The Ringer NBA Show - How the Nets Have Maintained Their Culture and How the Jazz Have Failed Their Mission This Season | Real Ones

Episode Date: March 31, 2022

Logan and Raja talk about whether we’ll be more surprised by which team comes out of the Eastern or Western conference to the NBA Finals (0:40). Then they talk about Logan’s story on Kevin Durant and the culture of this Nets team (7:30) and how the Jazz have failed in their mission thus far this season (16:00). Finally, Jomi joins to talk about his father showing artwork at Crypto.com Arena as part of the Lakers’ In The Paint initiative and to put the Lakers on pack watch (29:15). Then all three of them give their Real One of the Week. Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Jomi Adeniran Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For as long as I've known the NBA, it's been a Stars League. But even among the Stars, there's an exclusive club. Russell and Dr. Jay, Jordan, Kobe. They're all part of a select group that paved the way for the NBA superstar of today. And some even shared secrets with each other along the way. From Spotify and the Ringer podcast network, I'm Jackie McMullen. And this is the icons club. What is popping?

Real one's Logan Murdoch here. Roger Bell there. Hi, Roger. You're getting a little groovy today, bro. How you doing, dog? I see you in the Zoom. It's just the caffeine, bro. You know, it's the time of day.

Yeah, it's my mid-morning. Pick me up. What are you drinking in the morning, bro? What kind of coffee are you drinking, dog? I didn't, man, bro. I don't know what's in there now. We just throw the beans in it, and it keeps spitting out coffee, so I don't know.

Okay, okay. So it could just be something. It's just some hybrid, a lot of different things in the vibes. Is that what it is? Yeah, my wife, my wife picked the last bean. Like, we do a thing. She likes certain beans. I like other beans.

So, like, we rotate, right? So we're on one of her bags. And I don't know exactly what it is, but I've got your boy feeling out right right now. Oh, okay. Cool. Because this dude was doing, you all don't see this. This dude was doing robots. He was doing the little hangman thing after with the arm after you finish the robots.

He was locked in for this show. But he also said, Ra, like, who really, you know, dictates everything that we do with the pod. So he said that we need to talk about the Eastern Conference

and some teams that got him fucked up. Nah, but he said that we need to talk more about the Milwaukee Bucks. And Raja, I'm going to let you get your shit off, bro, but I'm going to push back a little bit.

I'm going to push back a little bit, I think. But what do you have to say about the Bucks? It wasn't. It wasn't that. had the bucks messed up or anything like that. I just thought it was interesting that, like, you know, the narrative all season long has been in the Eastern Conference, you know, Brooklyn and how scary they're going to be to play in the

playoffs now that Kyrie's back. Obviously, everyone was in love with Philly after the first three or four games with the James Harden Trade and Embed's been playing great, you know, MVP caliber year. You've had the heat that have been a great story. And then as of late, you know, before last night, it was the Celtics. And before the injury, the Celtics were the team that was going to come out of the east, best team in the Eastern Conference. We even talked about it on our pod on Monday. But flying under the radar and still in position to be the number one seat in the Eastern Conference are to Milwaukee Bucks,

who have sneakily gotten real healthy on you. And Janus is still one of the top two most dominant best players in the league. And so, you know, I just find that interesting. I think that they are the favorite, in my opinion, to come out of the east. This is what I think. I think that has always been the case. I think that especially from a narrative perspective that the Milwaukee Bucks are going to come out of the east no matter what. And that was in the face of, you know, the Chicago Bulls having their moment in the side.

And the Bulls, my bad, yeah. And the Sixers, you know, Joelle Embed having his MVP talk. and, you know, even down in your hood, Miami, even having their bit of talk of they're going to win it. But the constant has been the Milwaukee Bust have been the Eastern Conference favorites. I think what happens is they're just not interesting. I don't know how else to put it, Raja. They're just not. They're not interesting.

They're champs. They're great. They're amazing. but when you think about it in terms of storylines, they don't, other than being good, they don't have any, there's nothing going on in that team that, like, is like, oh my goodness,

we need to pay attention every single night. We need to pay attention to how great Janus is on a given night. But that's just on the floor. You juxtapose that what was happening with the Nets, who we'll get into in a second, the sons who have been great on court, but, you know, there's been a lot of stuff going on.

off the court with them as well. With, you know, we talk about the warriors all the way down the line. They always have storylines. But the Milwaukee Bucks is just like, hey, you know, Janus is great. And the rest of the team is great. And they'll figure it out. And we'll see y'all in June. I don't know anything more than that.

But I do, I think they're a great team. I saw them playing in San Francisco a few weeks ago. A few weeks ago, they lost. But I think that they'll be fine. And I think when they're the deepest team in the league, and they'll figure it out. My question is, is there going to be any surprises in the playoffs, Rajah? I don't know about it. I don't know.

Because I just, I think Phoenix and you got me, this is a revelation, Rajum. I think Phoenix is going to roll through. I'm sipping the orange juice. I'm sipping it. To the rule through the West or roll through the entire playoffs? I think they're going to win the title. I think they're going to win the title. You know how I was.

