The Ringer NBA Show - How Did the Warriors Get Back to the Finals? | Weekends with Wos

Episode Date: May 30, 2022

Wos is joined by The Athletic's Marcus Thompson to discuss what makes this Warriors team different from past iterations, and how they put it all together to reach the NBA Finals. Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Marcus Thompson Associate Producer: Isaiah Blakely Additional Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's up? It's Ricillo with the Ryan Rissillo podcast on The Ringer and Spotify. Make sure you're checking us out every Tuesday and every Thursday episodes through an NBA playoff run that is unpredictable as maybe any that I've ever seen in covering this sport. And also the NFL draft that doesn't have the top headliners at QB, but our guest, I put it up against anybody, the best draft analyst in the business to be joining us almost every week prior to the draft. And a little break from all the sports, having fun, telling stories, who're trying to give out some life advice to the listeners out there that feel like they need it.

And by the way, just like sports, I don't always get that stuff right either, but at least it's fun to listen to. Listen and follow the Ryan Rusilla podcast on Spotify. Ladies and gentlemen, to the latest edition of weekends on the Ringer NBA podcast network. I'm your host, Big Wazze, aka Wazey Lambray. And I'm joined by the Bay Area's finest,

a Bay legend. Marcus Thompson of the Athletic was going on, brother? Not much. I'm on weekends with Was. Clearly, I ain't got nothing to do, huh? It's a beautiful Sunday in the bay. That is fantastic. Listen, man, the Warriors are back in the NBA. And I really couldn't think of anybody I'd rather talk about it than you, because you're fucking day one with all of the instrumental pieces, right? When it comes to Steph, Clay, Drayman, you watch them go from Zygote to, you know,

giants in the league. So, like, I really wanted to get you on. And this season has just been crazy. They kind of shot out the gate. And I remember I talked to Nate Duncan in, like, January. And he was like, look, man, I don't know how they're doing it, but they got the best unit in the league on defense. And then some injuries happened, et cetera.

And they kind of slacked off in the regular season. Dremont gets hurt. Steph gets hurt. And they're kind of teeter tottering when they get to the playoffs. But I'm like, look, if Steph is reasonably healthy and Dremont is, this team is going to the finals. Then, of course, I did the dumb shit, Marcus. You know, I saw how they played against Memphis. Fucking Dallas just blitzes Chris Paul and the signs.

Yeah. He fell for the Okie Dogan. I fell for the gaffle, man. I fell for the gaffle, bro. And I was like, look, how are they going to stop this kid? Yeah, I'm like, how are they going to stop this kid? I'm watching fucking Dallas put the clamps on Phoenix. I'm like, Dallas got the defense.

And then, of course, like, the reason why nobody picked Dallas going into the playoffs is like, how are you supposed to stop a team if Moxie Kleber is your backline defense? Yeah, yeah. And Golden State exposed that. But, like, what's your favorite? favorite part about this run particularly because we know the chatter about KD and it was easy and all of that. What's your favorite part about watching this particular run? That is the old heads, man. This is like 90s hip hop, you know what I'm saying?

Like- The resurgence. Right? This is like, this is like Rock Kim coming back. I mean, these dudes are supposed to be done and at various points, they look done, right? Like at various points, we could see Clay like, hold, on, man, this ain't the same clay. Right. Draymond had been getting killed for years, right? He's washed. And even Steph, like, the lowest, you know, shooting percentage of his career, you know,

Steph under 40 from three is like, you know what I'm saying? That's the sign of the end times, right? That's end times that's coming. So at various points, they all looked like the narrative might be correct. But, man, I just love that element. Like, these do, you put these three dudes in the playoffs when it really count. It's kind of, you know what it's like? And it's crazy that we forgot about it's like Manu Tim and Tony.

It's like anything can happen during the regular season. You put these dudes in the playoffs and these dudes are champions, man. They figure it out. And I just love that element. I like the old heads. You know, Draymond, hell of grain a beard now. You know what I'm saying? Like clay Afro is out of control.

It's getting to be Afro status. It's not fully Afro, but it's getting there. These dudes are just, they, oh, geez. They like long in a tooth. They just know how to win. And they play with their food a little bit too much. But in the end, like, especially the Memphis series, it was young bucks.

