NBA Finals, Draft and Kentucky Coach Mark Pope

C.J. and John discuss the Celtics winning the NBA Finals, Jaylen Brown vs Jayson Tatum for MVP and how they stack up against the best teams of the past 5 years. They talk NBA Draft, who is Reed Sheppard's NBA comp, and John gives advice to the guys on Draft Night. Plus, and incredible interview with new Kentucky Head Basketball Coach Mark Pope about what makes UK and BBN so special, his expectations for the team this season, and when John will be back on campus!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome a point game with John Wall and CJ. Toldonnell,
presented by DraftKings. Don't forget DraftKings is your home for
all the action across the NBA and gets too closer
to the game we all love. The crown is yours.
We have a very special episode today. We are joined
by the captain the nineteen ninety six national champion Kentucky
Wildcats and the brand new coach of the University Kentucky

(00:27):
men's basketball team, Mark Pope. But before we get to that,
we got to get John's reaction here on the Finals
that just wrapped up Celtics in the winner. So, John,
you've been kind of calling it as the Celtics We're
gonna take it all this whole season since we started
this pod. So wanted to get your reaction upon seeing
them closest thing out in five and finally get their
their first title with the Jalen Brown in Tatum era.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
I think it was great.

Speaker 3 (00:51):
I told you before I felt like they had to
win this championship. If they didn't, I think, you know,
like before a lot of people said when they lost
in the twenty twenty two I think to the Warriors,
there was like they got to split them up. They're
not They're great, they're both great players, but they don't
have enough to get it done. And you know, you
always have those debates when we have two superstars or
two stars in the back court of two stars on

(01:12):
one team, like how do they co exist and can
they play it well together? So then to finally get
over that hump and win the championship, I think it
was excited for them. They really enjoyed it. I know
they're probably on the high right now, living in a
moment still and yeah, like you kept you listening to
the interview out the game, a lot of them kept
saying they feel so surreal, like they can't believe it.
They still haven't registered in their mind that they won
a championship. So I think it was dope. Like I said,

(01:35):
I called it all season. I thought it was gonna
play Denver, but you know, like the MAVs made some trades,
other team made some trades, other teams got better, and
Minnesota had a heck of a run and Dallas got
over the hump.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
But it was great to see them get a win.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
No, it was dope too, because I remember the last
few years. I think it was twenty twenty one and
maybe a little bit of twenty two, people are talking
about do we need to separate these guys, do we
need to move you know Jalen Brown. So one like,
how was it to see those two kind of make
it work? And do you think other teams are sort
of taking note to give some of these duos in
these teams a little bit more time? And then also
do you sort of see with Jalen, you know, winning

(02:10):
MVP in the conference finals, in the finals, do you
think that that Jason is Jason is kind of taking
that as a personal challenge that he's got to win
those maybe in the future. So how do those guys
kind of how does the championship sort of affect their
relationship and that duo after these you know, seven years together.

Speaker 3 (02:27):
Oh well, I think yeah, more team is going to
take more time not to try to break up duos
too early. I think it was great because I didn't notice.
But I think when if you listen to an interview
or somebody said it, uh that Jalen Brown felt like
he failed them last year, failed them last year when
Tatum got hurt in Game seven. You know, they were
looking for him to be the guy to step up.
He felt like he wasn't as good enough yet and

(02:48):
that's why when they lost to Miami. So he felt
like he put a lot of pressure on his shelf
to get better over the summer. And uh, I think
he's done that, and uh it looks great.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (02:57):
I think, like Tatum said, like he wasn't pressed to
win NVP, but you know, everybody wants to win finals,
and everybody wants to win his CAP finale and that's
your ultimate goal. Shout out to Jayalen Brown. I feel
like he don't get a lot of recognition, so it's
great for him to get those awards. In my opinion,
and not because I'm a Tatum fan. I feel like
he should have got either one of them because he
let him. He let him in scoring in both series

(03:17):
he was I think that this Pacer series he averaged
thirty like twelve and eight, and this series he averaged
like what twenty three, seven and seven, So I feel
like he had the odds to win it. But if
there's no reason Jaylen Brown shouldn't want either. He was
talent enough, he was great enough. I think they gave him.
I think they gave him the edge because his impact
he had on the other end of the floor. He
was a hell of a two way player throughout the finals,

(03:37):
you know, I mean the way he was making it
tough on Luca and just trying to do the best
he can to stop me. I mean, Luca still was
almost average thirty, but he made it difficult on him.
He made him work, So you know what I mean.
I feel like Jason Davi should have got people, But
I'm not mad at Jayleen Brown got you know. I mean,
it's great for him. He deserved that recognition. I was
upseting he didn't make RNBA this year. I think he's
only made All NBA one time. I mean, I think

(03:58):
he may all made one time. So that's kind of
shocking to me because I don't understand the narrative of
All NBA. Then if you got guys that have the
number one record in the league, both of these guys
are All Star, they're both averaging high numbers, Like, how
do I not be All NBA?

Speaker 2 (04:10):
Like that doesn't make sense to me.

Speaker 3 (04:11):
I could see if they were like a four seed
or a five seed, they almost been number one. Set
the last couple years, He's only made All NBA one time.
Like you usually give your best teams two or three
guys on a r NBA, so that's kind of shocking
to me. But shout out to Jalen Brown for winning MVP,
And I mean, I think it was a shock to him.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
You look at him.

Speaker 3 (04:26):
He was surprised he got you know, I mean so,
but it was great for him to get it because
I feel like he don't get a lot of recognition
of other ways. So I think he was supercited. But yeah,
for Tatum, his mind said it, okay, I won one.
But he did it the right way though, because I
think somebody said he wasn't shooting the ball. Well, he
wasn't having great games early on, but he was doing
other things in the impact the game, getting to getting
ten rebounds, and he could have went out there impressed

(04:48):
and said, I'm just trying to win MVP, like forget
the finals, winning the finals.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
I'm trying to win MVP.

Speaker 3 (04:53):
But he was more so focused on whatever I got
to do to help us win, I'm willing to do it.
So if that's not if I'm not shooting, well, let
other guys take the lead. So it was great to
see and I think they, like you said, a lot
of guys sacrifice on their team. Man, they sacrificed the most,
and they have two great glue guys between Derek White
and Jew Holliday at sacrifice so much. And then Al
Horford man shouted out, Horfi you know what I mean? Yeah,

(05:15):
finally again his ringing that you have pazingers that came
back and he could have tried to get back into
the starting lineup. He was like, no, I'm cool. We'll
come off the bench whatever way I can help them win.
So I think that was big for their whole team
and just speaks volume of all those guys making the sacrifice,
how their front office is working, and how everybody respect
their coaching staff.