I was like, yo, Golden State, Golden State. Not winning the title, but I thought that they were just going to be there. I'm completely off that bandwagon. I'm saying Phoenix is going to win it all. But is there going to be a surprise here? Are we going to, or is it just, do we kind of just see a crash course to Phoenix, Milwaukee? Well, I mean, if you're saying that you're penciling Phoenix and Milwaukee and you could see a surprise because I believe, you know, the East, although I tell you that I pick the bucks to come out. The east, I believe, to be more wide open than the west. I think Phoenix is more of a

favorite to hop out of the west than Milwaukee would be for me to get out of the east. I don't see many surprises in the west, like complete upsets of the suns. I could see the east getting shaken up. It wouldn't be a surprise, though, right? Because a team like Brooklyn, although they're terrible defensively and their track record is what it is. Those two guys catch fire, they start playing well in the playoffs. They could come out of the east as a playing team. I still maintain that. I know it's not likely.

Do you think that they could come out of the east as a playing team? Yeah. You think the Mets can do? Hear me, though, I don't think it's likely. But what I'm saying is that type of star power when they play well. And the thing is they just don't play well all the time, right? Like they're not locked in defensively all the time. They're not clicking offensively all the time.

But if they capture that for a couple months stretch, like they're very dangerous, bro. Like they're not deep. But when you're talking about Kyrie, KD, Seth Curry, Drogich has been a great pickup for them. Drummond's playing well, Nicholas Clackson. Like they have some pieces, Patty Mills. They have pieces that, I mean, they've been around a block,

dog. They know how to get it done. I'm not picking them. But I could see the east being more of a landscape where people surprise you than the West, if that makes sense. I want to talk about the Nets because, you know, just got to plug something. You know, I got a story come out right now in the ringer about one Kevin Durant. Which you guys go check out on the site. One of the things I'm fascinated by, and, you know, it's in the piece.

It's just a relationship between Kevin and Kyrie. I was able to see, and we kind of both were able to see it in different ways over the season. right, like, you know, with our proximity to both of those guys. Specifically with Kevin, you know, because I was prepared to go to New York. I went to New York. I was in New York last week and Memphis for a little bit, just out and seeing what I can see. And I was fully expecting Kevin to, like, just be annoyed with Kyrie, just in general. I was just expecting that, just human nature based on like all the factors, you know, that we've seen publicly.

and we've seen in all these ways. And I was expecting him to just be like, like, you know, you know, as a journalist, the first question is, hey, how you feel about a person? You know, we fully expecting new players to lie to us. Oh, we're good, we're good. And then the follow-up, y'all just tell us the truth, right? And he was just steadfast in how much he really rocks with him.

But the biggest thing was with Kevin was just letting go and letting go and saying, yo, Kyrie is his own man. he's going to figure out the way he figure it out. He's my homie, but he's going to figure out the way he figures it out. As a star player, that's interesting, you know, especially in this age where we see star players trying to, we need them to have control. LeBron, I think is the biggest blueprint of that.

Do you think it's helpful or when you have a Kyrie on your team to just let him be or just to kind of just micromanage the kid? I think Kyrie has shown you that if you are going to, to try to micromanage him or try to have him fit into whatever box, so to speak, you want him to be in that he's not going to stay around long. That's just not who he is. It's a person. So if you want longevity in a relationship with Kyrie, then I think you have to take the approach that KD has taken with Kyrie, where I'm going to give him space, let him be his own person. He'll figure it out on his own timetable. Now, that's a completely different

question is whether or not, like, that's what you need to do with Kyrie to keep him around or whether or not that's what you need to do with Kyrie to be successful. I don't really have the answer to that, but I think there are two different questions. But when you see, when you see their relationship, right? And like, it's just, it's one of those things where you're expecting, and I feel like with any other person I would implode with those two guys. Like, if it was Kyrie and someone else, like, Kyrie goes AWOL, you know, wherever, I don't think many teams are going to say, oh, he'll be all right. He'll figure it out. I don't know how it is from NASS perspective, because he just doesn't talk on that level, right? He's just going to, he's a good

soldier. He's not going to, like, say anything disparaging. But I just don't know how I would do it. I do respect it. And I do, I think seeing it up close their friendship has really kind of, it's really both of them versus the world right now. It seems that way. I don't know. I was to say it. I don't know. I was to say it. But when you were, so we talked in brief passing. What did you feel about the Nets when you saw them? Like, I know you saw when they, you know, they held down the kids. They're dope people.

Like, you know, shout up to Kay and Kyrie for holding it down. But what did you see from them just being around that group? You know, you're a player. You know all the things that go around. What did you see during your short time during, when you were in Miami? Well, it was quick. Remember, I was on vacation. So I only got to spend like 15 minutes, you know, around them.

