The Herd with Colin Cowherd - What's Wright - Best Of: Luka Doncic destroys Mavericks, predicting NBA Playoffs, Florida wins National Championship

Episode Date: April 12, 2025

Nick Wright reacts to Luka Doncic's epic 45-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers' win over the Dallas Mavericks. Nick discusses why he believes no one can beat Luka, LeBron James, and the Los A...ngeles Lakers in a seven game series as the NBA Playoffs approaches. Later, Nick shares his predictions for the Western Conference playoffs. What is the ceiling for Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors? Are Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets still contenders after firing head coach Michael Malone? Then, Nick turns his attention to college basketball to react to the Florida Gators' thrilling win over the Houston Cougars in the National Championship Game. Is it a problem that the skill level between college and professional basketball is the furthest it's ever been? #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.
Starting point is 00:00:12 We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.
Starting point is 00:00:30 you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:01:04 Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris. She can win.
Starting point is 00:01:21 She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any service. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.
Starting point is 00:01:46 Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the best of the week for What's Right with Nick Wright. The best takes and moments from this week on the show.
Starting point is 00:02:17 Enjoy. DeMonte, I was pulling for Houston because of our ties to Houston. I also like Kelvin Sampson. tell us what happened well yeah i mean Houston went from winning that crazy one against duke on Saturday i mean i we have i've been pulling it for houston but that ref should be investigated from that game on Saturday
Starting point is 00:02:38 but yeah so they lost the crazy one to florida yesterday off of the potential double jibble or whatever what are your thoughts on the tournament and how it ended i mean i have a lot of thoughts here Houston did not get a shot up, not on the final possession, on their final four possessions. They didn't hit the rim seemingly for the last two minutes of that game. And somebody had a tweet that I wish I could give them credit because I thought it was really funny and actually pretty,
Starting point is 00:03:24 kind of profound almost, talking about Houston's style, because they're just such a ferocious, relentless, tough defensive team where they said, I imagine Houston's practices are just three hours of suicides and punching each other in the face. And that kind of is how they played, but there's downside to that, which is they never, you never felt like they were, you never felt like they were against a great team going to be able to definitively put them away. And they had opportunities against Florida to put them away when that defense was just giving Florida fits and Florida's, you know, stuck around just like Houston did against Duke, just long enough to where you see the college kids tighten up.
Starting point is 00:04:18 And Houston's kids tightened up. Walter Clayton Jr. You know, had a great final flourish in this game after, you know, with five minutes left in this game, it looked like this was going to be the first game in two years. He had a 61 game streak of hitting a three. He didn't hit one until late in the game. He obviously didn't score his first basket until late, late in the first half or was it early second half? I don't even remember. But Florida was able to stick around and then, then steal it at the end. Not getting a shot off in that spot is just the stuff of absolute nightmares for a coach. But they didn't get a shot off like it was if you just look at what
Starting point is 00:05:04 Houston did over the final two minutes because one of the possessions they did get a shot up. It was essentially an airballed layup. They were getting no good looks. And when you go to the waning moments of the game after L.J. Cryer made a missed a layup and then tipped in his own miss with 2.30 left. Here were Houston's possessions.
Starting point is 00:05:32 Made a free throw, then missed a free throw. Badly missed a three. Offensive rebound. Miss jumper. Offensive rebound, turnover. Turnover. Turnover. turnover to not get a shot on the rim in the final two minutes of the or 90 seconds of the game
Starting point is 00:06:04 is just so crushing and you feel so sick for Kelvin Sampson yeah but my I mean because again he's almost 70 say it again the turnover before that oh yeah no I'm not the coach You're talking about L.J. Pryor at the back-to-back turnovers, and then Emmanuel Sharp had the back-to-back turnovers late. I mean, but for Kelvin, who was a great coach, got a show cause penalty, and got run out of college basketball for a while, came back, and what he's done at Houston is remarkable. Since he's been there, it's, our buddy, our buddy's probably too strong,
Starting point is 00:06:52 but the kid we root for, Quentin Grimes, you know, was there. And they were a legitimate contender since he's been there. So Calvin Sampson took over a mediocre team. His first year, they're 13 and 19. His next two years, they're in the NIT. And then since then, this is what they've done. 27 wins and they won a tournament game. 33 wins and get popped in the sweet 16.
