The Herd with Colin Cowherd - What's Wright - Best of NBA: LeBron James x Lakers PROBLEMS, Tatum's Celtics return, Jokic vs. OKC | Nick Wright

Episode Date: March 14, 2026

All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet.   Nick Wright discusses what has gone wrong with the LeBron James x Luka Doncic pairing for the Los Angeles Lakers and what needs to happen for LA to go on a ...run in the NBA Playoffs. Later, Nick breaks down what Jayson Tatum's return will look like for Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics. Is Tatum necessary for the Celtics to win the NBA Finals. Next, Nick reacts to Lu Dort's cheap shot on Nikola Jokic in Thunder-Nuggets and why he believes the reaction will hinder OKC's chances of repeating. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
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 podcasts on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.
Starting point is 00:01:45 This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be. played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. 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. Enjoy.
Starting point is 00:02:20 Last year, you said that LeBron will find a way to mesh with his team and make it work. Do you think it's time to walk that back? Well, listen, the Lakers have some rights. roster construction issues. That's the biggest problem is they don't have enough shooting or defense, which are the two most important things in the modern NBA. So that has nothing to do with the Luca LeBron pairing. Now, the defense has to do with the fact that Luca doesn't defend, Austin can't defend, and LeBron's 41. So like those, that part is, but that's not about meshing. Yeah. As far as the meshing goes, here is the statistics. reality of the Lakers right now. The Lakers when Luca and Austin are on the court without LeBron are awesome. Great net rating.
Starting point is 00:03:17 And the Lakers when LeBron is on the court with just bench guys are awesome. Great net rating. But when the three of them are on the court together, it's a design. disaster. And I happen to think that's more to do with the defensive limitations when those three guys are on the court than guys not adjusting because here is a shocking fact. But you know what, maybe it's not shocking. Just an eye-opening fact. LeBron of his 23-year career has the lowest usage percentage of any season of his career right now. The maybe somewhat shocking fact is,
Starting point is 00:04:20 Luca of his eight-year career, has the highest usage percentage he's ever had. he was on some teams in Dallas where he was the only guy who could score. So this is the highest usage Luca's ever had, the lowest usage LeBron's ever had. On percentage of the time on the ball this year, LeBron is down to 23%, Austin is at 34%, and Luca is at a eye-popping 41%. So LeBron has adjusted, and by the way, he somewhat instantly adjusted. Last year, LeBron was at 31% on ball, and Luca was at 37. This year, LeBron has dropped down to 23. Lucas jumped up to 41, and Austin went from 30% last year to 34%.
Starting point is 00:05:30 So that part, they haven't, and their only path forward to Monzae was going to be score 130 a night. They have right now the number 10 offense in the NBA. They need to have a top three offense because the defense was going to suffer. And so they are just squarely not. a championship contending roster. And the only path they had to championship contention was Luca playing the best ball of his very decorated, amazing career. And that particularly since he came back from the hamstring, hasn't happened.
Starting point is 00:06:21 And the culture over there is cooked. I mean, you got, say it again. I mean, Clint Capella. You got DeAndre Aidan coming out saying that they want me to be. be Clint Capella. I'm not Clint Capella, but Clint Capella is better than DeAndre Aiden. And that's your big name. I agree with you. Like, I, so listen, I, I, DeAndre Aiden, his first team all time lack of self-awareness. Excuse. Yeah. The Lakers would love to have prime Clint Capella. Prime Clint Capella would be.
Starting point is 00:07:01 just perfect for, I'm not talking about Clint Capella now, a dozen years into his career. No, but Clint Cappell when he was on the Rockets. Yes, and his first, or his first couple years on the Hawks. Yeah. I'm going to give you good defense, catch lobs, rebound. I can't shoot free throws, but whatever. Like, that is the exact type of big man that would be perfect for Bronner. and so and that was their big off season move yeah so i don't i mean listen they are just what they
Starting point is 00:07:39 are if you catch the lakers on their best night they look scary but and that that that magic game and as far as lucca not taking that shot i just don't know what to say about it yeah and it's like that's not lebron's fault he didn't shoot i don't think that's a a molding thing that's just but it also i mean it might be confusing for lucca like is this my team like should i be taking the last shot but i mean the play was drawn up for him right uh the the play was drawn up for him and i mean credit to jj they got exactly what they wanted so and luca wasn't like afraid of the moment luca's a killer it was just weird but it's also weird that lucca has not taken a shot this year to tie or take the lead with 90 seconds or
Starting point is 00:08:31 less left. Yeah. I think LeBron's taken six, Austin's taken five, Rui's taken a handful, and Luke hasn't taken one. That is odd. How would you rate his tenure so far in L.A.? Lucas? Yeah. At this point, disappointing. Right.
