The Ringer NBA Show - Joker’s Interesting Championship Reaction, Miami’s Future, and More! | Off Guard

Episode Date: June 16, 2023

The Denver Nuggets won the Finals and Austin and Pausha are back to discuss all the reactions to the championship, including Nikola Jokic’s very tame reaction (7:03). Then, they switch gears and break down Miami’s future and their potential to create a star within their organization (15:41), touch on the Zion drama (28:12), and discuss news of the LIV Golf–PGA merger (as well as whether or not the NBA could be next) (53:13). Plus, more rapid fire questions and Austin’s Pet Peeves. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's official. One Shining Podcast is back, and I am your host, Tate Frazier. And as March Badness begins, we're covering everything from Selection Sunday all the way to the championship and beyond. We're going to have great guests that are coming through on the show. And look, if you're a friend of the program and you're already subscribed, you don't have to do anything. OSP is back. It's going to be right back in your feed. And if you're not a friend of the program, and this is your first time on the rodeo, then let me tell you this. You need to go to Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcast. and smash subscribe today because the OSP show is back.

What's up, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Offguard. I'm your host, Pasha, and joining me, my guy, Austin Rivers. Austin, what's going on, man? How you doing? What's up? I'm back and I'm better. How you?

Price and Tiller in the morning? No, okay. What's going on, man? I feel good, man. I feel good. You know, fresh off of, you know, no entertainment last night, no basketball is going on. No football is going on. It's officially like the dry season in sports world.

You just have to pick a baseball team and roll with it. I can't do it. I can't get into it. I can't get into like the World Series a little bit. I just can't watch baseball. I go to a game. I do the whole beer and hot dog experience, like sit out there and like get some good seats. And you can enjoy baseball that way.

But like watching it on TV, it's, it's tough, man. It's impossible. Yeah, but it's crazy because next week's the draft. So do you have that? Then right after, I think a week or two after that summer league, there's always kind of something going on. I feel like basketball never stops. You're a big draft guy.

Huge draft guy. You love it. We'll talk about that later, but we'll get to that later. But listen, I checked you out on Ryan Rissilla's podcast. I thought you did a crazy good job. Well, I appreciate that. It's always... It sucks to see someone out, bring out the best in you.

It wasn't... It was crazy. Don't say that. No, we got a good thing going here. But it was fun getting on that... get on the pod pretty much talk nuggets most of the time

or at least my segment was playing with them for a couple of years just giving them a little insight so was it hard for me to watch them win no everyone oh god

do you think it was hard for you harder for you or Bones Highland I think it was harder for guys like Monte Morris and guys like Will Barton They were there for six, seven years. And then the year they leave, they won a championship.

I was there for a year and a half, man. I was a guy that they brought in because Jamal Murray was hurt. So I was kind of just like a Band-Aid to kind of relieve and helped them kind of get to the playoffs and compete, which we did. We were essentially like the team that broke up the Blazers. Yeah. And we didn't have Jamal Murray. And I think one of those years you didn't even have Michael.

So I never got the full experience, but I got to be a part of that team. And you could see that they were coming. It was just a matter of when Jamal would get back and how healthy he would be. No one knew how good he would be. And seeing him play throughout the playoffs and the finals, I knew after the first round of playing against them and seeing how good he looked that that team was going to win. Just because Jamal just adds such a different dynamic than the previous years

where you could really load up on Yo could figure out different ways of going about guarding the other guys. Jamal's just opened up the whole floor. Even if it opened up for Nicola, Nicole doesn't have to be the guy to score 30 every night. Jamal can do that. And he could, you know, Nicole can still dominate the game in different ways. I mean, I don't know if this team's a dynasty.

I said that yesterday. But they're going to be competitive the next couple of years. Yeah. I don't see this team being like a... What do you think about Mike Malone's comments after the game where he said, we're not just satisfied with one? I mean, I think that's what he's been able to do as a coach, motivate to a certain extent, you know, and also think there is a rush and a high.

I would imagine winning at the level of winning a championship. I've never won a championship. But anytime you win big games, you know, after you're like, and here's the thing. We can, you know, we're better than everyone. We're the best of the world. You know, like there's a little bit of a rush there. It could be a little bit, you know. Who am I to say that?

Well, Pat Riley on the Lakers in the 80s did it in the parade where he's, you know, kind of predicted another one. He did it in the press conference right after the game. Can we just enjoy this one right now? Or are you looking towards the next one? Look at the moment a little bit there. Are they going to win more than one? Is it possible?

Yes. They're going to have most of their team back next year. Oh, I mean, they're definitely the favorites for next year. Yeah, they're going to be a really good team. Do I think they're like just a clear runaway dominant team like the Warriors and these other teams were? Absolutely not. No.

I think they're a really good team. I think they have the best basketball player in the world right now on their team. They have good pieces around them. I think the Nuggets are going to be incontent next year to, you know, win a championship. Yeah. You know, I think they're definitely going to be a competitive team. But I even think next year, like being like a clear head, like just run away. No, man.

Yeah. It was a weird year this year, man, in the West. Very weird. You know what I mean? A lot of teams didn't have their ducks in a row. You know, this summer, let's see what shakes up. Let's see who goes where. Let's see who lands where.

Let's see who's healthy next year. Who has a better run. There's a lot of, you know, the Warriors had a weird year after being dominant. they just totally took like four steps back. A lot of it was mental. Well, the Warriors have a lot of decisions to make. That's my point. Yeah.

But that's a lot of teams. We were fully, first off, we took them to five games, which isn't saying much. But we beat them, one of the few teams that beat them. A lot of other teams didn't. And we didn't even have two of our key players. We didn't have noz or jaded. You know, there's a lot of teams that were like, you really look at the route that they went. The Lakers were just getting their rhythm together.

They're probably going to make changes and upgrade in a lot of different ways. Obviously, we know the Warriors. are going to reload in ways, whether it's with the same cast, but in a different mindset. I don't know, but it was a weird year in the West. I do feel like you guys did enough,

the Timberwolves, that it's, you know, the guys were out, they showed enough potential where I think they are going to run it back the Timberwolves and probably feel good about it next year. You think, like you said last pod,

and at the Edwards, you think next year would be the best shooting guard in the NBA. I think he has a chance to be, yes. Right. So, you know, if he makes that progression,

you have a healthy Jada McDaniels. I don't know what they're going to, I don't know if they can get back, Naas Reid. He's going to be. Well, that's the question is Nas, and then there's questions around, you know, the Rudy and Carl dynamic. Yeah. Back to the Nuggets. Do you, so how'd you feel about the way they reacted?

And we'll get into the kind of the sloppy game five that, you know, both teams played bad. Yeah, it was a nasty game. How did you feel about the way they reacted to winning that title? I liked everyone but Yokic's reaction. I don't like Yokic's reaction. I know that's who he is, but, like, it's just, like, bad. for the game, in my opinion. It sounds bad to say that, but like,

there's just, like, no passion or, like, there was more passion from his brothers. His brothers were crying and kissing each other and jumping up and down, like, Yokic was like, I could get to go home. It's like, bro, like, you know, you went from anything as possible, Kevin Garnett and, you know, LeBron James kneeling and crying

and Steph Curry running around, you know, hugging his mom and his kids, like, they put Yokush up there and he's like, you know, when's the parade? Oh, my God, I got to go home. You know what I mean? It's just like, but that's what happens

and you have a guy who doesn't have or doesn't want or get the culture over here and doesn't really understand. That's the ironic thing about Yokic. It's just an interesting thing about him. Well, Dirk was very emotional when he won. No, I know, but that's what I'm saying. Yokic is like a whole different dude, man. This guy just wants to, like, race horses and be home.

