February 12, 2025 • 43 mins
Luka Doncic is officially a Laker, and Matt isn’t holding back on Mavericks’ new owner Patrick Dumont for his wild comments questioning Luka. Stak and special guest Keyon Dooling break it all down—what this means for LeBron’s championship window, how Dallas rebounds, and whether the Lakers just became instant title favorites. With football season in the books, it’s time to lock in on the NBA. The crew tackles Kevin Durant’s rumored frustration in Phoenix, the impact of young phenom Cooper Flagg on the league’s future, and what All The Smoke has planned for NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to Unplugged. On today's episode, will be joining
my brother Stack five and my brother Kean Dueling. But
before we get to them, I want to talk a
little bit about these new NBA owners. I'm gonna start
with Patrick DeMont, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, who
a couple of weeks ago made one of the biggest
trades in NBA history. You can agree or disagree whether
(00:23):
it's a good trade bad trade for any team, and
this by no means is demeaning any either player in
the situation. But what I had a hard time with
was him trying to kick Luca on the way out,
disrespecting him every step of the way. And this is
a guy, from everything we research, has no history in sports,
and particularly no history in basketball. This guy married into
(00:48):
money and was gifted this position. We've all known and
loved Dallas for a long time. Obviously, Mark Cuban's going
to go down as one of the greatest owners in history.
It's always been a destination and always been one of
the best ran organizations, not just in the NBA but
in professional sports history. But of late, it almost seems
(01:08):
like things have been crumbling. You know, over two thousand
Dallas Map subscribers have dropped their subscription. Uh, there's been
protests at the arena. They've bought graves to the arena,
you know, fans of you know said there there issues
with the trade. Jason Kidd didn't speak to the media
(01:29):
after the first game.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
With a d.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
It's just kind of been a mess. Fans were thrown
out of the games for bringing posters that were I
guess jeopardizing or disrespectful towards management. And it seems like
once an organization that was once highly touted and and
and looked at as one of the strongest and best
organizations is slowly crumbling in front of us. When Patrick
DeMont talked to the Dallas media, he said that Luca
(01:57):
just really doesn't fit the shape almost of the greats
before him, the Jordan's, the Birds, the Shacks, the Kobe's.
Spoke on his work ethic and him kind of being
a lazy player and all kinds of again, just disrespectful
things you normally don't hear from an owner. But does
this surprise you? This kind of reminds me of the
guy sitting in the Oval office right now, always disrespecting,
(02:21):
always kind of take low shots at people. But to
no surprise, this leadership of the Dallas Mavericks donated one
hundred million to Trump. So maybe they took a page
out of his book on the disrespectful tip. Now, I'm
not saying that Luca doesn't have a lot to work
on when it comes to the way he carries himself
towards the refs, his lack of effort, his complaining, and
(02:43):
just his energy overall. But let's not forget this guy
is twenty five years old. This guy is taking his
team to the NBA finals last year. Took him to
the Western Conference Finals two years ago and dropped seventy
three points, which is the fourth highest total in the
history of the league and second highest in this era,
(03:03):
right behind Kobe's eighty one. The owner has an issue with, again,
just the way Luca carries himself. I always thought this bit,
this situation was above Nico. I always thought this had
to be coming from the top. We all know this.
This new ownership tried to come in and do the
whole casino thing and it just didn't pan out. Then
(03:23):
they tried to make a jump to Vegas and that
didn't pan out. So when their pan was empty and
they made a bad trade. Now all they can do
is try to talk shit about Luca. But we've all
seen Luca and again he does is he has some flaws.
I think every player has some flaws. He has some
things he needs to work on, absolutely, But it tried
to demean and disrespect one of the greatest players in
(03:43):
the game and arguably someone who will go down as
one of the greatest players in history. I just think
it was very poor taste. Also, the Mark Cuban angle
is interesting because when he sold the team, we all
caught word that he'll still be in on basketball decisions.
Maybe that was a promise given by new ownership that
they didn't follow through with. But when Cuban heard about this,
he tried everything he could to stop it, but it
(04:05):
was too late. Luca is loved and be loved in
the city of Dallas, in a state that's known for
the Cowboys. The biggest star was a twenty five year
old Stlovenian kid that has come over here and taken
the league by storm so much that in Luca's debut
game Lakers versus the Jazz, guess who was sitting in
(04:28):
the crowd to show his support the one and only
legendary Dirk Nowitzki. Mister Deumont, take a step back, take
a seat. You know nothing about hard work or what
it takes to be great. You married into money. Sit
with this trade that you made. Hopefully Anthony Davis gets
healthy and I wish Dallas Mavericks the best moving forward.
(04:48):
But shut the fuck up, man. We all know how
good Luca is. We don't give a fuck what you
have to say. Just sit back and be an owner.
And now to dive a little bit deeper into this conversation,
I want to welcome my brother Stephen. You listen, s
Jesse Jackson and keon the beak doing.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
That's what we're doing today. That's what we are.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Obviously all three of us are are are very big
on respect. And Jack I'll start with you. What kind
of presidents does this start? You know, as a new
owner there doesn't really know shit about basketball, you know,
kicking Luca on the way out. What are your thoughts
when you hear that? Will that deter other stars to
wanting to actually go to Dallas?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Well?
Speaker 4 (05:27):
I mean yeah, and no, I mean it's it's kind
of similar, you know with how Pat Roley hand to
handle Jim in situation.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
You know what I mean, people don't want to.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
I might want to go deal with Miami because I
handle Jim, and that's kind of the same with Dallas.
But I look at it different. You know, we all
on the outside looking in at one. Let's get that understood.
We all on the outside looking in. But one thing
we one thing we can see we can't see as
players from the outside looking in, is that louis the
highest paid player on that team, but he doesn't give
the highest paid player effort every night.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
And that's no knock on him. That's just what we see,
you know, it's what we see.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
And I think these days, especially when you got a
coach like Jay Kidd who played a number of years
and played a one hundred ten percent every night un team,
he can't play no more, you know, I think you
know that, And with a guy like Nico that Nico,
Nico is cool with a lot of the dogs in the.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
NBA, he ain't cool, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Everybody that got Nico got his respect from real people
in basketball, from a lot of the top names and
a lot of the dogs. So you know, when you
got a guy like that, especially, times are changing. When
you got a guy like that, You know what I'm saying,
that that's possibly finish. Get three hundred and something million,
and we can't depend on you to be on the call,
We can't depend on you to work, We can't depend
on you to lead, not just on the court, but
in the weight room and practice and stuff like that. Yeah, man,
(06:42):
I mean, I mean that will bother some people. You
know what I'm saying, because it would bother me if
I if I owned the team and I got to
pay you three hundred million and you not leading the
way you should lead. As far as what I seen
from Tim Duncan, he's the first one in the weight room,
the last one to lead practice. He gonna lead by example.
He gonna make everybody better. That's what you spect from
a guy like that. And we all know Luca's not
that guy. Is he a great offensive player? He's probably
(07:04):
the best, one of the best offensive players we've ever
seen play this game, no question. But when you a
guy that you asked for three hundred million, it's more
as expected from you, too.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Too much is given, more as much as required.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
And if you're gonna if you're gonna ask for three
hundred men, you better go out there be the first
person in practice, the last one to leave. You better
be out there playing defense, dying for boss and being
that player they expect you to be. But we all
know Luca's not gonna be that guy. So if they're
gonna give three hundred men to somebody, they want to
give it to somebody like that. And then they got
a chance to move Luke and get Anthony David. Somebody's
gonna give way more effort. As you see, even though
(07:37):
he had his entry kicked back in the first game,
you've seen what he can do. Like, I would rather
a guy like that me personally than a guy like Lucas,
who's a who's a bigger worldwide star and a greater
great offensive player, but not giving me everything everything I
need as the star on my team.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
K Yeah, man, I mean I think this says precedents, right.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I think there's a part of it that you know
when you got new ownership, right, you know what I mean.
They don't know the lay of the land, they don't
know the customs, they don't know the value of guys, right,
They just you know, kind of see it like you know,
as a spectator somewhat, but when you're in it, you
know the value of the player.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
I think this is bad, you know what I mean
in a sense.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
Where max players have a driven revenue, driven ticket sales,
driven fan bases, and Luca has really connected with that
city in a way that had you hadn't really seen
since Dirk, you know, And so I think there's a
there's a part of that fan base it's hurting, right,
But also on the other side, I see that.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
It's a business.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
It is a business, and ultimately the NBA wins. It's
a win win for the NBA. Now Luca misses out
on that Supermax.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Right, you can't.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
He can't get that back, you know, through the CBA,
through the collective bargaining, but he'll probably you know, earn
it back with reputation, Jersey sales, you.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Know what I mean, and brand equity out in you know,
La La Land. Right.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
But yeah, man, this this sets a precedent, you know,
for players to be more in power, right, you know,
we can't. We got to have that same energy when
players make a decision to go to teams that customize
their situation, that fit their situation. You know, we got
to have a little bit more leniency for when players
make the decision, because teams are doing that now, right,
(09:33):
We've seen some of the biggest names in basketball come
up in trade rumors.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
This is a.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Trade, an epic trade. It's an epic trade. And ultimately,
I still think the game benefits, you know, having your
superstars and big markets, having global superstars and big markets,
having Luca and Lebron on the same team, and then
having a d still right, still good enough in his
prime to be an All NBA player, To have Kyrie,
(10:00):
who's a guy who is a bona fide superstar, to
have j Kidd and have that experience.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
They didn't throw the whole they didn't throw it all away.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
But it also empowers the players to be able to
go out and make those decisions when free agency comes,
when trade demands comes.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
You gotta respect it. It's got to be a two
way street.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
We can't just have it where you know, ownerships and
gms and presidents can make these decisions and then players
get thrown under the bus for making those same decisions.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I think I want to ask you a question after
you finished too, man.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
No, I just think at the end of the day,
the house always wins, you know, like the casino, the
house always wins. The NBA won one thousand percent with
Luca going to the Lakers and Jack, I don't disagree.
My only knock is because we've all played that. We
were all balls to the wall, you know what I mean.
We went out and gave everything. And I think that's
one thing that Luca, if there is a knock, that
(10:51):
is the because you've seen him be lazy and complain
and not hustle. But I think one thing that will
change about that as being in in La because the
magnifying glass is going to be on you every single day.
