December 13, 2025 • 37 mins
Rachel Nichols goes behind the scenes of the NBA Cup with Dwyane Wade, SGA, Jalen Williams, Desmond Bane, Tony Parker, Blake Griffin, De’Aaron Fox, Josh Hart, Chris Haynes and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome back to Open Run.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We're here in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup, and
before we get into the video, we want to shout
out our partner, DraftKings for sponsoring this episode. DraftKings has
a new fantasy game, Pick six, and it's the perfect
companion while you're watching the NBA Cup. It's legal in
most states and you can use my promo code open
Run when you sign up. Now let's get into the episode.
We're being joined by Hall of Famers Dwayne Wade and
(00:28):
Tony Parker from the NBA Champion thunder Shake, Gilsters, Alexander
and Jaylen Williams, Spurs All Star Guard, the erin Fox
comes Through, and the Magic Band Desmond Bane and the
secret ingredient in the knicks new starting lineup, Josh Hart.
That's a lot to get to, so let's go check
it all out. First up, Dwayne Wade. All in all,
(00:51):
how do you feel like the NBA Cup has been
for the NBA.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
It's been a few years now.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, I mean I'm one of the people who like it.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, And I think we about to twenty five games
into the season, and I think it's so many reasons
why it's good. You know, as an organization, you get
to evaluate where you are right before you get to
the trade deadline, before you get to all the things
that as we got.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
This squeaky thinking about.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You, you're TV person, Yeah, you never would have been
able to be like, oh that's we.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Should cut, that's cut that.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
But I love it.
Speaker 6 (01:22):
I think I love this.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
It gives teams also an opportunity, an opportunity to compete,
Like you may start off the season slow, but in
a cup play, you may have an opportunity to come
to Vegas and you can save your season too, right
because it builds that commidents.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
If you're able to come out here, you're able to compete.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
And so I just think it's so many good things
about it, and I feel like this goes on as
it grows. I feel like more should be put on
this part of the season.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
And it's fun too, because like younger teams get experienced
in those crucible situations.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
It's funny.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
The youngest team here, of course, has already won a title,
so okay, see, it doesn't need that much more extra experience.
There's people who think, oh, we could see Nicks. Okay,
see in the NBA Cup.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Do you see next. Okay, see as an NBA Finals possibility.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
When you talk about, you know, who's coming out of
the Eastern Conference. You know, obviously they went to East
Conference finals last year, so you know, you know, they
bringing their core back, even though it's a change in
that first that seat, but they're bringing the core of
their players back, and so yeah, you can definitely see
them get there.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
You know, it's so many things that have to go right.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
But I believe I just saw Josh Hard just ran
into them and the talker to him in the confident group,
you know, even though they know that they're not where
they want to be, but they know that they're getting there,
and you have.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
A change, you know, of a voice.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
It takes a little time, it takes a little while,
but they're doing very good, very early.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
All right, So next kind of maybe coming out of
the East. Who's your other big pick for coming out
of the East.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Coming out of the East, Well, I mean, if if
I had to look, I mean, unfortunately, you know, Boston
was the team that everyone was like, they're going to
be there for a while, and then injury to Tatum
and so it kind of changed everything. But when I
look at the team that you know, has the experience.
You know, obviously I look at the Knicks because of
the multi years that they've been building this, you know, that's.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
What I look at. I look at what did they
do three years ago? What do they do four years ago?
So they've been building Mimi Heat is always gonna be
a team that can come out even if they're in
twelfth place coming into the game.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Coming out of nowhere, they could still.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Come out of the East.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
But it's I think what I love about the East
is is it's unpredictable right now and it's early in
the season. You wanted to be that way, Like the
success that Toronto was having earlier in the year. It's
kind of a little unpredictable that they're having it. So
the East is gonna take a little time to see
who rises to the top. But you know the teams
that's at the top, you know they're they're obviously really good.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Is it strange for you you grew up in Chicago.
You love the Michael Jordan Bulls. That was an Eastern
Conference team.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Right when you.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Played in the league, you played in the East, and
the East was very dominant. Y'all won titles right down
three I believe there are many titles three if someone
was running around in Arena three three like that. I
can't remember who that was anyway. But you're now looking
at an NBA where the East is falling off so much.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Is that weird for you? Because your whole life the
East was tough, man.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I mean, even when I was in the NBA, they
would talk, you know, trash about the East because the
West is so competitive from top to bottom, right, and
in the East to be competitive maybe the first four
and then it kind of falls off. So they talked
a lot of trash about the East when I was
in there. But I always say that it doesn't need
to be you need you'll need the whole East to
be competitive. Loans the top guys are built to be
(04:23):
able to compete and win, and so I think the
East normally has that. But I mean the West is
what it is. I mean, it's some special teams, some
special guys our West. They just got to beat on
each other.
Speaker 7 (04:33):
Though.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
That's what we used to say. We said, just let
them beat up each other. By the time we get there,
we'll be good. And so I mean, obviously there's one
team right now that everyone is chasing, and it's okay,
see everyone's chasing. Okay, See they're obviously a class above
when it comes to this time of the year. But
I think it's great for the East right now that
it is open. I mean, you know, you want young
(04:53):
guys to to take their you know, take this opportunity
that's in the East, and you want them to look
at and say, all right, how do I take this
next step? Right in Orlando, how do they take that
next step? They're here, this is great for them to
be here, but how do they go to that next step?
Speaker 7 (05:06):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
And so East is building foundation while the West is
being each other up.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
For Oklahoma City, it almost is starting to feel and
we'll just have to see if they can win a
couple more.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
But like that time with the World Championships, I.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Was going to say, just with like it's almost starting
to feel like when the Warriors kind of had Katie
where it's just sort of, yeah, everyone in the West
is very good. But and someone else says nicolajokicch but
also like that team is just going to keep getting better.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I mean they've got what three or four picks in
the first round of the draft this year. It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
It's scary. It's actually pretty scary. I mean, they're going
to be the foundation is late. The Dominis is going
to be here for a while. And that doesn't mean
they're going to win every year, but they're going to
be up there every year, obviously knocking on wood that
they stay healthy. If they stay healthy, the thing is
with them, and man, they everybody they bring into that
that plays on their basketball floor for them, they understand
(05:55):
what needs to be done. And one thing I love
about them they make shots, they don't celebrate, They get
right to defense.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
They barely celebrated the tail.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
They don't celebrate, and I love that. It's like it's
like watching your favorite college team play.
Speaker 7 (06:06):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
It's like when back in the day when Duke we
hit the ground. That's all they did was just smacked
the ground outside of that and did nothing else. But
you know that's the way that you I grew up,
you know, loving the game and approaching the game.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So I love their approach. It's real old school like
in their approach.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
And so they're going to be here to stay for
a while. They're going to have to get fatigued with winning.
And right now they're so locked in. There's no mental
fatigue coming into this next season. And that's the thing
that you have to fight against, is that fatigue of
this is easy. Oh I got to do this again.
It's those you know, those reps. You got to put
it in every day and they seem like they like it.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah, I mean with us.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
The point with some of these teams, after they repeat
a little bit of saying, oh, I got to go
through the regular season again, why can't we just go
straight to.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Assimilate the season. Let's get right to it. But you
could assimilate a couple of games this year.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's not nice, it's not kind.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
With the forty fifty point wins was a similation, you
know what I mean. But that's kind of how you feel.
And so looking at their approach, I'm just really press
and I can't wait to obviously get a chance to
talk to their head coach about that approach, because that
is the most impressive thing when you're someone who I've
been there before. I know how hardy is attorney right
back around, not getting a long summer at all, not
(07:12):
getting really a break at all, You got injuries coming
in to j Dubb and you still come and you
start a season this way, just the most professional, you know,
way to approach the season.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
They have done it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
It was really funny after they won the title last
year because you know, the media gets into the locker room.
I have been in so many championship locker rooms, not
just NBA World Series, you know, for Super Bowl, all
of those, and people are going crazy, right these guys
were like a couple of them were sipping a beer
a couple. There were three bottles of champagne on the floor.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Three and then there was just rows and rose of alcohol,
including bottles of champagne. No one touched. Can you explain?
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Can you tell the people your first title, the title
with you and Shaq and pat Riley coaching the team.
What was the locker room like after that title?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Well, I was I got a little tipsy because at
that time I did not drink myself and that was
one of the first time I had anything to drink.
And that was and I actually was like, if we
want a championship, be the first time I drink. So
I had champagne in the locker room.
Speaker 7 (08:07):
I was.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I was a little loose, but we were just jumping
around like little kids. It's like little like when you
take loose.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
You guys were bunkers. I have never seen a locker
room like that. You breathed in and you breathed in champagne.
Riley himself was just listen.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
You ever go to like one of them jumping places
with the kids, Yeah, that's what our locker room was like.
We were just in there like big kids. But you know,
SoC was.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Just like, don't have a beer? Maybe maybe I won't.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Alex Cruco said he had to teach guys how to
open a bottle champagn.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yeah, I heard that.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
But you know, I feel like as they go on,
especially as you're trying to really accomplish something more than
just winning one championship, it gets harder and harder and harder,
and then more appreciation will come a little later as
they're on this journey of trying to dominate full well.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I like it, all right, I have one more question
for you, my co host here, Dane Wade with the West,
who do you see is sort of the biggest challenger
for Oklahoma City.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Who's going to be in the Western Conference finals at
the bracket works?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I mean, I think you got to look at a
team like Houston.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Of course, you know, obviously with the you know, acquisition,
bringing in kad it gives them, you know, kind of
what they were missing last year when it comes to
having that guy.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
You know, we know what KD is, we know who
he is. You know.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
You obviously you're always gonna look at the Lakers and
with the firepower that they have from an offensive standpoint,
you know that they can compete with anybody on the
offensive end. The question with them is the other side,
of course, and so it's still things and still time.
Those are you know, kind of two of the teams,
and Denver is always gonna be there. They got that
guy over there, they got Joke over there, and so
the way that they play washing them play. Okay see,
(09:34):
last year in the playoffs, it could have went either way.
At times you thought that okay, you thought that Denver
could have beaten okay see, and then you haven't seen
many teams that could have that could beat them. So
you got those three teams.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
One last word, give me the name of the team
essential to KOOPO will play for at the end of
the season.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
I hope it's the Bucks. I went to school to Marquette.
