Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Filling in for Benjamin all right, as he's in Indianapolis
covering the NFL Combine for the station. And here with
my guy Nick Ferguson, let's go right out to the
Kowa Common Spirit Health hotline and bring on George Sodano.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
George. First things first.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
In the last segment, ope, do we have George Georgia there?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Okay, Yeah, First things first, we were talking in the
last segment about tattoos. Do you have any tattoos yourself?
You're willing to share a story about.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
No tattoos for me? Sorry, I'm pretty boring.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Well, you know what, we just saw the Lakers play
the Nuggets over the weekend, and I have to say this,
I've been really impressed by the Lakers because I never
thought that they would be this spot on defensively, even
with Luca in the lineup. When you look at the
Lakers team, do you look at them as a team
that's ready to push for a title with the dish
(00:52):
of Luca?
Speaker 5 (00:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Look, I think you could convince me of any of
the top nine teams in the Western Conference in the
Western Conference finals. That's how tough the West is. And
I think the addition of Luca certainly, I think makes
them a better offensive team.
Speaker 6 (01:10):
Defensively, I think there's some question marks because of the.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Lack of size in the interior, but they have a
lot of length on the perimeter, like their light.
Speaker 6 (01:20):
Up Austin Reeves is the smallest guy out there at
like six four sixty five, and then everyone else is
like sixty seven or six.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Eight, you know what I mean. So they can cover
a lot of ground defensively.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
And they've been pretty darn good.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Since January fifteenth, which is even before Lucig got there.
They've been the number one defense since that time in
the NBA.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Our guest George Sadano covers the NBA for ESPN at
Sadano on Twitter or x whatever you.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Want to call it.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Nowadays, I got to ask you about Nikola Jokics. He's
put up nineteen assists last night against the Indiana Pacers,
the second most all time by an NBA center, behind
the great Wilt Chamberlain has twenty six triple doubles this year,
more than any of his three previous NBA MVP seasons.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
What are your thoughts on his overall game this year.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
I mean, he's incredible.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
He's one of one to your pot. If you're on
a list with Wilt Chamberlain and you're the only two
guys on it, it goes to show you about your greatness. Right,
the best player in the sport, whether he wins another
MVP this year, that's a different shi. I don't think
the best player is necessarily the most valuable in a
particular season. But I think you're splitting hairs either way,
(02:30):
even when it comes to most valuable when it comes
to him or Shake Gills is Alexander because I think
that both of them obviously are incredibly valuable to their
respective squads. But yeah, I mean, he's the best player
in the sport.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Man.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
There's really not much else to say. And I mean
I've been seeing this coming for years. I remember coming
on shows in Denver when times weren't as good and
people thinking I was nuts when I said this guy
can be like a top.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
Three to five.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Player, And here we are.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
So I feel fairly vindicated in that.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Not that I'm trying to keep square or anything, but
I just feel like you guys have come a long
way as a basketball town, and that franchise in general
has taken so many steps forward and a lot of
it is because of him, and there's no shot at
anyone before him, but he is as unique a player
as we've ever had in NBA history.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Aaron Denmra I think the biggest question is Canada's Nuggets
team actually beat other teams that are over five hundred
because they want a title, and now the idea is
can they go back and duplicate that with the same
level of production. My biggest concern is not the Nuggets offense,
is the fact of how well they play defense. And
I know their philosophy is that their offense is going
(03:41):
to be their defense. Will that be enough to kind
of keep them in the conversation, but more importantly, will
that be enough to kind of get them to a
championship and win maybe a game seven?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Well, look, I think you have to be a good
defense to win a championship. I think that. You know,
the year they won, I believe they were just outside
and defensively, and if you look at it historically, I
think it was them and like the two thousand and
(04:14):
one Lakers were the only teams to win a championship
that didn't have a top ten defense. Now, again, the
difference was you had this unbelievable offense. You have this
unique player, this Unicorn that we just discussed, and also.
Speaker 6 (04:30):
That year their defense was so bad.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Up until Christmas that it was towards the bottom of
the league.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
But then from that point.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
On they were legit like a top five or six
defense the rest of the way, but they still couldn't crack.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
The top ten.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
So it was a little bit misleading even though they
weren't in that top ten. This team, and I know
Michael Malone has harped on this a ton, they're not
even close to the defensive team they were the year
they won the championship, and I think losing KCP is
a huge loss for them. You're putting a lot of
pressure on Aaron Gordon specifically to defend and you know
(05:08):
average to above average defenders at best, and that becomes
a little more challenging. But to me, the Western Conference
is very matchup defendant, and if they can find themselves
playing against teams where they don't score the ball, I
don't really high rate. They're not an elite offense.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
I think that they'll.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Be fine in those types of matchups, but if not,
they're going to find themselves in a bit of a pickle,
and it'll be a bit of a challenge to get
beyond each individual round. But look, man, when you got
that guy in Jokic, nothing should be a surprise.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
If they can, they hoist another trophy.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Sure, I wouldn't be surprised, So I think it's likely.
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Probably not, but I.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Do think that they're capable because that guy is that good.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, we got that.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Guy in Denver.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
If they are making it out able to make it
out of the Western Conference, who do you like coming
out of the East? I know that Cleveland Cavaliers are
having an outrageous regular season, so certainly beating up on
the Magic again tonight, forty seven and ten on the year,
But you got the Celtics just six games behind, and
of course the defending NBA champions What are your thoughts
(06:23):
on the Eastern Conference?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
It's still Boston to me. They're going through the typical
championship malaise. And it's not like they're playing poorly, like
they have a good record too. It's just Cleveland is
playing great, as you mentioned, in the regular season, and
it's different when you're the Celtics, and I had them
a ton in the middle of the season when they
were struggling a bit. It's different when you're the champs.
(06:48):
Even though you're the Boston Celtics and teams are going
to get up for you because you're the Boston Celtics,
it's still different than you're the champs, Like you're getting
E three team's best effort every single night, whether it's
the Washington Wizards or the Cleveland Cavaliers. And I think
that the long season, the short summer. They also had
(07:09):
a trip to Abby in the preseason, which was not
helpful I think at least early on for them that
I think that between that and some injury issues.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
They found some struggles and they had to kind.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Of find their way again. But now they're rolling again.
And if I had to pick a team to win
the title, it would still be them, So I would
certainly take them out of the Eastern Conference.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Well, here's a big, another big conversation for you, George,
the MVP. That's always one of the top conversations. And
here in Denver, obviously we think that there's no one
in an NBA better than Nikola Jokis. Now, give give
me something that maybe I can walk away with that
says that maybe there's someone else who could possibly take
that MVP away from Joker this season?
Speaker 7 (07:56):
Cool?
Speaker 3 (07:56):
I mean, shake Gildes. Alexander is the best player on
the best team. I mean, he's an unbelievable scorer, you know,
at two levels for sure, and probably three because his
three point shot has gotten a lot better and more consistent.
And defensively, I believe he leads the league in steels
or at least as close to that. I mean, he's
an all around player. I mean I mentioned this earlier
(08:19):
when you guys were asking me about Jokic, and I
think O Jokic is still the best player, but that
to me is not necessarily mean he's the most valuable player.
I think that you look at that this Denver team, Okay,
they have guys who won a championship. They have veteran
guys who have been a big part of a championship
team in Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Junior. This
(08:42):
Oklahoma City team, while I think that they are incredibly talented,
their average age is twenty four years old. Like that
that's insane, Like I don't recall a one seed to
have an average age of twenty four years old, except
for last year.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
They Oklahoma City Thunder when they were younger, and they.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Now had the experience of the heartache of losing to Dallas.
And every year they've had a different experience. They were
in the play in and then they got knocked out
in the second play in game, and then last year
they got knocked down in the second round in Dallas.
