April 10, 2025 • 28 mins
The Hornets were shorthanded as ever in Toronto on the second night of a back-to-back and fell by a final tally of 126-96, but the headlines all go to Taj Gibson, who became the 152nd player to appear in 1,000 career games in NBA history. Rob Longo and Will Palaszczuk, the host of Hornets Postgame on the flagship station Sports Radio WFNZ, break down the game and pick their silver linings, but also take a deeper look on the importance of Taj's milestone.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Hornets Hoodcast, presented by Charlotte I ear
Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear Nosen Throat Care
provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Rob Longo.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hi, friends, and welcome to today's episode of the Hornets Podcast,
the official podcast of the Charlotte Hornets, brought to you
by Santa Charlotte, I ear Nose and Throat Associates, the
official eye, ear nose and throw care provider of your
Charlotte Hornets. Rob Longo with you on a Silver Linings
edition of the AHHC Hornets fall in Toronto on the
second night of a back to back last night, one
twenty six to ninety six is the final tally. Raptors
(00:33):
win the season series against the Hornets two games to one,
and Hornets have now lost five straight games, currently sitting
at nineteen and sixty one with two games left to
go on a docket. We'll break this game down for you,
provide you with our silver linings, and there is one
massive silver lining. It's not even a silver up lining,
it is a milestone. Here. Todsh Gibson plays in game
number one thousand last night, that of course, is the
headline here for the Hornets, something that not a whole
(00:56):
lot of NBA players have done throughout the course of
the history of the National Basketball Association, and talking all
these topics with me here on this episode of the
Hornets Podcast. It's the host of Hornets post Game on
the flagship station Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ, the
one and only Will pol Logic. Well, this is our
last post game EACHHC together. I know it's coming to
a bitter end. Unfortunately, it's hard to believe that it's
(01:18):
going to be here until it actually is here. So
thank you for joining me here on this Hornets podcast.
Thank you for joining me all season long as well.
And we got a lot to talk about on this
one today, even though the Hornets end up losing one
twenty six to ninety six in Toronto last night.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
When you say last, I hope it's not the last ever,
just last for this season. Of course, I've enjoyed it
all year long. I know that you needed me to
step up, maybe more times than I have previously because
of our friend Sam Purley's beautiful new addition to his family.
But as you know, I am, I'm able, willing, and
always happy to come on and join you as we
(01:52):
try and wrap things up here on a night that
I'm sure will pob be remembered, more so for the
milestone you're mentioning as opposed to the final score that
we saw tonight.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, we'll get to the big milestone here in a
few moments. Let's just go ahead and recap this game
real quick again. Last night Hornets fall won twenty six
to ninety six. If you wanted to have it summarize
in one sentence, it was the three pointers that Toronto made.
They made a lot of them here. But if you
want to dive a little bit deeper into this one,
it was pretty back and forth in that first quarter.
Teams were competitive. TODs Gibbson checked in for the one
(02:22):
thousandth time in his career, one thousandth played game. Of course,
he did start a lot back in the day too.
But Hornets were leading in this one early on, but
fell into the deficit early, trailed at twenty five to
twenty three after twelve minutes of play. Usefnerkis had a
big first half. He had twelve points and seven rebounds
at the break, Hornets got outscored twenty eight to twenty
two in that second frame. Fifty three to forty five
(02:42):
was your halftime score, and that lead wide in for
Toronto going into the fourth quarter after outscoring the Hornets
thirty five to twenty three to a third frame, so
Charlotte was down eighty eight to sixty eight going into
the final quarter, and Hornets didn't really do much to
make a run there, as Toronto outpaced the Hornets by
another ten points thirty eight to twenty eight in the
final quarter to make it a one twenty six to
(03:02):
ninety six final tally. Again, this one was competitive in
the first quarter, but both teams were dealing with a
ton of injuries in this one, in addition to all
of the players that are out right now for Charlotte
for the season, that includes of course La Melo, Ball
trade Man and Brandon Miller and Grant Williams, and I'm
sure I missed somebody in there as well, but Josh Green,
Miles Bridges, Josha Koge, Mark Williams did not play in
this one yesterday. Toronto had their fair share of injuries
(03:24):
as well. Don't get me wrong, No Grady Dick, no
Ojai Abaji, Brandon Ingram or Jamal Sheed.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
By the way, Mussa Diabatte did not play. He was
a late scratch dude to an illness for Charlotte, and
so is Jaka Pertle. He had an hand injury there
on the other side for the Raptors. So again, both
of these teams playing with a very very very short
deck and Hornets only had ten players available. Nine of
them played. The odd man out last night was Seth Curry.
But again it's another situation of availability in this one
for the Hornets, and Charlotte simply did not have that.
(03:51):
You're starting five yesterday, eight different starting five, forty third
different starting five in game number eighty for the Hornets.
This one included kJ Simpson and Nick's Smid Junior, Tawan, Jeffries, t,
John Salon and use off Perri Kitchen. Again kind of
the common refrain all season long here, Will is just
the fact that the Hornets do not have the availability
right now. As it stands currently, the Hornets have almost
(04:12):
seventy five percent of their allotted salary not available to
playing games. You cannot win ball games in the NBA
like that.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Very difficult, rob, very difficult, and I mean if you
look at the game in a vacuum and if you
just took out the opposition, you know a lot of
the numbers are somewhat encouraging. Eleven made threes, they got
that the line sixteen times, made thirteen of them. But
unfortunately you went up against a team that kind of
had you beat from the points in the paint category,
second chance points went the other way by eight, and
(04:41):
the offensive rebounds. Hornets were minus eleven in that category,
minus eight in the fast break points, and minus twenty
four in the points off turnover category as they turned
them all over nineteen times compared to nine for Toronto.
And this is one where I called it when I
taught with Sam Fomber on the WFNZ post game last night,
(05:02):
a developmental night where tonight was basically a night where
you looked at a lot of these younger guys to
try and see, hey, you know, who is gonna be
maybe taking that next step for rotation time next year,
and who's someone who you feel like can maybe take
that step forward. And I still think that T John
Salon is one of those guys who continues to show
you something thirty one minutes played. I know the shooting
(05:24):
numbers weren't the best, but he definitely showed some hustle.
I know that kJ Simpson after two nights ago having
the horrific thing that happened to Jalen Wells. We continue
to send our wishes out to him, but it was
good to see him back out there playing thirty three minutes.
Nick Smith Junior, a career night, twenty eight points, ten assists.
Yusuf Nurkic continues to show great veteran leadership and something
(05:45):
that I think is incredibly needed for a very young
front line for the Hornets that includes both Mark Williams,
Mussa Diabonte. I know we saw neither of them last night,
but really cool to see for him and obviously the
Todge gibbson Milestone News. But just another couple of nights
where you can see some guys, Damian Ball, Wen Delmore Junior,
Jalen Simms. These guys are are parts of different parts
(06:08):
of where Truck with the Hornets are trying to kind
of look and see, hey, could there be a dominant
the rock could to be somebody who you look at
and say, hey, maybe he's somebody who we can use
down our roster especially on nights when we need somebody
if somebody's either out with an injury or a sit
out situation. So obviously not the Hornets lineup that they
had envision when they put the season together, but sometimes
(06:29):
that's how the end of the season plays out in
this league that plays eighty two games.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Rob Longo, Yeah, it certainly indeed, and again you're gonna
have a lot of bumps and bruises. Unfortunately, the Hornets
have had to endure more bumps and bruises than most
teams over the last three years or so. Now, unfortunately,
is a Hornet's fall one twenty six to ninety six
last night, now nineteen and sixty one on the season.