Everybody in Milwaukee.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
Right there and.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Now shake guilder Alexander.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I just heard from one of your teammates that he
feels like you guys could go for the record, Not
that that's your goal, but he said, you guys have
that kind of team, and I guess I just wanted
to know sort of do you have confidence in yourselves
that you can win every game?
Speaker 8 (10:14):
Absolutely? I don't know say that, but whoever said that
is correct. Yeah, we have a group that does the
right things and the necessary things like prior to the game,
during the game, and after the game to go out
there and give ourselves a chance to win every night. Now,
whether we do so every night, it's it's gonna be
up to us. But yeah, we definitely have the makeup
(10:37):
for it for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
How did you guys come into the season as hungry
as you did when so many other teams before you
get the title and like for the first couple of
months they're like, I can't even pay attention right now, man.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
Yeah, we have guys that are like self driven. We
have guys that want more for themselves and for the
whole team. I think we have guys that like, at
the end of the day, just loved the game of basketball.
And play for that because of that. The scoreboard or
what we just accomplished doesn't matter to us. It's about
us getting better and honestly just playing because we love
it and playing for each other.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Is there anything less than another title that you're looking
at this season?
Speaker 8 (11:11):
No, man, just another title? I'm sorry, Nope, just another title?
Speaker 1 (11:18):
What are we doing there?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
All?
Speaker 6 (11:19):
Right?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Well, last year I got to tell you I was little.
I loved the team, I loved hanging with you guys.
I was a little disappointed in the locker room celebration.
I'm not gonna lie. Do you feel that if you
guys win again, we can get like, I don't know,
six bottles of champagne going instead of five? I mean
it was kind of.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Dead in there.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Yeah, hopefully, I mean me personally, I still haven't popped
a bottle of champagne, so I'm going to be just
as rusty as I was before.
Speaker 7 (11:40):
But hopefully my teammates got better at it.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I know Alex Cruso had to show you guys how
to open champagne bottle.
Speaker 8 (11:45):
I'll have to show me again. But yeah, if we
got there, we should be a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Did you do anything to celebrate this summer being an
NBA champion.
Speaker 8 (11:53):
Yeah, I definitely had fun with my family, my friends,
my teammates. The champagne just wasn't popped by me.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
Sit away from you, all right.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Did you buy yourself anything any fancy clothes?
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (12:05):
I got myself a few gifts here and there.
Speaker 8 (12:10):
I took care of some people that helped me get
to this point.
Speaker 7 (12:14):
So yeah, it was. It was a good summer.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
As you look, now, you're kind of about a third
of the way through this season. Who in the West
is kind of shaping up to be your biggest challenge
as a team.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
M hm.
Speaker 7 (12:24):
The West is so deep it's hard to say this earlier.
Speaker 8 (12:27):
Dem is obviously really good, The Spurs are really good,
Houston's really good.
Speaker 7 (12:34):
Who else is there? I mean Dallas when they get healthy? Uh?
Who else is at the top?
Speaker 8 (12:43):
Yeah, the West is so deep, Memphis that they get healthy,
you're just going to name every team?
Speaker 7 (12:47):
Yep, exactly.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
See now he's now he's an interview problem.
Speaker 8 (12:52):
The West is the West is just very deep, and
if you don't bring her again, you can lose anything
any night, no matter who it is.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
So yeah, last, why you're gonna help me? Nate who
is the sonogram?
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Who is the two athletes you said with the sonogram
with Sam Presty, gonna go visit.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
The oh Asia ol Bam Bam.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
So because Asia was named Time Magazine's Athlete of the
Year and she's doing a bunch of interviews and talking
about her and Bam and their relationship.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
She's like, we want to have kids together.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
And someone joked that Sam Presty would be at the
sonogram if they had kids together.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Is he that much of a scout?
Speaker 8 (13:27):
Sam takes his job very serious and whatever it takes
to be great, he will do.
Speaker 7 (13:30):
So that's what it takes.
Speaker 6 (13:31):
That's what it takes, all right.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
So vam Adebayo and Asia Wilson watch out. If you
guys ever decide to have kids. Sam Preste's going to
knock on your door.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Here's Shalen Williams.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I know you get this question everywhere you go now,
but I gotta ask it. The record for seventy four
is totally on the table. I know that's not your goal,
but could you guys.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
Go that far? Yeah?
Speaker 9 (13:51):
I've been saying it like, there's a lot of things
I think this team can do.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
It's more about and.
Speaker 9 (13:58):
I feel like that's that's the same way with a
lot of NBA teams. Everybody feels that they can do
something as a matter of if you actually do it,
and that starts with just playing these games one at
a time, like you can't. You don't win anything in
what is it December except obviously this maybe, But you.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Got to win these games to do it. But do
you have a team that could do it?
Speaker 10 (14:18):
For sure?
Speaker 9 (14:19):
I never want to limit our team. We have the
talent to do it. You guys are seeing it. We
wouldn't be having this conversation if everybody else didn't think
so too. So that's how I look at it. But
I also don't like looking that far ahead because there's
a lot of games left.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
All right.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
We're all happy to see you back. You've been integrating
back to the team so well. I need to ask,
because I'm petty, How sour are you that the NBA
has a sixty five game rule and that you miss
out on almost fifty million dollars because you can't make
all MBA now and it affects your contract.
Speaker 9 (14:46):
I'll make it back somewhere else, so I'm not too
worried about it.
Speaker 10 (14:48):
But I mean, I think.
Speaker 9 (14:51):
Honestly, the way I was thinking about it was if
I come back and I play hurt, right, then I
risk do you want to do that? Yeah, I risk
remssing my hand up and kind of wasting.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
A lot of the work that my team and our.
Speaker 9 (15:05):
Trainings to have it I put into the summer. So
if it wasn't time for me to play, it wasn't
time for me to play. That's that's more of like
a god's plan thing, and I'm just kind of rolling
with it. I'll never be salty over the Over the money,
we obviously will be able to use that elsewhere, which
will be even nicer to keep our team together.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
It's very generous.
Speaker 9 (15:22):
Yeah, I mean I mean a lot of money over
the summer too, So I'm never gonna be too greedy.
Speaker 6 (15:29):
Again.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
It's one of those things where like coming from like
a small school, I never thought I would make the
amount of money that I'm making now anyway, So I'm
not too concerned over it. It's about the goal for me
is about winning before it is about money.
Speaker 7 (15:40):
I'll play the sport for free.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Well, first of all, don't let Sam press to hear
you say that.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Second of all, I was going to say you can
win back half a million by winning the NBA Cup,
So good luck, Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 9 (15:49):
Yeah, yeah, there's a lot of money. There's a lot
of money out here. That's what I said. I'll make
it back somewhere.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And now, Desmond Baine, for you, it seemed like it
was a little bit of a justment period in Orlando,
but now it feels like, I mean, this is your team.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
You pit so well with those guys.
Speaker 11 (16:02):
Yeah, I love it, you know, I mean, off the
court's been great for me and my family. On the court,
Like you said, there was a time when when I
was trying to find myself and.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
How I fit into this team.
Speaker 11 (16:15):
But you know, twenty five games in, I feel pretty
comfortable and excited with with what we've done up to
this point.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
So there was a lot of ideas in the summer
of like, man, they could this East is pretty open.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
This is a team.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
That's kind of ready to make that next step. Do
you feel that's actually now true? Like is that are
you Are you on course to maybe being an Eastern
Conference finals or even more?
Speaker 10 (16:35):
I think so.
Speaker 11 (16:36):
I mean, we haven't seen everybody in the East yet,
so it's hard to say that and it's so early.
There's so many, you know, games left to play, and
so much that can happen.
Speaker 10 (16:46):
But the scary part, or the good part for us.
Speaker 11 (16:50):
I think because that we haven't been fully healthy once yet,
you know, so I think that that there's still a
lot more room for us to grow and a lot
more room for us to get better. Missing Fronds right now,
Who's been fantastic, you know, throughout this this whole entire season.
Speaker 7 (17:06):
So whenever he's back, we'll welcome.
Speaker 10 (17:09):
With open arms, but until then we'll hold it down
for him.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Well, we had a little bit of a new kind
of look at you in Orlando, Still the same Desmond
Bane who will not back down from a challenge. You
got smoke with a couple of different guys in this
league recently, and then the NBA Cup you got the Knicks.
I mean, what's the sort of deal with you guys
and sort of the energy.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Between you and OG and and and ob especially.
Speaker 10 (17:29):
I mean, it's all love between me and O G.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
But is it really Yeah, yeah it is.
Speaker 11 (17:35):
We laughed about it shortly after, but yeah, we definitely
you know, their competition, you know, they're they're in the
way of what we're trying to do so we're we're
not taking them lightly.
Speaker 7 (17:48):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
That toughness that you bring to a locker room, I
know that in addition to all the things you do
on the court.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
That was one of the reasons they wanted you in there.
They wanted a guy.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Who was vet enough to like know the score of
what goes on around the league and so just you know,
give a little bit of flare to that locker room
because you got somewhat quiet guys in there.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Otherwise, how has that been? Has been fun for you
because they really want you to be yourself?
Speaker 10 (18:08):
Yeah, nah, for sure.
Speaker 11 (18:09):
I mean when they told me to be myself, I
was like, are you are you sure you know what
I'm saying? And they were like, yeah, like be yourself.
So but it's cool, like all the guys we got
such good relationships, and you know, everybody's so selfless, hungry
care about winning. So it's it's kind of been fun
to to integrate with them.
Speaker 7 (18:29):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I hope you know that.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
When people are talking about possible Janis sent to Kompo Trades,
one of the sentences that keeps gets saying is like, well,
come on, no one's going to get as much these
days as they got for Desmond Bane. The days of
all those first round picks and the deal are over.
So I just want you know, be honest, you y
honest you.
Speaker 11 (18:44):
I'm just saying, yeah, to know what I went for
is it's crazy, for sure, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Does it make you play in your feeling any different
or just same?
Speaker 10 (18:53):
Over the summer?
Speaker 11 (18:53):
It was like just like validation, you know, the kind
of like your contract and all those things.
Speaker 7 (18:59):
That happen throughout the course of the NBA.