And now to me, they're even more laser focused. The
question with them is just about like can they get
heart and sign and home grown enough time together to
(09:27):
play well. But when you have a guy like Shay,
like you know, I said, you guys have that guy
and anything, you can do anything and achieve anything because
you have that guy. They do have that guy and
even though he's younger and.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Doesn't have that kind of championship experience.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Yet, there's going to come a time where he does.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
And usually when these teams, these young teams.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Break through, it happens because for two reasons. It usually
happens because they defend at a high level, which they do.
They're the number one defense in the NBA, and because
one of the top three to five players in the
sport and they do so. I think that Shae is
the MVP this year and that's not a knock on Jokic. Jokic,
(10:11):
as I mentioned, I think he's the best player, but
Shake gild Jill just Alexander taking eight twenty three twenty
four year old loss. Sir, Okay, I'm a bunch of
twenty three and twenty four year olds and younger really
in a lot of cases and taking them to back
to back one seeds and being the favorite to win
the championship. I mean that that start begins and ends
(10:35):
with him. Like when I talk to their coach, he
has a saying when it comes to them, and he says.
Speaker 6 (10:41):
Our consistency. The pillar of our consistency.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Starts number two with Shake Guild is Alexander, and he's
wise beyond his years and more skillful than most players
at his age, and you just don't see that combination
very often. So for me this year, he'd be the
guy I wrote for.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
You make a convincing case there, George. We appreciate your
time as always, man. Thanks for carving now some time
for us tonight, and have a great rest of your night.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
You gotta guys enjoy the rest of your show. Thanks
for having me.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
George is the best man.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
He is, and you know, I wanted to put him
on the spot because I know what individuals here in
Denver think about the Denver Nuggets, but more importantly Nicola Jokic.
Speaker 7 (11:27):
But to get.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Someone's national outside opinion, for me, I thought that was
great because I respect George for what he does for
the fall out of network and he does a great job,
you know, covering the game of basketball. And when I
think about this year's MVP race, I do think it's
SGA's year.
Speaker 7 (11:49):
Like last year, he had one heck of a season.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
But at the end, I mean Nicola was able to
edge him out because he is just like he's a
phenomena all within himself. But I think right now and
George is right being on a young team that's done
it in back to back years and you're doing it consistently,
and they don't know what they don't know because for
them being in this position is it's customary.
Speaker 7 (12:13):
It's just like breathe into them and he's he's really
leading this team.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
And if you and this starts the conversation when we
look at MVPs, is it the most valuable player right
on that team? You take him away or we just
look at oh man, he just got solid performance out.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
Of the guy.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I think there's a conversation to be had with within
that conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yeah, and I respect George's opinion, but I'm going to
respectfully disagree. And maybe it is my Denver hometown bias,
but I mean just the numbers with Joker this year.
I mean he's having He's a three time MVP and
he's having his best year ever. Listen to this stat
Yokich's on pace to become just a second player in
NBA history to average thirty points a game on fifty
(12:56):
percent from the field and forty percent from three.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Do you know who the only other player in NBA
history is that?
Speaker 7 (13:03):
Who's that?
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Steph Curry in twenty fifteen twenty sixteen. Steph's numbers in
that year thirty point one points per game, fifty percent
field goal percentage, forty five percent from three. Jokich this
season thirty point two points per game, fifty six percent
field goal percentage, and forty eight percent from.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Three point range. As a center in the NBA, and he.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Drops nineteen assists last year, I would argue he is
the most valuable player on a team, like more than
Shai Gilgess Alexander because we've seen the numbers, the offensive
rating when he is on the floor historically the best
of all time.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
When he's off the floor historically the worst of all time.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I mean, what more value can you bring to a
team than making them the best ever when you're on
the court and the worst ever when you're off the court.
Speaker 7 (13:51):
Well, he is interesting about this conversation.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I mean, you can say the same thing for Sga
Yannis and nikolea Jokis because you take either of those
guys off the floor with their current teams, obviously the
office and defense drops down tremendously.
Speaker 7 (14:07):
Well, but I guess the thing that sticks.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Out for me we already know what type of player
Nicole Yokich is and that is not something that someone
can dispute. What I like is also looking at a
young player in SGA's position leading that team, because oftentimes
it's always a veteran guy leading a bunch of youngsters.
But here is a young guy leading a bunch of youngsters,
(14:30):
and I'm thinking, at some point you got to give
him his flowers and his validation, because if that doesn't
happen this year, you have to ask yourself, if Nicola
plays let's say eight more years and the SGA is
still playing at this level with OKC, he never gets
that award.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, well, that's like Michael Jordan or Lebron James at
the beginning of his career.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
He should have been MVP every year, but.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
He couldn't because you know, you had other players like
Kobe Bryant was still in his prime at that time.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Kind Of like the Lamar Jackson not winning the MVP
this year in the NFL. In my mind, Josh Allen
wins it this year. But I think Lamar Jackson had
a better year than his MVP season last year and
still didn't get the award this year just because they didn't.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Want to give it to him again.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
And by the way, that season I mentioned from Steph,
Zach Segers just said this in my year, Steph was
the only unanimous MVP in NBA history with those numbers.
And we're saying Joker is not going to win the
MVP this year.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Well, I don't think it's allgument of saying that he's
not going to win it. I think he deserve it
of it. But then you look at SGA and say,
you know what I mean, it's about consistency. We start
thinking about these accolades and MVPs. How consistent can that
player actually be? And I think Sga is doing a
great job. But here's a bigger conversation. If Nicola or Sga,
(15:51):
SGA wins it or even Giannis now you're talking.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
About you can take the honest out of that time.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yanna's had the conversation, but you would be to say,
in the past couple of years, five to six years
in NBA, in association, it's been won by an international player.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
I think we need to continue that conversation. On the
other side, you're listening to Broncos Country to Night. Thanks
again for George Sadano from join us from NBA on ESPN.
We will be back in just a couple of minutes
on Broncos Country Night on KOA A fifty AM and
ninety four to one FM. Hi Tim, your guest's host
(16:29):
Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright as he covers
the NFL Combine live out in Indianapolis and here with
my guy Nick Ferguson. Thanks to George Sadano for joining
us in the last segment. Brian Edwards Earlier in this show,
If you want to get involved in the show. Text
us on the Common Spirit health text line at five six,
six nine zero one that came in.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
A little bit earlier from the three to zero three.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
That was a cool interview with Coach about the origins
of the combine. Always wondered where that name came from,
combining medical records.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Love Sean too.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
He seems so much more relaxed this year, and Indy
we do have an exclusive one on one with Ryan
Edwards and Broncos GM George Peyton coming up here in
just a couple of minutes. Going back to our NBA
conversation from the three six to so, Nikola is more valuable,
his plus minus is higher. I think that's in regards
to the MVP race this year. What you were teasing
(17:21):
something about international players dominating the NBA before we went
to the break.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Expand on that a little bit, Nick, Well, Yeah, when.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
You look at the MVPs in the league dating back
to twenty nineteen, that's when Yanna's wonted back to back.
Then after that, from twenty one to twenty two, Nicola
won and then there was that speed bumm which was
Joel Embiid and then Nicola jok wanted again.
Speaker 7 (17:46):
The last time an American born player won the.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
MVP for the Association was back at twenty eighteen, and
that was James Harden.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
And it's crazy to believe because when you think about
the game itself, it's gone globally. It's an international game.
This is why the NFL is trying to take a
piece of.
Speaker 7 (18:06):
It and why they have so many games.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Over in London, right and Brazil now but right so
so they're trying.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
To expand out and try to copy exactly what the
NBA has done.
