May 27, 2024 • 41 mins
Chris Broussard & Rob Parker discuss whether LeBron James should leave Los Angeles and join Philly or maybe another Los Angeles star should go to Philly.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
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Speaker 2 (00:25):
Get this puny, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It is The Odd Couple, hour number three of a
three hour show. Chris brus or Ron Parker with broadcasting
live from the tireraq dot com studios. Tirereg dot com
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(00:52):
the way tire buying should be.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
At the bottom of the.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Hour, mark Funky Cole Madina will be joining us to
talk all things NBA and that rob is where we
will start in the n B A Now, over the weekend,
during one of the playoff games, there was an alternate
(01:16):
cast Alternative cast right where they had Chris Haynes of
TNT and Vince Carter, the Hall of Fame basketball player,
who else was.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
On there.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Bemani Jones, and there was one more person I can't
think or Adam Lefko of TNT.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
And rob they had Rich paul On.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
From Clutch Sports, Lebron James's agent, and Rich was talking
about the state of the Lakers and he said he
just said it kind of in passing that Lebron.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Is a free agent.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And Chris Haynes jumped on it like, hey, hey, hey,
you just said Lebron's a free agent, like he was
breaking you know, Rich was breaking news.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
And Rich said, well, you know, I'm not.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
The type two negotiat or break news over the air
or something like that. And but it became a huge story, Robber.
You probably saw it on Twitter and all that stuff.
It's kind of a big non story because we all
knew that Lebron he has one year about fifty one
million dollars left on his deal. We all knew know
(02:30):
he's going to become a free agent just because he
behoo's him to do it. Financially he can make more money,
get like a three year, one hundred and sixty two
million dollar deal or something like that. And so, but
when this became a big deal, rob you started seeing
reports about teams that would go after Lebron as a
(02:52):
free agent Philadelphia Phoenix. Phoenix has no money he'd have
to pay. He have to go there and play for
the pay for the mini that's not happening. So we
could just just take Phoenix off the list. And the
only team though really that could pay him what the
Lakers can or close, I should say, is the Philadelphia
(03:13):
seventy six ers ribe and we know they got max
money and they want a team a third star with
Joel Embiid and.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Tyres Max.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
And so here's what I look. I think we both
I don't want to speak for you. I firmly believe
Lebron James is going to stay with the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
I believe you do as well.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Not like like not even I can't even give you
a million a million, like yeah, like you're not one sentilla.
How about that?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I may not look, I think, is there can anything happen?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
But I feel too did he staying with the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So I want to just do something for the sake
of discussion, because we both again think he's gonna stay
with the Lakers. If you're the Philadelphia seventy six ers
and it's been reported robbed that Paul George is their
number one target.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Would you rather have.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Paul George or Lebron James next season or for the
next two three years, whatever it.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Is, Paul George. I just would take Paul George going forward. Lebron,
I just don't, Chris. I get it that he'll have
two other players. He's had Anthony Davis, He's had other players.
I'm just not positive where Lebron is that you're gonna
(04:44):
win a championship no matter where he goes. I really
I'm not convinced of that. I'm not so you think
they'd be better with Paul. I just think over the
long court, over the long haul, they could be if
Paul George when he's right, Chris, he plays, He's a
tremendous player. But I get it he's had some stinkers
that make people turn off to him. He's been injured
(05:05):
to there's a lot. And then couple with the with
the Kawhi Leonard and just you know, the Clippers organization.
I think you have even a worse feeling about him
because of those things. You know, like it's a it's
a it's a culmination of a couple things. So when
you look at Paul George, there's more of a frown
(05:28):
than there was a smile. Is that fair? Do you
know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Because of no, I know exactly what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
And that's why I Rob, honestly my answer, even though
he's five years older and Paul George is no spring Chicken,
he's thirty four, but Lebron obviously thirty nine, gonna be forty, right, Yeah,
even so, Rob, I would take Lebron if I were
(05:55):
the Sixers and I could get I don't think they can.
If I could get Lebron, I would go.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
For him over Paul George. And here's why.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Like you said it, Paul George is as injury prone
as Lebron is at this stage of their careers.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And I think, Rob, and i'm I'm I'll.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Be interested in your thought.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
I think Lebron's still better than Paul George.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Like right now, I think he's a better player than
Paul George.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
That will he be three years from.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Now, I don't know, But right now, like last this season,
he was better.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Than Paul George.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, I don't. I don't know. There's something about Lebron
and the empty calories Chris, and he just didn't for
the numbers he put up, they didn't win enough or
consistently enough for me. And that's why I question it.
I just I get the numbers, but the results should
have been better.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
But I hear you and I and i've you know,
I've brought that up. Maybe it was the first to
talk about his impact on the game is the same.
But I'm comparing that to vintage Lebron James. Like, yeah,
I'm saying, yeah, his numbers look like they look ten
years ago. But don't be fooled. He's not that Lebron James.
(07:16):
But I mean when I compare him to it, Paul
George has never been close to Lebron James. And I think,
like I mean, the proofs in the pudding, Lebron's made
all NBA this year, Paul George didn't, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
And so I just think, still Lebron's better.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Now.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Maybe you know you're talking about not just a one
year deal. Will Lebron be better in two years, three years?
I don't know, but right now I think he's better.
But here's this is why, Because I get if you're saying.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Well, George will be better for the long haul.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
But see Rob, if I'm Philadelphia, I am not looking
at Joe LMBI at his numerical age.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
You know what I'm saying. I'm looking at Joel Embi.
This man, this dude.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Who knows how long he's got. We gotta win now.
He's thirty years old, but he seems that the body
of a.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Forty year old. I agree, but you.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You know, so I would say, I'm going for it now.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
And if I think Lebron gives us the best chance
to win it next year, then I'm going.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
To get him.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
But there's also a chance. And I know last year
was better for him, but he had been hurt like
three of the first four years. Paul George, I know,
but as you get to be forty years old, I'm
afraid if I'll be afraid if I was Philly. I mean,
look all the players usually in their careers on that,
you know what I mean, where there's some devastating achilles
(08:38):
or some sort of injury, And I'm not wishing that
on Lebron. I'm giving you Chris, you know what I'm
talking about.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
It's fair, but it also rod can happen to Paul George.
He's in his like he'll be in his fifteenth season
and he's, like I said, he's been injury from Rob.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Last year he.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Played fifty six games or two years ago year.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Before that he played thirty one games. No, I get it.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Have fifty four year before like forty year old?
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Four years old is a difference in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, I would go with Lebron.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And if I'm Lebron.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And again we both have said it. We think he's
staying in LA. There's so many other things for him.
His family is here robing there. Look, yes, Brian, he's
gone and he's not gonna be playing at USC. He'll
be in the NBA, looks like, but Bryce is his
younger son is still in LA, playing in high school.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
His daughter is playing. You know, his has friends and stuff. Look,
you can move. I mean I moved a lot as
a kid.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
But my guess is that they want to stay rooted
in LA's got his record, your dad, Yeah, we were,
I mean after the A rib of eight. I never
lived anywhere until I was an adult from from for
five years.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Wow, I can't.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I thought about it as an you know, as an adult,
Rob time fly so much.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
We lived in Syracuse, New York for a year and
a half.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I'm like, how in the world, Yeah, wouldn't even be unpowered,
right and the right and then but you know at.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Lebron with the suitcase your your dad has right right
right with the statue.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
I mean, but you know, when you're a kid, though
you're going to school every day, you're playing sports, you
know what I mean. Like, I really felt like we
were rooted and they're in Syracuse.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
You know, just like every other place.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
But you look at it as an adult, like, my gosh,
that was that was such a short time to be somewhere.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
But anyway, so yeah, so we think Lebron will stay there.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
But I'm just gonna say, straight from a basketball standpoint, Rob,
I think if it was just about basketball and where
can I win and play well, I would say Philly
is the place to go. You got a good coach
and Nick Nurse. You obviously have two great players with
you and Rob. It's not like like, let's say he
went to Phillya one nobody could be like, you know,
(11:05):
the Kevin Durant Golden State thing and no, Philly hadn't
even been to the conference finals. Would in bed like
you could not say he went to a stacked team.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Obviously he's got some.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Great players, but it would be viewed as he whether
he led him or in be like whoever. But he
was critical to them getting over the hump and winning
the championship. So I don't think it'll happen. But I
think for both parties, Rob that that would be. If
I'm the Sixers, I would pull out all the stops
(11:38):
to go get Lebron.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I just I get it. You feel like you're trying
to win. Will Lebron help you win? You think what
he adds, But the truth of the matter is the
last few years, even like I say, with a D
and some of the stuff, I just I don't think
(12:01):
Lebron's gonna win again. Chris, I don't care what the
team is. And I say that without knowing. Obviously I
know what I mean. I say that blindly, but I
just don't. If he wins another championship, I'll be shocked.