Starting point is 00:07:20 then COVID year. Then 28 wins, final four, 32 wins, elite 8, 33 wins, sweet 16, 32 wins, sweet 16, 35 wins, lose the championship game by two. And, you know, you hope he has another great shot.
Starting point is 00:07:50 You don't know if he's going to have another great shot. he turned 70 next season. He'll keep coaching. But man, oh man. It, as much as they stole one from Duke, they absolutely let one get away. And so I had two recurring thoughts in that game. One was Duke had to be watching this game like,
Starting point is 00:08:14 you got to be fucking kidding me. Like, we should be in this game. And, you know, they, they, their collapse was different than Houston. They're, I know you put it on, you, you hate the rep for the call. But like, it definitely didn't know. I mean, it's a bad call. That's a bad call. And college reps are bad.
Starting point is 00:08:36 And the review process in college basketball is truly, truly awful. And what nobody ever acknowledges when they're like, oh, they have to get it right. And oh, we've got it the tenths of a second could matter. And I bring up every time. you know what also matters fatigue and these this idea that being the better condition team should you should lose all edge from that in the final two minutes of these games because every out of bounds call there's going to be a one to four minute break to review it I hate it so much but set that aside my other takeaway from really this entire tournament but certainly the
Starting point is 00:09:22 final four. We had four number one seats. We had by Kinpom rankings, four of the best college basketball teams of the last decade, all playing. And despite that, you've never seen a better illustration for the glaring and massive gap between the talent and skill level, between guys who are good enough to be starters and big-time players for the best college basketball teams in the country and guys who are good enough to play in the NBA. Like college basketball in the modern era where guys don't stick around typically for that long,
Starting point is 00:10:14 the best players never do, and teams don't stick together. The gap between, that and the skill and talent and ability it takes to play in the NBA is the widest it's ever been. And it's why a guy like Walter Clayton Jr., who is going to be, goes into the tournament, a fringe first round pick can just dominate and when most outstanding player. like it is I know
Starting point is 00:10:48 there are some people particularly where I'm from in the Midwest that swear and I always thought this was an odd stance to hold love college basketball, hate the NBA. Now I'm not saying you have to like the NBA more than college
Starting point is 00:11:06 basketball. Again, they're different sports teach their own but that was all always felt to me a more than a little racially charged opinion, the love college basketball, hate the NBA take, because you simply never hear that in college football. Certainly have people that like college football more than the NFL. But I've never once met a single person who's like,
Starting point is 00:11:31 I love college football, can't stand the NFL. But you do hear that sometimes college basketball, at least where I grew up, you used to all the time. And I always thought that was a little quizzical. but they're just so vastly different products. Throughout this tournament, when guys made open shots, you were impressed. In the NBA, if a guy misses an open shot, you are shocked. And this game being stuck in the 40s late into the second half,
Starting point is 00:12:06 just a vivid reminder of how incredible, incredibly difficult it is for the guys who actually can make it to the league. But congrats of Florida, Walter Clayton Jr. going into this year, DeMonsei on most mock drafts, was not even a second rounder. Going into this tournament in most mock drafts was a fringe first second rounder. And now he's probably going to be a late lottery pick. He's a little older. He's not that athletic.
Starting point is 00:12:40 I think so. Man, oh man. Say it again. Late lottery pick. It's awesome. It's great. What he has working against him is he doesn't have the great athleticism and he's played for five years. And so four years.
Starting point is 00:12:56 So people are always, you know, 22, 23, how high is the ceiling? But I wonder if he could have a Dalton Connect style draft day where when he gets drafted by a D. decent team or a good team and people are like, oh man, he can maybe help you immediately, even if he doesn't have like all-star potential. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news?