Speaker 7 (18:18):
But to know that, I mean, you've had.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Several players who are not American born players win this
Covet Award. That says a lot about how basketball has
changed on a global landscape.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I think it also says a lot about the style
of play from an American perspective. With the US born
players compared to international players, it just seems like there's
so much more fundamental. They just do the little things,
you know, you think about Nikola and Giannis and Luca,
they do all the little things right, the small things
in the game, And it seems like the NBA players
(18:54):
it's more one on one basketball. The Steph Curry effect
of you know, just launching up long three pointers and
the international guys have a more well rounded skill set.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
It feels like, you know what, here's a.
Speaker 7 (19:06):
Player who's I believe is a hybrid of both. And
that was Kobe Bryant.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
Yeah, because you think.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
About when his dad was playing overseas.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
I was gonna say, yeah, he's got that international.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
Upbrading, yes, So he had to learn his fundamentals like
a lot of international players. Think about Luca. Luca was
playing against like grown men when he was like fifteen
and two, right, so it made him better because he
took a couple of l's and the same thing happened
with Kobe here in the in the States.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
And I'll say.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
The reason because of it is because of the and
one mixtape. Yeah, everybody, yes, hot sauce, Yes, everyone wants
to one on one dribble, right, And we moved so
far away from the team.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Game's watching the play so much.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Exactly because we usually we see point guards being able
to see the entire floor and able to get everyone
else involved in distribute the ball. I know, the Kolok
is a tall guy, so he could see the full Well,
what the lobs no, look, bounce, passes.
Speaker 7 (20:06):
All of those things. That's the all around game that
we're missing here. And it brings me around to you
think about what we saw in four Nations.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah right, so good, so good.
Speaker 7 (20:18):
And I didn't grow up with hockey. I'm not a.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Hockey savant, but four Nations pulled me in right, And
I think that's what Gary Bettman was hoping, because when
you look at the pecking order for sports and you
can tell me if I'm right or wrong, I go NFL, NBA, MLB,
and the NHL rounded.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
At the bottom.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Yeah, I would agree with that, Okay, but I think
that may be changing after this four Nations. I mean
ten million viewers for the final, Yes, what NBA game
is it drawing that this year? What MLB game is
going to draw that this year? Except for the World Series.
I mean they made a big This was a big
splash by the NHL, and it got everyone hooked.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
And now I've caught myself. The last couple of nights
I get home.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
From here and I'm watching the apps play on altitude.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Now that I can watch it again.
Speaker 7 (21:08):
Like it's got me hooked.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
It makes you think like, okay, well, first of all,
I want to know who came up with the idea, right,
me too, because that person needs their flowers, right, because
usually the person who comes up with the idea is
not the person who's often out front, right right, So
we need to figure out who that person is.
Speaker 7 (21:25):
But I think this whole idea of.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Just because you got the Olympics coming up, but then
you can have these tournaments in between.
Speaker 7 (21:32):
It's almost like somewhat of an international build up.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
And you know, the one thing that people rally behind,
they rally behind their teams, but they really rally behind
their countries.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yeah, you see that in the World Cup and soccer.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
You know you have the Premier League where you have
all these different teams in England, but when England's playing,
they don't care if that guy is a Liver Liverpool
player and they're a man you fan. They're behind that
guy for this World Cup.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
And I think for me, once again, I don't know
who came up with the idea, but it is freaking
brilliant and it makes me wonder, well, why didn't Houck
you think about this, or least you.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Hear Gary Bedman.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Then I tel Commissioner talking about it on the Rich
Eisend Show.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
This is what he had to say.
Speaker 8 (22:14):
The four Nations was kind of a quick appetizer. What
we're going to do is Olympics two years later, a
World Cup two years later, Olympics two years later, a
World Cup, and the World Cup will have at least
eight countries participating, and that's something we're in the process
of finalizing. And this world status may have something to
(22:34):
do with exactly how we pull that all together.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
But we're looking to do a full World Cup like
you see in soccer.
Speaker 8 (22:42):
We're going to look to do it in a variety
of locations, and not just in North America.
Speaker 7 (22:46):
We'll be looking to do it in Europe as well.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Four nations of the four nations is at one off, Well, I.
Speaker 8 (22:52):
Don't know, it depends on the you know what. The
success has been so quick and overwhelming. We've got a
lot of things to contend to consider and sort out,
including what our own all star game looks like going forward.
So you're asking the absolute right questions and I don't
have old the right answers yet because we've got a
(23:13):
lot to work through.
Speaker 7 (23:15):
Listen, it was all good.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
It was all good.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
That was Gary Bettman on the Rich eisend show, and
Rich kind of seemed like taking aback, like, oh, the
Four Nations was a one off, but it seemed like
he was explaining it was just the beginning of what
we're trying to do. We're gonna make this He's even bigger.
We're going to play on more international stages. We're going
to have more countries involved, and I think that's all
good news for the NHL.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
I think for me Gray and this was kind of
a litmus tess. Let's throw it out there, Let's see
if it works, if it catch fire with four teams, now,
we'll see if more countries or more fans we can
pull in with this idea and the idea work. And
usually when you give something, we all victimize by this
(23:58):
as consumers that sale for a short period of time only, right,
or an artist coming back the last tour.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Or whatever Elton John six times exactly.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
And because we feel as though we have that fomo
like if you're missing out, we got to be a
part of Right, I gotta say that I was there
when this happens.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
So what they did was use tactics that people only use.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
In marketing with marketing their sport in a way that
they'd never done before once again is bloody brilliant.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Yeah, and getting the buy in from the superstars in
the league. You know, like they could have easily been
like the NBA All Star Game and said, oh, we'll
go out and kind of you know, half asset, but
in hockey you can't. So if you're going to commit
to a game like this, you know you got to
go full out. And man, what a show they put
on those two games between the USA and Canada. And
(24:49):
like you said, just having the country behind it, you're
going to get everyone rallying behind their respective country. But
the performance on the ice, that overtime winner, I mean, well,
who's a goalie for Canada. Jordan Bennington, the Saint Louis.
Saint Louis Blues goalie. He stood on his head and
overtime I thought the US was gonna win that a
couple of times.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
He was masterful between the pipes is blocking every single attempt.
And I was like, at some point, I mean, the
United States was in Canada zone. It seemed like almost
like two minutes it comes and I was on the
edge of my seat like, oh, it's nothing happened.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
No, it didn happen.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Color, Nothing happened, happened, and that is the kind of
drama that you want. But as hockey looks to move
to eight teams and host it in other countries, the
one thing you need in order to make this work,
because let's think about why it worked. First of all,
it was four teams, but it came down to two
teams who are neighbors right in the United States and Canada.
(25:50):
And Canada was like, no, what we invented.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
This Swiss as our sport.
Speaker 7 (25:53):
This is our sport. So what Betman is going to
have to do?
Speaker 4 (25:57):
As he looked at these eighteen you get a need heroes,
You gotta need villains.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Yeah, that's what you mean. Well, I think the easy
villain to find right now is.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
If they get a Russian team in there, and then
the whole rest of the world will band against them.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
You know, I promised this earlier. We are Broncost country tonight.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
I'm Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright, but we
had an exclusive interview today with George Peyton, with Ryan
Edwards and Benjamin Albright.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I thought it was worth resharing.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
You know, we're the only ones to get the Broncos
GM with one on one after he met the media today.
So I want to share this with you, Nick, and
then we'll react to it on the other side.
Speaker 9 (26:35):
All right, George, let's go and start about a year ago.
You met bo Nick's here at the Combine. What are
some things that you took away from that meeting that
led us to this point here.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
Yeah, that was just the start of a process of
the draft process and obviously left a good impression on
us right away.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
And then you know, we followed that up.
