The Right Time with Bomani Jones - Bruce Bowen GOES OFF on Thunder's Future Dynasty, Hailburton's Struggles, Durant to Spurs Potential | 6.18

Episode Date: June 18, 2025

On today’s episode, 3x NBA Champion Bruce Bowen joins Bomani Jones to discuss Game 5 of the NBA Finals and the San Antonio Spurs draft plans. The show starts with Bo and Bruce saying why it's crucial for younger NBA players to save their money to be better off when their career is over (6:10). They move onto the Oklahoma City Thunder's Game 5 NBA Finals win over the Indiana Pacers and why Jalen Williams did something Scottie Pippen could never do (15:46). After the break, Bruce says why the Pacers still have a chance in this series (32:51) and why teams should stay away from acquiring Kevin Durant (41:03). The show wraps up with Bruce weighing in on the San Antonio Spurs having the #2 pick in the NBA Draft and why Dylan Harper would be a no brainer. (47:51) . . . Subscribe to Supercast for Ad-Free Episodes: https://righttime.supercast.com/ Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media: http://lnk.to/therighttime Support the Show: Download the DraftKings Pick Six app NOW and use code BOMANI. Better payouts. Bigger wins. Only with Pick6 from DraftKings. The Crown is yours. Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/icdnkphp #CashAppPod Go to zbiotics.com/BOMANI to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use BOMANI at checkout. Celebrate the progress you’ve already made. Visit ⁠BetterHelp.com/BOMANI⁠ today to get 10% off your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the right time, a wave original. My name is Beaumani Jones. Thanks for listening wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for watching us on YouTube. Subscribe, like, rate us, review us, give us five stars. He only gives us four stars. I'm inclined to believe you are a hater. It is that time of week, but we have a guest joined us,

an old friend that I realize I ain't called it long enough because he used to be so busy. He'd be hollowed at us from the car, driving people around in the morning and everything. Live from San Antonio, Bruce. Bowman, what's going all, man? Momani, it's good to be here, my man. You threw out something there, you know, live, driving the kids around. I didn't say kids. I didn't say kids.

I just said driving. Oh, okay. My bad. Because it seems like in retirement, that's all I do. I drive my kids to tournament. I mean, and they sit in the back seat like I'm a new chauffeur. So I'd have to

get that off my chest. It's so funny. You mentioned that, though. I was staying at a hotel in Houston because I did the commencement address at Prairie View. And as I'm walking out, who do I see pulling up in the navigator? Gerald McCoy, why driving his kids to a tournament? You know, like every time I feel like if I see an athlete like in the wild, in the natural world, y'all got them kids in the back going to some games. Now, I'll say this.

it's impressive to see the amount of NBA kids that playing these summer leagues and these different circuits. It's impressive from the standpoint that Beaumano, you're a California, I'm a California. When we were coming up, or I should say when I was coming up,

we would go from Fresno to L.A. for the weekend to play in slamming jam. This guy by the name of Izzy Washington ran this program, and you would find so many individuals, but you didn't have middle schoolers or elementary kids playing. Now you got the, it's ridiculous. I mean, these kids are saying, I want to be an NBA player. I didn't think that when I was seven years old or, let alone, 18 years old.

It just didn't happen. But it's a great outlet for kids and we support our kids any way, shape, for them we can. Now, see, I'm a Texas guy. And the way the kids got down on that was just running, hit each other in the backyard. You know what I'm saying? Just play an unsanctuantial. football. But everybody I know, man, all y'all with these kids and y'all taking them out all

weekend doing all of this. And I feel like explaining to people, it's still only 30 teams. Is all these kids doing more and more? It's still only 30 teams in the league. Now, look, it's a big old world. And this college money is about to completely change the game where, look, you come out of college and you made $8 million or something like that while you're in school. You're not set for life, but you shouldn't have to worry if you play this right. You know, and this is where parenting comes in to play. You know, your kid go to college for three years and they come out with $6 million. They shouldn't be going into the NBA saying, oh, I'm struggling.

I got to take care of my family. No, that should be one of their goals of, hey, I've always wanted to play in the NBA. But it is really something to see where the game is evolved in. And it also makes you kind of look at it from another perspective, too, Bumani, as far as okay, if my kid is 22 years old and he has $8 million, what are the chances that he's going to turn that into $16 million by the time he's 30, 35? You know, I think it kind of takes away that drive to learn and to want to earn when you're giving things quite like that without necessarily working for it.

I was having a conversation with a buddy of mine yesterday, and he's got a son that's a high-level player that's looking like he's going to be able, if nothing else, to make a lot of money in college. And again, good for them, because they was getting worked for so long. So being able to say that you can get that money in college, like, I'm happy for him. However, money has never made a teenager a likable person. It is not happened one time, right? Like, this is where this is all going to get a little bit weird because, like, the parenting game, it's interesting because the level of helicopter parenting that we see with people, and I want to see how many people figure out, you need to set it to where them kids

ain't, like, struggling in college, not hurting in college. But they ain't got to be walking around in college with a $100,000 chain. Because ultimately, you're going to have to have something in life to look forward to. Like, if it is better for you at this point in life than it ever is, and I know you know those guys who lived good while they was in the league and how hard it is now if they ain't got that money no more because what is there to look forward to? You have nothing left to look forward to. you did it all that fast.