Speaker 1 (05:33):
Yeah. I liked seeing that. That was one of my
favorite moments was when Al Horford was sort of checking
out and he got that like standing ovation because you
got to imagine a guy like that, he can go
be a vet anywhere else or whatever, but the Celtics
decided to make him an integral part. He had a
backup KP. He got more minutes when KP, you know,
I think they were playing it a little safe and
like we don't want to get him injured. And then

(05:53):
you know, the MAVs get another one and they take
advantage of that. But like it was dope seeing Al
Horford finally get one. So that was cool. What do
you have to say With some of the internet they
said like the Celtics had the easiest road, like this
was the easiest title to go and get.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
Well, the end of the day is bro It's about health.
Everybody know.

Speaker 3 (06:13):
It's about being healthy and being looked, having some luck,
you know what I mean. So they can't control that
round one, Jimmy Butler wasn't healthy, and then Terry it
was health. That's not their problem. I mean, that's the
matchup they have. After the competing against that, you go
to the second round. They can't help that. Jared Allen
got hurt seriously before that against the Magic and then
Donnodan Mitchell ends up getting hurt. It's all about having
health and all about having some look. So you know

(06:35):
what I mean, I know they gonna look at it
and like, you know what, if that's the case, then
we try to run it back next year. But you know,
I mean Milwaukee had an injury with Drew Holliday. I mean,
I drew all that my badianness. I mean, you know
Dann got hurt a little bit. Then you play the Pacers,
then you have Halliburt getting hurt.

Speaker 2 (06:48):
You know what I mean. I mean not Haliburg, you
have yeah Halliberry Aliberg got.

Speaker 1 (06:52):
Hurtliburn was out. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (06:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (06:53):
So it's like it's it's tough to say because you know,
it's all anything with basketball man throughout the regular season,
throughout NBA career. Like I said, for myself, like I've
got injured, What what haveppened? What could John White have
been if he didn't have an injury, or what Dair
Rose or Pinney Hardaway could have been or great Hair
would have been. Like yeah, you want to go against
the best, but all you can do is line him
against the guys you're competing against.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
So here's the excuse.

Speaker 3 (07:15):
I if Brazilians don't come back for the finals and
they lose, is it because oh the Dallas had an
easy finals matchup?

Speaker 1 (07:22):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Are people? Are people gonna make that excuse? You know
what I mean?

Speaker 3 (07:25):
Like it's the nature of it. It's like you go
out there, you compete, you play at high level. You
want no injuries, You want to clear slate finals when
everybody's healthy or throughout the whole playoffs.

Speaker 2 (07:33):
But it's just the nature of the game. It's a
part of the game, right.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
I mean, if people look back on that Raptors Championship
where you know, Katie and Clay got hurt and that,
I don't think it like discountant, but that is part
of the game. It's like how much you're playing your guys,
you play them in freak accidents happen. So I still
think it's like they still got to win those games
because sometimes teams step up when their best player is out.

Speaker 3 (07:56):
You know, yeah, that's yeah, the Pacers step up, you see,
like they've been made the game. SAME's tough for Game
three and four, it's tough. But I just look at
like you said, So if you go back to that
is what you were saying, Katie and Clay been hurt.
So do we say, if Katie was healthy the hole
the whole playoffs here, do they sweep the raptor do
they even get a ring.

Speaker 1 (08:13):
On the Raptor? I would say no, I would say no.

Speaker 2 (08:16):
But that's what I'm saying.

Speaker 3 (08:16):
We all can say that, you know, I mean, but
like and in the day, you still got to go out
there and compete, Like, I think they went to what
did what did they go to?

Speaker 2 (08:22):
Six? Game six?

Speaker 4 (08:22):
Run?

Speaker 1 (08:23):
Yah? Six?

Speaker 3 (08:23):
I think so so kad come back for like a
couple twelve minutes and then get hurt, like so they
still took it to a game six.

Speaker 2 (08:29):
So they still had to go out there and compete.

Speaker 3 (08:31):
You still have Klay Thompson, you still have dra Mind,
you had Boog, you had a good dollar, you had
Steff come on.

Speaker 1 (08:37):
Okay, well okay, so talking about that, like, say, let's
look back on the last five years, who would you
say is the best championship team of these last five years.
We're having this conversation before and he had some interesting
takes on this.

Speaker 3 (08:50):
I say that twenty two Warriors in my opinion, And
why do you say that? I feel like, what does
it start for twenty twenty twenty one?

Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah, I guess let's start with the bubble. Let's start
with the bubble. Was thatineteen twenty?

Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah, in nineteen twenty. I think it's like a lot
of people was not happy to go to the bubble.
I think a lot of people was checked out of
going to the bubble. And for me, I don't know,
I wasn't in the bubble, So I don't know how
I was to living there every day and not being
able to see your family, not being and see those things.
So I just don't I just don't like that one.

Speaker 2 (09:19):
Twenty one. I feel like you had a lot of
that series.

Speaker 3 (09:21):
We have a lot of injuries in that same one,
you know what I mean with the because nobody expected
Decern to get there, you know, I mean they went
through some people they didn't have to go through with injuries,
so you had the bucks. I don't really I mean,
it's credit to them though, but it's another scenario like
this year. Who had the hardest way to get there.
Twenty two, I think it made it, specially because the
Warriors didn't make the playoffs the year before because Steph

(09:43):
was hurt, I think Clay was still out. And then
to go there and have like Jordan pool Off, they
bench have John the Comiga play roles, you have Otto Porter,
you have different pieces that nobody thought the Ward was
gonna make the plaoffs that year or it was gonna
be good enough. So I think that's why you've seen
Steph being so emotional to get over the hump and
get their nuggets. I feel like they had a chance

(10:03):
that Jamal's Murray's healthy. I feel like they just was
a great team. And I just felt like when they
played the Heat, the Heat was good, the heat battle,
which they always going to do, the Heat coach there
always going to compete at the high level. I just
think they was outmatched right right. And then this year,
you know what I mean, people are saying that, People
are saying that Celtis had an easy way, They didn't
have a tough path, so you know what I mean, whatever

(10:24):
they say. Champions are champions. You can't take it away
from them. So that's why I picked the Warriors. I
feel like nobody expect them to be there then, not
to make the playoffs the year before and come back
and win the championship. I think that was pretty special
for me. Out of the last five.

Speaker 1 (10:37):
Yeah, no, I think yeah, that Worries team. It was
I think it was a shock. It was almost like
a shock. But then people once they got in the
in the finals, it was like, you know, the Celtics
aren't going to compete. So it was kind of cool
to see the Celtics get back and win this one too.
Just relating to that, Yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:51):
I think I think the Celtiers they compete it because
I went to Game three and four and they was
up to one, had a chance to win game four
at home after they stole Game one. I just think,
you know what I mean, I don't know, I've never
been to the finals. I've never been in the West
Coast Final, East Coast Finals. But I think, I mean,
that stage is a whole different stage. It's only two
teams left, everybody watch you, and I think they just
haven't been in that moment before. So you know what

(11:11):
I mean, Like the last two minutes three minute, they
kind of took a couple of bad shots, kind of
wasn't being patient, was forcing the issue. And I think
the Wars they had a lot of guys that already
been there before, like yeah, we're never rated, Okay, we
lost home court, We're not rattled. I mean, we'll figure
it out. So I think they had more exposure to
kind of like this year. You know, I mean, you
really had nobody really have been to the finals from
the Mass but Kyrie Irving. I mean, Lucas played on

(11:34):
big stages overseas. Don't get me wrong, but I think
sometimes that spotlight might get too big and you tell,
just with the Celtics, they never got too high, they
never got too low. And I think having you hollered there,
got it already won one that can keep they locker
home calm.