Speaker 10 (26:50):
Through the pro day and the private workout and just
spend a lot of time with them and to kind
of set the table for him being a Bronco.
Speaker 5 (26:56):
Which we're excited about a lot of people talking about
the tight end right now.
Speaker 11 (27:00):
Obviously some rumors float around Twitter with the return of Gronkowski.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Is there any truth to any of that? We just
signed them, Actually, man, no, I just heard that on
my way over here. That's pretty cool. He wants to
be a Bronco. You know, pretty bazy stuff. Sitting on
the offensive side of the ball. Sean talked about how
much you really love the offensive line. You guys really
liked what they were able to do.
Speaker 9 (27:21):
What are some of the qualities that you guys are
looking for at the running back position this year.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
Yeah, I mean, I think we're just looking for the
right piece.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
You know.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
There's there's so many different flavors in.
Speaker 10 (27:30):
This draft, and you have kind of the scap backs,
you have the power backs. You're just looking for a
guy that can do everything, and you know, and they're
hard to find. So the good thing is there's a
lot of backs in this draft, and so we're excited
to kind of get into it in the combine and beyond.
Speaker 11 (27:44):
You know, everybody talks to Sean about, you know, the
coaches and the attrition on the stabfish you those four
guys in the front office too. How difficult is it
at this point in time when you're trying to do
all your heavy lifting on the scouting side, and how
difficult is it to replace those and keep operations going?
Speaker 5 (27:57):
You know, Yeah, we lost four really from my department.
Speaker 10 (28:01):
The good thing is a lot of good people in place,
you know, And I think success for its opportunity and
opportunity for those who leave like Mooge and Robbie and
Thus and those guys, but a lot of opportunity for
the people in the building and so we have a
great group of people and so it's just going to
depend on them.
Speaker 9 (28:17):
Last year, when we talked to you, you said one
of the focuses was to improve the defensive line, and
you absolutely were able to do that. Were some things
that you were looking for last year that you were
able to succeed And how do you sort of keep
that from dropping off?
Speaker 10 (28:27):
Of all, you always have to feed the defensive line,
and you know, we addressed it in free agency. We
signed Malcolm Roach and it wasn't a high price signing,
you know, it's more of a second wave signing, but
we we targeted him and then we're still searching. We're
fortunate JFM was available and that really chained the landscape.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
But we're defensive line.
Speaker 10 (28:44):
We had some good guys, but now we had a
lot of depth and we just keep feeding the D line. Obviously,
with DJ's up, we'd like to bring him back, but
if not, you know what's our next step When.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
You're evaluating these guys. Is it easier with respect to
us say the typ end.
Speaker 11 (28:57):
Is it easier to say, take a guy who's who's
an in line why and hope that you can move
or is it easier to take maybe that f and
say how much you just got out to block and
what we can we can It's.
Speaker 10 (29:06):
Hard to teach a why to be more athletic or faster.
So you see a lean towards them, the better athlete,
the guy with higher ceiling and trades and try to
develop them into a blocker.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
Doesn't have to be a great blocker, doesn't have to
be a leite, but just be functional. And you've seen that,
you know, over and over again throughout the draft.
Speaker 9 (29:21):
So on that for Greg Dolsic, there's a lot of
traits that he had coming in when you guys drafted him.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
It just didn't quite work out. So what were some
of the lessons you learned there? Oh, I mean he
was a good player. We'd probably draft him again.
Speaker 10 (29:32):
I mean, it just wasn't the right place for him.
We had a number of coaching you know, I think
we went through three coaches.
Speaker 5 (29:36):
He just couldn't settle in. Injuries had a big part
of it.
Speaker 10 (29:39):
And so I wouldn't be surprised if he had success
down the road. Good kids, smart, talented, you know, his
body just didn't cooperate and hopefully it does move forward.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
I've been doing this almost half a decade. Now, what's
the first.
Speaker 11 (29:51):
Thing George Payton now would go back and tell rookie
George Payton as a general manager.
Speaker 10 (29:55):
Oh boy, that is that is a good one.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
Maybe don't sweat the small things, you know, it's a
take more big picture, and I think that that would
probably help me a lot. All right, last one here
at George.
Speaker 9 (30:09):
I mean a lot of questions about the joker position.
I'm just curious for you. You're Sean talking about that
all the time, specifically we talk about running back, talking
about tight end. But in your mind, you're just looking
to add to the room, really both rooms, I think regardless, right.
Speaker 10 (30:24):
Exactly, You're just trying to bring in the best players
to help our team with who's available.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
I mean, you've seen John's great offices.
Speaker 10 (30:29):
A lot of them have jokers, but he's had some
really good offenses that didn't. So we're always looking for
the best player and if it happens to be a joker,
and great, awesome.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Thank you so much forciate you guys.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Ah, there's that term again, nick joker, joker, joker. There's
only one joker.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Like Brie Mason said last night on the show, it's
Nikolie Okitch, But hey, that's the.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Term this offseason.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Are we going to find that joker in the draft,
we find that joker in free agency? Or like George
Peyton said there at the end of the interview, do
we even need that type of joker in the offense
when we have a quarterback like bo his go set
where he can run the ball with his legs as well,
and maybe just find different ways to use the players
you already have.
Speaker 7 (31:07):
I think we need.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
To redefine what that term is because once Coach Payton
said that, everyone kind of clung to it like a
bully in the storm, right.
Speaker 7 (31:18):
And it constantly comes up.
Speaker 4 (31:20):
And for me with my NFL ears, you're looking for playmakers.
You're looking for guys who can make impact plays at
at the most important times in a given game.
Speaker 7 (31:32):
And right now, with Coach Payton saying it so.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
Much, that means in his opinion, he didn't think that
he had that many players that he can count on
in those moments. That's not to say that the Broncos
don't have talented players, but you're looking for guys who
if your quarterback is in the spot and he needs
to go to God, this is my god, Like every
quarterback or every player, like.
Speaker 7 (31:56):
We all have things that we rely on. We call
them crutches.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
But he's called he's he's called in this case because
it's a player, a joker like and Patrick Mahomes has
someone of a safety blanket in Travis kelcet year.
Speaker 7 (32:12):
If he is definitely back.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
But the whole idea, you need someone that you can
count on in that tight situation that you can get
that can give you those yards. Just like for Nick
Sirianni and the Philadelphia Eagles, their go to player is
their go to play, and that is a bunch of
players and the brotherly Shove or whatever they want to
(32:35):
call it, the what.
Speaker 7 (32:36):
Else are the names?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Push? The Packers are trying to ban that man. The
Packers are whag, How are you going to ban a play?
You know, like somebody you.
Speaker 7 (32:45):
Know, you ban it because you can't stop it.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
That's fair real quick, before we go to break.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Sean Payton was asked about finding the joker position maybe
in that twentieth pick in the first round, when.
Speaker 12 (32:57):
You picked twenty, It's not as easy as say, hey,
we're going to find that because that player can be
a running back, it can be a tight end, and
yet it's just something that we're mindful of as we
look at both the draft and free agency. And I
use that term it's just when you have one of
(33:18):
those guys that are a matchup challenges inside, it really
helps you a third down red zone because there's ways
defensively you can you can handle the outside receivers and
force the ball inside. So but that's something that we'll
look closely at.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
Sean Payton talking to the media, and then we had
our exclusive interview one you can't hear anywhere else with
Broncos GM George Payton a little bit earlier. If you
missed that, find it at Koacolorado dot com. We're going
to go inside the numbers with Ryan Michael when we
come back on Broncos Country Night on KOA F ninety
four to one FM
Filling in for Benjamin all right, as he's in Indianapolis
covering the NFL Combine for the station. And here with
my guy Nick Ferguson, let's go right out to the
Kowa Common Spirit Health hotline and bring on George Sodano.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
George. First things first.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
In the last segment, ope, do we have George Georgia there?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Okay, Yeah, First things first, we were talking in the
last segment about tattoos. Do you have any tattoos yourself?
