract anywhere I choose to go. You know, you're talking four-year, five-year. That's more than enough money anyways. I think I still have more than enough money now from my first deal. As long as you play hard, the city loves you, you give it your all. That's all the ass of you. So he'd be eligible to sign maximum contracts of five years,

$188 million if he returns to the Sixers, and he can make $141 in four years, $141 million in four years if he signs elsewhere. Well, he's going to take five years because Jimmy is different from other players. He didn't have this massive college career. He didn't come into the league and star. Like Paul George, it was a process. And now he's getting what he deserved.

So if I was Jimmy Butler's agent, I would not take four years with the Sixers. I'd take five years. He's the rare kid. Well, I mean, he'll get five years if he stays with the Sixers. He can get the max contract five years and $180 million. And Bean's making a fortune. Jimmy's going to make a fortune. What are you going to pay Tobias Harris?

Who's a B. Well, yeah, they have to make a call on Tobias Harris. It's what it is. But Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, and Joelle and Bede. I mean, I think you need some other pieces there. Tobias Harris is a great player. so they can't pay everybody. This is the position that every team is in

in salary cap league. But I mean, look, they were one shot away. We make it seem like it was this drastic falloff there. I mean, it was a dramatic loss, but they were one crazy Kauai shot away. But I'd argue they should never have gone to a game seven. They had a huge talent edge. They should have wrapped that series up before.

I mean, if you're looking at best seven players in the series, I can say five are sixers. Well, Kauai decided that. that didn't matter. He evened it out. Finally, we're officially in the middle of May, looking ahead to the start of the 2019 NFL season, and Peter King released his power rankings. He's like a look at the top half of his power rankings.

The Chiefs are at the top, followed by the Patriots, and you'll like this, the Colts at three, although I think that is a little bit dramatic. They're going to take a jump this year, but they're above the Rams, the Chargers, the Saints. Boy, he's got the Cowboys. The 49ers are incredibly high. Everyone is very, very high in the 49ers.

Another very popular American media icon likes them. You love the 49ers. I am not sold on the 49ers. I don't think that they're going to be as good as you think that they are. I didn't like the Raptors, and I was proven wrong. I think I'll give you a couple months to think that over. This is my initial feeling. We'll see how I make a new training camp and such.

Funny, I have the Colts number two. He's got them three. The Cowboys are way way down there. I know. He's got the Cowboys below the Texans. Look at the Browns. He's also got the Packers too low. Come on. Give me a break on this.

Green Bay's defense, they've added between this year's draft, last year's draft, and free agency, they've added like seven defensive starters who are good. I think the Browns and the Ravens are too high. I would put the Cowboys above them. I would put the Texans above them. I would put the Packers and Seahawks above them.

The Cowboys and the Packers are too low. Bears are a little high for me, but not a ton. I think Philadelphia is a little low, too. I like Philly. Didn't I have Philly four, three or four, something like that? Most of it I agree with, actually. I don't have a lot of complaints. God, Dallas, he's got them right in the middle of the league.

Yeah. What is that? They have good personnel on defense. Hmm. Are you done? Oh, Joey's done. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd line news. Chris Haynes, the very latest NBA analyst for us at Fox Sports One. A lot of stuff to talk about and get through. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversy, We break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife-Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness.

So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levin this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? survive. The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway 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 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. Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free, our heart radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WMBA standout, Kate Martin

and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi

on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. All right, Chris Haynes, Senior NBA Insider Yahoo Sports, former warrior reporter and Cavs reporter. Followed LeBron around, follow the warriors around. Chris Haynes is joining us now, part of our FS1 basketball family. All right, let's start with this. I did it to start this hour.

People give me flack. I said there's only five guys in the NBA. I'd trade Zion four. Kevin Durant, Hardin, Janice, Steph Curry. Okay, there's four. How many guys would you, if you had to trade Zion, who I think is going to be a marketing machine. In the age of Instagram and Twitter and Facebook,

I think he's going to be in terms of marketability right out of the gate, bigger than LeBron. Not the game, but the marketability, the smile, the magic thing. How many guys in the NBA would you say, okay, I got Zion, but I'm going to trade him for blank? Okay, before I give you the answer to that, so are you, if you're a GM and you say that's your position, that's what you would take.

So are you going for marketing dollars? are you going for actual wins on the basketball floor? I am saying that for 14 years, I have got the number one. I mean, even the letter Z is sellable, right? They say that's one of the, one of the sellable letters in the alphabet, Z, Zion. He's already known as one name, Paley, Kobe, Magic.

He comes microwavable superstar. So I'd make a ton with him. Listen, Bryce Harper, Chris, has never won a playoff series. He's a 270 career hitter. Bryce Harper's a star in America. And he's a good player. Mm-hmm. Okay.