Every news outlet talks about the Lakers, so you can't hide.
And another thing, and this is not even to make
an excuse, I don't feel like Luca outside of Dirk,
(11:11):
and Dirk was there one year with Luca, he ain't
really had no vets to kind of be in his ear.
And I think him playing with Lebron, who is his
favorite player, and Lebron is someone who leads spokenly but
also most importantly by example, and I think that's what's
gonna wake Luke up. I mean, look, Dallas has always
been and we can all agree one of the best
organ organizations ran in the NBA, and it almost seems
(11:34):
like it's crumbling. I mean, viewership. What was the thing
with the viewership? Yeah, mav TVs over two thousand subscriptions.
They protested before a game, Jay kids not talking after
the game. I mean, I think, and again, I got
a lot of love for Nico. You know, I've known
Nico for a long time, but I think this decision
was bigger than him. I think this was ownership. Who
(11:56):
you know, Jack, You and I sat down with Mark
last year and had discussed kind of him transitioning on
and Dallas becoming, you know, somewhere where there's casino and
all this other stuff around the game, and it doesn't
seem like that's happening. And and Mark was hurt. You know,
Mark sat down and did an interview on Mark was
very surprised and hurt and tried to stop the trade,
(12:16):
but it was too late. So I just kind of
look at this new ownership coming in and to your point, Katie,
not knowing the lay of the land, and Jack for
every reason why you said it's okay, I don't disagree
with that, but at the same time, I still think
he's twenty five and there's a chance to learn. If
you think about this kid, had his team in the
finals last year, Western Conference Finals two years ago, has
the fourth highest scoring game in NBA history. You know
(12:39):
what I mean? That says a lot. And he's only
twenty five years old, so you know he's going to
get better. So I just think it's going to be
a very interesting time. Only time will tell, you know.
I think we all agree hopefully Ad can get healthy
as these teams are built with this particular trade. To me,
Dallas is a better off team as long as AD
can get back healthy because right now they're built to win.
(13:00):
I think we all agree that the long run, the
long term play with the Lakers was you know, Luca
being able to step in those shoes of Lebron and
carry the torch for another uh ten years. Jack, you
said you were gonna ask me something.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Yeah, with with all this noise now, with KD being
upset that that his name was in trade rumors, he
can ask for a trade this summer.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
How would you like seeing him in Dallas? Him?
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And that's that's another interesting thing. And Jack, that's to
my they got But what who that's another young owner,
you know what I mean. That's kind of coming in
and obviously we're gonna discuss this later in the show.
But you know, you're dangling your best player without even
asking them, you know what I mean. And I think
Kevin Durant uh deserves a little bit more respect thing that.
(13:48):
But that's suddenly definitely we're going to get to Let's say,
you know, last night, Luca made his debut against one
of the bottom dwellers, unfortunately, the Utah Jazz, one of
the worst teams in the league, UH, and just came
out and got his feet wet. Twenty four minutes, fourteen points,
five rebounds, four assists. The one thing I saw, and
I only saw the first half because I had to
go somewhere, was just you know, it's it's it's a
(14:09):
feeling out process, you know. I think Luca doesn't want
to do too much. Guys want to make sure he
gets off. Guys don't want to do too much. So
I just think, you know, obviously, this was a it's
the first game. I know, it's it's going to get
better from here. But what did you guys think of,
you know, seeing that number seventy seven? And that shit
was all over Stable Center too.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Yeah, I mean you should have known that Jersey sales
gonna go crazy. Every shit I want one, you know
what I mean. That ain't no surprise. I think, like
you said, Matty tried to fit in. But it's good
what Bron said. Bron said, told him, don't fit in,
fit the fuck out.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
And I think I think he's gonna get to that.
We know what Luca can do. Man.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
You know, he coming back from an injury. So, like
you said, he's trying to get his feet wet. But
we know what to expect. We know what we're gonna see.
We're just anxious to see that get that dose big,
that big game he has and him and Lebron have
a big game together.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
See how that's gonna work.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Yeah, real quick before you go, KDI. I love the
fact and I think we're all agreeing. So that Lebron
has been trying to hand the keys off to someone.
I think he has someone to hand the keys off.
But Bron last night showed you don't motherfucker, don't forget
about you know, I'm still him, It's.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Gonna be ye, I'm still here.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
But I like again and this is not a knock
on a d because I think over the past two
or three years we've been saying Bron's been trying to
hand the keys off. So I think Bron is gonna
happily hand the keys off and allow Luca once he's
one hundred percent healthy or is close to one hundred percent,
to carry a majority of the low. But like you said, Jack,
it doesn't have to be a consistent all the time Lebron.
Lebron can kind of you know, kind of know it's
(15:41):
a marathon, not a sprint. Katie, what were you saying.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
Yeah, No, man, I mean I think Luca's gonna be
great in LA. I think they gotta get they got
to surround him with the right pieces. I think, you know,
believe it or not, man, I think Lebron is humble
enough at this point in his life where he wants
to have somebody in the drive receipt right, and he
can play a different kind of way.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
It's hard playing when everybody's loading up on you.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
When you have to create, when you have to score,
when you have to motivate, when you have to inspire,
when you have to rebound, when you have to defend,
when you have to do all these things, so Luca's
gonna take the pressure off of him with that. I
can't wait to see them getting to those two man games,
right those picking rolls up high or those side picking
rolls where they force double teams, and I think what
we'll see is we'll see the game being played a
different way because when you can kind of put those
(16:26):
two in pick and rolls and create that mismatch, you'll
see some more logo post ups. You'll see some more
double teams in the logo post up area, and so
having the right pieces around them is gonna be really important.
I still think they need a lot threat. They gotta,
you know.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
They gotta go in that bag and find, you know,
a lob thread, a big body.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
And there's some older guys out there who are serviceable,
who've actually had success with the Lakers that I think
could be a good fit right now. But more so
than anything, man like, I think Lebron is gonna get
the potty train Luca on routine on regiment on like
how big and how much this game, how much you
owe to the game when you're in that spot, when
(17:08):
you're in k.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Not to interrupt, not to interrupt, but we all know,
because kat you played here on the down the hallway.
Playing in La is a lot different, man. So I
like what you're saying about the potty training and routine
and regimen. But also these Laker lights are brighter than
any other motherfucking lights you'll ever get on.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
Yeah, and the spotlight can make some nervous. But I
think Lucas built for this shit.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
He built that.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
He's been doing it since he was fourteen years old.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
He's done it on a high level in a lot
of different scenarios and situations.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
But there's still room for improvement with him.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
He's gotta give more to the game holistically, especially on
the defensive side, especially with the complaining and the and
the and the pandering to the refs. He's got to
get locked in more. He's gonna have to drink some
hot sauce. He's gonna have to go get you know,
we're gonna give ross out there, you know what I mean,
You'll have to like kind.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Of maybe not maybe not roscos. Let's get him some
vegan shit.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
We got to take him to the east side, let
him hang with turn by the week Ship.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
You know, Katie, I like the point you made about
the x'es and o's, and we all know that's one
of JJ's strengths. I mean, and when you think the
pick and roll game, obviously Katie, you sat in the
coaching chair in the NBA, you think about the pick
and roll game that goes two ways. I mean that
has Bronze said and picks and Lucas said and picks yea,
and they're both going to be double So what's that
(18:28):
throwback look like? And then that that's to your point,
it's important building this roster around with guys that can
handle those type of situations, someone that could put a
raw threat on the rim off of space for shooting,
and then you know slashers. But kd as you guys
think if you're on this Laker staff with JJ and
as things start flowing, I mean, I think it's a
great problem to have. I don't even call it a problem.
(18:50):
But you got Lebron, James, Luca, and let's not sleep
on Austin Reeves, who's playing the best basketball of his career,
you know what I mean. That's a great third option.
And before Lucas, someone who was running the running the
team in crunch time, when when Lebron didn't have the ball.
So as a coach, what are you trying to communicate
to your team and get across to your team to
have those three particularly jail habits.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
You got to create the habits right, Like, you know,
you gotta be serviceable in the defensive schemes, you know
what I mean, Like, you really gotta get the buy
in from the superstar players if it's gonna trickle down
to the whole roster. And a lot of times, you know,
JJ's been a part of a lot of great coaching.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Uh uh, He's had a lot of great coaches.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Doc Rivers saying Van Gundy coach k a lot of
those guys.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
So you gotta get buy in.
Speaker 5 (19:36):
You have to get those guys to buy in and except,
you know what I mean, their role and their responsibility
to the team, especially on the defensive level, on the
defensive end, because offensively, Luca and Lebron they're talented enough
to figure things out. They're smart enough. They can pass,
they can dribble, they can shoot, they can post up,
they can they can do everything. And so it's the
(19:57):
buy in really that that that's that's gonna have to happen,
and that's that's what He's gonna have to look in
the mirror and tell himself, Luca has got to get
better on the defensive end.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
He's got to give himself to the game holistically.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
Even if you don't have your legs on the offensive end,
being out there sometimes you know you can you can
be that facilitator, you know what I mean, you can
just being out there, can you know, call spacing issues.
So Luca's really just gonna have to buy in on
the defensive level. I know JJ's, you know, losing a
lot of sleep. I could see he's aging already. That's
my young boy too, And you know, I think he'll
(20:31):
put them in a position to be successful. But like
like I said, man, it's a cheat code. Up up, down, down, left, right, left, right,
VA select star. It's a contra cheat code.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
When you have that's thirty lives. That's thirty lives. This
team is sitting at fourth in the West. They won
sixth straight. Obviously, the Mark Williams trade fell through, and
I just think, and I already and I don't even
want to be up here talking bad, but just what
a what a piece of shit move by the Hornets.