Starting point is 00:13:29 Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas guest?
Starting point is 00:13:47 I honestly don't remember I think it was on a call about what we should call it And we were thinking I'm originally calling it One of the early names of our band Before Jonas Brothers This is how you guys remember it going down Yes I have a very different memory of this We were talking about a thing
Starting point is 00:14:06 A bit for the podcast People could call in and say hey Jonas And then I wrote down on my little notebook Hey Jonas and offered it up as a potential title For the podcast But thanks for remembering that guys listen to hey jonas on the iheart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcast just listen we don't care where you hear it another podcast from some s nl late night comedy guy not quite
Starting point is 00:14:29 unhumor me with robert smigel and friends me and hilarious guests from bob odenkirk to daviderman help make you funnier this week my guess s n l's mikey day and head writer streeter sidel 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game.
Starting point is 00:14:58 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.
Starting point is 00:15:19 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 Slices Life 12 and the TikTok podcast. network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm
Starting point is 00:15:57 breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jen she went down to three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is, I you're probably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:16:32 Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. So things are going to come down to the wire on the west side. Everyone from the 3 to 8 seed are separated by max of two games. and then everybody from the four to eight are basically tied in losses. So how do you think it's going to go? So first of all, credit to the rockets for removing themselves from this group.
Starting point is 00:16:59 The rockets are, I thought the rockets were about to get punched in the face by the schedule. Because, and I think we talked about it last week, they're, they're fun. final five games were Thunder Warriors and then and they played those two already and won them and then it goes Clippers Lakers Nuggets but it doesn't matter now because and this actually
Starting point is 00:17:34 could work in the Lakers favor I don't know what the Rockets will do but the Rockets just need to either win one or have the Lakers lose one and they lock up the two seed. So because the Lakers max out at 52 wins, the Rockets are already at 52 wins. So if the Lakers, so here's why I say this could work out in the Lakers favor, if the Lakers lose tonight to the Thunder, which they will, the Rockets lock the two seed no matter what. Will that make the Rockets in game 81 against the Lakers rest some people? I don't know. Now maybe they would feel like they don't need to, but set that aside. Credit to the Rockets for handling their business. Now to the 3 through 8 and we can throw it on the screen. The Lakers, the reason
Starting point is 00:18:27 that Lakers two game lead is actually a three game lead is this. They have the tiebreaker over literally every single team on the screen there. Nuggets are the four, Clippers of the five, Warriors are the six, Timberwolves are the seven, Grizzlies are the eight, Lakers 48 and 30, Nuggets 47 and 32, and then Clippers, Warriors, Timberls, Grizzlies, all 46 and 32. The Lakers have the tiebreaker with every one of those teams. That is a symptom of the fact in one of the craziest stats of the season. The Oklahoma City Thunder this year against the Western Conference are 35 and 13. The Los Angeles Lakers against the Western Conference are 34 and 14.
Starting point is 00:19:18 So why are the Thunder going to win 67 and the Lakers are right now sitting at 48? Well, the Thunder are 29 and 1 against the East and the Lakers are, they are 14 and 16 against the East. So, I mean, that's the difference in the standings. But that is giving the Lakers the tiebreaker over everyone. So I think it's going to go like this. The Lakers lose tonight. They beat Dallas and then maybe they beat Houston.
Starting point is 00:19:50 If they don't beat Houston, they certainly beat Portland and they are the three. And now the interesting piece of it. Denver, which is falling apart, has not recovered from the Westbrook debacle. Joker can just put up 45, 15, and 15 every night. it doesn't matter. And I don't know if you heard what Michael Malone said the other day, when Michael Malone said, yeah, Jamal Murray, we hope he's ready for the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:20:20 That's concerning. I think Denver is going to lose to Memphis. Let's assume they beat Houston because that'll be game 82 for Houston and Houston likely is not going to, you know, be playing their people. whether or not Denver falls to the play end will likely be determined by how they do against Sacramento in Denver when they play on, do they play tonight or Wednesday? I should have had that up in front of me. I apologize. Denver plays tomorrow when they play Sacramento tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:21:05 The Clippers, again, so much of this is predicated by what the Rockets do. as far as resting guys. Because the Clippers play the Spurs tonight. So the Clippers will win tonight. And then the Clippers play Houston next. But the question is, is Houston, assuming the Lakers lose tonight, going to be playing their guys?