Starting point is 00:08:54 I mean, the playoff, I thought they got the exact playoff matchup they wanted last year in Minnesota, and they got blown off the court, That was a Minnesota team that Luca had just beaten to go to the NBA finals with Dallas the year before. And this year, they are, you know, Luca has not appeared to improve on the things he needed to improve on, most notably conditioning and defense. Like, he's dealt with a few nagging injuries and the defense has been as bad as ever.
Starting point is 00:09:35 With that said, he's averaging, he's the scoring champ right now. He's averaging 32 and a half points a game. He's giving you 32, 8, and 9 a night. So it's hard to, you know, he's been, he's been night to night awesome. And it's still a little disappointing because that, you know, every year, it's like this will be the year Luca wins MVP. It's not going to be this year. And so that part is, that part is disappointing.
Starting point is 00:10:11 All right, let's, we can do the LeBron Vegas thing, yeah. Yeah, so there was an article that talked about LeBron maybe coming out after retirement and with Rich Paul investing in a new Las Vegas team with expansion coming. Could you see LeBron actually getting into this? Well, listen, he has been very open forever that he wants. to own an NBA team and he wants to own the Vegas team. Right. The problem is the numbers have gotten insane.
Starting point is 00:10:43 You know, LeBron's done incredibly well on the court and even better off the court, but they're talking about the expansion fee. The money you got to, the check you got a right to the NBA for then to distribute to the other 30 owners could be $6 billion. They ain't got that. They ain't got close to that. Now, the story was, could rich sell clutch sports, which is worth, I'm pretty sure, well north of a billion, and LeBron owns a stake in that, a good stake in that, I think. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:11:26 I also think it would be really good for the league. for LeBron to be an owner. When Michael Jordan wanted to be an owner, he kind of got cut a sweetheart deal. It does not appear the league is going to do that for LeBron. So I don't know what the path is. That's a lot of money. It's a lot of money.
Starting point is 00:11:51 And to need it liquid and in cash, obviously you'd have to take on other investors. But... I mean, can LeBron get like a massive? with the amount of money that he makes. I can take out a loan right now today, but LeBron obviously has much, you know. So here's the thing.
Starting point is 00:12:12 I don't, yes, I think LeBron has, you know, exceptional credit. You can take out a crazy loan. But I don't think he could get a loan for $5 billion. A billion. I don't, you know what I mean? So I don't, but again, now I'm talking over my skis. I don't know how any of that works. I also don't know if the NBA will let you finance.
Starting point is 00:12:31 a team or if it has to actually be cash in hand. So I, you know, but I think it would be good for the league if Braun owned a team. Yeah. And the team Vegas is, you know, Vegas is about to have the A's. They have the Raiders. They have the a ACEs. You know, Vegas becoming a real big sports town. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bet, Florida's sportsbook.
Starting point is 00:12:55 March is here and that means college basketball takes center stage. The stakes are rising, shots are falling, and now's the time to hit the hardwood with hard rock bet. With hoops on every night, every night is a shot to build the same game parlay and score a major bucket. If you ever miss tip off of that big game, don't worry, hard rock bet lets you live bet all game long from the first bucket to the final buzzer. So you're never too late to find a winner or grab that player prop you had circled. Still writing high off watching USA hockey win. gold, you can back the stars and stripes and international baseball too. Hard Rock bet as you covered for all your baseball bets.
Starting point is 00:13:37 Join me by stepping up to the plate and signing up today. You can double your winnings on your first 10 bets, max $50. That's right. If you would have won $100 on your same game parley, make that $200. Plus, Hard Rock Bet offers new promos daily. So whenever you're listening, just open the app and check out what they've got any day of the week. Download the Hard Rock Bet app and make your first deposit. it today.
Starting point is 00:14:02 Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. 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 00:14:13 We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. 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. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers.
Starting point is 00:14:37 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, for 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. 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.
Starting point is 00:15:01 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. Last night, a blown
Starting point is 00:15:33 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.
Starting point is 00:15:49 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,
Starting point is 00:16:05 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 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.