Speaker 11 (19:01):
It's just validation that you're on the right path and
contributing the winning more than anything.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
One of those Desmond Vein deals and don't come along
that often. Thank you, sir, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
And now let's hear from Tony Parker.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
You said that you got inspired to play basketball watching
the Dream Team. Victor Webenyama says he got inspired to
play basketball watching you seeing the success of this Spurs
team and what Victor has been able to do.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
We knew it was only a matter of time. But
he's doing it. He's already right there with the elite players.
Speaker 12 (19:30):
He's doing it. And I was so you know, when
he played for my team in France. You know, we
want a French championship, you know, with Victor And when
he got drafted by the Spurs. The whole time he
was with my team in France, he never told me
that he had a picture with my jersey.
Speaker 6 (19:45):
And when he got drafted by the Spurs, they showed
the photo, showed the photo, and I was like, this
guy is amazing.
Speaker 12 (19:50):
He never told me, you never never said anything, never
showed me the picture.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
It's amazing.
Speaker 12 (19:55):
And so now I feel like it was destiny, you know,
for him to play with the Spurs and to play
at that level. He's amazing. I think he's going to
be the face of the league. And maybe two years
to three years.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Is going to take that long.
Speaker 6 (20:08):
I'm just trying to be nice.
Speaker 12 (20:10):
I think it's going to happen a lot faster and
he's going to be the best player in the NBA.
And so we're going to as Spurs fans, you know,
we're very lucky and I'm so happy, you know, to
have him with the Spurs and hopefully is going to
bring a lot of championships.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Now I think he will be one of the elite
players of all time because he has the work ethic,
he has the curiosity to expand his game, and he
obviously has all those physical skills. Where do you see
him ending up long term without you know, borrowing injury?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Knock on all.
Speaker 12 (20:36):
What's a great question I was going to I was
going to say, let's take a side injury, because I
think that's the only thing that can stop him, you know,
his injury, because we have no example a guy that's
all you know, play that long, you know, so, But
at the end of the day, I think he's going
to finish, you know, with the MJS, Lebron, Tim Duncan
you know. I think it's going to be the only
thing for him is to win championships now because talent wise,
(20:59):
he's already compared to that level. Now you have to
bring the championships. That's good, that's how you get compared,
you know, in this league. You know, you got to
you gotta win rings.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
What do you think of the team they're building around him?
Speaker 6 (21:08):
I like it a lot. I like it a lot.
Speaker 12 (21:10):
I love those quick guards, you know, with Castle and
Harper is unbelievable too, is fearless. I like that Fox
is clutch too. So now we have a lot of
great pieces, you know. So now it will take time,
you know, get some experience, and tomorrow is a great test,
you know, against the unbelievable OKAC team, So it's a
great opportunity to try to try to beat them.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Nineteen French players in the league this year, that's a record,
never been that many, and tim Usa almost lost, almost
dethroned by Team Frands in the Olympics.
Speaker 9 (21:41):
Thank you to you think?
Speaker 6 (21:42):
Thank you Steph.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Yeah, what did you have to say to him after?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
No?
Speaker 6 (21:45):
I was happy. It made me happy. When you have
big plays like that, you can only respect that, you
can only respect that.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Well, do you think the next Olympics do you think
that's the year for your team?
Speaker 6 (21:54):
I think so.
Speaker 12 (21:54):
I think twenty twenty eight can be a good one
for us. You know, it'd be no more Lebron, no
more stuff, no more KD you know.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
So we're going to.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Have to wait them out.
Speaker 12 (22:02):
Yeah, we we'll see, because the Uys they going to
come with a lot of talent too. So but France,
you know, nineteen players, like you said, as a record,
and we're on a great wave right now. Everything is
going positive for the French team. So if all those
guys you know they can have a role in their
team and play well and Victor being healthy. Yeah, I
(22:23):
like all chances in twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Eight and all inspired by Tony Parker congratulating.
Speaker 6 (22:28):
Honor, Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Up next, Blake Griffin. The adjustment to the job you
have now with Amazon. It's tough because you have to
know when you're telling the truth that some times guys
don't want to hear out of your mouth, your friends,
and you know you got to do your job too.
You had a moment earlier this season when you're talking
about John Moran and you just laid it out there.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
How hard is that for you to balance in your head?
Speaker 7 (22:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 13 (22:52):
I think early on I sort of made a conscious
effort to really like look at it from like a
true basketball perspective. We understand that people are going to misshots.
We understand that you're going to have bad days or
bad games. Lack of effort is always like one that
I think needs to be talked about. And I said it,
but I love watching Job Morant play, So it's almost
(23:14):
like selfishly you're saying like, come on, I want you
to this is what I want you to do, because
you can do things that nobody else can do, and
most importantly, I don't want to see guys waste it,
you know, Like I think, I think when I look
back at my career, I look back and I'm like, man,
I'm at least proud that, like I when I was
out there, like I gave as much as I possibly could.
(23:36):
You know, injuries or whatever, you know, things that are
out of your control happened, but you know, you try
to try to try to represent yourself in the best manner.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
A lot of attention also, of course, on what you
said about Chris Paul when you were sitting there thinking
about Okay, I know I got to go on TV tonight.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
I know I got to say something. What went through
your mind?
Speaker 13 (23:58):
Or did you just speak from the I mean I
truly did just speak from the herd. I talked to
Chris and I said that I talked to people in
the Clippers organization too, But I think for me, you know,
you do have to separate your personal bias, and I
think for me, I said, it was just kind of disappointed,
you know, because Chris and I and even DeAndre like
(24:22):
we look at the Clippers as like an organization that
like that's sort of it's home, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (24:27):
We spent the huge chunk.
Speaker 13 (24:28):
Of our careers there and we are proud of you know,
I don't want to speak for them, but I'm very
proud of what we did, even though we weren't able to,
you know, win a championship. So you never want to
see a place that you consider sort of home. And
you know, I walk around l A and people come
up to me and they say they're Clipper fans, Like
it means a lot to me, you know, I feel
like I feel I feel a closen sort of connection
(24:49):
to Clipper fans. So it's disappointing, you know. I felt
like a I felt like a.
Speaker 6 (24:55):
Parent, you know, like, hey, I'm not so much mad,
just disappointed.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I said, he hit him with you.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
I'm not bad.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
I'm disappointed.
Speaker 13 (25:02):
It's literally how I felt. It was like, yeah, it
was just disappointed.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Well, the fact that you're able to speak your mind,
I think has has gotten a lot of people excited
about your Amazon Prime stints.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So congratulations.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Up next Spurs All Star guard dearon Fox, your team.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Hasn't been your team yet. I think injuries. If this
guy's gone out, this guy's gone out. You were out
for a while, But how do you feel like the
chemistry is shaping up for this year?
Speaker 7 (25:25):
I mean, I think it's going well.
Speaker 14 (25:26):
I think the past you know, week or so, since
we've gotten Stepp back, it's continuing to build. And you know,
we want some games.
Speaker 7 (25:33):
So it's always easy.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
You want some game, I want we want some game.
Speaker 14 (25:36):
It's easy to build chemistry, especially when you winning games.
But obviously we're going to be excited to have back.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Yeah. Absolutely, there is a feeling of like, oh, this
team has to take baby steps. You know, they haven't
want to play round at the playoffs yet they haven't
all that.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
It feels like y'all are fast forwarding past that.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
You guys are being named as, oh, this is a
team that could be in the conference finals or who
knows what else.
Speaker 14 (25:54):
I mean, we have we have so much talent in
that locker room. Yeah, we have a lot of guys
who are young. But you have a talented group, you
kind of it's easier to go through those growing pains
when you're still winning some games.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
So obviously we don't.
Speaker 14 (26:06):
Feel like like we're just gonna, you know, go into
every game and just cake walk and win. But we
know that we have the talent to do so. And
whenever we're executing and we're you know, sticking to whatever
our game plan is, and we go out there and
we play to the best of our abilities as individuals
and as a team, we know that we always give
ourselves a chance to win.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
I think, I mean, I'm around basketball for multiple decades
and I have never seen anyone like Victor. For you,
you see him in so many more situations than we
do in the general public. What's the craziest thing you've
seen him do in a practice or just that no
one else has seen?
Speaker 14 (26:40):
Just one practice, he like jumps out of pump, fake
turns around, still blocks it, gets it comes down.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
Shoot to pull up through like it's and it doesn't.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
Obviously we see it.
Speaker 14 (26:50):
A lot of a lot, a lot of days, a
lot of practices, but it's it'll never be normal to
see the things that he does. And like just the
god giving gifts that he was given, he takes advantage
of it. But he works so hard, Like he doesn't
just wake up every day and like I can do
this and I just do it. Like he wakes up
every day and he still works on his craft he
wants to be as perfect as possible.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
No, I mean he's like on monk wellness retreats, he's
playing chess in the park.
Speaker 14 (27:15):
I like came in Facillity in the summer and he
was like, yeah, I'm about to go to China. I'm like,
we're going to China for its like we're gonna work
with He's gonna work out.
Speaker 8 (27:23):
With some monks.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
I'm like, did you think he was serious?
Speaker 7 (27:27):
Yes?
Speaker 14 (27:27):
I thought he was serious because it came from him.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
Yeah, I knew he was serious.
Speaker 14 (27:31):
But and then you start seeing like the pick because
he didn't send us pictures, but you start seeing pictures onlines,
Like I thought he was serious. But like even even
when you see it, it's like, wow, he really did
go do that, So I actually, yeah, it's it's wild.
But like you, like, he takes every even like obviously
with the blood clots last year, like he he takes
obviously basketball seriously. But he really appreciates life. And I
(27:53):
think that more so was the reason that he did
it outside of like just.
Speaker 7 (27:57):
For a basketball reason.
Speaker 14 (27:58):
I think he just he really Appreh's life, and I
think that's why he wants to go through you know,
the journeys that he did.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
You so pointedly wanted to go to this team. This
was the team that you wanted to be in. Was
it because you envisioned kind of what started unfolding here?
Speaker 14 (28:10):
Yeah, I mean obviously playing against that the team last
year and it's kind of seeing how things.
Speaker 7 (28:16):
Could play out.
Speaker 14 (28:16):
I felt like I could come here and help this
team kind of, you.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Know, I mean I was saying, I was like, if
I was a guard for I would be like I'd
like to be there.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I'd like to be there. I'd like to be with
that guy.