My thoughts on it, Bumani, is that, okay, after basketball, then what? If you didn't take college seriously, if you didn't get out of there with a degree, because the degree for me was always after basketball. I was fortunate to do what I did, but I knew that I would need to rely on something afterwards because I'm not going to be able to do that forever. And there's a lot of guys that are thinking like, oh, I'll just do a podcast like Bumani Jones. I can do what he does. Really?

I mean, it's competitive out there. And so what are you going to study where you can necessarily go in that field? And you talked about walking around with a $100,000 chain. What about the cars? What about the place of residence? What about how they look at a dorm room or an apartment now? Those are all, I believe, those are part of the journey of where you're going. So you start small and you end up big.

If you start big, what do you go to from that? It's the toughest thing. Like this, it's going to be interesting watching all of this get navigated. It's somebody who advocated strongly for a very long time for this day to come, right? It's like good for all of you. But man, I hope you put some of it. If you put this bread away, you're going to wind up in so much of a better position and situation. I'm going to tell you this too.

Not that them college boys got money. It's a whole different game of shark that's coming at them. it's sharks coming at them in high school to get their hands on their financial you know financial management type stuff and everything else and then if we being real man there's sharks that be waiting in the tunnel in the NBA are now going to be on campus not even on campus they're at the at the a you tournament a you level baby and this is where unfortunately you had parents that were pimping their kids to be able to get this bread now you look at the dichotomy of a family situation because whenever an athlete feels like they've been taking advantage of, not just by somebody from outside, but from family, it creates a whole other level of distrust and it creates a level of separate people separating themselves from their families.

So what was looked at as a great opportunity, now they're going to, you know, and it just came to me right now, Beasley. Michael Beasley has been through a lot of things that we have seen for ages. He has been, I think, strong and brave enough to put it out there. Because I remember his situations. I remember him being a go-to guy in Phoenix and then wanted to change his world and all the things he had coming at him. We're talking about Michael Beasie, who could handle his business on the basketball court. But you look at him now, you're looking at him. You're talking about Michael Beasley, who could handle his business on the basketball court. but you look at him now, you look at the things that he's had to go through. That's unfortunate, and I don't wish that on anyone, but that's what we bring into effect of all this money now. And what about this, Bermani, how about figuring out somewhere they can get their money later in life? Once you hit 30, you get a certain amount of that money that you got early on.

And I know that this is something that they'd have to do within their circle of trust. but I just think that you give kids too much money early on it's nothing positive after that the one thing I do think though where Michael Beasley is an interesting case and I think most of the people who listen to this podcast are old enough to

have remembered seeing Michael Beasley at Kansas State but if you did not who you know his it was so easy for him I mean it was

It was just, there are people that you look, that I looked at when I got to the NBA, I was like, dang, if he didn't have basketball, I don't know what he would have. Yeah. He's one of them, Antoine Walker. I mean, the easiness with what they did and how they did things, man. It's just, you know, I just think that so many times we don't see that in individuals. And I'm going to go one more. Rudy Gay, the way that Rudy played, you were just like, man, is, it.

Is it difficult for you? You were born a basketball player. Yeah, the thing I wondered, though, about Beasley, I remember that year that Beasley was at Kansas State, I want to say Dana O'Neill wrote this profile of him for ESPN, and it was really long and it was really good. But the quotes from Michael Beasley screamed out, I don't want to leave school.

I'm not quite ready for the world. I would like to stay here and keep having fun. but obviously the money that was on the other side was too much. Do you know how badly somebody is saying that they want to stay somewhere or if they want to stay in Manhattan, Kansas? Like, do you realize what, like, with somebody, if they cry for helpers, I want to stay here and stay there? But I wonder for a guy like that,

if he can get that bread in college, then maybe you don't feel like you got to go to the league at 19 years old. Maybe you can take that time in college and grow up a little bit. I think it was what college life gave him. It was secluded. It was secluded. He didn't have to worry about them streets. He didn't have to worry about folks coming at them left or right.

He was able to just be happy and play basketball as he did in his early youth. So those are also some of the things that scream out during that time because, you know, it's something else, Bumani. Like when guys realize those that you were close to, their hands are out there. or their hands were in your pockets and it was unbeknownst to you. That's a, that's a, that's a situation that I've seen, I've been in, and it really breaks the trust to another level. Listen to this quote from that article I was just talking about from Beasley. And this is Michael Beasley and I want to say 20 years old, 19 or 20.

I'm still a kid. I'm still irresponsible and I want to still be irresponsible sometimes. When I go to the NBA, that's over. My life is America's life. LeBron James gets a speeding ticket. The cop goes on with his day, and LeBron is all over Sports Center. Britney Spears shaves their head.