And the only basketball he watches is Euro basketball. Yeah. He doesn't, like, go home. Like, during the season, he's not a guy that's going to sit on his couch and watch League Pass. He will sit on his couch, grab his phone or his laptop, and stream Euro basketball. Right.

You know what I mean? Yeah, Luca admitted that he does that too. Yeah, it's just like, you know, it's just not, this isn't his world over here. And I saw a couple overseas guys talk about, uh, Nicole Yokas, you know, like the way he feels is how every American player feels playing overseas.

Even if they're in a really good city, they're playing for Barcelona or Athens or in Greece or something like a really nice, you know, popular city, even after six, seven, eight months of being there, they're like, yeah, I want to go home. You know what I mean? And I think that's where Nicola has the right to feel that way.

I just thought it was like weird just because like it made the championship just seems so like, you know, like winning it was just like, eh, they won. When like winning a championship is a huge deal, man. It's a big thing. Only one team wins every year.

You know, and this team won. They're the champions. And kind of watered it down a little bit. But, you know, I fucking Kai Saizant, I hated it. And I was with you and I was so pissed about the way he was reacting. I was furious. And I just got more mad after, you know, he was talking more about,

listen, us growing up, you remember, you know, every Michael Jordan championship, how emotionally he was, even after number five, number six, he was celebrating more than Yoko's first. You would think at that point, you know, Michael Jordan or LeBron, Kobe after winning a few. Do you remember Kobe when he beat the magic? Yeah. He got his fourth title jumping up and down, you know, fist pumping and all that. like it makes it makes a championship seem important and that's overall better for the game

when yokech acts like it's a regular season game that he just won it's it's obviously bad for the league because we're supposed to buy into the fact that this is a really big deal yeah and him saying oh when's the parade blah blah blah bro people in Denver have been winning this parade their whole lifetime they're thirsty for this parade and he's like oh no no i can't no i got to go home it's like come on man it's just i think it's a it's a weird message to send I don't think it was intentional. That's just who he is. No, no, I agree.

That is who he is. But come on, man, can you at least, like, maybe, like, hold it in a little bit? Yeah, like, fake it. Yeah, yeah, something. It's the first time they've named the finals MVP, the Bill Russell Award after he passed.

And you said you forgot it in the equipment manager's locker room, like, like, that's fucking disrespectful. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Am I being dramatic? No, no, no. I see what you're saying. It also sets a president for the, for the fans. Now, like, when winning, they're like,

whatever, you want one. But like, bro, winning one is just, I've been to leave for 11 years. I've never been to the final. You know what I mean? Like, winning a championship, I would start crying. It'd be an incredible achievement to be a part of. He's just a different breed, man.

Like, Yokic is just like, that's just who he is. That's part of what makes him great is he so bought into winning and like none of the individual stuff, the Bill Russell Award, the MVP is that he really doesn't care. I bet his MVP trophy right now is in a horse stable somewhere. I don't even know. Like, that's just like who the guy is. Yeah, but then so next year, as a casual fan,

Do you want me to root for the guy that doesn't care if he wins? Or do you want me to root for the guy that it would mean everything to him if they won the title? I mean, I'm just saying, as a casual fan, that's what they're going to be thinking. Yeah. I don't want to get too dramatic about it, obviously, and like be this guy that's, like, whining from the sideline that touched the basketball. But I thought it was, you don't want people to buy into the fact that this is a big deal. You don't watch baseball. You just said that, but you'll watch the World Series and stuff because at the end, you want to see a team win and go through that emotion.

It's awesome. Yeah. It's the reason I think other guys who, I mean, first thing, Jamal did us start crying. 100%. You know, Aaron Gordon was classically running through the streets and his game shorts. It might have been the craziest thing I've ever seen after a chance. I love that. I've never seen anybody do that before. I talked to him yesterday about it.

He said he was going off just an emotional high. He didn't even know what he was doing. And by the way, the day before, a fellow Serbian Novak Djokovic, when his 23rd Grand Slam. And he reacted in his 23rd Grand Slam. And there's four of those a year. he reacted more emotional than this guy winning his first title it's there's one every year given out and this guy you know what I mean and he was more in they're from the same country I said I don't know

if you want to say it's a cultural thing no it's not a cultural thing it's just I think it's just a personal thing I just you know yokech is really just built like that in a way where like emotionally and what he gives you know publicly to the game I don't think people really see it I would like to see how he felt probably with his brother's out that night drinking if there's a camera of them they're emotional I guarantee you there was I like the way when he was throwing jemal mary in the pool or whatever. That's the most you got. And then his brothers were, you know, throwing around alone like a kid, just throwing him up and down in the air. Yeah, we got, we definitely got some viral, like you said, Aaron Gordon. We got those viral. We got those moments where 10 years from

now we can remember when the Nuggets won, the things that happened. And obviously, listen, Yolkitch is the best player in the NBA. I don't know if we've ever seen a big man like them. We don't know. When it's all said and done, he's going to be top, who knows. I'm not taking anything away from his game. He's unbelievable. Man, you just want, as a person that loves basketball, You just want someone to make it seem like winning a championship is a big deal because it is. Right. There's guys like Charles Barkley played their whole career, Carl Mullen, they never got one. They would do anything for one.

And this guy won one and acted like he, you know, wanted a fucking intramural basketball game. Like, it's crazy. I can see, no, this is being it under your skins. It's a half. I remember hearing you as he was on camera, look at this. What's it going on? I just remember you in the background, just going crazy about something like this. Yeah, it did bother you.

Because even if you're the team that you don't aren't rooting for as a fan wins the championship. You at least get those moments. Like, even when Kauai won with the Spurs and the Raptors, you remember him like, oh, wow, look, he's like, he's excited. You can never get that. Yeah, yeah. If Kauai can do it, Yokits, you could do it, man. This guy walked around shaking people's hands, like he was at a funeral.

It was nuts the way he was acting after they won. But there was a good point that was made. Maybe he, you know, they were up 3-1. They knew they were going to win. Maybe it kind of took away from the drama. It wasn't 2016 Game 7, you know, LeBron, you know, winning right at the end. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They didn't know they were going to win until the last second.

But yeah. So you talked to Aaron Gordon. He was out in the streets. Is he still wearing the game shorts? The word has that he's still in the game shorts. They say you wear those things for three days straight. That's crazy. He needs to wash them and then like wear him again to the parade with no shirt on.

That would just be insane. And then eventually they're going to be auctioned off for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yeah, right, right, right. Those are the shorts? Yeah, I thought that was really cool. It was unfortunate what happened that night. There's like a shooting, I think, down the street that kind of killed everybody's vibe. I think everybody ended up.

No one got hurt, obviously, thank God, but everybody ended up, or people who did get hurt, but nobody died. And I think everybody, like, all the players were like ordered to go home or like, you know, whatever, whatever. But the segment of Aaron running through the streets with no security, just with the mob of people behind him holding a fucking trophy out there. Like someone can't just grab it. It was insane to me. I loved it, though. So Aaron, you know, so. But yeah, they're all happy, man.