Speaker 14 (28:25):
Yeah, definitely, Like and that's what it was. I saw
what they were building. I felt like I could help
push that forward. So you know, things got done.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
And leadership wise, I mean, you've such a great voice
in the locker room. Everyone is talking of just about
how you've because you're the right age, right, You're they
understand someone your age is supposed to someone really old
like myself.
Speaker 14 (28:43):
I'm not like super UK or anything, and like I'm
still at the point where I have the ability to.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
Do these things.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
So but you but you've been there, You've been Yeah.
Speaker 14 (28:52):
Yeah, definitely, and and and that's that's I think the
great thing about our group. Like, like I said, we
have so much talent, we have youth, but guys are
willing to listen, guys are willing to learn, and I
think that's what makes us such a special group.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
All right, well, thanks uncle to be Darren Fox, thank
you super coming up, Josh Hart.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Before we get into any basketball.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Questions, I have to ask something way more important. Does
Mitchell Robinson have permission to babysit your children?
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Because it certainly looked like that on the bench the
other day.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Yeah, no, hell no, that was out of a dire necessity.
You know, obviously if you could probably figure out, I
didn't think I was going into the game, but nineteen
seconds stuft, we were, we were I think up six
Uh you know they they started coming back.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
So just shove that kid into his lap.
Speaker 10 (29:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:37):
I felt bad when I saw it. It was kind of
you know, it's funny. I saw Mitch's reaction, my little
man probably flying around. Yeah, man, mate, all player in
the next year, I don't bring bring them to the
bench and tell y'all like twenty or something.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
I mean, you had more trustworthy teammates with young children.
I'm just saying older guys.
Speaker 5 (29:54):
Yeah, but no of them, none.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Of them get none of them get those.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
Yeah, it's tough.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
I don't maybe one or two, maybe maybe the ogs,
but not.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Og is really how I would say it, exactly all right,
tell me about how the team is rounding in the shape.
Obviously a little bit of adjustment getting used to a
new head coach. But it feels like by this point
you're getting into that second third of the season that
you'all are really hitting your strength.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
Yeah, I mean, obviously it takes you.
Speaker 7 (30:18):
You know, it takes you a while.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
And you know, the thing I learned about being in
this league obviously is my ninth year. You know, it
takes a minute. And you know, sometimes the first ten
to fifteen games isn't I would say, it doesn't fully
give you the scope up what a team is or
what they're going to be. So, you know, we knew
(30:39):
we had to make sure we stayed the course. You know,
believe in each other. And I'll just go out there
and hoop.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
You guys are on fire as a starting five with
you in the lineup, I believe you guys are eight
and one best net rating in the league as that's
starting five.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
What's working so well? Right now.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
I just think we have guys that can do a
little bit of everything. Guys that can knockdown shots, facilitate,
get the room, obviously defend, but think we've been defending
at a really high level and being able to push
it and get out of transition. So, you know, much
love to all those guys, and you know you got
to keep building, all right.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Michael Bridge is playing the way we always knew that
he could. How would you describe him? Since you know
him so well, is he still a little bit iffy
in your mind?
Speaker 10 (31:22):
Ers?
Speaker 2 (31:22):
He's done?
Speaker 6 (31:23):
No, he's all Star.
Speaker 7 (31:24):
That's how I described it.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
You're gonna give me a fun little no.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
No, No, he's an all Star.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
He's playing at the level both sides of the ball.
Obviously offensively knocking out shots, shooting a good percentage, defensively
taking the challenge being our point of a tech defender.
Speaker 7 (31:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
So the only thing I could really say to describe
him as all Star.
Speaker 6 (31:44):
Yeah, appreciate all right.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Thanks, sayin's one of the most plugged in men in
the universe. To what is going on in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
You've been on top of so many stories lately, But
I want to ask you a little bit about the
hottest one.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Do you think Janna sent to Koopo will still be
with the Bucks after the trade deadline?
Speaker 15 (31:59):
That's really tough, tough question, so being the fact that
he's out for up to a month, right, So, I
want to see how the Bucks are going to handle
that period without him. Right had a nice win yesterday
against the Boston Celtics. Can they sustain that? Because ultimately,
if they falter throughout this period, I can see a situation,
(32:20):
you know, when Giannis comes back where it might be
best for both sides to move on in part ways.
But with that being said, I think the best way
that I can answer that right now is that it
would be very telling on how the Bucks fare during
this portion without them.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
You've reported that you know he had an interest in
New York at one point. Do you think that he
still has that strong interest in the Knicks if he
decides to.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
Go somewhere else.
Speaker 15 (32:44):
I think the Knicks have interests in the honest I
think I asked.
Speaker 10 (32:51):
I'm gonna get to it. I'm gonna get to it.
I think the Nicks has strong interest.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
I don't you know, I know all the tricks.
Speaker 15 (32:58):
Yeah, I think the buying meat. I mean, he have
interests in Jannis, the Golden State. Wards have had interests
for Janni's for a long time, San Antonio Spurs. The
list will go on on Minnesota Timberwolves, and so ultimately
I think for Giannis, wherever he lands, I think preferably
it will you know, I think he would like to
have some son. He'll like to be probably in a
(33:18):
in a big market. Outside of that, he just wants
to be on a team where he could compete for
a content, for a championship. He's been very adamant about
that being a main priority for him the duration.
Speaker 7 (33:30):
Of his career.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Do you think though he is going to say my
first choice is to go to the next or you're
not hearing that he's going to be that vocal about things.
Speaker 15 (33:38):
It's hard to say that now because like if you
would ask me this this summer, I wouldn't say yeah.
Speaker 10 (33:41):
I think he would have said the Knicks will probably
be his first option.
Speaker 15 (33:44):
But as of right now, you can't really dictate to
the next you know, in season right now, so that
makes it more complicated. But you know, I think when
it gets to that point, because he still has not
officially asked for a trade. There's been numerous conversations that
they've had or his representatis I've had, and they've been
talking about Okay, now, what if such, if this keeps
playing out this way, what's gonna happen?
Speaker 10 (34:06):
What are you going to do?
Speaker 15 (34:07):
So, you know, I talked to him last week and
he told me, he said, I can't control what the
front office is doing. My main focus is to get
back on the court. That if I'm with the Bucks, I'm.
Speaker 10 (34:16):
With the Bucks.
Speaker 7 (34:17):
He said.
Speaker 15 (34:17):
If the front office decides to do something else, I'll
worry about then.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
All Right, you're also been super plugged in on Chris Paul.
You spoke to Chris Paul. I think you're the only
one I've heard of who had a real conversation with
him about what was going on. How sort of just
still dazed is he? And what do you think his
next move.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Is going to be?
Speaker 15 (34:35):
Yeah, your first question. You know, he's still shocked about
how everything went down. You know, he felt like there
were people in the organization that he called friends, and
at the end of the day, he doesn't felt like
they lived up to that label. Towards the end of
his tenure there with the Clippers so very much. Still
is shocking all but he's working out every day. He's
(34:58):
working out every day. You know, when I call him,
he's in the weight room or he's you know, he's
at his court on playing with his son, and so
he's you know, they have been payingful of teams that
have reached out and want to see what he's trying
to do.
Speaker 10 (35:13):
So he'll have some options. He'll have some options.
Speaker 15 (35:15):
Now the last question was the last question he said,
you know, at the end of the day, when it
comes to Chris Paul, I don't see him ending it
like that.
Speaker 10 (35:25):
I don't see him going out like that.
Speaker 15 (35:26):
I do expect him to return at some point during
the season and finish out his NBA career the right way.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Where would you like to see him?
Speaker 15 (35:34):
I personally like to see him Okay, see I personally
like to see him in New Orleans.
Speaker 10 (35:40):
You know, those are teams he's had ties with.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
At least there would be some emotional ties still for
that last.
Speaker 10 (35:44):
Year's tour of emotional ties.
Speaker 15 (35:46):
And you know, some people say the Phoenix Sons, but
I looked at the Sun's schedule.
Speaker 10 (35:51):
They don't go back to the Clippers.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
You need a team to play the Clippers.
Speaker 15 (35:54):
Again, that's what you need at their place, you know,
to it though, So I think New Orleans passes that test.
Speaker 10 (36:01):
Okay, see passes that test.
Speaker 15 (36:03):
So again it's going to be up to him, you know,
and win too, you know, so he'll he'll he'll have
a shot.
Speaker 6 (36:10):
All right.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
There are some media hoops games that goes on at
events like the NBA Cup, like the NBA Finals, you
always seem to farewell.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
I want to know who your NBA media.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Is starting five is. We've got Tim McMahon over there.
I know he plays a lot. What do you got
who's your starting five?
Speaker 10 (36:24):
Why did you mention Tim as if I'm going to
mention him in.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
My starting I know that he's usually in those games.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
There's some pretty serious media games that I do not
play in because I am a smart person.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
But I want to know who you're starting five is.
The media members. They don't have to be here in this.
Speaker 15 (36:38):
Book, okay, all right, we're talking about currently or in
their prime whenever you know when they were able to
go in the prime. In the prime, okay, myself first
and foremost, Mark Spears in their prime.
Speaker 10 (36:50):
I didn't get to see Chris Bussar, but they said, Chris,
you could do it.
Speaker 15 (36:54):
Yeah, Casey out there in Chicago, I heard the hoop again.
Speaker 10 (36:58):
That's a different eraror that's not my era.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Kcy Johnson covers the Chicago Bulls.
Speaker 10 (37:02):
Yeah, that's four in my fifth. I'm gonna exclude a
lot of people.
Speaker 15 (37:06):
People probably gonna be pissed at me, but I need
a shootter he I'm gonna penetrator.
Speaker 10 (37:09):
I like the fine guys open. I'm gonna go with
Damon menimom oh.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
Okay, well that's good. Give him a loaf to tape.
I like that. All right, your old running mate, all.
Speaker 10 (37:18):
Right, and Rachel six six man, six women.
Speaker 1 (37:22):
Equipment manager, something like that. I'm five foot four.
Speaker 10 (37:26):
It don't matter.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
It does matter. I promise you I have tried to
doesn't It doesn't matter.
Speaker 10 (37:31):
Dave's not posting you up. I guarantee you that is true.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
But some of the other folks you mentioned, thank you, Kritain.