Starting point is 00:16:23 No Tatum, no problem. Jalen Brown has carried my. Celtics this year and we are in second place and LeBron came out and said after they blew the Lakers out that Jalen Brown should be in MVP talks where do you think he stacks up in the MVP race right now. Demandze, I for before I even answer that I want to say this because I have always thought Jalen Brown was a good night you know what does not even for me to say I've always thought it was good. Like I obviously never thought Jalen Brown was bad,
Starting point is 00:17:00 but when they gave him his first contract extension, I tweeted, congrats on the Celtics for signing a homeless man's Kauai Leonard to a max. You know what I mean? And he has just consistently exceeded my own expectations. Okay. And he's a finals MVP. Even given that,
Starting point is 00:17:24 what he has done this year. is beyond belief. If you had told me Jaylon Brown was going to be averaging almost 30 points a game, I would have said the Celtics must be awful. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:17:43 Like that, you know what I mean? Yeah, that's fair, but... That I would have thought they, you know, they ended up trading even more piece, kind of doing what Indiana is doing this year. Like, just take it on the chin. one year and then, you know, reboot for when Tatum's back and that, you know, he's average,
Starting point is 00:18:03 he's, you know, good stats, bad team. It would have been, and I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong. Like I, it would have been incomprehensible to me that Jalen Brown could play at this level for a team be this good. Yeah. Yeah. So go ahead. I think, well, with the way that people.
Starting point is 00:18:26 People always talked about Tatum and Brown. And I feel like it was confusing who was the number one. But Jalen Brown was always the guy who I feel like was a little bit more aggressive. And I mean, obviously, it's rough that Tatum is hurt right now. But I do think this gave Jalen Brown a chance to be his actual self. Listen, and he's, he's always said maybe more often than he should how much he has sacrificed for the team in the past. Simmons pointed out he's like
Starting point is 00:18:57 Jalen's probably had three too many comments along the lines of man this is so much fun and three too few man we can't wait till we get Tatum back so like there is a little bit up but I don't I don't
Starting point is 00:19:13 I first want to give Jailen they have a good relationship at the end of the day so I trust like I trust it they aren't guys yeah but they're I think but it does I think they are both very competitive And I think that, you know, I think it's very clear Jason Tatum is the better player, but I don't think that Jalen and I'm not saying you should feel this way. I just, I don't know that Jalen Brown feels that way.
Starting point is 00:19:39 Yeah, and so this year and the success they're having and all of that is, you know, a real validation for him. And so it'll give you the Tatum piece in a moment. To answer your question, I would have Jalen Brown third in the MVP. P. race. I would have Yokic, Shea, ahead of him. J.B. 3rd. And I would have Jalen Brown third. And then I would have
Starting point is 00:20:06 Ked 4, Wimby 5, or Wimby 5, Ked 4. They played last night. You know, one game doesn't flip it, but maybe. And my guy, Luca, on the outside, looking in at 6. But Joker and Shea might not be eligible for it because of the games. Like, Joker can only miss, I think, two more. She has more wiggle room on that, but not a ton. Man, if the Celtics are the top two seed and Jalen Browns just out there doing this night in, night out,
Starting point is 00:20:39 he's got to have real MVP consideration. He deserves it, man. And it's got to be about what you've actually accomplished rather than what bucket we put you in beforehand. Then what do you think our ceiling is with that? Well, so this is, no. this is where it gets complicated. Right. So I do not believe the Celtics can win the championship as presently constituted without Tatum.
Starting point is 00:21:07 Okay. But I also feel sick for Tatum because it feels like... Yeah. Like how do I get back in? And let's just walk down the different paths, right? The safest thing for Tatum. is wait till next year. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:21:32 That probably avoids the most criticism. Tori's Achilles in the playoffs. I don't think, but there would still be some level of, oh, man, if he could have just come back for the playoffs, could we have won the title? Right. It also does, waiting till next year, open up the tiny possibility.
Starting point is 00:21:57 And I don't even know. know what you do with this, if this happens, that they win the title. Without, which, listen, no, I, I am not speaking for Jason Tatum. I am speaking for human beings. People can want, people they love to succeed without them, without necessarily wanting them to get the ultimate greatest, success imaginable without them. You know what?
Starting point is 00:22:32 Like you can, um, if, you know, if I, if, if I left the TV show, I would want Wilds and Brew to do really well.