It's everywhere. You shave your hair. Who cares? That's why I'm not sure I'm ready for the NBA. Yo, he was telling you. And that first year for him in Miami was like, oh, like him, Pat Riley has taken him, right? And all the way to the end,

Pat Riley told people that someday that boy's going to, figure it out and everybody's going to pay for it. Like he was so good that everybody had to try, but it was just a little bit more than he can handle. And unfortunately, when you don't have that what you say in the beginning, that support system, that support system that allows you to receive those nuggets from a Hall of Fame coach and individual like Pat Riley. If he sees something in you, you got to remember, this is the same man that had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This is the same man who had Madgy Johnson. This is the same guy who had LeBron James and Dwayne Wade at one time. So when you hear those things coming from someone quite like that, you have to take into account of what's being said and how good this individual is.

Yeah. Last thing I will also say is I can't think of a worse idea than sending that boy to Miami to get it started. I concur. I'm about to say you had you had you you had you you. You had you. You had. your run as a youngster in Miami, you know what I'm saying? But you know what, Domani, I was not. So let's take that into account. My time in Miami compared to his early days in Miami, people don't know me. People don't know me as a player of the year in college.

People don't know me as any of those things. He came out with, you know, the dollar signs was on his shoulders when he was coming out. You know, whereas I walk into a place, they were like, oh, Mina, get grande duettos. And that was it. So, you know, when someone did ask you why I did, no, I play basketball. Oh, yeah, for who?

Like, oh, we got a team, huh? That's what's up. That's what's up. But, yo, let me ask you, before we go too far on this, man, you have to love the thunder. Like I watch them play defense and I just think for myself, that's a team that Brooks Bowler would love to play. Oh, you know.

Let's take this into account. You look at each series they've been in and what they've done to the opponent from a defensive standpoint, just that alone. They're number one in defense this whole year during the season. And they take pride in it. They understand that when things aren't going well, it's not about our offense.

nine times out of 10, it's the defense that has not been felt for your opponent. And I just love it, man. I think about this where people talk about, oh, and he struggled. He did this, he did that. The struggle was the fact that he always has somebody on him when he was coming off a pick and roll. That was the struggle. Not going under.

They were wedging themselves between the screener and him and being. physical. That's what I love about that series concerning Minnesota. Let's talk, well, let's talk about Denver. MVP, got a team that is doing bigger and better things. Man, look here. Yes, Yokic looked good for half the time, but the other half of the time he was laboring because of the physicality of the game. Now, people talk about, oh, you know, they're being too physical. No, this is basketball. We're talking about the best players in the world. We don't want to give touch files. We want to, let's see how good they really are being able to create for themselves and deal with the physicality of the game. Shea Gilchrist, I mean, I watch him initiate contact quite like

Anthony Edwards initiated contact in his one-on-one moves. But it's just impressive for him that he gets just enough separation to go ahead and do what's necessary. And I haven't spoken about Williams yet because I figured we're going to have a lot of time to talk about how special he is. So actually, I kind of want to start there because we're talking now coming off of Game 5 with the Thunder Up 3-2 and Jaylon Williams scored 40 points in Game 5. And look, I realize I believe that there's a world where there's two kinds of people. People who think Scottie Pippet is overrated, people who think Scottie Pippen is underrated. There is no in between. But after he put up 40 points and people where there's two kinds, people who think Scottie Pippin is overrated, people who think Scottie Pippin is underrated.

There is no in between. But after he put up 40 points and people were then making the Scotty Pippin comparison, I'm like, nah, no, no, no, no. Scotty ain't giving you 40 in that game. Scottie wasn't that. Scottie couldn't initiate the offense and still be an offensive threat. The beauty about, and I was thinking about this, MoMA, knowing that I was going to be on your show, thinking about two types of scores that you need on the floor and also some of the

else who can benefit from those scores. And you look at Gilchrist and Williams. They're two different type of scores. Both can get downhill. One's a little bigger in Williams. But the fact that he is bigger, he doesn't settle for the jump shots. And I love that they get them moving instead of an ISO post up. So you look at his points in the point, his points in the paint last night. that's the part that really demoralizes a team because someone just keeps coming. That's what we remember about Kobe with Shat. He kept on putting pressure on the defense, getting in the paint. It wasn't about settling for jump shots.

It was about getting to a point where now when you do take that jump shot, you have so much space. But I love what Williams was able to do. In addition to, you never saw Williams looking at Gilchrist kind of like, No, no, no, this is my turn. It's my turn. No, he knows that's the MVP. So when they did their screen and roll, it was more about, okay, I've taken the burden off of Shea because I've been able to do these things.

So now let me go ahead and get it to him because the team, or I should say the defense is preoccupied with what I'm doing because of the attacking. I feel like I saw both of those guys make like a graduation-type step in this. postseason because I had questions about in spite of how good Shea Gilges was and he won the MVP obviously and it wasn't like if he I thought Yokic was the MVP but it's not a I'm mad this other guy won it. You know what I mean? Like he was he was right there in the same space. And with Williams, my question was okay, are we really talking about a number two? Though what it means to be a championship number two is different in this era of parity, right? But did I think given what I had seen earlier

in this postseason, the Jay and Williams could give you 40 in the must win game five No, I didn't. Did I think that Shay could be the guy to get that 15 in the last five minutes, not because he was just hot, but because he was going and getting it. Did I think he could do those things? No, now that I have seen these things, oh, oh, oh, oh. Like, I didn't think he couldn't do it. Right, right.