So let me say this. I will open up that pool a little bit more than what you have it right now. Kyrie Irving? Flaky world is flat, Kyrie Irving. I'm going to, I'll put Kyrie in there. I'm going to say I'll extend it to about 10, maybe even 15. Why, I can't come on. Maybe if I really think it out.

Because what you're saying, Colin, is that, all right, look, I get the marketing. But at some point, you're going to have to produce on the floor for that market to be sustainable. You're basically predicting and saying he's a bona fide superstar. He's an all-star. Already. He'll be an all-star. He will not end up being an all-star until year two. Because he'll, you know, like every rookie, he'll come into the league.

He'll be awful defensively out of the shoot. Every NBA guy comes into the league. But at the trading deadline on, you're going to be like, okay, he's averaging 24 a game. Okay. Well, another thing that would kind of weigh in my decision-making process is what type of team I have around him. Do I have an older group? Do I have, maybe it's the Knicks.

Say they have a couple stars on board next season and they're ready to win right now. Then that's when I would look at it. And I'm like, okay, maybe I go and do a scenario like the Cleveland Cavaliers did when Brian went back to Cleveland the second time and they traded Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love. End up working out. I think it would have worked out even if Andrews stayed there. But the fact that you got to see where some of your veteran stars, what they want to do.

they're comfortable playing with a young guy. You know, veteran stars don't want to play 82 games anymore. I would love, if I was in New York and I had Durant, Kyrie and Zion, there's going to be nights that KD's like, I'm going to take a night off. I can still sell to the fans because they'll come to see Zion. Of course, of course, of course. But at the same time, hypothetical, say they do get Nix, get Kyrie and Kevin Durant. Well, they're going over there to win.

It's not going to be a cakewalk, you know. And so the organization has to decide is Zion conducive to helping them win now. Well, who's better than that? Well, that's when you have to look out there and look at the Anthony Davises of the world. Oh, he's so boring. We can be boring, all right. But, Colin, listen, look, look, all I see is money eyes. That's all I see.

We're talking about the product on the floor. Yes, initially, it's going to be a buzz, the Zorro, whatever you want to call it, it's going to be marketable. But at some point, you're going to have to produce on the court. To keep that money. Anthony Davis gets hurt all the time. He does. He does. He's not really a leader guy.

He gives him points and they're forgettable. I don't remember one big basket in his life. Okay, that's fine. But I think you remember a basket in his life. If he's playing on a team, that's relevant. You would trade New York that pick for Anthony Davis. I'm saying this. He has no bench.

I'm saying if all the stars aligned and they were able to get two superstar, I say you realistically have to look at that option. I said I would. You have to look at it, Colin. Collin, you're basically saying this guy's going to come in and be the next coming to Michael Jordan. That's what you're saying. No, what I'm saying is marketability, New York, sales, ability, coachability, stats. He's going to be a 2010 guy fast.

But the first four things you mentioned was marketability, this is my fourth thing. And then the fifth one was on the court stats. They were inches apart. It doesn't mean just because I named one five and one one. doesn't mean there was a football field gap. The point is, Colin, this guy has to produce to be quick. I would love to see when New York, if New York gets him tonight and the city explodes, I want to see you, the GM, go, I'd like to announce I'm trading him.

Nobody in the world. I'm not doing that right now. I'm not doing that. All I'm saying, I'm saying, if all the stars are live for them this offseason and they're able to get two bona fide superstars on that roster, all I'm saying, saying is that you have to consider. I'm not saying trade it. If you announce that as a GM of the Knicks, you'd have to announce it at LaGuardia because you'd have to get on a plane and leave the city within one minute.

Hold on. Colin, have you saw the other guy over there? John Morant actually had him on pod last week. That boy's legit himself. No, I think he's a star. And I've said this. If I'm Phoenix, one of the fascinating things the night, Phoenix wins it. They got a big. They've got a shooter. They need John Morant. And I think Morant's going to be a star. I think he's Westbrook, but a better, more polished, refined shooter. In fact, I think he's better today than Westbrook was at this point. He can really shoot. Okay, so take marketability out of it.

You think player to player, you think Zion's going to end up being a better player? Yes, but I think they're both great. Okay. I mean, it's like saying, you know, who's better. They're all great. They're both going to be all stars. Man, I just see dollar size in your eyes. That's all I'm hearing.

No. Marketability. Commercials. What's wrong with all that stuff? Profit. That's nothing wrong with it. if your game can back it up. Profit.

See, you're a newspaper, guys. You guys never made a profit. See, TV guys. Well, that's true. That's true. That was a terrible thing to say. I'm still trying to make a profit. All right, here we go.

All right. So I said this. This weekend, I had so much fun watching basketball. I just loved it. I loved, I loved the Raptors in Philadelphia, the Portland series. I'm watching all these series. I know where this is going. Go ahead, Colin.

