The Ringer NBA Show - Where Steph’s Epic Olympic 3s Rank, and Our Top Five Team USA Takeaways | Off Guard

Episode Date: August 15, 2024

Austin and Pausha take one last look at Team USA’s Olympic run, starting with the close call against Serbia (16:10). Then, they hit on the gold medal game against France (22:13) and address the top five takeaways from the games, including Steph’s ridiculous 3s, LeBron adding to his GOAT résumé, the Jayson Tatum controversy, and more (34:54)! Later, they play a game of Whose Career Would You Rather Have: Jrue Holiday vs. Damian Lillard edition (56:36). For more episodes of "Off Guard," subscribe to the podcast feed here! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's up, guys, your boy Johnny Bananas here. The Challenge Season 40 Battle of the Eras is finally upon us. I'll be covering every episode with all your favorite challengers on my podcast, death taxes and bananas on the Ringer Reality TV podcast feed, and on the brand new Ringer Reality TV YouTube channel where you can find full video episodes all season long. So buckle up, come along with me as we see who will be crowned winner of the Challenge Season 40 Battle of the Eras.

Follow Ringer Reality TV on Spotify and subscribe to us on YouTube Welcome back everybody to Offguard I'm your host Awesome Rivers along with my guys Always, my co-host, Pasha Gigi Brother, how you doing, man? How have you been? It feels like a while since, you know, now that we're doing it every other week, it just feels almost, I don't know, like first day of school vibe

I don't know how to explain this energy. Are you a little nervous right now? I'm not nervous, no first day, I'm very confident in our chemistry. It's more so just to, you know, when you get back on the saddle if you haven't done in a while, sometimes you have to start a thing. Is it true if you don't use it? it, you lose it? Oh, that's definitely true. 100%.

How you been? I'm good. Listen, I, we usually, you know, we always ease into these pods. We talk about basketball. And then at the end, we have Austin's pet peeves. We have different things, maybe pop culture. Yep. I have something to go off my chest now.

We had a friend's birthday this last weekend. Absolutely. I'm just sick of these, like, a couple of things. I'm sick of these. We went to the dinner, went to a nice dinner, private room, big party, like 15 people. The best part of the trip. Okay. 15 people, the whole thing.

Would you agree or no? Yeah. The way the checks were split up, everyone paid the same amount. I just like, okay, let me give an example. I had two beverages. The person next to me, don't have to have any names, had maybe 10. We paid the same. Do you understand why I have a pickle?

I take issue with what went down. Who decided for it to be done like that? The birthday, the main birthday cog, you know, him and his wife, they, but I'm just, I just don't understand these situations. Why can't I just, is it for? found upon to just get your own checking these big parties, but I know when the party's like 15 or more,

you can't get, you know, multiple checks. That's all you done on one. Yeah. So, I mean, you were there. You saw the way the drinks were flowing and food was getting passed out. Yeah. I just, I got very annoyed by the whole thing. And on top of that, you know, it was a weekend, I think.

We went to Tampa for the weekend. And, you know, I just feel like celebrating another man's birthday for multiple days and spending a lot of money. I just, I don't know. How do you feel about that? I don't remember the episode of Sign Photo. where they like spent $1,000 on George's birthday. Like, you know what I?

This doesn't, I don't know. Are we like too old for that? It felt weird. It was a big one. Yeah. We're not doing that for a 32nd. Or it's 33rd or it's 34th or 35th or a 36th. You know what I mean?

Like, it's this 30th. You do that for 21. Let's think, I mean, think about the birthdays we celebrate in life that are like the big, big ones, right? You do it for 16. You do it for 21. You do it for 30. And then after that, it's really just every decade, 40, 50, 60. You know?

after that, right? So it's a 30th birthday. And that is a big one because that's like when you're officially like out of the 20s and like you feel as like an older grown man type vibe. Not that you're not at 28 or 29, but once you hit that 3-0, you're like, yo, the 20s are gone. Like it's just a reality check, if anything. It's a big birthday. You kind of go out there and have a good time. I mean, listen, I'm all about like celebrating a friend and being out there for someone and cheering and having a good time. But, you know, it was an event after an event. It was a weekend trip. It was a lot.

There's an itinerary. I felt like he was getting like shipped to like the Middle East. I got like what we did we were celebrating this guy. Like he was going away for a while. There was an itinerary. Yeah, there was it was an it was a big one. But yeah, I don't know. The whole check splitting thing.

We've talked about another pause before. I guess it's because, well, first off, we came and the tables were. First of all, I was hoping that you would pick up the whole time. Yeah, I know what people were wondering. We got there and I immediately saw that we divided into. Right? because that table was already full by the time I got there.

So me and a few individuals sat at that other table and you know it's funny, man. You know, we were ordering our food but it was a preset menu that they already did. I didn't have any decisions in this, by the way.

So we had discussed a lounge. You know, the person setting up the event said they're going to do the lounge. I was like, cool, great. Boom. When I got there, like the menu was already chosen for us. I was like, wait, wait, wait.

I've been here before only once, and I know they have fantastic sushi. Yeah. I didn't want like a filet mignon. You can get that anywhere. Right. They didn't want like a big ass steak. So I was just like, okay, I don't really want that. So I ordered sushi.

When I tell you the faces your table, some of the individuals that your table made, when our sushi sat down, and I'm not going to name names, but there was like three or four people that I could just tell they were just talking shit or saying something like, you know, he had to order his own stuff. or he couldn't just. You remember what I did? I came over. There's no chopsticks with my hand.

Let me get a little bit of that. The raw dog grabbed the piece of sushi. I saw like two or three of some of your friends. Just like, and I, you know, it's mainly the girls, but like I'd see a couple of them just like start talking. I'm just like, what is the problem? I'm paying for it. Yeah.

This isn't middle school. Right. If I come and you guys have a preset menu, those things are going to come out. I have to pay for that as well. if I decide to add to my bill by ordering some sushi then why don't you get off your ass and do it yourself? Yeah. Fuck you added me for it.

And at that point, that's when we decided when the checks came, I was like, I'm going to pay for everything I paid for over here. I got a whole group over here, so I'm paying for all of them. I ordered the sushi. You guys have to pay for that. And obviously it's a preset menu. So we'll take care of our individuals. And then I was like, y'all have divity up however you want to.

They came across, the way it came across to us, that they took care of the entire thing. This is news to me that each one of you all paid. I had no idea. Wait, so you didn't pay for the preset menu? Yeah, I did it for my people. Okay. And on top of that, they added the sushi to my tab.

You know what it sounds like to me? It sounds like it pays to be late. I think you were late and I think you were rewarded. And I think me being there early, I had to pay the piper. Well, no, I paid way more than you. I just, I don't know, man. I have serious question, though. I paid over like $14.

into a situation like that though. Do you think he should be able to just pay for what you order as far as drinks and everything like that? If that's the case that I should have ordered some caviar and champagne and all. It would have been split between 15 people. No, no, no. Okay, but this is how it was, first off, I didn't, that's what I'm trying to tell you. I'm finding this out now.

Yeah. I thought that I paid for, first off, the way it was explained to me before we even got to this place was that everybody was going to be able to, we had a $4,500 minimum. And they're like, yeah, with 16 of us, we'll order that quick because everybody will order different things and drinks and then we have to spend $4,500. I thought I was going to have to split it with me

and the birthday boys. That's who I thought was going to have to split it. His wife. Me and her, rather than I thought we're going to split the bill. That's what I went in there. So I went into thinking I was spent in 2000 that night. So I was going to order sushi. I was going to make sure I ordered everything and got my food. We had had plenty for $4,500. Everybody would have got to order

your sushi. You got to order anything. You didn't have just have steak and crab cakes or whatever that was on the thing. You got to order whatever you want. That's what I thought, because that's what those rooms are. Like when you go to Kabuki or any of the spots in Orlando where people don't know, like, most of those rooms are like where if you order a private room at a restaurant, when you go in there, there's a minimum. It's you and a group, you all order whatever you want. You got to meet you at a minimum. No different than when you're at a club or getting a table. You know, this table's three grand. You got to spend three grand on some bottles, what you got? That's how it works, right? So I didn't know it was going to be a preset menu for one. And then I

didn't know that we were going to be dividing it amongst all of us no matter what was ordered. Yeah. Otherwise, like you said, you had ordered caviar or crystal. It's all going to be split between a bunch of people anyway. Yeah. So that's the, and you only had a couple of drinks. You're like, why am I spending this? This guy had two rib eyes and it.