But it was a-you didn't think he could, though. Yeah, I mean, you think about it. This team is only in the playoffs for the second year. That's it. So let me share something with you about Sam Press. Jesse. Sam has developed a great environment there where all the players want to do is become better. And they have the opportunity to do that there. I know it sounds minimal. But it's not a lot of distractions in OKC. If you truly love the game of basketball, you'll be in the gym working on your game, a la Kevin Durant.

Yeah. Russell Westbrook, James Hardin. Hold on, hold on. Hold on. Hold on. And which one of them needed to get out of there? come on now and the one that needed to get out it was contractual things with James you know but once he got out

he was like my eyes is such a glory of what adult establishments are right there but they've been able to create that

environment there in OKC and when you have kids today because you have a lot of players today, Bumano, who love the game and they just want to be in the gym. I remember when Victoro DiPo was drafted to Orlando. Jack had to send him, Jack Vaughn

at the time was the coach, he had to send him out of the gym because he'd stay in the gym. You had gym rats. And there was a time where guys would work out for a while, but then it's like, hey, what are we doing tonight? You see kind of the effect,

an impact of what Kobe was. You see the impact of what MJ was as far as, hey, man, you got to get better. How do you get better? You put time in on your game. And so for me, I see what they're doing in that culture, because if it's truly about basketball, then this is your, this is your Madison Square Garden. You can become any and everything that you want here. We've seen others that's done it, and it's no coincidence that you've had.

had three MVP's to come out of there as far as Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Gilchrist. I was talking about the Desmond Bay trade on Monday. And I still don't know if that's a guy you give up for first round picks for. I don't care. You can explain all the nuances and all of that stuff. You know what I mean? But I'm still not sure that's what you do. But the point that I made was I don't know if Oklahoma, I don't know if Orlando.

I'm not as wild about Palo as other people. I think Wagner is good, but I don't feel like they have like that front line guy. But what they put together is a collection of pretty good players, right? Low space. I think Powell is better than pretty good. But, you know, I don't see that that top top guy, except in this new NBA, I don't know how important that is because of the level of parity that's across the league. Except Oklahoma City does have that top line guy. And it looks like they might have that classic number two guy.

And then we start talking about Chet. and they got all the first round picks, and they got a deep team with a bunch of guys who just do stuff. This could be terrifying for a long time. Like, I don't want to act like these finals are over. But even if they're not over, next year, I know who I think going to win the championship. So, again, I was going into something about having two dynamic scores on your team.

We saw it in Shaq and Kobe. You saw it where Shaq was the most dominant person that he can get the ball inside to him, and you had Kobe that was able to do things, but it was their system that allowed just two guys to be the dominant forces, but you also had guys that could knock down three-point shot, as you see with OKC.

I have to say this when you think about the dynamics of what's going on in OKC, it's kind of a la San Antonio. When you have Tony who can get downhill, You have Manu who can get downhill. They get downhill in different types of ways, but they continue to keep the pressure on the defense. Then when it gets too consuming, you can dump it to TD on the block, and he can be that force there as well. So when you look at OKC, I see a lot of the similarities.

Chad Holmgren right now, he's doing his part, but he's not required to try to be something else. He is interesting. I thought he was going to have a career night in Indy the other night when he had 15, I think it was in the first quarter or the first half. And then it kind of went silent. But he gave you something in. And what happens with that is as he continues to mature, he's going to find other ways to get involved as well.

You were saying that not no matter what happens now, but looking at OKC's team, the only thing that will hold them back, Bomani, is when someone, if someone, decides, yeah, I've had enough of this. I want to go be the guy. But then they got 13 first round picks in the next six years. And again, I credit Sam. Sam Presley, you know, I saw him in a clip yesterday when it got it, it was either out of bounds or something, but I saw him. He looked like he was ready to run on the floor. I remember Sam

when he was in his infant stages here in San Antonio. And I'm just proud of what he's been able to do there. But again, you look at what they have going on. They keep it simple, man. They keep it simple. Kids come in there to work, but they understand how important the defensive side is. And, you know, quiet as kept. Indiana for East Coast, East Coast team. They're doing it really good on the defensive side as well. They're making them. I felt like they had a chance last night, but I think they cut it to four or six.

And you saw OKC settling for a couple of jump shots or trying to force the issue and having turnovers. But then they got back to that ball movement, body movement, and it was all she wrote. Yeah, I saw Sam at Summer League. I want to say in 21. And he was like, you know, I thought I did, I push back against the allegations that they were tanking. I thought they were going young.

Like that's, and that's not necessarily the same thing. The process game, they were intentionally trying to be as terrible as possible. That was not the same thing that was that was going on in Oklahoma City. And Sam was like, you know, I can explain what's going on. I'm like, do you have to explain nothing to me? It's very simple. You got a, you got a place where you got to draft the guys and you got to make it worth it for them to state. And so you're getting all the picks you can so that you can increase the likelihood that you find the guy and show them. And this is again different between Philadelphia because in Philadelphia they were building losers.

Oklahoma City was like we may be losing games, but we are not building losers. You know, it's interesting how you worry that. I like that. You know, you're building. You're also auditioning kids to see who can handle what. do you truly love the game? Do I see fight in you right now? Because it's not that you find the fight later on once you get a couple of pieces. It's what happens in the process of the building up. And then you go out and you get the big from, shoot, kid now. Yes, that came from New York.