Speaker 2 (11:46):
It was pretty It was kind of easy for them.
It's easy slate for them to go through.

Speaker 1 (11:49):
Yeah, speaking on Kyrie, and this would be the last
thing with the Finals, but I think a lot of
people wanted more out of them, and we've obviously seen
what what Kyrie is capable of. So can you just
talk about what do you think happened with him this series?
And then maybe with the Nows got to do this offseason.

Speaker 3 (12:03):
For me, I think nothing really happened with Kyrie. He
had a great defend him and Drew Holliday, But if
you look at the game, he still got to all
the spots. I think he just missed short. He missed
a couple of shots. Then I mean he got back
to Dallas, got back to his environment where he didn't
have a crowd on him all day every day screaming
Kyrie sucks or fu and all these twenty four to
seven So I think he tried to tune that out
and play basketball, you know what I mean? But the

(12:25):
shots was there. He got the same shots he had
other series. They just wasn't falling. But I think he
had multiple defenders that can guard. They wasn't stopping him
because he's still got the spot, but he had multiple
defending that can make it tough on him. I think
other series he probably had one or two guys that
can kind of make it tough.

Speaker 2 (12:40):
But happened.

Speaker 3 (12:41):
Like I said before, they have four great defenders on
the team that could defend at a high level. It
made it a little more difficult, but he played basketball
the way he wanted to play. He took the same
type of shots in Game three and four and they
failed those games. In games won two and five, they
didn't fall for him in Boston.

Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yeah, No, I think the biggest thing is that Luca
and I ree last year the DINT made the playoffs.
This year there in the finals. The fact that they
have figured it out, and then they got like you
said before, PJ. Washington gaff like they're a squad now,
and so like they went to the finals, they're gonna
be back. They're gonna figure some stuff out, and so
that's a four set. I think that the league's not

(13:17):
to continue to Reckon with I wanted to get back
into the season's over. I wanted to talk about the
draft a little bit because youve got a couple of
Kentucky guys coming out in the draft. So I think
Reed Shepherd might be the highest guard drafted. Since you
so wanted to get your thoughts on Reid, I know
you spent some time talking with him and watching him
this year. Where's the best spot for him to land?

(13:39):
And where do you think he's going to land?

Speaker 3 (13:41):
I think for him it doesn't really matter for him
because he's a guy that shoots the three at a
high clip. I think he shot the big the best
percentage in college. But he's a guy that's not going
to why you wi speed. He's a sneaky athlete that
you don't expect, but he's a great defender, can shoot
the ball very well at the high clip, and you
just run a team. Yeah, I mean so, I think
he's one of those guys where you don't expect it

(14:01):
from him, but he knows how to do all the
little things. And if he's a guy that can shoot
the ball as well as he can, can run pick
and roll, can defend the ball screens very well, he
can fit in anyway, just figuring out his niche and
find out what his role is gonna be for whatever
team he goes to.

Speaker 1 (14:15):
What do you think is the player component? I know
we don't like to compare players. What do you think,
like potential wise or ceiling wise? Who do you think
the best comp is for him? Clay Thompson?

Speaker 3 (14:24):
Nah, No, because Clay don't put because Clay's a knockdown
shooting defender. But like Reese can handle the ball, push
the ball on the floor to the high clip. He
could do a sneaky applet, you know what I mean.
Like I said, so, I really don't have a comparison
for him, because it's like you might have one guy
that can shoot like it, but don't run, pick and

(14:44):
roll and make plays like he does, you know I mean,
like I think he's the reason why Rob was able
to blossom even more, you know what I mean, because
he came in. It was a true point guard, and
Rob was easy to come in and be straight a
mic awave, you know what I mean. I feel like
and Rob had to run the team, it'd be a
lot different for him, you know what I mean. But
he came into this is my road, get the ball,
go be a bucket getter. So I just think reader
just who he is. I don't really have a comparison really,

(15:06):
to be honest.

Speaker 1 (15:07):
Okay, all right, one last thing before the break about
this draft. Obviously you went number one. It was a
huge night for you. So one piece of advice you
would give some of these guys who are about to
get drafted that night, whether they're going to it or
they're at home, what's the piece of advice going into
the draft night?

Speaker 2 (15:22):
Well, I don't know.

Speaker 3 (15:22):
If you ain't being there, I know it's gonna be different.
Because me, it's like you go a week early and
like you just get to be around your family. You
get to walk around and see how New York is
and how beautiful the city is, and just living that
moment because you living up to the hype every day.
You just chilling, you relax and going to dinner and
enjoying that moment. But when you get there nervous, like
I don't care if you know you're going one, or
you're going to or where you're going. It's just a

(15:43):
lot of jitters. But all the hard work and dedication
you put into the game to listen to your parents,
listen to your coaches growing up to doing what you
do in high school to going to college and playing
well at a high level. Or if you was in
the G League or you was the overtime elite and
went to the It's dope, man, Like everything you believe,
they all come to call all come true on one night.

(16:05):
So just live in a moment, enjoy with your family,
embrace it, and then know the next day after that, man,
your journey's gonna start. Like you get to go to
the city, get drafted, to get to your press conference,
you get to touch the jersey for the first time. Yeah,
and embrace how it's gonna be. But it's the best
feeling you can have. Man, it gets still better.

Speaker 1 (16:23):
That's incredible and special. Okay, all right, this, Uh we're
gonna take a break here, but when we come back,
I think there's an interview that a lot of Kentucky
fans we saw you guys meet each other at eybl
and now we're gonna have a convo here between you
and the new Kentucky coach, Mark Pope. So we're gonna
take a break and when we come back, Kentucky head
coach Mark Pope will be joining us. Welcome back to

(16:50):
point Game with John Wall and CJ. Toldonald, presented by DraftKings.
I am so excited to bring on this next guest.
We were joined by the captain of the nineteen ninety
six national champion Kentucky Wildcats and now the head coach
of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team, Mark Pope, Coach,
how you doing man? Thanks for joining us on point
Games easy.

Speaker 4 (17:09):
I'm not gonna lie. I'm hyped to be on with you,
but I'm out of my mind to beyond with John Wall, Like,
what are we talking about? I'm telling you guys, listen.
So I was at my first job, my first job
in college basketball was at the University of Georgia. I
was there John's rookie is verst and only year at
the University Kentucky. So you know, I had a two

(17:32):
big job. I was folding laundry and hanna out towels.
But on my own I was doing a lot of
film studies, sitting with the staff doing film study. So
we're prepping to go to Kentucky. We're watching film, We're
watching your individual clips, and you guys know, I swear
this is like not an exaggeration. You guys know how

(17:53):
it is back in the day when you would have
little glitches in the film where it'd be going normal
speed and all of a sudden like speed up to
like true time speed, and then we'll go back to normal.
So we're watching a transition clip and John, you started
like one step past the free throw line. You took
like one or two strides, and then it was like

(18:15):
and then all of a sudden you were in the
next freet throw line and we were like, wait, is
the film broken? It was not broken, man, I mean,
my gods, huge fan, huge.