But when you've been around teams, it doesn't take, you know, it doesn't take long. Like, I saw, I saw a lot of vibes, you know. They have, you know, first of all, I saw Ben Simmons, right? Like, Ben Simmons was the first one out. He didn't play that night. So Ben was on the court, you know, chopping it up with some people. Those people were significant others or, you know, spouses of dudes in that locker room, right? And so he was there with the person and they were all hanging out.

That speaks to me, right? Like, because, you know, that doesn't speak to fractured relationships in a locker room where everyone's kind of sitting with their own people and no one's kind of, you know, mingling and hanging out together. So I thought that was cool and they spent some time together. And then, you know, I watched as each person kind of came out and they have a bunch of good dudes on that team. The vibe seemed good. Now, they had just won so that it,

lends itself to, you know, the mood being better. But I felt like each one of them had a, had an ability to kind of relate to each other's people that were there. Like, I didn't see anybody giving cold shoulders. And this is just speaking to the personalities on the team, right? Because I've been on teams where guys are in a rush. And even though I'm there with my family, like I already know to tell my kids or, you know, my little nephew's, hey, bro, he's going to be in a rush, though. He ain't going to have no time for you. So don't even waste your time. They didn't have any guys like that, which I thought was pretty cool. That means you got some good human beings on your team, right? There's some good people there. On the court, Logan,

I caught him on a good night. Like, they look good. They were locked in defensively. And this is what eludes them. Is their ability every night to lock in defensively and play hard consistently? And it's corny. People think it's probably like, I don't know, over simplifying it. It is not. That is a skill. The best teams capture that way more often than the bad teams. They're able to consistently go out there and lock in to consistent energy and effort and defend. And I caught them on a night where they did that. And so it was fun to watch. And you could see what it could be in the playoffs.

Now, Kyrie, I don't think, played great in the Miami game from a scoring perspective. But I thought he played a great floor game and he defended. But so that's why when you ask me, do I think they could come out of the east? While I wouldn't pick them, I would say to you, hey, man, if you get that effort out of everyone, drummond was great, Kyrie was great. you know, KD did his thing. Drogich was good. Patty Mills was like, you could see how they would be a dangerous card to pull.

But generally, vibes were high. Is it possible to have, like, great vibes and not be a contender? Like, I don't, I don't really, I don't never, you don't, we don't talk about that. We don't talk about, like, how does that work? Well, how does that? Consistency in your effort is a thing, right? Consistency in playing hard is a thing. But there's also continuity that goes along with that, both offensively and defensively.

That's developed over the course of time. That's developed over your training camp, your preseason, you know, we're coming into regular season. It's all a body of work that leads up to us being hopefully the best version of ourselves when we hit playoff time. And, you know, there are some teams that are peaking out that are peaking right now that are playing really good basketball. And then there are other teams that are kind of still sputtering, trying to figure out who they are. And so I think they, you could be a team with high vibes, everyone feeling like we have a good shot because we see all this talent and we know what our high end is, but you still just haven't hit your stride, like that consistency in execution, in messaging, in, in just overall continuity and knowing how we're going to play together down the stretch. And when things get rough, this is, I know I'm secure in my role. Like I think some of those things are missing from them.

It's funny because I could juxtapose because I was able to watch Brooklyn play. And I saw them play at home. One of the games that they played was against the jazz. And just like the juxtaposition of vibes was very telling. Because you look on one side where, you know, the nets, while they are not that good, just there's, you know, you see it all the way down from like the, you know, the, you know, player development staffs and stuff, you know, they're chopping it up, they're chilling,

looks like a real cool, like, you know, vibe. Right. And then you juxtapose that with, like, with the, um, jazz who are supposed to be a contender who are supposed to be in that mix. And they got to think about if they star going to leave this summer, or if this star wants to leave or I just, I think this is my transition to the jazz.

Bro, you don't say, come, you've been doing this long enough, though. You don't say this. I think this is my transition. to the jazz. You take the wheel and you fucking transition us to the jazz, dog. You know, so like, you know, so I was thinking about the, I was going

to Salt Lake City, you feel me? Okay. Okay. You know, because we both love Valtors. There you get what I'm saying. Didn't get a chance to go. Why didn't you go? Wait, quick aside. What the fuck? Why didn't you go? So, again, when you have children, you will understand

this. Okay. I wanted to go so badly. My favorite place, maybe to eat on a planet. And I looked at the menu and I was deliberating just taking four kids in there and having them sit in Vultors and just not eat because there's nothing on the menu that they were going to eat. Like they don't like lasagna. They're not real pasta heads. Like they're not going to eat. What do kids eat these days, bro?

Fruit loops. I mean, I wish they would. We've tried it. They're just, they don't like it. My kids eat a lot of stuff. They just don't love Italian food for one reason or another, except pizza and chicken parm. So, you know, I didn't want to disrespect Volta. and have four kids in there, like, on iPads,

like trying to be entertained. Like, it was going to ruin my time. Can we get some chicken strips? Yeah, dog. So I was like, you know, I'm not even going to take them up in there, man. Bro, I remembered one time that I went to Valtors, and, like, I was told to go to Valtors.