First of all, you already traded Zion out of the city. Okay. So you and I have to a horrible start. I'm not saying LeBron doesn't bring value to the league. He's going to be a great player next year. But I'm watching the NBA. I have had so much fun Friday, Sunday. I don't think he's the top story in the league anymore.

And yesterday, Joy said something. When they hired Frank Vogel, Joy is like, I'm just not into the Lakers. And I thought, you know, I live here and I'm not. I'm more into Philadelphia. And I don't think the league's beholden. I think the league's fine without LeBron. You think so, huh? Yeah.

Okay. Now, I would agree with you. I would agree with you that the league is fine if, that's a big if, if the league can guarantee that we'll continue to see multiple game sevens. That was the only reason why the playoffs were relevant and the fact that we saw a good series matchup with Golden State and Houston Rockets, and the way everything unfolded. But that's the, that's the only reason why the NBA playoffs were ratings were so high this past week

because they were game sevens. That was it. That's the only thing. Now, you take away LeBron James from the playoff place with the NBA misses him. But the one thing about LeBron James and that you know, he's interested on the court, but he's probably even more interesting off the court. That's what moves the needle. That's what keeps people talking for two, three days at a time.

That's what the league is missing right now. So if you can guarantee me that we're going to see all these series extended out to the fullest extent, then yes, maybe they can do it out of LeBron. But that's a big if. man. Thank you, Colin. It's so crazy. Do you think there's a team Zion fits best with?

I didn't ask you that. Yes. Oh, you do? Who? The Atlanta Hawks. Give me a break. Let me tell you something, Carl. Let me tell you something by Atlanta.

Golden State, before they made this championship run, it was a sleeping city. People, when they thought about Golden State, they thought about Oakland. They forgot about the whole Bay Area, Silicon Valley, all the business, all the glamour, everything. Let me tell you something, Colin. there's one city that players can't wait to get to that city days before they play. That's Atlanta. But it's a sleeping giant in the fact that the team hasn't been relevant on the court.

But once that team gets relevant on court, and if you see a dynamic like Trey Young, John Collins and Zion Williams together, that's Lobb City 3.0 over there. If they get that thing going, Atlanta will be hot Lanna once again. So you wouldn't trade him if you were a Giamer. GM of the Hawks, but you'd trade him if you were GM in the Knicks. We ran out of time.

The Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Guys, Summers here. Tommy John's red, white, and blue. Underware collections, perfect for 4th of July. Go to Tommyjohn.com. Code Herd, H.E.R.D. 20% off. I was born in the mid-60s. I started watching TV in sports. the first NBA star that I really remember that stood out was Rick Berry. The Warriors were the first great team I ever saw.

I can remember them well. Al Addles, Clifford Ray, Rick Berry, Mullins, two bench players I'm thinking about. They were the first great team I saw. And so I've always thought of the Warriors as a great NBA organization, even though they've had these long dry spells. Rick Barry would transition today and be an amazing NBA player. He was Larry Bird before Larry Bird. Long could shoot, tough as nails, play defense, unbelievable passer. And I had a few kids make the league as well.

And it's my pleasure. Rick Berry is now joining us 14 years, an MVP in the finals, an eight-time all-star, a number two big back in the 65 draft. Rick, you know, I love you and I appreciate you coming on the show. I want to start with this, is that Steph Curry, it's mind-boggling. We almost always acknowledge great players. but there's something weird about Steph. Is he not enough alpha?

Is he not big enough, strong enough? NBA players seem to have more respect for the Hardens and the Westbrooks. What is it about Steph that a lot of players don't hold him in this elite category? I don't get it. What is it? Well, I don't get to him. I mean, he's an anomaly. There's never been a player like him in the history of the league to play the game,

the way that he plays, to shoot the ball, the way that he shoots. And, you know, he went through a little tough stage there. He was in a bit of a funk there for the start of that Rocket Series for a number of the games, but he certainly rose to the occasion in the second half of game number six. I mean, what a remarkable performance on his part. And the beauty of him is that he's been so great for the game because the average kid out there and the average person can relate to Steph Curry. He's not some Biamis, he's not some Greek gods, some guy with this amazing body and this incredible

size that's out there dominating people. he's doing it as an average guy. Yeah. You know, we're talking about leadership. A lot of people didn't like the fact that he was an MVP and recruited another star. How did that sit with you? No problem whatsoever with it. I mean, it's all about winning championships.

These guys make so much money now. It's not about money before guys were leaving to try to get more money. Well, they can make enough money to go ahead and leave 50 lifetimes. So now it's all about trying to be a champion. and why would you not want to do that? I said before years and years ago, I said, I would give up part of my salary to have played with Steve Nash from the guys like that.

