The Ringer NBA Show - Austin Responds to Latest Drama and Hands Out Preseason Awards | Off Guard

Episode Date: September 22, 2023

Austin and Pausha review the Charlotte Hornets conversation from last week’s episode and Austin responds to comments made around the league (1:05). Then, they hit on Jarred Vanderbilt’s extension with the Lakers and Kelly Oubre Jr. signing with the Sixers (8:31). Later, they make their preseason award predictions for MVP, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved, and more (11:57)! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Off Guard. I'm Pasha and joining me, as always. It's your co-host. My co-host. The Robin to my Batman. Yeah, the Robin to your Batman, man, the controversial.

What am I? Am I an antagonist now? Like, what's going on here? You're heavy on. I woke up this morning to a lot of, a lot of posts. What's going on? You want to talk about it? Do you want to touch up on it?

We can go right through it. Bring it up. I've never been afraid. Are you allowed? I just want to, are you allowed in Charlotte at this moment? I would hope they'd embrace me in Charlotte. I'm trying to help the problem,

not add to it. Everything I said was accurate, by the way, and I think the majority of people, especially people with common sense. Let's tell us. The listeners might not know what's going on so long we fill them in. Yeah.

You know, last week you said a couple things about the Hornets, you know, cleaning up, you know, what they have going on in their organization. building around Lamello. I don't think you said anything too out of pocket or anything like that, but it looks like Miles Bridges. Anything out of pocket.

Yeah. It's anything out of pocket. Miles Bridges came back and said some things about you. In turn, you said some things. Kyrie Irving jumped in, which was kind of cool. That was pretty random. What were your thoughts? Well, Kyrie was alluding to Miles not putting an address on it.

Secondly, I have no problem with Miles Bridges, besides the obvious. I don't know what he's talking about. I don't wish any negativity upon the guy. We didn't even mention his name, by the way. First and foremost, I think we both agree. We think he's a really good player. I have no problem, Miles.

I like his addition. That's why in my post that I responded to Miles, if people can go back and look at it, I said at the end of it, again, I said, why don't you stop focusing on me and worry about you being a good complimentary piece to Lamello again? And I said again, because he was. He was a good piece for Mellow.

Mello and him had the lobs. They had the crazy highlights. Yeah. Like I got nothing against the dude. But the fact is we talked about Charlotte and we talked about their consistent issues just in terms of guys getting in trouble there. It's been a problem, which I don't care if you like me or not like me. That is a fact, right?

We didn't say his name. I mean, ended like that, man. I can get nothing against him, bro. I wish him nothing but the best, the success. We've talked about this before. But it is what it is. that you're a part of the media, you have a podcast, you make appearances on ESPN, you're going to say things people don't like, players don't like, fans don't like.

When do you decide, like obviously this time you decided to respond. Have you figured out when and when you should respond, when you shouldn't, pick your battles? No, I haven't figured that out yet. It's still a balance for me to say or not say something yet. You still have a player's mentality. And I'm still playing. Even though I haven't signed a deal yet, I'll be playing somewhere in the coming months, coming weeks, whatever the case may be.

It's hard for a current player to have a pod or take a stance on any topic because when you're currently playing, it bothers players differently than when you're retired. And that's just a fact. I've had a couple retired players talk about me in recent weeks. I didn't respond to them because it just doesn't really matter. And that's just the way it goes, depending on the player, obviously, depending on the player. But it hits a little bit different when you're younger and these are your peers, right?

And it affects me personally, like, just to keep this simple, so people really understand the tightrope that mean you have to walk on a week-to-week basis. If there was a topic of who's better, Kevin Durant or Kauai Leonard, healthy, which player would you take? No matter what side I take, I'm offending the opposite player. So if you think that guy wants me on his team, he wouldn't. Just because I just said my opinion, that that's how hard it is to have a podcast as you're currently playing. So it is what it is, man. I've already decided that if we're going to do this, I'm going to be honest.

I'm going to state my opinion. I'm going to never intentionally try to ruffle feathers or like I'll never, ever try to offend anybody. But I'm going to be honest and have an opinion about something. And I hope that our audience appreciates that. And a lot of people don't know this, but you take a lot of the stuff you say out of the pod before we put it out because you want to make sure that you're... Yeah. People have no idea of stuff that we take off of this. If people, you want to make sure that you're not offending people.

Yeah, I try my hardest to not do it. Exactly, man. People want to have an opinion about it. If Miles, if anybody else want to have an opinion about it, so be it. Again, I have no negativity towards him. I want him to go in Charlotte next year and kill it, get paid, any discussion. All right, well, the switch gears. You recently did Bill Simmons podcast.

I thought you killed it. You did a really good job. I'd be a little jealous. I don't know why you brought your A-game for him. I mean, you definitely brought their A-plus-plus game for him. Are you saying I'm not pulling the best out of you? You are just the most, you're just, you are just, you love to just push and antagonize and just. I have a question.

Was it, was it easy to do it with Bill? It was definitely free flow. And the guys up, he's a podcast beast. I really enjoyed working with Bill yesterday. That was, or the other day, it was amazing. Obviously, he has a huge podcast and has been crushing it in this market for a long time. But you do a great job, my guy. Don't sell yourself short, man.

You're doing great, bro. Just relax. Just relax. I got out of that pod that I never noticed before. You guys talked about how this generation, they're missing out on players from the 90s because maybe they don't have the highlight package. For example, you said, like, you'll see a step on Marbury or on Iverson highlight, two-minute highlight clip on TikTok or something.

The kids now could watch it. But there's a lot of players back then that aren't crossing over like Glenn Rice or some guys like that. And it made me think of that. Like, Tim Duncan's just going to fall by the wayside because he's not like out up there. not, I mean, his guy never, you know he never won less than 50 games in a season? Like, it's crazy. Yeah. It's, and it's one of the most. I don't know if Tim falls by the wayside. I think his name will always be relevant. I do agree with you in terms of familiarity. How do you even say that? Immigarity. You know, it's crazy? I've never said that word the first time

correct. It takes a couple times. I don't think people will maybe be familiar with his game long term, just in terms of like his highlights, like you said. But like his name is just too, iconic to be lost. But the players that you said, like, who didn't... You're not watching the Eddie Jones. No, like, Eddie Jones. Betrichsman. I said, like, Terrell Brandon and like all these players, uh, Glenn Robinson. It makes you think what players now that are obviously relevant they're playing are playing are going to, you know, 20 years from now, they're just kind of kind of slip out. If people are forgetting about Glenn Rice and Glenn Robinson and these other guys,

I got no shot. In like 20 years from now, God knows where my clothes are going to be. Your media career is going to be bigger than the playing career. That's, you know, that's that's how you hold on. That's how Kenny Smith still has some clips out there. He's out there doing his stuff on the TNT crew. You know, that's what I got to be on. Otherwise, I got, unless you're like Kyrie or one of these guys, man, that's just going to like transcend in the next 20, 30 years where people are just going to always go back to watch his clips.

Sidebar, Damien and Liller recently said that Kyrie has the most beautiful game of all time. Exactly. You said sexy. He said beautiful. Exactly. So I'm not crazy. You're not crazy. Yeah, I'm not crazy.

Yeah. I say like one thing and everybody's like, oh, oh, pause. I'm like, bro, what? I said his game, his basketball. game is in a very attractive game to watch. There's nobody prettier with a basketball on their hands. And just in terms of the poetry emotion in which he moves, the way he finishes it at the basket,

the way he's able to get a shot off than Kyrie. And Damien alluded to it as well. So, I mean, there we go. There's nothing better than when you say something and then like months or weeks later, someone likes it the same exact thing. And everybody's like, oh, yeah, it's a good point. Right.