It's just when the bill comes, everything is just a little, it's a little nasty. It's a little weird. It gets a little weird. And I think people were expecting you to pay for the whole thing. Yeah, that's what? Everybody was. Everybody was, everybody said, wait, Austin's not paying? Yeah, yeah, you can kiss my ass.

I'm not paid. And by the way, I pay. for me and like six others. My tab was 1,500, bro. I think plus. I know you guys weren't spending 1,500 each. No.

Okay, then. So, like, I'm already, I already said... What's your take on, like, just spending a lot of money on someone's birthday anyways? For example,

my birthday's in a couple weeks, I don't think anyone's out there spend a lot of money on me or anything. I just... After... By the way, I knew we were going out, and I knew I was going to pay for those fucking bottles,

which I had to. We went to the damn place, and we got like two 42s, not like Cosamigos, we got the 42s, and we got a bottle of fucking A's Spade. I had to eat that. So I told them at the dinner restaurant,

I ain't paying for this whole thing because I know in two hours when that check comes, ain't none of these people going to grab it. Also, another thing, too, is when you go to a different city, I wish we wouldn't go, we'd go to a different city. You travel, and then you'd go to a restaurant and then a bar. What you could do in Orlando, kind of.

I just wish we would, like, specific things to that city. Does that make sense? But instead, we're just doing the same world thing. We've got to move on. By bad, I was just really annoyed by the... No, it's a good topic. There's a lot of people that can relate to this. There's when people listening to this.

Like, man, I hate when I go to. Restaurant, you just split the bill. And I'll, you know what? Another thing, too, is if you go as a single guy and there's other people as couples, are you, you know, guys putting the car down for him and the girl. I'm just putting the car down for myself. Am I kind of paying for half of your girl's meal? I want to think about that.

That happens a lot of times. Single guys get screwed out of that whole check thing. I totally agree. I understand that. Do you want to start off with the Olympics? You want to start off with the breakdancing by the Australia girl, Raygun? What do you want to get into? One woman.

One woman. just deleted a sport from the Olympics. She came out to the bunny hop three times, and everybody was just like, no, when I watched this again. It reminded me of when the Grizzlies lost in the playoffs, and then that night they were like, we're not bringing back Dylan Brooks no matter what.

Why did you have to announce that break dancing was not going to come back in 2008? Say that in 2007. The fact that they said it right when the Olympics were over, then I'm bringing it back. It put the pressure on her. It immediately put all the heat on her to where everybody was just like, and now SNL did a skit the other day was hilarious.

of her dancing. It's just like, because it is, her first off, her routine, which is absolutely absurd. Australia, you got one of the biggest

continents in the world. You got millions of people over there, billions of people that you couldn't have grabbed somebody else to be in your brain. I know there's

Australian people over there that could probably fuck it up on the floor. Yeah. You got this girl out here, bunny hopping and like doing these little windmill dancing.

Everybody's just like, what is going on. I mean, also, you can do in basketball is you can naturalize somebody and they could be Australian. Take the best break dancer from you got served,

Omari on, and bring him over to Australia. He's got someone in that family tree that was born in Australia. Somewhere, right? Sergio Baco's playing for Spain the other day. I promised he was not from there. You could do that.

Again, but, you know, listen, I heard the reason they are banning it. Do you know the reason why? No, why? It's because the music for all their choreography, they have to get licensed and pay for each one of these songs. So they are paying for hundreds

and hundreds and hundreds of licensing of like, we know, we're talking about hits, right? These people aren't choreographing, dancing to songs that no one's ever heard of. They're doing stuff that people in the crowd can listen to and it's break dancing. So they're like break dancing or something by Queen, but the Olympics has to license it.

Because they were paying millions for a sport that wasn't getting that in return with views. So they're just like, this doesn't make sense. The only views they got were the views for the wrong reasons. Well, for the wrong reasons, but they still weren't getting actual TV recognition, which is what they wanted and other things, right? So it didn't make sense for them to bring a sport back

that just wasn't very, you know. Also, man, the third. on three basketball, those guys getting smack by the Netherlands. I was thinking to my head, like, why didn't they call Austin? Give me something here. Brian Woodhors broke it down that they make it in a way that you can't even get NBA players in this thing.

They do it. I have to, first off, it's not just like one or two tryout. It's like nine events that you have to go to. It's like a year commitment to where you have to like go to multiple, multiple, multiple cities to play a fucking three and three tournament.

So pros already aren't going to do that. the inconvenience, right? And then secondly, most of those events are during the NBA season. It ain't going to happen. So they make it to the point where they've made this process so difficult. Why I don't know? Because if you looked at the talent across the board, it was poor. And it's not just

that, yes, of course our American team didn't do well. I'm talking about across the board. If you even look at the teams that were winning, they weren't that good. I'm watching the highlights. Especially when you're watching the deepest, you know, Olympic basketball, the main teams, the deepest pool we've ever seen with all these good teams.

Watching that, it's obviously, what the hell is this? Yeah. I could take an Ice Cube was right. He's like, yeah, I could take my best players from the big three, we'd dominate.

He's absolutely correct, because those guys are all former NBA players. Michael Beasley and that big three is going to be in the main. If he had the mental, if he had the mental understanding of how to be and how to act

and do all these things as a teammate. You mean, I'm going to slap on a USA jersey on and we got to make sure he's up there. You can't be like the stuff he does in 3-3,

which is cool and entertaining. I don't think USA would want that. You don't want Gary Payne on the sideline trying to fight the players. No, no, no, no. I don't think they want that. You know what I'm saying? But his game, yes, he's a monster. He would absolutely dominate the 3-on-3. He'd be the best player in Fibba. If you put Michael Beasley and the 3-in-the-be-the-be the best player, I just don't know if they want him representing the brand that well, whether that's fair, not fair, that's not for me to say. But the point being is there's plenty of other players. I got to take Jeff Teague, who's cooking in the Big 3. Yeah. I put him in the Phoebe 3. I put me, Jeff Teague, give me Montrez-hero. He don't play no more. Give me Montrez. He'll play no more. Give me Montrez. He's, Frank Nitty. I don't give a damn who is. I'm saying, a guy who didn't even play professional basketball. You could take even someone like that. And we'd still smoke everybody.

Right. You know what I'm saying? So, like, there's plenty of guys who are good players that we could take. Yeah, I guess the NBA should look into finding. But again, I wouldn't do it with nine events. I got too much stuff going on. I don't know. I think, you know, the NBA is always looking for things that, you know,

former players could get into, right, post-career. I think that would be really cool if that had a pipeline, I got you in the front of three. the same medal that Kevin Durant, LeBron James have for just whooping ass and three and three. I mean, I think that's what we all, first off, our team will be much better in the future because they woke everybody up.

The Paris Olympics, because it was Paris, it tuned the whole world in to the good, the bad, the ugly. We saw it all in Paris, right? From the opening ceremony, which was really weird, to this, to that, to controversy, to athletes getting kicked out. We all saw it all, right?

And the big three, or I'm sorry, the three on three got so much attention. players are like, wait, wait, wait. These guys are competing for a gold medal. These are things that could change your life. Right. What the hell am I doing? Who the hell is this?

Because we're watching the guys on the 3-3-3 team. We're like, what the fuck is this? And you see how much it means for the NBA players to get a gold medal. So imagine just being able to get one doing 30-3. I'm seeing these guys. LeBron James is on the damn boat holding the flag to the left of them as a 3-03 player. I'm like, what fuck is that guy?

You know what I'm saying? I should be in that boat. Having my time my life in Paris or my family there watching me just. go out there outside just, could you imagine no help side of someone guarding me

with my first step? Good God. They'd hang my jersey. I'd definitely crossed my mind until I heard Brian Winhorse brain and out of how hard it is. They'd hang my jersey. They would hang it

in the rafters, bro. I would be unguarable. And with no help side one-on-one, I mean, that's what I'm born to, that's just bringing a gold medal back to Orlando Florida.

I'm a good one-on-one defender. So I mean, that three-and-three is actually made for me. Yeah. You know what I mean? That's actually,

I'd have a better career. I think I just woke you up a little bit on that. Well, I've already been thinking about this. I've actually reached out to my agent about that. Yeah. I was like, it's four years away, but it will be in Los Angeles. Yeah. Your boy going to be playing in those pop trees.