You mean, you knew what the deal was you try
(21:01):
to pull a fast one. And this is not a
knock on the players at all, but I just I
was already thinking that the Hornets are just such a
bad organization, and you know, this kind of just shines
a spotlight, you know, on that. I thought adding a
Mark Williams, who is a lob threat, who is a
you know, nearly a double double guy, a young kid too,
(21:21):
could have really set them up, you know, for him
to play his role in this team to achieve what
they need to achieve. That trade is rescinded. You know,
all jokes aside Jackson Hayes is are only big guy
right now. They don't have money to really go out
and get people in the buy out market. Keon, you mentioned,
you know, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard is sitting at home,
and there's some other people sitting at home right now,
(21:43):
jack Where does this team go to try to find
some frontline depth? Again, Jackson Hayes there, but he's still
young and I'm not sure if he's someone you can
count on yet in the playoffs. Where do you think
they go to sure up that front line, or at
least sure up that front line for the remainder of
this season them.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I mean Javel again, Dwight, how Dwight, Howse on people
I can think of. But regardless of what they do,
they ain't gonna win it this year. In my opinion,
they need to. They got to make a whole bunch
of moves. You know what I'm saying. They can make
it entertaining. Yeah, they can see you know, get Dwhite
or Javel mcgeeze. I think those two guys give them
the presence they need right now to make a run
and to look and to make it look good.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Because those guys are experienced.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
They know they know the role they need to play
to come in which with Lebron and Luca protect the room,
catch libs, all that type of stuff, sat screens role,
they know all that type of stuff. But at the
end of the day, man, whatever they're doing is just
spinning their reels. Right now, I think this summer they
really can open open up what they got, you know
what I'm saying, see how they can make moves. I
think this summer is really when you I mean next season,
(22:42):
it's really we're gonna see this Lakers team be the
team it could be.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
But right now, everything's just for nothing.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
To be honest with you, I think they have a
lot of really good pieces. I mean I like Finny Smith,
I like Hachie Mora, obviously, I love Reeves. I think
it's the front line that needs to shure up. And
again to your point, Stack, I mean, there's there's guys
that have been contemplated retirement are the only guys that
can really go after So those are just to be
the plug hole this year. But again, you know, to
(23:09):
take a look under the hood, I don't think they
need a ton I think going into this summer they're
gonna need frontline help and depth. And I think outside
of that, they got a lot of other good pieces.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Jack.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
You mentioned earlier this Kevin Durant situation with matt Ishbia
and and and the new ownership. And you know, Bob
Myers came out and talked on NBA today or was
it NBA or with it today NBA today.
Speaker 6 (23:32):
So I saw Kevin at a football game a few
weeks ago and I asked him before all this, and
I said, hey, are you good?
Speaker 2 (23:39):
You happy?
Speaker 6 (23:40):
And he said to my face, I don't want to
go anywhere else. I don't want to be traded. He
I'm and I believe it, and I believe he has
felt that way all along. But then when you hear
your name being mentioned out of for him, at least,
I think it was a shock.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
He was kind of like, I didn't.
Speaker 6 (23:55):
I didn't push for this, I didn't ask for this,
And then to hear all the people spec your on
the Warriors. I actually think the Warriors did the right
thing by honoring Kevin's request. Kevin could have gone anywhere
in twenty sixteen, any team he wanted to go to,
he could have went to.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
He went to the Warriors.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
And he's the only person in that whole equation that
took criticism for it. I didn't, Joelacob didn't, Steve Kurr didn't,
Steph Curry didn't, Draymond Grad didn't. Only Kevin was the
one that faced scrutiny. So whatever Kevin would want, had
I still been with the Warriors, Kevin would get. He
brought two championships, tried for a third, ended up getting
hurt in that pursuit two finals MVPs. So I liked
(24:33):
that the Warriors said we hear you, we wanted you,
We respect that you don't want to be here, that's fine.
But now if you're Kevin right to your question, yeah,
you're sitting there going, hang on a second, here, I
am doing what you pay me to do. I'm playing basketball.
I'm playing at a very good high rate. And now
I hear my name being mentioned. So he's a human being.
(24:55):
You know, we try to mytholog mythologize.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
He's got he's a guy, So kurk.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
You know him when you played. I'm not a player,
I don't know, but I imagine as a human being.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
You're kind of shaking up talking about how Kevin was
completely blindsided that he was being fished around or shopped
around to anybody because he had, you know, hadn't made
a you know, inquiry about wanting to be traded or
needed to be traded. He was very content and happy
where he was. And actually our boy Rich Climban retweeted
that and then deleted it because it just made it
(25:23):
seem like KAD was happy to be out in Phoenix.
But again my point about these newer owners not understanding
the lay of the land. Would you we all agree
that KD has done enough in this league too. If
this is going to be what you want to do
when I respect it because of that, As you said, KD,
it is a business. Could you at least give me
a heads up?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, I agree, they damn social it gave him a
heads up.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
I mean, god damn. He didn't have to come there.
He had options before he signed with Phoenix. You know
what I'm saying, Like he can't. He did, y'all solid,
and with everything that's going on with Bradley Beal, with
everything that's going on with that team, he's the only
thing solid him book or the only thing you got
siled and two guys that you are lucky to have
at the same time, two of the best shooters ever
(26:05):
played the game. So I don't like how they handled it.
But I know how KD is. Kd's a real one,
and he don't.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
He don't like disrespected shit and shady shit like that.
You know what I'm saying, he don't like it. So
I know in the back of his mind. I hope
in the back of his mind.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
I'm not gonna say, I know, I hope in the
back of his mind this summer that he get the
fuck on and go somewhere else and get him a
couple more championships.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
When we get out of here.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
KD thoughts, Yeah, I look, I think there's a certain
level of respect and communication and responsibility that the superstars have.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Attributed to the game.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Right.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
The game got bigger on their watch, The money pole
got bigger, the pot got bigger, our fan base group
on their watch.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And so it's like, these guys.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Are legendary players, and when you have an opportunity, uh,
you know, to make a move or make a trade
or have a conversation, I think those things need to
be had along the way.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Some guys earn that, right.
Speaker 5 (27:01):
We also understand that it's a business, but some guys
supersede the business.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Some guys are bigger. It's bigger than Nino Brown.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
It's bigger, you know what I mean in basketball in
a certain sense. Man with Kevin Garnett, I mean, excuse me,
but Kevin Durant, he's one of those transformational, you know,
players for the last ten years.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
And so yeah, you do want to have those conversations.
Speaker 5 (27:21):
And I think they had those conversations, but retroactively after
already kind of doing some shot act, you know, And
it hasn't worked in Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
It has not worked. It just hasn't worked out.
Speaker 5 (27:32):
You know, they had some they got a big three,
they got some pieces to the puzzle, but it just
hadn't all come together. And I don't believe the basketball
God's reward. You know, fractures in organizations. It's the ones
who are willing to have the hard conversations, lay it
all on the line, have.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Some disagreements, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
Sometimes you know, you you know, whatever it come, whatever
comes with that, those are the ones who get over
that hump. And I just don't think they have the
capacity in Phoenix right now. Are the infrastructure in place
to be able to have those kind of conversations and
to have and build and respect Kevin Durant as he
should be respected.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I think it starts at the top. You know, winning
starts at the top, and that's with ownership. And we
all know that Kevin will never let this shit that
happened affect his on the court play. But we also
know Kevin is someone who holds grudges. Oh yeah, And
we don't know why he didn't want to go to
go back to Golden State, but we understand that there
was some shit that went on at Golden State. So
(28:30):
that's something in the back of his mind. So this is,
you know, to Matt Ishpia and Phoenix management, you guys
need to fix this during the season because what you
did is obviously more than enough for him to want
to bounce. So to that organization, if you appreciate Kevin
Durant and what he's done and what he can still do,
you guys need to fix that shit. And then I
(28:52):
think the other point is to Bradley bial I think
that was just a and I like Bradley bial I
just think it was a horrible move. And I said
it when he came over. I thought it was a
horrible move to send him to Phoenix because all those
guys do the same thing, and he has this big
old crazy Washington contract that gives him power of attorney.
You always want the power, I mean, so I'm definitely
not mad at him just taking any goddamn deal. But
I think it started back when they signed Bradley Beal
(29:14):
to bring him to Phoenix, because they could have got
a lot of other pieces that would have complimented your
two superstars that were already there. With football over the
NCAA basketball is heating up, some would say, and there's
some young prospects, young prospects that'll be you know, top
of the board in this upcoming draft. Kdie breakdown who
(29:37):
you think the top five men's college prospects are in
this year's draft.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Yeah, man, I think it's a young boy draft, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
Like all the guys who I feel like are the
top five prospects are freshman's you know, and not to
you know, throw dirt on any of the seniors and
guys who've been putting in working college ball for a while.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
But man, these young boys.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
They got it.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
They got the holistic package. I think you have to
start that off with.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
Cooper flag right, you know, reclassifying coming in at seventeen
years old, putting in work, getting his body in condition.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
He was, he was cramping early in the in the season.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
He got an opportunity in the summertime to play against
the USA basketball team, showed up and showed out. And
I just think from from a time and standpoint and
from a fan based standpoint, Cooper's timing is impeccable, you.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
We need that demographic, you know, to be engaged and
be able to see a piece of themselves.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Katie, Katie, what what what demographic is that we need.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
We need to we need we need our we need
our fan base.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
We need we need you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Like you know, like when Larry Bird and Magic was there,
you know what I'm saying, the.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Game grew, you know, like we need you know, the.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Fan base, Melanie.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
We we need some white from the United States, of
the of America, of the America, you know what I mean,
because like this is our game, right, it's our game.
It's it's you know, a lot of the of the
white players come from international, so there's not that feel
that you can feel if you're up in the Northeast,
or if you're from the Midwest, or if you're from
(31:16):
you know what I mean, certain regions of our country.
And so Cooper will allow a fan base to see
a piece of himself the same way King McCarg as,
you know what I mean. And I think that'll and
and he's got it, He's got all the two. So
I think he's the biggest draft prospect we've seen in
quite some time, not only from a playing standpoint, but
also just from a growth of the game, you know
(31:38):
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Here domestically, like Cooper will be very very good for
our game.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
And he's got a motor, he's got a skill set,
he's got swagger, he's got confidence, he got dog and
I'm loving everything and I'm loving his growth and his
evolution as he progresses.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Who else you got in that mix?
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Well, you know what, man, it's uh, it's so funny
because there's so many of our.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Guys who played in the league who got sons coming
up crazy.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
But like Dylan Harper, you know, I know he's been heard,
but man, he's a combination of like Jalen Brunson and
like Ramone Sessions as far as in pick and roll right,
because he's got a big body, he's a lefty, he's
got an incredible pace. I think he's somebody who has
a lot of upside. His game will translate very very
easily to the next level. And he plays on both
(32:27):
ends of the four. And he's got he's cut from
that pedigree, right, you know what I mean? O g
Ron Harper was a beast back in the days. He's
got a teammate over there who's extremely talented in Ace Bailey.