I talked to Michael yesterday. You know, IPJ, man. He's like still trying to grab it. that he won one. He's like, bro, I can't believe like I'm a champion. He's like, you know, I got a ring.

You know what I mean? And everywhere you go after that, people refer to you for the rest of your life. You know, you're champion, yeah. All you do is one wants. You go on a talk show. When you're 60, they're like, oh, man, there's NBA champion.

Michael Porter Jr., it just goes with you wherever. Solidifies you. Yeah. It definitely validates you in so many different ways as a winner, you know. So super happy for those guys, man. Well deserving.

Yeah, a hell of a team. I do think they got a competitive team over the next year, like I stated, I don't think it's like a clear-cut winner. I think this year a lot of things happen. Next year, someone could easily beat them in a playoff series. But they're a really good team and they're going to be for a while.

On the heat side of things, crazy run. Like if you're the heat, you're upset that night. On the heat, I'm shaking things up, though. No, no, no. The night you lost, you're upset, you're emotional. I think they wake up the next day and they're like, I don't know, no, no. What a run.

Where the eight seed? They almost won, too. Yeah. Like, their run was so spectacular and so off guard. You like what I did there? No, that was very nice. Caught everybody off guard that the fact is, like, they already, like, won. Like, the Struce and these guys get to walk around,

like, Caleb Martin walks around to somewhere with his chest out. You know how it is. The guys have a good year, and they pull up the Summer League, and they walk him through, and everybody's going to, well, there he is. Absolutely. They get to have that moment because they had a hell of a run, especially Martin more so. Struis was, he was tough in the playoffs in the finals.

It was hard to watch. Right. Even Jimmy, who was, you know, fading towards the finals. But the fourth quarter, when he went on that little, I think it was 13 straight points, went on that run, you know, it ended in a way that kind of reminded us that this guy is, you know, he's pretty, he's, he's, he's, when the going gets tough, he steps up. No, he does, man. Jimmy was spectacular all playoffs. He wasn't consistent. You know, I would have liked his aggressiveness, especially in this last series to be like double of what it was for him.

it just seemed like there were so many moments during the game where he just wasn't just assertive and he wasn't really like going for it I would rather had him shoot 30 shots yeah he was distributing a lot in the second half I was like bro you're not playing hero because he wasn't really like 100% back yet you know Struce hadn't hit a shot

pretty much the whole series he's kind of been struggling a little bit you know Duncan Robinson wasn't able to get you know loose that game Caleb Martin wouldn't have in his usual series like the series was just calling for him Bam was great, fantastic and even Bam had games where he had like 22, 23 points of 20 shots, but the fucker was going for it, you know what I mean? Like he's just being

aggressive. I would have liked to see Jimmy like really just go out guns blazing last game. You know you're down 3-1, you're in Denver, you're losing, you know, and he did like those last three-four minutes you can see he was kind of like fuck it and he started hoisting some shots, I mean the couple go in and the next thing you know your mindset changes as a basketball player, man,

especially in an NBA player, you hit one shot in your whole dynamic changes. You know what I mean? And I just felt like the more shots he would have put up there, the more opportunity would have got for him to get going. And I would have liked him to shoot like 30 shots. I would have liked him to just empty his clip right before win or lose, go out blazing, man. I didn't really like his aggressiveness, the last game or really throughout the whole series.

You know, the last really good game we saw from him really was game seven with Boston, where he had like 27 or 28. And again, he shot like 24, 25 times that game. I like seeing it. They got nobody else other than you and bam. You know, all the other guys are role players who are able to score, but they're not role players that can, like, score for themselves. There's a lot of role players, but can, like, get in their bag one-on-one still.

Like, the makeup that they have currently are a lot of shooters or, like, straight-line drive guys. So they needed guys to, like, create shots. And I think Jimmy had a tough time being caught doing both. You know what I mean? He has to set up all those guys. guys as well is score. But when the shots aren't falling for those dudes,

I would have liked him to just really kind of... It's tough, too, because if he's shooting a lot and missing, then he's, you know, then he's selfish. So then he's trying to get everyone else involved. He knows if everyone else gets going, he gets Struce going, and Duncan Robinson going, then the team will do better. So it's, yeah, he does have to balance both of those. Yeah.

But he also is such a perfect candidate for a guy that you could bring in a guy to the heat and we'll get into a guy like Bradley Beal or Damien Lillard or somebody that could be on the move this summer. You could bring in a guy like that, and it would be a seamless fit with Jimmy. Because I think he could play alongside any, you know what I mean? You could put any star next to Jimmy because he's not a shot heavy guy. He's not a shot hungry guy. And the regular season is as far as that concerns.

And putting up numbers, he could give a shit. Jimmy doesn't really even like turn it on fully until the playoffs. So, yeah, a star would love to go there. That's why I'm trying to tell you. I think Miami's in a great position. First off, everyone's moving to Miami, even outside of basketball. People are moving to Miami. Everyone's moved down there.

People are getting out of Los Angeles. It's dangerous. There's a lot of things going on. And I love LA, but my God, has that city changed over the past three, four years. And a lot of people are moving down south, Orlando, Tampa. Shout out to Orlando. Tampa, and especially, obviously, our biggest city, Miami. And the culture there in Miami heat is just consistent.

Pat Riley, you know, one's a weld-oil-oan machine, you know, Spolstra, one of the better coaches in basketball. they got a lot of good role players on that team. You have some star power with Jimmy and Bam, but you've got a lot of assets and pieces that you could probably move for another really good player. And then you fill in the team after that. You can always fill in a team. There's a lot of players out there.

And it seems like... And it seems like... I'm just plugging all day, man. It seems like if you're a guy, you know, if you're a basketball player, you can go to Miami and they'll bring the best out of it. You got your best season there. Bro, they literally, that's what they do.

They did it to Dionne Waiters. Well, don't do that. Dion could hoop. No, no, what I'm saying is they get the best year out of you, though. You play your best ball with Miami. Oh, yeah. Okay, I thought you're... They bring out the best in people.

I thought you were throwing a shot of champ cheese. I'm not going at Dion Waders. Geez, I've been compared to Deon Waders and pick up basketball, okay? I'm, yeah, I'm a Dion Waders. I'm not a fan, but whatever, sure. He's good. I'm saying they bring out the best of them. players though. Yeah, they have a little like Spurs-esque, Warriors-esque. You either go there and

fit in or you don't. But if you do fit in, you end up having like your best years there or like they make you look good. Every player that goes to their Warriors looks really good. Yeah. Well, if you're, if there's a certain level. Devin Chenzo last year for the Kings was like, what the hell are we watching? And then he goes to the Warriors this year and is out here like firing and making threes and cutting to the basket. Again, they didn't lead to them having a good season, but he was, Devinza was pretty damn solid for the Warriors all season. Yeah, so you think Miami is prime to maybe add another star. Yes, I think Miami is a perfect team to look out. First all, I think any start to want to live there. Just, I mean, who doesn't want to live in Miami?