Yep. You know, it's interesting how you look at the dynamics, how things have changed with him on the floor. you know, I love the fact that people talk about guys can't do something in the NBA, but yet still they're on a winning team, and they're a great part of that winning formula. So to all those that hear the naysayers and what they say, y'all keep doing what you're doing because it's not about what others think. It's about what the organization thinks. But, again, these auditions, this is the same, well, kind of the same scenario when David Robinson was shut down. At that time, you had a bunch of guys, Courtney Alexander. He had all

these guys in San Antonio that were getting a lot of minutes, Derek Dowell, you know, and people that folks won't know today. But they happen to get that number one pick and those pieces that play really well were able to fit right along with those guys. All right. Coming up next, we're going to talk a little bit about what's going on with the Pacers and also the possibility to disperse. might be making a move to get a certain dude. Talk about that coming up next. The NBA finals are finally here, and this is your last chance to win some real cash

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We're all better with help. Visit betterhelp.com slash Beaumani to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp, h-elp.com slash Beaumani. All right, we are back with Bruce Bowen coming into game six for the

Pacers. You think they got any chance? I do think they have a chance. I love what Carlisle is able to do with this team. And in this team, you just find that they fight to the end. They, you know, It started, obviously, with the Nick series and being down. And you saw in that group, man, like, hey, we still got a chance.

It's okay. They extend their defense. And I think that's something that gives OKC a problem. And thank goodness you have two ball handlers that can handle the ball initiate offense for OKC. But I love the fact that he has these young boys pressing up and really doing a fantastic job against, you know, some talented individuals. So with Carlisle, if it wasn't him,

I might have a different opinion, but I still think that this group can still possibly win the championship. Now, I didn't pick them to win the championship, but I do feel they can. And obviously, a lot of that depends on Halliburton and how he's playing. And, you know, I was watching him last night, And man, there's moments where if you're not scoring the ball or you're not doing something, it impacts all your game and you just look like a slug out there. I'll say this. He got a little apprehensive on his shot last night, but I still saw him making plays for others.

It wasn't the soul called, oh, man, my game ain't right, and I'm just over here. No, I still saw him in a competitive way trying to get things done. But unfortunately for him, it got a little bit in his head with his shooting the ball yesterday. So you think that it was okay to leave him out there even though he was physically, clearly not there? Well, I think it's okay because he's a leader of that team. He's one of the lead. No one else can do what he does. And so, you know, it's just one of those situations.

Unfortunately, you know, the next day, If he doesn't play and they get smashed, what does that do to the morale of everyone else then? So you have to take those things into account. I don't think this was a situation like a 1997 Pat Riley keeping guys out there too long. This was just a situation where, you know, he's not playing well. And he said he's hobbled a little bit. But he didn't look, he didn't look bad to me in the second half. as far as his movement.

Now, they said something in the first half, but in the second half, he didn't look as bad. It was just the fact that he wasn't making shots. I will say this. I thought early that for the first time that the fight had been beat out of them. And that is what has been so impressive about them. But nope, incorrect.

The fight was still there. They still came and they still brought it. And I have never, and look, they had these moments where they seem to be a bit flustered in the first half where they just thought the, This wasn't a game where the thunder was taking the ball for me from them. It was where they were giving the ball away, right? But they pulled it back together.

They got it there. In the second half, they pulled the lead into two. And that's the part that gets me. It's just like, I think Oklahoma City is a better team, but you can't lapse against them. Like, that's the thing on both sides is you're really going to need to bring it for 48 because they're going to be on you for 48. And you look at the bench.

in the bench production for Indiana yesterday, that's who led to Calis. I believe it was Little Guard. Not McConnell. McConnell. McConnell. McConnell Addova. McConnell Addova. Out there, boy. Man, and the thing is, they play without fear.

And they're competitive. You look at, and those are the games where coaches come back and they're talking amongst themselves, and they said, I wish we had more McConnell's out there. You know, but it wasn't a dog effort from the others. So you don't say that. You're just happy that you have him. But that's what I mean, Bomani.

It's like he got going and I think it sends the message to OKC. Like, hey, hey, hey, remember, they beat us game one because we were up. And I felt like there's moments with OKC that they're looking for the knockout and the blowout. and that's when you start selling for some of those jump shots. That's when you become a little less protective with the basketball or a little less careless with the basketball. So you see, it's still interesting how Matham still hasn't had that consistent three-game stretch for Indiana.

We see he has a physicality, but I saw some, I saw his youth yesterday. And in that, his youth was, he got bumped on the shot and he kind of, hey, I got bumped. You're not a star in this game. You're going to go through some bumps. You're not Siakum. And man, let me tell you this, for Siakum still to be playing at this high level in season,

I don't know what season this is for him, but he's still a problem. And I mean, like, problem like Mononobli problem because they seem so wild, but they're finishing at the basket. Him in transition, they don't know what to do. You got to meet a guy like that in transit because he gets going with a head of steam and you think, oh man, he's just wow.