I just would be. I don't.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I Look, I've said it myself. I don't think he's
gonna win again.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I've been assuming he's gonna stay in la If he
went to Philly, that would be interesting.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
But even in the East, it wouldn't be automatic, wouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
But but don't you think it'd be easier than the West.
You basically have Milwaukee and Boston.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Now that's not.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Easy because those two are good. We assume Milwaukee would
be better next year.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
And then Miami. I mean, they always seem to have
some go you know what I mean, And I don't
I don't know. I don't know about the Knicks. If
they make the right move or if they get another player,
could they be like in the way you know, I'm
just starting to look at the East a little bit, uh,
but definitely not the West with all those like I
can't see agree teams. I mean, no, and.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Rob, what we're seeing. I mean, we've talked about it.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I even said I thought the only team that the
Lakers definitely couldn't beat was Denver, and that was largely
because of the questions you know, I had about Okay,
our Minnesota. Okay, see for real now, Rob, I mean Denver, Dallas, Okay,
see Minnesota. Like all these teams are ahead of the Lakers,
and they will be next year. It's just I mean,
(13:26):
the Lakers aren't. They aren't getting through the West like
so I look, I think it'd be good for him,
but I don't see it happen, But let's throwing it out.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Throw it out to the callers eight.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Seven seven ninety nine on Fox. If you're the Philadelphia
seventy six ers and you have money to burn this offseason?
Would you rather have Lebron James or Paul George take
everything into consideration? Age the whole nine eight seven seven
ninety nine on Fox.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Your thoughts next, Chris a Rob The Odd Couple.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR two.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
NBA Insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right
into the NBA great.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Fight, all happening in only one place.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
This League Uncut, the new NBA podcast with me Chris
Haynes and me Mark Stein, join us as we team
up to expound on everything we're covering. Hearing and Chason.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get
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Speaker 1 (14:57):
All right, it's the Odd Couple Chris and Rob from
the tie rack dot Com studios. Yeah, turned the way in.
If you're the Philadelphia seventy six ers, you got money
to burn? Do you want Lebron or Paul George next
season in free agency?
Speaker 2 (15:18):
All right, Chris, let's kick it off with Kyle and
Virginia Beach. You're on the Odd Couple of Fox Sports Radio.
What's up, Kyle?
Speaker 6 (15:26):
Hey, we're Moral Day Weekend.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Yes, sir, what's up buddy?
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Yes, I've not called the past few weeks because I'm
mourning my Dimverer Nuggets walls. But it's fine.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Oh yes, and we get it. And now to see, uh,
you know, the te Wolves going down. I know it's
gotta hurt, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Are you rooting for one of these two teams? Dallas
or Minnesota?
Speaker 6 (15:50):
To be honest, if it was college basketball, I'd be
rooting for Minnesota. But it's the NBA, so I you know,
I really want Dallas dwyns O. Yeah, okay, I mean
just because I like the story that's going on with
Kyrie getting a reinvigoration of no nonsense, right, just don
just got he's playing. Well, he's young, he's twenty he's.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Like twenty five.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
Yeah, and it's like gets created that story. But onswer
the question you all had taking Lebron man, it's just
but you all talked about it right before the questions like,
hey all, Gorgs been out forty games, he's only played
forty games, fifty five games something something something like why
would you want a guy like that? But you get
Lebron James, he comes in. He's a culture creator.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Yeah, you know, Lebron has been heard too. I mean,
let's not I know last year he wasn't heard, but
he's been heard. You're gonna have a forty year ole,
I just like that's and and it's for more than
one year. That's the other thing is not one year,
it's a three year deal.
Speaker 6 (16:52):
So I'm gonna say this the kin to Tom Brady.
And now, the Tom Brady experiment was with two years
in Tampa Bay. I think it was.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Three. I think he played yeah, yeah, yeah, and that.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah, I think you would have a two year window
with Lebron. To win the championship, you have to and
I would go.
Speaker 6 (17:13):
So the guys again in Philadelphia, if they could somehow
retain the talent they have with Lebron, because that's the
problem with LN. They don't have talent besides the top five,
maybe top six.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Well, yeah, they would have obviously they'd have a great
big three with MB, Maxie and Lebron. Depth wouldn't be great,
but you know they could. They could be okay, they
could be okay.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
And they would be the East Coast version of the Suns.
That's what they would be.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
Well, what I will say is give give Lebron to
the Nuggets and you keep we're good.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Oh yeah, well well good.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Look that ain't happen.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
You know, And I know we only have ang time here,
but I know it won't happen because you talk about
his family. He wants in a fluent area where his
kids can thrive. So you got Bryce and Zuri, like,
what schools are they going to in Denver versus Philly,
versus Miami versus LA. They're in Trent in LA, like
you guys said, in a very good private school system.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
So yeah, and.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
If he's only gonna stay there for a couple of years,
I mean, would you uproot your family, you know what
I mean, for just for a couple of means.
Speaker 6 (18:21):
My dad's military, Like we're growing up, he left and
we stayed the same place because he's like, oh, it's
only a year and a half out back, you know
what I mean. And he's like, there's no reason it
was a family because y'all are doing good, like you're
doing playing basketball. Everything's good, You're on a society, good grades,
all that stuff. Why would you move your kids and family.
So I really think that it's gonna come down to
(18:43):
his family more than professional Brandon. He's almost a billionaire,
so he might have different decisions. It might be different connections,
you know who knows.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
All Right, good call, Thank you man, yep, yep, thank
you so much, eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox.
If you do want to check in. We appreciate the
people who have called on this Memorial Day. I know
people are winding down Chris from barbecues and spending time
with family, and it's the official start of summer, and
(19:15):
you got you guys got wet with it. So tomorrow
now is summer for sure? No, no, no, it's but
I'm just saying officials riding.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Yeah, I said isn't that like June twenty.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, it's like it's still like a month away for summer.
But this is where, you know, people are starting to
feel like they want to get out and enjoy, you know, like,
did you do anything today?
Speaker 7 (19:38):
No?
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Earlier, I did not do anything. I totally Chris relaxed.
You know. I'm on my way to Detroit tomorrow night
after the show, and I got a lot of work
to do there, you know what I mean. So you know,
I just said to myself, I'll just take it easy
and then I'll be in New York on month. On Saturday, Chris,
(19:58):
I'm going to go to Detroit. How long are you
gonna be here? Just for a week, No, just for
one night. I'm going to uh Dell Strawberry's number of
retirement at City Field. Okay, So I'll see Strawberry and that,
which is great that Chris. You remember you had the
heart attack not that long ago. Yeah, and he's bounced back,
so it'd be great to be there with him and Strawberry.
(20:20):
I think I told you this before. The first pro
athlete I ever interviewed, I was nineteen years old in
college and he was twenty one. His rookie year in
nineteen eighty three, so I feel like, you know, forty
one years later, I need to be there.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
No, that'll be good, Man, that'll be good.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
But it is the idd couple, Chris and Ride.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
We got our man Mark Funky Cole Medina around the corner.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
But first Kevin wired with the update keV Yep.
Speaker 7 (20:47):
They've reached halftime in Indianapolis and despite that having Tyrese
Haliburt and the Indiana Paters are hanging around. It's a
one point ball game. Boston leading this one fifty eight
to fifty seven at the halfway mark, and Pascal Pascal
Siakam and Andrew Nembard reasons why the Pacers have been
playing well so far, as Nemar has sixteen points on
(21:09):
seven to eleven shooting, Siakam with thirteen points off five
of eight shooting, and for the Celtics that are being
led by Jason Tatum, he's got sixteen points. Drew Holiday
Jalen Brown also each hitting double figures with ten points.