Because, you know, within NBA circles, that's where you go. And, you know, of course, we're plugging Valtors. Because shout out to you, bro. Yeah. He's a G. But I went on a night where, like, the team was there, where I was covering the Warriors at the time

and the Warriors were at Walters and it was like, I don't like to do that. You know, I don't like to go. Like when I, if I'm covering it's here, I'm not trying to see you,

bro. Like, other than when it's work time, I'm not trying to see you after hours. So I'm over here like looking around, covering my face, not trying to like clog eyes, but they're positioned in the front of the,

like the establishment, right? Like, so there's the, there's the walk in. way and then right to the side there is a you know there's like i don't know there's right to the side there's a big like you could a area that you can make private yeah essentially right so i go there and i'm like but the food was great the food was amazing but i would like to go there under different

circumstances i would like to go there when i'm not like you looking around like oh over here but vultes is great vultures is great it is great and if i may before we get to like some more basketball shit I haven't been to Salt Lake since the pandemic. I went the year before the pandemic. We were scheduled to go back and, you know, COVID hit like, I don't know, a month before we're supposed to go skiing. What they've done to that damn airport is phenomenal. Has it been?

Wait, I haven't gone since the pandemic either. What's it looked like? We thought we were in the wrong place. We slept on the lake. Some of us were knocked out on a flight, so I got off. Sure. And I got in the terminal. I was like, Cindy.

Well, you can get direct from Florida to Salt Lake. Boy, you already know. So. I look of shit. When I got off, I was like, Cindy, we're in the wrong fucking airport. Like, this is not Salt Lake Airport. I've been in that many of times. Like, hey, kudos Salt Lake.

I'm going to be real. Just quick transition on that one. I was in Memphis airport and felt the same exact way, bro. Like, I, full disclosure, I used to intern in Memphis at the commercial appeal. Shout out to the commercial appeal, you know, all my folks out there. And I remember when I went there, like, maybe like five, six years. ago. And it was just, it wasn't, it wasn't great. It was not in great spirits at all. It wasn't. It just wasn't great, you know, is what it is. Some airports are good. Some airports are like LaGuardia at

1998, you know, it just, it is what it is. And so I go in there and I'm like, you ever just, I mean, you literally just did, but I go in there, they expect something different. I'm like, wait, this, this little, the thing that takes you from the airplane to the, to the terminal, like, oh, shit, this is different. What's going on? And, then I get into the airport. I'm like, oh, this is a different shop. Yeah, bro. This is different.

I got to hit Salt Lake. Oh, bro, Salt Lake is really nice. Saul Lake is a nice place. You could see, I mean, the airport to your point was like, it wasn't, uh, but like you could see like great the mountains from the airport. You could see, it's kind of out the way. It's nice, though. Bro, they got this thing in a little food court when you come in, man.

Like, I mean, it's not a little food court. This thing is pretty phenomenal, right? They got a new food court now? The entire place is completely different. But they got this huge glass window with this seating area where you could just lounge out and chill and all you're looking at are mounting. Like it is dope. So Lake has done the damn thing. All right.

Word. You know, like, it's going to suck when like Donovan Mitchell goes out the airport for the last time. And that's what's on the jazz is mine. That's the way you transition, buddy. That's it. I just don't get. Every time I think about this Donovan Mitchell situation, I just, think about like the age old saying that the grass is not always greener my guy like

you are at a fan base that loves you right or you know that i guess loves the idea of you i don't know how many how many fans actually love players as people but like for all intents of purposes they ride for don't know about don't michigan to salt lake they're going to ride for him right and then i juxtapose that with like the nix fan base for like one thing you do bad they're going to be on your head, right? Or, you know, the media's going to be on your head. I just feel like, be careful what you wish for because say in the event that you want to leave this summer, and I don't know the trade packaging, but I'd imagine that they would have to include RJ Barrett into anything that they get trade back for you, right? And then, I remember,

okay, let's quick aside. I remember this, I remember with Kobe, because, you know, I was distraught when Kobe demanded a trade back in the day. He was 07. And I remember reading reports there of like he wanted to go to the Bulls. And Jerry Buss is like, yo, I could send you, I could and would send you to the Bulls. Hey, check this out. I'm going to take him. Him is La Wall dang. I'm going to take him. I'm going to take him. I'm going to take him and I'm going to take him. And then what's you're going to do? You're going to be four. It's going to be a 40 wins a year. You're going to be in the same position you are in now and you're going to be in cold as Chicago, right? I feel the same way about Donovan Mitchell right now. Why would you want to leave right now when the, what's the alternative, bro?

Well, here's the deal. And that is well put. And I'm not lobbying for Donovan Mitchell to leave because I agree with you. The grass isn't always greener. I learned that, you know, the hard way. the difference between the Kobe situation and the Donovan Mitchell situation is Kobe could sell L.A. as a destination. It's never had a problem attracting premier free agents. And this is just fact. This is an opinion. Utah has struggled with that.