You're willing to share a story about.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
No tattoos for me? Sorry, I'm pretty boring.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Well, you know what, we just saw the Lakers play
the Nuggets over the weekend, and I have to say this,
I've been really impressed by the Lakers because I never
thought that they would be this spot on defensively, even
with Luca in the lineup. When you look at the
Lakers team, do you look at them as a team
that's ready to push for a title with the dish
(00:52):
of Luca?
Speaker 5 (00:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Look, I think you could convince me of any of
the top nine teams in the Western Conference in the
Western Conference finals. That's how tough the West is. And
I think the addition of Luca certainly, I think makes
them a better offensive team.
Speaker 6 (01:10):
Defensively, I think there's some question marks because of the.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Lack of size in the interior, but they have a
lot of length on the perimeter, like their light.
Speaker 6 (01:20):
Up Austin Reeves is the smallest guy out there at
like six four sixty five, and then everyone else is
like sixty seven or six.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Eight, you know what I mean. So they can cover
a lot of ground defensively.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
And they've been pretty darn good.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Since January fifteenth, which is even before Lucig got there.
They've been the number one defense since that time in
the NBA.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Our guest George Sadano covers the NBA for ESPN at
Sadano on Twitter or x whatever you.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Want to call it.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Nowadays, I got to ask you about Nikola Jokics. He's
put up nineteen assists last night against the Indiana Pacers,
the second most all time by an NBA center, behind
the great Wilt Chamberlain has twenty six triple doubles this year,
more than any of his three previous NBA MVP seasons.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
What are your thoughts on his overall game this year.
Speaker 6 (02:07):
I mean, he's incredible.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
He's one of one to your pot. If you're on
a list with Wilt Chamberlain and you're the only two
guys on it, it goes to show you about your greatness. Right,
the best player in the sport, whether he wins another
MVP this year, that's a different shi. I don't think
the best player is necessarily the most valuable in a
particular season. But I think you're splitting hairs either way,
(02:30):
even when it comes to most valuable when it comes
to him or Shake Gills is Alexander because I think
that both of them obviously are incredibly valuable to their
respective squads. But yeah, I mean, he's the best player
in the sport.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Man.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
There's really not much else to say. And I mean
I've been seeing this coming for years. I remember coming
on shows in Denver when times weren't as good and
people thinking I was nuts when I said this guy
can be like a top.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
Three to five.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Player, And here we are.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
So I feel fairly vindicated in that.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Not that I'm trying to keep square or anything, but
I just feel like you guys have come a long
way as a basketball town, and that franchise in general
has taken so many steps forward and a lot of
it is because of him, and there's no shot at
anyone before him, but he is as unique a player
as we've ever had in NBA history.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Aaron Denmra I think the biggest question is Canada's Nuggets
team actually beat other teams that are over five hundred
because they want a title, and now the idea is
can they go back and duplicate that with the same
level of production. My biggest concern is not the Nuggets offense,
is the fact of how well they play defense. And
I know their philosophy is that their offense is going
(03:41):
to be their defense. Will that be enough to kind
of keep them in the conversation, but more importantly, will
that be enough to kind of get them to a
championship and win maybe a game seven?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Well, look, I think you have to be a good
defense to win a championship. I think that. You know,
the year they won, I believe they were just outside
and defensively, and if you look at it historically, I
think it was them and like the two thousand and
(04:14):
one Lakers were the only teams to win a championship
that didn't have a top ten defense. Now, again, the
difference was you had this unbelievable offense. You have this
unique player, this Unicorn that we just discussed, and also.
Speaker 6 (04:30):
That year their defense was so bad.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Up until Christmas that it was towards the bottom of
the league.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
But then from that point.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
On they were legit like a top five or six
defense the rest of the way, but they still couldn't crack.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
The top ten.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
So it was a little bit misleading even though they
weren't in that top ten. This team, and I know
Michael Malone has harped on this a ton, they're not
even close to the defensive team they were the year
they won the championship, and I think losing KCP is
a huge loss for them. You're putting a lot of
pressure on Aaron Gordon specifically to defend and you know
(05:08):
average to above average defenders at best, and that becomes
a little more challenging. But to me, the Western Conference
is very matchup defendant, and if they can find themselves
playing against teams where they don't score the ball, I
don't really high rate. They're not an elite offense.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
I think that they'll.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Be fine in those types of matchups, but if not,
they're going to find themselves in a bit of a pickle,
and it'll be a bit of a challenge to get
beyond each individual round. But look, man, when you got
that guy in Jokic, nothing should be a surprise.
Speaker 6 (05:50):
If they can, they hoist another trophy.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Sure, I wouldn't be surprised, So I think it's likely.
Speaker 6 (05:55):
Probably not, but I.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Do think that they're capable because that guy is that good.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, we got that.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Guy in Denver.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
If they are making it out able to make it
out of the Western Conference, who do you like coming
out of the East? I know that Cleveland Cavaliers are
having an outrageous regular season, so certainly beating up on
the Magic again tonight, forty seven and ten on the year,
But you got the Celtics just six games behind, and
of course the defending NBA champions What are your thoughts
(06:23):
on the Eastern Conference?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
It's still Boston to me. They're going through the typical
championship malaise. And it's not like they're playing poorly, like
they have a good record too. It's just Cleveland is
playing great, as you mentioned, in the regular season, and
it's different when you're the Celtics, and I had them
a ton in the middle of the season when they
were struggling a bit. It's different when you're the champs.
(06:48):
Even though you're the Boston Celtics and teams are going
to get up for you because you're the Boston Celtics,
it's still different than you're the champs, Like you're getting
E three team's best effort every single night, whether it's
the Washington Wizards or the Cleveland Cavaliers. And I think
that the long season, the short summer. They also had
(07:09):
a trip to Abby in the preseason, which was not
helpful I think at least early on for them that
I think that between that and some injury issues.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
They found some struggles and they had to kind.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Of find their way again. But now they're rolling again.
And if I had to pick a team to win
the title, it would still be them, So I would
certainly take them out of the Eastern Conference.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Well, here's a big, another big conversation for you, George,
the MVP. That's always one of the top conversations. And
here in Denver, obviously we think that there's no one
in an NBA better than Nikola Jokis. Now, give give
me something that maybe I can walk away with that
says that maybe there's someone else who could possibly take
that MVP away from Joker this season?
Speaker 7 (07:56):
Cool?
Speaker 3 (07:56):
I mean, shake Gildes. Alexander is the best player on
the best team. I mean, he's an unbelievable scorer, you know,
at two levels for sure, and probably three because his
three point shot has gotten a lot better and more consistent.
And defensively, I believe he leads the league in steels
or at least as close to that. I mean, he's
an all around player. I mean I mentioned this earlier
(08:19):
when you guys were asking me about Jokic, and I
think O Jokic is still the best player, but that
to me is not necessarily mean he's the most valuable player.
I think that you look at that this Denver team, Okay,
they have guys who won a championship. They have veteran
guys who have been a big part of a championship
team in Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Junior. This
(08:42):
Oklahoma City team, while I think that they are incredibly talented,
their average age is twenty four years old. Like that
that's insane, Like I don't recall a one seed to
have an average age of twenty four years old, except
for last year.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
They Oklahoma City Thunder when they were younger, and they.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Now had the experience of the heartache of losing to Dallas.
And every year they've had a different experience. They were
in the play in and then they got knocked out
in the second play in game, and then last year
they got knocked down in the second round in Dallas.