So they have all the elements. They have everything. They have everything. They check all the boxes. They have everything that LA has without state tax and without drama. Because playing for the Lakers, as great as it is, comes with a whole different side of things. Yeah. And the heat, have just like this culture of just like where they float on the water man and then they just end up like right there it's just yeah it's definitely an attractive for a lot of players don't want to play for so messy could have went anywhere he went to miami tom brady could have went anywhere he went to tampa what do you think what does i say about florida says we're on the rise says that orlando's next no it says that orlando's next man shout out to the yo could you imagine if when orlando

when Orlando wins a title, the parade that's going to happen in Orlando. We'll do it right. We'll show people how you're supposed to react. I'll tell you that. I think this parade is going to be cool today in Denver. Watch what happens when Orlando wins one. We'll show you how it's going to be.

Yeah, geez. Hopefully. Even if I'm not a part of it, I'm going to be a part of it. You're going to host a little after hours? I'll still be there. I'll be in one of the crowd holding a banner up, something. So my buddy Chandler texts me and asked me the other day, or yesterday, is Jimmy Butler a Hall of Famer?

Yes. Is it automatic for you? Yes. Yes, just for the fact that he was able to will his team to the finals twice. Yeah, he's been the best player on two finals teams. Both times he's the best player in the team, multi-all-star. Six-time All-Star, five-time All-MBA. Yeah, he's not even up for debate.

He's absolutely Hall of Fame. You want to name some names and all the guys who are in the Hall of Fame? I mean, listen, you can use a guy like, you know, a shooting guard like Mitch Richmond, who's in the Hall of Fame. He won a title at the end of his career with the Lakers, but, you know, I think he's like a six-time All-Star. Like, you stack people up with people that are in the Hall of Fame. Chris Weber's in there? Yeah, yeah. I think well deserved.

No, no, no, he is. Dennis Rodman, two-time All-Star, you know, he got in there. Like, it starts, the criteria obviously starts getting tweaked. Draymond will be in there. For sure. His resume is unbelievable. Jimmy Butler is going to be in there. Yeah, but Draymond's resume is crazier.

Is it? It's crazier. Depends on what you're looking for. We're talking about the best guy on two finals teams versus the third or fourth best guy on multiple title teams. It's never been the third. Yeah, in 2000. 15, Draymond was the third best player on the Warriors.

Yes, that team, yeah. Oh, that's all you need. There it is. I mean, yeah, he's playing. Well, are we doing a Jimmy Butler versus Draymond conversation right now? No, I'm just saying, like, if Draymond is a Hall of Famer, which I agree, by the way. I think he's absolutely. So, Jimmy Butler's in the Hall of Fame.

That's all I'm saying. And we've talked about opportunity in this podcast a million times. Draymond Green just was, he was in a great opportunity. No, right place, right time, right fit, right situation, perfect situation for who he is in his game. David Lee goes down. He steps in. He does things for that. But his game just was Taylor-Aid. It was perfect for Draymond. Perfect for the Warriors. Perfect for Steph. Perfect for Clay.

Yes. It happens that way. Some guys get lucky that way. And then you give him credit. He capitalized on it. But I think if for throwing him in the conversation automatic Hall of Fame, then there's no way you just look at Jimmy Butler. Like, let me think about it. No, man. So if you're the Warriors,

what's the decision with Drame on this summer? I think if you have plans on continuing to win, if you want to compete or you're trying to like rebuild. At that price? At that price? I don't know if you throw them a max. Maybe you throw them like a two year deal, three year deal, heavy, some heavy change.

Give him like 25 a year. You can go three or 75, three years 30. Kyle Larry's just making that. You know, Draymond, as far as I'm concerned, does more for his team than Kyle does for the heat. I think we can all agree on that. You could throw Draymond on a three years 90, three years 82, three years 80 something,

and probably he'll be fine. And they'll be in contention for championship. He's making $30 million, $26, $27 million. What she's making right now, he's making like 27 or 28 or something like that. Like, I don't think that's out of range for him. For how important he, if they want to win or if they're like trying to win, you have to sign Dremont back. That team, have you, without Dremont, they're like a, it's weird out there.

It's like Steph and Clay like trying to hoist up. Bro, no. You need Dremont to win. If they want to win a championship, you have to sign Dremont back. Yeah. He's so instrumental to that team and how they play and their, their makeup and his like defensive, like him not on the floor, defensively wise.

are like a whole different team. Well, then they don't have to make a lot of decisions with Clay. Obviously, they have pool and Wiggins under contract for the next however many years. I mean, if you got Clay, Steph, Wiggins, pool, Dremon. No one could afford that. You're going to bring them all, right? Well, no, you can't afford all. They've got to decisions to make.

But I think if you're trying to win, you've got to bring Dremont back. I'll leave it at that. I'm not going to talk about any other player. I'm just going to say, if you were trying to win a championship, Draymond has to be a guy that you're being back. Back to the heat, my last question. for you. If Spolster was on the open market right now, how much would you pay him? If Monty's getting 78, then I would, I would pay him over 100 or something like that.

Yeah, highest paid coach of all. He'd be the highest paid coach of all time, which I think is dope, by the way that money got that contract. It really sets a new president for coaches and like their contracts and it's just like the game evolving. It's been nasty the way coaches have been just fired and hired. It's been going. It's nice to see a guy get like a big deal, long term deal. Don't you feel like we grew up with guys that were, you know, their coaches, They were like the staple of that team for a while, and they were there, and you don't get that anymore. You get so much turnover.

You don't. It was nice to see a coach get like a long-term big contract, something solid, because the past couple of years, you know, every coach of the year, every finals coach, like, you see these guys get fired. You're like, what's going on? It's been a hot seat. So, yeah, I like the moves made so far. We'll see what happens.

And I'm excited that My little brother, Spencer is also going to be on the coaching staff for the Pistons. A new start for him. He's coming out of Philly. So he gets a whole new perspective.

You know, different experience, different coach, different ways, different players. He gets to kind of expand his coaching horizon. So really happy for him. Shout to Spencer Rivers.

I think that's really cool too that he gets to go to a team where they're obviously rebuilding. And the only way is up and they're going to kind of grow together and he can be a part of that too because he's so young too. He's going to grow with them.

Yeah. So that's a great opportunity for him. It is a good opportunity for him. All right. So around the league, Zion's been everywhere. Everyone's talking about the Pelicans might be moving him for, I've heard Charlotte for the third pick or for the second pick to get scoot. I've heard Houston. Did you see that?

No, I didn't see Houston. If you're a team, would you consider bringing in Zion? The guy barely plays, but when he plays, he who? He's dominant. Dominant. When he plays, he's dominant. And you're going to fill it. People are going to go to the games too.

I saw, you know, obviously he's been getting his name dragged around the mud over the past month. I don't understand why. I do understand why. But it's like, bro, at the end of the day, we're just talking about like a young guy, man, who just wants like some love. And he's talking to talking to some girls. He's still figuring out that. I'm sure. Well, how old is he?

23. Whatever he is, man. He's in his young 20s, right? Yeah. I would say it's kind of dying out now before a while Zion's name was everywhere. No, it was. But like, people are like, oh, Zion needs. There's levels of drama, too.

There's the drama that's, like, actually important. It can affect your career and the way people look at you. And there's just, like, this, like, Twitter, Instagram, like, social media drama. I think it kind of falls under that category. Like, this taste in women or two girls fighting, like, trust me, if you want to, there's a lot of probably basketball players or athletes or even regular dudes that are doing way worse out there. Way worse. Yeah, this is crazy. Way worse.