In the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals Game
number three, the series title one game a piece between
(21:32):
the Stars and the Oilers, but Edmonton with a commanding
two to nothing lead as Conor McDavid getting the first
hole of the game, first goal of the game as
Zach Hyman with the second to give the Oilers their
two to nothing lead at the end of the first period.
In Major League Baseball, they are in the ninth inning
in San Diego. Actually now has just gone final. The
Padres hold off the Marlins two to one down at
(21:54):
Petco Park. Everything in Major League Baseball except for one
has concluded. Astros Mariner is set to get going in
about ten fifteen minutes, but everything else has finished. Orioles
pound the Red Sox eleven to three twins over the
Royal sixty five. Blue Jays beat the White Sox five
to one in the game that was scoreless until the
eighth inning. The Brewers and Cubs came alive late as
Milwaukee wins it five to wine, Rockies and Guardians. It's
(22:17):
Colorado winning this one eight to six. Reds to hold off
the Cardinals three to one. Nationals beat the Braves eight
to four, and the Giants in Phillies at San Francisco,
winning it eight to four.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Back to you guys, all right, thank you, keV. Have
a good night tonight. It is the I couple Chris
and Rob Our. Next guest is Mark Funky Cole Medina,
Fox Sports Radio, NBA insider.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
I know it's a tad earlier. Are you there?
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Mark here?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
My friend good Man.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Good to hear from you, and let's get started. We
got a lot to get to and.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
He could also give us a Bill Walton Chris, as
we're talking NBA, what were your memories of Walton?
Speaker 1 (22:57):
I mean, obviously you're a little younger than Robbing, me
a lot younger than Rob.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
What would you kind of close to me? Wow? But
what do you get about Bill Walton?
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Yeah? Well they won nay rest this piece. My memories
start with this. I mean I think that even though
obviously I didn't cover him, he's well before my time.
He uh indirectly introduced me to the NBA because I
remember he was among some of the key luminaries that
was on NBA's Greatest Games that was shown back in
the day and talked about his Blazers teams. But my
(23:29):
interactions with him, you know, were through the lens of
you know, covering his son Luke Walton when he was
the Lakers head coach, and so I just thought it
was really cool. You know, he would often sit in
the back of the press conferences watching as a proud
father when you when I would go up to him
as well as others who would introduce himself and say
I'm Bill, as if we don't already know that.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
I think I love that about I think that you
should do that. I never I never assume anything. People
do that to me all Chris Well stop. I always say,
I put my hand on say I'm Rob Parker and like, oh,
I know that, but I do believe you should introduce yourself.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Yeah, I agree with you wholeheartedly. It's not his Bill,
and then I would say the last memory that sticks
with me is I was able to talk with him
extensively during that first season of Luke Wulton had as
for sure head coach. He didn't want to talk about
the Lakers or his son, giving him his space, but
he really detailed like his exercise regiment with the fact
(24:30):
that you know this his career was cut short, even
though it was very productive with thirty seven combined operations,
because it's so much in his back, knees and ankles,
and he was just talking to me through how every
day he's always riding his bike and she feels like
he's just getting his life started. And a quote that's
stuck with me here when he was talking about that,
(24:51):
he was saying, I love my bike. My bike is
my gym, my wheelchair, and my church all and I
just got goose then laugh when he was talking about that.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Wow, that's that's funny.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
That is that is all right.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
Let me ask you this about the game right now.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Celtics fifty eight to fifty seven over Indiana at the half.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Now they're down too early in the third.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
When you talk to people around the league about the Celtics, do.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
They rave about them or like, I just feel.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Like they play with their food a little too much.
And I look, they won the.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
First two series and five games.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
This one they'll win in four or five probably, so
that's something that you got to give them credit for.
But especially in this Indiana series, Mark, it just seems
like these games are much closer.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
And heck, let's keep it real, Indiana.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
May have given them a couple of these games. So
what is the feeling on them around the league and your.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
Thoughts, Yeah, I think it's very much what you hit
on the latter part of your point here that they
play with their food too much, and I think that
there's a feeling that, Okay, at some point it's going
to catch up to them, and yet it hasn't for
two reasons, one for better and for worse. They do
play better when they feel challenged, and but so far
they haven't felt challenged yet because every team that they
(26:16):
faced have had notable injuries. I think you mentioned about Indiana,
I mean even before Tyree Halliburn was heard, and that
was huge. I mean they gift wrapped game one. I
mean they boggled the end of that one with just
how they mismade being able to hold the ball, Rick
Carlisle not having you know them foul Jalen Brown before
(26:36):
hitting the game time three.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Where's the time out they needed? They think he didn't
call that exactly.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
And so as this pertains to Boston, like clearly, on
one hand, you can think, okay, this is a good
that they have had a relatively smoother pathway to the
finals than Dallas or Minnesota will presumably Dallas, but they
also haven't shown that they're all about it and that
they can find only get over that hump after you know,
run of that playoff wall these past two seasons. There's
(27:05):
also the Christos torsingis component to it that he hasn't
played recently and he wondered because of his injury history
and the fact that it's a calf injury, when or
if will he come back. So I think, even as
we're seeing them likely sweep Indiana or a gentleman's sweep
for five games, I'm putting my money on Dallas, presuming
(27:25):
you know, Dallas puts Minnesota away here. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
But the only thing is, and I hear it, but
I Boston. Some teams just you know, it's it's about
getting it done. And I give them credit for winning
games they shouldn't win. That's what good teams do. And
you just talked about it. They could wind up getting
to the NBA Finals after losing two games, and people
are like talking about how raggedy they are winning or
(27:51):
is it about style points?
Speaker 4 (27:53):
Yeah, it's in the playoffs, it's always about winning. But
you know, when I'm weighing this against the Western Conference
land Escape, yes, I do give the Celtics cruch. Jason
Tatan's play more efficiencyly this season. His assist numbers are up.
He's coincided well with Chrisoff porzingis, same thing with Jaylen Brown.
Chrisoff Porzingis has fitting seamlessly. They have a great starting five.
(28:17):
Derek White, I think, has had career highs in every
statistical category this season. They're a good defensive team. I
just feel like Dallas has been playing at an absolutely
higher level in the playoffs and up until this confounding
series that Minnesota has shown against Dallas, I thought they
were doing the same thing with going seven games against
(28:39):
Denver being able to defeat the defending champs. So I
think you can make a case for both teams. There's
arguments and counter arguments for both sides, but when I'm
weighing everything, I do think it will wind up being
Dallas voice in the trophy.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Nikola Jokic right now, I think by most people as
the best player in the world.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Tell Wins.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Do you think there will be an argument and maybe
a discussion about Luca being the best player in the world.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Oh, without a doubt. And Chris, I think that some
people were already arguing that because of the fact that
he ranked fairly high in MVP voting.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Now I actually voted for him, but he doesn't have
an MVP.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
Yet that is true, But I think for better and
for worse rob a lot of times these regular season awards,
even though it's regular season, I think voters sometimes equate
previous postseason performances. So I think it's the idea that
you know next season that could partly be part of
the equation. But I think the other thing here that
(29:38):
we've seen with Dallas, like Luca's been the best version
of himself, you know, scoring not complain as much with officiating,
trust his teammates. He and Kyrie. I think their or
their chemistry last season was good. They didn't have a
lot of time together, and here they've clearly shown they
fit from a basketball lens, they fit from a personality lens.
(29:59):
Like on the court, Luca is the guy, Kyrie is
the second in command. Vice versa off the court, where
Kyrie is more of the leader vocally because of his stature,
he's older and Luca has more of a stoic personality.
And then they've had a better supporting cast with PJ.
Washington and Deeric Lively. The second that I think that
(30:19):
because of all these right ingredients coming together, it's really
shown that Luca can be even more of a special
player than we've already seen in past season.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
See, I'm gonna say this. I think we're quick to
do this like crown people before it's done. And I
just people, everybody. I don't know who was your pick? Mark?
Did you pick up Minnesota like everybody in this series?
Speaker 4 (30:43):
I did pick Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
No, I'm okay, and I just wanted to ask you.
Speaker 6 (30:46):
I'm not.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
I'm not calling you out on it because most people did.
But my point is that it looked like one way,
and obviously it is going to turn on another way,
and I think we're going to have the same exact thing.
