Matt Barnes reacts to Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2025 NBA Finals win over the Indiana Pacers, and the gives flowers to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic season, Sam Presti’s front office magic and Tyrese Haliburton’s remarkable playoff run.
Plus, he predicts the Houston Rockets’ next move after trading for Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Lakers’ bright future under Mark Walter and Ace Bailey’s wild pre-NBA Draft journey.
Then, D’Vontay Friga recaps Next Chapter’s Michael Beasley-Lance Stephenson success and names his dream 1-on-1 matchups, including Joe Johnson & Kyrie Irving.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to Unplugged, brought to you by DraftKings ooof
the NBA Finals were some heat. But also on this
episode we have Devonte Friga, the owner or co owner
of the next chapter, which brought you the Michael Beasley
Lance Stevenson one on one game. So we'll get to that,
but before let's get to these finals. Man, Congratulations to
(00:20):
the Oklahoma City Thunder their first franchise championship, only the
first game seven since twenty seventeen. Congratulations. I mean you
think about this Oklahoma City team twenty twenty three, they
lost in the plan, they go to the second round
last year, get beat by Dallas. They're the best team
from start to finish this year and win a championship.
(00:43):
SGA his accolades were incredible this year. Obviously regular season MVP,
he just took the finals MVP.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Home shot the ball. Well.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
This is arguably one of the best seasons ever for
by guard scoring champ sixty eight win team, First Team
All NBA Western Conference, Finals, MVP Finals, MVP Champion, MVP.
Not since Shack has someone cleaned house like he was
able to do the second youngest to do it, behind
Kareem who did it at the age of twenty three,
(01:18):
which is absolutely incredible. This team has a very bright future,
very young team. We'll see Presse's Presty moves as the
puppet master behind the scenes praises later. But if you
look at this team, they're odds on favored at plus
two point fifty to repeat. Sga is going to break
(01:40):
the bank this summer, as he should, and we'll get
into what that contract looks like. But you know, you
got Jalen Williams who arrived on the scene and is
a great young talent. You got Check after battling so
many injuries, was able to you know, shake the injury
(02:00):
and do what he did. And then the role players
from lou Dort to Caruso to Wallace to Hartenstein, which
was paid handsomely. I think he got an eighty seven
million dollar deal this year. This team is set to
be in the mix for the next two to three
(02:21):
four years, and we'll talk about it in a little bit,
what it's going to mean to be able to keep
Hongrin and Jay Dubb when their contracts are up. Let's
talk about Presty though in the moves he's been able
to make this Oklahoma city team understanding being a small
market team. I think this is a picture for the
rest of the NBA on how to run your franchise.
(02:43):
I'm always obviously a hometown guy with Sacramento, and I
think ever since Jeff Petrie, they haven't been able to
figure the small town, the small market, small town team
situation up at Sam Presty over the years has built
tremendous tremendous first and foremost in the draft, which I
think you have to win, and then you have to
win in the draft, and then assets the way they've
(03:04):
been able to stockpile first round pick, second round pick exceptions.
But let's just go back over and give Sam his
flowers real quick. And it all started with the Paul
George for SGA trade, and I can clearly remember, and
I love PG, but I remember when this was going down,
Doc Rivers was not sold on giving up SGA and
(03:25):
that almost stopped the whole Kawhi even coming to the
Clipper situation because Doc saw early on shout out Doc
Rivers that Shay was going to be a superstar. But
we all know that Kawhi said, if he doesn't get PG,
he could have went down the hallway or down the
Old Hallway to the Lakers, and I don't think that
the Clippers wanted that to happen, so they pressed play
(03:47):
on the SGA trade and the rest is history. He
was able to get Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren in
the same draft, right. I want to say Chet went
number four, Jalen went number two, twelve, and that was
a big Obviously, Chet had a lot of hype around him,
but Jalen came from a smaller school, Santa Clara, and
they really did their homework on what type of player
(04:08):
they thought he could have been and took a chance
on him. Again because Chet had a ton of hype,
but Jalen Williams again very solid college career. Didn't hear
a ton about him, with all due respect, but they
knew that at twelve that would be their guy. They
paid Hartenstein, which a lot of people said they overpaid.
They gave Hartenstein eighty seven million this offseason. He was
(04:32):
an integral piece, if you remember, and the Knicks could
have definitely used him this year on that front line
in New York.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
It's not the numbers.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
The numbers don't jump off the page at you, but
he does a lot of the shit that everyone else
doesn't want to do. He's one of those ultimate glue guys,
ultimate hustle guys, strong rebounds in the right position all
the time, and it just has a great basketball IQ.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So he got paid.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
They were able to get Caruso, which was a huge, huge,
huge into me if he plays more games. He's on
one of all those all defensive teams too, So theoretically
you could have had three guys on the All Defensive
team this year with Dort and Jay Dove and you
can add Caruso because to me, he's one of the
best on ball defenders. We saw it in the finals,
(05:17):
but we also saw them throw him on Jokicic for
a little while and give Jokic fits. So Caruso is
one of the best on ball guys in the game.
So they're able to get Payson Wallace as the tenth
pick in the twenty twenty twenty four draft, and then
obviously trading Giddy for Caruso. Let's take a look at
what they got to look forward to.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Still, they have.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Some late first this week in the draft and some seconds,
but in twenty twenty six, they have Utah's first round pick,
top eight perspective protected. They also have Phillies top first
round pick top four protected in twenty six. Now on
to twenty seven, they have the Nuggets top pick, first
(05:58):
round pick top five protected in the have a twenty
twenty seven Clipper pickswap. So again, as they're winning, they're
still building up the so called farm system with assets
and opportunities. So Check and j Dubb both payment in
the twenty twenty two draft will be on the final
year of their rookie contracts and to me, both those
(06:18):
guys fall into the mac extension situation. For these younger
players home are eligible to sign a five year get
this two hundred and forty seven million dollar extensions. The
total value could increase up to two ninety six if
(06:39):
an MVP All NBA All Defense, Defensive Player of the Year.
If any of those things jump up, those are all kickers,
so that's an extra nearly fifty million dollars Stay can
make if and keep in mind Jay Dub was on
the second team All Defense and you gotta think Check
would have been in the mix if he would have
qualified and played more games. So them being able to
(07:01):
keep their big three is likely, but they're able to
keep their big three. They're gonna lose some of their
role players to the casualty of the game. So top
of the list for them this offseason after coming off
their first championship. First of all is party your motherfucking
asses off. I saw Jaden Williams on ESPN this morning
said he had him into sleep yet. So they're on
the right path with that. They got the parade coming up.
They're gonna go hard, blackout for a whole week, Go
(07:25):
take a vacation, get your mind and your body back together,
and then get back to work. But for the front office,
first order of business SGA, the MVP eligible is now
able to sign a four year, two hundred and ninety
three million dollars deal. And the way this will break down,
(07:46):
according to Bobby Marks, would be sixty five zero point
five million his first year, seventy point seven million his
second year, seventy six million his third year, and grab
your panties, eighty one point two million dollars in his
final year. But he'll probably opt out that last year
(08:07):
and jump on another big deal.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Right, So he'll.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Probably opt out of that eighty one and by the
time in three years he'll probably start making ninety ninety five,
one oh one, one oh four. So we're heading towards
ladies and gentlemen one hundred million dollar deals within the
next five years, one hundred million per year for these
star players. So I mean, but I couldn't. I mean,
if tell me someone who deserves it more. Sga has rinded,
(08:32):
he stayed quiet, He's put the work in. He's quietly
led his team in a small market to the best
team in the league. He's a great leader from everything
I've seen. Everybody loves him and he produces. I mean,
we talked about what his numbers were this year as
far as his accolades. No one's done that since Shack.
So congratulations to first and foremost Shay for the championship
(08:53):
in the tremendous season. But your reward is well worth it.
And excited for you, my brother, continue with the great work.
In Sadder news, Tyrese Halliburton a guy who has done
everything right. He's for some reason, and I talk about
(09:14):
this in my group child my homies like it's is
he a superstar?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Is he a star?
Speaker 1 (09:19):
There's so many different things to nitpick, but this guy
is a gamer first and foremost and by the numbers,
the most clutch player in NBA playoff history.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Let that sink in.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
But also keep in mind he was voted the most
overrated player in the league going into the playoffs. And
although that's not and someone broke that down. I want
to say only one hundred players out of the four
hundred players actually voted, but still not everyone got in there.
But still enough people felt that he was overrated that
they had to come out and say it. And I
think that shit pissed him off and he went he
(09:54):
was on win. And keep in mind this team, this
Indiana team, a lot with say overachieved, but this team
within the Eastern Conference Finals last year, although they got
swept by Boston, they still made it to the Eastern
Conference finals, and I think no one thought they would
do that last year. I guarantee no one but that
team in that city thought that they would be in
the finals this year. And a lot of that has
to do obviously with coach Carla but their leader Halliburton,
(10:17):
who over the playoff run average seventeen eight assists, five
rebounds in the playoffs. But again, his leadership, his clutch shooting,
and just his I don't give a fuck, fuck the
world type mentality was a beautiful thing to see at
twenty five years old. An Achilles injury again, very unfortunate,
(10:40):
but it's not a career under This used to be
an injury that would end people's careers. A lot of
guys have came back from it. I'm hoping Halle is
one of those guys. But has really led to the
bigger debate, which has really been all over social media.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Why is all this happening?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
There was only forty five Achilles tears from nineteen ninety
to twenty twenty three, forty five over that span. Obviously
Kevin Durant was one of those tears. But there's eight
Achilles tears alone in the twenty twenty five season, and
we've seen debates all over the place. We saw Cameron
(11:18):
come out and say, I know I'm the last niggat
to say stop being fashionable, but stop wearing these low
cut shoes and three quartercut shoes, please and thank you.
And not only than easy Sniper, easy money sniper. Kevin
Durant said, brother, this absolutely has nothing to do with
(11:39):
the injury. And my production team too, we're actually debating
this as well. Is it low top is it three
quarter cut. I don't really know where I fall in
with that. I don't think I'm with KD. I don't
think it has anything to do with the shoes. I
think it's more the wear and tear. I think it
starts with grassroots basketball if you think about it. But
(12:00):
if you're my age, I was born in the eighties,
so if you're my age, we played sports during the season.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
We never did anything year round. I was a four four.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I played four different sports in high school, football, baseball, basketball, track,
and all my friends grew up playing different sports. I'm
not sure when this shifted, probably mid two thousands, early
two thousands, where it started becoming at the grassroots level,
almost like a specialized thing where maybe you do two sports,
but you for sure do one sport year round. And
(12:30):
you're seeing it in baseball with the Tommy John surgery,
they're having more of these arms blowout. We're seeing now
with these Achilles blowouts. And the reason why I say
grassroots because you got to think if a kid that's
just say, on average, a kid makes the league at
twenty one to twenty two, with all the basketball he's
played to get to that point, and he needed to
play to get to that point. His body is probably
(12:52):
closer to twenty six or twenty seven, so I'd probably
say that. I probably say the grassroots basketball development, if
you're lucky enough to get to the league, will probably
put five years on your body. And that's just a guestimate.
