The Herd with Colin Cowherd - What’s Wright - Best Of: Nick Wright reacts to Kyrie Irving's ACL, Steph Curry G.O.A.T. debate, how Michael Jordan still haunts LeBron James & NBA

Episode Date: March 8, 2025

Nick Wright reacts to Kyrie Irving's ACL tear and the "disaster" situation the Dallas Mavericks find themselves in post-Luka Doncic trade. Later, Nick addresses Shaquille O'Neal saying Steph Curry belongs in the G.O.A.T. conversation and explains why the Warriors star has no place in the debate. Later, Nick breaks down how Michael Jordan has continued to haunt LeBron James and the superstars of the NBA for over twenty years. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart 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.

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. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. 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 Smygel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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. For Kyrie, obviously, you feel sick for him. I think Kyrie has handled the last couple years about as well. as any player could have and I've been so impressed by him and as far as on a dime remaking his leader reputation and maturity reputation and kind of sage wisdom and all of that I've never seen anything like it like his is him going from a guy who's like well great player but you're and have to deal with a bunch of other stuff

to a guy where the other stuff is a huge part of his greatness. And it seemingly happened like on the trade to the maps. And so you give him massive credit and you feel sick for him. Also, he's a pending free agent, how this impacts the contract he will or won't get for a guy who turns 30. in a few weeks. Maybe it's craven to talk about that immediately,

but you think about that and it concerns you. And the other thing you think about is this. Since they traded Luca Donchich, he was playing way too many minutes because they didn't have another ball handler. And this is a, and they left themselves with one creator, one ball handler,

and now, I mean, the minutes he has played since the start of February Let's go there, right? Luca was traded on February 1st. February 1st. Okay, so perfect. Since the Luca trade.

42, 40, 42, 44, 44, 40, 40, 37, 32 in a blowout, 40, 38, 38 and then last night. It was, now he was playing big minutes prior to that as well, actually, since Luca's injury, he was playing big minutes, but Luca was coming back and Luca would have, obviously, would have been back, you know, well earlier than that.

Are we going on the maps? Is this the math topic right now? Yeah, we do it right now. Like, we might as well just get to it. the because we have the breaking news on it. And so I don't, there's a lot of pieces to this, DeMonse, that are inextricably tied to the Luca trade. And yeah, with the,

go ahead. Not having the extra ball handler, but even the guy that they traded for was hurt since he got there. He played him, what, a half of a game? And I think with Nico Collins, with Anthony Davis being a known hurt player, that's something that you have to take into account and like you're seeing that firsthand.

And I just, it was obviously a bad decision. Well, it was like what was more likely to have Anthony Davis getting hurt or Luca Donch is just completely flaming out and being a hindrance to your team. Well, so that, so there were a million reasons the Luca trade made no sense. Even if all of your skepticism was correct about him,

One was you were worried about his body and so you trade for a guy who's six years older and Anthony Davis who has real worries about his body. Another one was you actually already had depth at center. What you didn't have depth that was shot creator. You trade a shot creator for the best shot creator arguably in basketball

and Luca for another big. Another reason it was risky was your window with Luca was a decade. You then go, Nico Harrison, you said Nico Collins is the receiver for the Texans, but I knew him in. You then go on TV and say

your windows three to four years. Well, this year is done now, done, and next year's in jeopardy. Like, are you, and also are you going to re-sign Kyrie Irving? Do you still,

have to. If you don't, what are you doing? There was a lot of, you know, kind of backburner rumors to Monzee that this could be a Kevin Durant destination next year. That Katie, get back with Kyrie, you have Anthony Davis from basketball standpoint. It would fit great. Okay. Well, now that's massively in question. Like, I don't know. You tear your ACI. in March, if you're Kyrie, do you just miss all of next year? And shout out to Kyrie for shooting those free throws. You know, he obviously is as big of a Kobe fan as any active player. Kobe famously shot his free throws after he tore his Achilles.

You really, really hope that Kyrie's career doesn't follow that same. trajectory as far as Kobe was just never the same guy after that torn Achilles. But I also think Kobe Kobe was 34 when he tore his Achilles.

Kyrie is 32, about to be 33. Was Kobe? I'm looking up when... So Kobe tore his Achilles in April of 13. Kobe was born in August of, yes, who was 34, August of 78. So I just, will the Mabs make, there's so many tentacles to this, and I'm reacting in real time. Will the Mabs make the play in? They're three and a half clear of Phoenix.