Speaker 3 (18:25):
Fan, my friend, appreciate it. I want to say thanks
for joining us, coach. You know, I got to meet
you at the Indy at the eybl things, so it
was nice to finally get to meet you. And I
know everybody was a tested playing like, oh it's John
Wall gonna meet coach Pope before the season start. He
gonna is he gonna go to games? But I just
want to take congratulations to you again for getting ahead
coaching job. And where do you see yourself taking the

(18:47):
program and what you think like the future is. God know,
there's a lot of expectations everybody wants you to live
up to what coach Cayle did. But you're your own coach.
You have your own pedigree, you have your own way.
So where do you see yourself taking it? Well, listen,
I'm in Kentucky. Is Kentucky?

Speaker 4 (19:02):
I mean, as you know right, there's nowhere like it.
I mean there's there's there's college basketball, there's blue buds
in college basketball, and then there's Kentucky. It's just a standalone.
I might be biased when I say that, but I
got to wear this jersey. I know what it's like
to wear this jersey, and there's there's just no place
like this. I could cite a hundred different examples, whether

(19:23):
it's winning or pros or championships or fan base, it
just as different. And so there's no acceptable expectations here
other than winning championships. And we say that all the time,
like you know, if if if you know, we talked
about this at the press conference when when when I

(19:44):
was introduced as the next head coach, if if you know,
most coaches stand up at the press conference and they
try and moderate expectations because that's a smart thing to do.
Give yourself time, build the program, take a few years, right,
that's not acceptable Kentucky. Like when you walk in the door,
you better be ready to win a banner, Like you

(20:05):
got to hang a banner, you better win a ring,
win a championship, and and and that might seem like
unreasonable expectations, all of us on this zoom, we know
how hard that is. And if you don't want that
day one when you walk in the door, don't take
the job of Kentucky. You go take some other job.
You could take any other job in college basketball. But

(20:26):
if you're, if you're if you know, if, if you're
coming to Kentucky, you know what the challenge is. And
the expectation is that you hang a banner every year,
and if you don't, you fall short. And I'm okay
with that reality. That's just the reality here, and there's
no place I'd rather be.

Speaker 1 (20:42):
Coach. I saw it this week. I think it was
you guys had started practice, so one wanted to ask you, like,
how does it feel to finally get your guys on
the court. Have there been any surprises from the guys
you've seen now that they're playing? And then I also
saw this micd Up clip where I love this expression
and phrase where you were saying ton of joy, ton
of juice, And I would love to get the background

(21:02):
on that, because I think a lot of fans are
were like, man, that was like amping the everyone up
just watching it on their phones and the computers.

Speaker 4 (21:09):
Yeah, guys, that's been you know, John, you've been here.
You can imagine. I got here as a head coach
and there was a couple of days where I'm sitting
here as the only coach on staff in the offices
with zero players on the roster, and then we talked
about the expectations year one, and there were a couple
of moments I was like, wow, this, you know this.

(21:30):
We got a lot of work to do. And I
love this staff. I can't wait till you guys get
on campus and meet the guys on my staff. I
think it's a really special group. And and then I
like these players a lot. Like these guys, John, You're
gonna love these guys, man, because when they put on
this journey, every this jersey, every single one of them,

(21:52):
it means something to that man. It means something to
put on the same jersey that you wore, and all
these great players that came before you and after you
like it means something to our guys to put this
jersey on, and and they're incredibly committed, they're gonna work hard,
and so getting finally getting the point where we could
have on the practice flore we have so much work
to do to kind of get to where our goal is.

(22:14):
Like it's it's almost inconceivd amount of work. And I
do think we have special pieces. You know, every single
one of these guys we could look at as a
is a piece that could be special. I would I'll
tell you what I would love to have seen LaMonte Butler,
who I think is probably the best defensive point guard
in the country right now, who's it is fifth year, Uh,

(22:39):
try and spend the time guard and John Wall the
most electric point guard rookie in the country as freshman year.
Like those kind of battles like I kind of get
all the all the generations kind of flow together for
me as I think about the grace that have been here.
And so we're really happy to have these guys on
the court right now. They're working hard and it's good
because we got a lot of work to do.

Speaker 3 (22:59):
And I'm glad you say that because I was going
to ask you how many times have you been sitting
by yourself and pinch yourself that you've got to play
for the University Kentucky winning championship there, but now you're
the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcasting on top of that,
how did you start your recruitment process? Like, how did
you feel like you had to go through it because
you was at BYU, which is a great place, great

(23:21):
screw being in the Big twelve. But now you at
your Almarad and being at Kentucky And like you said,
it's about hanging banners winning championships. It's not just to
come there and go to the INCMA tournament and lose
in the second round or the third round. No, we
want to see championships team. You know the pedigree, you
walk through those floors, You've been through that city. So
I just want to know how that all that feels.

Speaker 4 (23:41):
Well, it's really humbling, you know, it's incredibly humbling. You know, listen,
you know, John, I was the opposite of you. I
was a terrible basketball player, like you, one of the
best dudes better put on jersey. Like the fact that
I got here was a little bit of a mistake.
And the fact that I got to play at the league.
I think the league is still trying to recover from.

Speaker 2 (24:02):
That that era.

Speaker 4 (24:05):
But but uh, but I am like the world's biggest
fan and uh and I love I love this university. Man, Like, uh, John,
I'll tell your story. You're gonna love CJ. You gonna
love this. So my family grew up on Kentucky. So
my second oldest daughter, Avery, So she grew up she

(24:26):
didn't know that there was a word that was just blue.
She thought Kentucky blue was one word, right, So she
would go to class and people like, what's your favorite color.
She's six years older in school and they say, what's
your favorite color? She'd be like Kentucky blue, and she
would get weird looks, but it just amunated her. So
that game where we played, you remember that game where

(24:47):
Travis Leslie dunket on boogie.

Speaker 2 (24:50):
Okay, So that was the charge.