Utah as a franchise has struggled to draw the preeminent, like, free agent type of player. They usually have to get that through the draft or they wind up getting someone who isn't the marquee name and free agency. they can turn out to be absolute beast, but they don't get that guy. Can you dig what I'm saying, Logan? And that's why it's going to be harder for Donovan Mitchell. But I, that's just me, you know, kind of playing devil's advocate like I like to do. I agree. I think that there are things, you know, that Utah has done. And I've talked about them years ago when I was on, when I was on, you know, another platform about my experience with Utah and them kind of being reluctant to step into the competitive realm of of the NBA in terms of, you know, amenities in locker rooms,

some of the things that they do for, for nutrition, you know, just those type of things, right? The bells and whistles that are all things that attract free agents. But, you know, as I went around, I was, I was down there at the, what I call it Vivint. Is it Vivint now? Like, I saw the, I saw what was done to the place. Like, it's brand new. Like, I was talking to Boris. I got to hang out with Boris out there. And he was telling me everything inside of the arena, everything at the practice facility, all of that has taken a step into competitiveness with the rest of the league. And so I think they've done things to make it a more attractive destination. I think the city is just going to struggle. I love it, but it's going to struggle to draw those

top-tier free agents. That's what he's going to have to deal with out there. The thing is, though, man, like, Utah's always had that problem. Utah has always been successful despite that problem. I think about, obviously, there's luck, right? You got to draft really well. You were able to draft John Stockton and Carl Malone. Right. And you are able to draft Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

There's proof as in the pudding, man. If you just chill out and relax, the front office will hold you down, it seems like, right? And, I mean, I know you've had different. I know you've had different experiences. You would think through the draft. Go ahead. I mean, I can't argue that. I would think during the draft, right?

I would think during it, they've drafted it really well over the years. They have made great pickups. And I don't know who says this, but people say like Pat Bebbb be tricking y'all. I don't know if that's to be true, but the Knicks be tricking y'all, bro. The Knicks every year be tricking y'all, dog.

Like, I'm to the point where I got caught up in the propaganda last postseason, right? But maybe it happens every time, man, I'm going to be the one to change. the Knicks. I'm going to be the one to do this. I'm going to be the one to do that. Like, I don't know if it's clout. I don't know what it is, but I look at Donovan Mitchell and I look at Rudy Gobert. I'm just like, y'all, if y'all just relax and chill out, y'all can do some things. I'm sorry. A couple years ago, y'all were first in the Western

conference. Did a lack of free agent signing keep you from having the best record in the Western conference? No. That doesn't get in, that got in a way of you, that didn't get in a way of y'all collapse or no? Like, y'all collapsed in the postseason, you know, twice. But I can dig it. That's something that you got to figure out on court. I guess that was my rant, man, but I just don't feel like Donovan needs to, not, if he going to leave, that's, I don't know everything that's going to go happen, but not for the Knicks,

bro. Not for the Knicks. I'll co-sign on that. I would just, again, say, you know, you're dealing with someone who's from the White Plains area, right? Like, so that there's New York ties there. It's always, it's, man, it's hard to counter home. It's hard to counter.

When someone's telling you they want to go home, it's really hard to counter that shit. Like not just pros. Even colleges deal with that all the time when a kid wants to transfer and you're trying to sell, you know, where he's currently at. And he's talking about going home. They're not a lot of pivots off of that. You know, like going home. But I am with you on everything that you're saying. I just want to add one more thing to where Utah is right now.

It becomes harder when you are as close. as the jazz have been for the last few years to keep perspective and exercise patience, it's easier for, for, you know, Nick's players, they ain't been close to shit. Like, you know what I mean? Like what? They ain't tripping off of it.

But when you've been that close, Logan, and you felt like, you know, you had the best record in the West last year, that clock is ticking faster, if that makes sense. Like, you're in a world where time is speeding and other teams that aren't as good and not as close to a chip. Their clock is running relatively.

slow. And so sometimes that can expedite that process for a guy. Maybe unfairly, but that's what starts to happen. You're like, shit, we've been this close for three years. You know, you can't really see the pivot, the restructure, the attack three years later with a different core. Sometimes that's hard to see. Yeah. I just feel like, and we're going to take a break in a second, but I just don't want Donovan Mitchell to go out like Mello. Okay? I don't want him to go out and mortgage the team that he's going to his future to get him and this would be mired in mediocrity for like 40 wins here 40 wins there on a front office that hasn't I mean I know they have new guys there you know worldwide

west and and the CAA contingency but I just don't I don't want him to go out like that man I want Donald Mitchell to be in the playoffs every year all the time and compete for titles I don't want him to just just go out because the clout that New York provides, I guess. How many more endorsements you're going to get? You're still Donovan Mitchell. I don't know. Maybe you want to be in those circles.

I don't know. Let's take a quick break. And we got Packwatch alert. Uh-oh. On the other end of that break. Let's get it. And we are back. We got our CMO in the building.