There's no scientific fact behind it. It's just someone who's
been in the shit and seen it, someone who has
kids in this space, and just seeing how many games
(13:13):
kids play year round, I think it's way too much.
I mean, you look at Dame, you look at obviously
Jason Tatum, Halliburton, all these guys were hit in the playoffs.
These guys have miles on their body, and again they
had miles coming into the game, and then once you
get here, there's miles you know with you know, you
look at Tatum where they had an amazing championship run
(13:33):
and although he didn't play a ton in the Olympics,
he was in the Olympics, he didn't really get a
chance to rest his body. You look at Halliburton Eastern
Conference finals run last year, Olympics, didn't play a ton
of the Olympics, but still no downtime for the body.
It's au mileage. And let's keep in mind the game.
The pace of the NBA game is higher, as high
(13:54):
as it's been since the seventies. I think it's almost
at one hundred and nine possessions per game. There's a
lot less defense, so there's a more ripping and running.
But to the defense of the game and the growth
of the game. I also think that's why the game
has grown so much, because people don't want to see
an eighty two eighty three old school defensive battle no more.
They want to see dunks, they want to see threes,
(14:14):
They want to see people flying up and down the court.
And the trade off for that is the wear and
tear on these hotly paid athletes body. So whether people
think it's the shoe, whether people think it's your diet,
whether you think it's the style of play, whether it's
little knickknack injuries like cash strains they possibly lead to
(14:37):
the Achilles tear. No one really knows. But if I'm
again someone who played fifteen years, someone who came up
in a different era of grassroots sports, to me, it's
these kids are playing way too many specialized sports at
a younger age, Like I don't even think it's close
how much they're playing compared to my era. And I
(15:01):
was literally just talking about I just got back from
a tournament this weekend in Arizona, and some of the
dads were talking about, Yeah, I want my kid to
play different sports, but if he does play different sports,
he gets behind in his main sport. So if you're
taking any time off your main sport, you're getting behind.
So what is the answer to this. Nobody knows. I
hope somebody figures it out, but very unfortunate. What happened
(15:22):
to Halliburton, what happened to Jason Tatum, what happened to
Damian Lillard and everyone else who went down with big injuries.
Kyrie obviously tours ACL during the season, so I'm hoping
all these stars and all these players who have gone
down come back bigger and stronger. The best thing about
this is, obviously, again an ACL used to be something
(15:45):
that could possibly derail your career, but again, all these
injuries now, the acls and the achilles are all unfortunately
normal injuries now, and there's a certain timetable guys can
do their work and get back. But it's unfortunate, and man,
I hope someone finds an answer to this terrible problem
(16:07):
we're having. Yeah, the Pacers were at the top and
in speed of game, pace of play, hustle plays.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
That team played.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Fast basketball and and and the person at the front
of that chard was Halliburton. So again, to see him
go down was very unfortunate. Sending you a lot of love.
I sent bro text yesterday, but I'm sure he was
had a lot of people texting him. But again him
sending you love out to you, sending love out to Tatum,
sending love out to Dame Lillard Man speedy recovery fellas,
(16:40):
and we're looking forward to seeing you guys back on
the court.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Uh, sooner than later.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Big news. The season just ended. But the best thing
about the NBA is about to turn into a reality
show now with all the off season.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Moves and drama. Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
And to kick shit off, who better than Kevin Durant,
who was just traded to the Houston Rockets for Jaden Green,
Dylan Brooks, the tenth pick and five second round picks.
I want to know what you guys think, but this
is what I think. I think it was a great move.
Houston didn't have to give up a ton of young assets, Obviously,
(17:21):
Jayden Green is a young asset and someone who they
are betting on, but it just goes to show man
if you don't show up in the playoffs. Playoffss were
playoffs make and break people, and I have to believe
that his inability to be effective this year in the
playoffs led to him being a tradable. Dylan Brooks a
(17:41):
defensive cornerstone, one of the best on ball defenders and
just fuck shit up guys in the league. A big
fan of Dylan Brooks, not always a fan of his antics,
but I just like the way he gets down. He
was in this and then the tenth pick in a
deep draft, and then the second round picks, and I'm
hearing a lot of people obviously this trade just happened
and they gave up too many picks. But to me,
(18:04):
if Desmond Bain gets four first round picks for him,
Rudy Gobert gets six first round picks and an exception
for him, I don't give a fuck how old Kevin
Durant is. Kevin Durant will always demand more than those people.
And the fact that they didn't have to give up
any first round picks to get Kevin Durant. I think
Houston did a great job, but I still think they
(18:26):
still in your hearing, they still have some wiggle room
or are they done moving. You've heard names like Giannis
possibly teaming up with Kevin Durant. You've heard names like
Jalen Brown can possibly head to Houston. So Houston isn't
done with one of the best coaches in the league.
They still have a lot of assets. I think anyone
(18:47):
outside of Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant for the right number.
I mean, we were talking, Earli, would you trade Giannis
for Singoon Apps the fucking lutely?
Speaker 2 (18:57):
You know, I don't. I think that's a no brainer.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
So look out for Houston continuing to try to improve
their roster. They did, they did so with Kevin Durant.
But again, now we get into this to this this
free agent friends, it's frenzied. Words are also that the
Sons are still trying to shop Javon Green. So Javon
Green's final destination may not end up being Phoenix. Some
(19:22):
of the assets that they still have, this this this
this Rockets team has it. They didn't have to get
rid of this round, but who knows coming around if
they'll continuing to make more moves. They still have Jabari
Smith who was the second pick. Is it Rex Shepard?
Speaker 2 (19:34):
What's his name?
Speaker 1 (19:34):
I know, Reed Shepard? Okay read, I was a big
fan of him, played really well in the SUMER League.
Didn't get a ton of minutes this year. But someone
who I think will be effective Ethan, someone who can
put the ball in the basket. And then obviously Amen
Thompson who him and his brother two of the young
up and coming stars, two way stars in this league.
And then this is what they still have as far
(19:56):
as draft capital. Twenty twenty seven they have a situation
with the Rockets and Sons whoever has the more favorable pick.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
That'll go to Houston.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Twenty eight they have their first round pick, twenty nine
they have the Mavericks first round pick, and then another
situation with the Sons, whoever has the more favorable pick
they get. Thirty they have their own, thirty one they
have their own, and thirty two they have their own.
So they have a lot of again draft capital and
young talent, So keep an eye on the Rockets. They
may not be done moving on to one of the
(20:29):
greatest franchises in sports.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
History.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
The Lakers were sold last week for ten billion to
the owners to the owner of the Dodgers, Mark Walter.
This guy is buying up everything LA Sports. I heard
there's rumors that he may not be done either. What
does this mean from a historical significance, What does this
mean from an emotional significance, And what does this mean
(20:53):
moving forward for the Los Angeles Lakers To take a
trip down memory lane. Doctor Bust originally bought this team
for sixty seven point five million in nineteen seventy nine.
If I'm not mistaken, Ramona Shelburn did a podcast on
didn't he borrow some money from Donald Sterling to get
the deal done? If I'm not mistaken, Yeah, if I'm
(21:17):
not mistaken, Donald Sterling help him get this team. And
not only at the time was it the team, but
if I'm not mistaken, it was the form and some
other shit. So back in the in seventy nine, he
got this team for seven, let's say, sixty eight million
dollars and in twenty twenty five they sold for ten billion.
Good news is they're still going to keep Genie in
(21:39):
charges of in her place. And if I'm not mistaken,
they saw have fifteen percent of the team right, the
Laker of the Bus family fifteen fifteen to seventy percent
was able to keep the under the Bus Family name.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
But what I want to know moving.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Forward is is what does this mean for the management side?
The Lakers people of Austin said, it's a lot of
buddy buddy in that management with you know, friends close
to the family and favors being done and that's why
certain people are in certain positions. I can't confirm her
in any of that. It's above my pay grade. But
(22:17):
obviously being here long enough, I've heard the same thing
that everyone else hears. So does does Mark come in
and flip that upside down? Let's also keep in mind
who's a part of this ownership group that's coming in
to the Lakers, Magic Johnson, And we all know how
his tenure ended in management in his feud with Rob Palinka.
(22:38):
So do we see Magic step back in and and
you know rebirth a prominent role in this organization? Does
Rob stay? Does everyone else in place stay? So this
is going to be very interesting to watch. Obviously, as
a new owner, you don't want to come up and
come in and blow a lot of shit up, But
if you have pieces that are coming with you that
(23:00):
are very capable, which he does, it could mean a
shake up for the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers.
So we will see what this means. But first and
foremost on the floor, what does this mean on the floor,
is this new owner is not coming in that you see,
they don't play with the Dodgers. They do whatever they
(23:22):
need to do to get shited done with the Dodgers.
So obviously, staying within the restrictions of the NBA, they're
going to go out and make some moves, hopefully to
bolster this roster. So I think outside of Luca and Lebron,
anybody can possibly be packaged up and out of here.
(23:43):
So really interesting off season for the Lakers. Started off
with the boom by selling the team, but obviously you
know they're going to make a wave in the off
season this year, so definitely looking forward to seeing what
happens with that. The draft is right here, right around
the corner. June twenty fifth. The top five projected players
(24:05):
to go in the draft, in no particular order. Cooper
Flag had a great season at Dupe, Dylan Harper and
Ace Bailey to stud freshman at Rutgers vj Edgecomb at
A Baylor and Trey Johnson at Texas rounds out the
projected top five. But I want to know what's going
on in Ace Bailey's camp because I don't. But I'm
(24:28):
hearing a lot of madness. And I'm also hearing outside
of him canceling workouts and allegedly, I say this, allegedly
again asking for money during team interviews. I don't know
if this is some nil residue, but I'm hearing that
Sharif Cooper's father, Amar Cooper, is his agent, and that's dangerous.
(24:50):
Sometimes we've seen the father son duo work. Tobias Harris's
dad represents him and he's man. He's winning there and
got his bread. But what I'm hearing with A Bailey,
and even if some of these rumors aren't true, what
we know is true is the way he's blowing off
these teams. And this is a very copycat weird sports leagues.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
We plan, you know we're hearing.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
We were hearing rumbles with Shador Sanders and we saw
unfortunately what happened to him. He fell to the fifth round.
But now he's been the most consistent quarterback in in
Browns camp and we all know should have been a
top five, top ten at pick worst pick. So just
my whole, my whole thing to Ace man is you know.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
You can't.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
No one's bigger than the program. You're a very talented
young man and I wish you the absolute best. I
know you're going to have a successful career, but you
got to be tread lightly the way you're moving and
the information that's being spread, whether that's you, whether that's
your representation, because we just want to see you out there.
We want to see you get drafted, and we want
(25:54):
to see you have an amazing career. You're a tremendous
talent and we're all wishing the best for you. But
the outside bullshit is already starting to be loud, and
that's never a good sign for teams. That that stuff
that kind of stares scares teams away. But you are
so talented that I think they're probably gonna overlook that.
But once you get settled and drafted, fresh slate, spot
(26:16):
there and hoopball, be the best hooper you can. Don't
let the outside bullshit ever make more noise of what
you're doing on the court. One of the biggest stories
in basketball outside the NBA Finals has been the Lance
Stevenson versus Michael Beasley one on one matchup where the
winner took home one hundred thousand dollars put on by
the Next Chapter.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Today we have the co owner of the Next.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Chapter, one of the biggest basketball YouTubers in the business,
Devonte Friga.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Welcome to the show, bro oh Man, I appreciate that.