Phoenix would be at this point a more interesting. team because of the KDM Booker Factor even though that team seems to just be ready for the season to end. But now that whoever gets that tin seed is dead on arrival.

The Mavs have no. Who on the Mavs can create a shot? Honest to God, like, Spencer didn't we? Last night after Kairi went down, it's Dante Xum. You know who you also

I mean, Kai Jones. Shout out to Kai Jones, by the way, who had some real personal demons and issues. I shouldn't say. Demons is too strong. I don't know that he had a, it seemed like he might have had a drug problem, you know,

and seems to have gotten himself clean and is, you know, resuming his NBA career. So you root for young people like that, like that was going down a wrong track. He ended up playing big minutes yesterday, right? if they sign him. He goes nine of ten from the field.

But I mean, Clay Thompson signs there thinking, I can catch and shoot. Well, who's, who you're catching it from now? This isn't, I think I, you know what?

I think I did a bad job in my initial reaction to this. The true. This is a, say it again. Just the threat, like the Luca AD trade? No,

the Kyrie injury. I'm just saw her in the last 10 minutes. Because this is just an unmitigated disaster of historic proportions. And you can say the injury is just bad luck, but that's only if you think that if Kyrie's workload was different, if his responsibility was different, if his ability to rest games if need be, was different, he still would have torn his ACL, I don't think that.

And the Mavs who are the defending Western Conference champions decided, without the player forcing them or even asking them to, decided, I am going to blow this entire thing up and take a risk that's unprecedented. in an NBA history. And within a month of the trade, the piece you traded for who was injured when you made the trade got hurt again. And the guard in this league that maybe at this point honestly has more responsibility to his team than any other guard in the league because of how the roster is constructed. post-Luca, you use him in a potentially reckless manner and his historically shaky knees,

one of them gives out on it. And now you're just cooked. And you're a team that does not have your own draft pick for 27 through 30. so that's the other like they they Mavs future draft picks I talked about this the other day so I kind of know it already

but here's what it is outgoing draft picks in 27 it goes to Charlotte in 2028 okay C can swap with them in

29, it goes to Houston or Phoenix in 2030. I think the spurs can swap with them. But 27, 28, 29, and 30, you do not have your own pick. And two of those years, I yeah you will have someone's pick but okay the in 27 it just goes to Charlotte in 28 okay C can swap with you in 29 Houston can swap with you and in 30 the spurs can swap with you so if you bottom out it doesn't do you any good I don't know

the only reason to Monzee I think Nico Harrison survives this is because Patrick Dumont the owner came out and did his own press conference where he was like two thumbs up to the trade you gotta be a grinder like Shaquille O'Neal and Larry Bird were

never drink, never party and just all ball and and I'm yeah, of course. And I am just sick for Kyrie. Man, this sucks. And it's a lot of money.

And I know nobody cares about the money part of this with pro athletes, but Kyrie had cost himself a lot of money the previous few years and left money on the table. And then, because of his own excellent play, and the desperation of the Mavs post-Luca was in a spot where he was going to get that max deal. And now I don't know what it means for him. This is devastating.

Oh, God. So, oh, hold on. So that's interesting. So that's probably what he'll do. Well, I don't know. I mean, he has a play. option but I don't know that I he so he could pick up the player option for 44 million but I think it's more likely he opts out and still gets a new deal I just don't think it'll

be a four-year max like so it's if it were a career ending injury which it's not then you just opt into your player option I don't think that's what's going to happen but I'm just devastated for Kyrie I'm not listen and I'm devastated for Mab's fans 30 days and your entire basketball world is just, you went from having one of the brightest futures of any team in the league to it's as dark as it gets and all of a sudden Anthony Davis is back on the Pelicans. And they're raising the prices in the stadium for a particular...

Well, that's another thing. I saw that story. It's just a tone-depth timing of the announcement. I don't understand that piece of it at all. But just joining us, Kyrie Irving, torn ACL. That was the fear last night. I am amazed, by the way,

quick sidebar. I am constantly amazed at how accurate those sports medicine folks on Twitter are by watching the video of something and saying what injury the guy suffered. I think those guys that I follow on Twitter, bat like 800. I think four out of five they nail

just by watching one video. And it's... Listen, I know nothing about science or medicine, but it's always impressive to me. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new?

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. 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 did 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. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it 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, 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. 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 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. 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. Jenchian went. 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, Lena 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. 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged.