I think people are going to crown Luca and Kyrie,
but Boston will win the championship and you won't have to.
I really believe that Boston is going to win this championship.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah, Rob, I'm with you. I love being Frank talking sports.
So here's where I came from. Dallas. I thought, even
though we saw a lot of improvement from everyone across
the board, better roster, better chemistry with Luca and Kyrie,
I thought before the playoffs started they would get to
the second round and no more. But the way they
(31:28):
played against Oklahoma City that convinced me they could get
to the finals, but if I had to choose, it
would be Minnesota because of the way they played Denver.
I think to your other point about people are crowning
Luca or in general, I'm not ready like what stan
Van Gundy was saying and saying Kyrie and Luca are
the best backcourt in NBA history, Like that's way too
(31:51):
early to have that discussion. But I will say, yeah,
Luca has I think raised his game at an even
higher level than he was in past seasons.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Lastly, Lebron will be a free agent. We know Rich
Paul said that. I mean, everybody knew that was coming.
If do you think I mean Rob and I think
he's definitely staying with the Lakers Philadelphia. There have been
reports that they're gonna go after him. Talk to me
about do you think there's any chance Lebron would would
(32:22):
go to Philly and beyond him, what about Paul George,
because that'll obviously be the guy that really going after
So what do you think of the chances of them
landing him?
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Yeah, I don't think that Lebron's going anywhere. The Lakers
haven't got any indication that they should feel vulnerable that
he's leaving. Technically he could, but all expectations from what
I've gathered, is that he's gonna re sign with the Lakers.
He'll opt out, negotiate a two or three year deal,
(32:53):
stay put, and end his career in Purple and Gold
with Paul George. No doubt, the Sixers definitely want to
get a wing player, and they have the cap space
to do that to compliment Joe El Embiid and Tyris Maxi,
So I could totally see Paul George going there. I
think the question here is with the Clippers, can they
(33:13):
almost prevent that from happening. I think Paul George would
ideally like to stay with the Clippers, but the Clippers
are trying to keep them at less than a max
steel be it so they could be proven with their
salary cap. I think the other thing that Paul George
is trying to guard against is I thought, ever since
hearing Lawrence Frink at the end of the season when
he talked about maintaining continuity but then also saying it's
(33:36):
not realistic to just stand pat and run it back,
I think the intention is to retain James Harden and
Paul George with the idea to eventually trade him like
they did with Blake Griffin. And so I think with
that Paul George is probably trying to guard against that scenario.
And so, yeah, exactly, So I think this is going
(33:58):
to be this ultimate game of Chicken, two blanks first,
so who has more control. So I think that that
sixer possibility is very real.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
What do you think about Westbrook? You think they might
try to bring him back?
Speaker 4 (34:10):
I think that's less of a thought because of the
fact that he has he's not he hasn't had the
same role even though they've largely liked him. And also
it's less of a number. So uh, if they can
get him at the same deal, they'll bring him back.
But if he gets some offers elsewhere, I don't think
they'll bat deny that much.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
All right, that is our man, Mark Funky Cole medi great.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
I appreciate you, guys, and hope in honor of Bill
Long you listen to some grateful dead tonight.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
There you go, right, that's what we need to do,
all right. In fact, if we we have a more
music coming yet one library Mary Mary.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
A little grateful did you can find you guys this
magic city Monday?
Speaker 2 (34:53):
I know that's okay. We'll bring all right, I gotcha.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Thank you, all right, more akuple coming your way.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Sports Radio. Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast.
Speaker 8 (35:03):
Be sure to check us out live every weekday from
seven pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The
Odd Couple at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
There you go, Rob little Grateful Dead. I gotta be honest,
I don't know any Grateful Dead.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
This is. This is probably right at the top of
that list, is it.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
I mean I've heard their songs.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
Yeah, I'm not a great album.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
I wouldn't have known this was the Grateful Dead.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Yeah. He was into the Grateful Dead big time. They
called him the Grateful Red. That's right, right, it's rare,
all right.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
That is a tribute to Bill Walls. We're live from
the entire right and I like this song. If you
have heard that a million times? Right, I didn't know
it was them.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
We're lying for the tire right back. Well, we'll will
berryest a little bit, all right.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Well, shortly after the show, Rob our podcast for the
I Couple goes up. If you miss any of today's show,
just check out the pod search Odd Couple wherever you
get your podcasts, and be sure also to follow, rate
and review the podcast. Again, just search odd Couple wherever
you get your podcasts, and you will see today's show.
Post it right after we get off the air. Rob,
(36:39):
We've been talking a lot about Luka Doncic and if
he wins, if they win this championship, you know he
you know, good chance he could be the finals MVP,
maybe inter next year. Rob is the final as the
MVP front runner, and like I said, they'll be even
probably discussion on is he the best player in the
(37:00):
world right now? But we don't want to lose sight
of his backcourt mate Kyrie Irving, and Rob what a
I don't even want to say makeover, like Kyrie's just
completely changed, but I think mature it is certainly appropriate.
And for the first time in a long time Rob,
(37:23):
with Kyrie, it's been just about basketball, and he's reminding
everybody of just how phenomenal he is as a basketball player.
I always used to say that he's probably accomplished or
been about seventy five percent of the player he could
(37:44):
have been if not for the injuries and all the
off the court stuff. And this year, Rob, he's showing you,
like just straight basketball.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
He's incredible. He is a fantastic basketball play Chris. It
was always about the other stuff. It just was. And
let me tell you something, you can't separate. I mean,
I know people try to, but you can't separate p
all Well this and that. No, I mean, it wound
(38:15):
up getting into in the way of his basketball career, Chris.
Why he wasn't picked for the top seventy five, Why
one pick for the Olympic team, like these things. If
you think it was about basketball only, then you're kidding
yourself like that it does fact.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
I mean, even like I mean he was only in
Boston for a year. That was just a lot of
you know, his quirkiness for lack of a better word, Brooklyn.
Of course, that group never got a chance, no him,
Kevin Durant, James Harden. Now, some of it was injury,
A lot of it was injury for various parts of
that trio, but also the anti vaccination stuff when he
(38:56):
didn't play, and that's his right, but that led hardened
to want to leave. And you know then Durant left
and you know, so they really never got a shot there.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
And I remember, Robin, I'm just gonna own it.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
I did not.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
The Mavericks signed Kyrie last summer to a three year,
one hundred and twenty million dollar contract, and I thought
it was a mistake at the time. I thought they
should have given him like a one maybe two.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Members, right, And I was like, he's not going to
take that. I don't think he right. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
You may not have had a choice because nobody else,
really the teams with money weren't very good, and they
weren't even offering him that anyway because they weren't like
they weren't ready to win.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
But you know what I mean, I don't know what
his other options would have been. I never thought, you know,
they were going to give him a one year to
you know, prove it kind of year that you'd have
to sign him to three years and take a chance.
And if maybe he just decided that he just he
does want to play. And and people can change your image,
Chris and do because basketball wasn't the issue, it was
(40:05):
just the other stuff. And sometimes you got to mature
and just say I don't want to be involved in
all this other stuff. You know, I just I just
want to play. I think that one.
Speaker 1 (40:16):
Rob is also possible that seeing that he wasn't getting
these offers that he expected, maybe that might have.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Woke him up a little bit. Number one, because.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
He could have been allied for a way bigger. He's
had a super max max right, so he got like
a fifty discount. Yeah, and that that'll mess with you
because that's long that's long term money you'll never get
like you could. People could say, oh, he's still made.
I got a one thirty one and two sixty is
a big difference, Okay, just a huge difference. I've seen too.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
You know a lot of young men, particularly African American men,
sometimes you know, obviously he's been he was reading a
lot of history and learning a lot about you know, his.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Heritage and stuff.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
And I've seen got that that. You know, sometimes you
can get angry.
Speaker 2 (41:02):
Because of the history.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
Uh when we didn't we haven't learned a lot in
this country, and a lot of I've seen a lot
of friends in their twenties go through periods like that.
But they did it anonymously. You know, they're just working
a regular job. Nobody really knows about it except their friends.