Starting point is 00:22:44 If they all of a sudden ripped off a couple Emmys in a row when we never won one, I would be like, damn. What the heck? What the heck? Right. That's kind of tough. Um,
Starting point is 00:22:54 and so the, and so like, that's just human names. nature, right? Yeah. But then there is the element of if he comes back, I think they could win the title with a 75% Jason Tatea. They're that good like this.
Starting point is 00:23:13 But if they don't, are people going to be like, oh, man, did he mess it up? Did we have a good thing going? Whatever it is. There's also this. He comes back. He already has that thing hanging over. him that he didn't win the finals MVP the one time he comes back he's not himself they make the
Starting point is 00:23:39 finals and he has a rough finals right like oh i mean come on he's three like no i i don't think i want to make this clear i am not saying this is fair stuff also should i close the curtain behind me uh tell me in my ear guys if i should um it's just the reality of sports and the fans right and fans in the media uh Hold on one second, DeMonte. Daniel tell me yes or no. I didn't hear you. Yeah, thin curtain. The hotel thin curtain has been requested.
Starting point is 00:24:11 Hold on, guys. Let's see if this looks better. Hotel thin curtain activated. All right, I'm back. And so, I don't know if that helped at all. And so I just, I feel Jason Tatum is a very thoughtful and introspective guy. I think we all know that. he cares a lot.
Starting point is 00:24:37 He also cares a lot about legacy. I think that's fair to say. And he is in, his success in this rehab has put him in an impossible position. Because if he had rehabbed
Starting point is 00:25:06 more according to, a traditional timeline, everyone would simply be targeting the beginning of next season. Yeah. Because he's so far ahead of a schedule, he now, like, and because the team, it'd be one thing if the team were right now the eight seed. And it's like, but because the team's playing well, and he's ahead of schedule and I don't know. I do not envy the position he's in.
Starting point is 00:25:37 Yeah. And, and it is, it is, I don't know, but I do, go ahead. I just say, play it safe. I mean, you've seen how that can, I feel, Clay Thompson, Kyrie Irving. I mean, Carrie Irving's an older guy, but I like how he's kind of, he's, he's done. I think that you don't want to sacrifice later for, especially for already doing well right now. But, I mean, see how you feel in a couple months or a month and a half, whatever.
Starting point is 00:26:08 may be, but. Buddy, I think it's on the board. He's back in two weeks. Yeah. And I think, I think he either comes back in March or not at all. That's my guess. I think that it's either I'm coming back with some ramp up before the playoffs. Before the playoffs, right?
Starting point is 00:26:30 If he's not there by playoffs, he's not coming. Right. And so, but here's the other thing. I do think you guys can win the title if he comes back. Yeah. It's a lot of, and I don't think you need Tatum at peak Tatum. You know what? Like, I think that your guys coaching and Matt that, like you said, yeah, is enough if you just drop him in. Prices everywhere. Just keep going up. Rents going up, streaming services going up, your favorite burrito spots charging you extra for Salz, it's ridiculous. But with Boost Mobile, you and your phone bill
Starting point is 00:27:08 don't have to play the will this go up soon game. Why? Because Boost Mobile has unlimited. Talk, text, and data plan at a price that will never go up. In fact, it's the same price you'll pay for life. So switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up only at Boost Mobile. After 30 gigs, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast?
Starting point is 00:27:49 Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the 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, guys? 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.
Starting point is 00:28:09 one of the early names of our band 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, 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 00:28:29 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 on Humor Me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.
Starting point is 00:28:50 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 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
Starting point is 00:29:14 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.
Starting point is 00:29:51 Listen to SportsClyce on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. All right, now let's talk about Lou Dort, Nikola Yokic, and Unhinged Oklahoma, city fans. So, yeah, you seemed really bothered by George, a cheap shot on Yokic and said it could even impact their ability to repeat. OKC fans really didn't like that and are now demanding you go after Yokic and his antics last night.