I mean, just look at two of the guys that play with him. What did they do after they left the Phoenix Sun? Stademeyer and Joe Johnson, maybe. No, no, no, not Joe Johnson. It was, I'm drawing up blank on the name, Sean Bariot. Yeah, yeah, you're right. He made them so much better. Yeah.

You know, it's an interesting dynamic. I've said this for years. I always think self-awareness and IQ is underrated in basketball. And we just say, okay, you've got the best players. The Warriors are a very interesting culture. And Draymond's fascinating. He drives me nuts. And then he shows up in these playoffs.

He's such an energy guy. Is it Rodman? Who does he remind you of? Well, he's another one. I classify guys as anomalies, guys who have played the game differently than anybody's really kind of played before Charles Barkley was one for a guy his size and what he did. Shack for a guy his size and what he did, magic for his size and what he did. And you throw Graymine into that category. I mean, he does things.

He's got such a diversified game. And occasionally he gets hot and he can make his three-point shots, which he did one of the important games for the Warriors. But he is the energizer, buddy. I mean, it's important. Like in, I remember, I always told people that our championship year. And you mentioned some of the guys, Jamal Wilkes as it was Keith Wolves. Yes. And then one in Butch Beard and Charlie Johnson and Charles Dudley.

Woodsh Beard and Charlie Dudley and all guys never got great Derek Dickey. You know, just great, great guy. But Clifford Ray was the hub of our team, not me. Clifford Ray. And I think that Draymond Green is that guy for the Warriors. It is interesting the Warriors record when Steph starts and KD doesn't. what am I supposed to make of that? Like, why are they so good without KD?

Well, because they were good before KD. I mean, this is a team. That's why everybody's so panicky. What are you panicky about? This team can win. This is a team that won championships before KD was there. KD just made them better. You know, and somebody came up and asked me,

oh, do you think that they're better without KD? Are you like fine? I mean, how can you be better without one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and then the indefensible player, who when he's playing the warrior style of basketball, the way that they play their best, that team becomes unbeatable when the three of those guys are on. And now that he's not there, you only have two of them, two of them got their game going, and they're still able to win because they won championships before without KD.

And what happens to them is that sometimes KD is so good, they got caught up in that Rocket Series and got away with it. I'm relying too much on KD and got away from playing the Warriors basketball that I love to see, pass, cut, move, get the easy basket, not just give it to a guy and go one-on-one, because if that guy's not going, good you could be in trouble. And so the Warriors didn't play good basketball at all in the beginning part of the series against the Rockets. You know, people are saying now that Katie's gone, I would have a hard time leaving Steph, Clay, Kerr, the culture, it's smart, it's a new arena. I would have trouble leaving that. When you hear that, yeah, he's gone, what do you make of that? Well, I'm praying that that's not the case because I love watching this team play. I love

all those guys. I mean, they're all good people. Why would you want to leave? I don't know. I mean, he's the one that has to make the decision, but I'm hoping that he analyzes it and realize that he has a chance to be part of something so incredibly special. They're already special. He's already done amazing things. He's coming to the

MVP two years in a row. Who knows what's going to happen here in the finals? He may not get back to even play. But to want to leave, to go someplace else where you don't know whether or not you're going to have that chance, even to win a championship, whereas you have a tremendous chance to win multiple championship staying here and all of the other elements that you just brought to the table,

I don't understand why you would want to leave that. But again, you know, KD's his own man, and he could decide to do whatever he wants to do. I pray he doesn't because I want to be able to be a part of this great run that they're on and ride this train. I want to shift to Zion. Tonight's the lottery. You know, as a sportscaster, I think it'd be more fun to see him in New York. Then, you know, then maybe a Memphis or a smaller market. I think it'd be fun. I like when I like when the Knicks are relevant. I like, you know, I like when the Dallas Cowboys are relevant. It's fun or Michigan football.

I think he's going to be really, really good. The NBA lanes wide open now. I think he'll work. Does he remind you of anybody? Well, he's a man child. You know, he's a guy that's, again, an anomaly. I've never seen a guy that size with that kind of strength and power and physicality that he can do the things and jump out of the gym.

I mean, he does some amazing things. If he keeps working on his game and refining his game, there's no telling how good he can be. I don't think he has the same natural, incredible feel that LeBron had for the game as far as creating opportunities for his teammates being in the floor, which I was so impressed by when I saw LeBron playing high school. But he's going to be a special player. There's no question about it.

And again, it seems like a really terrific person with a great personality, who would be, I think, very well received regardless of where he goes. But if he went to New York, the league would probably be loved it. I need to be unbelievable for the league. Do you worry that he's 285, ligaments, torque, his body? Do you, you know, when you went from college to pro, it's a lot of games, Rick. Do you worry about his body too big? Well, nowadays they have so much sophistication in the training of people, sports-specific.