And now to me, they're even more laser focused. The
question with them is just about like can they get
heart and sign and home grown enough time together to
(09:27):
play well. But when you have a guy like Shay,
like you know, I said, you guys have that guy
and anything, you can do anything and achieve anything because
you have that guy. They do have that guy and
even though he's younger and.
Speaker 6 (09:39):
Doesn't have that kind of championship experience.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Yet, there's going to come a time where he does.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
And usually when these teams, these young teams.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Break through, it happens because for two reasons. It usually
happens because they defend at a high level, which they do.
They're the number one defense in the NBA, and because
one of the top three to five players in the
sport and they do so. I think that Shae is
the MVP this year and that's not a knock on Jokic. Jokic,
(10:11):
as I mentioned, I think he's the best player, but
Shake gild Jill just Alexander taking eight twenty three twenty
four year old loss. Sir, Okay, I'm a bunch of
twenty three and twenty four year olds and younger really
in a lot of cases and taking them to back
to back one seeds and being the favorite to win
the championship. I mean that that start begins and ends
(10:35):
with him. Like when I talk to their coach, he
has a saying when it comes to them, and he says.
Speaker 6 (10:41):
Our consistency. The pillar of our consistency.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Starts number two with Shake Guild is Alexander, and he's
wise beyond his years and more skillful than most players
at his age, and you just don't see that combination
very often. So for me this year, he'd be the
guy I wrote for.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
You make a convincing case there, George. We appreciate your
time as always, man. Thanks for carving now some time
for us tonight, and have a great rest of your night.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
You gotta guys enjoy the rest of your show. Thanks
for having me.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
George is the best man.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
He is, and you know, I wanted to put him
on the spot because I know what individuals here in
Denver think about the Denver Nuggets, but more importantly Nicola Jokic.
Speaker 7 (11:27):
But to get.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Someone's national outside opinion, for me, I thought that was
great because I respect George for what he does for
the fall out of network and he does a great job,
you know, covering the game of basketball. And when I
think about this year's MVP race, I do think it's
SGA's year.
Speaker 7 (11:49):
Like last year, he had one heck of a season.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
But at the end, I mean Nicola was able to
edge him out because he is just like he's a
phenomena all within himself. But I think right now and
George is right being on a young team that's done
it in back to back years and you're doing it consistently,
and they don't know what they don't know because for
them being in this position is it's customary.
Speaker 7 (12:13):
It's just like breathe into them and he's he's really
leading this team.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
And if you and this starts the conversation when we
look at MVPs, is it the most valuable player right
on that team? You take him away or we just
look at oh man, he just got solid performance out.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
Of the guy.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I think there's a conversation to be had with within
that conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yeah, and I respect George's opinion, but I'm going to
respectfully disagree. And maybe it is my Denver hometown bias,
but I mean just the numbers with Joker this year.
I mean he's having He's a three time MVP and
he's having his best year ever. Listen to this stat
Yokich's on pace to become just a second player in
NBA history to average thirty points a game on fifty
(12:56):
percent from the field and forty percent from three.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Do you know who the only other player in NBA
history is that?
Speaker 7 (13:03):
Who's that?
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Steph Curry in twenty fifteen twenty sixteen. Steph's numbers in
that year thirty point one points per game, fifty percent
field goal percentage, forty five percent from three. Jokich this
season thirty point two points per game, fifty six percent
field goal percentage, and forty eight percent from.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Three point range. As a center in the NBA, and he.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Drops nineteen assists last year, I would argue he is
the most valuable player on a team, like more than
Shai Gilgess Alexander because we've seen the numbers, the offensive
rating when he is on the floor historically the best
of all time.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
When he's off the floor historically the worst of all time.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I mean, what more value can you bring to a
team than making them the best ever when you're on
the court and the worst ever when you're off the court.
Speaker 7 (13:51):
Well, he is interesting about this conversation.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I mean, you can say the same thing for Sga
Yannis and nikolea Jokis because you take either of those
guys off the floor with their current teams, obviously the
office and defense drops down tremendously.
Speaker 7 (14:07):
Well, but I guess the thing that sticks.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Out for me we already know what type of player
Nicole Yokich is and that is not something that someone
can dispute. What I like is also looking at a
young player in SGA's position leading that team, because oftentimes
it's always a veteran guy leading a bunch of youngsters.
But here is a young guy leading a bunch of youngsters,
(14:30):
and I'm thinking, at some point you got to give
him his flowers and his validation, because if that doesn't
happen this year, you have to ask yourself, if Nicola
plays let's say eight more years and the SGA is
still playing at this level with OKC, he never gets
that award.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, well, that's like Michael Jordan or Lebron James at
the beginning of his career.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
He should have been MVP every year, but.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
He couldn't because you know, you had other players like
Kobe Bryant was still in his prime at that time.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Kind Of like the Lamar Jackson not winning the MVP
this year in the NFL. In my mind, Josh Allen
wins it this year. But I think Lamar Jackson had
a better year than his MVP season last year and
still didn't get the award this year just because they didn't.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Want to give it to him again.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
And by the way, that season I mentioned from Steph,
Zach Segers just said this in my year, Steph was
the only unanimous MVP in NBA history with those numbers.
And we're saying Joker is not going to win the
MVP this year.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Well, I don't think it's allgument of saying that he's
not going to win it. I think he deserve it
of it. But then you look at SGA and say,
you know what I mean, it's about consistency. We start
thinking about these accolades and MVPs. How consistent can that
player actually be? And I think Sga is doing a
great job. But here's a bigger conversation. If Nicola or Sga,
(15:51):
SGA wins it or even Giannis now you're talking.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
About you can take the honest out of that time.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yanna's had the conversation, but you would be to say,
in the past couple of years, five to six years
in NBA, in association, it's been won by an international player.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
I think we need to continue that conversation. On the
other side, you're listening to Broncos Country to Night. Thanks
again for George Sadano from join us from NBA on ESPN.
We will be back in just a couple of minutes
on Broncos Country Night on KOA A fifty AM and
ninety four to one FM. Hi Tim, your guest's host
(16:29):
Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright as he covers
the NFL Combine live out in Indianapolis and here with
my guy Nick Ferguson. Thanks to George Sadano for joining
us in the last segment. Brian Edwards Earlier in this show,
If you want to get involved in the show. Text
us on the Common Spirit health text line at five six,
six nine zero one that came in.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
A little bit earlier from the three to zero three.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
That was a cool interview with Coach about the origins
of the combine. Always wondered where that name came from,
combining medical records.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Love Sean too.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
He seems so much more relaxed this year, and Indy
we do have an exclusive one on one with Ryan
Edwards and Broncos GM George Peyton coming up here in
just a couple of minutes. Going back to our NBA
conversation from the three six to so, Nikola is more valuable,
his plus minus is higher. I think that's in regards
to the MVP race this year. What you were teasing
(17:21):
something about international players dominating the NBA before we went
to the break.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Expand on that a little bit, Nick, Well, Yeah, when.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
You look at the MVPs in the league dating back
to twenty nineteen, that's when Yanna's wonted back to back.
Then after that, from twenty one to twenty two, Nicola
won and then there was that speed bumm which was
Joel Embiid and then Nicola jok wanted again.
Speaker 7 (17:46):
The last time an American born player won the.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
MVP for the Association was back at twenty eighteen, and
that was James Harden.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
And it's crazy to believe because when you think about
the game itself, it's gone globally. It's an international game.
This is why the NFL is trying to take a
piece of.
Speaker 7 (18:06):
It and why they have so many games.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Over in London, right and Brazil now but right so
so they're trying.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
To expand out and try to copy exactly what the
NBA has done.