Just to kind of give you an idea of the
shape of this roster right now. Tjan Salon had a
pretty solid run at the beginning of the season, getting
(06:55):
a lot of starts, and again wasn't really part of
the plan. I don't think before the season begin was
supposed to be more of a developmental year for t
Jon in the Greensboro and the G League and get
some seasoning that way. Instead, he was kind of thrust
it into some roles that maybe weren't the best for
him to succeed in and just to kind of give
you an idea of where this roster has been up
and down throughout the course of the campaign. Tjon did
(07:15):
get that start yesterday, not saying that he didn't earn
it by any stretch of the imagination, but we haven't
seen him in the starting lineup since December fifth on
the road at New York, so it was quite some
time between starts for t Jon. Just kind of gives
you an idea of who was available and who wasn't
here for the Hornets yesterday agains Charlotte falling one twenty
six to ninety six out north of the border in Toronto.
When we come back, we'll touch on our silver lining selections.
(07:37):
There were a couple in this one for the Hornets,
and there's one big one that we got to touch
on a little bit later on here on a Hornets iodcast.
It's a silver Linings episode of the Hornet Time Cast,
proudly brought to you by Santa As always, Rob Longo
in the host of Hornets Post Game on the flagship
station sports radio WFNZ, Well plogic with you. Willie p
the host of Hornets Post Game among other duties. Of course,
(07:59):
has a sign but as for the purpose of this podcast,
he is the host of Hornets Post game Time. Now
for our silver lining selections from the game yesterday. A
couple of the candidates Yusuf Nurkic had a season high
twenty six points, Nick Smith Junior a new career high
twenty eight points that was a game high, as well
a couple of other ones off the bench to sprinkle
in there. But as the guest of honor, Willie p
I will let you go first. Who is your silver
(08:20):
lining selection from the game last night?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Give me the super sophomore Nick Smith Junior.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Nick Smith Junior nine on the shock block, four fifty
one left in the contest, calls his own number three
on the way It's good. Nick Smith Junior drilling another
lows three point shot eighteen points to go with the
ten assists.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
One of his six three pointers which was a career
high twenty eight points which is a career high and
ten assists. His first career double double in a thirty
seven minute effort. And look, one of the things we've
been talking about over the course of a lot of
part of this season is you know who is the
most improved Hornet and one of the guys they I
throw out a lot as t John Salon, just because
(09:01):
of the fact that we look at his game as
very much a multiple bit of clay. But I think
Nick Smith Junior definitely makes a bid for that same output,
because I think Nick Smith Junior has taken himself from
developmental player to somebody who is forcing himself into talks
for this rotation next year. And I understand that the
(09:22):
Hornets are looking to reinforce themselves with you know, obviously
the guys who are hurt this year, you know, the
tray Man's of the world, the Grant Williams of the world.
Hopefully we're not talking about those guys having the kind
of injury woes and battles like they had this year.
And obviously when it comes down to it, also we
hope are some different additions made about Jeff Peterson, whether
(09:44):
it's via trade, whether it's via free agency, and obviously
we look forward to the NBA Draft, but you have
to develop your own in this league. And Nick Smith
Junior is somebody who when he came into the Hornets
equilibrium a year ago, there was a hunger from him.
He was somebody who was projected as a lottery pick,
(10:04):
and he kind took it personally that he fell himself
out of the lottery and has taken on himself to
really use not only some bouts at Greensboro last year,
but also during this year to really season himself with
this game. And unfortunately, after the injury to Brandon Miller,
it has caused an increase in his role. It's caused
an increase in d Kwan Jeffery's role, and I think
(10:25):
that Nick has really taken the bull by the horns.
He's become a much more efficient three point shooter. He's
become a very good defensive player as well, and also
we're seeing him add the distribution thing to his golf bag. Basically,
to use the analogy that Sam Palper made with me
the end of the Network post game, it is something
that obviously is still a work in progress for him.
(10:47):
I'm wondering how his summer is going to look. I
don't know if he'll play a summer league or not,
but I do think at least from the standpoint of
where he sits, he will definitely feel like he's got
a chance to go into his third NBA season with
a lot of headway and head win behind him because
of what he's done, particularly in the second half of
this season to really make himself not only a more
(11:08):
marketable star, but I think somebody who's going to see
a lot of important minutes provided that the Hornets take
the steps forward that they're hoping to in this second
year of the rebuild.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
He seems like the kind of guy that can certainly
make an impact on the roster next season as a
hot commodite coming off the bench, kind of like what
we saw from Trey Mann here in his first couple
of games before he was out for the remainder of
the season. But again, this is a guy that a
lot of people had high on their draft boards and
he kind of fell into the lap a little bit,
for lack of a better term, for the Hornets whenever
they had that late second round, that late first round
(11:40):
pick a couple of seasons ago, Brandon Miller of course
was the crown jewel at number two overall, but I
mean a lot of people at nicksbit Junior around the
teams on their draft boards in terms of like maybe twelve, thirteen, fourteen,
best player available, and he was able to follow a
couple more slots than the Hornets were able to snatch
him up, and he's been really solid. He had a
good run in Greensboro earlier this year, was able to
(12:00):
get some seasoning down there, develop a couple of traits,
and ever since these injuries and absences, he's really stepped up.
And I think that yesterday is a great example of
that because he's adding the passing and the facilitating as well.
With those tennisists for his first career double double. He
also had six rebounds, so he literally did a little
bit of everything in that contest yesterday. It just kind
of shows the development of Nick Smith Junior's game. So again,
(12:21):
if you didn't take him, I probably would have took
him as my silver lying selection. I'm gonna go with
the guy that had twenty six points in a new
season high. That is use of Nurkic.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Ohnet's send inside and nurkicch up for the land good
counted nfl use. If nurkicch adding to his total, he's
got twenty four the game high. It is a season
high performance.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Nurk able to add a couple of points on here
he goes for twenty six points nine rebounds, four assists.
He had the game high for a while there until
nixt Mith Junior came in and scored thirteen of his
twenty eight in the fourth quarter alone. But NRK twenty
six minutes twelve of nineteen from the field did go
zero for two from beyond york to a fourth the
free throw line. Like I mentioned, to nine rebounds the
four assists, he had a lot of foul trouble too.
(13:01):
He had five fouls, didn't foul out in the contest,
but had to play a little careful there in the
second half as well. But again, use of Nurkic, I
think is a guy that was just kind of an
unfortunate situation, the victim of an unfortunate situation in Phoenix
where there was a lot of fanfare of him coming
over from Portland and at DeAndre Ayton Trade and just
didn't work out in the desert for whatever reason. And
(13:21):
the Hornets are now a little bit of the benefactor
because of the situation, and he's able to really develop
and modify how Charles Lee can use him offensively. Defensively,
of course, I mean, the guy is a seven footer
and he's a Bosnian bear. That's what they call him,
so you know he's able to be physical defensively as well.