Starting point is 00:21:32 If they are, then that should be a great game. The Clippers, after that are at Sacramento, at Golden State. Golden State has an absolute three consecutive layups. At Phoenix, I saw Phoenix in person at the Garden Friday night. They are cooked. So Golden State will beat Phoenix. Then the Spurs who don't want to win, then the Blazers.
Starting point is 00:22:01 So Golden State is going to be 49 and 32 going into the final game against the Clippers, which the Clippers are going to need to win, potentially to avoid the play in, potentially for seating. So Warriors Clippers, Game 82, massive, right? The Grizzlies are at Milwaukee, at Memphis, and then home for Brooklyn and Utah. So Minnesota, Brooklyn, and Utah are auto wins. those teams are not trying.
Starting point is 00:22:41 If they beat Milwaukee tonight, then Minnesota has a real chance of not only climbing out of the play-in, but climbing all the way to the 4-5 line. And then Memphis, it likely comes, they're at Charlotte, that's a win, home for Minnesota, at Denver, home for Dallas. So let's do it like this. What are the guaranteed victories on team's schedule?
Starting point is 00:23:18 For the Lakers, just won. Game 82 against Portland. The Lakers will then need to win one other game to lock up the three. OKC, Dallas, Houston. They're going to lose OKCs. They beat Dallas or Houston. For Denver, zero guaranteed victories. Sacramento, Memphis, Houston,
Starting point is 00:23:40 so no guaranteed victories. For the Clippers, the Clippers put them at 47 wins. They have the Spurs game. Then Houston, Sacramento, Golden State. For Golden State, three guaranteed victories. Phoenix, Spurs, Portland,
Starting point is 00:23:59 and then that Clipper game. For Minnesota, so put Golden State at 49 wins. I'm going to do this in the dock so I can just see it. Denver, 47 with three questions. The Clippers, 47 with three questions as far as the games. The Warriors, 49, one question game. Minnesota, at Milwaukee, at Memphis,
Starting point is 00:24:33 home for Brooklyn, Utah. They're at 48 with two questions. and then Memphis at Charlotte. Three questions? Yeah, exactly, 47. So the games that are going to determine the Western Conference playoff bracket is all of Denver's games against Sacramento, Memphis, and Houston, the Clippers games against Houston, Sacramento, and Golden State. for the Golden State, that one game against the Clippers. And for Minnesota, their games at Milwaukee and at Memphis.
Starting point is 00:25:17 That's it. And so right now, I would think the most likely seating is as follows. One Oklahoma City locked, two Houston essentially locked. Three Lakers close to essentially locked. four golden state five Minnesota six the clippers Lakers clippers round won't be fun seven Denver eight Memphis that's how I think it's going to fall out is that ideal for you are there any sit are there any matchups well the ideal for the lakers well and by the way that's set the seven eight obviously then
Starting point is 00:26:15 there's a playing situation. The ideal for the Lakers, everybody wants Memphis. The ideal for the Lakers is Memphis getting to the three line. I don't think that's happening. I would would I rather play
Starting point is 00:26:30 Minnesota or would I rather play the Clippers? I would rather play I don't know, Clippers been really tough since Kauai came back. Or since Kauai's been playing like this. I'd probably rather
Starting point is 00:26:44 play Minnesota. Now, later in the playoffs, I'd take my chances with, sadly, Kauai not holding up, but in round one with him playing like this, they're dangerous. The thing is everybody's dangerous, but if you're the Lakers, you can't worry about round one. If it were to play out to where, you are on the opposite side of the bracket of OKC and round two looks like it's Golden State OKC you sign up for that if you know if you if you're the Lakers and you're only going to have to be one of Golden State or Oklahoma City and they have to
Starting point is 00:27:31 they play each other in a war in round two while with respect you're probably playing the Rockets that is the ideal situation and I think it's what they've set themselves up. I think the Rockets are going to be dangerous in the playoffs. I know you say and they're young and all that. I think they have a great
Starting point is 00:27:51 defense wins championships. That's fair. And they have a great coach. 100%. Dylan Brooks is going to see LeBron in a playoff series and once again be like, it's Dylan Brooks, son.