Say, bro, we said this. Sexy and beautiful, different but the same. I get it. Since our last pod, Jared Vanderbilt signed four years 48 with the Lakers. Good deal. That's a great deal. Great deal. He's such a, he's like a perfect complimentary.

And it's like it's a right contract for him. Anymore would have been a little nutty because he's, he's an energy guy at the end of the day. His talent is that he plays hard. He's not a guy that's going to hit open shots. He's a guy that down the stretch of a game, he has to a little bit worry about if he's out there in the court just in terms of him hitting free throws or him kind of being a liability on offense

because he's not an offensive skilled guy. But his impact on the game is felt with his deal. defense, his energy, his rebounding, and just overall, he makes like winning hustle plays. I'm glad you said winning plays because when he was on the Timberwolves, he was on that, he started on that season where they had a breakthrough run and went to the, you know, got out of the play in. Yeah. He goes to the Lakers.

Their season, I mean, obviously a lot of people get a lot of credit for that, but their season turns around when he joins the Lakers. The guy does make winning plays. He does make winning plays. Absolutely. That's why he got paid. He's about to make $12, $13 million a year next year. So, or this year.

So that tells you what hustling can do for. you. I mean, Pat Bev did the same thing at the point guard position. So, you know, Jerry with his height and his size and his ability to guard multiple positions, the Lakers need something like that because they got scoring. You got LeBron. You got AD. You got Reeves out there. You got D. Lowe. You got a bunch of guys that want to put the ball up into the basket. You need some guys that are going to stop the ball from going into the basket. And essentially, they're doubling down with Vando, which I think is a good deal, man. He deserves it. He's played great the last couple of seasons. Like you said, he was huge for Minnesota.

And he was huge for that turnaround last year. He was a big part of that switch up in the Lakers season. So, yeah, congrats to Banda. Another signing that happened since our last pod, Kelly Ubre, went to the Sixers. Yes. You know what's nutty about that is when I saw him sign, I was like, oh, Kelly signed, damn, finally, you know? And then I'm like, shit, hope I'm next.

And then I'm like looking at his numbers. I was like, I average 20 points per game. I'm like, he averaged a dub last year and just signed. Right. He averaged 20 a game. And I know it's for our favorite team, but he still average 20 a game. I don't care who you are or what situation you're in. Averaging 20 points a game is no easy feat.

For sure. So congrats to K.O. I played with him in D.C. Cool, cool dude. It took a step back from like the social media, like Insta. Like he was like built for all that. He's got the look. He's got like his own unique style.

And like when he was with DC, like remember he was like. Tommy Poppy. Yeah, like this whole thing and girls loved him. And he like really fell out like, like, purposely. Like it's not like he wanted, yeah, he like wanted to like not do that, which has always been interesting because I feel like that's a market he could have tapped into. Like I feel like I could, if you look at fashion week and all this stuff now, like you don't even, he's not even like. Yeah, you see Shay. Yeah, you see Shane. Like I always felt Kelly would be one of those guys that like work with like Tom Brown or work with a Chanel, like where he has the face for it. He has the whole look, you know, so it seems like he's kind of taking a backdrop to that stuff.

That'd be interesting to know why. Talk to him, maybe eventually, maybe get him on. But nonetheless, he's had a good basketball career. 20 points per game last year is impressive. And now he's on a playoff team. You know, obviously it's a little messy. We don't know what they're going to look like next year. No, no, you don't.

But, I mean, listen, he's in the door. He's hooping still. Congrats to K.O. Man, well-deserved, over-deserved. So that's pretty cool. All right, I want to go through some preseason awards with you for next year. It's part of our, you know, we're doing a season preview. There we go.

Who is your preseason pick for MVP? Preseason pick for MVP. Luca Donage. That's who I have also. Do you want to give you a real reason? We don't need to. It's four straight first team on NBA is, but. My reason is because he's took a little bit of slack over the past year.

They had a short season last year. They didn't make the playoffs. So you got a rejuvenated Dallas Mavericks kind of coming into camp. most importantly, Luca played all summer, all summer with his team. He's in shape. So he comes into camp, not trying to get in shape, and then by game 30, he's in shape now. Like sometimes you've seen what Luca is like the first 10 to 15 games.

He kind of like starts out, you know what I mean? And then he gets cooking and gets going. You got it in shape, healthy Luca coming into camp and playing basketball all summer after a season last year where they didn't really do what they wanted to do. I see him coming into camp really putting the league kind of back on notice again and like doing this stuff. Yeah, I think when you look at MVP, you have to look at their team has to be winning. I know Russell Westbrook won MVP and the Thunderwear six seed. That's the lowest it's been.

But the team has to be winning. And I think the Mavericks are going to have a big turnaround this year. Last year they kind of threw it away at the end of it. They didn't even try to make the plan for their draft pick seating. So I do think they're going to be better this year. I think him and Kyrie are going to, I think they're going to be good. And he's going to put up crazy numbers. I was picking between him and Yokic.

I don't know if there's still voter fatigue on Yokic. You didn't win it last year. But I think Lucas is kind of crazy numbers on a really good team. And it's just going to be like his time. I agree. Yeah, I have Luca winning next year. Who is your preseason pick for sixth man of the year? And these are all the same.

These are all the usual suspects on six man of the year. Six men of the year. Well, not, I mean, listen, last year in the previous years, Jordan Poole has always been a guy that's like been in that conversation. and now he's going to be, you know, a starter. We don't know if Tyler Hero gets traded. He's not going to be, whether he does or not, he probably won't be coming off the bench next year.

He's going to be a starter regardless. Yeah. So you have a, you know, you have a different mix. Malcolm Brogden is going to start. Marcus Smart's gone. You know, he might not be a guy who comes up the bench. He might start with him now. He might play a little bit.

I got Derek White starting for them. And it's reported that Malcolm Brogdon's unhappy because they tried to trade him. So I don't know what's going to happen there either. Hopefully he just goes. Hopefully for my sake, he just gets traded. He just like or he just like just like retires or something Then goes play somewhere else I don't even know

He's kind of quit Yeah just quite so I can come in there Um No I um You know I yeah but I don't have him anyways Went in six men a year Hmm that's a good question Six man of the year

You know who I'm gonna go with It's gonna be interesting I have I have a pick You want to go first Go ahead I have Malik Monk I think the Kings are gonna be good again I think he could have

He had a case for it last year That's a really good pick He just keeps getting better I think that's I think he's gonna have the highlights, the numbers. He fills it up. All right. I'm going to go with a, gosh, my pick is a good pick,

but his situation just doesn't call for it because I think it would be political with him. I was going to go with Nas Reid. That's a great pick. Yeah. I like Nas Reid as a sixth man of the year. He has that ability. I just didn't know if he's playing so well.

Do you finish games with him or just automatic Carl Rudy have to finish games? And between the two, it's 500 million. A good problem for the Timberwolves to have, but not great for his six-man candidate. Yeah, that's the problem. You know what I mean? Otherwise, you put him,

If there's only one of those bigs there and Nas is coming off the bench, Nas could easily win six minutes of the year. He's like that nice. The secret's out on him, though. Everyone knows. Everyone knows it. The problem with that situation is the obvious, which, you know, the glaring situation is he has two max centers, not one, too.

Yeah. You know what I mean? And they both feel the way about not finishing games. I've been there. You know what I mean? Rudy's not in the game with two, three minutes left in the game. I mean, the Timberwolves might have the best front court rotation in NBA history. They do.