It's crazy that people are looking at him differently. No, they're like, yo, Zion, man. He's, like, what Zion do? He's talking to two girls? Yeah. The only reason it was a big deal is because Zion hasn't played a lot of games and he's hurt

and then now they add this drama off the court. People are like, whoa, you know, Zion, you know, they gotta get rid of, you know, they got to look at Zion moving. He's got a lot of drama with it. Like, a lot of drama. Like, what are you talking about, bro? It's not like the John Moran situation.

Bro, they're lumping the two together. Yeah, they're like, John, John, Zaw. Like, bro, like, Zion is, he was talking to two different women. Been done by every NBA player in the existence of the NBA, has that happened at one. in an NBA player's career, have they talked to two or three or four different women at the same time?

I think it's overblown. And that's American media for you. We do such a good job of building players up, but we do even a better job of crushing them down when something happens. It's more gratifying for people, for whatever reason, to see people who are really up to go through stuff. It's sad, but that's the world we live in. And people, it just felt like for me personally, people were attacking Zion for something so stupid and minuscule. Like, bro, the guy is doing nothing wrong except talking to two different girls. And he's not married either of him.

You don't owe nobody nothing. Right. Like that's the worst you got from this guy because he's sleeping with a couple girls? Then I don't think you got a problem on your hands. I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Right. So back to my original question,

if you're a team, would you bring him in? It's all health concern, man. It's all health concern, bro. It's all health concern. Everyone loves Zion's game. No one denies how dominant he is when he plays, his abilities, his strength, his size, it can't be matched. He's too strong for fours and he's too quick for five.

He's a matchup nightmare out there in the court, which is why his numbers reflect what they are. Efficiency, but he has like yokeage efficiency numbers. Guys like shooting 60, 70, 80%, like it's nutty shit, bro. But the biggest skill you could have in the NBA is availability. It's the best skill you can have. You can be the greatest player of all time if you're never on the court, who gives a fuck? And right now with Zion, that's the alarming question.

This isn't a one-year thing. This is in a two-year thing. This is every year this guy's been in the league. not playing a lot of games. He's missing a lot of time. And a lot of it sometimes is weight issues, you know, him controlling his weight. That is something. If there's anything to make fun of or pick at, it's not the women. It's his weight and how he's not been able to control it. Yeah. And how whether you want to admit it or not, New Orleans, I don't know who their nutrition is, whoever, they have failed him. Yeah. So the Hornets, obviously, our team that are talking about

bringing him in. That's him going kind of back home, right? Maybe like. Charlotte. Yeah, that'd be him going back home. Is that good or bad? What do you think? It'd be either or. I don't know. It would be either or. Listen, I'm not the craziest fan of how Charlotte's organization in terms of their youth have acted. I can't blame, like, Michael or the other guys up top. I don't, at the end of day, every man's in charge of their own decision.

But it seems like a lot of people go there and make poor decisions. But obviously, they're trying to turn things around. If you're or the Hornets, would you draft Scoot, Brandon Miller or just trade the pick for a guy? I think it's, I think it's, first of all, I'm a fan of Scoot. I love his tenacity, his workouts. That's how serious he looks. He's talking about a guy who like is, yeah, he has a lot of dog on him.

I don't even know him, but it just looks like it. I don't understand the point of him and Labello together. So I would rather go Brandon Miller. Would you? He's more accommodating to Lamello. Is he a second-frey- So you're all in on a Lamello then? And you're going to give him that full extension.

You have to be. It's hard to judge Lamello. It's hard to judge Jalen Green because like these guys who are super talented but have like, they're like thrown in like these situations, man. Like I don't know how much winning they're supposed to do that roster. Right. I don't know about Charlotte situation

because they've actually had some talent there. Like Jalen Green, the Rockets team, like I don't know what more you guys thought Jalen Green was supposed to do. This would be the first year.

I think you can look at a guy like Jalen Green and start to judge him. He's going to have a top tier coach there. I would imagine this summer they're going to make some type of moves. I don't know what they're going to be. Looks like James Harden.

Well, I don't know how productive that would be for Jalen Green. Even Jalen Green said that on a pod. He's like, I don't know how that would work. But, you know, whatever. Charlotte Lemellos actually had some Terry Rozier is a good player

PJ Washington's a solid forward Can shoot McKell Bridges was a talented Miles Bridges I'm sorry Miles Bridges was a really talented player

You know they have the other Martin brother They have You know a lot of athletic wings They had Ubre They had these guys They have like a bunch of talented guys They just They haven't really able to win

In fact they've been able to do exact opposite They lose most of their games I don't know if that's a cultural thing. I know that's a coaching thing. I don't know. I don't know what that is. But people are looking at Lamello like.

Yeah. You know what I mean? But we do know from Lamello's past, he has won. You know, he was a winner in high school. He's, you know, he was a solid player overseas, whatever it was. Like, he's always. I mean, he was rookie of the year. And then he was an all-star in his second season.

So he was on track. You know what I mean? He's on track. You can have a year three, like, laps. It happens. You know, I remember Donovan Mitchell had like a really dominant rookie year. and then a second year was like a weird year and then he came back after this third

and like starting to progress again but like you know I mean these are young players these are very young guys they got a lot going on a lot of money's stoned his way they're in a culture of losing because their team has

historically lost a lot they don't have the necessary pieces and I mean that from an aspect of not only on the court but off the court and you know you're asking this guy to go like you know win some games it's not the easiest thing to do right

I do see a surge right now in the NBA, which is good for me. I got to be honest with you, with young teams paying veteran players to come help. It was like either or over the past four or five years. You look at Edanus Haslam situation. No, like how beneficial it is to have a vet on your team who like knows the game, has played the game for a while,

been in every situation possible. It's a valuable thing for young talent. Problem is there's been like this dynamic over the past. however many years, where like, oh, we can't have these guys because we have to develop our young guys. It's really hard to fucking develop your young guys when they don't have like peers around them

that can help them. They don't want to learn everything from a coach. They damn sure don't want to learn anything from the front office. Right. There's they, they, you need vet players that can come in and help your, your investment, your youth, your talent.

I mean, Iguidala for the Warriors. All of them. Any winning team. Wolfs last year brought in Mike Connolly also, just like a consummate pro. Like there's so many, every team needs it. My Orlando Magic that I love. They don't have that right now. You know, Terrence Ross was maybe the oldest player in a team.

They traded him last year. No, but they do need that. Yeah, you got to bring in a vet. You need a vet. Show these guys how to win. The best case scenarios, you bring a vet that can also be a vet and play. You want a guy that can do a little bit of both. So like Eric Gordon on the Rockets last year, but it just, that was he wanted out.

He wanted out and he's trying to win. So that situation didn't really work. but like, yes, you want a guy that can, like, you can throw out there 15, 20 minutes a game. I'm not saying you got to play the vet 30-something minutes a game. You're still trying to develop the youth, right? And the only way you do that, your young talent is you throw them in at the end of the games. You lose games. You know, they make mistakes.

But like after the game, you're sitting next to a vet in the locker and the vet's talking to them. Hey, what you see out there? All right. So next time, this is, you know, hey, when you're out there, look for this. Like, that's what you need, bro. Because when a coach tells you, it like becomes white noise after a while, a coach is the only person you're learning from. You need vet players, and it's even better

when the vet can actually get out there. That's why the Cleveland Cavaliers brought in Kevin Love at one point. They had Ricky Rubio at one point. These guys weren't just sitting on the bench. Ricky Rubio is out there playing 20 minutes a night. You know what I mean? Because he can actually help Garland in certain ways. Garland sees things that he does.