Starting point is 00:28:06 And I don't trust Jalen Green. Now, A.M. Thompson is monster as a young player and shingoon's great shingoon's great but i again the west is brutal none of these are easy right but it's you know it i'm not saying like they can win okay i said i know i said defense wins championships but i think they can mess somebody's rode up think knock a team out early um but you but you're kind of treating them to monse like they're not the two seed they're Like the two seed playing to their seed means they're in the conference finals.
Starting point is 00:28:47 I don't see that happening. Fair. Like now, now listen, maybe they, maybe somebody clips the Lakers and they beat them or maybe they can beat the Lakers. But I, I think Houston, Houston has earned enough for me to where at this point, I will almost assuredly be picking them in their round one series. I don't know, you know what I say that. I don't know if I'd pick them against Minnesota. I think Minnesota could be tough. Yeah, I could see going to seven.
Starting point is 00:29:19 Yeah, no, they could win. I just, but I think I'd probably pick Minnesota. Who's scoring big in the NBA this season? You are with all the new ways to get in on the action at Draft King's Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. For Monster Slams, Dish in the Rock to cleaning the glass, get behind your favorite players and the prop bets you can make on Draft Kings, the home of NBA player props.
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Starting point is 00:30:08 We move forward. Today, Cade Cunningham. How about over 25 and a half points? Josh Hart, G and Anobi, Mitchell Robinson, not expected to play. Cade is a, you know, there's a potential first round playoff matchup. Cade also trying to push for maybe second team all NBA. And then Tyrese Halliburton over 17 and a half points.
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Starting point is 00:32:12 We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band.
Starting point is 00:32:36 Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey Jonas. and then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast.
Starting point is 00:32:54 But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman
Starting point is 00:33:12 help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and Headwere writer Street or 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
Starting point is 00:33:28 friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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.
Starting point is 00:33:45 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.
Starting point is 00:34:15 Listen to Sports Slice. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-12 in the TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay.
Starting point is 00:34:43 Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina. But I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck.
Starting point is 00:35:00 Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Very emotional game last. night. It was Luca's first time returning to Dallas since being traded originally. The fans are super hyped to see him. It seems like a lot
Starting point is 00:35:25 of fans are wearing the thank you for everything in Slovenian shirts. They're cheering for him. Basically after every bucket, you know, they still got the love for Luca, and then he torched them score 45 points. What did you think of this whole game, this whole situation? I was amazed
Starting point is 00:35:43 by what Luca did. And And one of my go-to beliefs in sports is a very simple phrase, but it explains a lot. And that is legendary players do legendary things. And Luca, watching what I thought was almost a two. well-produced pre-game video. I thought that was almost too well done because it really hit home
Starting point is 00:36:30 if it hadn't already how outrageous the trade was and how blindsided Luca was by it and how great he was. I was wondering how they would approach it, how they would approach this video. Would they include the step back three over Rudy Gober and the conference finals to give them a stranglehold on making their first NBA finals since Dirk was there, since their championship in 11?