Speaker 10 (37:37):
It's all Rachel
Welcome back to Open Run.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We're here in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup, and
before we get into the video, we want to shout
out our partner, DraftKings for sponsoring this episode. DraftKings has
a new fantasy game, Pick six, and it's the perfect
companion while you're watching the NBA Cup. It's legal in
most states and you can use my promo code open
Run when you sign up. Now let's get into the episode.
We're being joined by Hall of Famers Dwayne Wade and
(00:28):
Tony Parker from the NBA Champion thunder Shake, Gilsters, Alexander
and Jaylen Williams, Spurs All Star Guard, the erin Fox
comes Through, and the Magic Band Desmond Bane and the
secret ingredient in the knicks new starting lineup, Josh Hart.
That's a lot to get to, so let's go check
it all out. First up, Dwayne Wade. All in all,
(00:51):
how do you feel like the NBA Cup has been
for the NBA.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
It's been a few years now.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, I mean I'm one of the people who like it.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, And I think we about to twenty five games
into the season, and I think it's so many reasons
why it's good. You know, as an organization, you get
to evaluate where you are right before you get to
the trade deadline, before you get to all the things
that as we got.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
This squeaky thinking about.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You, you're TV person, Yeah, you never would have been
able to be like, oh that's we.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Should cut, that's cut that.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
But I love it.
Speaker 6 (01:22):
I think I love this.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
It gives teams also an opportunity, an opportunity to compete,
Like you may start off the season slow, but in
a cup play, you may have an opportunity to come
to Vegas and you can save your season too, right
because it builds that commidents.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
If you're able to come out here, you're able to compete.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
And so I just think it's so many good things
about it, and I feel like this goes on as
it grows. I feel like more should be put on
this part of the season.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
And it's fun too, because like younger teams get experienced
in those crucible situations.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
It's funny.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
The youngest team here, of course, has already won a title,
so okay, see, it doesn't need that much more extra experience.
There's people who think, oh, we could see Nicks. Okay,
see in the NBA Cup.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Do you see next. Okay, see as an NBA Finals possibility.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
When you talk about, you know, who's coming out of
the Eastern Conference. You know, obviously they went to East
Conference finals last year, so you know, you know, they
bringing their core back, even though it's a change in
that first that seat, but they're bringing the core of
their players back, and so yeah, you can definitely see
them get there.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
You know, it's so many things that have to go right.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
But I believe I just saw Josh Hard just ran
into them and the talker to him in the confident group,
you know, even though they know that they're not where
they want to be, but they know that they're getting there,
and you have.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
A change, you know, of a voice.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
It takes a little time, it takes a little while,
but they're doing very good, very early.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
All right, So next kind of maybe coming out of
the East. Who's your other big pick for coming out
of the East.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Coming out of the East, Well, I mean, if if
I had to look, I mean, unfortunately, you know, Boston
was the team that everyone was like, they're going to
be there for a while, and then injury to Tatum
and so it kind of changed everything. But when I
look at the team that you know, has the experience.
You know, obviously I look at the Knicks because of
the multi years that they've been building this, you know, that's.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
What I look at. I look at what did they
do three years ago? What do they do four years ago?
So they've been building Mimi Heat is always gonna be
a team that can come out even if they're in
twelfth place coming into the game.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Coming out of nowhere, they could still.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Come out of the East.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
But it's I think what I love about the East
is is it's unpredictable right now and it's early in
the season. You wanted to be that way, Like the
success that Toronto was having earlier in the year. It's
kind of a little unpredictable that they're having it. So
the East is gonna take a little time to see
who rises to the top. But you know the teams
that's at the top, you know they're they're obviously really good.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Is it strange for you you grew up in Chicago.
You love the Michael Jordan Bulls. That was an Eastern
Conference team.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Right when you.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Played in the league, you played in the East, and
the East was very dominant. Y'all won titles right down
three I believe there are many titles three if someone
was running around in Arena three three like that. I
can't remember who that was anyway. But you're now looking
at an NBA where the East is falling off so much.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Is that weird for you? Because your whole life the
East was tough, man.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I mean, even when I was in the NBA, they
would talk, you know, trash about the East because the
West is so competitive from top to bottom, right, and
in the East to be competitive maybe the first four
and then it kind of falls off. So they talked
a lot of trash about the East when I was
in there. But I always say that it doesn't need
to be you need you'll need the whole East to
be competitive. Loans the top guys are built to be
(04:23):
able to compete and win, and so I think the
East normally has that. But I mean the West is
what it is. I mean, it's some special teams, some
special guys our West. They just got to beat on
each other.
Speaker 7 (04:33):
Though.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
That's what we used to say. We said, just let
them beat up each other. By the time we get there,
we'll be good. And so I mean, obviously there's one
team right now that everyone is chasing, and it's okay,
see everyone's chasing. Okay, See they're obviously a class above
when it comes to this time of the year. But
I think it's great for the East right now that
it is open. I mean, you know, you want young
(04:53):
guys to to take their you know, take this opportunity
that's in the East, and you want them to look
at and say, all right, how do I take this
next step? Right in Orlando, how do they take that
next step? They're here, this is great for them to
be here, but how do they go to that next step?
Speaker 7 (05:06):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
And so East is building foundation while the West is
being each other up.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
For Oklahoma City, it almost is starting to feel and
we'll just have to see if they can win a
couple more.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
But like that time with the World Championships, I.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Was going to say, just with like it's almost starting
to feel like when the Warriors kind of had Katie
where it's just sort of, yeah, everyone in the West
is very good. But and someone else says nicolajokicch but
also like that team is just going to keep getting better.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I mean they've got what three or four picks in
the first round of the draft this year. It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
It's scary. It's actually pretty scary. I mean, they're going
to be the foundation is late. The Dominis is going
to be here for a while. And that doesn't mean
they're going to win every year, but they're going to
be up there every year, obviously knocking on wood that
they stay healthy. If they stay healthy, the thing is
with them, and man, they everybody they bring into that
that plays on their basketball floor for them, they understand
(05:55):
what needs to be done. And one thing I love
about them they make shots, they don't celebrate, They get
right to defense.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
They barely celebrated the tail.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
They don't celebrate, and I love that. It's like it's
like watching your favorite college team play.
Speaker 7 (06:06):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
It's like when back in the day when Duke we
hit the ground. That's all they did was just smacked
the ground outside of that and did nothing else. But
you know that's the way that you I grew up,
you know, loving the game and approaching the game.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So I love their approach. It's real old school like
in their approach.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
And so they're going to be here to stay for
a while. They're going to have to get fatigued with winning.
And right now they're so locked in. There's no mental
fatigue coming into this next season. And that's the thing
that you have to fight against, is that fatigue of
this is easy. Oh I got to do this again.
It's those you know, those reps. You got to put
it in every day and they seem like they like it.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Yeah, I mean with us.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
The point with some of these teams, after they repeat
a little bit of saying, oh, I got to go
through the regular season again, why can't we just go
straight to.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Assimilate the season. Let's get right to it. But you
could assimilate a couple of games this year.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's not nice, it's not kind.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
With the forty fifty point wins was a similation, you
know what I mean. But that's kind of how you feel.
And so looking at their approach, I'm just really press
and I can't wait to obviously get a chance to
talk to their head coach about that approach, because that
is the most impressive thing when you're someone who I've
been there before. I know how hardy is attorney right
back around, not getting a long summer at all, not
(07:12):
getting really a break at all, You got injuries coming
in to j Dubb and you still come and you
start a season this way, just the most professional, you know,
way to approach the season.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
They have done it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
It was really funny after they won the title last
year because you know, the media gets into the locker room.
I have been in so many championship locker rooms, not
just NBA World Series, you know, for Super Bowl, all
of those, and people are going crazy, right these guys
were like a couple of them were sipping a beer
a couple. There were three bottles of champagne on the floor.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Three and then there was just rows and rose of alcohol,
including bottles of champagne. No one touched. Can you explain?
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Can you tell the people your first title, the title
with you and Shaq and pat Riley coaching the team.
What was the locker room like after that title?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Well, I was I got a little tipsy because at
that time I did not drink myself and that was
one of the first time I had anything to drink.
And that was and I actually was like, if we
want a championship, be the first time I drink. So
I had champagne in the locker room.
Speaker 7 (08:07):
I was.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I was a little loose, but we were just jumping
around like little kids. It's like little like when you
take loose.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
You guys were bunkers. I have never seen a locker
room like that. You breathed in and you breathed in champagne.
Riley himself was just listen.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
You ever go to like one of them jumping places
with the kids, Yeah, that's what our locker room was like.
We were just in there like big kids. But you know,
SoC was.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Just like, don't have a beer? Maybe maybe I won't.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Alex Cruco said he had to teach guys how to
open a bottle champagn.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Yeah, I heard that.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
But you know, I feel like as they go on,
especially as you're trying to really accomplish something more than
just winning one championship, it gets harder and harder and harder,
and then more appreciation will come a little later as
they're on this journey of trying to dominate full well.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I like it, all right, I have one more question
for you, my co host here, Dane Wade with the West,
who do you see is sort of the biggest challenger
for Oklahoma City.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Who's going to be in the Western Conference finals at
the bracket works?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I mean, I think you got to look at a
team like Houston.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Of course, you know, obviously with the you know, acquisition,
bringing in kad it gives them, you know, kind of
what they were missing last year when it comes to
having that guy.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
You know, we know what KD is, we know who
he is. You know.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
You obviously you're always gonna look at the Lakers and
with the firepower that they have from an offensive standpoint,
you know that they can compete with anybody on the
offensive end. The question with them is the other side,
of course, and so it's still things and still time.
Those are you know, kind of two of the teams,
and Denver is always gonna be there. They got that
guy over there, they got Joke over there, and so
the way that they play washing them play. Okay see,
(09:34):
last year in the playoffs, it could have went either way.
At times you thought that okay, you thought that Denver
could have beaten okay see, and then you haven't seen
many teams that could have that could beat them. So
you got those three teams.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
One last word, give me the name of the team
essential to KOOPO will play for at the end of
the season.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
I hope it's the Bucks. I went to school to Marquette.
Everybody in Milwaukee.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
Right there and.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Now shake guilder Alexander.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I just heard from one of your teammates that he
feels like you guys could go for the record, Not
that that's your goal, but he said, you guys have
that kind of team, and I guess I just wanted
to know sort of do you have confidence in yourselves
that you can win every game?