We got our play of pot. The person that has roasts for all of y'all, but also has loved just the same. our biggest resident Laker fan has his ear to the streets. He has a packwatch in a minute. But beforehand, I want to highlight something. A couple, about a week ago, I'm looking at the chat and I see a picture of Jomey's father with one Jeannie Bus and another Rob Polinka.

Wait, am I not in that chat? I'm not in that chat. You weren't in that chat. As a matter of fact, I'm about to say. Matter of fact, I'm about to send you this text right now of what I saw. Because as we go, as we go, I'm just going to send you really quickly, Roger, just the whole shabang of like of pictures. I don't care if this is, this has to get edited in. This is amazing.

All of this is amazing. It was pretty cool. It's pretty special. It was pretty cool. So, Jomey, as I've given him the pictures of everything that just happened, can you just give a rundown of what happened? where you went, where you're brushed with Laker lore. Just give us a rundown. Easy call.

So my father's an artist. And last summer, I saw that the Lakers are doing something called In the Pink, which is where they wanted to highlight, you know, PLC artists across Southern California. And so I know my dad, like, you know, he's a busy man. You know, I was like, let me just apply it for him, you know, let me see, like, let me shoot his shot for him. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah. You know, if he doesn't get it, he doesn't get it, nobody will know. You know, so let's see what happens. So I did that. And then a couple weeks later, he got an email. It was like, hey, you know, let's meet. Let's talk. Let's come on down.

And so they, he was like, for sure, I'll do that. And then last week was finally the big event where they were able to present their artworks to the Lakers. Like, you know, not only the front office, but the players and everyone. And they had a big event down in El Sondon with the Lakers Pacta Facilil. is, you know, and it looked great. And a Pops was mingling around with the O.Gs out there with Rob and Jeannie, Braun, you know, that we weren't supposed to take pictures, but I had, you know what I'm saying? I had to get my Pops to shine, you feel me?

Mm-hmm. And so it was really cool hearing him, like, explain his art breaking down, or Russell Westbrook, T-H-T, you know. It was, it was just, it was a really fun time, man, honestly. Shout out to Pops. That's dope, man. So can you give us a behind the scenes look, right? Because I'm sending pictures to Raja right now.

Check your phone, Roger. My phone's dead. Coming to you. I just plugged it in. I'm dead. I don't understand you. It'll get there. So my man's is like holding court and telling Russell Westbrook what he needs to be doing.

Right? telling him he has flowers in one hand and has has game to share in the other hand. Is he as passionate a Lakers fan as you, Jomey? Oh, of course. Here's the thing, right? Y'all see, I mean, some of y'all know this. What time of year was this?

In between which games was this? What was happening? This is right before the Pelicans game on Sunday, right? Oh, okay. So this is between they played, I think, on Wednesday. and they came, they went on the road against the Pelicans on Saturday. Here's the thing, right? I, somebody I may know this.

I'm African, Nigerian, to be specific. And so if y'all know how Nigerians get down, Nigerian's not scared of nobody. So my pops was, my pops was pulling everybody and telling them his spiel about his argument, he's like, hey, yeah, you know, this is about this. And we see the picture. I might have to, I post the pictures on Twitter last week, but you see how he's talking about me.

no fear, right? That's my dad in a nutshell. My dad will tell you, I've been with my dad for almost 26 years. He has 20 stories, and he will tell them over and over and over and over again. Ad nauseum, right? And so, you know, just going up with him and being his son, you're like, bro, like, I know this one. Like, I know where this is going, please. but going to that event and seeing them like, you know,

spit the same game, you know, to NBA players and NBA executives, you know, it was different, you know, it was like, like, oh, you're happy. You know, it's like, you see Russell Westbrook's eyes in that photo. It's like, I know how you feel, bro. Same. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it was honestly incredible. Was there a brush with LeBron?

Was there a brush between your pops and LeBron? Yeah, I didn't see it. I didn't see it. But, yeah, they had a little conversation. And I was like, that's cool. I just got to shake Braun's hand. Like, it wasn't like that. What was that like for you?

Also, first, secondhand account of what happened when your pops talked to Braun. So I think I was out probably getting in water or something. But my dad was like, yeah, I was, he was in like the center because that's where LeBron was most of the time. And, you know, because my dad was on the artist. So somebody was like, hey, here's another one of an artist. He was like, oh, nice to meet you. You know, I'm LeBron. That was like, clearly.

I'm Joe Me's dad. Nice to eat too. Did he say, clearly? Did he say? My dad was like, yeah, I know who you are. Like, there's no need for the introduction, you know? And then, you know, LeBron went on his way. My dad went on his way.

But, you know, it was cool that, like, you know, he got to, he got to me. It was, like, really awesome. I didn't even get to introduce myself. I just said, what's going on? Big fan. He's like, I appreciate you. And he kept it moving. Wow.

Wow. So my dad, you know, he got more out of LeBron than I did. So shout out to Pops. You know, shout out to Pops. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Was there fear in the building? Was there any fear in the building? No, not for me, man. They hit so.