But Kyrie's I feel like went through those kind of
(41:25):
growing pains in the fishbowl at the well. But that's
what he signed up for. When I'm just saying though,
that's why you know that he went through that
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR list.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Get this puny, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It is The Odd Couple, hour number three of a
three hour show. Chris brus or Ron Parker with broadcasting
live from the tireraq dot com studios. Tirereg dot com
will help you get there. They've got an unmatched selection,
fast free shipping, free rod has a protection and more
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(00:52):
the way tire buying should be.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
At the bottom of the.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Hour, mark Funky Cole Madina will be joining us to
talk all things NBA and that rob is where we
will start in the n B A Now, over the weekend,
during one of the playoff games, there was an alternate
(01:16):
cast Alternative cast right where they had Chris Haynes of
TNT and Vince Carter, the Hall of Fame basketball player,
who else was.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
On there.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Bemani Jones, and there was one more person I can't
think or Adam Lefko of TNT.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
And rob they had Rich paul On.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
From Clutch Sports, Lebron James's agent, and Rich was talking
about the state of the Lakers and he said he
just said it kind of in passing that Lebron.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Is a free agent.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And Chris Haynes jumped on it like, hey, hey, hey,
you just said Lebron's a free agent, like he was
breaking you know, Rich was breaking news.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
And Rich said, well, you know, I'm not.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
The type two negotiat or break news over the air
or something like that. And but it became a huge story, Robber.
You probably saw it on Twitter and all that stuff.
It's kind of a big non story because we all
knew that Lebron he has one year about fifty one
million dollars left on his deal. We all knew know
(02:30):
he's going to become a free agent just because he
behoo's him to do it. Financially he can make more money,
get like a three year, one hundred and sixty two
million dollar deal or something like that. And so, but
when this became a big deal, rob you started seeing
reports about teams that would go after Lebron as a
(02:52):
free agent Philadelphia Phoenix. Phoenix has no money he'd have
to pay. He have to go there and play for
the pay for the mini that's not happening. So we
could just just take Phoenix off the list. And the
only team though really that could pay him what the
Lakers can or close, I should say, is the Philadelphia
(03:13):
seventy six ers ribe and we know they got max
money and they want a team a third star with
Joel Embiid and.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Tyres Max.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
And so here's what I look. I think we both
I don't want to speak for you. I firmly believe
Lebron James is going to stay with the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
I believe you do as well.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Not like like not even I can't even give you
a million a million, like yeah, like you're not one sentilla.
How about that?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I may not look, I think, is there can anything happen?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
But I feel too did he staying with the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So I want to just do something for the sake
of discussion, because we both again think he's gonna stay
with the Lakers. If you're the Philadelphia seventy six ers
and it's been reported robbed that Paul George is their
number one target.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Would you rather have.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Paul George or Lebron James next season or for the
next two three years, whatever it.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Is, Paul George. I just would take Paul George going forward. Lebron,
I just don't, Chris. I get it that he'll have
two other players. He's had Anthony Davis, He's had other players.
I'm just not positive where Lebron is that you're gonna
(04:44):
win a championship no matter where he goes. I really
I'm not convinced of that. I'm not so you think
they'd be better with Paul. I just think over the
long court, over the long haul, they could be if
Paul George when he's right, Chris, he plays, He's a
tremendous player. But I get it he's had some stinkers
that make people turn off to him. He's been injured
(05:05):
to there's a lot. And then couple with the with
the Kawhi Leonard and just you know, the Clippers organization.
I think you have even a worse feeling about him
because of those things. You know, like it's a it's
a it's a culmination of a couple things. So when
you look at Paul George, there's more of a frown
(05:28):
than there was a smile. Is that fair? Do you
know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Because of no, I know exactly what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
And that's why I Rob, honestly my answer, even though
he's five years older and Paul George is no spring Chicken,
he's thirty four, but Lebron obviously thirty nine, gonna be forty, right, Yeah,
even so, Rob, I would take Lebron if I were
(05:55):
the Sixers and I could get I don't think they can.
If I could get Lebron, I would go.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
For him over Paul George. And here's why.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Like you said it, Paul George is as injury prone
as Lebron is at this stage of their careers.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And I think, Rob, and i'm I'm I'll.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Be interested in your thought.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
I think Lebron's still better than Paul George.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Like right now, I think he's a better player than
Paul George.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
That will he be three years from.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Now, I don't know, But right now, like last this season,
he was better.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Than Paul George.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, I don't. I don't know. There's something about Lebron
and the empty calories Chris, and he just didn't for
the numbers he put up, they didn't win enough or
consistently enough for me. And that's why I question it.
I just I get the numbers, but the results should
have been better.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
But I hear you and I and i've you know,
I've brought that up. Maybe it was the first to
talk about his impact on the game is the same.
But I'm comparing that to vintage Lebron James. Like, yeah,
I'm saying, yeah, his numbers look like they look ten
years ago. But don't be fooled. He's not that Lebron James.
(07:16):
But I mean when I compare him to it, Paul
George has never been close to Lebron James. And I think,
like I mean, the proofs in the pudding, Lebron's made
all NBA this year, Paul George didn't, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
And so I just think, still Lebron's better.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Now.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Maybe you know you're talking about not just a one
year deal. Will Lebron be better in two years, three years?
I don't know, but right now I think he's better.
But here's this is why, Because I get if you're saying.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Well, George will be better for the long haul.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
But see Rob, if I'm Philadelphia, I am not looking
at Joe LMBI at his numerical age.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
You know what I'm saying. I'm looking at Joel Embi.
This man, this dude.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Who knows how long he's got. We gotta win now.
He's thirty years old, but he seems that the body
of a.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Forty year old. I agree, but you.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You know, so I would say, I'm going for it now.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
And if I think Lebron gives us the best chance
to win it next year, then I'm going.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
To get him.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
But there's also a chance. And I know last year
was better for him, but he had been hurt like
three of the first four years. Paul George, I know,
but as you get to be forty years old, I'm
afraid if I'll be afraid if I was Philly. I mean,
look all the players usually in their careers on that,
you know what I mean, where there's some devastating achilles
(08:38):
or some sort of injury, And I'm not wishing that
on Lebron. I'm giving you Chris, you know what I'm
talking about.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
It's fair, but it also rod can happen to Paul George.
He's in his like he'll be in his fifteenth season
and he's, like I said, he's been injury from Rob.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Last year he.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Played fifty six games or two years ago year.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Before that he played thirty one games. No, I get it.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Have fifty four year before like forty year old?
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Four years old is a difference in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, I would go with Lebron.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And if I'm Lebron.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And again we both have said it. We think he's
staying in LA. There's so many other things for him.
His family is here robing there. Look, yes, Brian, he's
gone and he's not gonna be playing at USC. He'll
be in the NBA, looks like, but Bryce is his
younger son is still in LA, playing in high school.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
His daughter is playing. You know, his has friends and stuff. Look,
you can move. I mean I moved a lot as
a kid.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
But my guess is that they want to stay rooted
in LA's got his record, your dad, Yeah, we were,
I mean after the A rib of eight. I never
lived anywhere until I was an adult from from for
five years.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Wow, I can't.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I thought about it as an you know, as an adult,
Rob time fly so much.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
We lived in Syracuse, New York for a year and
a half.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I'm like, how in the world, Yeah, wouldn't even be unpowered,
right and the right and then but you know at.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Lebron with the suitcase your your dad has right right
right with the statue.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
I mean, but you know, when you're a kid, though
you're going to school every day, you're playing sports, you
know what I mean. Like, I really felt like we
were rooted and they're in Syracuse.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
You know, just like every other place.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
But you look at it as an adult, like, my gosh,
that was that was such a short time to be somewhere.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
But anyway, so yeah, so we think Lebron will stay there.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
But I'm just gonna say, straight from a basketball standpoint, Rob,
I think if it was just about basketball and where
can I win and play well, I would say Philly
is the place to go. You got a good coach
and Nick Nurse. You obviously have two great players with
you and Rob. It's not like like, let's say he
went to Phillya one nobody could be like, you know,
(11:05):
the Kevin Durant Golden State thing and no, Philly hadn't
even been to the conference finals. Would in bed like
you could not say he went to a stacked team.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Obviously he's got some.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Great players, but it would be viewed as he whether
he led him or in be like whoever. But he
was critical to them getting over the hump and winning
the championship. So I don't think it'll happen. But I
think for both parties, Rob that that would be. If
I'm the Sixers, I would pull out all the stops
(11:38):
to go get Lebron.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I just I get it. You feel like you're trying
to win. Will Lebron help you win? You think what
he adds, But the truth of the matter is the
last few years, even like I say, with a D
and some of the stuff, I just I don't think
(12:01):
Lebron's gonna win again. Chris, I don't care what the
team is. And I say that without knowing. Obviously I
know what I mean. I say that blindly, but I
just don't. If he wins another championship, I'll be shocked.