I appreciate you guys having me on here. It's exciting,
no doubt. So.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Obviously, recently the one on one Beasley and Lance game
was a success, but what I found super interesting.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Was the way you guys were able to build the
lead up to it.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Obviously, the game did what it was supposed to do,
but I thought the lead up was very creative, especially
knowing both those guys and playing with both those guys
and knowing what kind of basketball minds they have and
what kind of shit talkers they were. Where did the
whole strategy of obviously the lead up to the game
come from.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Ultimately, you see, like with UFC and with boxing and everything,
you have storylines.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
And they all make sense.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
See with Beasley and Lance outside of just their former
pros and we know who they are, we don't really
have that much of a storyline outside of you just
want to see this matchup, so you know, the next
chapter originated on YouTube. We've always been a YouTube channel
where a YouTube platform, and we don't want to take
away what we started in doing a game like this,
(27:48):
So we had the idea of building a natural storyline
by putting them head to head against each other as
coaches with some of the guys that were brought up
in the next chapter scene. So the idea was doing
a twenty plus episode series on our YouTube channel that
played out every Monday, Wednesday Friday with games of them
coaching players on the next chapter promoting the main Marquee
(28:11):
matchup or they are five undercards underneath of the Michael
Beasley Land Stevenson game and people that have played in
the season had a chance to be voted in as
undercards to the matchup. So everything that was aligned through
the promotion was all, you know, hand in hand and
the idea of just having them in front of each
other yelling at each other, you know what I mean,
(28:32):
competing whether they were on the court or not, they're
competing as coaches.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
So the idea of doing that promo just helped build
a storyline.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
You see them yelling at each other and each other's
faces for a three month period, and then obviously the
promo when we were there the week of with the
face offs, the press conferences, you know, going to the
studio sessions, and just trying to do the highest quality
that we can in promoting and telling the story and
also creating one too. So that's kind of a little
(28:59):
bit of the premise of the idea there.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
On the logistics sides, like so they were coaching leading
up to the actual event, how did you get how
did you get them to buy into that side? Because
normally some of us are a little hard headed and
kind of difficult to work with at time, So how
did you get both those guys to buy into the
whole entire process.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
I think we had a really successful proof of concept
about a year and a half ago.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
We had Michael Beasley versus Mario Chalmers.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
As coaches in another season that we did with twenty
plus episodes, et cetera, and it went really well. Obviously
we didn't have Beasley and Chalmers face off afterwards, but
we had a very successful season with that, and I
think that we were able to really just show what
we wanted to do. Beasley already knew what we were
trying to do, and Lance, you know, Lance like he's
(29:49):
kind of just like, I'm gonna go with it, and
he really he just really liked the idea. Wasn't as
hard as you think.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Actually, okay, dope, So what are some of the some
of the the thing that stood out about it? Obviously
you guys are right in the midst of the NBA
Playoffs slash Finals, But what was viewership like, what were
some of the you know, some of the some of
the feedback you got from what you guys created.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Ultimately, it wasn't We weren't necessarily trying to do it,
so people were like, yeah, we like this way better.
But we really we wanted people to to compare their
viewing experience because the idea of growing this UFC of
one v one basketball is it's not easy, but we
need basketball fans. So around this NBA Finals time was
perfect for us to do it because in that viewing
(30:34):
experience trial period is you know, some people may not
be used to watching one on one basketball or whatever
the case may be. So the feedback was really good.
This was our second pay per view. We've been doing
one v ones and we've been doing these types of
live events for for years now, but the pay per
(30:55):
view side where we're really trying to grow this, I
would I would consider it a success. There's obviously like
little finite details about the actual stream itself that I
would change, but obviously, like going forward, there's going to be.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Something new that we want to do better every single time.
But yeah, I mean we had a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
I mean, we had over over a million unique viewers
to the to the website, and there wasn't there.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Wasn't a million live stream viewers.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
But I think that being able to gather over a
million people to come to the website to peak interest
in the idea super crucial for us.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
You know, taking those numbers to wherever we want to
go next.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Or you know, pushing this to whoever else wants to
be a part of something like this. We can obviously
gather those numbers. But yeah, overall, really big success overall.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
I mean, obviously the goal is to grow this as
a business, which which you're definitely doing. Can you share
what type of like ballpark money did you guys make
off this first event? Did you guys come up in
the green, were you in the red? Did you break even?
How did it work?
Speaker 3 (31:56):
No, we didn't make any money actually, but I think
honestly the people that were part of it got paid
and that was a really big part of it. You know,
we want to we want to present something that is
you know, like you look at the NBA contracts, right
and I don't Obviously I was never in the league,
so I don't know how the payment goes for that.
(32:16):
But if you break down somebody's contract and the eighty
two games that they're playing, and plus the possible playoff
games and whatnot, you know, it's a it's a it's
a big number, right. But for us, where we're trying
to go is to be able to offer the games
that you can make three to five hundred k in
a night for a thirty minute game. And I feel
(32:37):
like we were able to do that on the Beasley
and Land side. But obviously for the business, like we're
willing to take the hit to grow something. Now, we
didn't lose a ton of money, but for us to
break even and come out of an.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Event like that basically not spending a ton of money.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
If we break even, you know what I mean, we
basically put the event on for free.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
We're able to branch off do all of these types
of things.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
So I think the grand scheme of things, it being
the second event and us not taking a massive loss,
I think I still do when I think we profit
it in terms of, uh, where we're growing as a company.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
The fact that you guys got a million eyeballs to
the site, I mean that's the goal. I mean, did
you think in the midst of literally the NBA Finals
that you guys would make so much noise?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Honestly, yeah, Like I think, I think everything that we
did was pretty strategic. Once we were able to lock
in Beasley and Lance and we wanted to do this season,
we knew exactly how we were going to play it out.
We had the idea written up for a while. Like
I said, it was really it was really key for
us to try and get basketball fans, not just Next
(33:46):
Chapter fans, not just NBA fans, but basketball fans in
general to compare the viewing experience to the NBA Finals
in this pay per view one on one game with
former NBA players. But yeah, man, for sure, I mean,
over all overall, definitely success.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
So what's next. I mean, obviously, I think Beasley's one
of the coldest one on one players we've seen. I
know Iso Joe I played against him. I know his
name has been thrown out. One of the best one
on one players in the history of the NBA, Carmelo
Anthony's name has been thrown out. So obviously you're starting
to ring bells and people are putting out hypotheticals. But
(34:23):
what is next for the next chapter.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
You know, we do a lot of different things.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Like I mentioned earlier, we are primarily like we started
as a YouTube channel, We're trying to continue to not
just grow the YouTube channel.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
We'll never get rid of our free content.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
It's what brings on the fans, but we want to
continue to grow something outside of YouTube. In terms of
the NBA Marquee matchup, we don't really know what's next.
I know there's been a lot of names that are
thrown in there, but ultimately we have to get people
to agree to stuff before there's more conversations outside of
the actual game, before we announce stuff, before we get
contracts going and whatnot. We have like a lot of
(34:59):
city events where world take like guys that represent the
next chapter that came up on the next chapter that
are signed to the next chapter that we'll go to
a city like next We're going to New Orleans in
a couple of days. Here, we'll take some of our
best guys. We'll match up, we'll make some we'll make
like a card out there against some of the best
hoopers in New Orleans.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
And the idea of that is to go out to
a city, you know, go out there.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
People that watch us, that live out there can meet
the guys that hoop on next chapter, see how it
really goes down. Watch all the games in person, enjoy
the live experience because all of those games will be
turned into YouTube videos.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
And then also it's to hopefully find more talent.
Speaker 3 (35:38):
Ideally we continue to do these series outside of the
pay per view. We do these live city events or
these showcases or tryouts and whatnot, and to find more talent.
There's so much untapped basketball talent out there that you know,
maybe didn't make it to the NBA or maybe didn't
go professional overseas, something's happened.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
People have kids and they take.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
On that dynamic of life and some things just don't
work out. But there's still so many basketball players out
there that can compete at a high level, and I
feel like now it's our job to find them, so
in us kind of traveling around. That's really what's next
is finding more talent and growing the free side, because
(36:22):
as you continue to join the next chapter and be
put onto the platform, it'll kind of start to You'll
start to build your own momentum. You win one game,
you have a viral play this and that. I mean,
the next chapter's a platform that is a place for
people to come hoop, be seen, grow your platform, grow
your business, and become a star overnight. I mean, I
(36:45):
know it sounds crazy, but like there's people that a
couple hundred followers, and then you come perform on the
next chapter, you do really well, the fan base loves you.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
You play again, and.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Then now you have maybe twenty five thousand people that
are following you in a week span.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
And it's really like.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
It seems unreal, but now that this social media wave
is just so big, anything's really possible here. So in
terms of what's next for the next chapter, now that's
just like going around finding talent, continuing to grow our name.
In terms of the next pay per view, though, that
I'm not sure when that will be. I know we'll
(37:24):
have another one this year. I know obviously we want
to find Beasley another matchup that makes sense. Joe Johnson's name,
like you said, has been thrown out there.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
There was. He said some stuff on the nightcap about
the offer.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
You know, actually Joe was the original person that we
talked to before Lance.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
It was supposed to be Lance.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
It was supposed to be Joe Johnson versus Michael Beasley,
and we talked about it for a while. We went
to a restaurant. We had a very respectful, honest conversation,
very open conversation about where we are, how we're growing,
what we're doing, and to be honest, I thought I
thought everything went well. I think based off what Joe
said on the nightcap, he seemed like maybe a little
(38:10):
disrespected by the offer and everything, which honestly, I completely understand.
We never were trying to diminish anybody's career or disrespect
anybody because the last we heard the offer was great
and whatnot.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
So at the end of the day, we got to
go back to the drawing board and figure it out.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
I wouldn't take that too I mean, you guys are
a startup, you know what I mean. So you guys
can offer what you start you can offer right now.
But I think obviously the proof of the concept has worked.
And at the end of the day, I know Joe's
a competitor, and I know all those guys are in
the Big Three right now, and I even have think
I think the drama between Lance and Bees kind of
pumped up the Big Three to start their season off
because they were teammates.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
And you heard that, I don't know how true it was.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
You heard BASI didn't want to play with him, So again,
you know, all that drama is good drama. But I
think you know, you guys are definitely on the right path.
Are you old enough to remember when an One kind
of went on these tours and they would find talent
in these cities because they could kind of assimilar. Obviously
that was the team game, but this is you know,
you guys are looking for individual talent. But that was
huge late nineties, early two thousands, just the Internet hadn't
(39:12):
caught up to that, do you guys, Have you guys
found a way to implement brands within what you're doing
right now to get some brand partnerships yeah, it is kind.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Of like modern Day and One in a way.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
We're working on some things to scale to the arena
size and the apparel size and everything. We work closely
with Prize Picks, Like Prize Picks works with us on
a lot. Beasley and Lance along with the undercards, all
of the matchups were just in Prize Picks. People were
allowed to make lineups on the game and everything.