I guarantee you Ricky Rubio had his arm around Garland, telling him stuff, knowing that, hey, Garland, you're going to finish the game. It's not my role. But I'm here to help you play. I'm going to help you win some games. It takes a guy that's already accomplished a lot in his career that's selfless, that is ready to come, and it's not about him.

No, it's not about the team and developing other people. Al-Lair. You know how hard it is for, to find that, though. It is hard. People are still kind of... I see that, but there's been a change, I think, in that. And I'll speak for myself. I was a guy who was, like, always trying to do stuff.

You know, I want to do this. I want to do this to my career. And then I got to the point where I'm like, you know what? I need to stop my folks and on, like, what I'm trying to do and, like, see what teams need and, like, can I do that well? And, like, my whole mindsets had to change. Last year, there were games I played 30-something minutes. There was games I played zero minutes.

You know what I mean? And I had to go in each night ready to play. And the playoffs, I didn't play the whole first quarter, second quarter. This guy threw me in the third quarter and I was productive. People on the outside have no idea how hard it is to sit for an hour and a half, not knowing you're going to play and your name gets called and not only you have to go play, you got to go help the team in a playoff game. But that me being ready, going in there ready to play,

sends a message to every player on the bench that it's not about you and that you don't know if you're playing zero minutes or 40 minutes, you have to be ready to play to help your team. You've got to be locked in. You've got to go into each night thinking you're going to play and prepared you're going to play even though you might not. And that's like something that like you have to do. If you want to play 12, 13, 15 years,

you want to be Jeff Green, you want to be Kyle Lowry? That's how I'm doing. You want to be Thadius Young? That's what you have to do, man. You have to be selfless and you have to be all in. You're not going to be LeBron James. There's only one of those. You're not going to be a Chris Paul where you're making

30, 40 million at age 30. Those guys are like fucking 0.0.001 percenters, man. Those are like the Hall of Fame guys. Everyone else in the league where we get in, and by the way, Kyle Lowry probably would be a Hall of Fame, but still, from a talent standpoint, he's not Chris Paul or LeBron James are in the realm of that. Everyone else has to get in where they fit in, man.

Kevin Love would have games where he did not play. That's Kevin Love we're talking about. A champion, an all-star, no problem. Right, well, look at the two teams in the finals. Their leaders were the most selfless. The most selfless teams made the finals this year. even in the past, the Warriors, bro. There's a better shot, always won on that team.

Whoever was open, that ball was flying to, with exception of, like, step or clay, if they had a decent shot, they're supposed to let it fly. But if anybody else had a decent shot, and they saw someone else more wide open, that ball was swinging, man. And if you didn't, you had Draymond or Iggy or Barboso or this guy, like, in your face telling you to pass the ball.

It's a cultural thing. It's a winning thing. I think Charlotte needs it. I think Houston needs it. Orlando needs it. a lot of these young talented teams who have talent, you're seeing, I think, a premium, hopefully continued premium

on players that could still play and be a vet and still understand the situation that they're not going there to take the last shot. It's just tough, though, because these teams that we're mentioning have a lot of guys, a lot of young players on their rookie deal, and everyone's trying to get to that second deal.

And there's a bunch of guys that your teammates with them, but they're also your competition. That's the day. And a lot of teams have that. OKC has a lot of guys. Orlando has a lot of guys where they're trying to get to that second deal, and they look around, they know,

we're all not going to get that second deal. No, no, so it's either me or you. But we're also supposed to be teammates. And that creates the culture of how you're going to play selfless basketball. You can't. And that's why they lose games every time. That's what happens. You have a bunch of guys really out here, man, I'm trying to get paid.

You hear it on the bad. I've been on a bad team. Yeah. The thing in the locker room is not, yo, who we got tomorrow. I'm trying to get paid this summer. I'm trying to get paid this summer. Those are the conversations that are being had on losing teams all the time. We're on winning teams.

They're like, yo, they already have their role set out. They know who's doing what. So now the only goal is winning. And then through that, everyone gets paid. Right. You know, if everyone in Denver right now is a free agent, every single one of those guys get paid. Yeah.

Bruce Brown's going to get paid. Yeah. Is he up for a free agent? Yeah. So he'll get paid. If Braun, which I know he's not, he's only a rookie, pews up, he'd get paid. I think he's probably brawn.

We still haven't figured that out. Brown, we get it. Jeff Green, you know, he's on a one. He'll get like another like two years 12, two years 18 he'll probably get more this year you know he's part of a winning team like that that shit matters man and uh i i'm i not only am i hopeful i do think there is a wave of that coming back in the league where like there's a good to have a mix i'm not saying you have to have four or five bets because you know at that point it gets counterproductive you you got to play the young guys you got to finish

with them you got to develop them but like having two to three on a team yeah you know can be really beneficial i think all right let's take a break this episode is brought to you by Michelobulra. They say consistency is the key to success. They weren't wrong, but it's only worth it if you enjoy it. Mikhailo Boltra is consistently smooth, consistently refreshing, consistently light. It's the perfect beer for watching what unfolds during the upcoming NBA draft as teams try to build and prepare for the future. Austin, what was the draft like for you? Do you remember that night? Was it the best night of your life? Oh man, it was definitely an emotional night. I don't know about the best night my life but um i felt in the moment you know when you've had a dream your whole entire life that

you've worked at and like put yourself in a position to you know do what you want to do to get called and have your family there your parents there you know everyone's emotional you know my dad was emotional a few times i think i see my mom and my dad cry at the same time um but like happy tears you know there's nothing better than happy tears you know what i mean for sure um so yeah i'm excited to You know, that's the best part of the draft to see these young men, like, walk up on stage and, like, shake the commissioner's hand and, like, realize their life's about to change.

They pictured it, and I'm sure you did it a million times. And when it happens, you just do it. You know what I mean? You're up there, like, you're walking to the stage and you're, like, in front of everybody. It's a really cool moment. My favorite thing is not the guys in the green room, the lottery picks.

They know they're going to get their name called. My favorite is when the people are at home, the players are at home, and they're having, like, a little draft party, and they don't know if they're getting drafted or not. They get all their family and friends on the couch and everyone's sitting there, like, hoping their name gets called. And then, like, you see, like, those are the best ones. So it's always refreshing to see, like, young guys had their dreams called, man, yeah.

For sure. And the draft, I always tell you, is my favorite night of the year. You love it. You love it. What is it? Is that making me a basketball nerd? It's the best night of the year. I love it.

I dedicate a whole night. The year is so insane. I make no plans. You sit down and it's just a bunch of basketball, just thrown your way for, like, three or four hours. So this Thursday, I think you and me, let's set a date, get on that couch, a couple of Michaelo Bultras, and really just dive into this. I'm excited. I want to see what the Hornets do with their pick. Yeah, I mean, the draft is always amongst the, you know, the obvious of seeing these guys' dreams come true. I think the other interesting, you know, aspect of this is seeing what trades are going to be made.