And then you throw in Luca, these are young dudes. So this was like a, this was like a version of your little nephew who gets nice and hoop. And you just got to take them to the park one time and let them know. You still got some years, bro. Sorry. You ain't, you ain't ready up here yet. You got a little bit to go. Yeah.

And, you know, man, the crazy thing, because I want to get into the stuff of it all because, of course, like, I don't think there's like a player media relationship today quite like yours with Steph. I think the closest would probably be Wendy with LeBron. But Wendy lives in Nebraska now. You know what I mean? Like Marcus is still on the ground over there with stuff. So I do want to get into that at some point. But I want to talk about Wiggins because I remember 2016 watching Harry Barnes brick

open jump shot after open jump shot 5 for 32 Oh my God Everybody's being so pissed at him About it Of course they go out and get KD And that's like You know

We know what happened with that But Wiggins has been thrust into that Harry Barnes role And just freaking flourished And what do you think It's finally clicked with him That's made him such an incredible contributor to a championship level team

because let's face it, man. By the time he was getting out of Minnesota, we thought he was a loser. Just like a loser player, losing habits. Jimmy Buckets yelling at him, all of that. Like, we thought this guy was a loser. What's clicked for him with Golden State, man? Like, I got to go on record and say,

I did not expect this out of Wiggins. I was in the camp like, y'all making on Andrew Wiggins? Like that's your man That's what you put your stock at Like listen And I don't think I was alone by the way I think there was some you know Some people on that roster who was like

Is this what we doing really is? Is Bradley Bill available? I do feel like Well first he kind of started accepting That lesser role And like right now he deserves all his glory But there was a time Where it was like yo wig second unit is yours

And it wasn't working Like he wasn't, that's what they were like, man, you're a 20 point score. When Steph sit down, we need somebody to get 20. We need somebody to take over the offense. And they'd never really clicked. Like, there was something about the weight of carrying a team, even for those six minutes twice a game. It just felt like too much.

So it really wasn't until Jordan Poole took off. Where it was like, all right, Jordan Poole, you run the second unit. And Wiggs fell into a much more comfortable slot. But then I do think, man, him locking in on defense. and rebounding, it just makes your offense not that much. You know, offense becomes a bonus at that point. And as you know, man, shots go down when they feel like easy money. You know what I'm saying?

Like, no pressure. He don't have to score. If he gets you 50, look at it now, Wiggins gets 15. That's a big deal. Putting him in an all-star game. He's starting to be an all-star game. You know what I'm saying? Like, if he gets 20 used to be his baseline, now if he gets 50, oh, man, he dropped 27.

in game three against Luca, and it was like, yo, this is the greatest role player of all time, right? Like, and he dropped 47.

He just doesn't have to score. He just needs to, I mean, they need him to score, but there's just no pressure on him to carry the offense. It's all, it's mostly finishing.

It's mostly shots created for him. You know, so a lot of that, a lot of the stuff that he had to do in Minnesota is just completely taking off. But I do think he's got Dremont, he's got Steph,

he's got Steve, he's got everybody praise. and them for doing stuff like picking up 94 feet, right, for doing stuff like getting offensive rebounds, right? They go crazy for offensive rebounds with the Warriors. So the same kind of dopamine hit he used to get from the step back 22 footer. Like he gets them from rebounded, right? He gets it from playing good defense and everybody sees that.

So now he's like, yo, I'm good as long as I play being rebound. And that, your shot just a little bit different when it ain't no pressure on it. Yeah. He's a fascinating case because the knock on him has always been this sort of waxing and waning focus, effort level. And you go to a team where Steph Curry and Draymond Green are the leaders. And on their worst days, it's never effort. Like these guys are high effort, high motor players. I know we never think that about guards,

but just think about the way Steph comes to his offense. This guy busts his ass. He don't got to yell at you. He's showing you. Like, I bust my ass every day. Dremont, same thing, although when they had the scrub team, he wasn't trying that hard. He took the night off.