Speaker 7 (18:18):
But to know that, I mean, you've had.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Several players who are not American born players win this
Covet Award. That says a lot about how basketball has
changed on a global landscape.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I think it also says a lot about the style
of play from an American perspective. With the US born
players compared to international players, it just seems like there's
so much more fundamental. They just do the little things,
you know, you think about Nikola and Giannis and Luca,
they do all the little things right, the small things
in the game, And it seems like the NBA players
(18:54):
it's more one on one basketball. The Steph Curry effect
of you know, just launching up long three pointers and
the international guys have a more well rounded skill set.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
It feels like, you know what, here's a.
Speaker 7 (19:06):
Player who's I believe is a hybrid of both. And
that was Kobe Bryant.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
Yeah, because you think.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
About when his dad was playing overseas.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
I was gonna say, yeah, he's got that international.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
Upbrading, yes, So he had to learn his fundamentals like
a lot of international players. Think about Luca. Luca was
playing against like grown men when he was like fifteen
and two, right, so it made him better because he
took a couple of l's and the same thing happened
with Kobe here in the in the States.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
And I'll say.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
The reason because of it is because of the and
one mixtape. Yeah, everybody, yes, hot sauce, Yes, everyone wants
to one on one dribble, right, And we moved so
far away from the team.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Game's watching the play so much.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Exactly because we usually we see point guards being able
to see the entire floor and able to get everyone
else involved in distribute the ball. I know, the Kolok
is a tall guy, so he could see the full Well,
what the lobs no, look, bounce, passes.
Speaker 7 (20:06):
All of those things. That's the all around game that
we're missing here. And it brings me around to you
think about what we saw in four Nations.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah right, so good, so good.
Speaker 7 (20:18):
And I didn't grow up with hockey. I'm not a.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Hockey savant, but four Nations pulled me in right, And
I think that's what Gary Bettman was hoping, because when
you look at the pecking order for sports and you
can tell me if I'm right or wrong, I go NFL, NBA, MLB,
and the NHL rounded.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
At the bottom.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Yeah, I would agree with that, Okay, but I think
that may be changing after this four Nations. I mean
ten million viewers for the final, Yes, what NBA game
is it drawing that this year? What MLB game is
going to draw that this year? Except for the World Series.
I mean they made a big This was a big
splash by the NHL, and it got everyone hooked.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
And now I've caught myself. The last couple of nights
I get home.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
From here and I'm watching the apps play on altitude.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Now that I can watch it again.
Speaker 7 (21:08):
Like it's got me hooked.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
It makes you think like, okay, well, first of all,
I want to know who came up with the idea, right,
me too, because that person needs their flowers, right, because
usually the person who comes up with the idea is
not the person who's often out front, right right, So
we need to figure out who that person is.
Speaker 7 (21:25):
But I think this whole idea of.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Just because you got the Olympics coming up, but then
you can have these tournaments in between.
Speaker 7 (21:32):
It's almost like somewhat of an international build up.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
And you know, the one thing that people rally behind,
they rally behind their teams, but they really rally behind
their countries.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yeah, you see that in the World Cup and soccer.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
You know you have the Premier League where you have
all these different teams in England, but when England's playing,
they don't care if that guy is a Liver Liverpool
player and they're a man you fan. They're behind that
guy for this World Cup.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
And I think for me, once again, I don't know
who came up with the idea, but it is freaking
brilliant and it makes me wonder, well, why didn't Houck
you think about this, or least you.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Hear Gary Bedman.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Then I tel Commissioner talking about it on the Rich
Eisend Show.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
This is what he had to say.
Speaker 8 (22:14):
The four Nations was kind of a quick appetizer. What
we're going to do is Olympics two years later, a
World Cup two years later, Olympics two years later, a
World Cup, and the World Cup will have at least
eight countries participating, and that's something we're in the process
of finalizing. And this world status may have something to
(22:34):
do with exactly how we pull that all together.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
But we're looking to do a full World Cup like
you see in soccer.
Speaker 8 (22:42):
We're going to look to do it in a variety
of locations, and not just in North America.
Speaker 7 (22:46):
We'll be looking to do it in Europe as well.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Four nations of the four nations is at one off, Well, I.
Speaker 8 (22:52):
Don't know, it depends on the you know what. The
success has been so quick and overwhelming. We've got a
lot of things to contend to consider and sort out,
including what our own all star game looks like going forward.
So you're asking the absolute right questions and I don't
have old the right answers yet because we've got a
(23:13):
lot to work through.
Speaker 7 (23:15):
Listen, it was all good.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
It was all good.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
That was Gary Bettman on the Rich eisend show, and
Rich kind of seemed like taking aback, like, oh, the
Four Nations was a one off, but it seemed like
he was explaining it was just the beginning of what
we're trying to do. We're gonna make this He's even bigger.
We're going to play on more international stages. We're going
to have more countries involved, and I think that's all
good news for the NHL.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
I think for me Gray and this was kind of
a litmus tess. Let's throw it out there, Let's see
if it works, if it catch fire with four teams, now,
we'll see if more countries or more fans we can
pull in with this idea and the idea work. And
usually when you give something, we all victimize by this
(23:58):
as consumers that sale for a short period of time only, right,
or an artist coming back the last tour.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Or whatever Elton John six times exactly.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
And because we feel as though we have that fomo
like if you're missing out, we got to be a
part of Right, I gotta say that I was there
when this happens.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
So what they did was use tactics that people only use.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
In marketing with marketing their sport in a way that
they'd never done before once again is bloody brilliant.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Yeah, and getting the buy in from the superstars in
the league. You know, like they could have easily been
like the NBA All Star Game and said, oh, we'll
go out and kind of you know, half asset, but
in hockey you can't. So if you're going to commit
to a game like this, you know you got to
go full out. And man, what a show they put
on those two games between the USA and Canada. And
(24:49):
like you said, just having the country behind it, you're
going to get everyone rallying behind their respective country. But
the performance on the ice, that overtime winner, I mean, well,
who's a goalie for Canada. Jordan Bennington, the Saint Louis.
Saint Louis Blues goalie. He stood on his head and
overtime I thought the US was gonna win that a
couple of times.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
He was masterful between the pipes is blocking every single attempt.
And I was like, at some point, I mean, the
United States was in Canada zone. It seemed like almost
like two minutes it comes and I was on the
edge of my seat like, oh, it's nothing happened.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
No, it didn happen.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Color, Nothing happened, happened, and that is the kind of
drama that you want. But as hockey looks to move
to eight teams and host it in other countries, the
one thing you need in order to make this work,
because let's think about why it worked. First of all,
it was four teams, but it came down to two
teams who are neighbors right in the United States and Canada.
(25:50):
And Canada was like, no, what we invented.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
This Swiss as our sport.
Speaker 7 (25:53):
This is our sport. So what Betman is going to
have to do?
Speaker 4 (25:57):
As he looked at these eighteen you get a need heroes,
You gotta need villains.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Yeah, that's what you mean. Well, I think the easy
villain to find right now is.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
If they get a Russian team in there, and then
the whole rest of the world will band against them.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
You know, I promised this earlier. We are Broncost country tonight.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
I'm Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright, but we
had an exclusive interview today with George Peyton, with Ryan
Edwards and Benjamin Albright.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
I thought it was worth resharing.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
You know, we're the only ones to get the Broncos
GM with one on one after he met the media today.
So I want to share this with you, Nick, and
then we'll react to it on the other side.
Speaker 9 (26:35):
All right, George, let's go and start about a year ago.
You met bo Nick's here at the Combine. What are
some things that you took away from that meeting that
led us to this point here.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
Yeah, that was just the start of a process of
the draft process and obviously left a good impression on
us right away.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
And then you know, we followed that up.