Speaker 4 (24:54):
Yeah, see I like that. So so I mean, you
guys got the weird which was mad, right, But so
we're just to give you a sense of like how
we feel about this this this place. So it was
my first first and only year at Georgia, just kind
of as an assistant to the director operations and we're
in Georgia. I'm working for the great Mark coach Fox,

(25:17):
who's on the staff now I love so much, who's
been a mentor of mine for a long time. And
we come into Rut and you know, my girls grew
up like our dog is named Rup, like this place,
this place means to me, right, and so so we
were coming up. So I fly up and then the
girls drive up. They get here and Avery at this

(25:38):
time is like six or seven years old, and it's
the girl's first time my daughters. I have four daughters,
their first time, I ever seven foot in rough and Avery.
They so they go to the Hyatt. They're in the hotel,
they're changing to go to the game, and Leanne pulls
out these red Georgia T shirts and Avery had a breakdown.
She's like, mom, she's six. She said, Mom, I cannot

(26:02):
wear a Georgia T shirt into rupp Arena. Like I'm
not doing that. So Lee gave her a big conversation
about like, hey, we got it. You know, we're supporting
the teams that are paying the bills, right.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (26:15):
So the compromise was they stopped it, got some Kentucky socks,
so even she wouldn't she would not interrupt Areena if
she didn't have at least some Kentucky socks on. And
that's what it means to me to be here. So
you can imagine that like I love this place like
like you can't imagine. And then in terms of in
terms of us filling in, come on, man, you in

(26:40):
college coaching, one of the oldest adages you never take
the job after John Wooden. And I'm just dumb enough
to take the job after all time revolutionary Hall of Famer,
one of the greatest coaches ever walked on the face
of planet, John Caliperi. And so you know that part

(27:01):
is super humbling, you know, but we understand the assignment,
we understand the job, and we're going full speed ahead. It.
I love Cal. You know, Cal has been so incredibly
gracious to me when I was starting and coaching. Cal
let us let me bring a Utah Valley team here
and actually play him uh here at rapp Arena several

(27:22):
years ago. Every time I've seen him on the road,
he's been so gracious and encouraging.

Speaker 2 (27:26):
And then I was.

Speaker 4 (27:28):
Actually having conversation with two days before we found out
public and this job was open and then we were
just at the SEC meetings. Man, he's one of the
great great coach of human beings in this league. So
all of that put together gives you a sense of
what this place means to us and how daunting this
job is. And there's no place I'd rather be. Man,
Let's take on.

Speaker 2 (27:48):
The challenge and go.

Speaker 4 (27:49):
You know you're right, hey, John, We're gonna make you proud. Man,
We're going to make you proud of your alma mater.
That's that's my goal. I take that really personally and seriously.

Speaker 1 (28:00):
We'll saying that. Do you think, John, do you have
plans to get out there? Like, are there players that
have John come talk to the guys And I know John,
you're gonna watch some games. So I wanted to know
if there's any conbo or maybe we can start the
convo here, how John could be you know, support continue
to support the program.

Speaker 4 (28:15):
Well listen, just just from my standpoint, John, just you
being around the program.

Speaker 2 (28:19):
Come on.

Speaker 4 (28:20):
You know we talked about all the time. One of
the amazing things happening here right now is you guys
might have seen this. And this is with a ton
of respect to the Big East. I think the Big
East are tremendous, tremendous conference. They put out a tweet
right before the NBA playoffs started said, you know, the
Big East, we have fifteen players. That's a bull of

(28:41):
fifteen players from the Big East playing in the NBA playoffs.
And that is that's an incredible number. It is, it's incredible,
except that not accept that. And it also should be
noted that Kentucky by themselves had twenty two players playing
in the NBA playoffs this year, right, And so the
one thing is like, we need your help, like this

(29:05):
is it? Like John wall I mean, uh, there there
were actually surveys that I saw recently, said John wall is,
the current is the most popular Kentucky player on the
face of the planet right now, like that that was
actually the results of a survey that was done locally.
I mean, John, this thing right here, I don't know
if you said it.

Speaker 2 (29:25):
It goes a long way for sure, man Like. And so,
so this is it.

Speaker 4 (29:30):
The one thing I know about Kentucky basketball. It's a family.
It's been that, uh, from when I was here to
the generations we're forore to the generations of after. And
I do think that everyone got a chance to put
on this jersey. It means something to us, and and
and we're all trying to be as successful as we can.
So uh, you know, you think about the weight of

(29:50):
of of John and his legacy here and what he
means this program.

Speaker 2 (29:54):
You know.

Speaker 4 (29:56):
I mean, I don't need to tell you guys, but
Kentucky was not at it finest moment when you and
and Eric and and and DeMarcus rolled in here with
that crew. Uh, and you guys fix it like you
guys fix it one season and with coach Cali Perry, right, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (30:13):
And and so that means a lot.

Speaker 4 (30:16):
Uh that that's always gonna be a lot here at
Kentucky and and all of us being together is kind
of what separates Kentucky from everywhere else.

Speaker 2 (30:22):
Yeah, that that was my goal.

Speaker 3 (30:23):
That was our goal going into there that years, Like
we got to bring basketball back to life here, like
we know what the history has been here. I'm definitely
gonna come to games for sure, you know that. And
I definitely got to continue my ritual of throwing up
the why. So yeah, definitely get to see me.

Speaker 2 (30:37):
I like that a lot.

Speaker 4 (30:38):
And then and that's the man like mentoring these young
guys you know, you know, or these veteran guys like.

Speaker 2 (30:46):
Yeah, that ain't too many young guys that they VISs
ain't not many freshmen there, but but but but.

Speaker 4 (30:52):
Vets in terms of you know, but but also young
in terms of this Kentucky experience, right, And that's that's
where all of our former players, we just have a
commodity that nobody has. I mean, nobody else has the
reach and breath of the players before and players after it.
And I think that's one of the places that make
this place great.

Speaker 3 (31:07):
And that's one of my questions I wanted to ask you,
is like have you explained to them what Big Blue
Nation mean? Like, I know, like a lot of kids
have played against Kentucky or watched Kentucky, but I don't
think they really know what Big Blue Nation mean until
you put that jersey on and get the walk in there.
And I know when they walked into the practice city
or just walking around Cambus, it was a shocker to.

Speaker 2 (31:25):
Them, you know.

Speaker 4 (31:27):
So one of the things I like to do is
Repperena is like Reparena is a sacred building. To me,
it just is sacred. So one of the things that
I've done with every single recruit is we'll walk into
the to the top, or we'll go in on the
upside the upper street into rupp Aerena and then walk it.
I'll take the guys and just want one at a

(31:49):
time and just go sit with them in the upper deck.
We go all the way about ten rows from the top. John,
I don't know if Coach Kyle ever made you go
touch the wall, but Coach p made us run up
and go touch the walls. We turned it over. Whatever
goes to like, go touch the wall, and then there's
a lot of other words with that.

Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yeah, I ain't never touched the wall before.

Speaker 4 (32:09):
Let me tell you this, man, it's steep up there,
but I'm telling you, like, it's something really special to
go sit there in the quiet of that gym and
just take in what it looks like from ten rows
down from the top. And so we'll spend some time

(32:30):
and we look at the jerseys up on the wall
and talk about the history guys that have run through there.
It's actually super special.

Speaker 2 (32:35):
Me. I love it.

Speaker 4 (32:36):
I could do it every day for the rest of
my life. I love it so much being in that
building and look at those banners up on the wall.
And then the other thing we talk about is we
talk about the people that come and sit in those
seats that it's probably people a lot of times that
have spent their whole lifetime chairing for Kentucky that have
met this is the first time they ever have got

(32:58):
to come sit in those seats. And when our guys
get to actually think about that and understand that, like,
that's the beginnings of them kind of starting to comprehend
what BBN is and what a it's a unique in
the landscape of athletics that we get to come compete

(33:18):
for these people.