Ace has got it, man. He doesn't need a lot
of dribbles to get a shot off. He can make
tough shots. He's got to become more efficient right in
(32:47):
his game and play more with the motor. But man,
he's got a skill set at six nine to sixteen,
can shoot, can dribble, can pass. I think he's an
extremely talented player. There's this kid out of Baylor. He's
freaking nature VJ. Edgecombe. He's a freaking nature athletically kind
of like Scoop Henderson, Dwayne Wade, like cut from that
(33:09):
athletic cough had a really really good summer with the
Bahamian team internationally and has really emerged man in the
last two three weeks at Baylor, and so he's one
of those guys man that is super athletic, super quick,
got a good feel for the game. I think his
game will be better suited for the NBA, especially with
(33:31):
not being able to touch, with being able to get
out in transition, and not necessarily, you know, having to
play against all those four arms in college. I think
edgecomb Is will also be somebody you'll probably see in
the top five, top seven picks in the draft.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
I man, at that.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Jack Cooper Flag is the coldest white boy since what m.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
He's the coldest white boys since until we see Larry
bird Son.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
He ain't got a son. I don't think that kid's
his son. But yeah, when they say he plays like him.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Yeah, that motherfucker there. I've been watching them a three
months now. Man.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
He's nice.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
Yeah, he's nice. There's a white boy that they said,
they say it's Larry sub but I don't think it is.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Yeah, I don't think it is either. But this motherfucker
is the truth.
Speaker 3 (34:14):
Okay, I gotta check him out.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
He's still this since LB. Huh. Hey, before we get
you guys out of here. Super Bowl just happened this
past weekend. Eagles beat the dog ship out of Kansas City. Man,
so it happens when Trump roots for your team, you
get cursed. But outside of the actual game the performance,
Kendrick's performance has been met with love, hate, uh, frustration,
(34:39):
admiration uh. And I feel like, personally, I feel like
this was one of those performances that we're going to
be dissecting for the next two to three weeks to
find out all the different meanings and and and and
reasoning behind. But what I will say is he came
out here and he made a statement for hip hop,
for the black culture during Black History Month, and really
(35:02):
kind of. I think Jermaine Dupriez said it best and
and I think a lot of people took what he
said the wrong way. He said he was glad that
people had an issue with it because we've all thrown
music like it was gumbo and it's supposed to be
Rap ain't supposed to be for everyone. That performance wasn't
for you, Jason Whitlocke. You're a white man stuck in
a black man's body. That's why I don't expect you
to be fucking with that, and that's why I expected
you the next day to coon like you cooned. But
(35:24):
outside of that, what did you guys think about Kendrick's performance?
Speaker 4 (35:29):
Well, I mean, for me, it was the dope shone
some of the dober shit I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Matt, I ain't we even lie. I enjoyed every bit
of it. Man.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
You know what I mean to to some to have
somebody one of us, you know what I mean that
come from the backgrounds and the culture we come from,
to get on that and to and to not go
up there and just to make it about uh, cars,
clothes and money, but to have the biggest moment, uh
that he's ever had, and to make a statement and
speak for all of us. You know that that means
(35:58):
something to me, bro, because I've that you know what
I'm saying, I put myself in a position for for
all our people. So for him to take his moment,
his biggest moment and to the choice of songs everything
the way he did it with Samuel Jackson with the
flag I had, I had to break it down, mat
to see a lot of stuff, even with the kid
man on the like, you know.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
There's a lot of stuff.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
It's lot of stuff people saying that, you know, but
I think I think it was super dope, man. And
like like like a lot of people say, you don't
have to not like Drake or or to do mean
Drake to like this performance. This performance was dope. So
just just just learn how to appreciate Kendrick being the
boss right now hip hop. It's his time. He's doing
it the right way. He's doing it like nobody else
(36:37):
has ever done. And you gotta just you got to
just take your hat off of somebody's being great, bro,
because we don't see shit like this often, especially in
the rap game.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
Yeah, I mean, Doc Man is He's amazing. He's an
artistic performer. And you know what I mean, Like his
show is just not him on the mic. It's constant movement.
It's constant symbolism that you have to dissect and dco.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
It's total energy, it's voice command, you know what I mean.
It's it's the right fits. Sinsy came out there wearing
that thing owner. You know what I'm saying. You know,
all that's done, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Like it to me?
Speaker 5 (37:15):
You know, it was entertaining, but it wasn't divisive in
my opinion, it's inclusive. Like a part of our American
history is the black experience, and you know when we
have voices and people who share that through symbolism, through song.
We've always used song and music to express what we
(37:36):
endure and what we feel and our experience in this culture. Right,
and to have the super Bowl, have him on that platform,
and for him to take it, you know, to so
many levels, right and bring so many different local cultures
from California because he was riding in his gn.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
X, you know what I mean, to bring you know,
the red, White and Brew, to bring Uncle.
Speaker 5 (38:00):
Him in there, right, you know, and you those parallels,
but then also to bring a part of hip hop
culture like I'm still gonna I'm gonna look at this
camera and I'm gonna still do this disc on shit, right,
you know what I mean? Because a part of hip
hop is competition. It's not always beef. It's competition. The
same way we grew up in competition, the same way
(38:20):
we competed against each other. Y'all had to match up
against each other. And y'all love each other, y'all give
money together, y'all go on vacation together. But guess what
in between those lines, y'all was gonna knuckle up by
his competition, right, And hip hop is about that. And
so I think he embodies that. It was impressive performance.
Me and my family we watched it. We showed out,
we did all the dances. And then he patty too,
(38:42):
like he got.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
To he is Petty Serena coming out doing her thing.
Speaker 5 (38:48):
I just thought it was a It was a very
cool concept, and I think he delivered, you know what
I mean. And for all those naysayers when the music
went down and you heard everybody say a like get involved.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
With the whole world set that the people in the
building were feeling.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
Fucking with it absolutely. I mean from the PlayStation control
to the game over old crowd. I don't think we
talk enough about what Samuel L. Jackson meant to that performance,
because he was the He was the He was the
quote unquote white opinion. Oh you you brought your homies
for the culture. That's one less life, you know what
(39:27):
I mean? He you know, you guys are too ghetto.
He was all the bullshit that is talked towards our culture,
not just Kendrick, but towards our culture as a whole.
He was the one and it every time he says something,
Kendrick had of answer for us. I just thought, very well,
put together, very creative. If I'm not mistaken. One hundred
and thirty three and a half million people view that,
which would put it at the top, Which would put
it at the top. Man, So man, shout out to
(39:48):
the whole TDD family, Shout out to Kendrick, and again
and again to love what to love what Kendrick did.
Doesn't mean you hate Drake.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
Exactly a Matt, But no, I want to say one
thing too. You know, it was the thing about this
whole thing to me, like it's a video. It's it's
a rapper name a Z A Z Cheek. I think
something like that. He on a song called Peekaboo. He
didn't make the super Bowl, but it's a video on
him and his family watching Kendrick sing part of his verse.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Bro And if you've seen the joy and him and
his family watching Kendricks.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
But that that that made me feel good because that's
that's how your patn is supposed to put you on.
You know what I'm saying. We all know it was
a limited amount of people that Kidrick can have. But
if I can't get my pot, let me wrap his
verse while.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
You know what I'm saying. I think that was the
dope shit about the whole thing to me, But he.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
Gave he showed respect to a lot of different things,
whether it be cities, people, culture. It was dope O KD.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Man.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
We appreciate your time, definitely looking.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Man, appreciating your week. Let's keep it up.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Yes, sir, you know what Jack NBA All Star twenty
twenty five, San Francisco, California. We'll be heading out there
in two days.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Man.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
I'm excited. You know this is a place where you
know you and I really started our brotherhood and our
friendship back in the day. We have a great run.
And then in the mid two thousands, and you know,
now it's back out here in our company. That that's
that sounds good to say. Our company is going out
there to set up a flag.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
Man.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
So what are your thoughts about All Star coming up
this week?
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Always gonna be good to be back in the Bay Man.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
So many memories, I think some uh, definitely some of
my best years playing basketball. Uh, some of the best
fans I got, some of I think the relationships that
I built while I was playing.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
I think a lot of those relationships I built out
there I still have today.
Speaker 4 (41:27):
So I think Oakland, Oakland, San Francisco is a is
a special place in my heart. Is gonna be It's
gonna be good to bring our show back. I think
not only for us, but the city, the whole Bay
Area been asking us to come for so long. I'm
getting so many cars and texts, texts trying to get
to the show. How can I get tickets and all
this type of stuff.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
Bruh. So it's gonna it's gonna good to be back
with family. Man. I think I think it's only right there.
Speaker 4 (41:49):
We bring all the smoke back and playing our flag
there because that is one of our homes.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
Mm.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
Absolutely, man, We're blessed to have the run TMC. So
we're gonna talk to Tim Men and Chris with the
run TMC team and then also man a Rebelieve reunion
with some of our brothers. Man, I'm really looking forward
to that. So those are gonna be two live shows
we're doing. We're doing a brunch on Sunday honoring Too
(42:15):
Short and He forty with Larussell Cure rating. Are welcome
to All Star Live Show with Kevin Garnett. You know,
Kevin Garnett was our first live show at All Star.
Was that All Star sixteen twenty twenty, twenty twenty, the
Pandemic All Star. So we're gonna catch up with him
with some special guests dropping through that show our welcome dinner. Man,
(42:37):
it's it to me again. And I think I've said this.
I mean for us to be able to play out
there and me be from you know, our way from there,
but for us to go back there, man, damn here
twenty years later, almost twenty years later as a business
as a company. Man, I'm really proud of that and
obviously couldn't have done that without you, bro. So I
appreciate you and I love you. I'm definitely looking forward
to having some fun out there.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
Yes, sir, me too.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Well that's a wrap for this week unplugged. We appreciate
you guys tuning in.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
Have a good week.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
Shout out to Kendrick Man, even shout out Drake. He's
out there doing this thing right now in Australia doing
his thing, and memory to love one, you don't have
to hate the other. Make sure you guys catch us
on all the Smoke Productions YouTube and the DraftKings Network.