He just brings a different layer of this team, especially
(13:42):
in the front court. And when you look the way
the roster is constructed right now with the Hornets fully healthy,
you have use of Nrkic, you have Mark Williams, you
have Musadiabata, you have Todd Gibson. All of those centers
bring different elements in different styles and different attributes to
the game, and you can use them however you want,
depending on the situations down the stretch. Musa Diabatte is
(14:02):
a guy that I think you can mold between the
four and a five. I talked to Sam Purli a
lot about that on the podcast yesterday after the game
against the Memphis Grizzlies of how Musa is still trying
to I don't want to say find his footing, but
he can find his niche in the NBA over the
course of these next couple of games, provided he's healthy
and ready to go after sitting out with that illness
last night. So again, I think Yusuf is one of
(14:23):
those guys that can really be the benefactor here of
this Hornets program. I know that you talked about it
after the game, with Sam Farber saying if he's here
and he plays out the rest of his contract in Charlotte,
that he could be a huge fan favorite.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
You've ever much can rob and look, you're not gonna
have to prod me too much to say nice things
about Yusuf Nurkic. Whatever it is, maybe it's the many
constants in my last name. I've I've always had a
soft spot for the Eastern Europeans. So the Bosnian Beast
has definitely won the tieh on my list. He is
filling the cup that Vasa Mitich once filled, that Sapiema
(14:57):
kay look once filled, you name it, I will definitely
take it. When it comes to Yusuf and I love
his inside out game. I know that he didn't hit
a three tonight last night, but I know that that's
something that's definitely a part of his bag that really
extends things in a way that none of the Hornet
Biggs can. I know that we've talked a lot about
Mark Williams's three point shot being something that is still
(15:19):
in the alpha stages and maybe could be something that
moves to beta for next year, or at least maybe
it gets more met in games. I know that he's
taken a couple of opportunities and desperation chances here during
the latter part of this season, but Yusuf definitely finds
it very very big part of this And look, he's
somebody who has been through the wars to a little bit,
(15:40):
you know, not too unlike what Todz Gibson has done.
Obviously Tom's has got a longer resume than Yusuf does.
But but Yusuf definitely has done it in Portland. I
know that that Phoenix is not necessarily something you look
at and say was a favorable experience for him, but
I do think it's something that can very much be
a thing that helps this Hornet's club next year, provided
(16:01):
that he's sticking around and living out the rest of
his contract, because you have a couple of very young
centers that are on the roster, and Mussa Diabatte and
Mark Williams who can continue to stand to learn a
thing or two. He's a great screener, he's a great passer,
and I think too it just he does the little
things too when it comes to uh effort. You mentioned
(16:23):
the fact that again found trouble was maybe a little
bit of an issue tonight, but he was able to
stay in the ball game and keep himself on the
floor tonight when the Hornets are very short handed when
it came to the front line. So I think he's
he's definitely somebody who maybe not a cornerstone piece, but
but somebody who definitely is is in the running for
some some heavy, heavy playing time come next year. I
(16:45):
really want to see what he looks like and and
and honestly, when it comes to it, he could be
part of UH of the leadership corps that you know
it is involved with, you know, Seth Curry and UH
and Grant Williams and and these other guys who are
veterans on the squad. And that's one thing we talked about,
you know, when the previous iterations of this team is
that you know, they didn't really have a lot of
(17:06):
veteran Leyden bodies. You can't say that anymore about this
Hornet squad. They've got a lot of guys who will
definitely help police the room, not that it needs that,
but make sure that guys are on the straight and narrow,
guys are doing everything that needs to be done during
games and obviously when it comes down to games that
we hope next year mean more down the stretch, He's
(17:29):
somebody who can definitely show his teammates the way.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Again, those are the only two players in double figures
last night for Charlotte and the scoring Colin Nick Smith
Junior a new career high a game high twenty eight
points to go along with ten assists for a double double,
his first of his career use of nurgics, new season
high twenty six points, nine rebounds for NIRK. We come back.
Still one more topic to go on this episode of
the Hornets Time cast, probably the most important one that
we've had in quite some time, maybe if not the season,
(17:54):
we will discuss it. Todd Gibson one thousand career games.
That comes your way right after this here on the HHC.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
T Jhan Salon lefty dribble into the lane up with
the right hand, no rebound. Todge Gibson goes back up
and lays it in. Todge Gibson in game number one
thousand is on the board.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Big night for Taj Gibson last night north of the
Border in Toronto won thousand career games. A huge milestone
here for Taj Rob Longo and the host of Hornet's
post game on the flagship station Sports Radio ninety two
to seven WFNZ, Will Polatrick with you here putting a
button on this episode of the Hornets Hoodcast, and well,
this was a big, huge accomplishment, a big milestone. It's
(18:34):
something that I've been tracking here for the last couple
of weeks when it kind of flew up on my
radar when I was looking at some of the numbers
surrounding TODJ. Gibson, and that was the fact that he
could get to eight thousand career games here in this season.
I know it's been a long time coming here for Taj.
He's been around the block several times for about his
lack of a better term, as you could, it's been
a very long season in a long career here for TAJE.
(18:56):
Gibson in year sixteen, the first eight of them coming
in and Shogo four in New York, two in Minnesota,
spend a year in Washington, Oklahoma City, Detroit, spent four
games with the Pistons there at the end of last season,
but again signing a one year deal here with the
Hornets and capping off year number sixteen for Charlotte. This
was his thirty fifth game of the season, started eleven
(19:18):
games here so far as well for the Hornets. So
good to see todsh Gibson getting some extended run at
the nice young age of thirty nine. Great player out
of USC. I know that Sam Farvard likes to yuck
that up, of course on the broadcast, because he is
a fellow USC alum. But we will leave that be there.
But todsh Gibson a huge accomplishment yesterday north of the
(19:38):
border in Toronto. He becomes me one hundred and fifty
second player in NBA history to reach one thousand career games.
Joins the likes of several greats. One of them you
might know, is Glenn Rice. He is exactly at a
thousand career games. Oddly enough, now if you do include
some of the ABA games in there as well, I
know there's a little bit of a conversation and a
discussion arounding if the ABA stats should apply to the
(19:59):
end NBA stats as well back in the day, he
would be the one hundred and sixtieth player if you
add those ones as well, just for some context there,
but a huge accomplishman here for TAJE. Gibson After the game,
of course, he was asked about it, and here's what
he had to say about playing in game number one thousand.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
So many different battles, so many different ways you have
to affect the game. I went from being a young
springing guys coming up to Moose to trying to find
my way and now and sixteen seventeen years later, I'm
an older VET trying to help guys like Moose, Mark
and young guys try to develop and play on a
(20:37):
daily basis. And it's enjoy it, love it. Real emotional
today because I really love these guys and they make
me feel so special every day. They make me feel
like championship champ of the boxing world. The way I
come in, the way they make me feel every day, Charles, everybody,
real emotional today because I understand so many, so many
(20:57):
games played, but so many great memories of this fighting
and passion. That's what the game is about, fighting and
passion of happiness.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Well, you can just hear the emotion in Todge Gibson
when he was talking about this moment. Of course, we're
so fortunate and so lucky to have TODJ. Gibson on
his roster, just not only for the fact that he's
had such an amazing career, but he's just such a
great person. We get to interact with him and just
see how much he means to this team and obviously
the team means so much to him as well, and
it's a great mutual experience. And you know, when this
(21:27):
signing happened before the season started, it's one of those
ones where you know, some people that follow the NBA
might be like, well, todsh Gibsons still playing. He is
the third oldest active player in the association right now.