The front court's insane. Yeah. Carl and Nas is about as good as it's ever going to get for a team with big especially in modern day era where a team's not really like centered around centers. They got three really good ones and I don't like to say Nas

is the center. He's more of a power forward but still big man nonetheless. Fuck it. I'll stay with it. I'm going to go with Nas. Yeah. Honorable mention It's not ideal with the situation. Finishing games is huge. You know what I mean? Monk's going to be in there hitting big shots. Like it's just that you that's a great pick.

Honorable mention Emmanuel quickly. He had a case last year also. Norman Powell. I like Quick. I like Quick. Quick and Monk are probably the two safe bets to put. All right. Who do you have for a defensive player of the year?

I don't, this award is such a joke. So I don't even know what to tell you. You can you? You know what's crazy? It's such a high, respected award. The defensive player of the year is a big deal. But in today's day, like the people who get, this award or like I don't even it is a big deal if you walk into you know Joe Kim Noah's house

he has that defensive player of the award right there no Joe Kim Noah was an incredible defender he has that defensive player he like it really cares about it you know it's right there it's a big deal and you're saying now it's no no no that's not what I'm saying the award is a big deal I'm just saying it seems like now the award is given to people that have almost it's like taken some of the prestige off the award due to like some of the people that have won it over the There's been some questionable characters who have won defensive player of the year. I mean, the most questionable would be Marcus all over the Bronjames.

That was almost a decade ago. You thought Jared Jackson was the best defensive player in the year last year? You thought he's the best defensive player? He didn't play a ton of minutes and let the NBA in blocks. When I think of like the best defenders, and I am saying this being biased as a guard, but this is the truth of my matter. If I asked you, is it a guards league?

What would you say? Yeah, absolutely. Perimeter players league. it's not even close. Even though Yonogh won, and he's one of the best players in the league, he is a dinosaur in our league in terms of him and Jolambide and Carl are really the only centers that we have left in terms of like true centers, right?

Everybody else is a pick and roller, shot blocker. That's it. The NBA is run by guards. It's all guards. Every team's going small now. So you would think the best defenders would probably be the guys who have to go out there and guard the bulk of the scoring every night.

Guards. Well, so you want, I know your pick last year would have been Jaden McDaniels. Yeah, Jada McDaniels is the, Jaddy McDaniels. You sell all night in and night out. He was the best defender in the league last year.

And I don't, and I stand by it. That's not even because I played in Minnesota. Maybe it's because I got to see it every night, but he literally was, bro. It's just, it's a fact. Jaden seatbelt McDaniels.

And by the way, like I get, like I said, when you talk about on a nightly basis, the bulk of, of the scoring for every team throughout the league is done by guards, wings. So why wouldn't defensive player of the years

continually go to the guys who have to guard these guys? Marker Smart won't the year before. First point guard since Gary Payton. Yes, the first guard since Gary Payton. And in the past 10 years, bro, it's been all, the whole game has changed. Yeah. They like, I like the, I like the Draymond Green picks.

I don't mind Draymond Green. Draymond's good, but like there's like this thing that like the defensive player has to be a center. Yeah. Or it has to be a big man. When like, bro, we're the ones out here chasing Steph Curry around 15 picks.

We're the ones getting hit by screens. We're the one that can't touch these guys and can't foul them. We're the ones being left on an island with Kyrie. We got the hardest job. We're the ones that got to pick up full courts. So maybe I should change my pick because I picked the big man. You're probably right. A big man will win.

Again. I pick Bam to win. Bro, listen, man. Listen, and I think Bam actually is a tremendous defender. So that's not a bad pick. But, like, guys like Drew Holliday ever won a defense player of the year war? I don't think so. Jokes.

Jokes. Marcus Smart just won one. Every Bradley never won to one. Jokes. He was the best perimeter defender. Even though he won't like this highly touted player, every Bradley was like consistently the best defender in the NBA for like a good little stint. No joke.

He had like a four or five year span where he was like the best perimeter defender in the NBA. Yeah. Period. And he's picking up guys full court, like some nutty shit. Pat Beverly, even though he's older now, in his younger days, Like when he was like Rockets Pat, early Clippers Pat, Pat probably should have won one, in my opinion. I think the best defender,

perimeter defender I've seen in my lifetime is when Kauai Leonard dialed in, just takes the ball from people. Well, Spurs, Kauai was insane and even he didn't win one. Yeah, no, he won. He didn't win one. You're right. He just won a defense player before. But he's probably the best.

He just doesn't play enough to get the award. There's McKell Bridges, who definitely straps up. It's taking on more of an offensive. Yeah, I was about to say, not so much any. I mean, he's still a good defender when he needs to be, but now his. Now he's a charge of scoring 20 plus points. Yeah, his role is just, in terms of offensively, has increased. So usually when that happens, the defense goes down.

But like, yeah, man, I don't know. I may, I might be jaded, but like, I just, I feel the word usually by default goes to centers or big men. And if you are looking at our game, it is a guards league, and it has been for a good amount of time now. So in my opinion, if you're talking about the best defenders in the league, it has to be the guy that has to have the most responsibility every night in terms of going out there and chasing these guys around and guarding them. All these threes, all these shots, they're not being shot by big men, man. They're being fucking shot by guards.

Just think about it, man. If you're like a really good defensive big, you have to suit up in like in terms of a personal matchup. And I understand, like, let me get outside of myself. I understand the big men see the whole defense. so they're in the back in charge of calling all the shots, calling on the plays. They're the one that have to be up in the pick and roll and tell the guard the pick's coming and switch out and do something. And they got a rebound and they have to finish at the rim.

So I'm not being like... You're not anti-big? Yeah, I'm not anti-big. I understand the responsibilities of a center are a lot of times defensively heavy. And like that's kind of where, that's why the award goes to them. I just feel in today's game, the best player, in the league are usually guards. And you not only have to worry about

all the responsibilities as a guard, you have to go out there and guard these dudes. I can already see the backlash from this because the top three in MVP voting the last four years have been three big men. Yeah, but that's because... I'm just saying, I'm putting it out there before you read it tomorrow.

You know what? Let me tell you something. You know how to respond to that? If you're a defensive big, that means you have to suit up three times a year in terms of worrying about a personal one-on-one matchup. I have to worry about it every night. this is exactly how to respond to that.

If you're a really good defensive big, you have to get excited for Carl, Joel, Yoke, Joker, those three. That's it, man. That's it. So you have no pick for defensive players. No, man. I don't know who I could tell you. But do you agree or no? Am I wrong?

I understand that. You can't say it. Bro, the worst team of the league, I still, bro, we played Charlotte, Charlotte, who had one of the worst records in the league or Houston last year? Like, Kevin Porter Jr.'s know, like, dude do can really score you can put 50 on you lamello ball is like a stud

a couple years ago like the kings were bad not last year they were really good but like still had to deal with deer and fox yeah like we're like this like the guard you get no night off as a guard is my point I think there's nights off or a big just has some focus on kind of rebounding contesting at the rim there is no such thing

as a night off in the NBA as a as a perimeter defender and they never get the award well you're saying makes a lot of sense we're saying that the NBA is more perimeter oriented no one's going to argue there Therese have gone up quadruple amount that they did in the 90s, 50 times more. So it makes sense that the best defenders are the ones that have to guard the people that are shooting. I think it should be even.

I'm not saying it doesn't have to be. And this is coming from a guy that's been on an island guarding James Hardin with the game on the line. You had to guard him. You know what I mean? That was your responsibility. I don't know why you had to bring up that one. It's just, it's that would be from the last. That moment didn't go too well for me.