I just would be. I don't.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I Look, I've said it myself. I don't think he's
gonna win again.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I've been assuming he's gonna stay in la If he
went to Philly, that would be interesting.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
But even in the East, it wouldn't be automatic, wouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
But but don't you think it'd be easier than the West.
You basically have Milwaukee and Boston.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Now that's not.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Easy because those two are good. We assume Milwaukee would
be better next year.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
And then Miami. I mean, they always seem to have
some go you know what I mean, And I don't
I don't know. I don't know about the Knicks. If
they make the right move or if they get another player,
could they be like in the way you know, I'm
just starting to look at the East a little bit, uh,
but definitely not the West with all those like I
can't see agree teams. I mean, no, and.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Rob, what we're seeing. I mean, we've talked about it.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I even said I thought the only team that the
Lakers definitely couldn't beat was Denver, and that was largely
because of the questions you know, I had about Okay,
our Minnesota. Okay, see for real now, Rob, I mean Denver, Dallas, Okay,
see Minnesota. Like all these teams are ahead of the Lakers,
and they will be next year. It's just I mean,
(13:26):
the Lakers aren't. They aren't getting through the West like
so I look, I think it'd be good for him,
but I don't see it happen, But let's throwing it out.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Throw it out to the callers eight.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Seven seven ninety nine on Fox. If you're the Philadelphia
seventy six ers and you have money to burn this offseason?
Would you rather have Lebron James or Paul George take
everything into consideration? Age the whole nine eight seven seven
ninety nine on Fox.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Your thoughts next, Chris a Rob The Odd Couple.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR two.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
NBA Insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right
into the NBA great.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Fight, all happening in only one place.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
This League Uncut, the new NBA podcast with me Chris
Haynes and me Mark Stein, join us as we team
up to expound on everything we're covering. Hearing and Chason.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get
your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
All right, it's the Odd Couple Chris and Rob from
the tie rack dot Com studios. Yeah, turned the way in.
If you're the Philadelphia seventy six ers, you got money
to burn? Do you want Lebron or Paul George next
season in free agency?
Speaker 2 (15:18):
All right, Chris, let's kick it off with Kyle and
Virginia Beach. You're on the Odd Couple of Fox Sports Radio.
What's up, Kyle?
Speaker 6 (15:26):
Hey, we're Moral Day Weekend.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Yes, sir, what's up buddy?
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Yes, I've not called the past few weeks because I'm
mourning my Dimverer Nuggets walls. But it's fine.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Oh yes, and we get it. And now to see, uh,
you know, the te Wolves going down. I know it's
gotta hurt, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Are you rooting for one of these two teams? Dallas
or Minnesota?
Speaker 6 (15:50):
To be honest, if it was college basketball, I'd be
rooting for Minnesota. But it's the NBA, so I you know,
I really want Dallas dwyns O. Yeah, okay, I mean
just because I like the story that's going on with
Kyrie getting a reinvigoration of no nonsense, right, just don
just got he's playing. Well, he's young, he's twenty he's.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Like twenty five.
Speaker 6 (16:14):
Yeah, and it's like gets created that story. But onswer
the question you all had taking Lebron man, it's just
but you all talked about it right before the questions like,
hey all, Gorgs been out forty games, he's only played
forty games, fifty five games something something something like why
would you want a guy like that? But you get
Lebron James, he comes in. He's a culture creator.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Yeah, you know, Lebron has been heard too. I mean,
let's not I know last year he wasn't heard, but
he's been heard. You're gonna have a forty year ole,
I just like that's and and it's for more than
one year. That's the other thing is not one year,
it's a three year deal.
Speaker 6 (16:52):
So I'm gonna say this the kin to Tom Brady.
And now, the Tom Brady experiment was with two years
in Tampa Bay. I think it was.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Three. I think he played yeah, yeah, yeah, and that.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah, I think you would have a two year window
with Lebron. To win the championship, you have to and
I would go.
Speaker 6 (17:13):
So the guys again in Philadelphia, if they could somehow
retain the talent they have with Lebron, because that's the
problem with LN. They don't have talent besides the top five,
maybe top six.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Well, yeah, they would have obviously they'd have a great
big three with MB, Maxie and Lebron. Depth wouldn't be great,
but you know they could. They could be okay, they
could be okay.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
And they would be the East Coast version of the Suns.
That's what they would be.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
Well, what I will say is give give Lebron to
the Nuggets and you keep we're good.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Oh yeah, well well good.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Look that ain't happen.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
You know, And I know we only have ang time here,
but I know it won't happen because you talk about
his family. He wants in a fluent area where his
kids can thrive. So you got Bryce and Zuri, like,
what schools are they going to in Denver versus Philly,
versus Miami versus LA. They're in Trent in LA, like
you guys said, in a very good private school system.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
So yeah, and.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
If he's only gonna stay there for a couple of years,
I mean, would you uproot your family, you know what
I mean, for just for a couple of means.
Speaker 6 (18:21):
My dad's military, Like we're growing up, he left and
we stayed the same place because he's like, oh, it's
only a year and a half out back, you know
what I mean. And he's like, there's no reason it
was a family because y'all are doing good, like you're
doing playing basketball. Everything's good, You're on a society, good grades,
all that stuff. Why would you move your kids and family.
So I really think that it's gonna come down to
(18:43):
his family more than professional Brandon. He's almost a billionaire,
so he might have different decisions. It might be different connections,
you know who knows.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
All Right, good call, Thank you man, yep, yep, thank
you so much, eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox.
If you do want to check in. We appreciate the
people who have called on this Memorial Day. I know
people are winding down Chris from barbecues and spending time
with family, and it's the official start of summer, and
(19:15):
you got you guys got wet with it. So tomorrow
now is summer for sure? No, no, no, it's but
I'm just saying officials riding.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Yeah, I said isn't that like June twenty.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, it's like it's still like a month away for summer.
But this is where, you know, people are starting to
feel like they want to get out and enjoy, you know, like,
did you do anything today?
Speaker 7 (19:38):
No?
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Earlier, I did not do anything. I totally Chris relaxed.
You know. I'm on my way to Detroit tomorrow night
after the show, and I got a lot of work
to do there, you know what I mean. So you know,
I just said to myself, I'll just take it easy
and then I'll be in New York on month. On Saturday, Chris,
(19:58):
I'm going to go to Detroit. How long are you
gonna be here? Just for a week, No, just for
one night. I'm going to uh Dell Strawberry's number of
retirement at City Field. Okay, So I'll see Strawberry and that,
which is great that Chris. You remember you had the
heart attack not that long ago. Yeah, and he's bounced back,
so it'd be great to be there with him and Strawberry.
(20:20):
I think I told you this before. The first pro
athlete I ever interviewed, I was nineteen years old in
college and he was twenty one. His rookie year in
nineteen eighty three, so I feel like, you know, forty
one years later, I need to be there.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
No, that'll be good, Man, that'll be good.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
But it is the idd couple, Chris and Ride.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
We got our man Mark Funky Cole Medina around the corner.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
But first Kevin wired with the update keV Yep.
Speaker 7 (20:47):
They've reached halftime in Indianapolis and despite that having Tyrese
Haliburt and the Indiana Paters are hanging around. It's a
one point ball game. Boston leading this one fifty eight
to fifty seven at the halfway mark, and Pascal Pascal
Siakam and Andrew Nembard reasons why the Pacers have been
playing well so far, as Nemar has sixteen points on
(21:09):
seven to eleven shooting, Siakam with thirteen points off five
of eight shooting, and for the Celtics that are being
led by Jason Tatum, he's got sixteen points. Drew Holiday
Jalen Brown also each hitting double figures with ten points.