A little brunch, pop over and play some down 30. We just have to figure out ways to maybe see if these rules can change a little bit. Yeah. You know, the nine. I'm sure they're going to change it for the American. I don't think that I don't know if they're going to do it. But we'll see. Anyways.

All right, do you want to talk about since our last pod, the Serbia-USA game, and there's obviously the gold medal game against France. which one you want to dive into first because the Serbia game for me was one of the best basketball games I've ever seen in my life. I mean, it's up there definitely with, for me, like 2016 Game 7, Cabs Warriors, 98 Bulls Jazz, Michael Jordan's last game when the Bulls game winner. I was 12 years old, 11 years old, but these are the games that kind of stick out. The best games you've ever seen, where does this rank for you?

Because I know you were emotional. You were texting me throughout the game, how pissed you were, because you thought they were going to lose. Yeah. It got a little shaky there. for a little bit. To say the least. Yeah. I was nervous just through the fact that

Nicole Yolkaj is such a game controller. You know what I mean? Obviously he's a game changer, but he controls the game better than just about anybody. Him and LeBron James are at like the top of the top in terms of having the ability to control a game.

When we talk about like really good players who have just their playing style ends up dictating the game flow, there are only a few players that are able to do that. Some guys might not even be the greatest players in the NBA, but they control a game.

Like when you play a game with Luca Donkage, and he is one of the best parties in the NBA, it's his game. It's just he controls the game. You just see it. Trey Young is another guy. You can say whatever you want about Trey Young. Like Trey Young just has a good, usually,

the games that they win is the games that, like he has the control on the game. Right. He's just doing his pick and rolls. He's lobbing three. Like he just ends up running the game. Some guys have that. Chris Paul was another guy.

Like there's guys that just have that impact, right? And then there's guys who are really, really good, but they might not have a hand on the game. It's like Jama Grant's really, really good. He don't control the whole game. You know what I mean? We're like someone like Nicola,

like the game ends up being in his flow. Teams have to prepare not to get caught up and playing in his style of play because he controls the game. So when they're like up five or six, with like four or five minutes left, I'm like, this dude's just going to control the game. He's going to slow it down.

He's going to make the USA speed. That's what he does. You know, he's going to pick him apart. They're going to have to double. He's just going to find these guys who are hitting shots. Luckily for us, I don't know who the lefty is on Serbia, but he missed the biggest shout of the game.

We all know what I'm talking about. That dude got a wide open. I think it was so open that it almost messed with him. He was dead free. He makes that three. I don't know how much time was up. I think it was just over a little bit of a minute. He makes that three.

USA doesn't have a gold medal. It would have been out of reach at that point. Yeah. We would have been down like six or seven with a minute left. At that point, it ain't happening. He misses, because we're up two, actually. he misses.

So instead of being up five, we're down two. Steph Curry comes off a downscreen. Bang, we're up one. Games back in our control. From there on, we just took the game over. It's just crazy. He hits that three. Instead of, it was 50 seconds left in the game, man.

Just thing with 50 seconds left being down five or being down two. It's a total different game. Total different game. He missed a three, we won. I was very nervous. Things work out. Basketball gods had our back. And then I knew we were going to be Paris

just as a matter of how competitive it was going to be, which they did. They made it pretty competitive for the most part. But we both knew, like, even throughout the game when it was competitive, like, we had control that entire game. Would the Serbia loss, would that have been the biggest upset in basketball slash sports

since you can remember? Yes. Yeah. Given all the Hall of Famers and, you know, given how big that team was with our top players. You can't say it's the best team ever created and also say it's not going to, it wouldn't be the biggest upset.

Yeah. It, it, it, um, that would have been the biggest upset of all time. And we had to win that. You know, everybody felt it with the, with the comments made by Noah Liles, you know, and then he won the hundred. Everyone was like, okay, we got to win now. And then he lost the 200 and everybody's like, we definitely got to win now. That way we could be like, we're the world champion, even though he still is.

Those comments fueled a lot of different things. I do think a lot of that was taken out of context. I don't know. I think his comment was made out of context, which is why it started at all. I don't think he's like a basketball hater or anything. I think he's a guy who's like a world champion multiple times. Won a gold medal and he just like wants more attention. I think it's that simple.

But that's here nor there. Yeah, was very grateful we won as a USA, you know, obviously citizen and NBA player. I'm seeing my colleagues and friends playing this team. I really wanted them to win. I wanted them to play well.

I mean, you were emotional when they won. I mean, it was like that, right? You were locked in on that game. I mean, I threw my hat at the TV at one point.

It was the most caught up in a game I could remember. I mean, I just felt like it was these, all the guys we've watched, you've competed against obviously, guys that I've watched for years and years. And they all had a big moment. Joel and Beat had that big stretch. We had three stray baskets. Obviously, LeBron controlling the game. Steph had his biggest game.

It just felt like, and then Drain had the dagger, which we knew that was going in when it happened when he got to that crossover. It just felt like it had all the makings of like just an amazing, perfect basket. The Serbia game was the biggest game, I think, in all of the, Olympics for me, and I know I'm biased from a basketball player, but that was the most entertaining adrenaline pumping up and down emotional experience of the entire Olympics, was that Serbian game.

Because other than that, we didn't, and I would say that'd probably be second, the Noah Liles. Noah Liles winning by like a... That was probably, that would be number one. Yeah, like an eyebrow, it's crazy. Him winning by the fraction of time he won by was insane of such a good race. The Jamaican guy actually his feet were ahead of his,

but his head was back. It's just like technique. It's like a form thing, yeah. You know what I mean? To think this guy didn't want to go a metal because he was like this instead of this. You know, there was actually a hilarious bit by Jerry Seinfeld. You've seen that?

Yeah, of course. Yeah, it's hilarious when he's talking about the Olympics. He's like, gold, silver, bronze. Yeah. He's like, the man, nobody's ever heard of him. It's just such a crazy thing to think about how important that is. That'd be number one. That race was number one.

But that Serbia game was, USA game was unbelievable. And the Paris game was even competitive as chippy in the beginning. You know, they had some ups and downs. You know, France did a great job of really hanging in there and competing and going all the way through the end of the game, hitting big shots. I mean, they were similar to the way,

so they weren't playing great in pool play. They should have lost to Japan. You know what I mean? These were, they weren't playing that great to their level or whatever. They were silver medalists last time in Tokyo. So they weren't playing that well. They upset Germany, which I thought was the second best team in the whole tournament.

And then I just felt like they they were just lucky to be there. But at the same time they have Wembe, they have Evan Fornier, they have somebody put you Bisselli, which was like, they call them, I'm not even going to say the nickname, but basically Ben Wallace's nickname. I was just surprised they even made it and made it competitive. Would you have rather seen like Germany being there with the team they had? It would have been a better game. You love the German. You love the German team.

The Germany team was the team that I thought if they made it to the championship, it would be 60, 40, USA. But 40 is a hell of a percentage. Germany can ball. They have so many guys that are pro pros. You know what I mean? And there's nothing against like Frank Nicola Kina or anything like that. But like there's a difference between that and like Franz de Wagner. Yeah. There's a difference between, you know, Fornier and Dennis Schroeder. Although Fornier is a hell of a player. He's a little bit older now. So it's just like, you know, this was like five years ago, eight years ago, Fournier, that'd be a different story.

But, you know, I do like Wembe. He made it very interesting. they didn't play Rudy they were off of him I love Rudy he struggled in that game he struggled in that championship game he wasn't he wasn't good I just don't think he fit well with Wemby

I don't think it was like a Rudy thing I just think him and Wimby on the floor together just didn't really work well then they tried to do it without him and I don't think at that point he had any confidence or chemistry in his position on the team he'd been benched publicly everybody was talking about in the media it's hard to go out there and perform on that stage

it's gonna be really tough in like 10 15 years to talk about Rudy Goberra's legacy and like the way with all the accolades, but the way people view him and the way he gets treated. No, people view him with such a high level, high level of disrespect and disregard. Yeah. It's bewildering considering his achievements. Scream first ballot

Hall of Fame. Yeah. Scream one of the all-time defensive greats. But if you say that out of people, like, man, he's terrible. He sucks. You're just like, damn, bro. Yeah. I look at who he's done in the game of basketball. It's weird. Regardless of which, you know, he didn't play a lot in the Olympics.

And, you know, USA obviously were able to take advantage of him when he did play because I don't think he was all the way there mentally. They did a great job attacking and having control of that entire game, which they did. Steph was unbelievable. The shot he hit was one of my favorite shots. He's hit in his entire career. It's not the greatest one because... I saw you comment on that.