So I don't know why we're bringing that up. But I could, you know, we could talk about other ones that have gone well. But yeah, that's, I don't know. But if I had to choose one, I'll go with, I'll go Jada McDaniels. Sounds real Minnesota. You're very Minnesota heavy. This is kind of crazy. I'm not even trying to be biased either.

I really think they're like, do you know what I'm scared of? Can I tell you an honest fear of mine? I'm scared that after last year playing for Minnesota and then seeing what Denver did after I missed it by one year, I'm scared that Minnesota is going to go on like this huge run. Oh, you're the good luck truck of them. And like I missed it another year. Like if I don't play for Minnesota this year, like they go to like third conference final or something like that. Like I'm going to be like what's going on here.

Yeah. You'd be super happy for those guys. I would be absolutely happy. But when you're alone at night, no, when I'm alone and like, you know, just me and my thoughts, I'm like, what's going on here? Am I the problem? Teams are going to sign you just to cut you and then when a title. Listen, I wouldn't be opposed to that. If you want to bring me on and help me help change the thing and then I'll leave when it's getting ready and you guys are ready and you guys are ready to go and you're

I'll do that. Am I taking ownership of Denver's championship? Yes, essentially. The roundabout way, sure. I do think Minnesota's super talented. They are so talented. If they figure out what's going on with the big men situation, they are so talented.

You ask Yokage and all those guys in Denver, they tell everybody the hardest series they had to play last year in the playoffs was us. We're the only team other than Miami that even put a win together. And every other game was... Well, the sons won two games. Yes, sons that win two games.

But played out of his mind. He was insane. Yeah. But we, uh, we didn't have Nause or, or Jaden, like two huge parts of your

your defensive player of the year and your sixth man. You just named right there. Boom, boom. Yeah. Our sixth way of the year and our defensive player of the year weren't playing. Right.

So, you know, yeah, they're going to be exciting this year. All right. Give me your coach of the year. Coach of the year. This always goes to a team that overachee.

No, no, you got to look for here. You can't, you can't pick one the time. You're not giving it to, you know, Joe Missoula. The Celtics are just good every year.

it's not going to happen. So who do you give it to? I'm going to go. Let me hear yours. You're not going to like it. You're going to think it's biased. You're going to think you're just, I can already see what's going to happen. You're about to say the magic coach. Jamal Mosley, why not? Listen, if the magic are a six seed this year or five seed, they're the fun, like team that's young and competitive. Everyone's a league pass team. I like Jamal. I'm not just saying that because I'm an Orlando guy. I'm just saying if they go from, you know, lottery, lottery that I don't want pick two years ago to maybe a comfortably like a six seed

I'm not going to say play and just that actual like you know playoff seed I don't see why they couldn't give it to him and I look for coach of the years it's going to be a situation where it's a team that overachieves so that's my pick okay it's a good pick I'm gonna go with

I mean could kid get it with Dallas they could have a turnaround season yeah I will go Jason I'm gonna go Jay kid with Jason Kit so we're going heavy with Dallas yeah Luca wins MVP Jason kid could win I have J.K.K. I have a, I think they have a much, I think they have

a bigger year. All right. Next award, let's go rookie of the year. I've already stated in my opinion. I think it's going to be Chet Hongren, someone that you played pick up with this summer. I'm going Victor. I'm just going easy on this one, okay? Like, let's be honest. Let's be honest. It's such a risky pick.

How do you sleep that? They need him to be it. That's why. He has to be it. Yeah. The comparisons, this has gotten this overall summer. The buzz and hype, I mean, we were in Vegas for Summer League.

I had to work it. It was something, it looked like LeBron James was coming back into the NBA for the first time. Like, it was, it's serious. It's hard for me to see him not winning rookie of the year.

By the way, I know LeBron's goaded, and we know that. He won his rookie year off not only having a fantastic rookie year, which he did, but it was off the merit of him also too. I think a little bit there was like,

But he had to win. He was LeBron James. It was one of the only, no, he was only, whoa, whoa, whoa. There's only a handful of rookies that have ever averaged 25 and five, the rookie year. I understand. He's one of those guys, like him, Oscar Robertson, and like, I mean, come on. If we're not going to sit here and act like Mello wasn't cooking up something serious that season or either Dwayne Wade, and then they went in the playoffs, both of them took their team to the playoffs that year and were doing things in the playoffs.

Do you remember Dwayne Wade hitting, like, game winners in the playoffs? Sure, but it's a regular season award, first of all. Otherwise, Yokich would have won MVP last year. Second of all, and Lebron changed. It was not. LeBron was winning a rookie of the year. I'm not saying... I remember that.

I'm not saying LeBron James shouldn't have won it. It wasn't much of an argument. I'm not saying LeBron James shouldn't have one rookie of the year. I'm saying he did. I'm saying what also went into it is like, it's good when the player that you... You think Ty goes to the number one pick. So you're basically saying if it's Victor and Chet,

and it's close. They're going to give it to Victor because the NBA wants it to be... 100%. And I've always felt that way. It's good for business. It's good for basketball. I still think with the buzz that's surrounding Vic, that if he has a good season,

and Chet has a good season. And they don't know who to give it to, it's not even going to be a question. Yeah. I think Chet's going to be in the playoffs, though, and I don't know if Victor's going to be. I mean, you know, I don't know if Victor is going to be. Yeah, you're mine. That team's not going to the playoffs. And I love San Antonio.

Ooh. When are they going? They need more than Vic. That team is... You already have Charlotte after you. You want San Antonio after you next? I love San Antonio. What the fuck you're talking about?

I'm keeping it 100. San Antonio would not be named after. What the hell does that do that, you know? You're just like naming points. San Antonio is hot. You're the same thing. San Antonio's in Texas. Bro, I understand.

First off, we both are huge Popovich fans. We're big Tim Duncan fans, and we're big fans of how the Spurs. Managerably is my favorite player of all time. There that is. And then another fun fact about Pasha. We also both love the way the Spurs run their organization in terms of just no bullshit, no nonsense,

be a hooper, be a pro. And I love that about them. And it's what every organization is trying. tried to emulate. The Spurs have really set the standard in like modern day to write every team. First of up, half these coaches come from the Spurs program or under Popop. That's just a fact, including my father. A lot of these guys came under Pat Riley or Popovich. And now you'll see this new wave of coaches.

Now it's like Kerr and Spoh, you're going to see guys start to come under that. Like said like the new wave. But those guys all came from Riley and Popovich. You know what I mean? Yeah. So I'm a big fan of the Spurs. But with that being said, Victor is like their guy, clearly. and they're in the rebuilding process.

Do I think the spurs are going to be good in the next three, four, five? Yeah, they're probably going to be, they'll put something together. I have no doubt. They've drafted well over the years. I don't,

I don't doubt that. Are they making the playoffs next year? Fuck no. Okay, let's cut it out. Pick for most improved player. Most of the fun one. Yeah,

this is a fun one to speculate. This is my favorite award. It's MVP, you want to know, important, in terms of importance for me, it's MVP, most improved.

Then you got everything else, defensive player of the year or all that other stuff after that. There's two ways to go with the most improved player. It's either a player that it was already good that becomes great. We talked about those before. Or a player that wasn't really contributing to their team that becomes good. That's impossible to predict that, by the way.

Right. You want to hear my pick? Yeah, what's your pick? I have a guy that has been coming off the bench the last few years, but it was always really, really good. And whenever he started his team won games, and now he has his own team. You don't drum pool. Talk about Ty's Jones.

Close. I think Ty's Jones can be most improved. Jordan Poole's numbers might not let him win most improved, but Tice Jones is going from backing up John Moran, one of the best point cards in the NBA and leading the NBA in a sister total ratio last few years to now he has his own team, and I think he could put up good numbers.