We'll see y'all next week.
Welcome back to Unplugged. On today's episode, will be joining
my brother Stack five and my brother Kean Dueling. But
before we get to them, I want to talk a
little bit about these new NBA owners. I'm gonna start
with Patrick DeMont, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, who
a couple of weeks ago made one of the biggest
trades in NBA history. You can agree or disagree whether
(00:23):
it's a good trade bad trade for any team, and
this by no means is demeaning any either player in
the situation. But what I had a hard time with
was him trying to kick Luca on the way out,
disrespecting him every step of the way. And this is
a guy, from everything we research, has no history in sports,
and particularly no history in basketball. This guy married into
(00:48):
money and was gifted this position. We've all known and
loved Dallas for a long time. Obviously, Mark Cuban's going
to go down as one of the greatest owners in history.
It's always been a destination and always been one of
the best ran organizations, not just in the NBA but
in professional sports history. But of late, it almost seems
(01:08):
like things have been crumbling. You know, over two thousand
Dallas Map subscribers have dropped their subscription. Uh, there's been
protests at the arena. They've bought graves to the arena,
you know, fans of you know said there there issues
with the trade. Jason Kidd didn't speak to the media
(01:29):
after the first game.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
With a d.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
It's just kind of been a mess. Fans were thrown
out of the games for bringing posters that were I
guess jeopardizing or disrespectful towards management. And it seems like
once an organization that was once highly touted and and
and looked at as one of the strongest and best
organizations is slowly crumbling in front of us. When Patrick
DeMont talked to the Dallas media, he said that Luca
(01:57):
just really doesn't fit the shape almost of the greats
before him, the Jordan's, the Birds, the Shacks, the Kobe's.
Spoke on his work ethic and him kind of being
a lazy player and all kinds of again, just disrespectful
things you normally don't hear from an owner. But does
this surprise you? This kind of reminds me of the
guy sitting in the Oval office right now, always disrespecting,
(02:21):
always kind of take low shots at people. But to
no surprise, this leadership of the Dallas Mavericks donated one
hundred million to Trump. So maybe they took a page
out of his book on the disrespectful tip. Now, I'm
not saying that Luca doesn't have a lot to work
on when it comes to the way he carries himself
towards the refs, his lack of effort, his complaining, and
(02:43):
just his energy overall. But let's not forget this guy
is twenty five years old. This guy is taking his
team to the NBA finals last year. Took him to
the Western Conference Finals two years ago and dropped seventy
three points, which is the fourth highest total in the
history of the league and second highest in this era,
(03:03):
right behind Kobe's eighty one. The owner has an issue with, again,
just the way Luca carries himself. I always thought this bit,
this situation was above Nico. I always thought this had
to be coming from the top. We all know this.
This new ownership tried to come in and do the
whole casino thing and it just didn't pan out. Then
(03:23):
they tried to make a jump to Vegas and that
didn't pan out. So when their pan was empty and
they made a bad trade. Now all they can do
is try to talk shit about Luca. But we've all
seen Luca and again he does is he has some flaws.
I think every player has some flaws. He has some
things he needs to work on, absolutely, But it tried
to demean and disrespect one of the greatest players in
(03:43):
the game and arguably someone who will go down as
one of the greatest players in history. I just think
it was very poor taste. Also, the Mark Cuban angle
is interesting because when he sold the team, we all
caught word that he'll still be in on basketball decisions.
Maybe that was a promise given by new ownership that
they didn't follow through with. But when Cuban heard about this,
he tried everything he could to stop it, but it
(04:05):
was too late. Luca is loved and be loved in
the city of Dallas, in a state that's known for
the Cowboys. The biggest star was a twenty five year
old Stlovenian kid that has come over here and taken
the league by storm so much that in Luca's debut
game Lakers versus the Jazz, guess who was sitting in
(04:28):
the crowd to show his support the one and only
legendary Dirk Nowitzki. Mister Deumont, take a step back, take
a seat. You know nothing about hard work or what
it takes to be great. You married into money. Sit
with this trade that you made. Hopefully Anthony Davis gets
healthy and I wish Dallas Mavericks the best moving forward.
(04:48):
But shut the fuck up, man. We all know how
good Luca is. We don't give a fuck what you
have to say. Just sit back and be an owner.
And now to dive a little bit deeper into this conversation,
I want to welcome my brother Stephen. You listen, s
Jesse Jackson and keon the beak doing.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
That's what we're doing today. That's what we are.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Obviously all three of us are are are very big
on respect. And Jack I'll start with you. What kind
of presidents does this start? You know, as a new
owner there doesn't really know shit about basketball, you know,
kicking Luca on the way out. What are your thoughts
when you hear that? Will that deter other stars to
wanting to actually go to Dallas?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Well?
Speaker 4 (05:27):
I mean yeah, and no, I mean it's it's kind
of similar, you know with how Pat Roley hand to
handle Jim in situation.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
You know what I mean, people don't want to.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
I might want to go deal with Miami because I
handle Jim, and that's kind of the same with Dallas.
But I look at it different. You know, we all
on the outside looking in at one. Let's get that understood.
We all on the outside looking in. But one thing
we one thing we can see we can't see as
players from the outside looking in, is that louis the
highest paid player on that team, but he doesn't give
the highest paid player effort every night.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
And that's no knock on him. That's just what we see,
you know, it's what we see.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
And I think these days, especially when you got a
coach like Jay Kidd who played a number of years
and played a one hundred ten percent every night un team,
he can't play no more, you know, I think you
know that, And with a guy like Nico that Nico,
Nico is cool with a lot of the dogs in the.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
NBA, he ain't cool, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Everybody that got Nico got his respect from real people
in basketball, from a lot of the top names and
a lot of the dogs. So you know, when you
got a guy like that, especially, times are changing. When
you got a guy like that, You know what I'm saying,
that that's possibly finish. Get three hundred and something million,
and we can't depend on you to be on the call,
We can't depend on you to work, We can't depend
on you to lead, not just on the court, but
in the weight room and practice and stuff like that. Yeah, man,
(06:42):
I mean, I mean that will bother some people. You
know what I'm saying, because it would bother me if
I if I owned the team and I got to
pay you three hundred million and you not leading the
way you should lead. As far as what I seen
from Tim Duncan, he's the first one in the weight room,
the last one to lead practice. He gonna lead by example.
He gonna make everybody better. That's what you spect from
a guy like that. And we all know Luca's not
that guy. Is he a great offensive player? He's probably
(07:04):
the best, one of the best offensive players we've ever
seen play this game, no question. But when you a
guy that you asked for three hundred million, it's more
as expected from you, too.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Too much is given, more as much as required.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
And if you're gonna if you're gonna ask for three
hundred men, you better go out there be the first
person in practice, the last one to leave. You better
be out there playing defense, dying for boss and being
that player they expect you to be. But we all
know Luca's not gonna be that guy. So if they're
gonna give three hundred men to somebody, they want to
give it to somebody like that. And then they got
a chance to move Luke and get Anthony David. Somebody's
gonna give way more effort. As you see, even though
(07:37):
he had his entry kicked back in the first game,
you've seen what he can do. Like, I would rather
a guy like that me personally than a guy like Lucas,
who's a who's a bigger worldwide star and a greater
great offensive player, but not giving me everything everything I
need as the star on my team.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
K Yeah, man, I mean I think this says precedents, right.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I think there's a part of it that you know
when you got new ownership, right, you know what I mean.
They don't know the lay of the land, they don't
know the customs, they don't know the value of guys, right,
They just you know, kind of see it like you know,
as a spectator somewhat, but when you're in it, you
know the value of the player.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
I think this is bad, you know what I mean
in a sense.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
Where max players have a driven revenue, driven ticket sales,
driven fan bases, and Luca has really connected with that
city in a way that had you hadn't really seen
since Dirk, you know, And so I think there's a
there's a part of that fan base it's hurting, right,
But also on the other side, I see that.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
It's a business.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
It is a business, and ultimately the NBA wins. It's
a win win for the NBA. Now Luca misses out
on that Supermax.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Right, you can't.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
He can't get that back, you know, through the CBA,
through the collective bargaining, but he'll probably you know, earn
it back with reputation, Jersey sales, you.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Know what I mean, and brand equity out in you know,
La La Land. Right.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
But yeah, man, this this sets a precedent, you know,
for players to be more in power, right, you know,
we can't. We got to have that same energy when
players make a decision to go to teams that customize
their situation, that fit their situation. You know, we got
to have a little bit more leniency for when players
make the decision, because teams are doing that now, right,
(09:33):
We've seen some of the biggest names in basketball come
up in trade rumors.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
This is a.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Trade, an epic trade. It's an epic trade. And ultimately,
I still think the game benefits, you know, having your
superstars and big markets, having global superstars and big markets,
having Luca and Lebron on the same team, and then
having a d still right, still good enough in his
prime to be an All NBA player, To have Kyrie,
(10:00):
who's a guy who is a bona fide superstar, to
have j Kidd and have that experience.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
They didn't throw the whole they didn't throw it all away.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
But it also empowers the players to be able to
go out and make those decisions when free agency comes,
when trade demands comes.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
You gotta respect it. It's got to be a two
way street.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
We can't just have it where you know, ownerships and
gms and presidents can make these decisions and then players
get thrown under the bus for making those same decisions.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I think I want to ask you a question after
you finished too, man.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
No, I just think at the end of the day,
the house always wins, you know, like the casino, the
house always wins. The NBA won one thousand percent with
Luca going to the Lakers and Jack, I don't disagree.
My only knock is because we've all played that. We
were all balls to the wall, you know what I mean.
We went out and gave everything. And I think that's
one thing that Luca, if there is a knock, that
(10:51):
is the because you've seen him be lazy and complain
and not hustle. But I think one thing that will
change about that as being in in La because the
magnifying glass is going to be on you every single day.
Every news outlet talks about the Lakers, so you can't hide.
And another thing, and this is not even to make
an excuse, I don't feel like Luca outside of Dirk,
(11:11):
and Dirk was there one year with Luca, he ain't
really had no vets to kind of be in his ear.