Speaker 2 (39:40):
So that was really.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Cool to see the platform inside of another platform like
that with you know, millions of people that have the
app downloaded, so that was really cool. We are working
closely with some brands, but I think that I think
that we had to continue to prove that this is
(40:01):
a legitimate place to host a real one on one
basketball game. Like you said, you know, we're only our
second pay per view in obviously we're years in with
the YouTube side and everything. But in order to continue
to like legitimize this brand and get other companies involved,
I think that we have to continue to show successful streams, which, just.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Like anything like, you do it enough, you do it
enough times.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
And you produce it at a high quality, then I
think that it'll make sense for more people to come along.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
We work closely with some people.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
But at the end of the day, it's not like there,
it's not like we have five hundred you know, companies
knocking at our door.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Not yet.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
To me, how you le legitimize it is continue to
bring the former NBA players you've been able to get
your hands on. I mean, you guys got Dwight Howard
out to a game. You guys hat Ty Lost and
Brandon Jennings, Boogie, Mario, you name it. You're starting to
get these guys out there. And to me, when you
get those type of people to stamp your product is
where the legitimacy come from. Out of the former players
(41:04):
you've seen play, former NBA guys, who have you been
the most impressed with?
Speaker 3 (41:08):
On my personal channel, I've hooped with quite a few
of the last three months. I would say I think
like Lou Williams made it look the easiest, Like he
was really just like he was moving so slow, like
he was really at his own pace and at the park,
you know, everybody wants to be all handsy and play
super physical, and he was just moving so slow.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
And I was just so impressed by.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Boogie just like it almost feels like he shouldn't shoot
at such a high efficiency, Like you know what I mean,
he played really well.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
I played in something called the Creator League. You may
have seen it.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
They had another one actually last year, the year before
this one, and Boogie played.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
In that one, and he was he was unreal in that.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
Ty Lawson dropped like forty five points when I brought
him to Ohio to play in a men's league.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
Scene and I.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
Don't know if you've been seeing his his Instagram stories,
like he's in really good shape right now. So I
knew him coming out he was gonna be able to last.
We made sure we had no subs. We actually tried
to like make it a challenge inside of the YouTube
video itself. And you know Joe, like same thing with
Joe Johnson brought him out to Atlanta. His his pacing
was unreal, like he just you can't speed these guys up.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
You know you've got a lot of game too. Where
let me hear a little bit about your background. When
I saw I was like, oh he could play too,
So where where did your game come from?
Speaker 2 (42:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (42:34):
I appreciate that I fell in love with basketball at
a young age. I just was never really that good
at it. So I was one of those guys that
was not really like born with this unnatural or crazy talent,
crazy height or anything like that. I was really just
like a Jim Rat kind of kid, and that's where
I really like built a lot of my skill and
(42:55):
shooting has always been like a big part of my game.
Division three basketball. I played Division three college basketball in Ohio.
There's a big football school by the name of University
of Mount Union. They've won over twelve national championships for football,
but I went there for basketball. I was right in
my backyard, about forty five minutes from where I grew up.
(43:15):
I went there, played all four years there. We were
really good, won a couple championships, and just developed my game.
There After college though, I really feel like that's when
I started to gain more confidence. And you know in basketball,
that confidence and the skill goes so hand in hand.
It's unreal like, especially when you get in that flow
(43:35):
state hit two or three, you know what I mean,
not at the parks. When my college career ended, so
I started my I started my personal YouTube channel in college,
and I grew up from zero to one hundred K
with some of my buddies in school, twenty twenty. COVID
year was my senior year, and our career abruptly ended.
I documented like my whole life in school after that,
(43:58):
I really didn't know what I was going to do,
so I kind of just, you know, we picked up
the camera started making some random YouTube content, and my
whole persona, my whole online.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
In college was just all derived around Division three.
Speaker 3 (44:13):
This Division three that when I graduated, I really didn't
have this title to my name.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
I didn't know where my niche was anymore.
Speaker 3 (44:19):
So we stuck around with like the former D three thing,
and we did this former D three hooper versus regular
park hoopers, and I was miked up, and it just
it was a really good idea because you know, the
whole like the idea of Division three sports is kind
of like look down upon.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
So it's like the idea of seeing the D three
hooper verse.
Speaker 3 (44:37):
Like people that go play pickup, regular people that just
play pickup, however you want to call it. The video
did really well, and that's kind of when the whole
park basketball scene started to do really well for me.
So I started to just travel around the country and
just play at different parks and I would post on
my Instagram story, Hey, I'm going to this park at
this time on this day, and we started to bring
(44:57):
bigger and bigger crowds out and that's when, like I
really started to gain my confidence. And that's that's kind
of how I developed my skill as like a street
ball hooper mixed with this organized professional whatever you want
to call it.
Speaker 1 (45:11):
I think people are delusional at times because they think
whether it be D three hooper, D three Hooper, D
one hooper, last guy on the bench, like, oh he's weak.
I can like, no, there's a reason why I got
an opportunity to get my school paid for. There's a
reason why I make money even though I sit on
the bench in this league.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
And I think people think, because oh.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
You're not a big star, you're not doing like you
can't play, which is crazy. So I love the fact that, like,
you know your ability to kind of okay, you think
D three, you think it's sweet, Come get some of
this man before we get you out of here. Tough
question to the cities you've been in. What city impressed
you the most? But their street ballers?
Speaker 3 (45:48):
It's crazy you said tough question before asking this, because
this is the question I probably get the most, and
I never have an accurate answer.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
Give me two or three cities. Then that you were
just like, okay, they came with it today.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
Richmond Virginia, Okay, for sure, that's like super random. And
then I was in.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
The Charlotte I played at a park in Charlotte, and
it was like when Rob Dylan Hamm and then we're
in school and everything, and he popped out to the
park and there were a bunch of c out there,
just a really just a bunch of like really tough
Hoopers that came out that day and they ran the park. Man.
Speaker 2 (46:25):
It was it was crazy.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
So I mean, if I really had to give you
an answer, it'd probably be Charlotte, yeah, or Richmond, Virginia.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
They gave us some work.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
Give me your five dream retired NBA players to get
on to the next chapter. Is your chance, They're all, hey,
they're all going to see this ship.
Speaker 2 (46:44):
So here's your chance.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
But you want I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 3 (46:47):
I feel like we have to make the Joe Johnson
Michael Beasley matchup happen.
Speaker 2 (46:51):
So those are two for sure.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
Beasley's always been a dream one because you know, I'll
tell you why. Beasley's always been a dream. Everybody that's
ever played, ever seen him, ever said anything about him
as always said that he is exactly he's cold, and
for everybody to talk about his one.
Speaker 2 (47:09):
V one game specifically, it made him a myth.
Speaker 3 (47:12):
It made him a myth of like man like, is
he really as good as everybody says he is? And
so I'm really happy we got to see bits and
parts of what he's capable of.
Speaker 2 (47:21):
But I feel like.
Speaker 3 (47:22):
There's so much more that we're going to see as
he continues to grow in this one on one space.
Speaker 2 (47:29):
So yeah, for sure, Joe Johnson, for sure.
Speaker 3 (47:31):
Michael Beasley, I'd like to see I'd like to see
Kyrie get in the space. I think I think we'll
see Kyrie soon, just because I know he commentated the
game against them, and he talked about really wanting to
get involved.
Speaker 2 (47:44):
He streams a lot. He talked about trying to make
his next chapter debut next year.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
Obviously like there's a bunch of legalities with the league,
but he said he would play for free, which.
Speaker 2 (47:54):
Is really cool.
Speaker 3 (47:55):
Like, I know he talked about one v one to
completely different mastery of the game. That is just like
it's not as respected as much as five B five,
which I completely understand. Five y five is the pinnacle,
it's real basketball. But at the end of the day,
one on one is just it's super entertaining. It's mono emano.
There's nobody else to blame it to see you in
(48:16):
that other person. And I know, obviously like there's this
stigma around like bag this and bag work that. But
at the end of the day, like it's really cool
to see if you've mastered a certain part of your game,
it's really cool to see you display it against another
person that is.
Speaker 2 (48:30):
Capable master or showing what they're mastering.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
But not to put any pressure on you, but if
you build this concept out how I think you will
and how you think you will, your concept can possibly
be adopted by the NBA All Star Game because they're
trying to figure out how do we make the All
Star Weekend better? And if your concept can show like, yo,
these dudes really want to do this. This is something
that fans really want to see. You never know you
(48:55):
might be partnering with the NBA one day on on
All Star Weekend, next chapter time the NBA for one
on one Challenge.
Speaker 2 (49:02):
Yeah, man, I don't know. We'll see.
Speaker 3 (49:04):
I'm not sure, you know, like the NBA is super
closed off to other other leagues and other.
Speaker 2 (49:09):
Companies and whatnot, so I'm just getting it out there.
Speaker 1 (49:11):
I think you could proof the concept though, like I
think you invented something. Yeah, you know, not you invented
I know other guys to try to do it, but
your ability to get the big names has definitely like, Okay,
well it's working there. Maybe we and then we know
if they start going on one on one it was
because of the next chapter because no one else is
doing it like you.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
I think we get that.
Speaker 3 (49:28):
I think we get people to commit to some to
doing some of this stuff because like you know, we
keep mentioning proof of concept, but also like it's a
very we're a very trustworthy place to.
Speaker 2 (49:38):
Make sure that it's done in a very legit way.
Speaker 3 (49:42):
You can't have people that have done what they've done
respectfully in the vassal world come onto your platform and
it's just a shit show, Like it's just not something
that is not something that we want to do. We
take we take a lot of pride in our production quality.
We take a lot of pride in how we handle
things behind the scenes. Our converse stations, the maturity, the legitimacy.
(50:03):
So I think that's why people are stepping up to
the plate with confidence that it's going to be done
the right way. But fuck, man, I owe you two
more people, and I can't. I can't think of anybody
I would like to see John Wall at this moment.
I'd like to see John Wall. I've seen him in
the gym here and there. That'd be really fun to
see that. And if Kyrie does step onto the police
an he wants to play his next chapter debut at
(50:25):
Mandalay Bay, I want to see it be done against
Damian Lillard.
Speaker 1 (50:30):
Lillard, you guys do guys coming off of injury, Well,
we'll see well.
Speaker 2 (50:34):
Man.
Speaker 1 (50:35):
Congratulations on what you've built, in what you continue to grow.
We're here for a resource, man, so make sure you
come back in updates on what you got going on, man,
and the best of luck moving forward.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Bro.
Speaker 3 (50:44):
Yeah, please do it next time whenever we find out
our next matchup here soon in the next couple of weeks,
and we can get out and talk about it, talk
about who we think is going to win and why.
Speaker 1 (50:53):
Sounds good, Bro, We'll be well. Then take care. Well
that was a lot, man, It's been a hell of
a season. Congratulations to again to the Oklahoma City thunder
h and also congratulations to the Indiana Pacers the way
you guys played, the whole coaching staff, management Sending love
and thoughts to the whole Halliburton family. H speedy recovery.