But again, at the same time, it's like, wow, the
Hornets get to sign Todge Gibson, Like that is an
amazing signing, just based off of all of the experience
and all of the knowledge that he's been able to
(21:50):
garner over the course of his career. It's hard to
make it to double digits in the NBA, especially in
this day and age. It just seems like the league
just gets younger and younger year after year. And if
you get to ten, that's great. But I mean the
fact that he's continuing to do this and the fact
that he is now one of one hundred and fifty
two people to suit up in the National Basketball Association
and get to a thousand career games. This is a
(22:11):
really remarkable milestone. I don't think it's too much for
us to understate that, because this is a really huge deal.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
It very much is rob and I got a lot
of emotions when talking about Taj Gibson, and you mentioned
how humbled he sounds. He looked humbled when we saw
him on the screen after coming in and playing those
first couple of minutes, then going back on the bench,
and I think you could see the way to the
(22:39):
emotion fully overcome him. This is his seventh NBA team
in sixteen years, which tells me that, you know, a
lot of guys who've had this kind of tenure in
the league have more bumper stickers on the suitcase than
todsh Gibson has. I know that a couple of these teams, Charlotte, Washington,
Oklahoma City, and Detroit our teams he only spent a
(23:00):
year or less with. But you know, eight years in Chicago,
four years with the Knicks, and two years with Minnesota.
He put forth some very very great tape and great
moments with all those teams. I remember very much as
his years in Chicago. And I remember that Stacy King
clip where he says, TODJ. Gibson, does anybody know how
to post videos to Facebook for a great dunk he had?
(23:23):
And he said, TODJ. Gibson goes upstairs known very much
for his high flying dunks earlier on in his career.
But you heard him talk about just the transformation. You know,
he went from being a high flyer to having to
reinvent his game a little bit. And a lot of
guys in this league, you know, sometimes they hang on
and they don't necessarily have the temperament to be able
(23:43):
to handle the mentorship spot of the game, and a
lot of times they'll kind of fade into oblivion and
and and not really take it to heart the impact
they can have on younger guys. That is definitely not
what TODJ. Gibson is. Taj has taken this role on.
He has. He's been a mentor to Mussa Diabate, He's
been a mentor to Mark Williams. They call him. I
(24:04):
heard both Sam farm Ber and Eric Collins on multiple
occasions call him the most popular guy on this team
by a long shot. The fact that you and I
saw right before the season he had played nine hundred
and sixty five games. I think you and I both
had the same thought of but if he gets to
a thousand, it probably means that things did not go
the way the Hornets one of them two from an
(24:26):
injury standpoint, because you wondered whether or not his impact
would be more so off the floor, almost kind of
like as a secondary part of the coaching staff. Maybe
he plays in twenty games, gets in some second nights
of back to backs to try and make sure that
the guys in the front line aren't two tacks. But
he's had to play thirty five games this year, and
that's a testament to Hey, you know what, I understand
(24:49):
that this role is something that is very much not
a guaranteed thing. From an on the floor standpoint, anytime
his number is called, it's very much a good thing.
I'm a little disappointed that it didn't take place in
a home contest. I know that you and I were
both kind of counting him down. There was a point
where if he had basically played in every game down
the stretch, he would have been able to get one thousand.
(25:11):
In the Hornet's final home game, but he had missed
one in between then and now to basically make the
night happen to be last night when it came to
the Hornet's loss in Toronto. But what a great ambassador
of the game, what a great steward of the game.
And I honestly, I'm like you, I hope we see
(25:31):
more of Taj and see more of his ability to
still be in this league. I understand that, you know,
n On is not a young not a young buck.
He's one of the few people I can say is
older than me in this league. Rob, So I anytime
I can see that be extended, I'm okay with that.
But but man, oh man, very very happy for him,
(25:51):
proud of him, and he deserves every adulation you can
give him because he's definitely one of the good ones.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Yeah, it's very well said, and I think that this
season as well is maybe a little bit of a
blessing disguise, both for Tage and for the Hornets as well,
because on the side of Taj, you know, he's able
to get to a thousand games, he's able to get
to that threshold, and he's able to go out and
compete every single night, even though that maybe when he
did sign here that he thought maybe he would be,
(26:19):
like you said, a little bit of an extension to
the coaching staff. So he has that in his back pocket.
He's still out there and he's able to compete. He's
able to play, which is great to see and you
can tell it just brings him so much joy when
he's out there. It's business. I mean, he's ready to
go and he's out there competing at a high level,
and that's great. It's awesome. And from another standpoint, the
fact that he didn't play every single night, I think
is a good example to provide to maybe some of
(26:40):
the younger guys for this Hornets roster, saying hey, this
is how you take care of your body, this is
how you stay ready, this is what happens when your
number is called, and this is how you are able
to succeed at this level of the NBA. So I
think that it's just a very beneficial thing for both
sides here, of course, obviously more for Toadje Gibson. This
is what we're focusing on. We're looking at it from
(27:00):
a Hornets perspective, but again, this night certainly belongs to TODJ.
Gibbson a huge congratulations to him on one thousand career games,
A huge, huge accomplishment. Couldn't happen to a greater guy
as good of a player that Tod Gibson has been,
and it's great of his career that he's had. He's
even a better person off the floor, so it couldn't
happen to a nicer guy. And I meet that with
my whole heart as well. So we're hoping for Toaj
(27:21):
to get into Game one thousand and one tomorrow in Boston.
Hornets will finish out the rest of the season in
Being Town coming up tomorrow, and then of course Sunday
at one o'clock as well, myself and Sam Farber will
have the game preview for Hornets and Celtics Part one
coming up on it tomorrow's episode of the Hornets podcast.
But that will do it for this episode of the
AHHC will EEP. We'll pologic the host of Hornets post
(27:43):
game on the flagship station sports radio WFNZ. I know
that you and I will talk of course throughout the
summer and throughout the offseason, but this is the last
time we're talking to you here on the AHHC. Thank
you so much for joining me here today and of
course all season long as well. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Pleasures mind Rob you guys, I mean, I'm Sam and
I go back back to his days with the Clippers,
and you and I have not only become fast friends
more more than colleagues. Very much appreciate all the long
nights we get to spend together, the forty one of
them inside the building, and obviously the more on the
road games when it comes to these road podcast episodes,
(28:19):
and always appreciate the invite, hope for some more in
the future and hopefully we see some broader days ahead
for this franchise.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Couldn't say it any better myself. Big thanks to Willie
P for joining me here today in all season long.
Big thanking of all of you joining us as well
here on this episode of the Hornets Podcast for We'll Polatchigum,
Rob Longo saying so long, Thank you so much for
joining us on this episode of the AHHC. We will
preview Hornets and Celtics Part one on tomorrow's episode of
the Hornets Podcast.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Thank you for listening to The Hornets Podcast, brought to
you by Santa the Official I ear Nosen throatcare provider
of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets dot com.