And I think him playing with Lebron, who is his
favorite player, and Lebron is someone who leads spokenly but
also most importantly by example, and I think that's what's
gonna wake Luke up. I mean, look, Dallas has always
been and we can all agree one of the best
organ organizations ran in the NBA, and it almost seems
(11:34):
like it's crumbling. I mean, viewership. What was the thing
with the viewership? Yeah, mav TVs over two thousand subscriptions.
They protested before a game, Jay kids not talking after
the game. I mean, I think, and again, I got
a lot of love for Nico. You know, I've known
Nico for a long time, but I think this decision
was bigger than him. I think this was ownership. Who
(11:56):
you know, Jack, You and I sat down with Mark
last year and had discussed kind of him transitioning on
and Dallas becoming, you know, somewhere where there's casino and
all this other stuff around the game, and it doesn't
seem like that's happening. And and Mark was hurt. You know,
Mark sat down and did an interview on Mark was
very surprised and hurt and tried to stop the trade,
(12:16):
but it was too late. So I just kind of
look at this new ownership coming in and to your point, Katie,
not knowing the lay of the land, and Jack for
every reason why you said it's okay, I don't disagree
with that, but at the same time, I still think
he's twenty five and there's a chance to learn. If
you think about this kid, had his team in the
finals last year, Western Conference Finals two years ago, has
the fourth highest scoring game in NBA history. You know
(12:39):
what I mean? That says a lot. And he's only
twenty five years old, so you know he's going to
get better. So I just think it's going to be
a very interesting time. Only time will tell, you know.
I think we all agree hopefully Ad can get healthy
as these teams are built with this particular trade. To me,
Dallas is a better off team as long as AD
can get back healthy because right now they're built to win.
(13:00):
I think we all agree that the long run, the
long term play with the Lakers was you know, Luca
being able to step in those shoes of Lebron and
carry the torch for another uh ten years. Jack, you
said you were gonna ask me something.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Yeah, with with all this noise now, with KD being
upset that that his name was in trade rumors, he
can ask for a trade this summer.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
How would you like seeing him in Dallas? Him?
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And that's that's another interesting thing. And Jack, that's to
my they got But what who that's another young owner,
you know what I mean. That's kind of coming in
and obviously we're gonna discuss this later in the show.
But you know, you're dangling your best player without even
asking them, you know what I mean. And I think
Kevin Durant uh deserves a little bit more respect thing that.
(13:48):
But that's suddenly definitely we're going to get to Let's say,
you know, last night, Luca made his debut against one
of the bottom dwellers, unfortunately, the Utah Jazz, one of
the worst teams in the league, UH, and just came
out and got his feet wet. Twenty four minutes, fourteen points,
five rebounds, four assists. The one thing I saw, and
I only saw the first half because I had to
go somewhere, was just you know, it's it's it's a
(14:09):
feeling out process, you know. I think Luca doesn't want
to do too much. Guys want to make sure he
gets off. Guys don't want to do too much. So
I just think, you know, obviously, this was a it's
the first game. I know, it's it's going to get
better from here. But what did you guys think of,
you know, seeing that number seventy seven? And that shit
was all over Stable Center too.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
Yeah, I mean you should have known that Jersey sales
gonna go crazy. Every shit I want one, you know
what I mean. That ain't no surprise. I think, like
you said, Matty tried to fit in. But it's good
what Bron said. Bron said, told him, don't fit in,
fit the fuck out.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
And I think I think he's gonna get to that.
We know what Luca can do. Man.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
You know, he coming back from an injury. So, like
you said, he's trying to get his feet wet. But
we know what to expect. We know what we're gonna see.
We're just anxious to see that get that dose big,
that big game he has and him and Lebron have
a big game together.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
See how that's gonna work.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Yeah, real quick before you go, KDI. I love the
fact and I think we're all agreeing. So that Lebron
has been trying to hand the keys off to someone.
I think he has someone to hand the keys off.
But Bron last night showed you don't motherfucker, don't forget
about you know, I'm still him, It's.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Gonna be ye, I'm still here.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
But I like again and this is not a knock
on a d because I think over the past two
or three years we've been saying Bron's been trying to
hand the keys off. So I think Bron is gonna
happily hand the keys off and allow Luca once he's
one hundred percent healthy or is close to one hundred percent,
to carry a majority of the low. But like you said, Jack,
it doesn't have to be a consistent all the time Lebron.
Lebron can kind of you know, kind of know it's
(15:41):
a marathon, not a sprint. Katie, what were you saying.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
Yeah, No, man, I mean I think Luca's gonna be
great in LA. I think they gotta get they got
to surround him with the right pieces. I think, you know,
believe it or not, man, I think Lebron is humble
enough at this point in his life where he wants
to have somebody in the drive receipt right, and he
can play a different kind of way.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
It's hard playing when everybody's loading up on you.
Speaker 5 (16:04):
When you have to create, when you have to score,
when you have to motivate, when you have to inspire,
when you have to rebound, when you have to defend,
when you have to do all these things, so Luca's
gonna take the pressure off of him with that. I
can't wait to see them getting to those two man games,
right those picking rolls up high or those side picking
rolls where they force double teams, and I think what
we'll see is we'll see the game being played a
different way because when you can kind of put those
(16:26):
two in pick and rolls and create that mismatch, you'll
see some more logo post ups. You'll see some more
double teams in the logo post up area, and so
having the right pieces around them is gonna be really important.
I still think they need a lot threat. They gotta,
you know.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
They gotta go in that bag and find, you know,
a lob thread, a big body.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
And there's some older guys out there who are serviceable,
who've actually had success with the Lakers that I think
could be a good fit right now. But more so
than anything, man like, I think Lebron is gonna get
the potty train Luca on routine on regiment on like
how big and how much this game, how much you
owe to the game when you're in that spot, when
(17:08):
you're in k.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Not to interrupt, not to interrupt, but we all know,
because kat you played here on the down the hallway.
Playing in La is a lot different, man. So I
like what you're saying about the potty training and routine
and regimen. But also these Laker lights are brighter than
any other motherfucking lights you'll ever get on.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
Yeah, and the spotlight can make some nervous. But I
think Lucas built for this shit.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
He built that.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
He's been doing it since he was fourteen years old.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
He's done it on a high level in a lot
of different scenarios and situations.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
But there's still room for improvement with him.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
He's gotta give more to the game holistically, especially on
the defensive side, especially with the complaining and the and
the and the pandering to the refs. He's got to
get locked in more. He's gonna have to drink some
hot sauce. He's gonna have to go get you know,
we're gonna give ross out there, you know what I mean,
You'll have to like kind.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Of maybe not maybe not roscos. Let's get him some
vegan shit.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
We got to take him to the east side, let
him hang with turn by the week Ship.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
You know, Katie, I like the point you made about
the x'es and o's, and we all know that's one
of JJ's strengths. I mean, and when you think the
pick and roll game, obviously Katie, you sat in the
coaching chair in the NBA, you think about the pick
and roll game that goes two ways. I mean that
has Bronze said and picks and Lucas said and picks yea,
and they're both going to be double So what's that
(18:28):
throwback look like? And then that that's to your point,
it's important building this roster around with guys that can
handle those type of situations, someone that could put a
raw threat on the rim off of space for shooting,
and then you know slashers. But kd as you guys
think if you're on this Laker staff with JJ and
as things start flowing, I mean, I think it's a
great problem to have. I don't even call it a problem.
(18:50):
But you got Lebron, James, Luca, and let's not sleep
on Austin Reeves, who's playing the best basketball of his career,
you know what I mean. That's a great third option.
And before Lucas, someone who was running the running the
team in crunch time, when when Lebron didn't have the ball.
So as a coach, what are you trying to communicate
to your team and get across to your team to
have those three particularly jail habits.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
You got to create the habits right, Like, you know,
you gotta be serviceable in the defensive schemes, you know
what I mean, Like, you really gotta get the buy
in from the superstar players if it's gonna trickle down
to the whole roster. And a lot of times, you know,
JJ's been a part of a lot of great coaching.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Uh uh, He's had a lot of great coaches.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Doc Rivers saying Van Gundy coach k a lot of
those guys.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
So you gotta get buy in.
Speaker 5 (19:36):
You have to get those guys to buy in and except,
you know what I mean, their role and their responsibility
to the team, especially on the defensive level, on the
defensive end, because offensively, Luca and Lebron they're talented enough
to figure things out. They're smart enough. They can pass,
they can dribble, they can shoot, they can post up,
they can they can do everything. And so it's the
(19:57):
buy in really that that that's that's gonna have to happen,
and that's that's what He's gonna have to look in
the mirror and tell himself, Luca has got to get
better on the defensive end.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
He's got to give himself to the game holistically.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
Even if you don't have your legs on the offensive end,
being out there sometimes you know you can you can
be that facilitator, you know what I mean, you can
just being out there, can you know, call spacing issues.
So Luca's really just gonna have to buy in on
the defensive level. I know JJ's, you know, losing a
lot of sleep. I could see he's aging already. That's
my young boy too, And you know, I think he'll
(20:31):
put them in a position to be successful. But like
like I said, man, it's a cheat code. Up up, down, down, left, right, left, right,
VA select star. It's a contra cheat code.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
When you have that's thirty lives. That's thirty lives. This
team is sitting at fourth in the West. They won
sixth straight. Obviously, the Mark Williams trade fell through, and
I just think, and I already and I don't even
want to be up here talking bad, but just what
a what a piece of shit move by the Hornets.