Some happen out of nowhere. Remember, Drew Holiday went for Nerlins' Noel on draft night, from the Sixers to the Pelicans. That's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm excited for something. I remember that. I remember I stunted my growth. Trust me, I remember better at anybody. I was going into my second year into the NBA and they brought Tyree Gavin's and Drew Holiday in.

It was an amazing decision by Del Dempson, Monty Williams. The draft is one of those things that you watch and, you know, you have to take a seat back and really prepare for anything to be possible. I mean, if you're on it, especially on a losing team, you just don't know what's going to happen, which I, which I, I was at the time, you know, which is, listen, there's many as good teams there are. There's bad teams. And a draft night is a big night for them. For sure. You know, I mean, you always see like the Warriors like those teams. Like draft, I didn't even hear about them. You don't even even know what happened. Well, think about what the Warriors did in 2009. They drafted Steph with the seventh pick, just completely changed their franchise in every which way for the next,

you know, over a decade. So draft night is where dynasties could be built. No, 100%. You never know the possibility of a player. Who this year is no one's talking about who's going to absolutely crush it. You never know. You don't know. Quad Leonard was the 15th pick. You don't know. Draymond Green was second round.

You don't know. Listen, last night, or past couple nights, everyone's been talking about Nicola. He's drafted as Taco Bell commercial. You know what I mean? Like, you don't know. And that mystique and mystery, I think turns on, especially a lot of real basketball fans like yourself, to where you watch the draft in such awe because you're seeing these guys get excited

their name's called, the family's excited. You're also seeing trades, you're seeing pick swaps, you're seeing this guy go here, this guy go here, especially right now in the NBA and how coaches are being moved around. I would expect this draft to be a lot of movement with players. It just seems like the NBA is getting more and more like, you go here, you go here, you will swap.

You know, it's just becoming like a Wild Wild West in my opinion or anybody's opinion. And yeah, it's exciting. I'm really excited to see what happens. There's a lot of teams with a lot of picks, you know, OKC, a couple other teams. You know, what's Boston do? What's this team do?

What, you know, we've already heard the rumors of Zion and what they might do with, you know, to get scoot. I mean, this is going to be a really interesting draft. And, you know, it's a little top heavy. You know, there's a lot of talent at the top. And then there's kind of a little bit of the unknown towards the back, which is also interesting for people to see because there's always a surprise or two. So excited for it, man.

It's going to be fun. All right. See you next Thursday. It's a date. Let's do it. Cheers, buddy. Cheers, bud. Mikkelow Bulture, the perfect balance of taste and refreshment. Only 2.6 carbs and 95 calories. Head to mickleauhulchre.com. It's only worth it if you enjoy it. Must be 21 years of age.

Enjoy responsibly. All right. Let's get into Rapid Fire really quick. My first rapid fire question for you. Out of the three guys being talked about possibly being on the move this summer, Dame, Kyrie, and Bradley Beale. Can you rank those for me? If you're a team, who would you want to bring in?

Dame, Brad. Kyrie. That has nothing to do a talent that has to do with other stuff outside for Kyrie because I think Kyrie is the best player of the three. Gotcha. Do you think Bones Highland is going to accept the championship ring because he played this year for the Nuggets? Do you think he'd accept it?

You have to play a certain amount of games, though, to get the ring. I thought if you just played. No. So he's not going to get one? I think you have to play more games with the other team than he might have actually, too. I don't know. I think he did. I wouldn't. I would imagine he's not going to. If I didn't win with

the team, I don't want to ring. Okay. Well, if he gets one, I want one. He's getting it, I want it. I'll take one. If they're passing them around, I'll throw it. My kids aren't even remember 30 years from now. I'll tell him I was a six man on the team.

All right. So your dad recently did the podcast with Bill. Callie has a podcast with The Ringer. You have a podcast. Who, can you rank the three rivers who the best potter is? Am I saying that right? Potter? It's like Harry Potter.

Yeah, I was nuts. Who's the, who's the, Who's the best? By the way, your dad crushed it. He killed it on Bill's pod. Well, it's different as a guest versus having your own. No, absolutely. I don't know if my dad's in contention.

My sister has more episodes with me and has been in the ring or longer. So I put her first. She's a natural. Put her first. I'll take second. So you're putting Doc last? Doc has to go last. That's great. Did you listen to that episode with Bill?

I did. He's really good of analysis. No, that's what he does. He did TV before basketball, man. I think people forget that because he's been coaching for so long. If he doesn't coach this year, I'm actually excited for my dad to have a little time off just for like mental and physical health. And I think it'd be fun to see his TV talent on TV again. People forget that he was one of the guys on T&T before like the Kenny and all that stuff.

With a completely different voice. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So coaching does to you. But, you know, it'd be nice to see his talent in that way out there in the TV world again, really getting to put his opinion out there for once instead of people putting opinions on him all the time. So yeah, that's the order I put it in. Nice. And it's cool that your dad's going to take the year off.

Yeah, for now. We'll see. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're never known. Who knows that guy. Yeah, Quinn Snyder picked up a job halfway through last season. Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he walks in somewhere. I know he loves coaching, but yeah, no, it's fun to see him in a different light. All right.

My next question, my last question for you. What, who are your way too early finals picks for next year? It's such a ridiculous question. I don't even know how to answer. bad. It's so ridiculous. I don't even know who's going to have what. Where's David Lerlo? Where's Brad going?

I just want you to give me the guess. It's all baked into the prediction. I think the Detroit Pistons versus the like the Detroit Pistons? Yeah. The Detroit Pistons versus I don't even know, man. The Rockets. That's going to be the finals prediction.

That might be the game to see you. gets relegated to the G League, that is not going to be the finals. Are you out of your mind? It's never mind. What a bad question. I didn't know that question was going to be in the worst out of it. It is a bad question. I don't even want to answer it.

All right. Well, it's not going to be in the finals next year. What kind of fucking ridiculous question is that? You could have just said nuggets. I don't want to say them. I don't want them to win again. You're so anti-nuggets. No, no, no.

I am nuggets, but I have to be a part of it. My favorite snacks nuggets. I love nuggets all the way around. I like nuggets. Basketball. I like nuggets. I like nuggets. All right.

last question. Where are the best chicken nuggets? Chick play. What's wrong with you? I mean, I'm just trying to take it off the fact that you hate the nuggets. I just said I love the nuggets. This is what you do. You have a talent for this too, and then you do that smile after. You love to throw a little gasoline on a little fire. Like, there'll be like a little bit of a fire and you just love to blow it. And then you'll just sit back with a little pyro face that you had, a little smile you have.

You only do that when someone else is going through it and you're just on the sideline, just like, watching. Isn't that why you asked me to do the pod with you? You can stir up the pot. Yes, what you do. You can stir up a pot. I mean, me hating the nuggets is insane. I've only given them flowers. I love, I love Yulgaj.

I love MPJ. I love Coach Malone. All right. Austin, I understand you have some pet peeves for this week. It's been a while. What has pissed you off recently? What's really got under your skin? You want to know what's bothering me lately?

I'd love to. I hate when people drive the same make of a cop car, but they're not a cop. Like the Ford Explorer. I don't even know what model it is. So you're saying like the cars are the same cars that cops. The same cars that cops use, but they're not a cop. And they're like pulling right behind you and you're like driving.

You're like nervous. You're like hands on the wheel. Now you're like, who is that? And then the guy walks by you or a lady drives right by you. And she's got like seven stickers on the back of like the stick figures of her whole family. And you're like, that was a woman in there carrying three kids. It drives me fucking crazy. Who's that fault in this in this pet pee?