Speaker 8 (10:14):
Absolutely? I don't know say that, but whoever said that
is correct. Yeah, we have a group that does the
right things and the necessary things like prior to the game,
during the game, and after the game to go out
there and give ourselves a chance to win every night. Now,
whether we do so every night, it's it's gonna be
up to us. But yeah, we definitely have the makeup
(10:37):
for it for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
How did you guys come into the season as hungry
as you did when so many other teams before you
get the title and like for the first couple of
months they're like, I can't even pay attention right now, man.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
Yeah, we have guys that are like self driven. We
have guys that want more for themselves and for the
whole team. I think we have guys that like, at
the end of the day, just loved the game of basketball.
And play for that because of that. The scoreboard or
what we just accomplished doesn't matter to us. It's about
us getting better and honestly just playing because we love
it and playing for each other.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Is there anything less than another title that you're looking
at this season?
Speaker 8 (11:11):
No, man, just another title? I'm sorry, Nope, just another title?
Speaker 1 (11:18):
What are we doing there?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
All?
Speaker 6 (11:19):
Right?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Well, last year I got to tell you I was little.
I loved the team, I loved hanging with you guys.
I was a little disappointed in the locker room celebration.
I'm not gonna lie. Do you feel that if you
guys win again, we can get like, I don't know,
six bottles of champagne going instead of five? I mean
it was kind of.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Dead in there.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
Yeah, hopefully, I mean me personally, I still haven't popped
a bottle of champagne, so I'm going to be just
as rusty as I was before.
Speaker 7 (11:40):
But hopefully my teammates got better at it.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I know Alex Cruso had to show you guys how
to open champagne bottle.
Speaker 8 (11:45):
I'll have to show me again. But yeah, if we
got there, we should be a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Did you do anything to celebrate this summer being an
NBA champion.
Speaker 8 (11:53):
Yeah, I definitely had fun with my family, my friends,
my teammates. The champagne just wasn't popped by me.
Speaker 7 (12:00):
Sit away from you, all right.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Did you buy yourself anything any fancy clothes?
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Uh?
Speaker 7 (12:05):
I got myself a few gifts here and there.
Speaker 8 (12:10):
I took care of some people that helped me get
to this point.
Speaker 7 (12:14):
So yeah, it was. It was a good summer.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
As you look, now, you're kind of about a third
of the way through this season. Who in the West
is kind of shaping up to be your biggest challenge
as a team.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
M hm.
Speaker 7 (12:24):
The West is so deep it's hard to say this earlier.
Speaker 8 (12:27):
Dem is obviously really good, The Spurs are really good,
Houston's really good.
Speaker 7 (12:34):
Who else is there? I mean Dallas when they get healthy? Uh?
Who else is at the top?
Speaker 8 (12:43):
Yeah, the West is so deep, Memphis that they get healthy,
you're just going to name every team?
Speaker 7 (12:47):
Yep, exactly.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
See now he's now he's an interview problem.
Speaker 8 (12:52):
The West is the West is just very deep, and
if you don't bring her again, you can lose anything
any night, no matter who it is.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
So yeah, last, why you're gonna help me? Nate who
is the sonogram?
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Who is the two athletes you said with the sonogram
with Sam Presty, gonna go visit.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
The oh Asia ol Bam Bam.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
So because Asia was named Time Magazine's Athlete of the
Year and she's doing a bunch of interviews and talking
about her and Bam and their relationship.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
She's like, we want to have kids together.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
And someone joked that Sam Presty would be at the
sonogram if they had kids together.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Is he that much of a scout?
Speaker 8 (13:27):
Sam takes his job very serious and whatever it takes
to be great, he will do.
Speaker 7 (13:30):
So that's what it takes.
Speaker 6 (13:31):
That's what it takes, all right.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
So vam Adebayo and Asia Wilson watch out. If you
guys ever decide to have kids. Sam Preste's going to
knock on your door.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Here's Shalen Williams.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I know you get this question everywhere you go now,
but I gotta ask it. The record for seventy four
is totally on the table. I know that's not your goal,
but could you guys.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
Go that far? Yeah?
Speaker 9 (13:51):
I've been saying it like, there's a lot of things
I think this team can do.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
It's more about and.
Speaker 9 (13:58):
I feel like that's that's the same way with a
lot of NBA teams. Everybody feels that they can do
something as a matter of if you actually do it,
and that starts with just playing these games one at
a time, like you can't. You don't win anything in
what is it December except obviously this maybe, But you.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Got to win these games to do it. But do
you have a team that could do it?
Speaker 10 (14:18):
For sure?
Speaker 9 (14:19):
I never want to limit our team. We have the
talent to do it. You guys are seeing it. We
wouldn't be having this conversation if everybody else didn't think
so too. So that's how I look at it. But
I also don't like looking that far ahead because there's
a lot of games left.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
All right.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
We're all happy to see you back. You've been integrating
back to the team so well. I need to ask,
because I'm petty, How sour are you that the NBA
has a sixty five game rule and that you miss
out on almost fifty million dollars because you can't make
all MBA now and it affects your contract.
Speaker 9 (14:46):
I'll make it back somewhere else, so I'm not too
worried about it.
Speaker 10 (14:48):
But I mean, I think.
Speaker 9 (14:51):
Honestly, the way I was thinking about it was if
I come back and I play hurt, right, then I
risk do you want to do that? Yeah, I risk
remssing my hand up and kind of wasting.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
A lot of the work that my team and our.
Speaker 9 (15:05):
Trainings to have it I put into the summer. So
if it wasn't time for me to play, it wasn't
time for me to play. That's that's more of like
a god's plan thing, and I'm just kind of rolling
with it. I'll never be salty over the Over the money,
we obviously will be able to use that elsewhere, which
will be even nicer to keep our team together.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
It's very generous.
Speaker 9 (15:22):
Yeah, I mean I mean a lot of money over
the summer too, So I'm never gonna be too greedy.
Speaker 6 (15:29):
Again.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
It's one of those things where like coming from like
a small school, I never thought I would make the
amount of money that I'm making now anyway, So I'm
not too concerned over it. It's about the goal for me
is about winning before it is about money.
Speaker 7 (15:40):
I'll play the sport for free.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Well, first of all, don't let Sam press to hear
you say that.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Second of all, I was going to say you can
win back half a million by winning the NBA Cup,
So good luck, Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 9 (15:49):
Yeah, yeah, there's a lot of money. There's a lot
of money out here. That's what I said. I'll make
it back somewhere.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And now, Desmond Baine, for you, it seemed like it
was a little bit of a justment period in Orlando,
but now it feels like, I mean, this is your team.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
You pit so well with those guys.
Speaker 11 (16:02):
Yeah, I love it, you know, I mean, off the
court's been great for me and my family. On the court,
Like you said, there was a time when when I
was trying to find myself and.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
How I fit into this team.
Speaker 11 (16:15):
But you know, twenty five games in, I feel pretty
comfortable and excited with with what we've done up to
this point.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
So there was a lot of ideas in the summer
of like, man, they could this East is pretty open.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
This is a team.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
That's kind of ready to make that next step. Do
you feel that's actually now true? Like is that are
you Are you on course to maybe being an Eastern
Conference finals or even more?
Speaker 10 (16:35):
I think so.
Speaker 11 (16:36):
I mean, we haven't seen everybody in the East yet,
so it's hard to say that and it's so early.
There's so many, you know, games left to play, and
so much that can happen.
Speaker 10 (16:46):
But the scary part, or the good part for us.
Speaker 11 (16:50):
I think because that we haven't been fully healthy once yet,
you know, so I think that that there's still a
lot more room for us to grow and a lot
more room for us to get better. Missing Fronds right now,
Who's been fantastic, you know, throughout this this whole entire season.
Speaker 7 (17:06):
So whenever he's back, we'll welcome.
Speaker 10 (17:09):
With open arms, but until then we'll hold it down
for him.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Well, we had a little bit of a new kind
of look at you in Orlando, Still the same Desmond
Bane who will not back down from a challenge. You
got smoke with a couple of different guys in this
league recently, and then the NBA Cup you got the Knicks.
I mean, what's the sort of deal with you guys
and sort of the energy.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Between you and OG and and and ob especially.
Speaker 10 (17:29):
I mean, it's all love between me and O G.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
But is it really Yeah, yeah it is.
Speaker 11 (17:35):
We laughed about it shortly after, but yeah, we definitely
you know, their competition, you know, they're they're in the
way of what we're trying to do so we're we're
not taking them lightly.
Speaker 7 (17:48):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
That toughness that you bring to a locker room, I
know that in addition to all the things you do
on the court.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
That was one of the reasons they wanted you in there.
They wanted a guy.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Who was vet enough to like know the score of
what goes on around the league and so just you know,
give a little bit of flare to that locker room
because you got somewhat quiet guys in there.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Otherwise, how has that been? Has been fun for you
because they really want you to be yourself?
Speaker 10 (18:08):
Yeah, nah, for sure.
Speaker 11 (18:09):
I mean when they told me to be myself, I
was like, are you are you sure you know what
I'm saying? And they were like, yeah, like be yourself.
So but it's cool, like all the guys we got
such good relationships, and you know, everybody's so selfless, hungry
care about winning. So it's it's kind of been fun
to to integrate with them.
Speaker 7 (18:29):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I hope you know that.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
When people are talking about possible Janis sent to Kompo Trades,
one of the sentences that keeps gets saying is like, well,
come on, no one's going to get as much these
days as they got for Desmond Bane. The days of
all those first round picks and the deal are over.
So I just want you know, be honest, you y
honest you.
Speaker 11 (18:44):
I'm just saying, yeah, to know what I went for
is it's crazy, for sure, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Does it make you play in your feeling any different
or just same?
Speaker 10 (18:53):
Over the summer?
Speaker 11 (18:53):
It was like just like validation, you know, the kind
of like your contract and all those things.
Speaker 7 (18:59):
That happen throughout the course of the NBA.
Speaker 11 (19:01):
It's just validation that you're on the right path and
contributing the winning more than anything.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
One of those Desmond Vein deals and don't come along
that often. Thank you, sir, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
And now let's hear from Tony Parker.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
You said that you got inspired to play basketball watching
the Dream Team. Victor Webenyama says he got inspired to
play basketball watching you seeing the success of this Spurs
team and what Victor has been able to do.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
We knew it was only a matter of time. But
he's doing it. He's already right there with the elite players.