You mean, you knew what the deal was you try
(21:01):
to pull a fast one. And this is not a
knock on the players at all, but I just I
was already thinking that the Hornets are just such a
bad organization, and you know, this kind of just shines
a spotlight, you know, on that. I thought adding a
Mark Williams, who is a lob threat, who is a
you know, nearly a double double guy, a young kid too,
(21:21):
could have really set them up, you know, for him
to play his role in this team to achieve what
they need to achieve. That trade is rescinded. You know,
all jokes aside Jackson Hayes is are only big guy
right now. They don't have money to really go out
and get people in the buy out market. Keon, you mentioned,
you know, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard is sitting at home,
and there's some other people sitting at home right now,
(21:43):
jack Where does this team go to try to find
some frontline depth? Again, Jackson Hayes there, but he's still
young and I'm not sure if he's someone you can
count on yet in the playoffs. Where do you think
they go to sure up that front line, or at
least sure up that front line for the remainder of
this season them.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I mean Javel again, Dwight, how Dwight, Howse on people
I can think of. But regardless of what they do,
they ain't gonna win it this year. In my opinion,
they need to. They got to make a whole bunch
of moves. You know what I'm saying. They can make
it entertaining. Yeah, they can see you know, get Dwhite
or Javel mcgeeze. I think those two guys give them
the presence they need right now to make a run
and to look and to make it look good.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Because those guys are experienced.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
They know they know the role they need to play
to come in which with Lebron and Luca protect the room,
catch libs, all that type of stuff, sat screens role,
they know all that type of stuff. But at the
end of the day, man, whatever they're doing is just
spinning their reels. Right now, I think this summer they
really can open open up what they got, you know
what I'm saying, see how they can make moves. I
think this summer is really when you I mean next season,
(22:42):
it's really we're gonna see this Lakers team be the
team it could be.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
But right now, everything's just for nothing.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
To be honest with you, I think they have a
lot of really good pieces. I mean I like Finny Smith,
I like Hachie Mora, obviously, I love Reeves. I think
it's the front line that needs to shure up. And
again to your point, Stack, I mean, there's there's guys
that have been contemplated retirement are the only guys that
can really go after So those are just to be
the plug hole this year. But again, you know, to
(23:09):
take a look under the hood, I don't think they
need a ton I think going into this summer they're
gonna need frontline help and depth. And I think outside
of that, they got a lot of other good pieces.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Jack.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
You mentioned earlier this Kevin Durant situation with matt Ishbia
and and and the new ownership. And you know, Bob
Myers came out and talked on NBA today or was
it NBA or with it today NBA today.
Speaker 6 (23:32):
So I saw Kevin at a football game a few
weeks ago and I asked him before all this, and
I said, hey, are you good?
Speaker 2 (23:39):
You happy?
Speaker 6 (23:40):
And he said to my face, I don't want to
go anywhere else. I don't want to be traded. He
I'm and I believe it, and I believe he has
felt that way all along. But then when you hear
your name being mentioned out of for him, at least,
I think it was a shock.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
He was kind of like, I didn't.
Speaker 6 (23:55):
I didn't push for this, I didn't ask for this,
And then to hear all the people spec your on
the Warriors. I actually think the Warriors did the right
thing by honoring Kevin's request. Kevin could have gone anywhere
in twenty sixteen, any team he wanted to go to,
he could have went to.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
He went to the Warriors.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
And he's the only person in that whole equation that
took criticism for it. I didn't, Joelacob didn't, Steve Kurr didn't,
Steph Curry didn't, Draymond Grad didn't. Only Kevin was the
one that faced scrutiny. So whatever Kevin would want, had
I still been with the Warriors, Kevin would get. He
brought two championships, tried for a third, ended up getting
hurt in that pursuit two finals MVPs. So I liked
(24:33):
that the Warriors said we hear you, we wanted you,
We respect that you don't want to be here, that's fine.
But now if you're Kevin right to your question, yeah,
you're sitting there going, hang on a second, here, I
am doing what you pay me to do. I'm playing basketball.
I'm playing at a very good high rate. And now
I hear my name being mentioned. So he's a human being.
(24:55):
You know, we try to mytholog mythologize.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
He's got he's a guy, So kurk.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
You know him when you played. I'm not a player,
I don't know, but I imagine as a human being.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
You're kind of shaking up talking about how Kevin was
completely blindsided that he was being fished around or shopped
around to anybody because he had, you know, hadn't made
a you know, inquiry about wanting to be traded or
needed to be traded. He was very content and happy
where he was. And actually our boy Rich Climban retweeted
that and then deleted it because it just made it
(25:23):
seem like KAD was happy to be out in Phoenix.
But again my point about these newer owners not understanding
the lay of the land. Would you we all agree
that KD has done enough in this league too. If
this is going to be what you want to do
when I respect it because of that, As you said, KD,
it is a business. Could you at least give me
a heads up?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, I agree, they damn social it gave him a
heads up.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
I mean, god damn. He didn't have to come there.
He had options before he signed with Phoenix. You know
what I'm saying, Like he can't. He did, y'all solid,
and with everything that's going on with Bradley Beal, with
everything that's going on with that team, he's the only
thing solid him book or the only thing you got
siled and two guys that you are lucky to have
at the same time, two of the best shooters ever
(26:05):
played the game. So I don't like how they handled it.
But I know how KD is. Kd's a real one,
and he don't.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
He don't like disrespected shit and shady shit like that.
You know what I'm saying, he don't like it. So
I know in the back of his mind. I hope
in the back of his mind.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
I'm not gonna say, I know, I hope in the
back of his mind this summer that he get the
fuck on and go somewhere else and get him a
couple more championships.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
When we get out of here.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
KD thoughts, Yeah, I look, I think there's a certain
level of respect and communication and responsibility that the superstars have.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Attributed to the game.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Right.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
The game got bigger on their watch, The money pole
got bigger, the pot got bigger, our fan base group
on their watch.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And so it's like, these guys.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Are legendary players, and when you have an opportunity, uh,
you know, to make a move or make a trade
or have a conversation, I think those things need to
be had along the way.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Some guys earn that, right.
Speaker 5 (27:01):
We also understand that it's a business, but some guys
supersede the business.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Some guys are bigger. It's bigger than Nino Brown.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
It's bigger, you know what I mean in basketball in
a certain sense. Man with Kevin Garnett, I mean, excuse me,
but Kevin Durant, he's one of those transformational, you know,
players for the last ten years.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
And so yeah, you do want to have those conversations.
Speaker 5 (27:21):
And I think they had those conversations, but retroactively after
already kind of doing some shot act, you know, And
it hasn't worked in Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
It has not worked. It just hasn't worked out.
Speaker 5 (27:32):
You know, they had some they got a big three,
they got some pieces to the puzzle, but it just
hadn't all come together. And I don't believe the basketball
God's reward. You know, fractures in organizations. It's the ones
who are willing to have the hard conversations, lay it
all on the line, have.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Some disagreements, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
Sometimes you know, you you know, whatever it come, whatever
comes with that, those are the ones who get over
that hump. And I just don't think they have the
capacity in Phoenix right now. Are the infrastructure in place
to be able to have those kind of conversations and
to have and build and respect Kevin Durant as he
should be respected.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I think it starts at the top. You know, winning
starts at the top, and that's with ownership. And we
all know that Kevin will never let this shit that
happened affect his on the court play. But we also
know Kevin is someone who holds grudges. Oh yeah, And
we don't know why he didn't want to go to
go back to Golden State, but we understand that there
was some shit that went on at Golden State. So
(28:30):
that's something in the back of his mind. So this is,
you know, to Matt Ishpia and Phoenix management, you guys
need to fix this during the season because what you
did is obviously more than enough for him to want
to bounce. So to that organization, if you appreciate Kevin
Durant and what he's done and what he can still do,
you guys need to fix that shit. And then I
(28:52):
think the other point is to Bradley bial I think
that was just a and I like Bradley bial I
just think it was a horrible move. And I said
it when he came over. I thought it was a
horrible move to send him to Phoenix because all those
guys do the same thing, and he has this big
old crazy Washington contract that gives him power of attorney.
You always want the power, I mean, so I'm definitely
not mad at him just taking any goddamn deal. But
I think it started back when they signed Bradley Beal
(29:14):
to bring him to Phoenix, because they could have got
a lot of other pieces that would have complimented your
two superstars that were already there. With football over the
NCAA basketball is heating up, some would say, and there's
some young prospects, young prospects that'll be you know, top
of the board in this upcoming draft. Kdie breakdown who
(29:37):
you think the top five men's college prospects are in
this year's draft.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Yeah, man, I think it's a young boy draft, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
Like all the guys who I feel like are the
top five prospects are freshman's you know, and not to
you know, throw dirt on any of the seniors and
guys who've been putting in working college ball for a while.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
But man, these young boys.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
They got it.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
They got the holistic package. I think you have to
start that off with.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
Cooper flag right, you know, reclassifying coming in at seventeen
years old, putting in work, getting his body in condition.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
He was, he was cramping early in the in the season.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
He got an opportunity in the summertime to play against
the USA basketball team, showed up and showed out. And
I just think from from a time and standpoint and
from a fan based standpoint, Cooper's timing is impeccable, you.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
We need that demographic, you know, to be engaged and
be able to see a piece of themselves.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Katie, Katie, what what what demographic is that we need.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
We need to we need we need our we need
our fan base.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
We need we need you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Like you know, like when Larry Bird and Magic was there,
you know what I'm saying, the.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Game grew, you know, like we need you know, the.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Fan base, Melanie.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
We we need some white from the United States, of
the of America, of the America, you know what I mean,
because like this is our game, right, it's our game.
It's it's you know, a lot of the of the
white players come from international, so there's not that feel
that you can feel if you're up in the Northeast,
or if you're from the Midwest, or if you're from
(31:16):
you know what I mean, certain regions of our country.
And so Cooper will allow a fan base to see
a piece of himself the same way King McCarg as,
you know what I mean. And I think that'll and
and he's got it, He's got all the two. So
I think he's the biggest draft prospect we've seen in
quite some time, not only from a playing standpoint, but
also just from a growth of the game, you know
(31:38):
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Here domestically, like Cooper will be very very good for
our game.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
And he's got a motor, he's got a skill set,
he's got swagger, he's got confidence, he got dog and
I'm loving everything and I'm loving his growth and his
evolution as he progresses.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Who else you got in that mix?
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Well, you know what, man, it's uh, it's so funny
because there's so many of our.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Guys who played in the league who got sons coming
up crazy.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
But like Dylan Harper, you know, I know he's been heard,
but man, he's a combination of like Jalen Brunson and
like Ramone Sessions as far as in pick and roll right,
because he's got a big body, he's a lefty, he's
got an incredible pace. I think he's somebody who has
a lot of upside. His game will translate very very
easily to the next level. And he plays on both
(32:27):
ends of the four. And he's got he's cut from
that pedigree, right, you know what I mean? O g
Ron Harper was a beast back in the days. He's
got a teammate over there who's extremely talented in Ace Bailey.