No, it's purposeful with what he's doing and he's finishing at the basket. It still always look like see, I'm about to elbow, somebody in the face. I would hate to guard him. It always look like it's this close. You know what? This basketball, I get tired of y'all talking about

Now we review things and was it a basketball play? You know what? You think Charles Oakley made basketball plays all the time? No, you run across the bench, take that young fella. You know, they need that in their life, man. Did you just say they needed in their lives? They need it, bro.

You need a little this. This helps you remember, like, I better not go over there like that again. And my grandmother said hard, hard head, make it soft behind it. And she used to always use this phrase with me, you don't believe fat meat is greasy. And I'm like, yes, I do. No, you don't because you keep doing wrong. Hey, man, I do believe in the playoff foul.

Like we've seen it had a couple of good files. I'm like, nope, playoff foul. And they were respected as being playoff foul. Now, you know, Bumani, I'm not a lover of officials. But I mean, I hate that every single time people want to, they want to do this. You know what this does? This takes the onus off the ref. This tells the ref you're not good at doing your job.

We want to see something in second time, slower time to see if, yeah, we can get it right then. But I just feel this way is that just as many as what people call bad calls. There's just as many good calls. And it's not one-sided except with that one official who's no longer officiating the sport of basketball anymore. I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about these guys that we have out there. And I love the fact that, you know, if they make a mistake, they make a mistake. But I guarantee you this, a mistake is not just made for the opponents.

It's also for the home team as well. And I just wish we would stop that with the whole thing when something happens. Oh, let's go to replay. it's going to replay. It stops the floor of the game and then you're taking the owners off of the refs and not saying that they can do a good job. My goodness, we got three of them out there on the floor, man. Now, I want to switch gears a little bit, and I'm a start general and then bring it back to specific. Generally speaking, do you think that teams should still be in the market for Kevin Durant, given that your options are really either a one-year rental or you're going

probably need to give them a two-year extension. So let's say you're signing up for three more years of Kevin Durant. I don't think so. And I say it with this. But, money, there was a time where guys hung around the NBA made for financial reasons, you know, bad

investment. This is kind of cream I do with you bar kind of thing. Or you know, the send-off you know, with Julius Irving. Nowadays I think you have too many guys hanging around because they love what it does for them. It is not about the finances.

It is not about anything other than wanting to be in that limelight. And I guess it's their high to be still involved in basketball. When you hit 40 in the NBA or 37, if you got a lot of minutes, you shouldn't have a lot of minutes. If you are being that mentor a la Vince Carr, who bounced around all over the place, bounced around all over the plate. But he was mentoring on that bench. He was that other coach for that team to help, you know, pass that message on

what's necessary in the game of basketball. So I think there's a lot of guys hanging around too much right now and it takes away from others developing and being a better opportunity for them. But you're older, you're talking about wearing tear on the body, and you see him breaking down at the most, inopportune times. That only happens because you shouldn't be playing a sport like that at that age with all the miles that you might have on your body. You know, I have mostly in the context

of LeBron, people have gotten upset with me where I've said this, where I'm like, I'm ready for the next generation to have their place. Like, I don't think that guys are supposed to be at the top of mind for this long, right? And so it's incredible that LeBron has done it. And I can't blame him for not stopping because he can still play. Like I'm not saying he should quit because I'm ready for something new. But I am saying in terms of like how we consume the product or the natural rhythm of a league, it's odd that the guys that are still at top of mind are Steph Curry after 16 years in the NBA. LeBron after 21 years in the NBA or 22 years in the NBA.

I'm sorry. James Harton, 16 years in the NBA. And we could go on with guys that are in the same neighborhood. And so it is a big change that guys are staying this long. And I think the point that you hit that kind of explains something that I had not properly expressed was that guys didn't always play until literally they could not play anymore. Right. Now with Durant, it's interesting though, because he doesn't play a lot of games.

He's still really good when he plays. And it's hard to imagine there's ever going to be a world where he can't get shots up. But at some point being Kevin Durant in year 19, whether it be year 19 or near year 20, at some point the payoff is going to change. And to add to that, I just want everyone to understand this. You're not saying that he cannot do it. You're not saying he's not talented enough to do it. But I go into this, the wear and tear on the bodies,

like, I don't know off the top of my head, but Kevin's average minutes per game for his career has got to be in the high 30s. and we are already talking about someone who's having the Achilles issue, and the frame of Kevin is not one of bulk. That's the thing that's impressed about LeBron. It allows him to, it allows LeBron to move over to another position, whereas LeBron's not, he's not on the wing anymore.

He's guarding the fours and the fives now. So because of his physical being, he could do that. Kevin is he's he is not that that big guy now you might get him a good one two years maybe but if you're building who's going to replace that those are the things that come to my mind when you talk about what he's doing but not talking about his skill set but what happens after two years when you have vested a lot into him and now what do you do in year three yeah by the way Kevin Durant average 36 and a half minutes last season at in year 18, 36 and a half minutes a game. I got to say this, but my, that's impressive. It really is impressive from the standpoint of all the years and all the minutes that he's played. He has never been a, he's never been a role guy, you know, where he got 12 minutes and had

a solid 12. I went three for four. That's the thing is that he doesn't know how to be anything else, which is a credit to who he is. But that is truly amazing. Like the minutes that I play, I was looking at the Olympic team last year. And, you know, with him, Steph, and LeBron,

those three individuals, I was like, wow, that's a lot of years on. the floor, but the beauty of the IQ, I don't think you could ever, ever get something like that anywhere else. Now, then you have, you know, you had, uh, uh, uh, Joel and B'd. Like, he didn't look right to me on that team. It was just, it was moving too fast. And that, that, that Fibre game is different. And to be able to adjust to what it is there, ball movement, body movement. It is not for everybody.