Speaker 2 (33:20):
That's one thing I gotta do. I gotta go away
to the top. I've never been there.

Speaker 3 (33:23):
And I know another thing that's gonna get them spooped
is when Midnight madn is coming. That's the first experience
I got, and I was like, Wow, there's no way
a place to have twenty four thousand people in it.

Speaker 2 (33:34):
It's unbelievable. It's bigger than it's bigger than most NBA arenas.

Speaker 4 (33:38):
Yeah, I don't think there's any NBA arenas that big now, right,
They've got them all the eighteen seventeen nineteen.

Speaker 3 (33:43):
Yeah, I think like eighteen nineteen maybe twenty twenty one
couple of them, but I don't think.

Speaker 2 (33:47):
No, it's bigger than that one.

Speaker 4 (33:48):
Thou. Well, and listen, you changed me in that mass
a little bit too. Now we walked in and did
you think that? I mean, come on, that's one of
the you think about. It's hard to have an iconic
moment in the history you at Kentucky basketball is. There's
so many moments that might be one of them.

Speaker 1 (34:04):
Coach, do you have any players on the team that
have personalities like John and Boogie and some of those
guys who we sort of learned about that during midnight madness?

Speaker 4 (34:14):
Well, I don't know if anybody can pull that off,
Like we'll say, I don't know if anybody can pull
that off, right, But we have some guys, I'll tell you.
We have some guys. We have some guys that love
this game. We have some guys that want to come compete.
We have some guys that are saying, you know what
I'm willing to do right now, I'm willing to set
aside my personal ambition because I want I want nothing
more than to come win, wear this jersey and hang

(34:38):
a band or whatever it takes. If I get a start,
if I got to come off the bench, if I
get average thirty, if I got to average four, you know,
we got we got a bunch of guys I think
that are trying to live in that space. I think
we have a chance to put together a really special
team with this group.

Speaker 1 (34:55):
That's dope when you found out. And what I love
about Kentucky is the alumni is so rich, a long list.
So who's reached out since you know, you getting the
job and any like advice or stories or you know
who you who you've heard from since getting this job?

Speaker 4 (35:11):
Yeah, I mean, you know, listen, the list is so long, right,
the guys have been so generous. What's interesting is like
and this is what you'd expect. The fans have been
unbelievably supportive, Like they've been incredibly sport starting with the
press corps. I mean, you know, you think about this,
You got almost thirty thousand people to show up for
a press conference. Five thousand people had to be turned away.

(35:31):
That had nothing to do with me, That just had
to do with BBN. Say hey we're still here, right
and then and then what's fun about the former players
is pretty universally you know, John I don't think you
totally threatened me the first time, but you kind of
did with your eyes. I kind of get it says
about don't you mess this up. This is especially who

(35:52):
this up? Baby, And that's definitely what I'm getting from
my former teammates. But I think university of the guys
feel like that, and I dig it. That's how it's
should be here, right, you know, there is something there
is something that means a lot to me about you know,
if you take us as a general, is generation after

(36:13):
generation after generation of players, about us having a chance
now as former players to come have some ownership over
this program, some real ownership over the program. I think
that's actually super special. But I think it's also a
lot of pressure because, like, man, I'm telling you, it
means a lot to me. I can't even explain to
you what it's going to mean to me to have

(36:35):
John wall be like, you know what, I'm actually proud
of my guys. I'm really proud of what's happening there,
or or the DeMarcus cousin, Eric Blutsoe, or or any
of the guys that came before them, after them, like
these guys, these guys have built this incredible place. It's
our job to make them proud, and and and so
I think it's special to have. This is a is
a player run organization. My teams are player run teams.

(36:55):
And I like the fact that this program right now
is a chance to do a more player run program.

Speaker 3 (37:02):
Can you can you share with me your biggest big
Blue Nation memory, like your favorite memory of all time
for you?

Speaker 2 (37:08):
Yeah, so you might be.

Speaker 4 (37:10):
Able to relate to this. So so I got a
blunch of stand out in my mind. But you know,
I'd been here. I was here for three years, and
it was it was I had this experience my third year.
I got to say this with the exactly right words.
But so we won a championship, We did all the stuff.

(37:30):
We came back and then we were doing autograph signing
at the mall here in Lexington. I don't even know
if the mall is still here. And so we were
there and I don't know, guys, we were there for
three or four hours, and and John, you you understand
this fan base. But it was a line wrapping around
the mall outside of the mall like twice, and it
was like ten people. Why, it was just insane. So

(37:53):
we were there for a long time. I don't even
think we got to like twenty five percent of people,
but we're there our like three and and then you
know how, you just signing going to the next person,
trying to be as kind as a kid and trying
to be nice, you know, and and give her attention,
but also trying to get to the next person. So
all of a sudden, I look out of the corner

(38:14):
of my eye and there's there's a man there that
must have been all he must have been late forties,
early fifties, and and he had put in a hard
day's work, maybe eastern Kentucky, but you could clearly tell
that he had just come straight from work. And for
the rest of my life I remember seeing his face

(38:35):
because he had tears streaming out his face as he
got to the front line and been waiting in here
for several hours. And it was at that moment it
was just one of those moments where I'm like, oh man,
this Kentucky basketball is way bigger. You know. I thought
I was the guy, right, we just want a champion.
I thought I was important. I was like this this

(38:56):
is way bigger than me, Like this jersey is way
bigger than me. It's way bigger than coach Patino. It's
way bigger than any coach or it's even probably bigger
than John wallerf That's it is, for sure. It just is.
It's like in people's heart and soul here And he wasn't.
He wasn't in tears. It's like grown man that has

(39:18):
spent more days working in the dark than I could
ever possibly imagine. But but he was here because of
this Kentucky Jersey, right, And I just don't know if
there's anywhere else that has that. I just think it
sets it aside. So you asked me about memories where
I felt like, Oh, I start to understand this place

(39:40):
That'll stand out of my life forever.

Speaker 3 (39:41):
Yeah, because it's like it's basically they protein, bro It's
like they protein. It's like the NBA team to them.
So being in Kentucky, even when you go on tours,
you probably go to the litwist town that you don't expect,
and if they get one chance to meet you at
an autograph signing or even out to eat or at
a game, it's like it's the best thing they ever done.

(40:01):
Like they don't care about who wins the NBA Championship.
Who win the NFL Championship is all about Kentucky. So
it's a special place to be.

Speaker 4 (40:09):
Yeah, Amen to that coach.

Speaker 1 (40:11):
I one shout out here because I think some fans
who are new to you didn't know you played in
the NBA, like with some real greats here like Ray Allen,
Sam Cassel, Carmelo Anthony. So I wanted to ask you, like,
who is one of your favorite teammates in the NBA
and do you have any stories you know, playing with
those guys.