They'll get the muscles there to protect the knees and protect all the joints. The thing about it is that that big and that strong going up that high, you know, took a bad fall or came down another way. Who knows? You just don't know. I mean, you know, skinny guy sometimes keeps themselves in trouble and do things. I mean, look at what happens to KD. I mean, nobody even touched him and then something happened to him.

I mean, you just don't know. I mean, you can't even worry about those things. You just go out and play. But he's a fun guy to watch play. It can be interesting to see who winds up getting him in the draft. And then the big thing is, is who do the other teams pick? See, that's the biggest problem, Colin, is that teams make mistakes in their personnel.

It's who do you draft? Who do you get in free agency? Who do you trade for? It's all about getting the right personnel who know how to play the game, and play it the right way and hope he get a coach that doesn't screw it up. I think I've asked you this before. I saw Steph Curry play in college. I would have never guessed he would have revolutionized the game talking about Zion coming in.

I think he's an obvious kid that'll work. Was there a moment early with Steph Curry where you were like, whoa, this is, because I didn't see it coming. Did you? No, I didn't see it coming. I knew that he could be a factor because of his shooting skills and because he shot the heck out of when he was at Davidson, but to have the overall game that he has and to take his game to a whole new level. But he works at it.

He really does. You see great players are never satisfied with what you do. You spend the offseason not working on the things you do well. You spend the offseason on trying to go ahead and refine the shortcomings that you're having your game and get yourself to be a more aware of the player. And this is what Steph has done. And he's doing things now that are just absolutely phenomenal. He's one of the most exciting players I've ever seen.

I mean, he is worth the price of admission to watch him play. Stuff that he does. and Clay take shots, three-point shooting, you know, that for most players, there would be terrible shots. But for those guys, they're not, because they make such a high percentage of them. And in some of the other shooting, did you see some of the percentages of the shooting and some of the playoffs games lately? I mean, oh, my God. They were, like, it was abysmal. It was almost embarrassing. I mean, so those teams going and playing against the Warriors, if the Warriors are on their game, how do you beat the Warriors shooting like they do if they don't shoot a better percentage?

If they don't, they shoot like that in three and get to the finals, either of those teams get there, the warriors are there, they're in big trouble. I mean, I didn't even know how Denver even wound up, I mean, Denver lost because, you know, Portland shot, what, 15-something percent of some stupid percentage and beat them? I mean, oh, my God. I mean, I was like, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it because there's choice of shots. You see, it's possessions.

You have to take pride in the possessions that you have in the importance of possessions also take quality, freaking shots. Some of the shots that these guys take are just horrible. They're not bad for Stephanie Clay at times, but most players, they're, Bad shot. Tonight, Portland Golden State, Steph Curry against Seth Curry, and it got us talking. Today, in about 10, 15 minutes, we're going to name the greatest sports families of all time. And the Currys against the Berries.

Rick, you are a Hall of Famer. You are an all-timer, and your sons played in the NBA. So if I said the Curry family against the Barry family, compare the families here. How would that roll? We'd win because I'd have five kids, and they'd have five kids. have two. There you go. They couldn't defend you.

We could double team guy and have one guy free to get all the rebounds. Well, you were an all-time great. I always said you're bird before bird. And for people of my generation, it's always a pleasure to talk to you. And I'm very happy for you. And a continued success, Rick Berry. Thank you so much. Hey, please promote my website for the people.

TLC24.net. TLC24.net. It's a $2,000-free VIP travel. You'll be happy you go there. No obligation. Just go and sign up. TLC24. That's it.

Good stuff. Thank you, Rick. All right. Take care. You bet. Yeah, they would. They'd have five against two. It would be hard to win.

I mean, you could double team two people. It would be very difficult for the curries. Joy with the news. No. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, let's talk about another sports family, the bus family.

Jeannie took over as president of the Lakers after her father Jerry's death in 2013. That was the last time that the team reached the playoffs. And yesterday, Bill Plashky said on the Dan Patrick show that some of the Lakers minority owners are growing impatient with the way that Jeannie is running the team. Their business side is tremendous. It's the best in town. It's the best in all pro sports. They signed the best DVD on the history of pro sports. They're making a ton of money. But the thought here is one more year of this nonsense and it's going to start to really affect the brand and affect the partners and affect the season ticket holders and all just don't forget, she took over the team in a coup from her brothers.

So the team can be taken over in a coup. That could happen. I don't see that happening until at least they see what happens this summer and see what happens next year. They're going to give her another year. But no, people are upset. It is nonsense. What's going on with the light curse?

It really is. It's nonsense and it's just bizarre. I feel like sometimes when organizations get into this spiral where it's like all news that's coming out of the organization is bad news. And like you said, there's just. constant leaks. And it just feels like it's just layer of dysfunction upon dysfunction and just bad decision or over-analyzing and just complete lack of direction.