Speaker 12 (19:30):
He's doing it. And I was so you know, when
he played for my team in France. You know, we
want a French championship, you know, with Victor And when
he got drafted by the Spurs. The whole time he
was with my team in France, he never told me
that he had a picture with my jersey.
Speaker 6 (19:45):
And when he got drafted by the Spurs, they showed
the photo, showed the photo, and I was like, this
guy is amazing.
Speaker 12 (19:50):
He never told me, you never never said anything, never
showed me the picture.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
It's amazing.
Speaker 12 (19:55):
And so now I feel like it was destiny, you know,
for him to play with the Spurs and to play
at that level. He's amazing. I think he's going to
be the face of the league. And maybe two years
to three years.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Is going to take that long.
Speaker 6 (20:08):
I'm just trying to be nice.
Speaker 12 (20:10):
I think it's going to happen a lot faster and
he's going to be the best player in the NBA.
And so we're going to as Spurs fans, you know,
we're very lucky and I'm so happy, you know, to
have him with the Spurs and hopefully is going to
bring a lot of championships.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Now I think he will be one of the elite
players of all time because he has the work ethic,
he has the curiosity to expand his game, and he
obviously has all those physical skills. Where do you see
him ending up long term without you know, borrowing injury?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Knock on all.
Speaker 12 (20:36):
What's a great question I was going to I was
going to say, let's take a side injury, because I
think that's the only thing that can stop him, you know,
his injury, because we have no example a guy that's
all you know, play that long, you know, so, But
at the end of the day, I think he's going
to finish, you know, with the MJS, Lebron, Tim Duncan
you know. I think it's going to be the only
thing for him is to win championships now because talent wise,
(20:59):
he's already compared to that level. Now you have to
bring the championships. That's good, that's how you get compared,
you know, in this league. You know, you got to
you gotta win rings.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
What do you think of the team they're building around him?
Speaker 6 (21:08):
I like it a lot. I like it a lot.
Speaker 12 (21:10):
I love those quick guards, you know, with Castle and
Harper is unbelievable too, is fearless. I like that Fox
is clutch too. So now we have a lot of
great pieces, you know. So now it will take time,
you know, get some experience, and tomorrow is a great test,
you know, against the unbelievable OKAC team, So it's a
great opportunity to try to try to beat them.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Nineteen French players in the league this year, that's a record,
never been that many, and tim Usa almost lost, almost
dethroned by Team Frands in the Olympics.
Speaker 9 (21:41):
Thank you to you think?
Speaker 6 (21:42):
Thank you Steph.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Yeah, what did you have to say to him after?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
No?
Speaker 6 (21:45):
I was happy. It made me happy. When you have
big plays like that, you can only respect that, you
can only respect that.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Well, do you think the next Olympics do you think
that's the year for your team?
Speaker 6 (21:54):
I think so.
Speaker 12 (21:54):
I think twenty twenty eight can be a good one
for us. You know, it'd be no more Lebron, no
more stuff, no more KD you know.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
So we're going to.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Have to wait them out.
Speaker 12 (22:02):
Yeah, we we'll see, because the Uys they going to
come with a lot of talent too. So but France,
you know, nineteen players, like you said, as a record,
and we're on a great wave right now. Everything is
going positive for the French team. So if all those
guys you know they can have a role in their
team and play well and Victor being healthy. Yeah, I
(22:23):
like all chances in twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Eight and all inspired by Tony Parker congratulating.
Speaker 6 (22:28):
Honor, Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Up next, Blake Griffin. The adjustment to the job you
have now with Amazon. It's tough because you have to
know when you're telling the truth that some times guys
don't want to hear out of your mouth, your friends,
and you know you got to do your job too.
You had a moment earlier this season when you're talking
about John Moran and you just laid it out there.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
How hard is that for you to balance in your head?
Speaker 7 (22:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 13 (22:52):
I think early on I sort of made a conscious
effort to really like look at it from like a
true basketball perspective. We understand that people are going to misshots.
We understand that you're going to have bad days or
bad games. Lack of effort is always like one that
I think needs to be talked about. And I said it,
but I love watching Job Morant play, So it's almost
(23:14):
like selfishly you're saying like, come on, I want you
to this is what I want you to do, because
you can do things that nobody else can do, and
most importantly, I don't want to see guys waste it,
you know, Like I think, I think when I look
back at my career, I look back and I'm like, man,
I'm at least proud that, like I when I was
out there, like I gave as much as I possibly could.
(23:36):
You know, injuries or whatever, you know, things that are
out of your control happened, but you know, you try
to try to try to represent yourself in the best manner.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
A lot of attention also, of course, on what you
said about Chris Paul when you were sitting there thinking
about Okay, I know I got to go on TV tonight.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
I know I got to say something. What went through
your mind?
Speaker 13 (23:58):
Or did you just speak from the I mean I
truly did just speak from the herd. I talked to
Chris and I said that I talked to people in
the Clippers organization too, But I think for me, you know,
you do have to separate your personal bias, and I
think for me, I said, it was just kind of disappointed,
you know, because Chris and I and even DeAndre like
(24:22):
we look at the Clippers as like an organization that
like that's sort of it's home, you know what I mean.
Speaker 7 (24:27):
We spent the huge chunk.
Speaker 13 (24:28):
Of our careers there and we are proud of you know,
I don't want to speak for them, but I'm very
proud of what we did, even though we weren't able to,
you know, win a championship. So you never want to
see a place that you consider sort of home. And
you know, I walk around l A and people come
up to me and they say they're Clipper fans, Like
it means a lot to me, you know, I feel
like I feel I feel a closen sort of connection
(24:49):
to Clipper fans. So it's disappointing, you know. I felt
like a I felt like a.
Speaker 6 (24:55):
Parent, you know, like, hey, I'm not so much mad,
just disappointed.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I said, he hit him with you.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
I'm not bad.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
I'm disappointed.
Speaker 13 (25:02):
It's literally how I felt. It was like, yeah, it
was just disappointed.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Well, the fact that you're able to speak your mind,
I think has has gotten a lot of people excited
about your Amazon Prime stints.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So congratulations.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Up next Spurs All Star guard dearon Fox, your team.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Hasn't been your team yet. I think injuries. If this
guy's gone out, this guy's gone out. You were out
for a while, But how do you feel like the
chemistry is shaping up for this year?
Speaker 7 (25:25):
I mean, I think it's going well.
Speaker 14 (25:26):
I think the past you know, week or so, since
we've gotten Stepp back, it's continuing to build. And you know,
we want some games.
Speaker 7 (25:33):
So it's always easy.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
You want some game, I want we want some game.
Speaker 14 (25:36):
It's easy to build chemistry, especially when you winning games.
But obviously we're going to be excited to have back.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Yeah. Absolutely, there is a feeling of like, oh, this
team has to take baby steps. You know, they haven't
want to play round at the playoffs yet they haven't
all that.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
It feels like y'all are fast forwarding past that.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
You guys are being named as, oh, this is a
team that could be in the conference finals or who
knows what else.
Speaker 14 (25:54):
I mean, we have we have so much talent in
that locker room. Yeah, we have a lot of guys
who are young. But you have a talented group, you
kind of it's easier to go through those growing pains
when you're still winning some games.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
So obviously we don't.
Speaker 14 (26:06):
Feel like like we're just gonna, you know, go into
every game and just cake walk and win. But we
know that we have the talent to do so. And
whenever we're executing and we're you know, sticking to whatever
our game plan is, and we go out there and
we play to the best of our abilities as individuals
and as a team, we know that we always give
ourselves a chance to win.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
I think, I mean, I'm around basketball for multiple decades
and I have never seen anyone like Victor. For you,
you see him in so many more situations than we
do in the general public. What's the craziest thing you've
seen him do in a practice or just that no
one else has seen?
Speaker 14 (26:40):
Just one practice, he like jumps out of pump, fake
turns around, still blocks it, gets it comes down.
Speaker 5 (26:45):
Shoot to pull up through like it's and it doesn't.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
Obviously we see it.
Speaker 14 (26:50):
A lot of a lot, a lot of days, a
lot of practices, but it's it'll never be normal to
see the things that he does. And like just the
god giving gifts that he was given, he takes advantage
of it. But he works so hard, Like he doesn't
just wake up every day and like I can do
this and I just do it. Like he wakes up
every day and he still works on his craft he
wants to be as perfect as possible.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
No, I mean he's like on monk wellness retreats, he's
playing chess in the park.
Speaker 14 (27:15):
I like came in Facillity in the summer and he
was like, yeah, I'm about to go to China. I'm like,
we're going to China for its like we're gonna work
with He's gonna work out.
Speaker 8 (27:23):
With some monks.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
I'm like, did you think he was serious?
Speaker 7 (27:27):
Yes?
Speaker 14 (27:27):
I thought he was serious because it came from him.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
Yeah, I knew he was serious.
Speaker 14 (27:31):
But and then you start seeing like the pick because
he didn't send us pictures, but you start seeing pictures onlines,
Like I thought he was serious. But like even even
when you see it, it's like, wow, he really did
go do that, So I actually, yeah, it's it's wild.
But like you, like, he takes every even like obviously
with the blood clots last year, like he he takes
obviously basketball seriously. But he really appreciates life. And I
(27:53):
think that more so was the reason that he did
it outside of like just.
Speaker 7 (27:57):
For a basketball reason.
Speaker 14 (27:58):
I think he just he really Appreh's life, and I
think that's why he wants to go through you know,
the journeys that he did.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
You so pointedly wanted to go to this team. This
was the team that you wanted to be in. Was
it because you envisioned kind of what started unfolding here?
Speaker 14 (28:10):
Yeah, I mean obviously playing against that the team last
year and it's kind of seeing how things.
Speaker 7 (28:16):
Could play out.
Speaker 14 (28:16):
I felt like I could come here and help this
team kind of, you.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Know, I mean I was saying, I was like, if
I was a guard for I would be like I'd
like to be there.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I'd like to be there. I'd like to be with
that guy.
Speaker 14 (28:25):
Yeah, definitely, Like and that's what it was. I saw
what they were building. I felt like I could help
push that forward. So you know, things got done.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
And leadership wise, I mean, you've such a great voice
in the locker room. Everyone is talking of just about
how you've because you're the right age, right, You're they
understand someone your age is supposed to someone really old
like myself.