Speaker 2 (40:28):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (40:29):
I was really blessed, you know, I was really blessed
to be in that league at all and play might
be a stretch I sat for most of my career,
but I was really blessed.

Speaker 2 (40:39):
You know.

Speaker 4 (40:40):
One of the things that I was really blessed about
is in the NBA. I think you just kind of
walk in and then you learn from the guys that
are there. You learn how to be a pro, right
and you there's no instruction, man, So you just kind
of walk into a locker room and those guys teach
you what it means to be a pro. And so
my rookie year, I was on that great he had
a pacers team from the last dance that lost to

(41:03):
Mike in Game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals, right,
and you think about how blessed am I? Man? I
got to walk in and Larry Bird, Larry Bird is
a head coach, and Reggie Miller, the great Reggie Miller.
Man is like one of the great leaders I've ever
been around in the game of basketball. And Mark Jackson,

(41:23):
I mean, come on, Jackson was like you talk about
you talk about like John, you could have made it
down and back and down and back by the time
Jacks would have crossed half court. But that dude was
a like he was a straight up baller. And you
know Jalen Rose on that team, and Antonio and Dale

(41:44):
Davis like Chris Mullet and Rick Smith's and you know,
I got to walk into that locker room not knowing anything,
and from day one I was like, Oh, I got
the greatest education on what it meant to be a
pros pro, a real pro for those guys. And I'll
always be able to be grateful to those guys on

(42:07):
that rookie team. Man, I was really blessed, really blessed.

Speaker 1 (42:09):
That's awesome. My last question here is actually for John.
Since John has been part of the program a little
bit more recent than you have. I wanted to ask John,
what's your one piece of advice having been there more
recently the coach to give him as he starts his
season as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Speaker 3 (42:29):
Well, I really don't think I can give him no
advice because he knows. I think he played there, He's
seen the experience. For me, it was different though, Like
he said, they had went to like two inn I
t so we were just trying to get Kentucky basketball
back on the map, put him in that platform. So
for him, I think he already knows the right way
to go with it. Like you said, how much it
means to him, how much it means to his family,
Like even his daughter having it. Talk about when y'a

(42:50):
had with the Georgia shirt on, She's like, no, I
have to put something with Kentucky blue on it.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
So I think you know that.

Speaker 3 (42:56):
I think just been around that environment, been around those fans,
like they know how much they love basketball. I think
you said, like having your first practice, letting them guys
instilled in them how you want the program to go,
how you want them to play. Still figuring that out,
but I think just then walking around campus and when
they get to go through their first scrimmage or first
preseason game, there really know how much it means to

(43:17):
play for Big Bow Nations. So I think you got
him in a great position. I hope you have a
great first year. I know it's gonna be a sighting.
You can't wait to walk out there and put your
little suit on or whatever you're gonna wear for your
first game and just to see how loud the crowd gets.
I think it's gonna be amazing experience for you. So
I'm happy for you to have that job. I'm definite
happy to have the opportunity to come out and support
and you have my information, so we're locked in.

Speaker 4 (43:39):
Man, John, I'm sure great. Hey, you know the world
on the seat is Eric Lesso playing on the tv T.

Speaker 2 (43:44):
No, I ain't playing on TVT. They trying to get
me to go play in it not.

Speaker 4 (43:48):
But what I'm saying is like, Hey, you know, it's
July nineteenth, man, it could be a fun time. We're
gonna have the whole team that we're trying to We're
trying to get the whole team. We're gonna go crazy
for these former players. Man, they're playing that rock. You know,
it's that rough. We're gonna bring the house down, Like,
I can't wait to have those cats back in here,

(44:10):
Like it's gonna be happening.

Speaker 2 (44:12):
To Ulus coaching the right, Tyler Ewlis coaching.

Speaker 4 (44:15):
Yeah, Tyler's coaching them. In fact, they got like, ah,
I think that they're coaching staff. I think they got
five or six guys on the coaching staff. But it's
it's like this is a legit. This group is gonna
be so fun.

Speaker 3 (44:26):
Well, I'm glad they did it like that because you
look at some of these alumni schools got there, but
some of the kids never went to that school, never
did anything for the school. So I'm glad they keeping
all the Kentucky tied together. That should be dope.

Speaker 1 (44:36):
I'm just gonna say here, coach, this is a good
sign because you just try to re recruit John Wall
to the program again, so we know how much you wanted.
That was dope.

Speaker 4 (44:47):
Hey, hey, I know, Tyler, I don't know what, but
I know I know he hasn't finished trying to get
you on this team.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
I know trust he has I know, Coach, good luck, man.

Speaker 1 (44:59):
I appreciate you and in time, I know, I know
your time is precious right now, So appreciate you coming
on the pod. And I'm excited to see what you
guys do, and I'm excited to see John interact with
you guys. And you're in your tenure at at Kentucky.
So appreciate you, man, CJ.

Speaker 4 (45:12):
John, Super great for you, guys.

Speaker 2 (45:13):
Man, Thanks coach, Thanks coach.

Speaker 1 (45:22):
Welcome back to point game with John Long. CJ. TOLDONNOD
presented by DraftKings. Don't forget. Bucketer Brick is brought to
you by DraftKings Sportsbook. Draftking Sportsbook is your home for
all things MB action, from player props, the same game parlays.
Check out everything DraftKings sports Book has to offer to
make your NBA experience even sweeter. The krown is yours, John.
You ready for this, uh this uh installment of Bucketer Brick.

Speaker 2 (45:46):
You know it all right.

Speaker 1 (45:47):
So the season's over, Celtics with the champs. But DraftKings
odds have the Celtics at plus two ninety and big
favorites to win it again next year. So Bucketer Brick,
the Celtics are going to repeat next year.

Speaker 2 (45:59):
I say, I say, bucket and.

Speaker 1 (46:02):
You were right about them winning this year, So why
do you think they're gonna repeat.

Speaker 3 (46:06):
I think they bring the same team back. I just
think they're gonna get even stronger, and they probably add
a piece of two. But I think all those guys
coming back, And the only concern I did have is
that if they would have lost Al Horford, but he
said he's not retired, he's coming back. So I think
they helped their team out even a lot more because
they got through the finals. I mean, they got through
the most of the playoffs without Pazingis and now Horford
had to step in and play that role for them,

(46:27):
So I think that was big for him.

Speaker 2 (46:29):
He got his confidence up.

Speaker 1 (46:30):
Who would you say, like what is their biggest weakness?
Like how do you improve that Celtics team this summer?

Speaker 3 (46:37):
I would say maybe, I don't know the way they
stacker their team to like they take Jaln Brown out,
or they take Jowady out in the substitute like somebody else,
seeing like with Sam Hows and somebody. I think the
only weakness they have if they live and die by
the three. That's the only thing at times. But other
than that, I don't see no weakness. They all can guard.
They all can create and put the ball on the floor.
Like I was saying before, you have to guard. Everybody's accountable.