In the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals Game
number three, the series title one game a piece between
(21:32):
the Stars and the Oilers, but Edmonton with a commanding
two to nothing lead as Conor McDavid getting the first
hole of the game, first goal of the game as
Zach Hyman with the second to give the Oilers their
two to nothing lead at the end of the first period.
In Major League Baseball, they are in the ninth inning
in San Diego. Actually now has just gone final. The
Padres hold off the Marlins two to one down at
(21:54):
Petco Park. Everything in Major League Baseball except for one
has concluded. Astros Mariner is set to get going in
about ten fifteen minutes, but everything else has finished. Orioles
pound the Red Sox eleven to three twins over the
Royal sixty five. Blue Jays beat the White Sox five
to one in the game that was scoreless until the
eighth inning. The Brewers and Cubs came alive late as
Milwaukee wins it five to wine, Rockies and Guardians. It's
(22:17):
Colorado winning this one eight to six. Reds to hold off
the Cardinals three to one. Nationals beat the Braves eight
to four, and the Giants in Phillies at San Francisco,
winning it eight to four.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Back to you guys, all right, thank you, keV. Have
a good night tonight. It is the I couple Chris
and Rob Our. Next guest is Mark Funky Cole Medina,
Fox Sports Radio, NBA insider.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
I know it's a tad earlier. Are you there?
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Mark here?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
My friend good Man.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Good to hear from you, and let's get started. We
got a lot to get to and.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
He could also give us a Bill Walton Chris, as
we're talking NBA, what were your memories of Walton?
Speaker 1 (22:57):
I mean, obviously you're a little younger than Robbing, me
a lot younger than Rob.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
What would you kind of close to me? Wow? But
what do you get about Bill Walton?
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Yeah? Well they won nay rest this piece. My memories
start with this. I mean I think that even though
obviously I didn't cover him, he's well before my time.
He uh indirectly introduced me to the NBA because I
remember he was among some of the key luminaries that
was on NBA's Greatest Games that was shown back in
the day and talked about his Blazers teams. But my
(23:29):
interactions with him, you know, were through the lens of
you know, covering his son Luke Walton when he was
the Lakers head coach, and so I just thought it
was really cool. You know, he would often sit in
the back of the press conferences watching as a proud
father when you when I would go up to him
as well as others who would introduce himself and say
I'm Bill, as if we don't already know that.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
I think I love that about I think that you
should do that. I never I never assume anything. People
do that to me all Chris Well stop. I always say,
I put my hand on say I'm Rob Parker and like, oh,
I know that, but I do believe you should introduce yourself.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Yeah, I agree with you wholeheartedly. It's not his Bill,
and then I would say the last memory that sticks
with me is I was able to talk with him
extensively during that first season of Luke Wulton had as
for sure head coach. He didn't want to talk about
the Lakers or his son, giving him his space, but
he really detailed like his exercise regiment with the fact
(24:30):
that you know this his career was cut short, even
though it was very productive with thirty seven combined operations,
because it's so much in his back, knees and ankles,
and he was just talking to me through how every
day he's always riding his bike and she feels like
he's just getting his life started. And a quote that's
stuck with me here when he was talking about that,
(24:51):
he was saying, I love my bike. My bike is
my gym, my wheelchair, and my church all and I
just got goose then laugh when he was talking about that.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Wow, that's that's funny.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
That is that is all right.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
Let me ask you this about the game right now.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Celtics fifty eight to fifty seven over Indiana at the half.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Now they're down too early in the third.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
When you talk to people around the league about the Celtics, do.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
They rave about them or like, I just feel.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Like they play with their food a little too much.
And I look, they won the.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
First two series and five games.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
This one they'll win in four or five probably, so
that's something that you got to give them credit for.
But especially in this Indiana series, Mark, it just seems
like these games are much closer.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
And heck, let's keep it real, Indiana.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
May have given them a couple of these games. So
what is the feeling on them around the league and your.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
Thoughts, Yeah, I think it's very much what you hit
on the latter part of your point here that they
play with their food too much, and I think that
there's a feeling that, Okay, at some point it's going
to catch up to them, and yet it hasn't for
two reasons, one for better and for worse. They do
play better when they feel challenged, and but so far
they haven't felt challenged yet because every team that they
(26:16):
faced have had notable injuries. I think you mentioned about Indiana,
I mean even before Tyree Halliburn was heard, and that
was huge. I mean they gift wrapped game one. I
mean they boggled the end of that one with just
how they mismade being able to hold the ball, Rick
Carlisle not having you know them foul Jalen Brown before
(26:36):
hitting the game time three.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Where's the time out they needed? They think he didn't
call that exactly.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
And so as this pertains to Boston, like clearly, on
one hand, you can think, okay, this is a good
that they have had a relatively smoother pathway to the
finals than Dallas or Minnesota will presumably Dallas, but they
also haven't shown that they're all about it and that
they can find only get over that hump after you know,
run of that playoff wall these past two seasons. There's
(27:05):
also the Christos torsingis component to it that he hasn't
played recently and he wondered because of his injury history
and the fact that it's a calf injury, when or
if will he come back. So I think, even as
we're seeing them likely sweep Indiana or a gentleman's sweep
for five games, I'm putting my money on Dallas, presuming
(27:25):
you know, Dallas puts Minnesota away here. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
But the only thing is, and I hear it, but
I Boston. Some teams just you know, it's it's about
getting it done. And I give them credit for winning
games they shouldn't win. That's what good teams do. And
you just talked about it. They could wind up getting
to the NBA Finals after losing two games, and people
are like talking about how raggedy they are winning or
(27:51):
is it about style points?
Speaker 4 (27:53):
Yeah, it's in the playoffs, it's always about winning. But
you know, when I'm weighing this against the Western Conference
land Escape, yes, I do give the Celtics cruch. Jason
Tatan's play more efficiencyly this season. His assist numbers are up.
He's coincided well with Chrisoff porzingis, same thing with Jaylen Brown.
Chrisoff Porzingis has fitting seamlessly. They have a great starting five.
(28:17):
Derek White, I think, has had career highs in every
statistical category this season. They're a good defensive team. I
just feel like Dallas has been playing at an absolutely
higher level in the playoffs and up until this confounding
series that Minnesota has shown against Dallas, I thought they
were doing the same thing with going seven games against
(28:39):
Denver being able to defeat the defending champs. So I
think you can make a case for both teams. There's
arguments and counter arguments for both sides, but when I'm
weighing everything, I do think it will wind up being
Dallas voice in the trophy.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Nikola Jokic right now, I think by most people as
the best player in the world.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Tell Wins.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Do you think there will be an argument and maybe
a discussion about Luca being the best player in the world.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Oh, without a doubt. And Chris, I think that some
people were already arguing that because of the fact that
he ranked fairly high in MVP voting.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Now I actually voted for him, but he doesn't have
an MVP.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
Yet that is true, But I think for better and
for worse rob a lot of times these regular season awards,
even though it's regular season, I think voters sometimes equate
previous postseason performances. So I think it's the idea that
you know next season that could partly be part of
the equation. But I think the other thing here that
(29:38):
we've seen with Dallas, like Luca's been the best version
of himself, you know, scoring not complain as much with officiating,
trust his teammates. He and Kyrie. I think their or
their chemistry last season was good. They didn't have a
lot of time together, and here they've clearly shown they
fit from a basketball lens, they fit from a personality lens.
(29:59):
Like on the court, Luca is the guy, Kyrie is
the second in command. Vice versa off the court, where
Kyrie is more of the leader vocally because of his stature,
he's older and Luca has more of a stoic personality.
And then they've had a better supporting cast with PJ.
Washington and Deeric Lively. The second that I think that
(30:19):
because of all these right ingredients coming together, it's really
shown that Luca can be even more of a special
player than we've already seen in past season.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
See, I'm gonna say this. I think we're quick to
do this like crown people before it's done. And I
just people, everybody. I don't know who was your pick? Mark?
Did you pick up Minnesota like everybody in this series?
Speaker 4 (30:43):
I did pick Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
No, I'm okay, and I just wanted to ask you.
Speaker 6 (30:46):
I'm not.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
I'm not calling you out on it because most people did.
But my point is that it looked like one way,
and obviously it is going to turn on another way,
and I think we're going to have the same exact thing.