No, from them. No, from them? Yeah. Well, yeah, you was also, you're also a mole, man. You're also a real, real ones a mole. What the fuck happened? No, it was cool. We're trying to get into the psyche in Los Angeles Lakers. Here's the thing, right? So went there and I, I talked to pretty much all the players I could just like, hey, what's going on?

Are you doing? You know, like, you know, Austin Reeves was cool. You know, man's, man's got the expensive, uh, expensive sweater jump game on. Oh, okay. Spend that bread, Austin. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I was like, what's going on?

He was like, hey, man, me chilling, you know what I'm saying? Like, they were all like, everybody was like pretty cool, you know, like. I was out there. Were they getting along? Did we see any packs? Everyone was good, right? Like, we're just getting to, like, did you see, you see little, typically at events like that, you'll see little huddles of players kind of off.

See, clicks. Like, yeah, were people getting along? What were we doing back there? Yeah, so the cool thing was that all the players showed up, all of them showed up. And there was a point for a little bit where they were all there, where they were all just like all hanging out like a little corner, like pretty much like all the dudes. You know, like it was real getting along.

Some of them were like out doing the art thing because, you know, you got to mingle, you got to see people for a good portion of it. Like 10, 12 dudes were just in the corner, just like cracking jokes and whatever. So it was, you know, it felt really, it felt like, you know, know, they all liked each other and stuff, which I appreciate, you know. Enjoy it. Yeah. Now, you were with Jeannie Bus and Rob Polinka, right?

And we know that you have your ears and eyes to the streets. We know that you are the de facto Twitter GM of the Los Angeles Lakers. Did you impart any, did you get any anything on trades? Did you get any, did you impart any wisdom to them on what the streets need? Did you, did you, did you get into the palace and figure some shit out? Well, I had to lay the groundwork, you know what I was saying. So, you know, I introduced myself, said what's going on. Talked to Rob about, you know, Michigan ball because they had played that night.

Talk, you know, Gazaga, that game was going on. And then I only thing I told him just to like lay some groundwork was, you know, my man, Keith, he got twins. The Fujimoto, it was Clyde and Coltrane. I was like, look out for them in a couple years. Yeah, look out for them about, you know, 18 years. You know, that's next up, you know. So that was just like laying. If the Knicks don't get them first.

Exactly. The Knicks don't get it. Exactly, right? You know? The Knicks are already looking, so you got to keep your eyes to so you don't miss that. Okay. Okay. All right.

Now, this pains me because this is the earliest pack watch we've ever done, ever. And it is March 31st, but it's about that time right now. It's looking flabby and sick. The Lakers are looking bad. AD is out. Ron is hobbled. It's time for Lakers Packwatch, Jomey. What's you got?

for us, man. Give me a minute on the Lakers season, throw some liquor on them. Well, so here's the thing, right? I am, I've been done with the Lakers for a long time. For a long time. You know this, Logan. You know this. Yeah, yeah.

But what I, what I fail to understand is people who like still have faith and belief in this team, have they not let you down enough? Are you not sick? Are you not disgusted from watching this team? There are only two ways a Laker game goes, right? They either try at the beginning and stop trying at the end or don't try at the beginning and then only start trying at the end.

And either way, the result is disappointing. You are not happy. You are just very much distraught by no matter how the Laker game ends. And you want that to continue? You just want to be, you just want to feel bad all summer? What's wrong with you? Like, I'm just saying, love yourself. Try to do better by yourself.

Let this team go. They will be back in October, hopefully better, right? But do yourself a favor and forget this Laker team. They're done. They're dusted. Finito. All right. Let the pain go.

Laker fans, listen to me. Let it go. Okay. All right. They're dusted and disgusted. I have one last question for you. Is this the worst you've ever felt about a Lakers team? Have you ever, have you ever been lower as a Laker fan?

I mean, the sweep in 2013 sucks. Yeah. That wasn't, that wasn't any fun. But, you know, you had mirages of hope. Like, oh, man, you know, Dwight comes back, you know, who knows if Kobe get healthy, but, you know, I don't know, this is just, because there's going to, like, we, we all assume they're going to be, you know, wholesale changes in the summer. So this is looking like, it's just looking like real. just real desperate, you know, just like, God, they're just out here reaching.

Ooh, a 10 seed. Are you serious? Let me get LeBron and AD some rest, bruh. It's too much. This isn't too much. Let this team go. It's like LeBron's hairline, bro. Let it go, man.

Just like, just like, take it all off, you know, who needs all this, bro? Oh, wow. I'm sick, Logan. I'm sick. I, yeah, yeah. Rogers is just loving this shit. I don't even, yeah, I mean, there's nothing for me to add to that.

That's, uh, or I was just like, yeah, fuck yeah. I'll tell you what, drink this in? It has never been a better time to be a Laker hater. Just never been a better time to eat the Lakers. I'm not a Laker hater, but. Well, I'm not too, but we don't get listeners, you know. Yeah, no, fair, fair. But, you know, I'm not going to say that I'm, I'm crying over any of this.