But when it's winning time, when it's nut crunching time, Draymond is there, I wonder what's his dynamic. with the leadership of the team. You know what I mean? Because I've heard you talk about Jordan Poole where as soon as he came to the team, he's a shit talker, he's loud, he's boistered.

Draymond's like, no, I like that because I can go back and forth for him. This is something I could work with. What's Wiggins dynamic been with these guys? Man, they just be trying to get Wiggins to have some emotion. Like, one of the things that Steph says all the time is like when Wiggins is smiling,

that's when we're good. Because, like, that dude don't smile. Like, he's the same every time. And this has been a lot of people pouring into Andrew Wiggins, by the way. A lot of people telling him, dudes, you're good. Like, we know you're nice. You're built for this. And, you know, especially the Warriors.

Like, they love those kind of castoffs, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like, man, it was just a, it was a situation. It wasn't you, right? Bougie cousins comes to my own. They love those dudes. They love him. Barquise Chris, right?

It was like, oh, man, it was just, it was. It was a choose. It was the system. It was where you were. It was opportunity. So there's been an Andre Agadala. All these dudes are just constantly in his ear. A bunch of Bundini Browns, right?

On his team, trying to help him, like, understand his value. And what, like, the value of winning. I think that's a huge difference. The value, like, hey, man, it's the little stuff that helps you win. Seth Clayton, like, yo, we got the buckets. Dremont's like, look, I'm shutting it down. Man, I just need you to rotate. close out on the corners, right?

Like keep your assignment, all that stuff. I do think a big part of it, too, and I know he's only 26, but he's like a seven years in the league 26. Like, he dang near 30. You know what I'm saying? He might as well be 30. And that, you could see the difference between,

like, Katie ain't even fair. You can't compare him to Katie, right? That's different. But Harrison Barnes in his third year against Wiggas in his seventh. Like, there's a different maturity level. Like Wiggins is in that space where it's like, I don't know if he was ever this guy, but you get to be 26, 27, 28, push it 30.

The club ain't as appealing anymore. Like all that outside stuff ain't. You get to a point where it's like, all right, I'm growing up. I'm trying to find who I'm set on the down with. I'm trying to figure out where I'm a win at and where, you know, what situation I want to be in that I like. That's about when KD came to the way, right? So I do think Wiggis is hitting that grown-up stage.

He's got a kid, right? He's got his girl. He's building a family. Like, you know, the Warriors, the Bay is becoming his home. I do think all of that stuff helps. And also he's got like four Hall of Famers gassing them every time. Yeah, and I think that makes a huge difference. Next thing I wanted to talk to you about,

because I think of these two dudes in tandem, and that's pool and clay. Because, like, me watching it, I feel an awkward tension when there's moments in the Memphis series where Clay is just taking horrible shots, right? And it's like, I'm watching Jordan Pool with the slick handle, with the crazy finishes around the hoop,

with the jump shot. I'm like, yo, Clay better shape up, man. You know, this young boy is coming in here and he's making a huge difference. And, like, I feel this, like, natural tension. So I do think of them in, what do you think Clay is still providing for this team? And, you know, and it's obvious like this guy, bro, like the last time he was right,

he was incredible in the fucking finals. We know what caliber player he was. He's not that right now. What's he providing for them? Well, first off, he's like the ultimate threat, right? Like the problem with Clay is even if he missed, you're just, you can't let him make one. No. Right?

Like that's literally the, he could miss seven in a row and you're not like, Clay's wash, he's done. No. The defense is thinking, bro, he might make 10 in a row when he makes one. And that's what we see. Like, he'll be terrible game four, game five, game six. He's like he hits eight threes. Because when Clay go off, like he go off.

So as long as you've got that, that creates an automatic fear. And the truth is that's, Steph needs that, right? He needs somebody to make the defense. it's get away. Like, go, you can't leave that dude. It's interesting that dynamic of Clay and Poole because it was, like, it was obvious, right? It was like JT and Eddie G.

For five Harvey's too. You know what I'm saying? But I do think everything changed when they figured it out. Like, there's a element of Jordan Poole's like, listen, man, we had the best record in the league when I was starting.