I think people are going to crown Luca and Kyrie,
but Boston will win the championship and you won't have to.
I really believe that Boston is going to win this championship.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah, Rob, I'm with you. I love being Frank talking sports.
So here's where I came from. Dallas. I thought, even
though we saw a lot of improvement from everyone across
the board, better roster, better chemistry with Luca and Kyrie,
I thought before the playoffs started they would get to
the second round and no more. But the way they
(31:28):
played against Oklahoma City that convinced me they could get
to the finals, but if I had to choose, it
would be Minnesota because of the way they played Denver.
I think to your other point about people are crowning
Luca or in general, I'm not ready like what stan
Van Gundy was saying and saying Kyrie and Luca are
the best backcourt in NBA history, Like that's way too
(31:51):
early to have that discussion. But I will say, yeah,
Luca has I think raised his game at an even
higher level than he was in past seasons.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Lastly, Lebron will be a free agent. We know Rich
Paul said that. I mean, everybody knew that was coming.
If do you think I mean Rob and I think
he's definitely staying with the Lakers Philadelphia. There have been
reports that they're gonna go after him. Talk to me
about do you think there's any chance Lebron would would
(32:22):
go to Philly and beyond him, what about Paul George,
because that'll obviously be the guy that really going after
So what do you think of the chances of them
landing him?
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Yeah, I don't think that Lebron's going anywhere. The Lakers
haven't got any indication that they should feel vulnerable that
he's leaving. Technically he could, but all expectations from what
I've gathered, is that he's gonna re sign with the Lakers.
He'll opt out, negotiate a two or three year deal,
(32:53):
stay put, and end his career in Purple and Gold
with Paul George. No doubt, the Sixers definitely want to
get a wing player, and they have the cap space
to do that to compliment Joe El Embiid and Tyris Maxi,
So I could totally see Paul George going there. I
think the question here is with the Clippers, can they
(33:13):
almost prevent that from happening. I think Paul George would
ideally like to stay with the Clippers, but the Clippers
are trying to keep them at less than a max
steel be it so they could be proven with their
salary cap. I think the other thing that Paul George
is trying to guard against is I thought, ever since
hearing Lawrence Frink at the end of the season when
he talked about maintaining continuity but then also saying it's
(33:36):
not realistic to just stand pat and run it back,
I think the intention is to retain James Harden and
Paul George with the idea to eventually trade him like
they did with Blake Griffin. And so I think with
that Paul George is probably trying to guard against that scenario.
And so, yeah, exactly, So I think this is going
(33:58):
to be this ultimate game of Chicken, two blanks first,
so who has more control. So I think that that
sixer possibility is very real.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
What do you think about Westbrook? You think they might
try to bring him back?
Speaker 4 (34:10):
I think that's less of a thought because of the
fact that he has he's not he hasn't had the
same role even though they've largely liked him. And also
it's less of a number. So uh, if they can
get him at the same deal, they'll bring him back.
But if he gets some offers elsewhere, I don't think
they'll bat deny that much.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
All right, that is our man, Mark Funky Cole medi great.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
I appreciate you, guys, and hope in honor of Bill
Long you listen to some grateful dead tonight.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
There you go, right, that's what we need to do,
all right. In fact, if we we have a more
music coming yet one library Mary Mary.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
A little grateful did you can find you guys this
magic city Monday?
Speaker 2 (34:53):
I know that's okay. We'll bring all right, I gotcha.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Thank you, all right, more akuple coming your way.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Sports Radio. Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast.
Speaker 8 (35:03):
Be sure to check us out live every weekday from
seven pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The
Odd Couple at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
There you go, Rob little Grateful Dead. I gotta be honest,
I don't know any Grateful Dead.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
This is. This is probably right at the top of
that list, is it.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
I mean I've heard their songs.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
Yeah, I'm not a great album.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
I wouldn't have known this was the Grateful Dead.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Yeah. He was into the Grateful Dead big time. They
called him the Grateful Red. That's right, right, it's rare,
all right.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
That is a tribute to Bill Walls. We're live from
the entire right and I like this song. If you
have heard that a million times? Right, I didn't know
it was them.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
We're lying for the tire right back. Well, we'll will
berryest a little bit, all right.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Well, shortly after the show, Rob our podcast for the
I Couple goes up. If you miss any of today's show,
just check out the pod search Odd Couple wherever you
get your podcasts, and be sure also to follow, rate
and review the podcast. Again, just search odd Couple wherever
you get your podcasts, and you will see today's show.
Post it right after we get off the air. Rob,
(36:39):
We've been talking a lot about Luka Doncic and if
he wins, if they win this championship, you know he
you know, good chance he could be the finals MVP,
maybe inter next year. Rob is the final as the
MVP front runner, and like I said, they'll be even
probably discussion on is he the best player in the
(37:00):
world right now? But we don't want to lose sight
of his backcourt mate Kyrie Irving, and Rob what a
I don't even want to say makeover, like Kyrie's just
completely changed, but I think mature it is certainly appropriate.
And for the first time in a long time Rob,
(37:23):
with Kyrie, it's been just about basketball, and he's reminding
everybody of just how phenomenal he is as a basketball player.
I always used to say that he's probably accomplished or
been about seventy five percent of the player he could
(37:44):
have been if not for the injuries and all the
off the court stuff. And this year, Rob, he's showing you,
like just straight basketball.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
He's incredible. He is a fantastic basketball play Chris. It
was always about the other stuff. It just was. And
let me tell you something, you can't separate. I mean,
I know people try to, but you can't separate p
all Well this and that. No, I mean, it wound
(38:15):
up getting into in the way of his basketball career, Chris.
Why he wasn't picked for the top seventy five, Why
one pick for the Olympic team, like these things. If
you think it was about basketball only, then you're kidding
yourself like that it does fact.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
I mean, even like I mean he was only in
Boston for a year. That was just a lot of
you know, his quirkiness for lack of a better word, Brooklyn.
Of course, that group never got a chance, no him,
Kevin Durant, James Harden. Now, some of it was injury,
A lot of it was injury for various parts of
that trio, but also the anti vaccination stuff when he
(38:56):
didn't play, and that's his right, but that led hardened
to want to leave. And you know then Durant left
and you know, so they really never got a shot there.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
And I remember, Robin, I'm just gonna own it.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
I did not.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
The Mavericks signed Kyrie last summer to a three year,
one hundred and twenty million dollar contract, and I thought
it was a mistake at the time. I thought they
should have given him like a one maybe two.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Members, right, And I was like, he's not going to
take that. I don't think he right. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
You may not have had a choice because nobody else,
really the teams with money weren't very good, and they
weren't even offering him that anyway because they weren't like
they weren't ready to win.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
But you know what I mean, I don't know what
his other options would have been. I never thought, you know,
they were going to give him a one year to
you know, prove it kind of year that you'd have
to sign him to three years and take a chance.
And if maybe he just decided that he just he
does want to play. And and people can change your image,
Chris and do because basketball wasn't the issue, it was
(40:05):
just the other stuff. And sometimes you got to mature
and just say I don't want to be involved in
all this other stuff. You know, I just I just
want to play. I think that one.
Speaker 1 (40:16):
Rob is also possible that seeing that he wasn't getting
these offers that he expected, maybe that might have.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
Woke him up a little bit. Number one, because.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
He could have been allied for a way bigger. He's
had a super max max right, so he got like
a fifty discount. Yeah, and that that'll mess with you
because that's long that's long term money you'll never get
like you could. People could say, oh, he's still made.
I got a one thirty one and two sixty is
a big difference, Okay, just a huge difference. I've seen too.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
You know a lot of young men, particularly African American men,
sometimes you know, obviously he's been he was reading a
lot of history and learning a lot about you know, his.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Heritage and stuff.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
And I've seen got that that. You know, sometimes you
can get angry.
Speaker 2 (41:02):
Because of the history.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
Uh when we didn't we haven't learned a lot in
this country, and a lot of I've seen a lot
of friends in their twenties go through periods like that.
But they did it anonymously. You know, they're just working
a regular job. Nobody really knows about it except their friends.
But Kyrie's I feel like went through those kind of
(41:25):
growing pains in the fishbowl at the well. But that's
what he signed up for. When I'm just saying though,
that's why you know that he went through that
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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