(51:15):
Shout out my dog Tatum and and and Lillard who
are also coming back off Achilles injuries. Man, everyone enjoyed
their off season, looking forward to the Draft this week,
and definitely looking forward to free agency. The end of
the season has come, but have no fear, we are
not going anywhere. I will see you next week. You
catch this on the All the Smoke Productions YouTube and
(51:37):
the DraftKings Network. See y'all next week.
Welcome back to Unplugged, brought to you by DraftKings ooof
the NBA Finals were some heat. But also on this
episode we have Devonte Friga, the owner or co owner
of the next chapter, which brought you the Michael Beasley
Lance Stevenson one on one game. So we'll get to that,
but before let's get to these finals. Man, Congratulations to
(00:20):
the Oklahoma City Thunder their first franchise championship, only the
first game seven since twenty seventeen. Congratulations. I mean you
think about this Oklahoma City team twenty twenty three, they
lost in the plan, they go to the second round
last year, get beat by Dallas. They're the best team
from start to finish this year and win a championship.
(00:43):
SGA his accolades were incredible this year. Obviously regular season MVP,
he just took the finals MVP.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Home shot the ball. Well.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
This is arguably one of the best seasons ever for
by guard scoring champ sixty eight win team, First Team
All NBA Western Conference, Finals, MVP Finals, MVP Champion, MVP.
Not since Shack has someone cleaned house like he was
able to do the second youngest to do it, behind
Kareem who did it at the age of twenty three,
(01:18):
which is absolutely incredible. This team has a very bright future,
very young team. We'll see Presse's Presty moves as the
puppet master behind the scenes praises later. But if you
look at this team, they're odds on favored at plus
two point fifty to repeat. Sga is going to break
(01:40):
the bank this summer, as he should, and we'll get
into what that contract looks like. But you know, you
got Jalen Williams who arrived on the scene and is
a great young talent. You got Check after battling so
many injuries, was able to you know, shake the injury
(02:00):
and do what he did. And then the role players
from lou Dort to Caruso to Wallace to Hartenstein, which
was paid handsomely. I think he got an eighty seven
million dollar deal this year. This team is set to
be in the mix for the next two to three
(02:21):
four years, and we'll talk about it in a little bit,
what it's going to mean to be able to keep
Hongrin and Jay Dubb when their contracts are up. Let's
talk about Presty though in the moves he's been able
to make this Oklahoma city team understanding being a small
market team. I think this is a picture for the
rest of the NBA on how to run your franchise.
(02:43):
I'm always obviously a hometown guy with Sacramento, and I
think ever since Jeff Petrie, they haven't been able to
figure the small town, the small market, small town team
situation up at Sam Presty over the years has built
tremendous tremendous first and foremost in the draft, which I
think you have to win, and then you have to
win in the draft, and then assets the way they've
(03:04):
been able to stockpile first round pick, second round pick exceptions.
But let's just go back over and give Sam his
flowers real quick. And it all started with the Paul
George for SGA trade, and I can clearly remember, and
I love PG, but I remember when this was going down,
Doc Rivers was not sold on giving up SGA and
(03:25):
that almost stopped the whole Kawhi even coming to the
Clipper situation because Doc saw early on shout out Doc
Rivers that Shay was going to be a superstar. But
we all know that Kawhi said, if he doesn't get PG,
he could have went down the hallway or down the
Old Hallway to the Lakers, and I don't think that
the Clippers wanted that to happen, so they pressed play
(03:47):
on the SGA trade and the rest is history. He
was able to get Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren in
the same draft, right. I want to say Chet went
number four, Jalen went number two, twelve, and that was
a big Obviously, Chet had a lot of hype around him,
but Jalen came from a smaller school, Santa Clara, and
they really did their homework on what type of player
(04:08):
they thought he could have been and took a chance
on him. Again because Chet had a ton of hype,
but Jalen Williams again very solid college career. Didn't hear
a ton about him, with all due respect, but they
knew that at twelve that would be their guy. They
paid Hartenstein, which a lot of people said they overpaid.
They gave Hartenstein eighty seven million this offseason. He was
(04:32):
an integral piece, if you remember, and the Knicks could
have definitely used him this year on that front line
in New York.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
It's not the numbers.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
The numbers don't jump off the page at you, but
he does a lot of the shit that everyone else
doesn't want to do. He's one of those ultimate glue guys,
ultimate hustle guys, strong rebounds in the right position all
the time, and it just has a great basketball IQ.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So he got paid.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
They were able to get Caruso, which was a huge, huge,
huge into me if he plays more games. He's on
one of all those all defensive teams too, So theoretically
you could have had three guys on the All Defensive
team this year with Dort and Jay Dove and you
can add Caruso because to me, he's one of the
best on ball defenders. We saw it in the finals,
(05:17):
but we also saw them throw him on Jokicic for
a little while and give Jokic fits. So Caruso is
one of the best on ball guys in the game.
So they're able to get Payson Wallace as the tenth
pick in the twenty twenty twenty four draft, and then
obviously trading Giddy for Caruso. Let's take a look at
what they got to look forward to.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Still, they have.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Some late first this week in the draft and some seconds,
but in twenty twenty six, they have Utah's first round pick,
top eight perspective protected. They also have Phillies top first
round pick top four protected in twenty six. Now on
to twenty seven, they have the Nuggets top pick, first
(05:58):
round pick top five protected in the have a twenty
twenty seven Clipper pickswap. So again, as they're winning, they're
still building up the so called farm system with assets
and opportunities. So Check and j Dubb both payment in
the twenty twenty two draft will be on the final
year of their rookie contracts and to me, both those
(06:18):
guys fall into the mac extension situation. For these younger
players home are eligible to sign a five year get
this two hundred and forty seven million dollar extensions. The
total value could increase up to two ninety six if
(06:39):
an MVP All NBA All Defense, Defensive Player of the Year.
If any of those things jump up, those are all kickers,
so that's an extra nearly fifty million dollars Stay can
make if and keep in mind Jay Dub was on
the second team All Defense and you gotta think Check
would have been in the mix if he would have
qualified and played more games. So them being able to
(07:01):
keep their big three is likely, but they're able to
keep their big three. They're gonna lose some of their
role players to the casualty of the game. So top
of the list for them this offseason after coming off
their first championship. First of all is party your motherfucking
asses off. I saw Jaden Williams on ESPN this morning
said he had him into sleep yet. So they're on
the right path with that. They got the parade coming up.
They're gonna go hard, blackout for a whole week, Go
(07:25):
take a vacation, get your mind and your body back together,
and then get back to work. But for the front office,
first order of business SGA, the MVP eligible is now
able to sign a four year, two hundred and ninety
three million dollars deal. And the way this will break down,
(07:46):
according to Bobby Marks, would be sixty five zero point
five million his first year, seventy point seven million his
second year, seventy six million his third year, and grab
your panties, eighty one point two million dollars in his
final year. But he'll probably opt out that last year
(08:07):
and jump on another big deal.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Right, So he'll.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Probably opt out of that eighty one and by the
time in three years he'll probably start making ninety ninety five,
one oh one, one oh four. So we're heading towards
ladies and gentlemen one hundred million dollar deals within the
next five years, one hundred million per year for these
star players. So I mean, but I couldn't. I mean,
if tell me someone who deserves it more. Sga has rinded,
(08:32):
he stayed quiet, He's put the work in. He's quietly
led his team in a small market to the best
team in the league. He's a great leader from everything
I've seen. Everybody loves him and he produces. I mean,
we talked about what his numbers were this year as
far as his accolades. No one's done that since Shack.
So congratulations to first and foremost Shay for the championship
(08:53):
in the tremendous season. But your reward is well worth it.
And excited for you, my brother, continue with the great work.
In Sadder news, Tyrese Halliburton a guy who has done
everything right. He's for some reason, and I talk about
(09:14):
this in my group child my homies like it's is
he a superstar?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Is he a star?
Speaker 1 (09:19):
There's so many different things to nitpick, but this guy
is a gamer first and foremost and by the numbers,
the most clutch player in NBA playoff history.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Let that sink in.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
But also keep in mind he was voted the most
overrated player in the league going into the playoffs. And
although that's not and someone broke that down. I want
to say only one hundred players out of the four
hundred players actually voted, but still not everyone got in there.
But still enough people felt that he was overrated that
they had to come out and say it. And I
think that shit pissed him off and he went he
(09:54):
was on win. And keep in mind this team, this
Indiana team, a lot with say overachieved, but this team
within the Eastern Conference Finals last year, although they got
swept by Boston, they still made it to the Eastern
Conference finals, and I think no one thought they would
do that last year. I guarantee no one but that
team in that city thought that they would be in
the finals this year. And a lot of that has
to do obviously with coach Carla but their leader Halliburton,
(10:17):
who over the playoff run average seventeen eight assists, five
rebounds in the playoffs. But again, his leadership, his clutch shooting,
and just his I don't give a fuck, fuck the
world type mentality was a beautiful thing to see at
twenty five years old. An Achilles injury again, very unfortunate,
(10:40):
but it's not a career under This used to be
an injury that would end people's careers. A lot of
guys have came back from it. I'm hoping Halle is
one of those guys. But has really led to the
bigger debate, which has really been all over social media.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Why is all this happening?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
There was only forty five Achilles tears from nineteen ninety
to twenty twenty three, forty five over that span. Obviously
Kevin Durant was one of those tears. But there's eight
Achilles tears alone in the twenty twenty five season, and
we've seen debates all over the place. We saw Cameron
(11:18):
come out and say, I know I'm the last niggat
to say stop being fashionable, but stop wearing these low
cut shoes and three quartercut shoes, please and thank you.
And not only than easy Sniper, easy money sniper. Kevin
Durant said, brother, this absolutely has nothing to do with
(11:39):
the injury. And my production team too, we're actually debating
this as well. Is it low top is it three
quarter cut. I don't really know where I fall in
with that. I don't think I'm with KD. I don't
think it has anything to do with the shoes. I
think it's more the wear and tear. I think it
starts with grassroots basketball if you think about it. But
(12:00):
if you're my age, I was born in the eighties,
so if you're my age, we played sports during the season.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
We never did anything year round. I was a four four.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I played four different sports in high school, football, baseball, basketball, track,
and all my friends grew up playing different sports. I'm
not sure when this shifted, probably mid two thousands, early
two thousands, where it started becoming at the grassroots level,
almost like a specialized thing where maybe you do two sports,
but you for sure do one sport year round. And
(12:30):
you're seeing it in baseball with the Tommy John surgery,
they're having more of these arms blowout. We're seeing now
with these Achilles blowouts. And the reason why I say
grassroots because you got to think if a kid that's
just say, on average, a kid makes the league at
twenty one to twenty two, with all the basketball he's
played to get to that point, and he needed to
play to get to that point. His body is probably
(12:52):
closer to twenty six or twenty seven, so I'd probably
say that. I probably say the grassroots basketball development, if
you're lucky enough to get to the league, will probably
put five years on your body. And that's just a guestimate.
There's no scientific fact behind it. It's just someone who's
been in the shit and seen it, someone who has
kids in this space, and just seeing how many games
(13:13):
kids play year round, I think it's way too much.
I mean, you look at Dame, you look at obviously
Jason Tatum, Halliburton, all these guys were hit in the playoffs.