(46:59):
They could everybody I went through five and catch the
ball and dribble seth. If you bring like Sam How's
on the bench, He's just they knocked down shooting for them.
But everybody else on they team can catch and shoot,
put the ball on the floor, and can defend at
a high level. So I don't really see too many
weaknesses for them.

Speaker 1 (47:12):
Okay, all right, let's move on here. A DraftKings has
Luka Doncic at plus three seventy, only behind Yo Kitch
for MVP next season, so bucket to Brick, Luca will
be the MVP next year.

Speaker 3 (47:24):
Brick, I think if Joelin beat is healthy, I think
he wins EVP. I think he would have won it
this year, to be honest, So I say maybe joelan
Bhay if Shakee caps the rosh up like he did
last year.

Speaker 2 (47:33):
I think those are my two favorites next year.

Speaker 1 (47:36):
Yeah, I mean, if Joel's healthy and then they do
get that new piece. With Tobias's contract running out and
a lot of this time, it's like the number one team.
The team is winning, and I feel like you're right.
If the Sixers are healthy and they're winning and Joel
continues to be their best player, it's got to go
to him.

Speaker 3 (47:51):
I don't even think number one could have had. Number
one Sha should have got they had THEMB one team,
you remember.

Speaker 1 (47:55):
But that was that was close, like we really good.

Speaker 2 (47:58):
It was close. It was close for sure.

Speaker 3 (47:59):
And and then I also understand like how nobody from
the Celtis get in the MVP conversation. Is it because
they are beating everybody by so much? Like yeah, it's
like it's just weird to me, because how the narrative
has changes. You had to make All Star games if
you was winning, You had to make all NBA teams
if you was winning. Usually when teams are one or two,
they always get two or three guys in the All
Star Game, at least two guys or it just changes though.

Speaker 2 (48:22):
I don't know how the narrative is now, but it
is what it is.

Speaker 1 (48:26):
Okay, all right, moving on here, Bucket or Brick, whatever
team you're on next year is going to be a
playoff contender.

Speaker 2 (48:34):
Bucket for sure.

Speaker 3 (48:35):
Yeah, talking about it a little bit, I'm a missing
piece to a couple of teams, like just a point
guard that can run a team, you know, I mean,
come off the bench, whatever road that I'm willing to accept.
But I feel like I have a lot left in
the tank to help a team out, you know what
I mean, because I can still defend, I can knock down,
catch and shoot threes, and I can create and just
find guys. But whatever role it is, I'm willing to
accelp you know what I mean. If it's being a

(48:56):
third guy, being a third point guard, if somebody else
get hurt and then get opportunity play, or of its
being the second point guard that comes in behind the
starting point guard, I'm fine with that role.

Speaker 1 (49:06):
Whatever team. I'm buying that jersey, whatever team you're on,
or you got to send me that.

Speaker 2 (49:10):
Right, Yeah for sure. Yeah all right.

Speaker 1 (49:13):
So finally this was like the drama's already started a
little bit in the NBA. But the detectives out there
found out that Clay unfollowed the Warriors, deleted our Warriors
content on his Instagram. So bucket to brick. Clay Thompson's
going to be on the Warriors next season.

Speaker 3 (49:29):
Brick, I see Klay Thompson leaving this summer, I see
him going up somewhere else, and I think they split
the dynasty up.

Speaker 2 (49:35):
Well, I don't think they trying to split it up.

Speaker 3 (49:37):
I think Clay just for like his times is up
with the Warriors, and I feel like he wants to
just go somewhere new and kind of start fresh.

Speaker 1 (49:43):
Well, because you said it on previous episodes with Kaminga,
and everyone knew like Kaminga wasn't happy with the playing
time he got. Then actually Curse started playing the more
and they went on that little streak there, so kind
of give us a little bit more that that opinion
that you had of like Kaminga is their number two option.

Speaker 3 (50:00):
Well, I just know how gifted Kamingo was. I've seen
him playing my John Walladay imitation. I watched him through
a high school. I just know like for him, it
was kind of tough early on because they were throwing
the ball in the post, and you know with the
wards with Clay Thompson and Steph and Jordan Pool, most
of the time that's not the scores to Washington come
off of actually get throwing backdoor cuts. So he shoot
passing the ball for threes. Condition you see the offense change.

(50:21):
He got the ball and he was able to be aggressive,
able to be a score. I think they kind of
helped him grow a little bit better. You could tell
just how much confident he got it much happy he was.
And I think they kind of moved Clay from them
the number two option cond of to the three, third
or fourth option because they still had Wiggins. And I
think Clay it's kind of going to be like a
catch and shoot guy and a defending for whatever team
he goes to. So I think it's a lot of

(50:42):
teams where they probably gonna have a lot of teams
that double team a lot like I think like a
team like the Magic could use them very well. I
think a team like Clippers could use them. I think
a team like Philly could use him. Even a team
like Denverer could use it. I mean a guy that
can if you double team and Yoki, she's a guy
in the wing that got a great catching shoot and
we know he's in the rhythm, his confidence is there.

(51:03):
He's one of the top five best shoots that I
have seen in the league history.

Speaker 1 (51:07):
Yeah, all right, well, John, this has been officially the
last episode of this particular season a point game with
John wall I want to say to the fans, if
you enjoyed this podcast, keep showing love like that helps
out leave comments, rate the podcast. Tell everyone you know,
I feel confident in the social content that we put
out there that you guys have been loving it and
sharing the stuff. So, John, what's what's the message you

(51:30):
want to leave the fans on our summer break before
we know when we come back.

Speaker 2 (51:34):
Oh, I want to cry. I'm sad. Now what do
you do?

Speaker 1 (51:38):
What do you do during this downtime with with this a.

Speaker 3 (51:41):
Lot of spend a lot of time with my kids,
continue to work out, work on my game, Spend a
lot of time my kids. Take a couple of trips
and vacations. Just relax, keep working on your game. Yeah
for sure, I'm going to do that. I don't never
stop working out, but U just spend a lot of
time my kids. May know my kids in summer camp
right now, daring to sports, you know what I mean.
They're doing all their sports activities so they get to

(52:03):
do the opportunity spend time in the backyard, go swimming,
just try to find some new hobbies. I'm definitely gonna
be bowling but I definitely want to thank everybody for
tuning in to the part.

Speaker 2 (52:11):
I really enjoyed it.

Speaker 3 (52:12):
I fell in love to a new space that I
never thought that I would get into, So when I
got asked to do it, it was kind of dope.
And then early on just figuring out how to get
better with it and having the support. Give a shout
out to like all the guests that we have. That's
super dope for us and super because you know, starting off,
some guys might say no, some guys might not want
to be a part of it. But to get the love,

(52:33):
get the recondition, we get to get some dope stories out.
I think it's only the beginning, So I enjoy everybody
for tuning in, and we'll definitely see y'all next year.

Speaker 1 (52:42):
Yes sir, much love of the guests and the fans,
and keep following our accounts. This has been point game
presented by DraftKings. Appreciate you guys, and we'll be posting
more stuff for this summer, So love peace. Gambling problem

(53:03):
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(53:25):
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subject to change