I think that's really comfortable with that pick. So, like, would Austin Reeves be a good pick? I'd be a great pick. I think he averaged 12 points a game last year. But what is he going to average this year? People don't understand, like, 12 points a game is really like, a lot of nights you have 15, 16, and then sometimes you have nine.

So, like, you know, you average out around 20. You want him to like average 15, 16. That means on bad nights he's having 12. And on good nights, he's averaging 20. Well, the Wizards have to get to 100 points. That's a big difference. I think Ty shows got a lot of opportunity to score too. I know.

And so will Reeves, but not really. He's still not the first, second or third, maybe not even the fourth option on that team. First is probably AD, just due to his age. LeBron. And then, you know, Dilo's getting his up. I don't know.

There ain't no doubt about it. I'm going to tell you this right now. If you think Deelow is hooping and not getting some shots up, you're out of your mind. He's going to put that ball in the basket. And he's good at it. I understand he had his little low in the playoffs. But prior to that, like, Delo, let's not forget, he was a big part of the Lakers change. He went to L.A. and was cooking right away.

Delo going to get the ball up. And then they got a bunch of trigger happy guys over there who love to shoot. Cam Renner just putting it up. Gabe Vincent just came off the finals. He just came off the finals. He's coming in a little swag. You know what I mean? Like, if you think it's swing, swing, swing over there, it's, I got a shot of putting it up.

Troy and Prince is getting it and it's putting is going in the air right so so Austin Reeves isn't your pick I'm I I think he's a good I think he's I don't know if he'll have the reps like what you're saying about to be the starting point guard it's a huge change in him you go from being like I was looking for a player that's gonna yeah so where like Austin Reeves is a good pick but I don't know if his circumstances it's like the Nasreid pick I had like I don't know if his circumstances warrant I don't think it's gonna help you said in both pot and you've said it many times opportunities everything and these guys are Stack teams. Everything. And, you know, Reeves is on a really stacked team. He's on one of the stacked teams in the NBA at this point. So, like,

I don't know if he'll have an opportunity to do that. Otherwise, I probably would pick him. But let me go ahead and pick somebody. I'm going to go with, I'm like doing a process of elimination here. This is,

this is ridiculous. I don't even know how you came in this. Tice Jones is a great pick. I have one, but it's risky. That's what we want to hear us. Opportunities everything. So I'm hoping this guy goes there in place a lot,

which I think he might. Okay. I think Obie Toppin. Wow. Yeah. That's a fun pick. Yeah. I think Halliburton and him, with his athletic ability, running the floor, catching, dunking, lobs, improved three-point shooting, improved playing time.

He's been playing behind Julius Randall for the past multiple years. This is a lottery pick. Didn't really get a huge chance in New York in terms of, like, minutes. He ended the season last year with a 40-point game. He has the ability to score. and he can shoot the three. And his athletic ability is insane. You throw him in an offense where you get the best passing running point guard with

Lanzo out, Tyrese Halliburton, running the floor with this guy, catching lobs, running the break. They're playing pickup with each other all summer, like just throwing like. I think Obie Topham could be maybe like a little most improved sneak peek. How about that? That's fine. Yeah, that's definitely off the radar pick. There you go.

I have a good pick for you too. A guy that, so last year, McKell Bridge has only played for the Nets for, you know, a little over a month, but he was putting up numbers. He was. So if this year he plays, like he did that end of the season with the Nets, the whole year, the number jump would be crazy. What did he average last year, though? I think he still averaged 20. I think he's a good pick, though, because he's got off-fiba.

If he averages 23, 24, it's not going to get it done, which is an insane point. But he's going from a role player to, yes. The offense is built around him. If he would have got traded this summer and then start up the year doing that, then that's done deal. Yeah. But he already, like, gave us it, you know, he already gave us a little peek in the window. there. He was, he was, who'd been at the end of the year. No one saw Lori marketing last year coming out of nowhere and winning it. Is that who won? Yeah. That's a great pick. He averaged 26 with the Nets.

For a month? I mean, yeah, he was cooking though. Yeah, that's for the whole season. All right. Give me your way too early NBA's finals prediction. I'm going, I'm going, I don't like, I didn't like Denver summer. Bruce Brown has to come back. You got to get him back. He was He was essential to, like, just, even the whole team's energy. Like, him going to Indiana is just like, what are we doing? And at the parade, Mike Malone said. Bruce Brown going anywhere? Brucey B.

Hell, no. Two weeks later, $50, $40 million with the pay. He said, well, what happened? Even when he said it, Bruce brother, back in the life. Ah. Like, brother, I'm already got this deal in the making. Y'all ain't, y'all not about to pay me what I'm about to get. I'm out.

That was a look he had. Anytime you see a guy holding a cup like this to their chest, he's not even, yeah, that's, I don't like that they lost him. And they're still really good, though. Their starting lineup is so good. Christian Brown's going to have to step up into that role. Scoring, though, more so. Yeah.

Because, like, people forget, like, even though Bruce Brown's not tagged as, like, a score, the guy was, like, putting up numbers. This guy was putting in multiple playoff games. Transition. 14, 15, and he gets it in a way where he doesn't need the ball. This guy shoots a little floater here and there. Open three, transitions, steel. Like, he just plays hard.

So does the other kid, Braun, Brown, how we pronounce it. But I don't know if this is like a second year, man. You know, that's a lot. Maybe you can. I don't know. Who do you have in the finals? I'm going, in the East, it's easy. I'm going, East is easy?

Here's why. If Dame goes to the heat, the East is not easy. Well, that's, I'm not putting that in there because we don't know. They went to the finals last year without Hero. You're just adding Dame. I know that, but Heroes was Vincent. Yeah, Strauss, they lost a lot. And if game comes...

You're gaining a lot with them. You are gaining a lot with Dave. But you're shipping a lot out. There's going to be a lot on that export. I'm picking, I'm going Lakers Celtics. We're getting that... The NBA's dream. I think it's going to happen next year.

I think the Lakers had the best off season. I think the Celtics added KP. Interesting. Jason Tatum, just another year better. No more Jalen Brown drama. Well, I have... I have Boston going. I have Boston going.

You have the situation. Because look about it, last year's top three seeds. That's why I said to East is easy. Because even though there's good teams, it's so top-heavy, it's like, it's been Philly, Boston, Miami. Right. Milwaukee. Milwaukee had the best record last year.

So those four. Phillies dropped off due to just obvious reasons. So you got Milwaukee who's going to be motivated, especially after last year losing first round. It's either Milwaukee or Boston. Well, first of all, Milwaukee has. And after going to the finals again, if this dame thing doesn't happen early on

it's going to be interesting to see how well they play you got half that team hanging on edge because they think they're on their way out for damien it's been reported all summer Tyler heroes has you know he's probably like what the fuck is this you know what I mean like just rightfully so I get it I don't know if that team is going to be like a favorite unless now if damien goes at a heat

that's a different conversation but since that's unknown right now it has to be Milwaukee or Boston I'm going Boston too I'm going boston to the finals and on the west I love your pick by the way that'd be great for the NBA. Lakers, Boston would be insane. I'm going to go with,

Jesus, that's a good pick. I might agree with you. I might go Lakers, Boston. Is that boring? The finals wouldn't be boring. Is it boring that you copied my pick? Yeah. It's a little boring.

They're good picks, though. Great minds think alike, and it's fine. It's hard for me to, like, bet against the Lakers. Like, even last year, when they were, like, fully healthy, is, like, not perfect as the team was. Like, they weren't, like, structured the best. But just because 80 and LeBron were healthy were like just decent cast a decent cast around them.