Starting point is 00:37:03 And the answer was, yeah, we're gonna do a real tribute to Luca as if this franchise didn't spend the last six weeks calling him an out of shape alcoholic that we couldn't trust with $350 million. They did and it really affected Luca. He's crying. He and so again up for those of us I know I'm sure there's some people listening or watching that cry all the time and there's some people listening or watching who never cry I think most of us are probably in You know the middle part of that bell curve where we're not never ever cryers
Starting point is 00:37:47 but we are incredibly rare criers. Think back to the last time something affected you so much that you were brought to tears in public and then think would you have been at your best professionally 90 seconds later? I wouldn't have been, he was. He lit them on fire from start to finish. while dealing with the unbelievable and indescribable emotion that honestly almost no athlete in modern sports history has had to deal with quite that a guy that good
Starting point is 00:38:35 that young in that sport who didn't want to be traded who thought I'm going to be here forever who gets the rug pulled out from under him in the middle of the night and then has to deal with learning secondhand that oh evidently a lot of these people that I worked for didn't believe in me didn't like me didn't trust me are totally fine with trashing me on the record, dealing with all of that, and then he scores 45, is the best player on the court, 31 in the first half, channels it all into his individual greatness. That is as legendary as you will ever see. And I saw the stat, and it's a great one, that Luca becomes the first player, you'll like this, DeMonse, the first player in more than 50 years to score 45 plus
Starting point is 00:39:59 points for a team and then 45 plus points against that team in the same season. And I'll tell you who the guy was who did it before. But think about what the needle you have to thread for that to happen. You have to be good enough to where you have multiple 45 point games. You also have to be traded. During the year. The last guy that did that, the only guy to do that, was Wilt. But Wilt was a bit of a nomads too strong, but he moved around. He also was similarly to Luka, I think.
Starting point is 00:40:46 unfairly maligned or not fully appreciated for how great he truly was. But Wilt didn't get traded against his will. Wilt didn't get blindsided by it. And for Luca to be able to do that and for the Lakers to embrace, Embrace him the way they have. LeBron is, you know, cheering on the crowd when they're chanting Luca, Luca. The embrace with his teammates right after the introductions, everybody kind of taking a step back and saying, this is Luca's moment. If you're a vibes reader, the Lakers vibes are absolutely off the charts right now.
Starting point is 00:41:47 All right, let's go to the other side of this game for a moment. Yeah, so on the other side of it, Anthony Davis was playing his ex-team as well. And that doesn't really seem to be making noise. Well, so here's why. I think because it wasn't in L.A. I think because nobody felt like, I don't think anybody felt like the Lakers betrayed A.D. Because it's just a trade you have to make.
Starting point is 00:42:18 I also think this. Last night was a great example of why AD is such a frustrating, great player. And last night was also a good example of the gap between all-time great and legend. because Anthony Davis, in that game, with the Lakers not having a real center and him fully healthy, you would have liked to see him be like, listen, one way or another, I'm getting my 30 or at least 25 and putting my imprint on the game.
Starting point is 00:43:10 instead listen he was good defensively and he had 13 points and it's why AD is again as great as he is
Starting point is 00:43:26 a frustrating guy at times because he doesn't seem to always have that extra gear that you would want and the right he is not a guy that you can just say,
Starting point is 00:43:44 oh, the moment calls for it, therefore he's going to be brilliant, at least not on the offensive end. Now defensively, everybody still brings up the Lakers free throw edge over the last few years and all of these things. That's an Anthony Davis stat. Not because he's drawing so many fouls,
Starting point is 00:44:07 but because he is and has been, and it's criminal, this guy's going to go his whole career without winning a defensive player of the year. But he has been the best rim protector in the league for a half decade plus now. And he can protect the rim without fouling, which is what led to those free throw discrepancies. And he was able to do a lot of that last night. But 13 points in that moment is just a bummer. Hey guys, it's us The Jonas Brothers.
Starting point is 00:44:47 I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.
Starting point is 00:44:57 We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast.
Starting point is 00:45:15 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, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band
Starting point is 00:45:31 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. Winning on Clay is an art.
Starting point is 00:45:46 The rallies are relentless, and at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs' tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns
Starting point is 00:45:57 of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garros. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerner Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcasts on the I-Hart Radio app.
Starting point is 00:46:14 Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.
Starting point is 00:46:38 Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

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