These guys have miles on their body, and again they
had miles coming into the game, and then once you
get here, there's miles you know with you know, you
look at Tatum where they had an amazing championship run
(13:33):
and although he didn't play a ton in the Olympics,
he was in the Olympics, he didn't really get a
chance to rest his body. You look at Halliburton Eastern
Conference finals run last year, Olympics, didn't play a ton
of the Olympics, but still no downtime for the body.
It's au mileage. And let's keep in mind the game.
The pace of the NBA game is higher, as high
(13:54):
as it's been since the seventies. I think it's almost
at one hundred and nine possessions per game. There's a
lot less defense, so there's a more ripping and running.
But to the defense of the game and the growth
of the game. I also think that's why the game
has grown so much, because people don't want to see
an eighty two eighty three old school defensive battle no more.
They want to see dunks, they want to see threes,
(14:14):
They want to see people flying up and down the court.
And the trade off for that is the wear and
tear on these hotly paid athletes body. So whether people
think it's the shoe, whether people think it's your diet,
whether you think it's the style of play, whether it's
little knickknack injuries like cash strains they possibly lead to
(14:37):
the Achilles tear. No one really knows. But if I'm
again someone who played fifteen years, someone who came up
in a different era of grassroots sports, to me, it's
these kids are playing way too many specialized sports at
a younger age, Like I don't even think it's close
how much they're playing compared to my era. And I
(15:01):
was literally just talking about I just got back from
a tournament this weekend in Arizona, and some of the
dads were talking about, Yeah, I want my kid to
play different sports, but if he does play different sports,
he gets behind in his main sport. So if you're
taking any time off your main sport, you're getting behind.
So what is the answer to this. Nobody knows. I
hope somebody figures it out, but very unfortunate. What happened
(15:22):
to Halliburton, what happened to Jason Tatum, what happened to
Damian Lillard and everyone else who went down with big injuries.
Kyrie obviously tours ACL during the season, so I'm hoping
all these stars and all these players who have gone
down come back bigger and stronger. The best thing about
this is, obviously, again an ACL used to be something
(15:45):
that could possibly derail your career, but again, all these
injuries now, the acls and the achilles are all unfortunately
normal injuries now, and there's a certain timetable guys can
do their work and get back. But it's unfortunate, and man,
I hope someone finds an answer to this terrible problem
(16:07):
we're having. Yeah, the Pacers were at the top and
in speed of game, pace of play, hustle plays.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
That team played.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Fast basketball and and and the person at the front
of that chard was Halliburton. So again, to see him
go down was very unfortunate. Sending you a lot of love.
I sent bro text yesterday, but I'm sure he was
had a lot of people texting him. But again him
sending you love out to you, sending love out to Tatum,
sending love out to Dame Lillard Man speedy recovery fellas,
(16:40):
and we're looking forward to seeing you guys back on
the court.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Uh, sooner than later.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Big news. The season just ended. But the best thing
about the NBA is about to turn into a reality
show now with all the off season.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Moves and drama. Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
And to kick shit off, who better than Kevin Durant,
who was just traded to the Houston Rockets for Jaden Green,
Dylan Brooks, the tenth pick and five second round picks.
I want to know what you guys think, but this
is what I think. I think it was a great move.
Houston didn't have to give up a ton of young assets, Obviously,
(17:21):
Jayden Green is a young asset and someone who they
are betting on, but it just goes to show man
if you don't show up in the playoffs. Playoffss were
playoffs make and break people, and I have to believe
that his inability to be effective this year in the
playoffs led to him being a tradable. Dylan Brooks a
(17:41):
defensive cornerstone, one of the best on ball defenders and
just fuck shit up guys in the league. A big
fan of Dylan Brooks, not always a fan of his antics,
but I just like the way he gets down. He
was in this and then the tenth pick in a
deep draft, and then the second round picks, and I'm
hearing a lot of people obviously this trade just happened
and they gave up too many picks. But to me,
(18:04):
if Desmond Bain gets four first round picks for him,
Rudy Gobert gets six first round picks and an exception
for him, I don't give a fuck how old Kevin
Durant is. Kevin Durant will always demand more than those people.
And the fact that they didn't have to give up
any first round picks to get Kevin Durant. I think
Houston did a great job, but I still think they
(18:26):
still in your hearing, they still have some wiggle room
or are they done moving. You've heard names like Giannis
possibly teaming up with Kevin Durant. You've heard names like
Jalen Brown can possibly head to Houston. So Houston isn't
done with one of the best coaches in the league.
They still have a lot of assets. I think anyone
(18:47):
outside of Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant for the right number.
I mean, we were talking, Earli, would you trade Giannis
for Singoon Apps the fucking lutely?
Speaker 2 (18:57):
You know, I don't. I think that's a no brainer.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
So look out for Houston continuing to try to improve
their roster. They did, they did so with Kevin Durant.
But again, now we get into this to this this
free agent friends, it's frenzied. Words are also that the
Sons are still trying to shop Javon Green. So Javon
Green's final destination may not end up being Phoenix. Some
(19:22):
of the assets that they still have, this this this
this Rockets team has it. They didn't have to get
rid of this round, but who knows coming around if
they'll continuing to make more moves. They still have Jabari
Smith who was the second pick. Is it Rex Shepard?
Speaker 2 (19:34):
What's his name?
Speaker 1 (19:34):
I know, Reed Shepard? Okay read, I was a big
fan of him, played really well in the SUMER League.
Didn't get a ton of minutes this year. But someone
who I think will be effective Ethan, someone who can
put the ball in the basket. And then obviously Amen
Thompson who him and his brother two of the young
up and coming stars, two way stars in this league.
And then this is what they still have as far
(19:56):
as draft capital. Twenty twenty seven they have a situation
with the Rockets and Sons whoever has the more favorable pick.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
That'll go to Houston.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Twenty eight they have their first round pick, twenty nine
they have the Mavericks first round pick, and then another
situation with the Sons, whoever has the more favorable pick
they get. Thirty they have their own, thirty one they
have their own, and thirty two they have their own.
So they have a lot of again draft capital and
young talent, So keep an eye on the Rockets. They
may not be done moving on to one of the
(20:29):
greatest franchises in sports.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
History.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
The Lakers were sold last week for ten billion to
the owners to the owner of the Dodgers, Mark Walter.
This guy is buying up everything LA Sports. I heard
there's rumors that he may not be done either. What
does this mean from a historical significance, What does this
mean from an emotional significance, And what does this mean
(20:53):
moving forward for the Los Angeles Lakers To take a
trip down memory lane. Doctor Bust originally bought this team
for sixty seven point five million in nineteen seventy nine.
If I'm not mistaken, Ramona Shelburn did a podcast on
didn't he borrow some money from Donald Sterling to get
the deal done? If I'm not mistaken, Yeah, if I'm
(21:17):
not mistaken, Donald Sterling help him get this team. And
not only at the time was it the team, but
if I'm not mistaken, it was the form and some
other shit. So back in the in seventy nine, he
got this team for seven, let's say, sixty eight million
dollars and in twenty twenty five they sold for ten billion.
Good news is they're still going to keep Genie in
(21:39):
charges of in her place. And if I'm not mistaken,
they saw have fifteen percent of the team right, the
Laker of the Bus family fifteen fifteen to seventy percent
was able to keep the under the Bus Family name.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
But what I want to know moving.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Forward is is what does this mean for the management side?
The Lakers people of Austin said, it's a lot of
buddy buddy in that management with you know, friends close
to the family and favors being done and that's why
certain people are in certain positions. I can't confirm her
in any of that. It's above my pay grade. But
(22:17):
obviously being here long enough, I've heard the same thing
that everyone else hears. So does does Mark come in
and flip that upside down? Let's also keep in mind
who's a part of this ownership group that's coming in
to the Lakers, Magic Johnson, And we all know how
his tenure ended in management in his feud with Rob Palinka.
(22:38):
So do we see Magic step back in and and
you know rebirth a prominent role in this organization? Does
Rob stay? Does everyone else in place stay? So this
is going to be very interesting to watch. Obviously, as
a new owner, you don't want to come up and
come in and blow a lot of shit up, But
if you have pieces that are coming with you that
(23:00):
are very capable, which he does, it could mean a
shake up for the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers.
So we will see what this means. But first and
foremost on the floor, what does this mean on the floor,
is this new owner is not coming in that you see,
they don't play with the Dodgers. They do whatever they
(23:22):
need to do to get shited done with the Dodgers.
So obviously, staying within the restrictions of the NBA, they're
going to go out and make some moves, hopefully to
bolster this roster. So I think outside of Luca and Lebron,
anybody can possibly be packaged up and out of here.
(23:43):
So really interesting off season for the Lakers. Started off
with the boom by selling the team, but obviously you
know they're going to make a wave in the off
season this year, so definitely looking forward to seeing what
happens with that. The draft is right here, right around
the corner. June twenty fifth. The top five projected players
(24:05):
to go in the draft, in no particular order. Cooper
Flag had a great season at Dupe, Dylan Harper and
Ace Bailey to stud freshman at Rutgers vj Edgecomb at
A Baylor and Trey Johnson at Texas rounds out the
projected top five. But I want to know what's going
on in Ace Bailey's camp because I don't. But I'm
(24:28):
hearing a lot of madness. And I'm also hearing outside
of him canceling workouts and allegedly, I say this, allegedly
again asking for money during team interviews. I don't know
if this is some nil residue, but I'm hearing that
Sharif Cooper's father, Amar Cooper, is his agent, and that's dangerous.
(24:50):
Sometimes we've seen the father son duo work. Tobias Harris's
dad represents him and he's man. He's winning there and
got his bread. But what I'm hearing with A Bailey,
and even if some of these rumors aren't true, what
we know is true is the way he's blowing off
these teams. And this is a very copycat weird sports leagues.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
We plan, you know we're hearing.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
We were hearing rumbles with Shador Sanders and we saw
unfortunately what happened to him. He fell to the fifth round.
But now he's been the most consistent quarterback in in
Browns camp and we all know should have been a
top five, top ten at pick worst pick. So just
my whole, my whole thing to Ace man is you know.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
You can't.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
No one's bigger than the program. You're a very talented
young man and I wish you the absolute best. I
know you're going to have a successful career, but you
got to be tread lightly the way you're moving and
the information that's being spread, whether that's you, whether that's
your representation, because we just want to see you out there.
We want to see you get drafted, and we want
(25:54):
to see you have an amazing career. You're a tremendous
talent and we're all wishing the best for you. But
the outside bullshit is already starting to be loud, and
that's never a good sign for teams. That that stuff
that kind of stares scares teams away. But you are
so talented that I think they're probably gonna overlook that.
But once you get settled and drafted, fresh slate, spot
(26:16):
there and hoopball, be the best hooper you can. Don't
let the outside bullshit ever make more noise of what
you're doing on the court. One of the biggest stories
in basketball outside the NBA Finals has been the Lance
Stevenson versus Michael Beasley one on one matchup where the
winner took home one hundred thousand dollars put on by
the Next Chapter.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Today we have the co owner of the Next.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Chapter, one of the biggest basketball YouTubers in the business,
Devonte Friga.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Welcome to the show, bro oh Man, I appreciate that.