You know what I'm saying? Why am I coming off the bitch? and then Steve Kerr trying to get George Poo ready is like, bro, you're coming off the bench. So then I think it was somebody else went down and he still kept George Poole off the bitch because he's like, you need to get used to this role. Jordan is like, if two-dos is down, come on, B, like,

I got to be starting. And people got to understand too, Marcus, because you're around players enough to understand this. Like, there's a vanity element that comes with starting that players care about. Like, it's not, like, the minutes could match up. Like, you could be closing games, like, all of that. But there's a vanity associated with being a starter, quote unquote.

And, like, managing that can become troublesome for coaches. Bro, like, Andre Goddala didn't want to go to the bitch. Like, everybody's like, oh, he went to the bitch. Such a team guy. Like, hold on, I started every game in my career. What are you talking about? I know, like, people like to get on Iverson about that. But if you play a hoop, you know, there is definitely a stance.

would be in the starter. You know what I'm saying? That's what they had to get Jordan Poole to see. It's like, man, you're going to get 30 minutes. We need to do this because X, but also, like, Clay, sometimes it's better for, like, Clay to do it. I remember when Mark Jackson was deciding who would play, like, Dremont.

No, no, it was, yeah, it was Mark Jackson trying to figure out who would play out of Dremont and David Lee? And he's like, Dremont could come off the bench. David Lee is a demotion. Like, you're telling him, you, were a start. So I need, he like, I need David Lee. I need him to be in. So, like, Clay came through all he did, you know, come back and lose his spot. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's, that's, yeah. That's an emotional thing. Politically, that's tough. Yeah, and emotionally it's tough.

Yeah, it's tough for him. So, you know, Clay like, bro, Clay was like, I'm doing my thing when KD was here. So you know, George Poo here? You're like, yeah. I'm not moving for KD. I'm not moving for George Poo, right? That's how it was. But I do think they had to figure it out. And I think at some point at the end of the season, they did. And that's when they started running them lineups together with Steph, Clay, George Poo. And then the coronary built.

And also, like, Steph is the center of everything. Like, whatever that was, whatever the argument was, whatever feelings was held, when Steph Curry comes off the bench for the entire first round, the argument is done. It's done. Nobody else could complain about that. It was like, remember before when he was like the fifth highest-paid player on the team, we signed that deal. Like, nobody can't complain about money. Right.

The step is fifth-hast-old player on the team. Like, he just ends it. So it's like, you can't complain about starting. Yeah. Like what Steph is coming off the bitch because it helps everybody else. Like, he played 35 minutes and coming off the bitch for the sake of not bringing Jordan Poole to the bitch, like that type of stuff. So I do think that helped a lot. Man, and the guy that's tasked with managing all of this to Steve Kerr, who, you know, because I'm so intricately tied to so many Warriors fans and Warriors people on the internet, Steve Kerr has gotten some lashes online through the years, you know.

He got off because of it. Like, people were kidding. killing Steve Kerr on the internet for his sort of stubborn nature when it came to rotational stuff, when it came to, you know, why don't we just run, you know, four high, Steph Pick and Roll. Like, what the fuck? Like, we got one of the greatest pick and roll players in the history of the planet. Why aren't we running this freaking play for him?

Like, people just going nuts. But I think he's done a masterful job with this stuff. And I do think he has made some subtle tweaks to a lot of his approaches. So, like, I feel like Steve Kerr should feel really satisfied with the job that he's done to get these guys back into the finals. You know what the difference is when he came, he inherited a championship team, right, a team that was like ready. And he, you know, prime Steph, prime clay, prime, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's quite the gift for a first-time coach. Then he got KD.

You know what I'm like? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, nice. That's a nice, that's a nice thing to have. Yeah. So I think just like with all this stuff, man, I think people just respect you more when you go through it. They do one 15 and 50 one year, right? People saw him out there with, you know, Brad Wanamaker running point, right? Like, you know, Kyle Bowman, right? He started like, there was a time where Eric Pascall was his best player on the court. Like that's. Mercy. So he's been through it. And I also think this.

year, one thing that was really clear, and that was probably true for a few of the, for these last couple years, you know, like, so, you know, some of these dudes, like, if you're a 45 to 55 win team, 10 of those, the difference between the two is the coach, right? Managing that game, getting you to win that probably wasn't there, making the right move, making the right adjustment. And Steve kind of had this, man, we're going to do our thing, man, you know what I'm saying? It's like no game. It worked every time.