Welcome to the Hornets Hoodcast, presented by Charlotte I ear
Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear Nosen Throat Care
provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Rob Longo.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hi, friends, and welcome to today's episode of the Hornets Podcast,
the official podcast of the Charlotte Hornets, brought to you
by Santa Charlotte, I ear Nose and Throat Associates, the
official eye, ear nose and throw care provider of your
Charlotte Hornets. Rob Longo with you on a Silver Linings
edition of the AHHC Hornets fall in Toronto on the
second night of a back to back last night, one
twenty six to ninety six is the final tally. Raptors
(00:33):
win the season series against the Hornets two games to one,
and Hornets have now lost five straight games, currently sitting
at nineteen and sixty one with two games left to
go on a docket. We'll break this game down for you,
provide you with our silver linings, and there is one
massive silver lining. It's not even a silver up lining,
it is a milestone. Here. Todsh Gibson plays in game
number one thousand last night, that of course, is the
headline here for the Hornets, something that not a whole
(00:56):
lot of NBA players have done throughout the course of
the history of the National Basketball Association, and talking all
these topics with me here on this episode of the
Hornets Podcast. It's the host of Hornets post Game on
the flagship station Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ, the
one and only Will pol Logic. Well, this is our
last post game EACHHC together. I know it's coming to
a bitter end. Unfortunately, it's hard to believe that it's
(01:18):
going to be here until it actually is here. So
thank you for joining me here on this Hornets podcast.
Thank you for joining me all season long as well.
And we got a lot to talk about on this
one today, even though the Hornets end up losing one
twenty six to ninety six in Toronto last night.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
When you say last, I hope it's not the last ever,
just last for this season. Of course, I've enjoyed it
all year long. I know that you needed me to
step up, maybe more times than I have previously because
of our friend Sam Purley's beautiful new addition to his family.
But as you know, I am, I'm able, willing, and
always happy to come on and join you as we
(01:52):
try and wrap things up here on a night that
I'm sure will pob be remembered, more so for the
milestone you're mentioning as opposed to the final score that
we saw tonight.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, we'll get to the big milestone here in a
few moments. Let's just go ahead and recap this game
real quick again. Last night Hornets fall won twenty six
to ninety six. If you wanted to have it summarize
in one sentence, it was the three pointers that Toronto made.
They made a lot of them here. But if you
want to dive a little bit deeper into this one,
it was pretty back and forth in that first quarter.
Teams were competitive. TODs Gibbson checked in for the one
(02:22):
thousandth time in his career, one thousandth played game. Of course,
he did start a lot back in the day too.
But Hornets were leading in this one early on, but
fell into the deficit early, trailed at twenty five to
twenty three after twelve minutes of play. Usefnerkis had a
big first half. He had twelve points and seven rebounds
at the break, Hornets got outscored twenty eight to twenty
two in that second frame. Fifty three to forty five
(02:42):
was your halftime score, and that lead wide in for
Toronto going into the fourth quarter after outscoring the Hornets
thirty five to twenty three to a third frame, so
Charlotte was down eighty eight to sixty eight going into
the final quarter, and Hornets didn't really do much to
make a run there, as Toronto outpaced the Hornets by
another ten points thirty eight to twenty eight in the
final quarter to make it a one twenty six to
(03:02):
ninety six final tally. Again, this one was competitive in
the first quarter, but both teams were dealing with a
ton of injuries in this one, in addition to all
of the players that are out right now for Charlotte
for the season, that includes of course La Melo, Ball
trade Man and Brandon Miller and Grant Williams, and I'm
sure I missed somebody in there as well, but Josh Green,
Miles Bridges, Josha Koge, Mark Williams did not play in
this one yesterday. Toronto had their fair share of injuries
(03:24):
as well. Don't get me wrong, No Grady Dick, no
Ojai Abaji, Brandon Ingram or Jamal Sheed.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
By the way, Mussa Diabatte did not play. He was
a late scratch dude to an illness for Charlotte, and
so is Jaka Pertle. He had an hand injury there
on the other side for the Raptors. So again, both
of these teams playing with a very very very short
deck and Hornets only had ten players available. Nine of
them played. The odd man out last night was Seth Curry.
But again it's another situation of availability in this one
for the Hornets, and Charlotte simply did not have that.
(03:51):
You're starting five yesterday, eight different starting five, forty third
different starting five in game number eighty for the Hornets.
This one included kJ Simpson and Nick's Smid Junior, Tawan, Jeffries, t,
John Salon and use off Perri Kitchen. Again kind of
the common refrain all season long here, Will is just
the fact that the Hornets do not have the availability
right now. As it stands currently, the Hornets have almost
(04:12):
seventy five percent of their allotted salary not available to
playing games. You cannot win ball games in the NBA
like that.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Very difficult, rob, very difficult, and I mean if you
look at the game in a vacuum and if you
just took out the opposition, you know a lot of
the numbers are somewhat encouraging. Eleven made threes, they got
that the line sixteen times, made thirteen of them. But
unfortunately you went up against a team that kind of
had you beat from the points in the paint category,
second chance points went the other way by eight, and
(04:41):
the offensive rebounds. Hornets were minus eleven in that category,
minus eight in the fast break points, and minus twenty
four in the points off turnover category as they turned
them all over nineteen times compared to nine for Toronto.
And this is one where I called it when I
taught with Sam Fomber on the WFNZ post game last night,
(05:02):
a developmental night where tonight was basically a night where
you looked at a lot of these younger guys to
try and see, hey, you know, who is gonna be
maybe taking that next step for rotation time next year,
and who's someone who you feel like can maybe take
that step forward. And I still think that T John
Salon is one of those guys who continues to show
you something thirty one minutes played. I know the shooting
(05:24):
numbers weren't the best, but he definitely showed some hustle.
I know that kJ Simpson after two nights ago having
the horrific thing that happened to Jalen Wells. We continue
to send our wishes out to him, but it was
good to see him back out there playing thirty three minutes.
Nick Smith Junior, a career night, twenty eight points, ten assists.
Yusuf Nurkic continues to show great veteran leadership and something
(05:45):
that I think is incredibly needed for a very young
front line for the Hornets that includes both Mark Williams,
Mussa Diabonte. I know we saw neither of them last night,
but really cool to see for him and obviously the
Todge gibbson Milestone News. But just another couple of nights
where you can see some guys, Damian Ball, Wen Delmore Junior,
Jalen Simms. These guys are are parts of different parts
(06:08):
of where Truck with the Hornets are trying to kind
of look and see, hey, could there be a dominant
the rock could to be somebody who you look at
and say, hey, maybe he's somebody who we can use
down our roster especially on nights when we need somebody
if somebody's either out with an injury or a sit
out situation. So obviously not the Hornets lineup that they
had envision when they put the season together, but sometimes
(06:29):
that's how the end of the season plays out in
this league that plays eighty two games.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Rob Longo, Yeah, it certainly indeed, and again you're gonna
have a lot of bumps and bruises. Unfortunately, the Hornets
have had to endure more bumps and bruises than most
teams over the last three years or so. Now, unfortunately,
is a Hornet's fall one twenty six to ninety six
last night, now nineteen and sixty one on the season.