So Greenie said that it's the biggest shot in basketball. A little bit of a prisoner of the moment. I love my Greenie. My Greenberg. Legend and media. 100%. I loved working with him. I look forward to working with him in the future,

which I'm sure I will. At some point, he's the man. All right? Let's get that out of the way, right? He is very and in the moment person. To sit here and say that that's the greatest basketball shot ever hit, it's just ridiculous. Yeah.

And I can give you 20 examples that are better. Hell, I can give you five of steps that are better. First off, it wasn't to win the game. we're already up at that point he was just putting on the sauce at the end. Was it a cool shot? Sure. I've hit many fadeaways over two people, man.

Now, why that shot was so impressive was because the people who were wide open next to him asking for the ball were Kevin Durant and LeBron James. So to have the stones to do a behind the back and then launch at whatever footer that was because he was like three feet behind the line,

fade away over two defenders with Kevin Durant, LeBron James opening in a gold medal game It's like, yikes. That is a big shot and a ballsy shot. Unbelievable shot. Do I think it should be mentioned up there with some like the greater shots?

It's definitely the shot you're going to remember in this tournament. Yes, and I give him that. It's a very notable shot. But when we break it down to how important it was to the game, but if he would have swung it over to KD, the thing was cash. We already up at that point. We had control of the game. That was like the icing on the cake, cherry on top, sort of speak.

And the way he did it, It was in such dramatic fashion. Everyone was just like, and it was fourth in a row. It just was crazy, right? That's why the shot feels so big. And it was in the gold medal game. I'm not displaying or discrediting the shot. It's just not the greatest shot of all time.

I've seen Mike push off Bill Russell with a cross. Brian Russell. Brian Russell, I'm sorry. Brian Russell with a cross. Mike made a shot on Bill Russell. That would be the biggest shot. That would have been the bigger shot, yeah. Byron Russell and hit a game winner to win the NBA finals.

Yeah. It's just more pressure of a shot. Hell, the shot where he pulled up from half versus the Thunder is ahead of that. That's a regular season game. I don't even give a damn. He made it to win the game. But when he shot that, everybody goes, what the hell is he doing? He shot up from half court?

It's a terrible shot. Yeah. Not for him. That is a very memorable shot. Damien Lillard's game, the Paul George, where he waved goodbye after shooting a step back from half court to go to the next series is a bigger shot than that. Kyrie Irving. Over Steph Curry bigger than that.

Being down 3-1. Michael Jordan on Elo. Michael Jordan on Elo. Bro, do you want to keep going? Brian, John Stockton versus the Rockets to go to the finals. Top of the key, bang. Like, you wrote, Magic Johnson's hook to beat the Celtics. The list goes on.

You know, that Michael Jordan winning against Brian Russell, by the way. If they lose that game, that's game six, then game seven is in Utah. And Scotty Pippin's back was shot. We saw him the last dance and all that stuff. They might not win that series. Things would have got really ugly. Well, that's why the Michael's a go.

Yeah. I just finished it. He got the job done. So you're doing the thing where Michael was a goat. And I know, I know. I think you're alive. You know, I have this on my notes. We have to talk about it.

LeBron got MVP of the Olympics. Yeah. He's about to be 40 in December. Does this add to his goat legacy? For a lot of people, they were making a- For sure. For sure. There's only one way to go.

There's only one more spot to beat. For sure. But he'll never beat that spot. That's insane. Imagine going into it saying he'll never beat Michael Joe, no matter what he does. He'll never beat it. No matter what.

No, and nobody will ever beat LeBron. So I don't know why there has to be like one goat. You can't ever have one because there's different eras in different times. Bro, like people growing up in my father's era, there's nothing LeBron can do that will move Michael because they are like, yo, the only reason LeBron has a lot of these things is due to the longevity of him wanting to play. It's not that Michael couldn't. Michael came back at age 40 to average 25, fam. My fuck was just gambling and doing cigars, whatever the fuck he wanted to do.

It's a choice thing. It's a lifestyle thing. He also had the Jordan brand that was making him $300 million a year. He didn't want to do this. The 13 years he was really locked in, really, really on basketball, he was just the greatest. Right. So he's just like, there's nothing you could,

and then when you break down his finals numbers, his all defensive team numbers, his MVP numbers, all those things, he's over LeBron and those numbers still, and LeBron's got like... Are you surprised at LeBron at this age? LeBron has six years on him and he still has more than them. He was the best player on this team. Are you surprised?

He led the team in, rebounds, assist, feel-go percentage, and he had two less points in stuff, the entire Olympics. Otherwise, two have been first than that. No. That's crazy. And that's why, on the flip side,

in this area, you have every right for you, someone like you, to say, LeBron James is the greatest player of all time. Many people,

a lot of people think that LeBron James is the greatest pair of all time. And when they say that, I'm not like, Michael's way better. No, I easily could be like,

that's a valid point. I can't sit here and look at LeBron's stats and statistics and say that he's not the greatest player of all time. There's a reason why Steph, he was like,

bah, they do like the goat sound. All of them are doing, sounds every time he does something. He has the crown. Everybody does it now. Even KD acknowledges like, yo, he's the greatest, bro. Like this guy's even mellows on a thing. He's like, man, one time I almost drowned. And, you know,

obviously Superman got in the water and saved me. He goes, I hated it. It had to be him because now he's going to hold it over my head for the rest of my life. He goes, but of all the people was jumping in the water, I knew Superman was going to jump in there and just grab me. By way, you know what's really cool? Speaking of Mello is your sister was at the game against Serbia. She told me Mello was, we all saw him

court side. Jolly on it with Bogdan, Magnanovich and everything. She said he was coaching the entire game court side the entire time Mello was into it. Dwayway was on the broadcast. I thought that's like really cool that they were all the guys. He was really, you know, first off, Duanyway did a great job. He,

I thought he did a pretty damn solid job. Commentsating the games. And Mello, I thought, was huge for the Olympics. He got more attention than half the athletes. Just for his open support. And not only the men's, but women's as well. He had a son there. They were heavily on the court side,

cheering on women's and men's basketball. I thought that was really cool. And, yeah, his involvement in that Serbia game especially, where he was, like, really directing stuff. I don't know if they were, but it looked like it they were. At one point, he, like, waved someone off. And the guy was like, the guy, like, looked at Mello, like, he was going to go screen for LeBron or KD.

And he was like, get out the way. And like, the guy was just like, just like ran. You know, it is Mellow. You know what I mean? So I would probably listen. If I was on the court getting ready to go do something, Mel was like, you man, also go to the corner. I'd be like, well, keep in mind, he, up until this Olympics,

he was our best Olympian player, too. Oh, yeah, yeah. His voice carries a little weight. For sure. Yeah, it's mellow, man. So I thought that was really cool. And just to cap the goat debate, I do think LeBron James is the greatest of all time.

And I think Michael's the greatest of all time. I also think guys like Bill Russell and Kareem can also be the greatest players of all time. I think it's very insensitive. And I don't want to see disrespectful, but it's just like so disingenuous. It's disingenuous to like compare errors like that because the game's changed

and you can't fault a player for growing up in his era. People are like, well, Bill Russell only played with eight teams. Bill had no control over that, bro. Yeah. Bill only dealt with the lemons that he dealt with. He made lemonade. God damn it was good.

That's like, we can't hold it against them. That's why people are like, man, players this day would average 30 in the 70s. I hope. Yeah. Look at the advantages we have. If Bill Russell grew up in this day and age, how much better would he have been? It's silly. So we do this thing.

We compare LeBron and Michael. Bro, they play in two different errors, man. Michael's finals games, the scores were 75, 75 in the end of the fourth quarter, man. he had a three-pointer any time he wanted to take it, it was there. The game has evolved to what it is now. Not to say that Michael couldn't do it. Michael didn't need to do it because it wasn't there.

If Michael grew up in this day and age and was shooting 2003s every morning, he probably would have been a better three-point shooter. Do you think in our lifetime we'll see someone come close to LeBron and Michael? Yes, there always will be a next guy. There always will be. In fact, the way Victor looked in that damn game

for the first three minutes was like, good God. He's like, brother, the hezzi that he did on Joel Embed and punched it, like the second possession of the game was one of the nuttiest things I've ever seen. Yeah. He's like 7.5. He did a cross,

hezzi, got Jolin beat in the air, took one dribble in, and just punched it over like two people. That dude is insane. He gets like 20, 30 pounds put on his body strategically, not just like him in the gym, lifting, getting bulky in a weird way. How Janus gradually put on the weight,

it's like each year he put on like 10, 10, 10, 10. And now he's at that point now which is like just a perfect athlete. That's something that if what Victor can do in the next two, three years, four years where he has like 20, 30 pounds each year adding like 10, but the way he already can't, he already can shoot decently well. Imagine three, four years from now. And we trust, and we also like, we love the fact that he's with the spurs.