Starting point is 00:30:24 Where are you at on both of those cases? Let's start with Yokic last night. Yokic did kind of a bunch of flopping like a fish last night. There's no denying it. And that was a terrible game for the Nuggets. against Utah. Jamal Murray was awesome and you damn near loss
Starting point is 00:30:42 to a jazz team that don't want to win. That would have been an awful loss. And Joker wasn't that good. And he seemed to be bothered by how he was being defended so he responded by just kind of leaning on guys when they were essentially boxing him out
Starting point is 00:31:02 but boxing him out not on a rebound. The idea that anybody would compare that to Lou Dorts mixtape of obviously dirty seeming like trying to injure the opponent plays is laughable. It almost doesn't warrant a response, but I find some of the OKC fans so delusional
Starting point is 00:31:45 that I will respond to them because they found a clip of me saying from I don't know sometime on this pod with you, you're on the clip of me saying I don't like OKC like this guy's always had it out for us. Listen, I'm very, very open about teams, players,
Starting point is 00:32:12 styles of basketball I like or don't like. I found the Shea foul baiting stuff to be an unathetically pleasing style of hoop. That's it. So I, so, and I also think I found some of their stuff a little corny, the commercials and the group air views or whatever. But I never. once denied them credit. I never once said their fraudulent team. I never want I they are
Starting point is 00:32:47 objectively excellent. They have been incredibly well built. They're well coached. And Shea and Shay's ascension to this level of all time great player is utterly remarkable. So all that's true. Are they the team I root for? No. Is there, do I find anyone on their team a uniquely captivating personality? Honestly, I think my favorite personality on the team is Caruso. Easy. Do I, you agree with me on that? Yeah, easily.
Starting point is 00:33:33 Yeah, I think he's funny. I think, yeah, I like Caruso. Do I think they have any guys that are, even by, for today's era, like truly great players other than Shea? Not yet. We'll see what Chet turns into. Right now he's a very good player who's great on defense and limited on offense despite the shot. We'll see what J-dub turns into.
Starting point is 00:34:06 You know, we'll see, but no, I mean, that's what I think of that, but they are so deep and. so well coached and so strategic and such a terror defensively, they absolutely can win the title again and still be set up. And so all of that is true. Here's what's also true. The current undisputed, unified, universal champion of the world of dirty ass basketball is on your team, Oklahoma City and his name's Lou Dort and this is a
Starting point is 00:34:51 well-earned reputation because there have been so many ooh that didn't look good but maybe it was accidental that we just
Starting point is 00:35:10 needed the one that looked awful and there's no way it's accidental for us to retroactively re-indite some of the previous crimes. So I've always, I've always defended Dort on the play Jha got hurt on, I think, in the playoffs. Like, where was he supposed to go?
Starting point is 00:35:36 But Grizzlies fans thought it was dirty. I was a neutral party on the play where he ran full speed into Wimby's leg. Whereas like, I don't know, the guy just maybe is a little out of control. I can see how that looks bad, but I'm also not sure. I have been pretty convinced that his tendency of when he shoots a three, just sticking his own foot out to try to have the defender land on his foot to be, I put it in the same bucket as when Dremont used to kick people in the groin when he was going
Starting point is 00:36:16 up for layups and he's like, I don't know what you want me to do. Like, I don't know, bro. Literally anything else. No other player in the league does it. As dirty, but not provable, provably dirty, but I believe dirty. That shit on Yokic was an embarrassment to basketball. That was a player who was not expecting contact, who did not have the ball, who was going up, the court 75 feet from the rim and you stopped your motion you backed up and you threw your leg and hip into it now I'm not going to go as far as to say you targeted his previously injured leg but I think that's why he reacted that way because whether he thought you were targeting that leg or just being dirty for the sake of being dirty you could have really heard it. And it is, there are way more Damanze impactful or violent things that happen in a basketball game than the Dort play that are not nearly as dangerous.
Starting point is 00:37:40 And here's what I mean. You can see a 15 minute cut up of LeBron driving. to the basket and guys doing full-blown swings that end up hitting him in the head or the side of the head or the back of that or whatever it is none of those are as dangerous as what dork did because when you are and i obviously am not but i i know this from talking to guys when you are a pro-athlet when you know contact might be coming, you have a way to brace yourself and protect yourself even if it's, you know, you're doing something else.
Starting point is 00:38:38 And every time a guy drives to the basket in traffic, he knows might get hit here. That is so different than someone jogging up the court who you snipe from behind, which is what Dort did, which is why DeMonsei, Joker flipped out. Yeah. That's why you saw the fury in Joker's eyes. And I am consistent on this because Joker once did something like this to Marquif Morris.
Starting point is 00:39:11 Oh, well, Marquif Morris started it. Yes, Marquit Morris started it. But I'm saying he hit him when he wasn't. He was a cheap shot. Yeah, it was a cheap shot. Yeah, it was a cheap shot. He hit him when he wasn't looking. And Morris got whiplash.