Just to kind of give you an idea of the
shape of this roster right now. Tjan Salon had a
pretty solid run at the beginning of the season, getting
(06:55):
a lot of starts, and again wasn't really part of
the plan. I don't think before the season begin was
supposed to be more of a developmental year for t
Jon in the Greensboro and the G League and get
some seasoning that way. Instead, he was kind of thrust
it into some roles that maybe weren't the best for
him to succeed in and just to kind of give
you an idea of where this roster has been up
and down throughout the course of the campaign. Tjon did
(07:15):
get that start yesterday, not saying that he didn't earn
it by any stretch of the imagination, but we haven't
seen him in the starting lineup since December fifth on
the road at New York, so it was quite some
time between starts for t Jon. Just kind of gives
you an idea of who was available and who wasn't
here for the Hornets yesterday agains Charlotte falling one twenty
six to ninety six out north of the border in Toronto.
When we come back, we'll touch on our silver lining selections.
(07:37):
There were a couple in this one for the Hornets,
and there's one big one that we got to touch
on a little bit later on here on a Hornets iodcast.
It's a silver Linings episode of the Hornet Time Cast,
proudly brought to you by Santa As always, Rob Longo
in the host of Hornets Post Game on the flagship
station sports radio WFNZ, Well plogic with you. Willie p
the host of Hornets Post Game among other duties. Of course,
(07:59):
has a sign but as for the purpose of this podcast,
he is the host of Hornets Post game Time. Now
for our silver lining selections from the game yesterday. A
couple of the candidates Yusuf Nurkic had a season high
twenty six points, Nick Smith Junior a new career high
twenty eight points that was a game high, as well
a couple of other ones off the bench to sprinkle
in there. But as the guest of honor, Willie p
I will let you go first. Who is your silver
(08:20):
lining selection from the game last night?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Give me the super sophomore Nick Smith Junior.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Nick Smith Junior nine on the shock block, four fifty
one left in the contest, calls his own number three
on the way It's good. Nick Smith Junior drilling another
lows three point shot eighteen points to go with the
ten assists.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
One of his six three pointers which was a career
high twenty eight points which is a career high and
ten assists. His first career double double in a thirty
seven minute effort. And look, one of the things we've
been talking about over the course of a lot of
part of this season is you know who is the
most improved Hornet and one of the guys they I
throw out a lot as t John Salon, just because
(09:01):
of the fact that we look at his game as
very much a multiple bit of clay. But I think
Nick Smith Junior definitely makes a bid for that same output,
because I think Nick Smith Junior has taken himself from
developmental player to somebody who is forcing himself into talks
for this rotation next year. And I understand that the
(09:22):
Hornets are looking to reinforce themselves with you know, obviously
the guys who are hurt this year, you know, the
tray Man's of the world, the Grant Williams of the world.
Hopefully we're not talking about those guys having the kind
of injury woes and battles like they had this year.
And obviously when it comes down to it, also we
hope are some different additions made about Jeff Peterson, whether
(09:44):
it's via trade, whether it's via free agency, and obviously
we look forward to the NBA Draft, but you have
to develop your own in this league. And Nick Smith
Junior is somebody who when he came into the Hornets
equilibrium a year ago, there was a hunger from him.
He was somebody who was projected as a lottery pick,
(10:04):
and he kind took it personally that he fell himself
out of the lottery and has taken on himself to
really use not only some bouts at Greensboro last year,
but also during this year to really season himself with
this game. And unfortunately, after the injury to Brandon Miller,
it has caused an increase in his role. It's caused
an increase in d Kwan Jeffery's role, and I think
(10:25):
that Nick has really taken the bull by the horns.
He's become a much more efficient three point shooter. He's
become a very good defensive player as well, and also
we're seeing him add the distribution thing to his golf bag. Basically,
to use the analogy that Sam Palper made with me
the end of the Network post game, it is something
that obviously is still a work in progress for him.
(10:47):
I'm wondering how his summer is going to look. I
don't know if he'll play a summer league or not,
but I do think at least from the standpoint of
where he sits, he will definitely feel like he's got
a chance to go into his third NBA season with
a lot of headway and head win behind him because
of what he's done, particularly in the second half of
this season to really make himself not only a more
(11:08):
marketable star, but I think somebody who's going to see
a lot of important minutes provided that the Hornets take
the steps forward that they're hoping to in this second
year of the rebuild.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
He seems like the kind of guy that can certainly
make an impact on the roster next season as a
hot commodite coming off the bench, kind of like what
we saw from Trey Mann here in his first couple
of games before he was out for the remainder of
the season. But again, this is a guy that a
lot of people had high on their draft boards and
he kind of fell into the lap a little bit,
for lack of a better term, for the Hornets whenever
they had that late second round, that late first round
(11:40):
pick a couple of seasons ago, Brandon Miller of course
was the crown jewel at number two overall, but I
mean a lot of people at nicksbit Junior around the
teams on their draft boards in terms of like maybe twelve, thirteen, fourteen,
best player available, and he was able to follow a
couple more slots than the Hornets were able to snatch
him up, and he's been really solid. He had a
good run in Greensboro earlier this year, was able to
(12:00):
get some seasoning down there, develop a couple of traits,
and ever since these injuries and absences, he's really stepped up.
And I think that yesterday is a great example of
that because he's adding the passing and the facilitating as well.
With those tennisists for his first career double double. He
also had six rebounds, so he literally did a little
bit of everything in that contest yesterday. It just kind
of shows the development of Nick Smith Junior's game. So again,
(12:21):
if you didn't take him, I probably would have took
him as my silver lying selection. I'm gonna go with
the guy that had twenty six points in a new
season high. That is use of Nurkic.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Ohnet's send inside and nurkicch up for the land good
counted nfl use. If nurkicch adding to his total, he's
got twenty four the game high. It is a season
high performance.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Nurk able to add a couple of points on here
he goes for twenty six points nine rebounds, four assists.
He had the game high for a while there until
nixt Mith Junior came in and scored thirteen of his
twenty eight in the fourth quarter alone. But NRK twenty
six minutes twelve of nineteen from the field did go
zero for two from beyond york to a fourth the
free throw line. Like I mentioned, to nine rebounds the
four assists, he had a lot of foul trouble too.
(13:01):
He had five fouls, didn't foul out in the contest,
but had to play a little careful there in the
second half as well. But again, use of Nurkic, I
think is a guy that was just kind of an
unfortunate situation, the victim of an unfortunate situation in Phoenix
where there was a lot of fanfare of him coming
over from Portland and at DeAndre Ayton Trade and just
didn't work out in the desert for whatever reason. And
(13:21):
the Hornets are now a little bit of the benefactor
because of the situation, and he's able to really develop
and modify how Charles Lee can use him offensively. Defensively,
of course, I mean, the guy is a seven footer
and he's a Bosnian bear. That's what they call him,
so you know he's able to be physical defensively as well.