And I think that's where the struggle was with Tatum. And I remember he got into the game and he had a rip opportunity just rip and go to the basket. He was trying to figure out what he wanted to do. And I know a lot of people are on Steve Kerr, like, oh, he should have played this, this and that. But I just see the difference in that game over there. You can't just plug NBA guys in and say, hey, we got them.

Yeah. Now, I'm asking this. You're San Antonio guy, the Spurs, got the number two pick two years after they got the number oneest pick of the last, however many years. Do you think that they should take Dylan Harper? Oh, man. No question. Oh, yeah. Man. And I say it for this, Dylan Daddy and I, we real close. And one of the things that Ron talks about is the culture. of San Antonio for my son being a professional basketball player. He's going to learn things about being professional. And there's always a point in life when you see your son playing at the highest level that you just realize that you can't do nothing for him. And you want him in an environment where things can help him continuously improve, not just as a basketball player, but as an individual as well.

We saw that with Dale Curry when Steph went to Golden State. Dale wasn't in the gym with him with all of them shots doing that anymore. Dale was kicking balls to him because he couldn't reach it. Now, here you go. So when you have these types of scenarios, I think it only helps. And his skill, I look at it like this. A deer in Fox, you have Castle, you have Wembe. you there's not going to be pressure for him he's going to have a lot of one-on-one opportunities where he

just play the game it's not a lot of places you can do that and people tend to learn that later in life when they want to be the man and then they become the man then they realize oh wow it's two people on me all the time i no longer have the freedom to do those other things so i'm all for you know, Dylan being a spur because of what it can do for the club, but also what it can do for him. Yeah, so you mentioned Fox. And I thought that trading for Fox was a good idea for them when they did it. But I'm also not the biggest fan of Fox's game. I do feel good about like if you need somebody to get it done when it matters, Fox isn't going to be scared.

But I feel like there's, you know what I mean? And there's a value to that. But there's also a certain inefficiency to his game. I always wonder like what exactly we're going to get here. Like I think if they knew that Dillon Harper was going to be available for them to take in this draft, they probably don't go get Fox. Well, but that's the thing. That's the beauty of having these type of problems.

Because I think what Fox will add is that he's never had a group quite like this. He's never been in a, I think a surrounding as far as an organization that, is continuously trying to allow you to be the best version of you, but more importantly, allowing winning situations to take place. That's what it has to be first and foremost. Yeah, this is, I've been looking at Victor over there with the monks. You know what I'm saying?

You know, seeing them down over there with the Shiland monks. I like this. Like, I dig the fact that at his age, he's thinking about the world in this way. it is really over there, like kicking it with the monks. And you know what, Bumani, how does he learn that? Who influences that? That's another opportunity.

That's a Greg Popovich deal right there, getting you outside of yourself to be a better version of yourself and did deeper into something. And I was the thing that I was always impressed about with Popper's, his education, all the reading that he did. He's always handing books out. My thoughts are, how do you know that that book is for me? That's because you've taken an interest in me and you feel like this will enhance what I do.

When it comes to Victor, it's slowing the game down in a way that allows him to see it differently, but also understand what's required around him as well, the responsibility that you have. And I think him going around in monks, he's learning a lot of things to be able to go. there and do that. No, this is the year with the Spurs, because to be honest, they've been bad for a little bit too long. This is the time. Like, before they got Victor, I didn't think they had any excuse to be as bad as they

were. Now, this is a team that should be top six. Okay. We'll say top eight at least. Yeah. Because it still takes time, too, with guys that have never been in that environment as far as playoffs. understanding that that back-to-back game, even though you're playing a last place team in the league

on your back-to-back, the second leg of the back-to-back, you still have to prepare as if that's the top team in the league. And understanding that it is a requirement now that you give your best effort night in, night out, not that you didn't before, but sometimes you had lapses in thoughts and felt like, oh, okay, it was just one turnover. I'll get it back in the third quarter. now it brings everything into view as far as this is what's necessary for us to be the best version of us and we can't take steps backwards and we can't take nights off. All right. Last thing for you, the Knicks need a head coach.

You down? I was going to ask you, you think they should hire him, but you over there looking like, I love the idea of you coaching Carl Anthony Tiles. That's what you want to do. You want to get in there. Honestly, you know what, both. I, Bo, B'amani, I enjoy connecting with guys. And I believe that it's, it's my connection with individuals that allows them to see past what they see.

It's being able to encourage guys and say, hey, man, no, you're not just that. You're this. And so if you have that, if I ever had that type of opportunity, I'd love to do it because it's, it's what we do. It's you give them back to the game. It's not just about, oh, I got this guy, I want him to shoot threes all the time. Now, let's make it where they don't have to work so hard for their baskets. I watch Jalen Brunson do what he did this year.