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

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So Shaq said that Steph deserves to be in the goat conversation. Do you think that's a right take to have? Sadly no. So let's talk best point guard ever. We've done this before I'll do it again. Just quickly here. Magic Johnson, I believe this in my bones,

is the greatest point guard in NBA history. And Magic Johnson, it's not only that as a rookie, won finals MVP, now he shouldn't have. Kareem should have won it, but had one of the single greatest finals games ever, playing center just being utterly dominant,

to win a championship as a rookie right after winning a championship in college. If people don't know what I'm talking about, the Kareem was out. So Magic Jump Center as a rookie against Dr. Jay and the Sixers and dropped 42, 15, and 7. To win a championship in the finals. That almost gets talked about too much. And what doesn't get talked about enough, in my opinion, is this, DeMonse. In year three, Magic Johnson was second.

team all NBA and then after that he played nine more seasons before the HIV diagnosis and was first team all NBA all nine seasons those nine seasons after year three his MVP finishes were third second what I'm sorry third third third second third first third first First, second. So again, years four to 12 for Magic, nine consecutive first team all-MBAs, nine consecutive top three MVP finishes, three league MVPs,

went to nine finals, won five championships. He's the greatest point guard ever. With that said, every time I'm putting together my all-time starting five, steps the better option at point guard than magic. So I know that sounds weird, but whenever it's like, okay,

create the greatest team you can possibly create. I'm like, all right, so the only two locks, even with respect to Kareem, the only two locks are Michael and LeBron. Those guys are the locks. And now we're figuring out the rest of the squad. And so I go, all right, so LeBron's there.

He can bring the ball up. I, you know, Michael couldn't shoot a three to save his life. So I probably need some more shooting. Defensively, I'm going to be a monster anyway. So I'll put Steph in and play some magic. So that's where the best point guard conversation, you know, gets off to a rough start. Or not a rough start, but it gets complicated. This episode of what's right.

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Coming soon to select Publix and Sprouts. Follow Dea on Instagram and TikTok for more updates and recipes. But as far as best player of all time, I mean, I just told you Magic has nine first team all MBAs. the guys who are actually in the discussion for greatest player of all time, LeBron, Michael and Kareem. They have, as far as first team all NBAs, 13 for LeBron, 10 for Kareem, 10 for Michael. Some people throw Kobe in there. I don't think that's legit, but that's fine.

He has 11. Steph has four. So he doesn't have the, the. the great season after great season after great season after great season and all these other guys did here's the other thing that he doesn't have and again i'm not tearing him down but this if everyone who is actually in the goat debate which i think is only three people but other people might want to expand it to a couple others and even if you expand it it to them if you include magic if you include a wilt or Russell like pick

whomever they all had an extended period where they were unequivocally undeniably the best player in the league step doesn't have one step doesn't have one season now that's again it's like well that's his whole careers during LeBron's career. I get it. But that, so you just, so you can't be in the goat conversation when, and you can be like, what about the year he won unanimous MVP? Yeah, he was going to be considered the best player in the league.

And then the finals happened. And so like, there is just not been, so a spot. I'm not tearing him down. You guys know how highly I think of him as a player. He is. Greatest shooter. Arguable. He's the greatest shooter ever.

He might be the greatest ball handler ever. He's one of the greatest teammates ever. Yeah, but he is. Off ball players. I know that's not like exactly the best. Best accolade. Probably one of the best off ball players in NBA history, I imagine. Maybe the, maybe the best.

Right. Yes. No, all those things really matter. I find to me, nobody wants to have this debate but an interesting one is him versus Duncan like it is it's hard to do like putting up Steph's career versus Duncan and Steph's career versus Kobe and Steph's career versus Shaq are all really interesting because those are four so different players.

Just such drastically different players, different styles, different career arcs. Those to me are real debates. But Steph versus LeBron, Michael, and Cream are not. She's not. And that's fine. Like, that's not a... It was also weird timing to have this discussion.

Like, Steph was having a down year and the Warriors were 25 and 25. And they traded for Jimmy and they're, you know, on the uptick. And Steph is playing some of his best basketball of the year. But this isn't like some magical Steph Curry season. He's not, he has no shot of being first team all NBA this year. He is, I remember when they traded for Jimmy, he had as many games with 15 or fewer points as he had 30 plus points. like he's averaging the fewest points he's averaged in a season since his first MVP in so in a decade and he's averaging below 40% from three for just the second time of his

career so again I'm not he's all all that's true while it's also true is he's having the greatest old little guy season ever. So all those things can be true at the same time. But goat conversation, now we're, now we're getting a little cuckoo. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what?