He's in the Spurs. You would be a little nervous. I think you'd still be a little nervous. It was another team that. Yeah, if he got drafted to Charlotte or something like that, I'd be like, good guy. What's going on here? Do you always bring him back to Charlotte?

Well, because. They made the right moves, though. They haven't made it. Not Charlotte now. Charlotte now is we haven't, we can't, the jury's still out. We haven't seen them work yet. Right. So when I say Charlotte, I'm not talking about anybody running the organization or their new thing that they got cooking over there, right?

They got a whole different system. I get that. I respect that. I'm happy for them. I'm excited. I'm talking about the previous five years before that what I saw running over there. It wasn't good. But anyways, yeah.

You get the point. Him with pop. It's a good thing. I thought it was really cool that we, in the Serbia game, we played the best player in world, we all agree, Yokic. And then in the gold medal game against France, we played who's going to be the next best player in the world. That's what I'm saying.

It was very poetic and cool the way that went down. Do I think there'll be another goat? Victor's the best chance we have so far. I can't tell you who some of these other young guys are going to be and how good they're going to be. I don't know yet. It's too hard to tell, right? I can't look at a fifth grade and be like, next Michael.

People who say they can are usually ridiculous. You know, but like what we have, I never seen anybody like this guy. We've talked to all positive. We have to get to the little bit of negative, the controversy. when there's a team this good. There's going to be some issues.

But Jason Tatum, not playing against Serbia, was the talk of that, a lot of the talk of that game. It's the, 100% is the talk of the Olympics. I mean, that's been the most talked about thing

is Jason Tatum, besides us winning gold, I'd say these are the order it's in. Steph Curry shot, LeBron James' greatness, us winning gold, Tatum not playing. Yeah.

Everything else is kind of like, gotten. No one isn't even talking about an anymore. No one is even talking about

book or all these other guys who had really, really good showings. If we can get into the book,

he just was, it's really hard for a guy like that to become a role player. He was a great role player.

He proved that he could, and I think we were, not us, but yeah, us too. I think all of us

were very, we forget that he did this before with even Kentucky. That's how he got to the NBA. He was able to

go to a team. They didn't start him. He still thrived and showed flashes and knowing how to play off the ball playing as a role player. Obviously in the NBA, he's been, you know, who he is is the best player in the Sons.

He's a franchise player, right? But his ability to be able to play off of these guys was very impressive, his willingness to try to defend and defend better because he's never been known as a good defender. He played actually pretty damn good defense in the Olympics. Fighting over screens, playing hard, down on the floor, taking open shots. If he didn't have it, his quick decisions off the ball,

go space out. He played like a role player. he played like a super version of what like Derek White could be. You know what I mean? Like, and obviously Derek White's not as good as David Booker, but he played like Derek White style basketball, but he's much better. So it's just like, that was really impressive.

Anthony Edwards got to do his thing, but he still was really good. Again, a lot of these guys played really good, but no one's talking about it. It's Jason, I mean, it's Tatum, winning gold. Steph Curry's getting hot in the last three games. And then obviously, LeBron James, just doing what he did, being our best player at age 40.

that's what's talked about. And the Tatum thing at moments was like the leading thing. You can almost put a sidebar. The Tatum thing and then you have slash criticism for Steve Kerr, who in his mind, he's like, hey, man, I got the, we won the gold medal. Like, what do you, like, I pushed the right buttons and we got it done. And here's the issue, right? What's interesting is Tatum is the only guy in that team that was an all-first team NBA player

this year. He's coming off of signing the largest contract in NBA history. He's coming off of winning an NBA championship. All right. I've never seen such a superstar because he is. When you get multiple first team all-N-BAs, you enter that class, okay? And he's replaced some of the guys that were in there before, right?

James Hardin used to be a part of that small group of superstars. We talked about this on a pod way back. Kevin Durant, he's taken, he has been... Kevin Red still in that crew. He's been first-team all-M-B-A for the last three years. Yeah, yeah, but I'm saying Kevin Durant still is a superstar. Like, Quyneuxed used to be one. He hasn't been one.

That spot's lost, okay? like he hasn't been a superstar in the past four or five years I'm just gonna keep it 100 with you I haven't seen him be a superstar since the raptors okay that's a little that's a spicy little take no if he was healthy and playing sure but I'm not we can't get into the ifs and and that's not how it works so it's just like I'm not gonna say you're saying quite quite Leonard got taken off the USA team broskey you know what I'm saying yeah all right so like every other superstar was on the team Steph Curry still labeled his one because he still is one

LeBron is still one Anthony Davis is one Kevin Durant's one jolum b one, Jason Tatum's one, Devin Booker's one. Anthony Edwards is one of the new ones. Tatum is one of the new ones. That's like that's the superstar crew right there. There wasn't a superstar in the NBA left off the list. Everybody played. The guys who used to be on that list are guys who are just older now. It's not like it's not like the bad players. Like Quiet Laner is older, man. This guy's older had a lot of surgeries, a lot of injuries. He's just not a superstar anymore. Now when is he healthy and fully, could he be that again? Sure.

But like that hasn't been the case. And I don't have a crystal ball. What's going to happen in the future? James Hardin used to be one. He's obviously a lot older. Russell Westbrook used to be one. He's a lot older. Derek Rose was one. Obviously, the injuries changed that. Like, those guys, it's different now. Chris Paul was on that list. Those are the guys containing that superstar list for the longest time. Now we still have some of those guys in there, which is what we credit to their longevity.

Stefan LeBron and KD were on that list a long time ago and still are. LeBron came in the same time, Mello's on the sideline cheering. LeBron's out there still a superstar. It's insane. Same with Kevin. Their longevity needs to be steady. but Tatum is in that cloth and he's the only one that did not get PT he's also the only star that I've ever seen

was such a it's just like he's a complicated guy when we talk about judging his performance he's first team all NBA right he's an NBA superstar would you say everybody would say what NBA superstar do you know doesn't like win the finals MVP or even the Eastern Conference MVP

is strange. And he was very up and down during the playoffs. His team is really good and we hold it against him, which is out of his control because he's a good teammate for playing into that, right?

So it's like, I don't know if that's fair to judge, but we do. It's very complicated. Then he gets to Team USA and he doesn't play over guys that people would have said before the Olympics,

he's better than, right? No one before the Olympics started would say that Devin Boker's better in Jason Tato. No one. Not one GM in the NBA would take Tatum on their, take Devin Booker on their team over Jason Tatum.

Not one. Devin Bucker was a purely clear better player for USA than Tatum. I don't know if that's Tatum's inability to be able to play as a role player and Devin being more of a Swiss Army knife. Does that count towards Devin being a better player? I don't know.

I don't know how to judge us anymore. Yeah. Well, some things we talked about before, some things just don't translate the Fibah, right? We were wondering why Joel Embed had all those weird games, right? And Anthony Davis was the better big man up until that Serbia game.

So I understand the Fiba thing. But for Jason Tatum, could we chalk it up to two guys that play his position are LeBron James and Kevin Durant and those guys are going to play a lot of men. Well, that's... Can we just chalk it up to that?

Well, that's, if we're going from the basketball aesthetic coaching approach, then that's the obvious, right? Right. Devin plays the two-guards position. All right? Tim and Aunt. Him and Aunt played.

There's only two of them. Done deal. Kevin Durant, LeBron, LeBron James, played the same position. Right? The only where someone could argue with that

is, is Jason Tatum not capable of playing the two-guard position, Pasha? I mean, Devin Bucker shot over 40% from three during the Olympics.

I don't know if Tatum's giving you that clip. So Tatum can't shoot over 40- that's what I'm saying. I don't know. Tatum can't play a two-guard for Duke. Well, so his teammate in the NBA Drew Holiday

started a lot of the games, majority of the games. At the three, where Jason Tatum would be good start, right? That's my point. They started Kevin Doreen, the last game, he's a small for it, right? They put him in power for it. But these guys are multi-positioned.