Starting point is 00:39:23 was out for a long time. Yeah. And I really went after Joker for that. Because when a guy is not, it's not prepared for the hit. Yeah. It's so different than a super impactful hit you are prepared for. It's the, again, I'm mixing a lot of dumb metaphors here. But it's the walking into a door in the middle of the night.
Starting point is 00:39:50 Yeah. thing where you have no you're not even going that fast but you had no idea it was coming and you're like oh my is that the worst pain I've ever been in as opposed to if one of your you know
Starting point is 00:40:04 if you're slap boxing or something with one of your buddies and one gets through and hits you when you kind of know that might happen one has more force behind it the other hurts way more and stuns you way more and so here's why I think this matters
Starting point is 00:40:20 because OKC gets away with a lot. And this, I do not begrudge them. Do business as business is being done. If the referees are going to let Kaysen Wallace and Lou Dort and J. Dub and every, and Caruso play rugby out by mid-court with the opposition, because the refs don't want to call a foul on every play,
Starting point is 00:40:52 don't want the game to grind to a halt, so be it. You guys play hard enough. They're good enough defenders. They get away with enough. It's a huge edge. Do it. But having your best defender,
Starting point is 00:41:08 your most physical defender, your biggest, strongest, toughest defender, who's always had a reputation for being at least a little dirty, take a blatant, obvious cheap shot in a nationally televised game, against the best player in the world, now the spotlight's on you.
Starting point is 00:41:33 And I think OKC will now be officiated tighter. And I think that damages their ability to repeat. The comp I used on TV and I'll use it again. The Eagles push was unstoppable. And then one game early last season, I forget which broadcast crew it was. I think it might have been Brady. But it doesn't.
Starting point is 00:42:03 I think it was Brady. But regardless, they show the overhead view and they show all the guys false starting. And the announcer's like, well, I don't know what you do with that. The officiating expert in the booth is like, I'm done with this play.
Starting point is 00:42:24 And all of a sudden, a couple times the Eagles got called for a false start, couple times they didn't whistle the play dead, and Jalen ended up fumbling, and all of a sudden, the tush push was way less effective, they were less comfortable using it, and it stopped being such a devastating weapon. And the tipping point was the extra scrutiny from the live broadcast, and then the talk show and discussions afterwards. OKC is now under massive scrutiny. And they play, don't they play Denver again in a few days?
Starting point is 00:43:05 Yeah, I was about to say it adds an extra like hate factor. So other teams around the league, especially Denver, team that you might end up having to see to get somewhere. So they play Denver on the 9th Monday. They play, oh, they play here in New York tomorrow night. Maybe I'll go. Garden crowd will be up on that. And I think that you are going to see OKC get a much more similar whistle to the rest of the league, the rest of the year.
Starting point is 00:43:51 and I think Dort better watch himself on, I'm not talking about other guys cheap shotting him because there is something to be set. First, Dort doesn't do a lot of stuff where he's cheap shotable, like he's not flying through the lane. And there is something to be said to just being, yeah, I'm probably the strongest, toughest guy in this game, so do we should have at it.
Starting point is 00:44:17 No, but I think the referees are going to be on high alert for his bullshit. Yeah. And it was just so unnecessary. And it's so much different. Dreybun disciple, ma'am. Right. So, I mean,
Starting point is 00:44:36 Dremont, I mean, he's not the first guy to do stuff like this. Dremont, Pat Bev, was a first team all-world of this, Dylan Brooks. Yeah, Grayson Allen had a little bit of... That,
Starting point is 00:44:49 Grace and Allen... He kicked it once he got to be at. He really likes tripping and kick. But Dylan Brooks is the best comp I would have. Because Draymond also, not current Dylan Brooks, Dylan Brooks a couple years ago. Draymond also, in his prime, was the best defensive player in the league
Starting point is 00:45:07 and a very useful offensive player. Like, Dort is a better defender than Dylan Brooks was, but a worse offensive player than Dylan Brooks, and there to be the enforcer type. You can be the enforcer type. without throwing it in reverse and taking out the three-time league MVP. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers.
Starting point is 00:45:45 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 00:45:55 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. 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.
Starting point is 00:46:12 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 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?
Starting point is 00:46:32 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. 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.
Starting point is 00:46:51 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. Jench won. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Leonard 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 Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:47:15 Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows, what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to,
Starting point is 00:47:44 listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.