We have some big news. What's the news, new? 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...

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 the 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 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, 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 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. 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. Jen Chinch win. I mean, 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, Lena 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. 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.

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

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Where we have to start today is with what LeBron James said, what was said about what he said and how we got here. So first, a level set of what happened. Anthony Edwards was asked about being face of the league,

and he was like, I don't really have an interest in it. I just want to bowl. LeBron was then asked about that as the face of the league and LeBron said yeah I don't blame him why would you want to be when all the people who talk about our league and it seemed like he was about to say former players and media but instead it was just a catch-all

just shit on the players and then as Bumani Jones would say hit dog, don't holler. And then all the guys who LeBron was talking about, Doth protested too much. So the first one was Stephen A, who did a five-minute rant in response to LeBron, that, and I'm not, I am not exaggerating when I say this. this. In the first 90 seconds of Stephen A. responding to LeBron saying that the biggest voices in the media just go after you repeatedly, particularly if you're the face of the league.

In the first 90 seconds of a response to that, Stephen A blamed LeBron James for the following. The downfall of the slam dunk contest. The lockout in 2011. and the Chris Paul Laker trade being nixed. He put it all at LeBron's feet. All of it. He's like, ruin the dunk contest because you wouldn't participate. And then said the decision was what led to the owners locking the players out and changing the collective bargaining agreement.

And then through the CP3 trade in as kind of a little dessert after a delicious is Andre and didn't really to my ear address any of what LeBron actually said and then and I couldn't believe this and let me say this as well I have a really good relationship with Stephen A. I actually texted with him this morning but he is so I don't want people to think that this is there's like media beef but he knows this we both have strong opinions we disagree I disagree with a lot of what he says. He's a big boy, grown man. He understands none of that's personal. And so I'm not, I'm not trying to start something. That's a friend of mine. I just think he's out of his mind on some of this stuff. And then on his podcast, and this I won't put on him and, you know,

appreciate those producers of that podcast because they put us on their, you know, friendly relationships. but and Demandzee this will blow your mind again in addressing LeBron James saying that if you're the face of the league you get extra criticism get shit on when Stephen A brought that up on his podcast you know what video played alongside it like the soundless what we call B roll highlights hand to God it was brunt of God it was brunt. Bad Minutes against the Sixers. That's true. Go look. Go watch. So, like, again, I don't think that's Stephen A's call, but it doesn't exactly dispel the narrative that,

well, yeah, there might be a little unfairness here. And so that was his part of it. Bill Simmons, who is as loud and as respected and as important of an NBA voice as there is, who is an unabashed, obvious, diehard Celtic fan, who has never really been what you'd call a LeBron guy, and LeBron's never been a Simmons guy. Simmons sent out the following tweets.

Celts Cavs is a wonderful NBA game between two excellent teams. That's included some terrific individual performances. This next game will be splendid too. We're so lucky to be able to watch great players like Luke Adanchich, LeBron James and James Hardin battling it out tonight. Just basically making fun. It's being like, this is ridiculous. Oh, everyone's got to be so positive.

And then Bill went on a long history lesson on his pod this week where he was like, this is how it's always been. And then explained how we went after. guys who either hadn't won or until they won or very specific postseason failures in the moment, which is not at all what LeBron's talking about. LeBron was talking about the general conversation surrounding the league being constantly negative. And you know who totally agrees with LeBron that that's a problem?

Bill Simmons. You know how I know that? Because on December 31st, Bill Simmons did an NBA pod with the great Kurt Goldsbury that is titled The All Positive NBA Show with Kurt Goldsbury

that he says at the beginning he's doing because the conversation surrounding the league has gotten too negative. So for some of these guys, even when LeBron says something they agree with, because it's LeBron saying it, they can't agree with it. And then Wilbon, on the greatest sports TV show that's ever existed, pardon the interruption, did, you know, did what he always does, which is whether it is while he's on the broadcast when LeBron happens to pass Magic Johnson for career assists, or when he's addressing LeBron's comments, can't help himself, but make it clear,

no matter how great these guys are, they're not quite as great as the guys that happen to be playing during my personal heyday covering the league. It's crazy how that works out. And we're yet to see what the Chuckster's going to say, but we'll find out here very soon. And my guess is it'll be more of the same. Now that I've set the table on what happened. Oh yeah and then LeBron responded with tweets It would appear this first tweet as a response to Stephen A where I wrote exactly made my point but anyways Happy this convo has started it ain't about face of the game and it ain't about one person or one show