You've got to stick with it. But I do think there was a part where Steve was like, all right, let me get more hands on. Like, we saw it. Remember they were like tricking off games in the final second? Like, remember he thought, there was one game where San Antonio, they thought he was going to file on three.

So Draymond Chuck's one. And it's like, he was like, I probably should have told him that San Antonio never files in that situation, right? So it's like all that little stuff where you got to be on top of it every moment because the room for error is so much smaller. I think he started doing that.

And you saw that when Mike Brown sat out, they lose about 39. He's like, Steve, no, all right, it's time to call a timeout. Let me scream at Steph. Let me switch. Like, I can see what Draymond got in when he don't. So I think he became one of them coaches

who's kind of got the post this year. Like, when do you play Bealicea? Right. Bealisa can sometimes look like he should not be the NBA. He love him to beelita, boy. He loves Bealice. I'll be like, sometimes Bealita like, yeah,

this dude is, like, you put him on the court, you're going to lose. But he puts him on at, like, just the right matchup, just the right time. Just like, Steve, here's the UK, man, Steve be living right, bro. Like, he's always right in the end. Like, you can criticize. I did, you know how many times I'd criticize, like, you should be doing this, you should be doing it. And then at the end, and then he'll be like, yeah, I was doing that for this.

You know what I'm saying? I'm like, man, first off, I know you wasn't, but what can I? Well, you can't argue with results. Can't argue with results. He always. you with results because, you know, like I said, I made the mistake of thinking that. First of all, I do want to say just for myself,

to speak up for myself, I didn't know that Jay Crowder fell on Chris Paul's fucking quad and ruined his leg. And so therefore he was cooked in that series. I didn't know that. And I thought Dallas was just literally world beaters on defense. But guess what? He thought Reggie Bullock was going to end the dynasty.

That's what you got. Bullock. I'm sorry. Oh, man. Thought Doria and Fiddy Smith was about to beat Steph. Listen, as much as I've been somebody who's been critical of Steve Kerr's, like, stubbornness about his beautiful game, the ball finds energy, blah, blah, blah, kumbaya shit on offense. Dallas couldn't guard it, man. They could not, dude.

They couldn't guard it, like straight up. Like, I've been one of the most vocal, you know, critics of that style of play specifically in the postseason when we were. we watch just one-on-one killers win the day all the time. Like, Dallas couldn't do shit with that beautiful game stuff. And so Steve Kerr has even been vindicated in that. It's like, yeah, I know you guys want me to do the step 45% use and shit and run this man into the ground. But no, we're going to do it this way and watch it work. And it's happened.

And it keeps like dudes like Kavanaugh-Lunie live. Yeah. And next thing you know, in game six, it's Kavon Luni getting buckets, right? it keeps dudes like Wiggins engaged. Like, philosophically, it makes a lot of sense. But, man, you got to get through some rough patches while it do, you know what I'm saying? So sometimes it's like, bro, the easy play.

Just give stuff the goddamn ball. The dude is like 1.29 points per possession, though. Like, just give them the ball. Like, what is it? But in the end, every time you'd be like, don't do that, it worked against Houston. Remember the same thing? like, bro, James Hart-Dundgard, pull him out, just tell stuff to take him.

And it's like, no, we're going to run him. We're going to run him and Chris Paul through a million screens. And game seven, they're going to be cooked, right? Like, it's easy to point at, but it just, bro, it just keeps working to the point where I'm like, I'm about to stop questioning Steve because that dude will be living right. That's, that's a fact. Look, again, like, because it's somebody who has, like, I'm not as crazy as some of the crazies on Warriors' Twitter about Steve.

But I've definitely been, you know, critical of some of his handlings with the team in the past. But, like, he deserves his flowers for the job that these guys have done. They switched that tune. And when Mike Brown was taking over with that. Mike Brown there, like, hold on, man. Get this dude out of here. Where's Steve? Sacramento was like, hold on this.