And that's where people's beef with Kerr is. People are like, you're not playing Tatum and saying it's a matchup and saying it's like, bro, Tatum can play like four positions for you. Cut it out. All right, he can bring the ball up. He can do everything. I know this because I've seen him do it for the Celtics.

So let's cut the shrub. All right, we're like, he didn't play because the two players are Kevin Ray Lamont, LeBron. Nope, can't play. Brother, he could play the two guard too. he's done it before. Shit, him and Jalen Brown are both two, three, three, two. They play the same damn position.

Two and three in the NBA at the same position in today's NBA, for all I know. And in Fiba, we're so over, most teams are so undersized with the exception of France. He could have played in any position, right? Yeah. You can play back up four. Seriously.

He's six, nine. Guy got to play the four if you wanted to. So we could have put him in at multiple spots. It could have been an undersized matchup problem at the four. other teams would have had big men garden Tatum at the 40 would have just been cooking. I don't know. I'm just saying,

bro, it's strange. That's all I'm going to say. And all I'm saying is his past doesn't help him with this recent history of like, bro, if he would have dominated in the NBA finals and got finals MVP, I think Tatum plays. I know that sounds crazy,

but I think he does. I don't think any of that, like, mystery helps him. Yeah, I mean, but the guy that did dominate, the guy to MVP didn't even make the team. So it's all very, But that's because who's regarded as the best part of the Celtics?

Jason Tatum. That's my point. It's very weird. We have to keep going up and down. When you talk Jason Tatum, every single person is on both sides of the fence. Everyone acknowledges him as a superstar because he is. The guy's a stud. Complete stud.

Unbelievable player. Winner. Who's more motivated next year to win MVP? Joel Embed or Jason Tatum? Jason Tatum is motivated to win MVP. What the fuck is Joel NB motivated for? He played every goddamn game and he played a hell of minutes. He started.

I mean, he got booed the entire Olympics because it was obviously in France. It's just because he chose USA over France and the guy barely speaks English. So people are just like, for him to be on the USA team, knowing that he could have played for what? Cameroon or where is he from, right? But they didn't qualify so it would have been France. They didn't qualify, so it would have been France. So obviously they booed him. He went and played for the Avengers.

So people thought he took the cheap road out or the high road out. I'm not saying he did. He helped us win the Serbia game. Without Jolumbed, I don't know if we win that game. Right. And he was a huge piece of our team, like it or not. And he did a great job playing for USA. So I'm all team Joel.

I've nothing negative to say about him. But that's people's gripe with him for the Olympics. Fair, not fair, whatever. That's why he got booed. Him being motivated for the NBA season, people don't give a name. He's going to come right back over here to the States in Philly. They're going to cheer his ass off when he's out there playing. He's unbelievable.

In the NBA, he's unstoppable. This guy out here is scoring 70 on victor and shit. He's a nut job. And we talked about before. This is their most talented team. Philly's going to have in his career. He's a huge year this year. Philly's like on the map right now.

This is their time. They're going to do it. It's now. If this don't work, Joel's getting older, Paul George is almost cooked, it ain't going to work. They got a two-year window

with this team right here. We'll see how that plays out. But, you know, Tatum's got to come into this year like, okay, I've heard enough. And if I'm Tatum, I pray to God he does this.

I need him on demon time. Yeah. They've been playing with your name, Brosky, all year long. They made fun of you all playoffs saying that Jalen Brown's a better player than you. Jason Kidd even threw it out there, which I know he was doing strategically,

but it still made its point and hit its mark to where it got the pot even more stirred amongst the media and everybody else. Then it doesn't help that we got to the Eastern Conference Finals, and this dude, Jalen Brown wins the MVP, and everybody's like, okay, it got weird, but then everybody's like, okay, but that's because Tatum's going to go to the finals and win the big one.

And then Jalen Brown won again. and everybody's like, wait a minute, what's going on here? And everybody was playing with this man's name. Okay? Again, we already... It's one thing to lose out to Jalen Brown and all these awards, but then you go to Team U.S. San, you lose out to Derek White and Drew Holiday in minutes.

It's like, bro, he's winning and losing at the same time. I've never seen it. That's a great point. He's winning and I've never seen an athlete win so much in life and be losing. And it's like hurting his legacy. And he's like, his legacy's being hurt. He's a champion title and a gold medal, but... You wins the NBA title, but...

You weren't the best player. You won't an NBA title, but you weren't consistent enough. You wasn't able to title. Well, you needed a hell with a good team. God damn, doesn't every good team that wins, but we're holding it against Tatum. He got the largest contract in history. Well, he didn't deserve anyone even the best. Like, bro, it's crazy.

They didn't go so. Think about it. Ring. Largest contract in NBA history. The fact that I added it like this is nuts. I mean, who does it like that? It's just insane, bro. I'm like from Hawaii or something.

I don't know what's going on. He has those two things. Then he goes and wins a gold medal. you didn't play when you get a Halliburton was able to own it because no one expected Halliburton to play everyone knows why Halliburton didn't play

okay he's over there just just giddy and up in and happy and cheering they were getting ready for 2028 which if I'm Tatum I'm thinking about are you playing in 2020 in L.A. if you're Tatum

well I'm not just happened now they need you now they're going to need you and Kerr won't be coaching or if he is he ain't playing by way if Coach K was coach like he used to Tainter would have been played that's my we're going to get into that

I'm glad you said that. I'm about to get into that in one second, okay? So I've never seen somebody have so much success attached with so much criticism and failure next to it. He won. They discredited him because of Jalen and how good his team is. He wins a gold medal, and he didn't play a lot. It's just insane.

It's like each thing that keeps, like, any other person, these are like milestones for you that you're going to remember the rest of your life. this dude Tatum's getting these things and people are finding things within it to use against him and again it's hard not to say it's not fair because some of it is fair. It's weird. I don't know how to judge him. I know I'm a fan of him. I know he's a superstar.

I know he's one of the best parts of the NBA. We all know that. But there are these things that people are just like, yo, I don't know how to, like, when I argue with someone about it, they make points. I'm like, he's right. I don't know how to explain it. Jaylon Brown was better than damn to the whole playoffs. I'm like, I want to be like, I can't even throw up.

I can't say anything back on. He was better than him all playoff. With Devin Booker, I played him in all the games and the pre-season. And they say in camp, he was more impressive. And he's better. I'd be like, I can't say anything again. But this guy's the first team all-NBA, NBA, NBA, best player in the Celtics, bro. So it's just like, he's very complex to judge right now.

And it's strange. And to get into your point, I got to ask you this, what you just asked. To ask that again, Pasha. If Coach K was coaching this team, what would happen? Jay Staten would be playing? Abs of fucking lootly. Okay? And it's no debate.

And I'm telling you right now. And that's why it's all kind of preference. All right? The NBA is what? What do I say? It's 99.9% situational. And yes, that does apply to some of our superstars.

Because there have been many in the past who have been a superstar on one team and thrived. And they've gone somewhere else. I was like, this isn't working as well. Kyrie's one of our best guards. In Boston, he was great. No doubt. It was a little weird.

You know what I'm saying? Like it's just, you know, it was weird. Timble Walker and Boston is like, strange. You know what I'm saying? It just happens. Players go somewhere and it's just like it's, it's, ah. Yeah. Should have been better off staying here.

That's how it works, right? If Steve Kerr's coaching this team, we know Steph's playing, right? He came out from the gate. Joel N. B's one of our best four guys. Some people are like, wait, what? Anthony Davis should be aware. Are you saying if like, I don't even know, who's a coach? If JJ Reddick was coaching Olympics,

he don't think AD would have started and played 37 minutes a game? Yes, he would. It's all preference, by the way. And that's why Steve Kerr got the criticism because we're like, yo, Steve, we're not saying you're wrong. You won the goal, Steve Kerr's a hell of a coach. We know that, right? Everyone knows that.

But it is his call, ultimately, about who plays and doesn't play as the head coach. And you chose not to play Tatum pretty much at all in all of the Olympics. And this is a guy who's regarded as the newest, youngest, best player in the NBA, one of them, at least, along with Luca and Shea or whoever,

Tatum's in that breath. Okay? So it is bewildering that players that we consider beneath him played over him. And if you're asking me if another guy was at the helm, if Coach Kay was coaching,

you don't think he would have had his boy in there playing? You damn right. He would have played 30 minutes a game. Shit, Tatum played a lot last Olympics. I don't know if you remembered. In the previous Olympics, Tatum was out there hooping. Got a gold.