They were dangerous. They felt. They got smacked by Denver, though. I think now they know that they can get there. They know they can get there. They're going to be a lot different. I think it's a different team now. So it's just like, I do think they should have got back Schroeder.

Schroeder didn't even get paid that much. He got like two years 10 or something like that, two years 12. No, no. Gabe Vincent. What did he get? He got like, I think he might have got 30. Did he get a lot? I don't think so.

I don't know if he got that much, but I thought Schroder was huge for them, especially defensively last year. I think Gay Vincent definitely is a complimentary piece as a shooter. LeBrona's better a shooters. I don't know. I agree with that. I agree with that. Two for 25.

They couldn't give Schroeder that? They gave Vincent three for 33? Yeah, that's something. Essentially with Vincent over Schroeder. He's more complimentary piece. Schroeder's a better player. I'm just going to keep it 100 with you. And I like Gay Vincent.

He's not, he's not Schroder. I don't know if you watch what Schroder's doing the summer. Vincent ain't doing that. I think Vincent can really shoot the ball, though. So to your point, I think he might be more better of a fit to the Lakers just in terms of spreading the floor for LeBron and AD because he can really, you know, Gabe can really shoot the ball. But Shruder was hooping last year for the Lakers, especially defensively, man. He was all over the place. He's making winning plays.

I like Schroeder last year for them. Him and Toronto for me just does nothing. And I don't know what Toronto. I don't know what's going on. I get why he went there. He's getting paid two years, $25 million, $12 million a year. It's really six after Toronto taxes. but hey, we're not talking about that.

Well, Cali's not any better, actually. Could you imagine being, that's the only problem with the people talking about like the Kings? This is the only problem. Can you imagine living in Cali and getting that Cali tax, but you're not in Los Angeles? Yeah, you're not. I'd be shitty if I'm paying the same taxes as the Los Angeles people,

and I'm living in Sacktown. And Sack's beautiful, but you know what I'm saying. Toronto tax is no joke, though, but Toronto's lit. Problem is you're playing there in the winter, and it's like negative 10 degrees outside. It's fucking freezing. Every time I play there, I can't even breathe outside.

It's freezing. I've never been. Well, going to summer. Going like OBO Fest or something. Or is that weird? No, I mean, I'm a big Drake fan. I want to the album to drop. I don't know when it keeps getting pushed back.

And I know it's going to be like, yeah, for the dogs or whatever. I know it's going to be more of the kind of music that I need right now. It's going to be totally toxic. I'm going to listen to way too much R&B. It's getting a little soft. I need something for the dogs. It sounds, it sounds toxic. Yeah.

Sounds like he's going to be talking to shit. Like, yo, just for the homies right here. Yeah. I think I need that right now. We all need it. Yeah. All right. We didn't mention the Warriors as a potential finals pick.

Are we underestimating them? Are you thinking they're not underestiming them? They're in the pace. They're in the pace. They're in the pace. They probably do have a good pace. They probably do have a good pace about them. Step running around screens.

Those guys do play with good pace. I'll say this. I like their team. I don't like their bench and their depth. They have obviously a huge star-studded starting five. Yeah. And they just have... I'm looking for Wiggins to come back into his

two years ago, that finals form. Well, last year was strange. Yeah, we don't know what happened. He was dealing with a lot of personal stuff that obviously he had to handle and then people were really... Do you remember that garbage, all that stuff that was going on about him?

Yeah. They're like saying all this nasty stuff, just fucking tossing. Oh, I love for him to have a great comeback year. By the way, speaking of the guys that were really good perimeter defenders in the finals, I'm there against when he was guarding him. Are they about assigned Dwight Howard?

I've heard that he was meeting with them. But I heard it's like close. Like they said Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. What you have is my Orlando Magic 2009 dream team that I always wanted that just never happened. I always thought they got together would be an idea title. I heard from what I've read is that he went in there to workout. You know, a lot of players have hosted workouts. This guy hosted workouts or did a workout for them.

And it went a lot better than they thought it did. And they're like, oh, this guy's actually still like, he's actually in shape. Right. Wait, should we sign him? That's like the question that's being asked right now. But I think he know more than anyone. When you want to add someone to the end of your bench, I don't know if you want to bring in like a name like that. The same reason Tim Tebow wasn't getting signed at the end of his career.

I'll say this. Dwight has like had such humility about his life over the past couple of years and his whole like openness and like acceptance to him going overseas, going to China. He's been embraced over there. He's done an incredible job like just being just a guy who's laughed at himself. You know what I mean? Like I think he's a guy you could bring him the end of your bench.

No problem. And if you need a big to go in there and guard like a yokech or this or that, you could throw Dwight in there and he could probably do better than 90% of the bigs in the NBA. Right. Besides the fact that like Dwight Howard's still mobile. He's better, bro. Dwight Howard is better than like probably 90% of the centers in the NBA right now.

Take Joel and Beed and Yolkich and Carl out of it. He's probably better than just about almost 90% of the centers under the NBA. I'm not even capping. If you're the gym of a team right now and you were going to kind of fill out your roster, would you rather bring in DeMarcus cousins right now or Dwight Howard? It depends what my team needs. If I am a team that's destined to. Neither of them are going to probably play a lot.

Well, if you're the Lakers or if you're the Warriors and you're talking about like a guy who's, just going to be like this happy go lucky dude at the end of the bit like then it has to be like a Dwight Howard if you're a guy that's like yeah we have a big but he's injury prone and we might need a big to go in there and like we need offense we're scoring like the markets could still give you 20 yeah so you know they both should be in the NBA the reason they're not has stuff to do outside of basketball people are worried about Dwight and like antics and all this other stuff which he hasn't really had in like years and years to come that's like an older

Lager's 37 now Dwight exactly and then like a lot of issues with DeMarcus are Senator Rite's attitude and him as a person, when a lot of that was like when he was younger. Do you know what I mean? I played with him in Denver and he was a great guy. So like people mature and grow, man. Especially when life happens and you're

you're out. Bro, you're out. Yeah, like I'm sure DeMarcus has seen all different sides of the world now, him being in the league, out of the league overseas Puerto Rico. Like, he probably has a, I would, I would better appreciation. I guarantee you he has a better appreciation of like just life in general.

I know I have. You know what I mean? I'm sure Dwight Howard has. So like a lot of perceptions, everything, and people hold that shit against you, man, and they will get you out the league and not let you back in. Seriously. So, you know, I don't know. But I think signing Dwight, I don't think it's a big, I don't think it's a bad thing.

I think it'd be pretty solid for the Warriors. Who knows? All right. Give me your team who would be a sleeper pick to make the finals. A team that's not expected to get out there. Maybe a team that can make a run. I think the fucking Timberwolves, man. Really?

But I think they're really good. I was there last year. This has been a heavy Timberwolves part. But it's a, well, you asked about the defensive side of it. I think Jaden and Nas is like a stud. And that team is just really, really good. They're really good. You know what I mean?

Yeah. And actually, a point was just brought to me. It would be an interesting locker room in Golden State of Dwight's there, though. That's what I'm saying. Between Draymond, between Draymond. Chris Paul. Chris Paul and Dwight. That would be a funny.

I would just like to be a fly on that wall. Yeah. I would love to be a fly on that wall. Not when the times are going good. I would like to be able to fly on that wall after like a rough game. I would like to just see what's going on in there. But yeah, I think Minnesota can make a push. And then in the east there's nobody that I see like, it's more like, can the kings be better this year?