Speaker 14 (28:43):
I'm not like super UK or anything, and like I'm
still at the point where I have the ability to.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
Do these things.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
So but you but you've been there, You've been Yeah.
Speaker 14 (28:52):
Yeah, definitely, and and and that's that's I think the
great thing about our group. Like, like I said, we
have so much talent, we have youth, but guys are
willing to listen, guys are willing to learn, and I
think that's what makes us such a special group.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
All right, well, thanks uncle to be Darren Fox, thank
you super coming up, Josh Hart.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Before we get into any basketball.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Questions, I have to ask something way more important. Does
Mitchell Robinson have permission to babysit your children?
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Because it certainly looked like that on the bench the
other day.
Speaker 5 (29:19):
Yeah, no, hell no, that was out of a dire necessity.
You know, obviously if you could probably figure out, I
didn't think I was going into the game, but nineteen
seconds stuft, we were, we were I think up six
Uh you know they they started coming back.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
So just shove that kid into his lap.
Speaker 10 (29:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:37):
I felt bad when I saw it. It was kind of
you know, it's funny. I saw Mitch's reaction, my little
man probably flying around. Yeah, man, mate, all player in
the next year, I don't bring bring them to the
bench and tell y'all like twenty or something.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
I mean, you had more trustworthy teammates with young children.
I'm just saying older guys.
Speaker 5 (29:54):
Yeah, but no of them, none.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Of them get none of them get those.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
Yeah, it's tough.
Speaker 5 (30:00):
I don't maybe one or two, maybe maybe the ogs,
but not.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Og is really how I would say it, exactly all right,
tell me about how the team is rounding in the shape.
Obviously a little bit of adjustment getting used to a
new head coach. But it feels like by this point
you're getting into that second third of the season that
you'all are really hitting your strength.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
Yeah, I mean, obviously it takes you.
Speaker 7 (30:18):
You know, it takes you a while.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
And you know, the thing I learned about being in
this league obviously is my ninth year. You know, it
takes a minute. And you know, sometimes the first ten
to fifteen games isn't I would say, it doesn't fully
give you the scope up what a team is or
what they're going to be. So, you know, we knew
(30:39):
we had to make sure we stayed the course. You know,
believe in each other. And I'll just go out there
and hoop.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
You guys are on fire as a starting five with
you in the lineup, I believe you guys are eight
and one best net rating in the league as that's
starting five.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
What's working so well? Right now.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
I just think we have guys that can do a
little bit of everything. Guys that can knockdown shots, facilitate,
get the room, obviously defend, but think we've been defending
at a really high level and being able to push
it and get out of transition. So, you know, much
love to all those guys, and you know you got
to keep building, all right.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Michael Bridge is playing the way we always knew that
he could. How would you describe him? Since you know
him so well, is he still a little bit iffy
in your mind?
Speaker 10 (31:22):
Ers?
Speaker 2 (31:22):
He's done?
Speaker 6 (31:23):
No, he's all Star.
Speaker 7 (31:24):
That's how I described it.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
You're gonna give me a fun little no.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
No, No, he's an all Star.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
He's playing at the level both sides of the ball.
Obviously offensively knocking out shots, shooting a good percentage, defensively
taking the challenge being our point of a tech defender.
Speaker 7 (31:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
So the only thing I could really say to describe
him as all Star.
Speaker 6 (31:44):
Yeah, appreciate all right.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Thanks, sayin's one of the most plugged in men in
the universe. To what is going on in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
You've been on top of so many stories lately, But
I want to ask you a little bit about the
hottest one.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Do you think Janna sent to Koopo will still be
with the Bucks after the trade deadline?
Speaker 15 (31:59):
That's really tough, tough question, so being the fact that
he's out for up to a month, right, So, I
want to see how the Bucks are going to handle
that period without him. Right had a nice win yesterday
against the Boston Celtics. Can they sustain that? Because ultimately,
if they falter throughout this period, I can see a situation,
(32:20):
you know, when Giannis comes back where it might be
best for both sides to move on in part ways.
But with that being said, I think the best way
that I can answer that right now is that it
would be very telling on how the Bucks fare during
this portion without them.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
You've reported that you know he had an interest in
New York at one point. Do you think that he
still has that strong interest in the Knicks if he
decides to.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
Go somewhere else.
Speaker 15 (32:44):
I think the Knicks have interests in the honest I
think I asked.
Speaker 10 (32:51):
I'm gonna get to it. I'm gonna get to it.
I think the Nicks has strong interest.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
I don't you know, I know all the tricks.
Speaker 15 (32:58):
Yeah, I think the buying meat. I mean, he have
interests in Jannis, the Golden State. Wards have had interests
for Janni's for a long time, San Antonio Spurs. The
list will go on on Minnesota Timberwolves, and so ultimately
I think for Giannis, wherever he lands, I think preferably
it will you know, I think he would like to
have some son. He'll like to be probably in a
(33:18):
in a big market. Outside of that, he just wants
to be on a team where he could compete for
a content, for a championship. He's been very adamant about
that being a main priority for him the duration.
Speaker 7 (33:30):
Of his career.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Do you think though he is going to say my
first choice is to go to the next or you're
not hearing that he's going to be that vocal about things.
Speaker 15 (33:38):
It's hard to say that now because like if you
would ask me this this summer, I wouldn't say yeah.
Speaker 10 (33:41):
I think he would have said the Knicks will probably
be his first option.
Speaker 15 (33:44):
But as of right now, you can't really dictate to
the next you know, in season right now, so that
makes it more complicated. But you know, I think when
it gets to that point, because he still has not
officially asked for a trade. There's been numerous conversations that
they've had or his representatis I've had, and they've been
talking about Okay, now, what if such, if this keeps
playing out this way, what's gonna happen?
Speaker 10 (34:06):
What are you going to do?
Speaker 15 (34:07):
So, you know, I talked to him last week and
he told me, he said, I can't control what the
front office is doing. My main focus is to get
back on the court. That if I'm with the Bucks, I'm.
Speaker 10 (34:16):
With the Bucks.
Speaker 7 (34:17):
He said.
Speaker 15 (34:17):
If the front office decides to do something else, I'll
worry about then.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
All Right, you're also been super plugged in on Chris Paul.
You spoke to Chris Paul. I think you're the only
one I've heard of who had a real conversation with
him about what was going on. How sort of just
still dazed is he? And what do you think his
next move.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Is going to be?
Speaker 15 (34:35):
Yeah, your first question. You know, he's still shocked about
how everything went down. You know, he felt like there
were people in the organization that he called friends, and
at the end of the day, he doesn't felt like
they lived up to that label. Towards the end of
his tenure there with the Clippers so very much. Still
is shocking all but he's working out every day. He's
(34:58):
working out every day. You know, when I call him,
he's in the weight room or he's you know, he's
at his court on playing with his son, and so
he's you know, they have been payingful of teams that
have reached out and want to see what he's trying
to do.
Speaker 10 (35:13):
So he'll have some options. He'll have some options.
Speaker 15 (35:15):
Now the last question was the last question he said,
you know, at the end of the day, when it
comes to Chris Paul, I don't see him ending it
like that.
Speaker 10 (35:25):
I don't see him going out like that.
Speaker 15 (35:26):
I do expect him to return at some point during
the season and finish out his NBA career the right way.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Where would you like to see him?
Speaker 15 (35:34):
I personally like to see him Okay, see I personally
like to see him in New Orleans.
Speaker 10 (35:40):
You know, those are teams he's had ties with.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
At least there would be some emotional ties still for
that last.
Speaker 10 (35:44):
Year's tour of emotional ties.
Speaker 15 (35:46):
And you know, some people say the Phoenix Sons, but
I looked at the Sun's schedule.
Speaker 10 (35:51):
They don't go back to the Clippers.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
You need a team to play the Clippers.
Speaker 15 (35:54):
Again, that's what you need at their place, you know,
to it though, So I think New Orleans passes that test.
Speaker 10 (36:01):
Okay, see passes that test.
Speaker 15 (36:03):
So again it's going to be up to him, you know,
and win too, you know, so he'll he'll he'll have
a shot.
Speaker 6 (36:10):
All right.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
There are some media hoops games that goes on at
events like the NBA Cup, like the NBA Finals, you
always seem to farewell.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
I want to know who your NBA media.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Is starting five is. We've got Tim McMahon over there.
I know he plays a lot. What do you got
who's your starting five?
Speaker 10 (36:24):
Why did you mention Tim as if I'm going to
mention him in.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
My starting I know that he's usually in those games.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
There's some pretty serious media games that I do not
play in because I am a smart person.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
But I want to know who you're starting five is.
The media members. They don't have to be here in this.
Speaker 15 (36:38):
Book, okay, all right, we're talking about currently or in
their prime whenever you know when they were able to
go in the prime. In the prime, okay, myself first
and foremost, Mark Spears in their prime.
Speaker 10 (36:50):
I didn't get to see Chris Bussar, but they said, Chris,
you could do it.
Speaker 15 (36:54):
Yeah, Casey out there in Chicago, I heard the hoop again.
Speaker 10 (36:58):
That's a different eraror that's not my era.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Kcy Johnson covers the Chicago Bulls.
Speaker 10 (37:02):
Yeah, that's four in my fifth. I'm gonna exclude a
lot of people.
Speaker 15 (37:06):
People probably gonna be pissed at me, but I need
a shootter he I'm gonna penetrator.
Speaker 10 (37:09):
I like the fine guys open. I'm gonna go with
Damon menimom oh.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
Okay, well that's good. Give him a loaf to tape.
I like that. All right, your old running mate, all.
Speaker 10 (37:18):
Right, and Rachel six six man, six women.
Speaker 1 (37:22):
Equipment manager, something like that. I'm five foot four.
Speaker 10 (37:26):
It don't matter.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
It does matter. I promise you I have tried to
doesn't It doesn't matter.
Speaker 10 (37:31):
Dave's not posting you up. I guarantee you that is true.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
But some of the other folks you mentioned, thank you, Kritain.
Speaker 10 (37:37):
It's all Rachel
Hosts And Creators
Stephen Jackson
Matt Barnes
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
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
Betrayal: Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a brand new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-4 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.