I appreciate you guys having me on here. It's exciting,
no doubt. So.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Obviously, recently the one on one Beasley and Lance game
was a success, but what I found super interesting.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Was the way you guys were able to build the
lead up to it.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Obviously, the game did what it was supposed to do,
but I thought the lead up was very creative, especially
knowing both those guys and playing with both those guys
and knowing what kind of basketball minds they have and
what kind of shit talkers they were. Where did the
whole strategy of obviously the lead up to the game
come from.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Ultimately, you see, like with UFC and with boxing and everything,
you have storylines.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
And they all make sense.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
See with Beasley and Lance outside of just their former
pros and we know who they are, we don't really
have that much of a storyline outside of you just
want to see this matchup, so you know, the next
chapter originated on YouTube. We've always been a YouTube channel
where a YouTube platform, and we don't want to take
away what we started in doing a game like this,
(27:48):
So we had the idea of building a natural storyline
by putting them head to head against each other as
coaches with some of the guys that were brought up
in the next chapter scene. So the idea was doing
a twenty plus episode series on our YouTube channel that
played out every Monday, Wednesday Friday with games of them
coaching players on the next chapter promoting the main Marquee
(28:11):
matchup or they are five undercards underneath of the Michael
Beasley Land Stevenson game and people that have played in
the season had a chance to be voted in as
undercards to the matchup. So everything that was aligned through
the promotion was all, you know, hand in hand and
the idea of just having them in front of each
other yelling at each other, you know what I mean,
(28:32):
competing whether they were on the court or not, they're
competing as coaches.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
So the idea of doing that promo just helped build
a storyline.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
You see them yelling at each other and each other's
faces for a three month period, and then obviously the
promo when we were there the week of with the
face offs, the press conferences, you know, going to the
studio sessions, and just trying to do the highest quality
that we can in promoting and telling the story and
also creating one too. So that's kind of a little
(28:59):
bit of the premise of the idea there.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
On the logistics sides, like so they were coaching leading
up to the actual event, how did you get how
did you get them to buy into that side? Because
normally some of us are a little hard headed and
kind of difficult to work with at time, So how
did you get both those guys to buy into the
whole entire process.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
I think we had a really successful proof of concept
about a year and a half ago.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
We had Michael Beasley versus Mario Chalmers.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
As coaches in another season that we did with twenty
plus episodes, et cetera, and it went really well. Obviously
we didn't have Beasley and Chalmers face off afterwards, but
we had a very successful season with that, and I
think that we were able to really just show what
we wanted to do. Beasley already knew what we were
trying to do, and Lance, you know, Lance like he's
(29:49):
kind of just like, I'm gonna go with it, and
he really he just really liked the idea. Wasn't as
hard as you think.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Actually, okay, dope, So what are some of the some
of the the thing that stood out about it? Obviously
you guys are right in the midst of the NBA
Playoffs slash Finals, But what was viewership like, what were
some of the you know, some of the some of
the feedback you got from what you guys created.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Ultimately, it wasn't We weren't necessarily trying to do it,
so people were like, yeah, we like this way better.
But we really we wanted people to to compare their
viewing experience because the idea of growing this UFC of
one v one basketball is it's not easy, but we
need basketball fans. So around this NBA Finals time was
perfect for us to do it because in that viewing
(30:34):
experience trial period is you know, some people may not
be used to watching one on one basketball or whatever
the case may be. So the feedback was really good.
This was our second pay per view. We've been doing
one v ones and we've been doing these types of
live events for for years now, but the pay per
(30:55):
view side where we're really trying to grow this, I
would I would consider it a success. There's obviously like
little finite details about the actual stream itself that I
would change, but obviously, like going forward, there's going to be.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Something new that we want to do better every single time.
But yeah, I mean we had a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
I mean, we had over over a million unique viewers
to the to the website, and there wasn't there.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Wasn't a million live stream viewers.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
But I think that being able to gather over a
million people to come to the website to peak interest
in the idea super crucial for us.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
You know, taking those numbers to wherever we want to
go next.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Or you know, pushing this to whoever else wants to
be a part of something like this. We can obviously
gather those numbers. But yeah, overall, really big success overall.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
I mean, obviously the goal is to grow this as
a business, which which you're definitely doing. Can you share
what type of like ballpark money did you guys make
off this first event? Did you guys come up in
the green, were you in the red? Did you break even?
How did it work?
Speaker 3 (31:56):
No, we didn't make any money actually, but I think
honestly the people that were part of it got paid
and that was a really big part of it. You know,
we want to we want to present something that is
you know, like you look at the NBA contracts, right
and I don't Obviously I was never in the league,
so I don't know how the payment goes for that.
(32:16):
But if you break down somebody's contract and the eighty
two games that they're playing, and plus the possible playoff
games and whatnot, you know, it's a it's a it's
a big number, right. But for us, where we're trying
to go is to be able to offer the games
that you can make three to five hundred k in
a night for a thirty minute game. And I feel
(32:37):
like we were able to do that on the Beasley
and Land side. But obviously for the business, like we're
willing to take the hit to grow something. Now, we
didn't lose a ton of money, but for us to
break even and come out of an.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Event like that basically not spending a ton of money.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
If we break even, you know what I mean, we
basically put the event on for free.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
We're able to branch off do all of these types
of things.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
So I think the grand scheme of things, it being
the second event and us not taking a massive loss,
I think I still do when I think we profit
it in terms of, uh, where we're growing as a company.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
The fact that you guys got a million eyeballs to
the site, I mean that's the goal. I mean, did
you think in the midst of literally the NBA Finals
that you guys would make so much noise?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Honestly, yeah, Like I think, I think everything that we
did was pretty strategic. Once we were able to lock
in Beasley and Lance and we wanted to do this season,
we knew exactly how we were going to play it out.
We had the idea written up for a while. Like
I said, it was really it was really key for
us to try and get basketball fans, not just Next
(33:46):
Chapter fans, not just NBA fans, but basketball fans in
general to compare the viewing experience to the NBA Finals
in this pay per view one on one game with
former NBA players. But yeah, man, for sure, I mean,
over all overall, definitely success.
Speaker 1 (34:02):
So what's next. I mean, obviously, I think Beasley's one
of the coldest one on one players we've seen. I
know Iso Joe I played against him. I know his
name has been thrown out. One of the best one
on one players in the history of the NBA, Carmelo
Anthony's name has been thrown out. So obviously you're starting
to ring bells and people are putting out hypotheticals. But
(34:23):
what is next for the next chapter.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
You know, we do a lot of different things.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Like I mentioned earlier, we are primarily like we started
as a YouTube channel, We're trying to continue to not
just grow the YouTube channel.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
We'll never get rid of our free content.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
It's what brings on the fans, but we want to
continue to grow something outside of YouTube. In terms of
the NBA Marquee matchup, we don't really know what's next.
I know there's been a lot of names that are
thrown in there, but ultimately we have to get people
to agree to stuff before there's more conversations outside of
the actual game, before we announce stuff, before we get
contracts going and whatnot. We have like a lot of
(34:59):
city events where world take like guys that represent the
next chapter that came up on the next chapter that
are signed to the next chapter that we'll go to
a city like next We're going to New Orleans in
a couple of days. Here, we'll take some of our
best guys. We'll match up, we'll make some we'll make
like a card out there against some of the best
hoopers in New Orleans.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
And the idea of that is to go out to
a city, you know, go out there.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
People that watch us, that live out there can meet
the guys that hoop on next chapter, see how it
really goes down. Watch all the games in person, enjoy
the live experience because all of those games will be
turned into YouTube videos.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
And then also it's to hopefully find more talent.
Speaker 3 (35:38):
Ideally we continue to do these series outside of the
pay per view. We do these live city events or
these showcases or tryouts and whatnot, and to find more talent.
There's so much untapped basketball talent out there that you know,
maybe didn't make it to the NBA or maybe didn't
go professional overseas, something's happened.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
People have kids and they take.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
On that dynamic of life and some things just don't
work out. But there's still so many basketball players out
there that can compete at a high level, and I
feel like now it's our job to find them, so
in us kind of traveling around. That's really what's next
is finding more talent and growing the free side, because
(36:22):
as you continue to join the next chapter and be
put onto the platform, it'll kind of start to You'll
start to build your own momentum. You win one game,
you have a viral play this and that. I mean,
the next chapter's a platform that is a place for
people to come hoop, be seen, grow your platform, grow
your business, and become a star overnight. I mean, I
(36:45):
know it sounds crazy, but like there's people that a
couple hundred followers, and then you come perform on the
next chapter, you do really well, the fan base loves you.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
You play again, and.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Then now you have maybe twenty five thousand people that
are following you in a week span.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
And it's really like.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
It seems unreal, but now that this social media wave
is just so big, anything's really possible here. So in
terms of what's next for the next chapter, now that's
just like going around finding talent, continuing to grow our name.
In terms of the next pay per view, though, that
I'm not sure when that will be. I know we'll
(37:24):
have another one this year. I know obviously we want
to find Beasley another matchup that makes sense. Joe Johnson's name,
like you said, has been thrown out there.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
There was. He said some stuff on the nightcap about
the offer.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
You know, actually Joe was the original person that we
talked to before Lance.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
It was supposed to be Lance.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
It was supposed to be Joe Johnson versus Michael Beasley,
and we talked about it for a while. We went
to a restaurant. We had a very respectful, honest conversation,
very open conversation about where we are, how we're growing,
what we're doing, and to be honest, I thought I
thought everything went well. I think based off what Joe
said on the nightcap, he seemed like maybe a little
(38:10):
disrespected by the offer and everything, which honestly, I completely understand.
We never were trying to diminish anybody's career or disrespect
anybody because the last we heard the offer was great
and whatnot.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
So at the end of the day, we got to
go back to the drawing board and figure it out.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
I wouldn't take that too I mean, you guys are
a startup, you know what I mean. So you guys
can offer what you start you can offer right now.
But I think obviously the proof of the concept has worked.
And at the end of the day, I know Joe's
a competitor, and I know all those guys are in
the Big Three right now, and I even have think
I think the drama between Lance and Bees kind of
pumped up the Big Three to start their season off
because they were teammates.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
And you heard that, I don't know how true it was.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
You heard BASI didn't want to play with him, So again,
you know, all that drama is good drama. But I
think you know, you guys are definitely on the right path.
Are you old enough to remember when an One kind
of went on these tours and they would find talent
in these cities because they could kind of assimilar. Obviously
that was the team game, but this is you know,
you guys are looking for individual talent. But that was
huge late nineties, early two thousands, just the Internet hadn't
(39:12):
caught up to that, do you guys, Have you guys
found a way to implement brands within what you're doing
right now to get some brand partnerships yeah, it is kind.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Of like modern Day and One in a way.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
We're working on some things to scale to the arena
size and the apparel size and everything. We work closely
with Prize Picks, Like Prize Picks works with us on
a lot. Beasley and Lance along with the undercards, all
of the matchups were just in Prize Picks. People were
allowed to make lineups on the game and everything.