Can it's all Western? Can Memphis bounce back? can jaw and that team like be you know what I mean? Yeah they added Marcus Smart They got a little bit of You know

Still have the Jared Jackson Desmond James They still got John Jackson They got all the pieces man No one's talking about them No one's talking about Memphis Yeah Jaws probably motivated as shit

You haven't seen them In recent That might be my pick I think the Grizzlies Yeah Grizzies could be pretty good man yeah Even though there were two see last year You know what I also love about Joss summer

There hasn't even been like videos Of him in the gym Like he's like all the way like I'm in there I guarantee he's living in the fucking lap I'm actually like like speaking this into existence. I'm hoping. I want him to come back and just like crush it

because I understand he made mistakes, but his mistakes were just him being like immature. He didn't do. You never hurt nobody, bro. Well, listen, he's healthy. Exactly. I want him. I want to come back and do his fucking stuff, man, and just shut up everybody. So I'm going to put Memphis out there.

That's my point. Okay. Well, dang, he said Timberwolves. I was taking Memphis. Oh, that's the team. Give me your, give me your player that has an outside chance to sleeper pick of winning MVP. Jesus. If I say it now, I'm just all in Minnesota.

Don't do it. You know who I'm going to say. But it's not wild. Everybody's saying it. Antman can go in there and do some crazy stuff next year. It's just tough with towns. I don't know if he puts up a 3-0 per game. If my man averages not a dub, but a Trubb.

If he goes out there and average, it's trubs nuts. We might have to trademark that. Dionne Sanders is out here trademarking everything. We got to start doing something. He knows that he's hot right now. He's got a hot is not even What he's got going is something different Anytime this guy touches the mic

The world stops It's like Drake's better at least now Every time he gets to the press government I've been told that their next two games Are going to be tough Maybe reality might hit on them They play Oregon And then USC

So it might be Everyone's kind of waiting to see the Oregon game Because we're going to find out a lot Yeah We're going to find out a lot Right No I uh You're going with Anne

I'm going to Antman Antman would be a surprise MVP 30 points per game Leading score in the NBA That might get them to it They get a top five seed in the West. He averages 30. He's already coming off a huge summer.

Highlights. It's possible, man. It's really possible. What can get in that way is his chemistry with Carl. And I talked about this with Bill Simmons on his pod. I believe the best players on the team should work out together all summer. The better that chemistry is, the better your team will be. There's a reason why Denver was so great last year, man.

They played well together, especially their two best players. Jamal and Yokid's game compliment each other so well. They both not only like to play with one another on the court, they need each other. Yeah. They help one another score. Yokic does do his back downs on his own, on his 101. Jamal does do his one-on-one, top of the three, step-back threes. But you know what Jamal does do a lot of times?

Throw it to him, handoff easy mid-range. You know what he does is come off a pick and roll, set Yokish up for just a little 10-footer just to get him going. They both help each other get rhythms going. I don't see from my experience there in Minnesota, I don't think Carl and it did that enough. Like I want, and that's just due to them, they both like each other.

They're just completely opposite of personalities. But those two should like live in the gym. They both are in L.A. in Atlanta and Chicago or Miami, all the best places in the world. This is where people are all summer. You're telling me I can't get those two in like a month in Miami. And then go each rent a mansion somewhere on the water.

And like you just can't get them in the gym every day for like an hour. You make a great point. I don't know why players. I mean, people will love to see when random guys are working out together. Yeah, it's like, oh, man. But that's not really copy. Like, who gives them? They don't play with each other.

I would like to see Kyrie and Luke will work out all fucking summer. Like, that's cool. They're the other ones that's got to figure this shit out together. I would like to see. What is that? Is it because they spent people, teammates spent some time together? You're with someone all summer that you're just like, I'm out. It's like, it's kind of like guys not even being in the gym with their respected team.

It's just like, bro, I got to be with you for the next. eight months. In the summertime, I'd like to go with my personal trainer, my personal trainer. And they go out in L.A. and, like, work with, like, the usual suspects or go to Miami and work with the usual suspects. I think a refreshing thing. I think guys do. I get it. I totally get that. But, like, you can still bring your, like, Carl can, like, you all could both work out with the different trainer. Yeah, I don't do mini camps and things like that. They do, man, for two days. It doesn't do shit. They both come in. I've been a part of the mini camps are garbage, by the way. And I love them because it's an excuse to get away from the whole household. And you can, like,

go and, like, have fun with your friends for a couple of days. And it's always in a conveniently good city. It's good to see somebody you haven't seen in a while. Yeah, you're not doing mini camps in, in, uh, in Alabama. They're, they're usually like, they're usually a mini camp in like, fucking Miami or, we're doing a minicam in Vegas, guys. Let's lock in focus. I'm like, oh, I don't know how much focus and we're going to be doing in the gym for two hours. And the rest of the day's like, yo, what's up with the, what's up with the shit? We're building that off the court camaraderie too. We need it. That offer, let me tell you, the off court camaraderie is never in question. It's always, because it's always centered around one thing. It's women, women, and then more women.

So like that's never, never have to worry about that because every guy in the league loves that. So I would like to see in the future more guys getting the gym with each other. I like to see videos of Desmond Bain and John Morant running play actions together and Jared Jackson Jr. And Anthony Davis and Anthony Davis-Lebron do workouts all the time together. You know what I mean?

Like it's just what smart guys do. You know what I mean? So whatever. My pick for a player with the outside chance of winning MVP, I don't think it's that outside, but if the sons are as good we think. I think Devin Booker would be the reason.

For what? For outside chance of winning MVP? Definitely could. I think he would be, I mean, I think he's going to be their best player this year. I think it's... He is their best player.

Yeah. And we saw it in the playoffs last year. And if he picks up that momentum from the playoffs last year where he was cooking, we both have talked about that already. The only reason would be, again, circumstances and he has two... But that didn't stop him from...

It didn't. He was unbelievable. That was only two, though. He's got a third sheriff in there now, and he can also shoot the ball a lot, and he scores a lot. And he's really good. But if the Suns just are a really good regular season team,

which I'm expecting them to be, when they had KD in the regular season at the end of the year, they were a good regular season team, if they're going to, if they have a great seed, I think he is, I mean, we're talking about outside chance. He's not saying the leader. What about Shay Alexander?

How good of the Thunder are going to be? We've named a lot of teams in the West already. They could be pretty damn good, man. Yeah. Listen, from what you got cooking up, if Chet is going to be like a rookie of the year candidate and their coach is favored to be coach of the year, and then you got SGA coming off,

Giddy had a great summer. Giddy had a great summer. Both of them were all hooping and Dort. I like Jalen Williams a lot. All hooped all summer. Yeah. Playing in Fiba. They could be a really surprise.

You know what they could be? They could be what Kings, what the Sacramento Kings were last year, and they had like a really good record, like a top three seat, like surprise everybody. I do think OKC has the ability to be like a playoff team next year and really surprised people. SGA would be in that conversation. Yeah. I mean, it was first two long being last year. All right.

I have a quick rapid fire question for you and then I'll let you go. All right. What is it? I saw recently that Travis Kelsey is dating Taylor Swift, his brother admitted it on TV or a podcast or whatever. If you were friends of an athlete, like I've been in the past. No, if you were friends with like I've been in the past in that situation, would you be telling your friend that's a good idea, a bad idea to date someone in the spotlight like that?

What are your thoughts on that? If it's someone like Travis Kelsey who's already prone to attention and is always out there, he's a guy who I don't know if he seeks attention, maybe, but he gets it. And his personality just in general, I think just it gravitates it. I don't think it's a big deal. He's already made for that.