Speaker 10 (26:50):
Through the pro day and the private workout and just
spend a lot of time with them and to kind
of set the table for him being a Bronco.
Speaker 5 (26:56):
Which we're excited about a lot of people talking about
the tight end right now.
Speaker 11 (27:00):
Obviously some rumors float around Twitter with the return of Gronkowski.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Is there any truth to any of that? We just
signed them, Actually, man, no, I just heard that on
my way over here. That's pretty cool. He wants to
be a Bronco. You know, pretty bazy stuff. Sitting on
the offensive side of the ball. Sean talked about how
much you really love the offensive line. You guys really
liked what they were able to do.
Speaker 9 (27:21):
What are some of the qualities that you guys are
looking for at the running back position this year.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
Yeah, I mean, I think we're just looking for the
right piece.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
You know.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
There's there's so many different flavors in.
Speaker 10 (27:30):
This draft, and you have kind of the scap backs,
you have the power backs. You're just looking for a
guy that can do everything, and you know, and they're
hard to find. So the good thing is there's a
lot of backs in this draft, and so we're excited
to kind of get into it in the combine and beyond.
Speaker 11 (27:44):
You know, everybody talks to Sean about, you know, the
coaches and the attrition on the stabfish you those four
guys in the front office too. How difficult is it
at this point in time when you're trying to do
all your heavy lifting on the scouting side, and how
difficult is it to replace those and keep operations going?
Speaker 5 (27:57):
You know, Yeah, we lost four really from my department.
Speaker 10 (28:01):
The good thing is a lot of good people in place,
you know, And I think success for its opportunity and
opportunity for those who leave like Mooge and Robbie and
Thus and those guys, but a lot of opportunity for
the people in the building and so we have a
great group of people and so it's just going to
depend on them.
Speaker 9 (28:17):
Last year, when we talked to you, you said one
of the focuses was to improve the defensive line, and
you absolutely were able to do that. Were some things
that you were looking for last year that you were
able to succeed And how do you sort of keep
that from dropping off?
Speaker 10 (28:27):
Of all, you always have to feed the defensive line,
and you know, we addressed it in free agency. We
signed Malcolm Roach and it wasn't a high price signing,
you know, it's more of a second wave signing, but
we we targeted him and then we're still searching. We're
fortunate JFM was available and that really chained the landscape.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
But we're defensive line.
Speaker 10 (28:44):
We had some good guys, but now we had a
lot of depth and we just keep feeding the D line. Obviously,
with DJ's up, we'd like to bring him back, but
if not, you know what's our next step When.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
You're evaluating these guys. Is it easier with respect to
us say the typ end.
Speaker 11 (28:57):
Is it easier to say, take a guy who's who's
an in line why and hope that you can move
or is it easier to take maybe that f and
say how much you just got out to block and
what we can we can It's.
Speaker 10 (29:06):
Hard to teach a why to be more athletic or faster.
So you see a lean towards them, the better athlete,
the guy with higher ceiling and trades and try to
develop them into a blocker.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
Doesn't have to be a great blocker, doesn't have to
be a leite, but just be functional. And you've seen that,
you know, over and over again throughout the draft.
Speaker 9 (29:21):
So on that for Greg Dolsic, there's a lot of
traits that he had coming in when you guys drafted him.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
It just didn't quite work out. So what were some
of the lessons you learned there? Oh, I mean he
was a good player. We'd probably draft him again.
Speaker 10 (29:32):
I mean, it just wasn't the right place for him.
We had a number of coaching you know, I think
we went through three coaches.
Speaker 5 (29:36):
He just couldn't settle in. Injuries had a big part
of it.
Speaker 10 (29:39):
And so I wouldn't be surprised if he had success
down the road. Good kids, smart, talented, you know, his
body just didn't cooperate and hopefully it does move forward.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
I've been doing this almost half a decade. Now, what's
the first.
Speaker 11 (29:51):
Thing George Payton now would go back and tell rookie
George Payton as a general manager.
Speaker 10 (29:55):
Oh boy, that is that is a good one.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
Maybe don't sweat the small things, you know, it's a
take more big picture, and I think that that would
probably help me a lot. All right, last one here
at George.
Speaker 9 (30:09):
I mean a lot of questions about the joker position.
I'm just curious for you. You're Sean talking about that
all the time, specifically we talk about running back, talking
about tight end. But in your mind, you're just looking
to add to the room, really both rooms, I think regardless, right.
Speaker 10 (30:24):
Exactly, You're just trying to bring in the best players
to help our team with who's available.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
I mean, you've seen John's great offices.
Speaker 10 (30:29):
A lot of them have jokers, but he's had some
really good offenses that didn't. So we're always looking for
the best player and if it happens to be a joker,
and great, awesome.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Thank you so much forciate you guys.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Ah, there's that term again, nick joker, joker, joker. There's
only one joker.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Like Brie Mason said last night on the show, it's
Nikolie Okitch, But hey, that's the.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Term this offseason.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Are we going to find that joker in the draft,
we find that joker in free agency? Or like George
Peyton said there at the end of the interview, do
we even need that type of joker in the offense
when we have a quarterback like bo his go set
where he can run the ball with his legs as well,
and maybe just find different ways to use the players
you already have.
Speaker 7 (31:07):
I think we need.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
To redefine what that term is because once Coach Payton
said that, everyone kind of clung to it like a
bully in the storm, right.
Speaker 7 (31:18):
And it constantly comes up.
Speaker 4 (31:20):
And for me with my NFL ears, you're looking for playmakers.
You're looking for guys who can make impact plays at
at the most important times in a given game.
Speaker 7 (31:32):
And right now, with Coach Payton saying it so.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
Much, that means in his opinion, he didn't think that
he had that many players that he can count on
in those moments. That's not to say that the Broncos
don't have talented players, but you're looking for guys who
if your quarterback is in the spot and he needs
to go to God, this is my god, Like every
quarterback or every player, like.
Speaker 7 (31:56):
We all have things that we rely on. We call
them crutches.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
But he's called he's he's called in this case because
it's a player, a joker like and Patrick Mahomes has
someone of a safety blanket in Travis kelcet year.
Speaker 7 (32:12):
If he is definitely back.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
But the whole idea, you need someone that you can
count on in that tight situation that you can get
that can give you those yards. Just like for Nick
Sirianni and the Philadelphia Eagles, their go to player is
their go to play, and that is a bunch of
players and the brotherly Shove or whatever they want to
(32:35):
call it, the what.
Speaker 7 (32:36):
Else are the names?
Speaker 2 (32:37):
Push? The Packers are trying to ban that man. The
Packers are whag, How are you going to ban a play?
You know, like somebody you.
Speaker 7 (32:45):
Know, you ban it because you can't stop it.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
That's fair real quick, before we go to break.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Sean Payton was asked about finding the joker position maybe
in that twentieth pick in the first round, when.
Speaker 12 (32:57):
You picked twenty, It's not as easy as say, hey,
we're going to find that because that player can be
a running back, it can be a tight end, and
yet it's just something that we're mindful of as we
look at both the draft and free agency. And I
use that term it's just when you have one of
(33:18):
those guys that are a matchup challenges inside, it really
helps you a third down red zone because there's ways
defensively you can you can handle the outside receivers and
force the ball inside. So but that's something that we'll
look closely at.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
Sean Payton talking to the media, and then we had
our exclusive interview one you can't hear anywhere else with
Broncos GM George Payton a little bit earlier. If you
missed that, find it at Koacolorado dot com. We're going
to go inside the numbers with Ryan Michael when we
come back on Broncos Country Night on KOA F ninety
four to one FM
Popular Podcasts
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
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
Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!