It just makes you wonder, is there anyone in the room that, like, has Twitter or, I don't know, gets the LA Times? Like, you are being attacked on every front and none of it is coming from a place that doesn't have any validity. Like, everyone pretty much feels the same way. about the direction the DeLakers are going in. It feels like all they needed to do from the start of all this chaos is just to have one person, whether it be Polinka or Jeannie or Linda Rambis, like someone come out and say,

listen, we have this all under control. I know that you're hearing this and you're hearing that, but we have a plan. Nobody talks. No, you haven't heard anything. There's no press conference. Kyle Kuzma talks more than anybody else. And I don't blame LeBron for staying way, way, way out of it. doesn't want to be associated with any of this.

But this report makes sense. There's other people that have a lot of money and power invested in the Lakers. It's not just the bus family. And it just makes me wonder why no one has come in and just said, I think we just need to speak to the people just for just five minutes. You don't even take questions. Just come out and be like, we got this under control. But I don't know who that person would be.

So the Knicks are clearly prepared to do whatever it takes to land two of this offseason's biggest free agent. according to ESPN, Nix owner James Dolan will effectively give Katie and Kyrie a blank check. The report is Kyrie Irving is headed to Madison Square Garden with Kevin Durant.

James Dolan himself has basically said, whatever the hell you want, I will move the hell out of the way. I will give you whatever you want. It doesn't matter. I'll take care of you to the Kairis and the Kevin Durant's of the world. Now, this approach did work with Cleveland when LeBron came back, which

is a traditionally very dysfunctional franchise with a owner that has been known to be very visible and involved in decision making and basketball operations but look I very much want this to happen I think a lot of people want this to happen it would be great for the NBA it would be great for the Knicks for the city of New York basketball in general I think what's best is he sells the team I guess what's that's not going to happen I know well it's uh it's they're worth four billion dollars and if Kevin Duran and Kyrie come and either way they're going to get a top draft pick.

I mean, NBA franchises, it's a global sport, they're going up. It'll be worth $8 billion in five years. That's not something that you sell. He's not going to sell a team. But I do have questions about when it's at the level it is now, the most profitable franchise in the NBA being dysfunctional. How does the owner take a step back when it becomes even more visible and more scrutinized and gets all the attention on it with, say,

Zion, Kyrie, and Kevin Durant. I don't know if I believe that. Finally, we are looking ahead to the start of the 2019 NFL season. Peter King has released his power rankings. Let's take a look at the top half of his power rankings. The Chiefs, Patriots, Colts, and Rams, and Chargers. Round out the top five. I do think that the 49ers are notably high as well as the Browns.

He's got the Niners 7, Cleveland 11. I don't know how you put the Packers 14. Packers are absolute. You can make an argument the Packers are a top five or six team in the league. They have made massive upgrades to their defense. This draft, last draft, and free agent. They have seven new starters.

There's no way Green Bay is only the 14th best team in the league. No way. I would move the Packers and the Cowboys out. The Cowboys are ranked 16th. I would move them up significantly. I wouldn't have the Ravens that high or the Browns or the Bears for that matter. Most of the top, The top five, I'm pretty good with.

Chiefs, Patriots, Colts, Rams, Chargers. Yeah. I'd put Philadelphia in there, but that's pretty close to what I think. I just, you're very sold on the 49ers, too. I love them. You love the 49ers. Love them going forward. There's a lot to like about that team.

Jimmy G, baby. He had a little blip. He's had a couple little minor injuries, a couple little sidesteps. Miners. If he can stay healthy, I like him. If he gets hurt again. I just think it's just so unknown. I don't know.

I got to see more. before I start bumping them up that high. I already love it. NFL list. Cowboys 16. Peter, what's up? Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd-line news. It is funny. Tonight is the ping-pong lottery.

It's either going to change the NBA. Zion goes to the Knicks or the Lakers, but the Knicks, or he goes to Memphis and I throw stuff at my TV. It is, when is the last time in sports, that we entered a day? And with two extreme outcomes, I think you'd have to go back to Sunday in June 2016, game seven of the NBA finals, Warriors Cavs. Now go back to that day. So it went to a game seven.

And if you remember that, if the Warriors win that game seven, it's back-to-back titles without KD. Steph Klan and Draymond, they probably don't recruit KD. Steph's a unanimous MVP. You don't need to get KD. LeBron doesn't end the sports drought in Cleveland. And KD, again, probably isn't recruited. Instead, Kyrie hits the shot. LeBron wins that day. LeBron wins. Cleveland drought ends.

Kyrie's a superhero. The Warriors lose and feel like they can't stop LeBron. They got to recruit KD. Oklahoma City loses KD has never won a playoff series since, and it puts LeBron in the goat debate. I mean, it's amazing what that day Warriors win. It's one league. Warriors lose, get KD. It's another league.