The ink dry on that thing yet? Mike Brown was down 55. Everybody was begging for Steve Caron. Oh, my goodness. Hey, Humes fans. Don't just watch all. the NBA Finals action be part of it with Fandu, an official partner of the NBA. Right now, all new customers get a risk-free first bet up to $1,000.

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www.1-800 gambler.net in West Virginia. And so, man, I do want to get you out of here we're talking about Steph because as the years go by, I've just gained a bigger appreciation for Steph and what he does. More so even the way he plays is how he is a superstar. I just think his egosiness, his self-hearted.

You know what I'm saying? It's not to say that Steph doesn't have an ego, but his approach to superstar leadership is an egoless approach. And you contrast that with a lot of the shit that we see in the league, a lot of the type of shit that gets praised. I just think the guys are model superstar, so it's kind of dope to watch him get back to the mountain again. You know, like, and what's basically signature to this journey for you, Marcus?

Because you talk about the old head asses, But what signature to this one for you with Steph specifically? That he essentially sacrifices offense to be better on defense. Wow. And the like in the most like subtle way. But I really believe one of the reasons his percentages down is because he really goes after it on defense. And he is 34. So it does a little something to your legs.

but there's a part of stuff that's like if this is what we need like this is what we have to do at a time where you just know everybody's waiting for the 50 point game to anoint him right and you know he's got to like he's got to get the finals MVP and all that stuff you know people get that stuff from the big numbers okay let me just say something really quickly marcus if kovan looney is scoring 21 points in the game it's cousin step curry No, bro. Please shut the fuck up. Stop.

Like, if Kavana Luni gets 20 points in the game, it's because he's playing with Steph Curry and no other reason. So just stop this shit. I mean, give me a break, bro. These dudes are taking layups and practice threes walking into shots because they put in three guys on six. Like, what are we doing with this shit? I'm tired of this shit.

Just watch the game, bro. Like, these dudes don't play like this. if they're not playing next to the single greatest offensive force of a generation, bro. Like, it don't happen like that. Let me ask you this. At what point do you think ever that that part of Steph will be appreciated? Or is it just because now we're in a very, like, social media-driven, hot take, my guy's better than your guy. You think at some point that will be as part of his legacy as shooting, like,

his willingness to just do that? Because at any point he could say, give me my ISO, bro, give me the rock. But he's like, no, I'm going to draw two. It's like I'm going to draw the three. Listen, I think at some point, and again, like we got proof of concept with people like Andrew Wiggins.

We saw what it was like when he was left to his own devices on a team that was, quote, unquote, his. We saw the results of that. It was 28 wins a season. We saw Draymond without him. We saw Draymond. Like, Kavana Luni, at some point he's probably going to get a bigger deal to play for a different team or whatever. And we're going to see what that is.

And you know why I think it's going to be tough? It's because I've seen it with LeBron where I remember, you know, in 2016, people were like, is this the best LeBron's ever been? I'm like, bro, like, were y'all not watching basketball in 2009 and 2010 when this guy was going to the finals with Anderson Varagiao and Boobie Gibson and Eric Snow? and Sasa Pavlovich and Ira Neuble. And, like, bro, like, no, this is not the best LeBron has ever been. Remember Candace Parker Brother was on? Yes. Like, you know, like, I've seen it, like, where people don't have an appreciation.

When I'm like, yo, they were starting Ben Wallace and Andy V at one point in Cleveland, right? Like, could you imagine this dude, that version of LeBron playing in a five? out offense where you literally can't leave a shooter and there's not a single person on a planet who could stay in front of this dude. Like, that would have been ridiculous. But that wasn't the context, right? So I've seen him do it with LeBron. I'm just like, y'all just don't understand how great this guy, like, as great as he was

in 2016, 17, and they're going to the finals and getting their skulls bashed in. I'm like, bro, he was way better when he was younger. He was physically just the most imposing, dominant perimeter player. I think the same is true. Stuff, I'm just like, bro, if y'all don't understand that, like, people had to guard him 35 feet in and what that means for the people that are playing behind that play and how everything literally opens up for them,

like, I don't know what to tell you. I remember where I was writing a book, I did the research, and it was like, I think it was like over $300 million in new contracts to dudes who played with LeBron who had no business. This is like, you know, this dude got people paid $300 million. $300 million. The dudes who most of never even played the league.