It's about the culture of basketball the most beautiful game in the world our game has never been better incredible young stars from all over the world and some older ones too laughing emojis Steph Curry should be all we're talking about today is after he scored 56 let's discuss how great okay seeing the Cav to been this season two completely different styles and break down why and how they have been of course if players don't perform we need to discuss that to and break that down even that can be discussed in a way and this is the important piece of it even that can be discussed in a way that's not to bring

to that player's game, but to leave room to see how that player responds and let's watch the journey of that player. This ain't about me either. This is where I disagree with LeBron and I'll get to that in a second. It ain't about me either at this point. I don't really care what's said about me. It's always something. This is about the impact the negativity is having on our beautiful game and our fans. I know I speak for a lot of the players more importantly a hell of a lot of great fans that truly love and celebrate this sport around the world. hashtag mind the game, then a cloud emoji, a brain emoji, and of course, a crown emoji because what would a LeBron tweet be without the crown emoji? All right. He then went on with my pal, Scott Van Pelt, made a similar point after the Laker game, and now everyone's caught up.

So, to me, the question should be, is LeBron right that the coverage of the league, particularly for the super duper stars, face of the league? caliber guys, two negative. And if he's right, how did we get here? So I do think he is correct. And I do think I have been a part of the problem at times. I'll explain how in a moment. And I think so where I disagree with him, where he says this isn't about him,

it actually is almost entirely about him and one other person. Because so much about how we currently cover the league has to do with how we covered LeBron James. Because how he was covered has impacted how every other superstar, true super-dooper star is covered. So this is a point I used to make about prime Clay Thompson. The better example right now might be like Devin Booker where I think those guys who are in the Jalen Brown Devin Booker tier of players like 10 to 20 if you were ranking them might be in the actual. sweet spot

because they get the same max contract as the superstar as the super duper stars but it is not a daily legacy referendum when they play great

in big spots they're lauded when they play poorly in big spots it we usually look to instead the best player on their team and why didn't he do more? And that's, I think, what Ants comments are referring to.

While he wants to be this player on a team, obviously, he sees, man, heavy is the head that wears the crown. And so that, the reason I say this is about LeBron and one other person is the LeBron of it all is this. How many times have you been watching sports TV and heard a version of this.

Sometimes by me, that's where I'll say hand up, I'm part of it. Well, after a guy misses a big shot or plays poorly in a big spot or doesn't carry his team far enough, whatever it is, how many times have you heard this? Well, if it were LeBron, we'd be killing him. well if lebron did that and so the way lebron was covered set a template to where it's how then durrant and step and impede and yonis and yokech those MVP guys well fair's fair did it to lebron so then we get to this question. Why did we cover LeBron that way? And that then gets to the other person in this

story, the only name in all of NBA history, bigger than LeBron's, and that's Michael Jordan. Because so much of our basketball, and at this point, it's not just basketball, it's overall sports commentary has been twisted is probably too strong of a word, but adjusted, tweaked, manicured to serve the legend of Michael Jordan. You saw it in some of the reaction to the Super Bowl and Mahomes getting a loss in the biggest game it's like oh boy we all know those Super Bowl losses count different than divisional round losses that's a that's a Michael Jordan argument and when you look back at how we have covered this league for 40 years there's only one

guy one guy who at each and every turn has benefited from it and it's Michael Let's go back to how we talk about the 1980s as a decade. Who was the face of the league in the 1980s? Oh, there wasn't a face. It was two guys. We've turned two guys into one person, bird magic. So why? Why was it not magic and bird or bird and magic separately?

Well, in part is it because when we, we turn Bird magic into one person and don't give Larry Bird his kind of individual standing folks right now big enough NBA fans to care about this to be watching this pod to or to be watching this clip probably don't know that Larry Bird and Michael Jordan their teams played in six playoff games against each other and Larry Bird was six and up not in six series in games. Disease, you know, bird magic in the 80s. What, we have totally erased one person's legacy from the, if you ask diehard NBA fans,

give me your top 25, 25 players of all time. The vast majority are going to have every single guy that was the best player on multiple championships with one glaring omission and it'll be the same omission. Isaiah Thomas. Why? Because part of part he is just he has been turned into a bit player in the story of Michael Jordan. We've partially erased Akeem's legend. Well, his championships came you know, when Michael wasn't playing. Even though one of those championships came in a year, Michael Jordan got MVP votes.