Ace has got it, man. He doesn't need a lot
of dribbles to get a shot off. He can make
tough shots. He's got to become more efficient right in
(32:47):
his game and play more with the motor. But man,
he's got a skill set at six nine to sixteen,
can shoot, can dribble, can pass. I think he's an
extremely talented player. There's this kid out of Baylor. He's
freaking nature VJ. Edgecombe. He's a freaking nature athletically kind
of like Scoop Henderson, Dwayne Wade, like cut from that
(33:09):
athletic cough had a really really good summer with the
Bahamian team internationally and has really emerged man in the
last two three weeks at Baylor, and so he's one
of those guys man that is super athletic, super quick,
got a good feel for the game. I think his
game will be better suited for the NBA, especially with
(33:31):
not being able to touch, with being able to get
out in transition, and not necessarily, you know, having to
play against all those four arms in college. I think
edgecomb Is will also be somebody you'll probably see in
the top five, top seven picks in the draft.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
I man, at that.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Jack Cooper Flag is the coldest white boy since what m.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
He's the coldest white boys since until we see Larry
bird Son.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
He ain't got a son. I don't think that kid's
his son. But yeah, when they say he plays like him.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Yeah, that motherfucker there. I've been watching them a three
months now. Man.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
He's nice.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
Yeah, he's nice. There's a white boy that they said,
they say it's Larry sub but I don't think it is.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Yeah, I don't think it is either. But this motherfucker
is the truth.
Speaker 3 (34:14):
Okay, I gotta check him out.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
He's still this since LB. Huh. Hey, before we get
you guys out of here. Super Bowl just happened this
past weekend. Eagles beat the dog ship out of Kansas City. Man,
so it happens when Trump roots for your team, you
get cursed. But outside of the actual game the performance,
Kendrick's performance has been met with love, hate, uh, frustration,
(34:39):
admiration uh. And I feel like, personally, I feel like
this was one of those performances that we're going to
be dissecting for the next two to three weeks to
find out all the different meanings and and and and
reasoning behind. But what I will say is he came
out here and he made a statement for hip hop,
for the black culture during Black History Month, and really
(35:02):
kind of. I think Jermaine Dupriez said it best and
and I think a lot of people took what he
said the wrong way. He said he was glad that
people had an issue with it because we've all thrown
music like it was gumbo and it's supposed to be
Rap ain't supposed to be for everyone. That performance wasn't
for you, Jason Whitlocke. You're a white man stuck in
a black man's body. That's why I don't expect you
to be fucking with that, and that's why I expected
you the next day to coon like you cooned. But
(35:24):
outside of that, what did you guys think about Kendrick's performance?
Speaker 4 (35:29):
Well, I mean, for me, it was the dope shone
some of the dober shit I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Matt, I ain't we even lie. I enjoyed every bit
of it. Man.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
You know what I mean to to some to have
somebody one of us, you know what I mean that
come from the backgrounds and the culture we come from,
to get on that and to and to not go
up there and just to make it about uh, cars,
clothes and money, but to have the biggest moment, uh
that he's ever had, and to make a statement and
speak for all of us. You know that that means
(35:58):
something to me, bro, because I've that you know what
I'm saying, I put myself in a position for for
all our people. So for him to take his moment,
his biggest moment and to the choice of songs everything
the way he did it with Samuel Jackson with the
flag I had, I had to break it down, mat
to see a lot of stuff, even with the kid
man on the like, you know.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
There's a lot of stuff.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
It's lot of stuff people saying that, you know, but
I think I think it was super dope, man. And
like like like a lot of people say, you don't
have to not like Drake or or to do mean
Drake to like this performance. This performance was dope. So
just just just learn how to appreciate Kendrick being the
boss right now hip hop. It's his time. He's doing
it the right way. He's doing it like nobody else
(36:37):
has ever done. And you gotta just you got to
just take your hat off of somebody's being great, bro,
because we don't see shit like this often, especially in
the rap game.
Speaker 5 (36:45):
Yeah, I mean, Doc Man is He's amazing. He's an
artistic performer. And you know what I mean, Like his
show is just not him on the mic. It's constant movement.
It's constant symbolism that you have to dissect and dco.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
It's total energy, it's voice command, you know what I mean.
It's it's the right fits. Sinsy came out there wearing
that thing owner. You know what I'm saying. You know,
all that's done, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Like it to me?
Speaker 5 (37:15):
You know, it was entertaining, but it wasn't divisive in
my opinion, it's inclusive. Like a part of our American
history is the black experience, and you know when we
have voices and people who share that through symbolism, through song.
We've always used song and music to express what we
(37:36):
endure and what we feel and our experience in this culture. Right,
and to have the super Bowl, have him on that platform,
and for him to take it, you know, to so
many levels, right and bring so many different local cultures
from California because he was riding in his gn.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
X, you know what I mean, to bring you know,
the red, White and Brew, to bring Uncle.
Speaker 5 (38:00):
Him in there, right, you know, and you those parallels,
but then also to bring a part of hip hop
culture like I'm still gonna I'm gonna look at this
camera and I'm gonna still do this disc on shit, right,
you know what I mean? Because a part of hip
hop is competition. It's not always beef. It's competition. The
same way we grew up in competition, the same way
(38:20):
we competed against each other. Y'all had to match up
against each other. And y'all love each other, y'all give
money together, y'all go on vacation together. But guess what
in between those lines, y'all was gonna knuckle up by
his competition, right, And hip hop is about that. And
so I think he embodies that. It was impressive performance.
Me and my family we watched it. We showed out,
we did all the dances. And then he patty too,
(38:42):
like he got.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
To he is Petty Serena coming out doing her thing.
Speaker 5 (38:48):
I just thought it was a It was a very
cool concept, and I think he delivered, you know what
I mean. And for all those naysayers when the music
went down and you heard everybody say a like get involved.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
With the whole world set that the people in the
building were feeling.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
Fucking with it absolutely. I mean from the PlayStation control
to the game over old crowd. I don't think we
talk enough about what Samuel L. Jackson meant to that performance,
because he was the He was the He was the
quote unquote white opinion. Oh you you brought your homies
for the culture. That's one less life, you know what
(39:27):
I mean? He you know, you guys are too ghetto.
He was all the bullshit that is talked towards our culture,
not just Kendrick, but towards our culture as a whole.
He was the one and it every time he says something,
Kendrick had of answer for us. I just thought, very well,
put together, very creative. If I'm not mistaken. One hundred
and thirty three and a half million people view that,
which would put it at the top, Which would put
it at the top. Man, So man, shout out to
(39:48):
the whole TDD family, Shout out to Kendrick, and again
and again to love what to love what Kendrick did.
Doesn't mean you hate Drake.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
Exactly a Matt, But no, I want to say one
thing too. You know, it was the thing about this
whole thing to me, like it's a video. It's it's
a rapper name a Z A Z Cheek. I think
something like that. He on a song called Peekaboo. He
didn't make the super Bowl, but it's a video on
him and his family watching Kendrick sing part of his verse.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Bro And if you've seen the joy and him and
his family watching Kendricks.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
But that that that made me feel good because that's
that's how your patn is supposed to put you on.
You know what I'm saying. We all know it was
a limited amount of people that Kidrick can have. But
if I can't get my pot, let me wrap his
verse while.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
You know what I'm saying. I think that was the
dope shit about the whole thing to me, But he.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
Gave he showed respect to a lot of different things,
whether it be cities, people, culture. It was dope O KD.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Man.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
We appreciate your time, definitely looking.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Man, appreciating your week. Let's keep it up.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
Yes, sir, you know what Jack NBA All Star twenty
twenty five, San Francisco, California. We'll be heading out there
in two days.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Man.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
I'm excited. You know this is a place where you
know you and I really started our brotherhood and our
friendship back in the day. We have a great run.
And then in the mid two thousands, and you know,
now it's back out here in our company. That that's
that sounds good to say. Our company is going out
there to set up a flag.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
Man.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
So what are your thoughts about All Star coming up
this week?
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Always gonna be good to be back in the Bay Man.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
So many memories, I think some uh, definitely some of
my best years playing basketball. Uh, some of the best
fans I got, some of I think the relationships that
I built while I was playing.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
I think a lot of those relationships I built out
there I still have today.
Speaker 4 (41:27):
So I think Oakland, Oakland, San Francisco is a is
a special place in my heart. Is gonna be It's
gonna be good to bring our show back. I think
not only for us, but the city, the whole Bay
Area been asking us to come for so long. I'm
getting so many cars and texts, texts trying to get
to the show. How can I get tickets and all
this type of stuff.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
Bruh. So it's gonna it's gonna good to be back
with family. Man. I think I think it's only right there.
Speaker 4 (41:49):
We bring all the smoke back and playing our flag
there because that is one of our homes.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
Mm.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
Absolutely, man, We're blessed to have the run TMC. So
we're gonna talk to Tim Men and Chris with the
run TMC team and then also man a Rebelieve reunion
with some of our brothers. Man, I'm really looking forward
to that. So those are gonna be two live shows
we're doing. We're doing a brunch on Sunday honoring Too
(42:15):
Short and He forty with Larussell Cure rating. Are welcome
to All Star Live Show with Kevin Garnett. You know,
Kevin Garnett was our first live show at All Star.
Was that All Star sixteen twenty twenty, twenty twenty, the
Pandemic All Star. So we're gonna catch up with him
with some special guests dropping through that show our welcome dinner. Man,
(42:37):
it's it to me again. And I think I've said this.
I mean for us to be able to play out
there and me be from you know, our way from there,
but for us to go back there, man, damn here
twenty years later, almost twenty years later as a business
as a company. Man, I'm really proud of that and
obviously couldn't have done that without you, bro. So I
appreciate you and I love you. I'm definitely looking forward
to having some fun out there.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
Yes, sir, me too.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Well that's a wrap for this week unplugged. We appreciate
you guys tuning in.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
Have a good week.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
Shout out to Kendrick Man, even shout out Drake. He's
out there doing this thing right now in Australia doing
his thing, and memory to love one, you don't have
to hate the other. Make sure you guys catch us
on all the Smoke Productions YouTube and the DraftKings Network.
We'll see y'all next week.
Hosts And Creators
Stephen Jackson
Matt Barnes
Popular Podcasts
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.