Justin Thompson better name his wine seller after LeBron, okay? J.R. Smith's still getting paid by the cabs because of LeBron. I mean, my God. They threw the bag at him in Milwaukee. I mean, literally got other dudes paid. That's crazy. You know what I mean? So, like, and I, and I, and I.

I honestly truly believe the same is true of stuff. Just his greatness elevates everything that's next to him. Everything is made better by his presence. The amazing part is that this dude is never, like, at all, ever shaken by the narratives, right? And it's not because he don't listen. He hears all that, John. He hears all of it. He listens to all of it.

He will deep dive on social. And he'd be times, I'd be like, did you see this? He'd be like, you know, I saw it. I'm like, these house. I was deep off in there. That was teabobb in, you in there looking. But it doesn't, like, he never caves in. Right.

He never gives in to, like, yo, I got to go do this because this is what they're saying. And that, man, these are the most ego maniacal. You know what I'm saying? Like, and Steph's ego is huge, right? But, but I do think it helps that he grew up around the game and he grew up with his father. And he just has a really good big picture.

his thing is always, bro, the more titles I rack up, the less people will talk. And that's how it always used to be, right? It's like, yo, we win a championship. I just got to win. You just got to win. He's just got to win. So in his mind, he's like, how do I get a championship? Yeah.

Like, how do I do that? Like, what do we do to get a championship? It's just amazing how he's 34 years old. I remember saying, I remember it was a couple years ago where LeBron just started, was like, Brian was like, man, I love Steph. And it was like, oh, the beep was over, right? Like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's cool now.

He was just, it was like an all-star game. Not this one, but the last, it was like an all-star game. It was like, oh, they, they buddy-buddy now. And I'm like, yes, he's stuff is over. Like, it's done. Yeah. Like, you really think so? I was like, bro, like, yeah.

Everybody has to give it up. Everybody. He was like, nah, bro, just let me, let me have one down year. And they'd be right back. You know, but he's never, ever moved by that, right? He's never shaken by it. He's never wants to change this approach. He's never gone to Steve Kerr and said,

give me the ball. I need to get the ball. Even like when they thought summer, you know, they wanted some stars. They didn't care about no draft picks. They didn't care about like rookies and all that stuff. He's like, yo, put them on the market. Let's get somebody.

But then they explain the plan and they break it to him. He's like, all right, let's roll. Let's roll with that plan. He just never, he never falls for the superstar kind of, here's how you're supposed to respond. Right. I just appreciate that level of consistency, right? It's like, because if I'm him, bro, it ain't never happened.

I'm like, he's tough. Uh-uh. Yeah, I'm putting my foot down. We out here cooking. Dillon Brooks out here hitting shots and something crazy. I'm going right back to him. Yeah, that would be unacceptable. Yeah.

Like, that dude, that dude and his brand of vinegar, man, like, that would just, that just could not stand if I was. I'm going right back at him. He's like, no, we'll run up through screens. We'll win this in sixth if we just stick to the game play. It's amazing. And, you know, oftentimes, man, you hear people, like, I think one of the hotly contested debates,

people would be like Kobe or Duncan. And for me, it's always going to be Tim Duncan. Because I could do this shit for 20 years, and I could run an organization because my best player is literally the model of a professional. And he's my best player, the model on and off the court

of what a professional needs to be in that role. And I say the same thing about Steph. Like, to me, he's the Duncan of his generation and just his approach, man. He makes Steve Kerr life easier. Bob Myers and them. Everybody's life is made better and easier because of how he chooses to do his business, man.

And, you know, I just think he deserves his props for that. And it's a testament. into his character. Man, and you notice it by all the people who'll be running and play with him. Like, everybody, everybody want to come play with Steph because you know, like, you're going to get to eat. You're going to get to eat, and the superstar is going to be okay with it.