Isn't that it's the second gold medal? Yeah. Yeah. So he's done this before and had success. and played well. So we know he can do it. That's a whole other thing, the matchups. Brother, I've seen him playing the Olympics before,

and he played really well. This isn't a matter of whether Jason Tatum can play the Olympic-Feeba-style basketball. I've seen it done. That's why this is kind of controversial. I don't know. It's strange. And we talked about them needing him in 2008.

What other players? I want to get to that list, because we talked about, we touched on it last pod, where we named some players that will be probably a part of the team in 2020, like Palo, right? Chet Honger would be a great football player

for 2020. That would definitely be on that list. There were a couple of lists that were made on Twitter and I know you saw Donovan Mitchell was left off and he made a little comment. Are we just disrespecting Donovan Mitchell? Like, would he, because...

I do think Donovan Mitchell consistently gets left out a lot of people's lists. Yeah. And people take for granted how good of a player that guy really is. He's extremely explosive, great score, improved shooter.

So, you know, these are things that I think could obviously translate. in Fibba in the Olympic basketball. So, you know, I don't know why that is. Who would you rather see Lamello or John Morant in 20228? I'd rather have John Moran. He's such a freak athlete and he's such a dog. I don't know.

Him defending and getting the passing lanes and stealing and just driving and kicking and stuff like that. You know, he'd be pretty damn good. I don't know. Now, Phoebe's different. Historically, some of those guys haven't been the most dominant. Like Russell Westbrook was good in the Olympics, but that game is, it's different.

You know, they force you to shoot. No defensive of three seconds. It's harder to get into paint. The game slowed down. The scores aren't 120 to 115. It's not a track meet. So it's sometimes harder for those guys to wiggle. Derek Rose was the same way.

He was good in Fibba. Don't get me wrong, but it was like a little different. You had to play a different role. So, you know, that stuff's just a little bit different. But I do think John Moray could be helpful. I mean, they both would be fantastic. Obviously, they both won't be in the team

because you got guys like Halliburton who's set up to be it. Jalen Brunskins is. and Jaila Brunson will be that other guy. If he continues what he's, again, four years is a long time, bro. All right, a lot can happen to four years. For sure. There could be a point guard we're not talking about right now that can come on the scene and absolutely dominate.

No one talks about Tyrese Maxie. Tyrese, another guy. Four years, he's going to be a fuck, but I might be the best point. I might be the second best player in the league at that point. At the rate Maxi's going at right now, he could be like a top four or five player in the NBA in four or five years. So like, you know, a lot could happen. Also, Donovan Mitchell's not like in his fourth year.

He's in what year? like year, it's kind of like eight, seven. So like we're talking about year 11 or 12, you know, you still got aunt

who'll be in his prime at that point. He's going to be the face of it. Tatum will be back. Booker's young enough to work if he wants it. He's already won two. But if he wants to win a third,

he'll be able to go back. It's in Los Angeles, which helps. So a lot of these guys probably will play and seeing KD and LeBron. I think, I think this is a really good message

to like, you know, you play it through. If you can help, you help because it's your country and you have an obligation to do. You see, like, LeBron and stuff

who these guys have achieved so much in their career, how much they cared about this? 100%. How could you not want to be a part of the next time around? I don't like to compare it to a soldier because they obviously go through real life issues and where their life could be taken. They're out there in the field,

sacrificing their life. But it's like, yo, they do that because, like, yo, I'm an American and it's my duty to take care of my country and I'm willing and able, right? On a much lower, lower scale. When we talk about NBA players, our greatest players,

Do I think LeBron wanted to go play this summer? Maybe, maybe not. I think those guys in Katie were like, yo, we can. We still are the greatest. There's been a lot of negative talk. We lost Fiba. It's our job. Let's go do this.

There's no coincidence that they all committed right after we lost last year. They're all like, we're going to do it. We just got to do it. We have to do it. We have to do it. And it's like, that's the thing I think will come across to Devin. And that's by example of guys like LeBron and Katie doing it. Or even Steph deciding to do it for his first time at this age.

A lot of these guys were like, yo, if you're, you're young enough and good enough still, you just do it. It's our country. Let's take care of the flag. Let's go win. Let's make sure USA basketball is always at the top. So I would imagine Devin will probably go for his third gold medal. He'd be in rare air if he does. There's only a certain amount of few who have won three gold medals as an NBA player. It would only continue to stamp his legacy,

which I'm sure a guy like that who's already put so much into the game would like to do. So that's part of the reason why I think Donovan Mitchell gets left out of the list. It's like, bro, look at these names we're already saying who are already like stamped going to be on it. It's tough, man. Donovan Mitchell is really good but he's always like the third best two guard in the league which is a hell of a thing to say My God, can you imagine saying the third best shooting guard in the NBA?

Donovan Mitchell is a complete stud The two guys who are always ahead of him or who Are as of right now? Right now? Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards? That's it. There's not another two guard better than Donald McChall. I don't care what anybody says. There's other people that have other guys in the list I'm telling you I don't believe in it.

Donovan Mitchell's the third best shooting on the NBA and before Ant came on, he was the second at one point. Yeah. It was Devin Booker than him. Now I would probably go at one, Devon 2, Donovan 3. But Donovan Mitchell's been the second or third best shooting guard in the NBA for the past like two or three, four years.

So, I mean, he's an incredible player. Definitely deserves a shot and an invite. You know, they don't do the whole like tryout stuff anymore. I miss that. Yeah. I miss when guys went out there and got after it. And you knew the guys who were already on the team, but there was like three or four spots open

and you had some of the best in the league going after it competing for it. Why shouldn't Donovan Mitchell? I think Rudy Gay made that point. actually. He said, I missed it when it used to be a tryout. And when they lost last year, Rudy guy, I think, was the one that came out and said, we used to have a big pool of players go after it, and then they would pick out of that. And that always kind of brought out the best. Yeah, that's what I think USA should do.

Because we have too many guys that like Jalen Brown. There's no need. Okay, Jalen, come to camp. Go against Donovan Mitchell. Whoever plays better, who fits in better, who jails better, who's able to play the rules better and figure this shit out who looks good, you win. You get a spot. It would be pretty damn cool.

I would love to be a fly on that wall. I want to talk about Drew Holiday a little bit. So the way you looked at him during his career up until 2021 versus since 2021, two titles, two gold medals. Has anyone ever just completely changed? I mean, everyone always loved the way Drew Holiday played basketball. It was always an underrated player. A lot of basketball players told me he was their favorite player,

things like that. But what he's done, that's like out of nowhere of Deeran Fox right now, just won two titles, two gold medals, right? You know what I mean? Like a good player, a good point card that just completely changed. his career right in the last like four years it all happened really quick he went from being

he made the all-star game with the sixers and was trying to score a lot to figuring out a niche where he could dumb down the scoring but still be a guy who has production on an offensive end he's down a guy's averaging four or five he's giving you like 1415 good production not crazy numbers but a guy that you got

respect to the offensive end and who's going to put most of his energy towards being an absolute defensive nightmare good spot up player low maintenance be in the right spot can play the dunker spot finish down low post game

although he's like really kind of shifted his game into a niche where there's like no one else in the league that does it we don't really have any that's why Drew Holiday

is on the Olympic team is Drew Holiday the top five point guard in the NBA? No Drew Holiday's on our Olympic team because he's found a niche that we can't

find another person that can do it and on a team full of super players already we don't need another super point guard we didn't need a Jalen Brunson

right. That's why Drew Holliday's on this team. He put it in his mind a niche. He's like, yo, no one else does this. I would be one of one. And that's what's made him indispensable. That's why it keeps getting max contracts. Everybody wants them on the team. I think about it, man.

When they announce these teams, we're getting Steph, we're getting LeBron, and we're getting Drew. But Drew was like, when the first names. People were like, Drew Holiday. And no one really argued it because everybody was like, that fuck are going to go out there and lock everybody up. And he's not going to be no issues. He's not going to take no bad shots.

He's going to hit an open three. He'll run the floor. space or on the dunger spot. Whoever he's guarding is night night. It's curtains. And that's exactly what he does. And his first year with the bucks, title.

First year with the Celtics, title. There's something there. And we have a mail-in question, actually, from our mutual friend, Brock, who said, better career,

Drew Holliday or Damian Lillard. And it's complicated because I know they played in the playoffs. I think it was 2017. Pelicans' Blazers where Pelicans swept him, and Drew was doing his thing. Remember that?