He just brings a different layer of this team, especially
(13:42):
in the front court. And when you look the way
the roster is constructed right now with the Hornets fully healthy,
you have use of Nrkic, you have Mark Williams, you
have Musadiabata, you have Todd Gibson. All of those centers
bring different elements in different styles and different attributes to
the game, and you can use them however you want,
depending on the situations down the stretch. Musa Diabatte is
(14:02):
a guy that I think you can mold between the
four and a five. I talked to Sam Purli a
lot about that on the podcast yesterday after the game
against the Memphis Grizzlies of how Musa is still trying
to I don't want to say find his footing, but
he can find his niche in the NBA over the
course of these next couple of games, provided he's healthy
and ready to go after sitting out with that illness
last night. So again, I think Yusuf is one of
(14:23):
those guys that can really be the benefactor here of
this Hornets program. I know that you talked about it
after the game, with Sam Farber saying if he's here
and he plays out the rest of his contract in Charlotte,
that he could be a huge fan favorite.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
You've ever much can rob and look, you're not gonna
have to prod me too much to say nice things
about Yusuf Nurkic. Whatever it is, maybe it's the many
constants in my last name. I've I've always had a
soft spot for the Eastern Europeans. So the Bosnian Beast
has definitely won the tieh on my list. He is
filling the cup that Vasa Mitich once filled, that Sapiema
(14:57):
kay look once filled, you name it, I will definitely
take it. When it comes to Yusuf and I love
his inside out game. I know that he didn't hit
a three tonight last night, but I know that that's
something that's definitely a part of his bag that really
extends things in a way that none of the Hornet
Biggs can. I know that we've talked a lot about
Mark Williams's three point shot being something that is still
(15:19):
in the alpha stages and maybe could be something that
moves to beta for next year, or at least maybe
it gets more met in games. I know that he's
taken a couple of opportunities and desperation chances here during
the latter part of this season, but Yusuf definitely finds
it very very big part of this And look, he's
somebody who has been through the wars to a little bit,
(15:40):
you know, not too unlike what Todz Gibson has done.
Obviously Tom's has got a longer resume than Yusuf does.
But but Yusuf definitely has done it in Portland. I
know that that Phoenix is not necessarily something you look
at and say was a favorable experience for him, but
I do think it's something that can very much be
a thing that helps this Hornet's club next year, provided
(16:01):
that he's sticking around and living out the rest of
his contract, because you have a couple of very young
centers that are on the roster, and Mussa Diabatte and
Mark Williams who can continue to stand to learn a
thing or two. He's a great screener, he's a great passer,
and I think too it just he does the little
things too when it comes to uh effort. You mentioned
(16:23):
the fact that again found trouble was maybe a little
bit of an issue tonight, but he was able to
stay in the ball game and keep himself on the
floor tonight when the Hornets are very short handed when
it came to the front line. So I think he's
he's definitely somebody who maybe not a cornerstone piece, but
but somebody who definitely is is in the running for
some some heavy, heavy playing time come next year. I
(16:45):
really want to see what he looks like and and
and honestly, when it comes to it, he could be
part of UH of the leadership corps that you know
it is involved with, you know, Seth Curry and UH
and Grant Williams and and these other guys who are
veterans on the squad. And that's one thing we talked about,
you know, when the previous iterations of this team is
that you know, they didn't really have a lot of
(17:06):
veteran Leyden bodies. You can't say that anymore about this
Hornet squad. They've got a lot of guys who will
definitely help police the room, not that it needs that,
but make sure that guys are on the straight and narrow,
guys are doing everything that needs to be done during
games and obviously when it comes down to games that
we hope next year mean more down the stretch, He's
(17:29):
somebody who can definitely show his teammates the way.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Again, those are the only two players in double figures
last night for Charlotte and the scoring Colin Nick Smith
Junior a new career high a game high twenty eight
points to go along with ten assists for a double double,
his first of his career use of nurgics, new season
high twenty six points, nine rebounds for NIRK. We come back.
Still one more topic to go on this episode of
the Hornets Time cast, probably the most important one that
we've had in quite some time, maybe if not the season,
(17:54):
we will discuss it. Todd Gibson one thousand career games.
That comes your way right after this here on the HHC.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
T Jhan Salon lefty dribble into the lane up with
the right hand, no rebound. Todge Gibson goes back up
and lays it in. Todge Gibson in game number one
thousand is on the board.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Big night for Taj Gibson last night north of the
Border in Toronto won thousand career games. A huge milestone
here for Taj Rob Longo and the host of Hornet's
post game on the flagship station Sports Radio ninety two
to seven WFNZ, Will Polatrick with you here putting a
button on this episode of the Hornets Hoodcast, and well,
this was a big, huge accomplishment, a big milestone. It's
(18:34):
something that I've been tracking here for the last couple
of weeks when it kind of flew up on my
radar when I was looking at some of the numbers
surrounding TODJ. Gibson, and that was the fact that he
could get to eight thousand career games here in this season.
I know it's been a long time coming here for Taj.
He's been around the block several times for about his
lack of a better term, as you could, it's been
a very long season in a long career here for TAJE.
(18:56):
Gibson in year sixteen, the first eight of them coming
in and Shogo four in New York, two in Minnesota,
spend a year in Washington, Oklahoma City, Detroit, spent four
games with the Pistons there at the end of last season,
but again signing a one year deal here with the
Hornets and capping off year number sixteen for Charlotte. This
was his thirty fifth game of the season, started eleven
(19:18):
games here so far as well for the Hornets. So
good to see todsh Gibson getting some extended run at
the nice young age of thirty nine. Great player out
of USC. I know that Sam Farvard likes to yuck
that up, of course on the broadcast, because he is
a fellow USC alum. But we will leave that be there.
But todsh Gibson a huge accomplishment yesterday north of the
(19:38):
border in Toronto. He becomes me one hundred and fifty
second player in NBA history to reach one thousand career games.
Joins the likes of several greats. One of them you
might know, is Glenn Rice. He is exactly at a
thousand career games. Oddly enough, now if you do include
some of the ABA games in there as well, I
know there's a little bit of a conversation and a
discussion arounding if the ABA stats should apply to the
(19:59):
end NBA stats as well back in the day, he
would be the one hundred and sixtieth player if you
add those ones as well, just for some context there,
but a huge accomplishman here for TAJE. Gibson After the game,
of course, he was asked about it, and here's what
he had to say about playing in game number one thousand.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
So many different battles, so many different ways you have
to affect the game. I went from being a young
springing guys coming up to Moose to trying to find
my way and now and sixteen seventeen years later, I'm
an older VET trying to help guys like Moose, Mark
and young guys try to develop and play on a
(20:37):
daily basis. And it's enjoy it, love it. Real emotional
today because I really love these guys and they make
me feel so special every day. They make me feel
like championship champ of the boxing world. The way I
come in, the way they make me feel every day, Charles, everybody,
real emotional today because I understand so many, so many
(20:57):
games played, but so many great memories of this fighting
and passion. That's what the game is about, fighting and
passion of happiness.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Well, you can just hear the emotion in Todge Gibson
when he was talking about this moment. Of course, we're
so fortunate and so lucky to have TODJ. Gibson on
his roster, just not only for the fact that he's
had such an amazing career, but he's just such a
great person. We get to interact with him and just
see how much he means to this team and obviously
the team means so much to him as well, and
it's a great mutual experience. And you know, when this
(21:27):
signing happened before the season started, it's one of those
ones where you know, some people that follow the NBA
might be like, well, todsh Gibsons still playing. He is
the third oldest active player in the association right now.