Remember when Kevin Durant was meeting? That was crazy. They had the presentation and all that. Katie was like, listen, man, Katie is a superstar of superstars, right? He knows what stuff? He's like, this is all good. But I need to hear from Steph. Like, do you want me here?

You know what I'm saying? Like, do you want me? here. And that's me. Yeah. Yeah. That stuff right there. Just this idea that if everybody else is thriving and whatever they do, then that's good for all of us and somehow we win.

Like, that's why Andre and Gaddaa will fight the world for Steph. Like, he will fight people. He would tell us Steph, like, you need to act more like the superstar you are. Like, stop with all this, you know, but that's just how he wrote. I do, man, I don't know. I think we'll figure it out later. I think

in 20 years when, you know, that beard is grade. It's going to be, it's going to be, you know, you talking about, man, y'all didn't know, y'all think this dude is good, man. You ain't seen no stuff. You're like, just how our old heads talked about back to Jay and then. You know that for a fact. Yeah, I'm just really happy we get to watch this dude do what he does because, like, people ask me all the time, like, when they find out what I do for work and they're like, do you root for a team? I'm like, not really, man. I just root for excellence. And like, Steph is excellent consistently. And so It's just really dope that we get to watch him do this.

Even as he's getting older, he's just still getting busy and it's fire. So Marcus, man, thank you for the time today. I know you. Before I go, I want to hear your old Luca tape. I mean, look, I think the last step for Luca is becoming a greatly conditioned player. Like, I watched, look at what it's done for Yokic. Right. Like, he went from All-Star to MVP.

by getting his ass in shape. And I think that's the last step for Luca. To me, like, I was talking to Haralabab. And I was like, I don't see why Luca can't be as good as LeBron was. You know, I'm not going to never see going to say he's the second best player of all time like LeBron is. But, like, as far as impact and make sure your team is there every single year, I don't see why he can't do it. But I think it's on him to become a more well-conditioned player so that he could, because he

has the tools to do it on defense with his size and his IQ and all of that stuff. He just got to get his ass in shape if he's going to be shoulder and all of that on offense and we see how important defense is. And that's my look at take, man. I'm on board. I'm on the Luca train. But he got to take his conditioning more serious, in my opinion. I wasn't on on, like I was on it, but I was like, I'll get off at this next stop.

You know what I'm saying? Remember I got to lean the bill? My hand was about the bed. But after that series, and just after the way the warriors, like, especially the stars were like, no. The respect. It's two dudes. It's two dudes out of this playoffs that they were like, oh, no, we won.

That's the dude. Yokish and Luka. Yeah. Oh, and Jai. I mean, but obviously, we all know about Jaya, but like, Yokic and Lairn, we were like, oh, no, we won, but we ain't stop that dude, right? No.

So I was like, yo, they don't respond to people like that. Yeah. This is legit. But, yeah, I'm on. Now, I'm on the... I'm taking a seat. I'm not... I don't got my hand by the bill.

Marcus. You know what I'm Marcus. I love that you were just in the back waiting to be like, I told you he wasn't shit. We all know that dude who comes off the top, bro. And be like, I told your asses. He wasn't going to do nothing. It's why I got to stay off social, man.

I'll be letting people hype. It's low it to me. You know what I'm saying? Y'all love him so much. I had to hate it. No, I understand. I understand. I understand.

it, man. But yeah, I'm totally on board with Luca. But yeah, tell the people where they can find you in your work, man. You know, several bestsellers on your record. Obviously, you the preeminent Bay Area journalist as far as I'm concerned. Tell the people where they can find you, Marcus. Man, you can find me at your local bookstore, number one. You got to get me. You feel me?

But yeah, check me out. Time to subscribe. Get your subscription to The Athletic. I'm on like 88 podcasts. Not as many as Wads, but, you know, I'm learning how to work hard from Mr. Oh, man. Let's not even talk about it.

You know what I'm saying? Come find me. Get it, buy a couple books. You know what I'm saying? My daughter is just going into her sophomore year. So we got three more years before I'm going to start need some collegiate tuition. So yeah, go check out a book or two.

Let's do it. Thank you for that, Marcus. Appreciate you. Absolutely, man. Anytime. Anything is possible.