We've glossed over. When people talk about Shaquille O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal, does anyone, have you ever heard someone make this point about his greatness? At 23 years old, he outplayed. He was the best player on the court. in a playoff series with Michael Jordan and beat him. No, we just pretend it didn't happen.

And then the P.A. St. Resistance of all that is, the guy who was his wingman for the whole thing, Scotty, we act like he was a, just a 90s run our test. And that included in Michael. Doc. So why am I explaining that in relation to this? Because it's not only that the guy, the today's face of the league or the potential faces of the league have to deal with a constant tear down of what they have or haven't accomplished. It's that the last, the previous guy,

the all-time face of the league got the exact opposite treatment. And it is, again, If you really look at it, we did, there's so much of how we consume today's NBA that is colored by how we have discussed and talked about these two players. Michael Jordan, LeBron James, when it comes to Michael, we elevate lesser players like Reggie Miller, who was a nice player. He was 18, 3 and 3 for his career. He made zero first or second all team MBAs. That's who he was. Into a guy with almost legendary status. Why?

He had that great one series against Michael. You hear more about Craig Elo, who Jordan hit the shot over, than Sidney Moncrief, who beat him in the playoffs, was one of the best defensive players ever. Why? We talk about the 90s

Knicks, who had one All-Star on their entire team for a decade like this legendary opponent. Why? To build up the legend of the face of the league. Juxtapose that

to how LeBron, when he was rolling through the the way Michael was in the 90s, we didn't build up the 60-win Hawks or the Paul George Pacers or the DeRosen-Lowry Raptors

into something bigger than they were. No, we went the opposite. Yes, you made eight straight finals, but in that conference against those teams, what is it? Again, it's not, that it's always been this way. It's not that it slowly became like

this. It's that it did a 180. There are just certain things that again, in service of one guy at the expense of the other, we've just decided, like someone

in some sports Bible somewhere decided coincidentally right around the time, that this guy, LeBron, was lapping the field in every category. Actually, you know what? Longevity is not a factor in any of this. It's just, you know what?

And when it comes to how great a player is, how long he was great, nobody cares about that. Since when? That was literally never a part of any logical sports discussion. Until again, so much of how we talk about today's league has to do with these two players. And then we get to the media piece of it because what Bill talked about this. Yes, Michael was criticized until he won. And then once he won, he was deified to a level an athlete in this country has never been deified.

And so the guys, this current generation, not this generation, the old guys of this generation, LeBron, KD, those guys, who watched that growing up, thought, man, I'm going to get that same treatment. Once I win and I'm great and I'm the face of the league, universal praise and adoration. And then the guys who gave that to Michael, like Wilbon, now say, we're not on your payroll.

Were you on Michaels? Because that's what he got. People, it's all projection. People say to me and Shannon that, you guys they make up in their minds this tight relationship with

LeBron that we must have while denying the reality of the pretend relationship that you're acting like the we have with LeBron Amad Rashad actually had with Michael my main man

Michael Jordan the sideline reporter for the finals was his dear friend and golf buddy we we then act like people are being honest arbiters of this skip god love him built a huge portion of his career on a singular take which was this guy will never be michael jordan and nothing that he can do can ever change my mind on it. He could never move off that. It was the only through line other than his Cowboys fandom for his TV career.

And in Woge, who at a point in time was not only a great reporter, the best columnist in basketball media, got iced out by. LeBron's camp and just eviscerated him for years and years and years. Simmons, who crushed LeBron's family during, back when he was doing running diaries about the draft and then LeBron never had a real relationship with him. And then LeBron annihilated Simmons Celtics. has always been a begrudging appreciator of what he has or hasn't done.

And then there's other guys who so much of their career is tied into Michael, whether it's Wilbon or why does Barclay get a pass for not winning? Well, he ran into Michael Jordan. All of this. So you have a whole media machine. And then folks have the audacity, the absolute audacity to act like it's shocking that that it's shocking that LeBron might occasionally push back

or might say, you guys changed the rules mid-game. And this isn't how you've treated guys previously. And so that's what they're talking about. And I think it's reasonable. I don't know if there's a fix for it. I think maybe the fix for it is for when LeBron retires, this whole thing resets. But honestly, maybe not. 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. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to it. We get to ask other 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. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite.

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Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet-lawed. lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo. In every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports

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