Speaker 2 (39:40):
So that was really.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Cool to see the platform inside of another platform like
that with you know, millions of people that have the
app downloaded, so that was really cool. We are working
closely with some brands, but I think that I think
that we had to continue to prove that this is
(40:01):
a legitimate place to host a real one on one
basketball game. Like you said, you know, we're only our
second pay per view in obviously we're years in with
the YouTube side and everything. But in order to continue
to like legitimize this brand and get other companies involved,
I think that we have to continue to show successful streams, which, just.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Like anything like, you do it enough, you do it
enough times.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
And you produce it at a high quality, then I
think that it'll make sense for more people to come along.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
We work closely with some people.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
But at the end of the day, it's not like there,
it's not like we have five hundred you know, companies
knocking at our door.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Not yet.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
To me, how you le legitimize it is continue to
bring the former NBA players you've been able to get
your hands on. I mean, you guys got Dwight Howard
out to a game. You guys hat Ty Lost and
Brandon Jennings, Boogie, Mario, you name it. You're starting to
get these guys out there. And to me, when you
get those type of people to stamp your product is
where the legitimacy come from. Out of the former players
(41:04):
you've seen play, former NBA guys, who have you been
the most impressed with?
Speaker 3 (41:08):
On my personal channel, I've hooped with quite a few
of the last three months. I would say I think
like Lou Williams made it look the easiest, Like he
was really just like he was moving so slow, like
he was really at his own pace and at the park,
you know, everybody wants to be all handsy and play
super physical, and he was just moving so slow.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
And I was just so impressed by.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Boogie just like it almost feels like he shouldn't shoot
at such a high efficiency, Like you know what I mean,
he played really well.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
I played in something called the Creator League. You may
have seen it.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
They had another one actually last year, the year before
this one, and Boogie played.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
In that one, and he was he was unreal in that.
Speaker 3 (41:57):
Ty Lawson dropped like forty five points when I brought
him to Ohio to play in a men's league.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
Scene and I.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
Don't know if you've been seeing his his Instagram stories,
like he's in really good shape right now. So I
knew him coming out he was gonna be able to last.
We made sure we had no subs. We actually tried
to like make it a challenge inside of the YouTube
video itself. And you know Joe, like same thing with
Joe Johnson brought him out to Atlanta. His his pacing
was unreal, like he just you can't speed these guys up.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
You know you've got a lot of game too. Where
let me hear a little bit about your background. When
I saw I was like, oh he could play too,
So where where did your game come from?
Speaker 2 (42:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (42:34):
I appreciate that I fell in love with basketball at
a young age. I just was never really that good
at it. So I was one of those guys that
was not really like born with this unnatural or crazy talent,
crazy height or anything like that. I was really just
like a Jim Rat kind of kid, and that's where
I really like built a lot of my skill and
(42:55):
shooting has always been like a big part of my game.
Division three basketball. I played Division three college basketball in Ohio.
There's a big football school by the name of University
of Mount Union. They've won over twelve national championships for football,
but I went there for basketball. I was right in
my backyard, about forty five minutes from where I grew up.
(43:15):
I went there, played all four years there. We were
really good, won a couple championships, and just developed my game.
There After college though, I really feel like that's when
I started to gain more confidence. And you know in basketball,
that confidence and the skill goes so hand in hand.
It's unreal like, especially when you get in that flow
(43:35):
state hit two or three, you know what I mean,
not at the parks. When my college career ended, so
I started my I started my personal YouTube channel in college,
and I grew up from zero to one hundred K
with some of my buddies in school, twenty twenty. COVID
year was my senior year, and our career abruptly ended.
I documented like my whole life in school after that,
(43:58):
I really didn't know what I was going to do,
so I kind of just, you know, we picked up
the camera started making some random YouTube content, and my
whole persona, my whole online.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
In college was just all derived around Division three.
Speaker 3 (44:13):
This Division three that when I graduated, I really didn't
have this title to my name.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
I didn't know where my niche was anymore.
Speaker 3 (44:19):
So we stuck around with like the former D three thing,
and we did this former D three hooper versus regular
park hoopers, and I was miked up, and it just
it was a really good idea because you know, the
whole like the idea of Division three sports is kind
of like look down upon.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
So it's like the idea of seeing the D three
hooper verse.
Speaker 3 (44:37):
Like people that go play pickup, regular people that just
play pickup, however you want to call it. The video
did really well, and that's kind of when the whole
park basketball scene started to do really well for me.
So I started to just travel around the country and
just play at different parks and I would post on
my Instagram story, Hey, I'm going to this park at
this time on this day, and we started to bring
(44:57):
bigger and bigger crowds out and that's when, like I
really started to gain my confidence. And that's that's kind
of how I developed my skill as like a street
ball hooper mixed with this organized professional whatever you want
to call it.
Speaker 1 (45:11):
I think people are delusional at times because they think
whether it be D three hooper, D three Hooper, D
one hooper, last guy on the bench, like, oh he's weak.
I can like, no, there's a reason why I got
an opportunity to get my school paid for. There's a
reason why I make money even though I sit on
the bench in this league.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
And I think people think, because oh.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
You're not a big star, you're not doing like you
can't play, which is crazy. So I love the fact that, like,
you know your ability to kind of okay, you think
D three, you think it's sweet, Come get some of
this man before we get you out of here. Tough
question to the cities you've been in. What city impressed
you the most? But their street ballers?
Speaker 3 (45:48):
It's crazy you said tough question before asking this, because
this is the question I probably get the most, and
I never have an accurate answer.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
Give me two or three cities. Then that you were
just like, okay, they came with it today.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
Richmond Virginia, Okay, for sure, that's like super random. And
then I was in.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
The Charlotte I played at a park in Charlotte, and
it was like when Rob Dylan Hamm and then we're
in school and everything, and he popped out to the
park and there were a bunch of c out there,
just a really just a bunch of like really tough
Hoopers that came out that day and they ran the park. Man.
Speaker 2 (46:25):
It was it was crazy.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
So I mean, if I really had to give you
an answer, it'd probably be Charlotte, yeah, or Richmond, Virginia.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
They gave us some work.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
Give me your five dream retired NBA players to get
on to the next chapter. Is your chance, They're all, hey,
they're all going to see this ship.
Speaker 2 (46:44):
So here's your chance.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
But you want I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 3 (46:47):
I feel like we have to make the Joe Johnson
Michael Beasley matchup happen.
Speaker 2 (46:51):
So those are two for sure.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
Beasley's always been a dream one because you know, I'll
tell you why. Beasley's always been a dream. Everybody that's
ever played, ever seen him, ever said anything about him
as always said that he is exactly he's cold, and
for everybody to talk about his one.
Speaker 2 (47:09):
V one game specifically, it made him a myth.
Speaker 3 (47:12):
It made him a myth of like man like, is
he really as good as everybody says he is? And
so I'm really happy we got to see bits and
parts of what he's capable of.
Speaker 2 (47:21):
But I feel like.
Speaker 3 (47:22):
There's so much more that we're going to see as
he continues to grow in this one on one space.
Speaker 2 (47:29):
So yeah, for sure, Joe Johnson, for sure.
Speaker 3 (47:31):
Michael Beasley, I'd like to see I'd like to see
Kyrie get in the space. I think I think we'll
see Kyrie soon, just because I know he commentated the
game against them, and he talked about really wanting to
get involved.
Speaker 2 (47:44):
He streams a lot. He talked about trying to make
his next chapter debut next year.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
Obviously like there's a bunch of legalities with the league,
but he said he would play for free, which.
Speaker 2 (47:54):
Is really cool.
Speaker 3 (47:55):
Like, I know he talked about one v one to
completely different mastery of the game. That is just like
it's not as respected as much as five B five,
which I completely understand. Five y five is the pinnacle,
it's real basketball. But at the end of the day,
one on one is just it's super entertaining. It's mono emano.
There's nobody else to blame it to see you in
(48:16):
that other person. And I know, obviously like there's this
stigma around like bag this and bag work that. But
at the end of the day, like it's really cool
to see if you've mastered a certain part of your game,
it's really cool to see you display it against another
person that is.
Speaker 2 (48:30):
Capable master or showing what they're mastering.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
But not to put any pressure on you, but if
you build this concept out how I think you will
and how you think you will, your concept can possibly
be adopted by the NBA All Star Game because they're
trying to figure out how do we make the All
Star Weekend better? And if your concept can show like, yo,
these dudes really want to do this. This is something
that fans really want to see. You never know you
(48:55):
might be partnering with the NBA one day on on
All Star Weekend, next chapter time the NBA for one
on one Challenge.
Speaker 2 (49:02):
Yeah, man, I don't know. We'll see.
Speaker 3 (49:04):
I'm not sure, you know, like the NBA is super
closed off to other other leagues and other.
Speaker 2 (49:09):
Companies and whatnot, so I'm just getting it out there.
Speaker 1 (49:11):
I think you could proof the concept though, like I
think you invented something. Yeah, you know, not you invented
I know other guys to try to do it, but
your ability to get the big names has definitely like, Okay,
well it's working there. Maybe we and then we know
if they start going on one on one it was
because of the next chapter because no one else is
doing it like you.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
I think we get that.
Speaker 3 (49:28):
I think we get people to commit to some to
doing some of this stuff because like you know, we
keep mentioning proof of concept, but also like it's a
very we're a very trustworthy place to.
Speaker 2 (49:38):
Make sure that it's done in a very legit way.
Speaker 3 (49:42):
You can't have people that have done what they've done
respectfully in the vassal world come onto your platform and
it's just a shit show, Like it's just not something
that is not something that we want to do. We
take we take a lot of pride in our production quality.
We take a lot of pride in how we handle
things behind the scenes. Our converse stations, the maturity, the legitimacy.
(50:03):
So I think that's why people are stepping up to
the plate with confidence that it's going to be done
the right way. But fuck, man, I owe you two
more people, and I can't. I can't think of anybody
I would like to see John Wall at this moment.
I'd like to see John Wall. I've seen him in
the gym here and there. That'd be really fun to
see that. And if Kyrie does step onto the police
an he wants to play his next chapter debut at
(50:25):
Mandalay Bay, I want to see it be done against
Damian Lillard.
Speaker 1 (50:30):
Lillard, you guys do guys coming off of injury, Well,
we'll see well.
Speaker 2 (50:34):
Man.
Speaker 1 (50:35):
Congratulations on what you've built, in what you continue to grow.
We're here for a resource, man, so make sure you
come back in updates on what you got going on, man,
and the best of luck moving forward.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Bro.
Speaker 3 (50:44):
Yeah, please do it next time whenever we find out
our next matchup here soon in the next couple of weeks,
and we can get out and talk about it, talk
about who we think is going to win and why.
Speaker 1 (50:53):
Sounds good, Bro, We'll be well. Then take care. Well
that was a lot, man, It's been a hell of
a season. Congratulations to again to the Oklahoma City thunder
h and also congratulations to the Indiana Pacers the way
you guys played, the whole coaching staff, management Sending love
and thoughts to the whole Halliburton family. H speedy recovery.
(51:15):
Shout out my dog Tatum and and and Lillard who
are also coming back off Achilles injuries. Man, everyone enjoyed
their off season, looking forward to the Draft this week,
and definitely looking forward to free agency. The end of
the season has come, but have no fear, we are
not going anywhere. I will see you next week. You
catch this on the All the Smoke Productions YouTube and
(51:37):
the DraftKings Network. See y'all next week.
Hosts And Creators
Stephen Jackson
Matt Barnes
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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