But again, at the same time, it's like, wow, the
Hornets get to sign Todge Gibson, Like that is an
amazing signing, just based off of all of the experience
and all of the knowledge that he's been able to
(21:50):
garner over the course of his career. It's hard to
make it to double digits in the NBA, especially in
this day and age. It just seems like the league
just gets younger and younger year after year. And if
you get to ten, that's great. But I mean the
fact that he's continuing to do this and the fact
that he is now one of one hundred and fifty
two people to suit up in the National Basketball Association
and get to a thousand career games. This is a
(22:11):
really remarkable milestone. I don't think it's too much for
us to understate that, because this is a really huge deal.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
It very much is rob and I got a lot
of emotions when talking about Taj Gibson, and you mentioned
how humbled he sounds. He looked humbled when we saw
him on the screen after coming in and playing those
first couple of minutes, then going back on the bench,
and I think you could see the way to the
(22:39):
emotion fully overcome him. This is his seventh NBA team
in sixteen years, which tells me that, you know, a
lot of guys who've had this kind of tenure in
the league have more bumper stickers on the suitcase than
todsh Gibson has. I know that a couple of these teams, Charlotte, Washington,
Oklahoma City, and Detroit our teams he only spent a
(23:00):
year or less with. But you know, eight years in Chicago,
four years with the Knicks, and two years with Minnesota.
He put forth some very very great tape and great
moments with all those teams. I remember very much as
his years in Chicago. And I remember that Stacy King
clip where he says, TODJ. Gibson, does anybody know how
to post videos to Facebook for a great dunk he had?
(23:23):
And he said, TODJ. Gibson goes upstairs known very much
for his high flying dunks earlier on in his career.
But you heard him talk about just the transformation. You know,
he went from being a high flyer to having to
reinvent his game a little bit. And a lot of
guys in this league, you know, sometimes they hang on
and they don't necessarily have the temperament to be able
(23:43):
to handle the mentorship spot of the game, and a
lot of times they'll kind of fade into oblivion and
and and not really take it to heart the impact
they can have on younger guys. That is definitely not
what TODJ. Gibson is. Taj has taken this role on.
He has. He's been a mentor to Mussa Diabate, He's
been a mentor to Mark Williams. They call him. I
(24:04):
heard both Sam farm Ber and Eric Collins on multiple
occasions call him the most popular guy on this team
by a long shot. The fact that you and I
saw right before the season he had played nine hundred
and sixty five games. I think you and I both
had the same thought of but if he gets to
a thousand, it probably means that things did not go
the way the Hornets one of them two from an
(24:26):
injury standpoint, because you wondered whether or not his impact
would be more so off the floor, almost kind of
like as a secondary part of the coaching staff. Maybe
he plays in twenty games, gets in some second nights
of back to backs to try and make sure that
the guys in the front line aren't two tacks. But
he's had to play thirty five games this year, and
that's a testament to Hey, you know what, I understand
(24:49):
that this role is something that is very much not
a guaranteed thing. From an on the floor standpoint, anytime
his number is called, it's very much a good thing.
I'm a little disappointed that it didn't take place in
a home contest. I know that you and I were
both kind of counting him down. There was a point
where if he had basically played in every game down
the stretch, he would have been able to get one thousand.
(25:11):
In the Hornet's final home game, but he had missed
one in between then and now to basically make the
night happen to be last night when it came to
the Hornet's loss in Toronto. But what a great ambassador
of the game, what a great steward of the game.
And I honestly, I'm like you, I hope we see
(25:31):
more of Taj and see more of his ability to
still be in this league. I understand that, you know,
n On is not a young not a young buck.
He's one of the few people I can say is
older than me in this league. Rob, So I anytime
I can see that be extended, I'm okay with that.
But but man, oh man, very very happy for him,
(25:51):
proud of him, and he deserves every adulation you can
give him because he's definitely one of the good ones.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Yeah, it's very well said, and I think that this
season as well is maybe a little bit of a
blessing disguise, both for Tage and for the Hornets as well,
because on the side of Taj, you know, he's able
to get to a thousand games, he's able to get
to that threshold, and he's able to go out and
compete every single night, even though that maybe when he
did sign here that he thought maybe he would be,
(26:19):
like you said, a little bit of an extension to
the coaching staff. So he has that in his back pocket.
He's still out there and he's able to compete. He's
able to play, which is great to see and you
can tell it just brings him so much joy when
he's out there. It's business. I mean, he's ready to
go and he's out there competing at a high level,
and that's great. It's awesome. And from another standpoint, the
fact that he didn't play every single night, I think
is a good example to provide to maybe some of
(26:40):
the younger guys for this Hornets roster, saying hey, this
is how you take care of your body, this is
how you stay ready, this is what happens when your
number is called, and this is how you are able
to succeed at this level of the NBA. So I
think that it's just a very beneficial thing for both
sides here, of course, obviously more for Toadje Gibson. This
is what we're focusing on. We're looking at it from
(27:00):
a Hornets perspective, but again, this night certainly belongs to TODJ.
Gibbson a huge congratulations to him on one thousand career games,
A huge, huge accomplishment. Couldn't happen to a greater guy
as good of a player that Tod Gibson has been,
and it's great of his career that he's had. He's
even a better person off the floor, so it couldn't
happen to a nicer guy. And I meet that with
my whole heart as well. So we're hoping for Toaj
(27:21):
to get into Game one thousand and one tomorrow in Boston.
Hornets will finish out the rest of the season in
Being Town coming up tomorrow, and then of course Sunday
at one o'clock as well, myself and Sam Farber will
have the game preview for Hornets and Celtics Part one
coming up on it tomorrow's episode of the Hornets podcast.
But that will do it for this episode of the
AHHC will EEP. We'll pologic the host of Hornets post
(27:43):
game on the flagship station sports radio WFNZ. I know
that you and I will talk of course throughout the
summer and throughout the offseason, but this is the last
time we're talking to you here on the AHHC. Thank
you so much for joining me here today and of
course all season long as well. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Pleasures mind Rob you guys, I mean, I'm Sam and
I go back back to his days with the Clippers,
and you and I have not only become fast friends
more more than colleagues. Very much appreciate all the long
nights we get to spend together, the forty one of
them inside the building, and obviously the more on the
road games when it comes to these road podcast episodes,
(28:19):
and always appreciate the invite, hope for some more in
the future and hopefully we see some broader days ahead
for this franchise.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Couldn't say it any better myself. Big thanks to Willie
P for joining me here today in all season long.
Big thanking of all of you joining us as well
here on this episode of the Hornets Podcast for We'll Polatchigum,
Rob Longo saying so long, Thank you so much for
joining us on this episode of the AHHC. We will
preview Hornets and Celtics Part one on tomorrow's episode of
the Hornets Podcast.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Thank you for listening to The Hornets Podcast, brought to
you by Santa the Official I ear Nosen throatcare provider
of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets dot com.
Hosts And Creators
Sam Farber
Rob Longo
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