Tonight, Zion goes either to the Knicks. and it literally changes the NBA. Now you could go to L.A. and Dallas, Chicago would also be big. But, man, there's a couple franchises here tonight in the running that he ends up with, and it is just, I mean, you know, it's called a lottery. And isn't a lottery always better? Like that kid in Wisconsin, 23-year-old kid, won the lottery. And you're like, that's an awesome life for that kid.

But sometimes you'll see, not to be mean, but sometimes you'll see like an 88-year-old, you know, win the lottery. and you're like, what is it, bingo for life? I mean, what do you got? Tapioca pudding and no charge? I mean, you got to give me something. And nothing against an 88-year-old winning the lottery, but there is sort of a, what do you get?

Shuffleboard all night long? There's nothing to it. I mean, that's a good way to sail into the sunset. But the kid in Wisconsin won the lottery, he was 23, and you're like, that kid's going to have yachts, and he's going to own unicorns. Seems like he'd have more time to do with that money. Zion feels way bigger with LeBron, with Dallas, in New York, than some of the choices tonight.

And some of these choices are not good. So tonight I'm rooting. Tonight I'm a fan. Coming up in best for last, tonight game one, Steph Curry, Warriors, faces his brother, Seth Curry. And so I thought, one of the ten most dominant families in sports history. And this was tough. We could have done 30. That's coming up.

One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Saturday on Fox, we've got a great night of baseball. Most of the country will see two of the most powerful lineups in baseball as Carlos Carrera and the Astros take on Moogie Betts and the Red Sox. Others will see the Cubs, battle the nationals or the Brewers Braves. It all starts at 7 Eastern on Fox. Check local listings for the game in your area.

What's amazing about this game, the Astros right now are the best team. in baseball. Last couple years, they've been unbelievable. They could have signed Bryce Harper. Like the Dodgers, they said no. We'll sign a veteran named Michael Brantley instead of Bryce Harper. He's hitting 3.30. He's got 10 home runs. And the Astros were on fire. And Bryce Harbor's

hitting, you know, like whatever he's hitting 260. So, you know, the Astros and the Dodgers, by the way, push back in a lot of these big contracts. Look how they're playing. All right. So Steph Curry is meeting Seth Curry tonight. One with the Warriors, one with the Blazers. And we were just talking as a staff today, and best

last. We kind of come up with sometimes quirky list. And I said, let's think about the greatest families ever in sports. And it's amazing how many good ones there are. We could have done a top 30. And so, you know, like the Earnhardt didn't make it, but, you know, Dale and Dale Jr. were arguably

the most. What? Well, when you see the list, you're not going to believe how good it is. That's tough. I know. We got to see it. That's tough. It's, and the bonds boon. I mean, it's just I mean, the Earnhardtards transcend the sport. See, you already make me feel guilty.

But I'm going to give you my top 10 list of the greatest sports families, and I think you will agree. Let's start with number 10. Number 10. The Miller family. Okay, Reggie was a five-time all-star, a gold medalist in 96, holds many of UCLA's records, and one of the most iconic personalities now a broadcaster in league history. Cheryl is arguably the best women's player in the history of the sport, won two national titles, won a gold medal in 84, and holds. many of the USC records. Oh, why, their brother, Daryl, played catcher for the Angels.

I mean, incredible. The Miller family. Number nine. The long family. Howie is a Hall of Famer, an eight-time pro bowler. Chris was the second overall pick and won back-to-back Super Bowls in New England and Philadelphia. And then Kyle was a first round pick and already been a three-time pro bowler. And, I mean, again, just Howie has just aged so well.

he's now part of the Fox family. They're all great kids. They're three of the strongest guys in their generation in league history. You don't want to arm wrestle Kyle. You'll end up getting thrown through a wall, the long family. Number eight. This means a lot to me because I'm a broadcaster, and Joe Buck's going to hate me for this, but the Buck family.

When I was growing up as a kid, Jack Buck was as good announcer as anybody. I mean, it was like Al Michaels, Vince Scully, Jack Buck. Jack Buck's like baseball, football, network guy for, 30 years. And then Joe is now doing World Series Super Bowls in the U.S. Open. And there's a lot of guys whose kids have been announcers. In my industry,

this doesn't exist. Jack was arguably the voice of baseball with Vince Gully for 30 years, along with many other great announcers, and now a son does the World Series in Super Bowls. It's an amazing accomplishment. Joe Buck's going to give me pushback. But it is, to me, it's one of the most remarkable

stories in my industry's history. Number seven. The Molina family. Yadir, Benji, and Jose are, first of all, Benji's the hitter, but you're talking about all three have been unbelievable. Yadier Molina, two World Series champs with the Cardinals. Benji with the Angels, remember that angel championship back in early 2000s, 2002, then Jose, two-time World Series chant with the Angels and the Yankees. Yeah, they got a lot of rings. They got a lot of rings. And by the way, unbelievable defensive catchers, like in the Johnny Bench class, an amazing.

baseball family. Number six. The Andretti family. It's almost comical how good they've been. So there's Mario Andretti. He's the only driver ever to win an Indy 500, a Daytona 500, and a Formula One championship. Just think about that. I mean, those are three different styles of racing.