Yo. I'm lying. I tell you, I was shedding a tear for you, but. All right, man. Let's get to a segment. It's Thursday. Let's get to a segment call we like to call a real one of the week.

Jemmy, you were included in this real one of the week. Do you want to start it off first, buddy? Who's your real one of the week? I can. It's my pops, of course. Yes, sir. He went down to the Laker facility and held it down. I felt like he could have just been out there shooting hoops.

You know what I'm saying? He was legitimately inspiring, and I was so proud to see him. like out there like just holding court with all those people and like I'm not going I'm not going crying this pod but um it was it was really incredible you know to see someone you look up to for all these years you know just achieve something you know like he's my dad and I felt proud of him like and I imagine that's not even as close as stuff proud of me he feels you know so it was just it was just really incredible to see my pops you know live his dream of, you know, being like a real artist.

And this is only the beginning for him. So it was just, it was just really incredible. So yeah, shout out pops. He's my one with Pops. Maroon of the Week. Shout out for life. Where one for life? Yes, sir, baby.

I don't know, I don't know if I can follow that up, but we're going to go with one page buckets. Who has signed a new NIL deal that takes aim at food insecurity for students. We've all been college students before. You all know how this shit go, man. It's hard out here for college students. It is. And shout out to her for tackling that with food and security for college students.

I'm going to go with page buckets. Rah, right, man. Who's your real one of the week? Y'all said, this can be a long one, bro, because I got a lot. A lot of people made this list, and I couldn't narrow it down. So I'm just going to go all the way in. Number one, Brooklyn Nets, Steve Nash for holding it down. Kairi Irvin, Kevin Durant, Goran, Drogich, a mom.

everybody, David Vantrappool for being so hospitable and really welcoming us and taking some time with the kids and stuff at the game. Real ones for that. Number two, University of Utah football. Got a chance to visit that last week while I was up in Utah with DIA. I got to tag along. Mason Yeliko, Robert Bletchin, the head of director, player personnel had us out. Vives were high that day. Pictures were taken.

We watched the practice. It was dope. So those two are like runners up, right? But the real, real one of the week. is FIU, bro, my alma mater. So we went out there on Saturday, right? Coach Mike McIntyre, a new head football coach.

David Yose, offensive coordinator, QB coach. Coach Cory Bell, the Miami, dude, now the running backs coach and head recruiting coordinator, Edison High, right? We had Cam Defeity, I known his dad, for a long time, took care of us. But most importantly, like, they were dope. Scott Carr, the new AD with the vision

for what FIU can be as an overall sports entity. It's a sleeping giant. We're about to wake up. Shout out to FIU, football, and the new athletic director, Scott Carr. Real one. Question for you, though. Did the little homie,

did you talk get a commitment from the little homie, though? Not again. I mean, no, he's too young, bro. Like, you know, offers ain't coming yet and stuff like that. But, like, getting to see, like, it's important, right? Because, you know. He looked nice in that red, though. You get to see what's out there, though.

Yeah, I'm saying. He was feeling himself a little bit. He was feeling himself. Also, Roger, real quick, real quick. Yeah. I didn't feel, because you threw up the little little you. Different use. Different use.

I've done this. But again, no. But again, are you okay after doing that? Different use, man. I know you love your kids. I know you love your kids. But that was, I know that was also hard for you. No, no.

You see, listen, when your kids are involved, ain't nothing hard, bro. Like, if you're showing them love, Then I love you. That's how that works. You know what? The moral of all this, L-O-V-E. They love you.

You know what I mean? Real ones. We love you. That was another edition of Thursday, real ones. Make sure you check us out every Monday and Thursday. We're going into the stretch run right now, man. We got some stuff for you guys in the works, dog. Don't even trip.

Don't even trip. But in the meantime, make sure you check out our slate on the ringer NBA feed and other feeds. But I want to highlight one thing. The first four episodes of Icon Club with Auntie Jackie Mack are on the book of basketball 2.0 feed. Make sure you go check that out. It's been great. The Magic and Bird episode is great. The Dr. Jay episode is great.

And then make sure you check out, you know, group chat. Make sure you check out the answer. Make sure you check out Ms. Mack. Make sure you check out Upside High. Make sure you check out The Void with Kevin O'Connor. Ball in the Void. Make sure you check out Miss Mac. Man, we might, Rob, we might have to have a little one-in-one again, bro, with the mismatch again.

That might be coming soon. That might be in the works. Y'all just wait on that. Y'all just wait on that. Real match. Make sure you check out the propaganda that is R2C2 with who, Roger Bell. Vallejo-Leghiel legend, the crest-eye clown. Cici Sabathia.

Hey, and also, man, Black Girl's songbook is back, you know, with season three. Town Legend. With Aretha Franklin. You know, we chronicling her. You know who hosts that, Raja? I do. I do. It's the town legend.

It's the homegirl, Danielle Smith. Stretch from, baby. See you next week. Howl.