And then... Pelicans is swept. Yeah, they're doing his thing. And the Tokyo Olympics, Dame started, but Drew came in kind of late, and I think he was the more impactful player. Obviously, he won a title with the Bucks. They swapped him out for Dame. Then he goes to the Celtics, they won the title. It's a very complicated thing. I'm not trying to dumb down Daniel Luror's crew.

I've already been burned by talking any negativity towards Damien Luror. It's already came my way. So I'm not saying you're talking shit. I'm just saying there is a little complicated thing between them too. That's why our buddy asked, whose crew would you rather have. It's a great question. Okay, first off. Let's put respect in both of their names as you did, as you did.

as you did. And listen, we're asking this because both of them are Hall of Famers, first ballot, you name it, okay? Both have made a lot of money. Dames made more, but they both made... Drew Holiday's not exactly hurting either. No, no, I didn't say that. I mean,

Drew Holiday is probably going to be close to $300 million in early, earning something around that line. I'm saying this other brother is going to be close like $400,500. I don't know what that's going to like. He's going to be like half a billion in earning, so it's just a little different. But they both are past the money of gross money, right? The point of gross money.

Anyways, the bottom line is this is a question that just is supposed to warrant basketball talk. All right? Good barbershop talk. That's all this is. We're not trying to disrupt anybody. We're not trying to stir the pot. I'm not here to offend Damian Lillard. I'm not here to offend Drew Holiday.

Their first, first ballot NBA, all NBA players, all time. They're all time great to their positions. They're both different types of players. This is just good basketball talk. And it's a great question. You said barbershop talk? Barbershop talk. I was not going to a barbershop.

I feel you're getting the cuts at the house these days. Let's be honest. Every once in a while, you've got to get in the car and do your own stuff. You got to head to the shop and check in. So you got to go to the road game

and check in. Sometimes you got to go the road game and check in and do the dirty work. You know what I mean? Whose career would you rather have?

Would you rather have Damian Lillard's or Drew Holidays? Both are unbelievable players. Again, both for first ballot Hall famers, both have made a tremendous

amount of money. Damien's made more, but Drew's probably close to to $250, million in Erling, something like that, he probably will end up being. Damien's probably well beyond that, close to maybe half a billion when he gets done playing. Both have made All-Star games.

Damien's made way more. Damien is usually the best player on his teams, or he has been his entire career. Dame, you could say it's between him and Clyde Drexler, best player in Portland Trailbla's history. Where, like, Drew is not a part of any team where he could say he's the best player in any organization's history, right? That's the difference. Damian Lillard has been the best player in his team for most of his career. Drew maybe had one year with Philly where he was the best player in his team.

Other than that, and that team wasn't that good. But they were actually kind of good. I think they were to playoffs, actually. But Damien has the accolades. Drew has this winningness about him that is very intriguing to the point where Drew Holiday was on this Olympic team.

They didn't call Dame. You know what I mean? Drew Holiday goes to the bucks. They win. Drew Hollidays then kind of traded in a three-way trade for Damien Damian goes to Milwaukee. It's a weird year. They don't play that way.

I'm not saying it's Damien's fault. I'm just saying this is what happened. Drew goes to a Boston team that just couldn't keep getting over the edge. He couldn't get over the hump. He goes there and they pretty much looked unbeatable. And that's what happened. They smacked everyone.

They beat the piss out of everyone, including the playoffs. Then they got to the finals and it wasn't any, we saw it after the game two. We all looked at each other. They're saying it would be fun. They're just too good. and Drew is the guy that put them over the edge.

You know how bad the finals? I know how bad they were, is that they were talking about the upcoming schedule this year, and they were like, oh, the finals rematches, blah, blah, blah. And I was like, that map Celtics finals. I'm not like itching to watch the Mavs Celtics finals finals. Nobody wants that to happen again. Celtics heat gives it still gets me more going than the...

I would rather have Celtics Lakers, man. Celtics, Denver. Celtics anybody else. By the way, really quick, they announced the Christmas games and I was right about Spurs next. You were right about Spurs. They won Victor and... We want to see

when being the Alien in the garden, alien in the garden? It's a good question, man. Dame has the individual accolades. Drew has the winning and like kind of this thing with him. I don't know how people view him.

You know what I'm talking about. You just alluded to it. It's like wherever he goes, the team does better, they win. There's a reason why he was just on the Olympics team again. Any team in the league would take Drew Holiday right now

and start him. And he can play the point, the two. I'm convinced he could guard a center. I don't even know. You just throw him out there. So it's just weird. Yeah. I would say...

Picture all the dames' playoff, big playoff moments. The game winners. It's the Rockett. I guess Paul George. I would rather... I hate saying this because the winning stuff is so important to me, man. It really is. That's what makes this tough.

God, if Dave just had one ring, it wouldn't even be a question. It wouldn't even be a question for me. What a finals appearance? That would have. help. Individual-wise, I'd take Dame all day. I'd rather just be his play. The guy pulls from half, his jump-shot ability.

He's just so nutty. I'd just rather be, if I had to choose a career, like, Davians is nuts, man. Got a shoe, he's a rap album. He's doing his, across the board. He's got a lot going on. No, he's got his own little stuff going. They both do, but that's why this is a problem.

Because Drew, on the other hand, it's like, this guy constantly's getting $100 million-plus-dollar deals. He just winning rings and gold medals all the damn time. He's fucking, him and his wife for like a power couple and about to cure cancer somewhere and he's got everything going for him.

He's just like the nicest guy. He's won like community awards like seven times. I don't know a person who's met Drew and not liked him. And I can tell you from my own experience, I was his teammate for two and a half years. That guy is an unbelievable human being. I have to just say it because it's true. I worked with him.

Every day this dude came in. It was just like taking a lot of your minutes, but you can't say a bad thing about him. And I can't, that tells you. This guy came in and took my minutes as a top pick in the draft. and like I still can't sit here and hate on him. He was just like the nicest guy.

Right. Like I couldn't even root against him. He's a really good dude. Not to say that dame's not. Nicolaitis, our mutual friend had the pre-draft with him and Earl Clark. And he was like, Drew Holliday. It's like the nicest human. Yeah, just like he's such a good dude.

Yeah. He's like just end up knowing him. You're like, this is like who I want my daughter to marry. I'm not even kidding. Like that's who you want your daughter to marry. Maybe the answer is there is no answer. No, you got to pick one. That's the whole point of the game.

I'll just wrap this up. I'm going to go, damn, this is tough. I'm going to go Dame. It's close. It's so close, man. Dame won a gold medal, right? Dame's top 75 all time.

Yeah, I'm going Dame. I got the red coat in the house. I got in the locker. I got a gold medal. You got a rookie of the year. I got a rookie year. I got like 10 all-stars. All-Star MVP last year.

All-Star MVP, you know, he's going to be touched near 400 and a half a billion. at some point with the earnings. I think I go that route. The only thing missing is the rings, which is a big thing, but Damien's never been on it. Well,

you can argue the Bucks team is pretty much essentially the same team. It's, it's, I'm going Dame, but it is really close. It is really close. And I wouldn't be mad

as someone chose Drew because that's, that's a good answer too, but I would go, Dame. All right, we got to wrap it up. Anything you want to talk about

what's been on in your life? It's been a couple weeks since we last spoke, or since we last it upon? No, everything looks pretty good, man. I'm just, uh, we had so much to talk about. Obviously, it's been two weeks, so we have to try to, yeah, I feel like there's things we're not even bringing up. You know, what's going to happen is we're going to press the record button here and stop. And we're going to end record, post it, whatever. And then we're going to be like, we didn't talk about such and such. Yeah. Because we just, you know, it's been so much going on. But regardless of which, It was a good episode as always. We need everybody to like and subscribe.

Follow us on Instagram. Follow us on TikTok, the Offguard Podcasts. That will do it for this week's episode. We'll be back in a week and a half, two weeks. Not next week, but the following week as we're going every other week. It's the slow time of the year. We know that for people listening. There's not a lot going on, especially with the Olympics being over.

It is slow right now. There's nothing going on in the basketball world except Rico Heinz runs. So, you know, some pickup out in New York, some pickup out in L.A., that's pretty much what's going on. right now. Yeah. Um, so we're gonna tone it back until it starts to ramp up again as we know it right around the corner. Y'all have a safe time. Me, Pasha Gigi, we are out and we will see y'all soon. Be easy.