Then he has a son, Michael. He won the Indy car title and 42 other races. Then there's another son, Jeff. He was like a rookie of the year one time. And then there's Marco, Mario's grandson. He finished second in the Indy 500 over a decade ago. You got the grandson. son, and then Mario, the Andretti family, I've done very, very well for themselves in business as well.

Number five. The Matthews family. Clay Sr., Clay Jr., Clay Jr., by the way, played 19 seasons. Clay the third, Super Bowl with the Packers, now with the Rams. And then Casey, who recently played for the Eagles and Vikings, classy family. And it's interesting. You know, you think these, when you have like a big family and they're very successful, that they, you know, it kind of make it easier for them.

Never forget this. Clay Matthews, you know, the third, he was a walk-on at USC. Despite Clay Sr. and the dad being great, Clay, the one with the Rams Packers, he had to walk on at USC. And he came into the league and blew it up with the Packers. So that's amazing. Number four. The Sutter family.

Who says, I don't know hockey? To me, it's the greatest hockey family of all time. Again, this is like the Andretti family. The numbers are absolutely. insane. So six brothers reached the NHL in the 70s and 80s. Brent, Brian, Daryl, Dwayne, Rich, and Ron. They won six Stanley Cups. They played 5,000

games. Daryl won two cups with the L.A. Kings. And they got three sons that made the NFL. Brennan, Brody, and Brett. Let me tell you something. You think that family may have had some ice in the backyard from time to time? That mom and dad went to a lot of 5.30

in the morning hockey practices. The amazing Sutter family. Number three. How about the Curry family? Dell was a very, holds a lot of the Charlotte Hornet records, very classy guy. One of the first great shooters in the NBA from threes. Steph, a three-time champ, the greatest shooter, arguably a revolutionary player in the NBA. I think he's really changed basketball for the rest of my life. And then Seth is now with Portland, a tremendous three-point shooter.

And again, you're just, just these families are just such classy, great families, so many interesting personalities. Number two. The Williams family, Venus and Serena. Folks, you got the greatest tennis player of all times. And I grew up, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graff, Chris Everett, Billy Jean King. I've seen great tennis. Okay, Venus won seven Grand Slam titles.

Five Wimbledon. She was great on grass. And then Serena won 23. And most in the open era, together as double players. They have 14 grand slams. So they've never lost a Grand Slam doubles finals. They're a perfect 14-0. I've represented the sport amazingly well.

And I'm going to tell you, to be the greatest women's tennis player of all time, you don't understand. You can go back 50 years. There have been Steffi Graf, Martina, Chris Everett, Billy Jean King. There have been unbelievable women's tennis players, and that's the best. Number one. Has anybody ever just sat back and thought about the Manning family? Okay, Archie was a pro bowler. and to be a pro bowler on those horrible Saints teams is unheard of.

Archie was a pro bowler twice, number two overall pick back in the 70s. Peyton is arguably the best regular season quarterback ever and one of the top three or four I've ever seen. And then Eli, oh, he's the slough. He won two Super Bowls, beat Brady and both. Pretty hard to argue when you have pro bowler, pro bowler, pro bowler, Super Bowl, Super Bowl's hard to argue. That's a lot of titles, a lot of rings. should be noted, football's the king in America.

I mean, it's... It's a strong list. I do still feel very strongly about the Earnhardt's missing the cut. So here's, I'm going to do an honor roll of families I missed. I apologize. Ali. Yes, yeah.

I mean, Leila Ali is one of my favorite female. Okay, so the Alloo family, bonds, Rick Berry, the Boone, Bosa. How about the Bosa family now? DiMaggio's, Earnhardt, Don DeMarch. Fielder, Gassal, Griffey, Harbaugh, Pettie, Ripon, Sidene Walton and Walter.

And the Ryan's. Oh God. Rex Ryan, buddy Ryan. Holy crow. You're right. There are a lot. There are a lot. We were like, what do you? The ball family? The ball family. The ball family.

That is totally my bad. I completely overlooked a ball family. Casper's revolutionizing the mattress industry. They got the new hybrid collection. Go to casper.com. Use the code. Heard. H.E.R. for special offers. Great show. SFOIs around the corner. Last night, a blown call

changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where sports slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline.

And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. I'm Michelle McPhee. And I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multimillion dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar

fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches and Olympic champions, about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world.

Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL'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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.