And yes, it was impressive, but all I kept thinking was he's so little tired. Man, he has to work so hard for his baskets. I think when you're able to simplify things and make it where, a guy can get a quick layup or a quick postup right into their play or a quick shot because of the movement, that's what you have to figure out, especially at the NBA level. It can't be AAU on steroids because that's kind of what I saw with Houston a little bit this year. I saw a AAU squad going up against a high IQ squad against Golden State. And you can have all the athletes in the world. But if they can't play with one another, if they can't get the ball from one side of the floor to the other, if they can't set a screen for one another, then what good is having those athletes? Jalen Green looked real good when he scored a bunch of points. But what happened after game two or one?

And we didn't see the same, Jalen. And those are the things where I think it's about getting into that, the brain of that player and say, hey, no, we can't skip steps. Come on, this is how they're playing you. you have to be able to fight through it. If someone make mention about your nail color, don't worry about that. It's just something they're saying to try to get you off your game.

And you're talking about the one who does it the best in the NBA as far as Jemond Green. So understand everything he says, you just got to take with a grain of salt. Those are the things I enjoy about this game. And I tell you, I think about watching the Knicks and Brunson

and all that flopping and stuff he do on defense. I think he has, Halfway there, he ready for that Bruce Boe on offense. He'd do that. He ready for that Bruce Bow and touch on defense. He's ready for it. See, you made me get close to the iPad right now.

Every time I do this, I end up having to tell my therapist, but you know what? He got to me. It's been years. He haven't been on all the stuff that I'm feeling right now. I knew, but I didn't know exactly when. I've been waiting for hours. trying to finish it.

I've been double-dutching. I've been like, how could I get to it? But New York would love it, Bruce. Man, look here. New York would love that Bruce Boyd defense. Absolutely. Not only will Oak be,

Oak would be able to come back in the building if I was there. This is what I'm saying, man. I'm going to go over there if they'll let me in the building. I asked them for a press pass for Winby's first game. They ain't even return my email. I'm like, oh, baby.

I think I'm on the list. What did you do? What did you say? about them. Probably just saying something honest about the Knicks. Well, you know, what I was happy about is that they didn't talk about the double dribble of Halliburton in that game where they end up losing because it was, it was a, it was a faux paugh, but I remember a time where they would have complained about that and complained about it and forgot that they had a game two to play as well. So, you know, but that that Knicks thing,

unfortunately, I would love to know what is it exactly that you want to accomplish. Because too many times in today's game, unless you're with an established organization like San Antonio, Golden State, Miami Heat, OKC, too many times these players go to the owner. You know, there's a time where a player would go to the owner. And the first thing the owner would say is, have you spoken to coach? They're allowed to backdoor the coach, and now they're running things. I get it. It's a players league. But you know what?

Just because you have a smart student in the classroom, he still needs a teacher. He still needs a professor. And these young boys need the guidance. It's not AAU, and you're going to jump to another team because the coach took you out. He took you out because you weren't playing defense. or he took you out because you didn't run to play. You still need accountability in this. And it's getting lost because people want to be buddy up with the owners.

And some of the owners are falling for it. Bruce Bowen, my man, always a pleasure. And I apologize for waiting so long, brother. That's on me, man. But, hey, I did tell you, you got a job, baby. And I get, if you got, if you was just, if you were just chilling, now I might have a problem. No, man, like I say, I just, I know you a busy man down there. Are you doing your coaching?

You doing your daddy and you know what I'm saying? You got things to do, brother, that's all me. Well, brother, hey, let's make sure it doesn't go so long next time. Hey, man, you got it, brother. I appreciate it. And ladies and gentlemen, oh, you got something else. Well, I was going to say, and you can take me out to dinner. And next time I'm in your area.

You do that. You let me know when you're in New York. You know what I'm saying? You make it up here. I got you. I even know the spot. Bit tight! That's what I'm saying.

That's what I'm saying. My brother, I appreciate you. All right, Ryan, you got Draft King. Picks for the people. Sure do. We're looking ahead to game six on Thursday. I like O.KC to close it out. So I'm going to take Shane Gilders-Alexander to have more than 33 and a half points.

I don't think Tyrese Halliburton's going to do well. So I like under 15 and a half points for him. The NBA finals are finally here. And this is your last shot to win some real cash before the season ends. So don't miss your last shot to win cash this NBA season. Download the Draft King's Pick Six app right now and use code Beaumani. That's code Belmoney. New customers play $5, get $50 in bonus picks instantly.

Ride the upside only on Draft Kings pick six. The crown is yours. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 8887877-7-7 or visit ccpg.org in Connecticut. It must be 18 plus age and eligibility restrictions vary by jurisdiction. Pick six not available everywhere, including New York and Ontario.

Voidware prohibited. One per new customer. Bonus awarded as non-withdrawable pick-six bonus bics that expired 14 days. When did time offer terms at pick six.draftings.com slash promos. And ladies and gentlemen, thanks so much for joining us here on The Right Time. We do this three times a week. Ryan Brumley handles everything behind the scenes. Thank you, sir.

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