That'd be like, I'm trying to think of NBA related. It'd be like Kuzma or something like that, dating someone famous. He'd be like, that seems about right. He's in L.A. He's always in the scene. He's out a lot. He goes out. I'm not saying he parties or whatever,

but yeah, he does. Yeah. You know what I mean? You know, Devin, book. Like, you dated Kendall Jenner. No one thought it was a crazy thing. Like, it seems about right. Like, Travis Kelsey dating someone famous, like, seems like it's on to par. Him dating someone normal doesn't seem right.

You know, I don't even know if that makes sense, but like, I don't think it's crazy for someone like that. So I think depending on the person, if Yokech, if the Joker came into the locker room and was like, yeah, I'm talking to Teddiff's Swippa. Like, this is, I don't, I don't like this. I don't, I don't like this at all. You are, you're supposed to be basketball and horses, man. Basketball and back to that damn barn. I mean, I don't need you at a Taylor Swift concert at 11 p.m. at night. Travis is going to be out somewhere already at 11.

Taylor Swift actually keeps him in. Also, he has a claim to be maybe the best tight end of all time. So, he's allowed to, I guess he has to leeway. He's already done his thing, man. He's a multiple Super Bowl champion. Like, bro, who are we kidding here? Most at SNL. His approval ratings through the roof, almost as high as Dion Sanders.

But people love him. Yeah. People either love or hate him. Dion's more beloved. The people that don't like Dionne. I think Travis Kelsey, see people just love him and he can do no wrong. And Dion, I think some people are like,

why does he wear in the glasses or things like that? I think that's a little more polarizing. I like, I don't mind. I don't think it's a big deal. Travis is dating Taylor Swift. I think it's cool. I think it's even cooler about it as he put it out there in the air and then got it done. He's like, if I could date anybody, I'd date Taylor Swift.

Oh, he said that you got curved by her. He said, I got curved by that. And then like a month later, he's dating her. Like, that's impressive. Is that the same as Jack Harlow with the Duelope of stuff? That never happened. Oh, it didn't? I think that was the thing.

He dated to Aleppo? I thought that was a whole thing. He put it out there, made a song, and it worked. He put a song out there, but I don't think he dated her. I don't think he did anything with her. Another question I had for you. Gilbert Arenas recently went out of Keem Olajew. I made a whole video that he's charging 50K, allegedly, for a workout, and he kind of dug

into Akeem, legend. Would you ever pay 50K for a workout? Fuck, no. Who do he even be with? Michael Jordan? Who's the guy, though? Here's my thing. I don't know what I can learn in that workout.

That was just behind me spending $50,000 in terms of like... If he's charging $50K, do you think that's just, like, wrong? Like, he should just be giving free game to the youth? Yes, especially someone like him. It's like, how much money you need? From what I've heard, Akeem's like invested well and is like tied well and I'm sure he made a lot, whatever, whatever. You got to charge a player, a current player, 50,000, bro, to get in the gym with you?

That's kind of nutty. I would never feel comfortable charging. a younger player 50K. And I'm not even a Gilbert guy to keep it 100 because he, like, says stuff like out of pocket all the time, even though he was a great player for the Wizards for that small stint, he was cooking. But like I'm not like the, you know,

he says things a lot of times that are like disrespectful. Him like, I think he even says stuff about Hakeem's game, right? Like, I think he was just being funny. He was like, the game's changed. Like, ain't nobody doing those skyhugs, which is true. The game is different. But like Hakeem's game would trend. If Hakeem played in today's NBA, my God.

He'd be insane. The dream could play in any era. But I agree with Gilbert in the aspect that 50K for a workout is it's unheard of. It's unheard of. I don't know if anyone confirmed that. I don't know if it's true either, but it is unheard of. I would never pay 50K for a workout unless I knew somehow my attributes and my skill level is going up like a 2K type.

I knew like after I was leaving there, I got better, which just never happened after one workout ever. I don't care how great the person is. You never left one workout. I just saw a video of Dane working out with DJ Wagner. You're about to be a freshman at Kentucky. Yeah, he didn't charge him with 50K for it. He just gotten allowed with him so it's working. You know what I mean?

I saw, I seen a Steph with Scoot Henderson. Exactly. Exactly, man. You're not charging 50K for it. 50K is insane, bro. It'd be one thing. It's like, yeah, I'm going to work with you the entire summer. It was always like a legendary thing though,

like Dwight Howard went or like Kobe, like they worked out with Akimelajuan this summer. The video, the little grainy footage would leak from a summer. Yeah, like a little, Android phone, like somewhere like them in the gym doing post stuff. And listen, do I think you could get better for more than one workout? Yes. I don't think it's anything enough to justify you spending $50,000 of your money.

And I think it's, to Gilbert's point, it is strange for like, I don't want to say strange, but like, but to charge like a younger player, especially a peer, a hooper to hooper, 50,000 will come work with you? It's like, bro, would you ever have paid $50,000 and came to work or somebody? Yeah. It's like, bro, what are we doing here? And what happens afterwards? It seems like, hey, man, it was great meeting you. Good job.

I said, yeah, wire me that 50,000. You would feel sick, bro. You go like your car like, are you fucking, that's what happened. Yeah. Yeah, no, I think it's crazy.

Right. Who would be the guy, though, that you would spend the most amount of money to work out? God rest his soul. Could be right. Yeah. You've always been a big.

I would spend $50,000. If he was going to do a full workout with me, like really get into my game, and like, really get into my game before. And I was like, yo, if you do this next year, because I'm sure he would know. Yeah.

Like, you could improve in this way, this, this is this. I would absolutely spend, $50,000 to work with Kobe Ryan. So you would spend the money. If I said if I had to, Kobe, I just told you if I knew I was going to get the most out of it and I was going to become a different,

which I don't know if you could do under one workout. I've never heard of that. It's got to be for a weekend. It's got to be a weekend. It's got to be a recurring thing, bro. Like, it'd be one thing if Hakeem was like, yo, I'm going to work with you throughout the summer. Every other week, I'm going to come in.

We'll work for three or four days. We're going to drill this. We're going to get this down. By the end of summer, whether it's a hook shot, fritos, whatever. you're going to be elite at this, then you tell yourself, all right, I'm making a $50,000 investment

and I go have a big year next year and I'm going to make millions. It's worth it. I have no problem. One fucking workout for an hour or two, you'll leave there after like, holy shit, I just blew that. Yeah, it doesn't matter how much money.

I guess some people's logic is like, you spend $50,000 to go into PJ to L.A. You can't spend $50,000 to get with one of the best centers of all time in the gym. That's a good point. Like, I don't know. So, I don't know, man. It depends on where you're at in life.

You spend a lot of money going to Wimbledon this year and Italy and Italy and Wimbledon. And you were gone for a couple weeks. Would you cut all that out for a little dream shake? Well, listen, if I ever got on the block and hit someone with a dream shake and a hook, my ass would be on the pine quicker than you could say pine. I would be over there in a heartbeat, bro. Can you imagine me down there?

Like, I have no business being down there in the post, bro. I'm not Andre Miller, man. I don't have that in my game. I'll be honest. There's a lot of things I could do on the court. It's all perimeter. I don't have. I'm not a back to the basket guy

So I don't know I saw I got for you this week That was good That's a pod We're all over the place But that's the NBA right now I think about it We're all over the place like the league

We're a reflection of what we're brought to here To talk about Everything's all over the place And now With media we're getting shit every day So and so said Did you hear this? It's like literally a reality TV show

The NBA Right Which makes our job easy We've got a lot to talk about So So keep tapping in and listening. Thank you, everyone, for tuning in. We'll talk to you next week.

All right, y'all be easy, man. Everybody be safe this weekend. Everybody have a good one.