Like, what can we do different? Not buy that car. No one should buy any car that is. No, no, the cops car, the cops that people, the cops, whatever model they choose, the police department. Maybe they should their own model. They shouldn't be a certain model for the police. Yeah. It's really annoying driving around.

I see them all the time, the damn Ford Explorers. They drive all over, you know, Winter Park, Orlando anywhere, right? You're like, how long the sale of Ford's sports? Is that a cop? Is that a cop? Because everyone gets nervous around cops. I get nervous around cops. And, you know, I don't like it.

It drives me crazy. And then you drive Biden to some schmuck behind the wheel just like on his way to work. It drives me crazy. I don't like it. It pisses me off and gets me in a bad mood.

Okay. So you're suggesting no one buys any Ford Explorers. I think we should outlaw four Explorers. So less Ford Explores more Mikulov-O-O-Ultras if we're gonna... You're plugging.

You're plugging in Mickla right now. Oh, I'm doing the opposite to Florida Explorers. We're not sponsored by Ford. And it really, all bullshit aside, all jokes aside, it really does bother me

that people drive the same. of all the cars that you could choose. You're going to choose the same model that cops use. What's your game plan? What's your agenda here? What's your motive? What's the motive? All right, something's been on my mind lately.

I really wanted to run it by you. What's you got? You saw Live, I guess it was a success that ended up merging with the PGA tour. Oh, my goodness. Those guys got a lot of money. The guys that went there, they're the world winners of this. Yeah. You see soccer players going to Saudi Arabia, getting a bag.

Crazy. Leaving their main leagues, leaving legacy behind for the paper. Yep. Do you ever see anything like that happening for the NBA? Absolutely. It just has to happen. And I'm not saying I'm forward or I'm against it. But if you look at what's happening right now in sports, specifically soccer and golf,

you're having a bunch of their top tier talent leave to go to the Middle East. And they make an absurd amount of money to play in these leagues. which obviously aren't even in comparison to their, you know, whether PGA or, you know, I don't even know what league Cristiano Ronaldo played in last year. What was it? He was in the Premier League, EPA. Yeah.

So, like, you know, they're leaving top tier to go to whatever, but the money's there, the opportunity's there. Well, a lot of those guys like Ronaldo or Benzima, their career serves. That's fine. The craziest resume accomplished. That even points to the fact even more. It's even more crazy they're leaving.

You know what I mean? It's like, yeah, you're like, You are the game. You are soccer. And you guys are leaving the league to go like over here. Yeah. You know what I mean? Obviously it was way more controversial with golf.

Phil Mickelson. Some of these other guys, you know, who was some of the other guys that left? Dustin Johnson. Dustin Johnston, who was the highest earning golfer last year because of so. You know what I mean? These guys went and got a bag. And then PGA did what I think no one expected to do. when they merged back with them,

essentially allowing these guys to leave their league, go make an obscene amount of money, leave, and then like, come back, we'll let you back. Michael Scott Paper Company. Michael Scott Paper Company. That's what happened. You know, I mean, they rewarded the guys who left. Do I think that would happen with the NBA?

Do I think the NBA would merge with someone? No, I don't think they would. But do I think players are going to get offered obscene amount of money to go over there and play? Yeah, I do. When you look at markets of athletes, golf is not even in the realm, of NBA players.

We're worldwide. We're global. Not to say that golf isn't, because they are. But our market in Asia alone is second to none. Our market in Europe is only second to soccer. But would we be remiss if we didn't mention the fact that the money that comes from these places,

morally, it would exactly. I'm not going to say it's moral or e-moral. There's a certain taste in people's mouths about people taking that type of money. There's also the beliefs in certain things and how they live. I mean, like, Christian Honoreano Ronald's plane over there and he's like, he's not even supposed to be able to see his wife, you know, the way they. Like, live with his wife, yeah.

Yeah, he's not even supposed to be allowed to live with her, right? You know, and they're like bending. Where they treat women and the place the money's coming from. There's a lot there. There's a lot there. But you got guaranteed life-altering money being thrown at people. Sometimes as a man, you do what's best for your... It's a decision that, yeah, some God's going to have to make.

Bro. The money or what's right and wrong? Benzima, three years, 600 million, bro. Like I said, man, going back to the topic, the market of NBA players and how global we are, you would be naive to think that if you don't think this is already, like, discussions aren't already happening

or aren't going to happen of top tier NBA players getting poached from the NBA to go make obscene money somewhere else for a year or two and then they could just come back. Yeah, it's going to happen. I see it happening.

I'm not saying it's moral. right or I'm not on any side. You're not going to put me on either or. But if the money's there and the opportunity is there, you know. Well, I'm not on the fence about it. The way that they make money and the money's coming from a place where I don't agree with the way they conduct business. So you don't like it. But I understand that offering $600 million. But that's the point of this. They're putting unrealistic money on the table. Like three or $600 million is laughable, bro. He's not even going to, you know, I mean, like, what's he going to give you in that? It wasn't his annual salary as much as the NFL team's cap, salary cap.

Yes, this new, his new contract. Yeah. Like, do you think Dustin Johnson? You think Phil McKinson won to leave the PGA to go off and live? No, I'm sure they don't regret their decision now. No, no, now they don't. But I'm saying even the initial decision to go. Yeah.

I went to one of the live golf tournaments. How was that? It was weird. Yeah. It felt like Coachella mixed with golf. Yeah, you're pumping through everywhere. People playing like Cornell on this. I don't know what was going on.

It was a whole different type of. And here's my thing. It's, like I said, it's not something I think players were seeking, but when the money is thrown at you in such a large amount to where, like, as a family, as a man, woman, whatever the case may be, when you have to make a decision like that, like, bro. What players, are there any of that come to your mind that would take that? I'm not throwing that out there.

I'm not throwing out there. But you have to do. I got a whole list of names of guys that I know would take that bag. I got a whole list of names that guys that I've played with that they love winning, but that money is very important for them. And if someone offered them $100 million a year or anything in the realm of that, those guys have been in the first class Emirates ticket

right on their way over there. That's the sad reality of it, okay? So do I think it's going to happen? Yes. And do I think it's going to happen with big-time players, yes. And do I think it's going to happen in the near future?

Yes. I'm not saying I'm for it. I'm just saying it's going to happen. I'm saying these conversations are already happening. Right. Take it for what you want. All right. I just also, this is for me, I wanted to say, happy Father's Day.

Thank you, man. Cheers to that. Cheers to that. I'm known you for a really long time and to see you kind of grow up and mature and become a father to two unbelievable kids. Beautiful little boys. I'm really proudy. Appreciate you, bro. For sure, man.

Happy Father's day. This was for you and obviously all the other fathers out there. Yeah, man. Shout out to all the good fathers out there, all the present fathers. I'm excited for it. My ideal day is a father. Just hang around my boys, go to a pool or something like that. I'm running around, you know, maybe have a beer.

Just relax. That's kind of my ideal day. So there's actually a car show here on Father's Day. That's a big Cars and Coffee show. So I might do something with that. Take the kids like the car show, bring my cars out, something like that. That's awesome. So have a good day.

Awesome, man. All right. Can't wait. Thank you, man. Good to see you, bro. As always.